McCarthyism

To bring cheer to your day, here's a random picture of Andrew McCarthy and a mannequin...from the days of...you guessed it...Mannequin. Ooh, watch that hand, sister!


Andrew McCarthy is the one in the front with the skinny tie.

Happy 4th Birthday, Little Bean!

This weekend, Annika had her first big social engagement for her 4th birthday. Here is a rare moment of standing still, where she's pulling her best Veronica Lake.



Typically, when Annika walks into a room with lots of people, she's a bit shy. Not so for her 4th birthday at the nature center, with 10 kid guests plus parents. She clearly knew it was her event, immediately adopting the persona of shrieking preschool ringleader o' mayhem.

Here are the kids pushing the buttons, which is what they do best, really.



Annika thought it did not suck that she received many gifts. They were primarily Barbie Princess gifts. She now needs princess methadone.



I should have taken that picture of the cake BEFORE we cut it, right? "Happy Birth, Annik!"



Now, here's the money shot. Annika and the snake draped around her neck. No Britney jokes, please. No children were harmed during the event; however, I wonder if the word will get out, "Don't go to Annika's parties. They have SNAKES."



So, Happy Birthday, Little Bean! It took, oh, like 60 hours of excruciating and unproductive labor, plus the hours of productive labor and baby-having work to bring you into the world, but I love you so dearly and you were so worth it.

Do you know that scene in Lost in Translation where the Bill Murray character tells the Scarlett Johansson character how frightening it is to become a parent, but how your children grow up to be the most delightful people you'll ever meet? It's exactly like that.

Oh. my. gawd.

It all started out innocent enough. Awww. Look at this nice group of alumni.



Chummy, eh?



But then there's the photographic evidence from later in the evening. I call this one, "No mom, I SWEAR I haven't been drinking. Really. No, really."



And hey, here's another cheerful pose. Stephanie and I were JUST sharing crockpot recipes.



I don't remember if these were taken before or after this scenario in which I was talking with a former child actor who's a bit on the short side, making nice chit chat and so on, and then, minutes later, my very tall and lovely friend Wendy who hosted our fabulous pre-reunion party, was seen hugging said former child actor, thus enveloping him in her ample bosom.

More reunion commentary shortly. Thank you Stephanie for this beautiful Kodak moment.