All I can say is, it is not unusual even in intact families, for the firstborn or first son in particular to be slightly, under-the-table favored. Also, given the age of his first son, he has been around him more often and therefore has bonded more completely, fully with him. I'm not saying that makes it all OK, but something to ponder vs. it just being due to a 2nd family-type situation. However, it also sounds like you and your husband need to decide on joint rules for your household for both of your children. They should not be rules that are so specific and tight that, "No children after age 7 can call dad dada"! But, rules that you both agree on and are both willing to enforce. Thus, you are not left feeling like you have no say in your own household or marriage. It is now four years later, so this advice may be too late, but maybe you did make the best of it anyway, or it may help others in a similar situation.

Yay for the violets, Nancy! And...you still have summer squash? The bugs killed ours long ago. Even the C. Moschata. I am pooped. So tired. We shopped today and I don't have to tell anyone that shopping is very unpleasant right now. However, Dillards allows you to try on clothes and I found a dress. It's not exactly the bohemian/fairy princess dress that I wanted. But it fits nicely and its a forest green color...and it's Robin Hoodish (not really), so I bought it. Paid more than what I wanted to pay, but it's done. DONE! Came home around 3 and sliced, breaded and froze okra. Then figured out how to use my pressure canner as a water bath canner and pickled some okra. On my own. The lids sealed so hopefully we're good. My house is getting to the point that I am very unhappy. I know a clean house isn't the most important thing in the world....but I enjoy a clean home. It just feels nice to me. However, a clean house isn't anywhere in my near future. I am hoping the robot vacuums are cheap this Christmas. That will at least help. We are celebrating Mason's BD tomorrow and that will be fun. It's at a very good restaurant that I haven't been to in a long time. Then grocery shopping and then maybe starting more lettuce seed. In between all of those things is animal care. Lots of animal care. There's always one of them doing something they shouldn't be doing or somewhere they shouldn't be hanging out. One of the fat buff orpingtons has figured out how to get out of the chicken yard. And she isn't swift. She is dumb--beautiful but dumb and wanders over by the dogs. So, I'm constantly leaving whatever task I'm working on to catch her or entice her back to the yard. And everyone is always hungry all the time. The 3 young pullets mingled with the main flock today. It went very well. Having a good rooster helps with that. They're roosting in their own coop, though. It will be a gradual thing as always. Momma Blossom will be tired of her chicks soon and those two chicks will need to move to the pullet coop at that time. Although, at least one of those chicks is a cockerel. Tom may or may not start doing meat birds and these two could be the start of it. They won't be THE meat birds, but they might be the parents of. I've named the one I think is a girl. Her name is Gwendolyn, which is sorta funny because Gwendolyn (actually related to Jennifer/Guinevere.) means white ...and Gwendolyn is a dark cornish. I'm simply rambling now.

I was waiting for a comment on the grill ornament! LOL You know how people buy antlers and a reindeer nose for their car around Christmas? I put a red glove stuffed with another glove on my grill, instead of laying out money for the antlers which I didn't want as a package. I noticed how easy my car was to spot in parking lots among all the black cars. Gino's mom crocheted me this thing, it's supposed to be a nose. :-) It faded over time, but I can still find my car because of the dangly. But I sure get some weird looks. Time to make a new red one.

Wow, I'm beyond impressed with the generous amount of time you put in. The money brought in is also amazing! I hope everyone is patting themselves on the back. I can see why the servers gushed over Gino...adorable!