I wouldn't make too much of the verbal slips. My W still drops the occasional "honey" in conversation and we are going to trial in a few weeks.
Your situation sounds uncannily like mine before my W dropped the bomb.
Giving your W a bit of space, not pursuing and doing more to help around the house are all good things. Twin toddlers are a lot of work - no doubt about that. Do you get up at night to give the kids a bottle or put them back to sleep or does your W do it all? Do you cook meals? Do you let her go out and do something for herself so she has some down time from being Mommy?
One issue that may be worth pushing on is MC. Will your W consider MC together?
I'm not really sure what to say about the birthday party - why would she feel uncomfortable around your family?
How long have things been this way?
CABBR
M:49, W:47 M:22,T:23 S9, S6 W probable MLC Bomb: 4/09 In-house separation and Separate bedrooms since 4/09 EA busted: 7/09 W filed: 7/09 Kids unaware of D filing