And yet another step-weekend has come and gone. Thankfully, this is the last weekend we will have them until the baby comes. We still have SD11 during the week but she is a cake walk compared to SD10.

Last time we left the Stepmonster household, I was anticipating the worst this weekend when we took the steps to my parents for the first time. My parents were having a huge party that they have every year for family and friends with a moon bounce, face painting, snow cones, cotton candy, etc. I figured this would be the best time to bring them because they would hopefully just blend in with all the other kids running around. This worked for the most part and, after a stern discussion over ground rules, the older kids stayed off DH's lap the entire time! That in itself was a huge accomplishment. They still followed him around like puppies, but I will take that over giant lap sitting kids any day. Although I did find it amusing when DH was going over the rules and SD10 said, "How come we can't sit on your lap??? I bet you'll let Stepmonster sit on your lap." To which I laughed and said "I am 9 months pregnant. I am entirely to big to even attempt sitting on ANYONE's lap."

Fast forward to Sunday. SD10 was her normal back-talking, snobby self. I am trying my hardest to make sure she doesn't pick up on my annoyance, which is harder than usual when I am constantly irritable at this point. I even helped her make a mother's day gift for her grandmother. I laugh with her and spend quality time with her and as I am doing it I feel myself not really being genuine about it. As if I am just putting on a show. And I guess I am doing a good job of hiding it because DH keeps telling me how wonderful I am to his kids and how he appreciates it. Little does he know...

On another note, I saw DH texting with the children's grandmother. Apparently the grandmother felt it was necessary to remind us that SD11 has standardized testing this week. As if we don't live with the child and know this. As if we haven't been working with her every day to make sure she is confident in her skills. She also felt it necessary to remind us that we need to tell SD10 that she is special every day because she is very sad she doesn't live with us yet. This lady is lucky DH lets everything roll off his back. When I saw these texts I wanted to call her and chew her out. If this woman had not taken SD10 behind our backs in an effort to cover for her POS daughter (BM), then SD10 would probably be living with us now. But since she took matters into her own hands and we decided to not make SD10 switch schools 3 times in one year, somehow it's our fault that SD10 feels "left out." Really? Maybe Granny should take a step back and send these messages to BM instead, who has seen her children for exactly one day in the past month. I'm so sick of dealing with these people. I am convinced DH hid their lunacy from me prior to our nuptials. There is no way I would have willingly married into this nonsense.