well, here i am

another week has passed, and life ticks on and on .... {sigh} where does it all go?


i am feeling like i am getting several things done, and working hard, playing hard, and accomplishing some things .... but i sit and wonder what to write about it all.



so, i will randomly chatter here .... and hopefully, connect the dots from last week to this, and see where it "all went".

* Murphy is seemingly doing a bit better. the wimpering has subsided for the most part - he is still doing it on occasion, but it appears to be in a deep sleep stage. dreaming? deeper pain that i don't fully understand? i dunno. his limping is sooooo much better, almost non-existent. he is spending an awful lot of time in the house with me. it's been awfully cold so i need to keep him in anyway. but he is especially clingy to me. moreso than normal, but i don't mind. he is such a lovebug. :O) thanks for the kind wishes - it appears he is better. i told the vet all of this, and he seems to think it was a passing painful boo boo related to the nail that was broken. poor guy.



* jumped back into the work thing, and saw loads of customers last week. also saw the boss for a performance review. a very good one, for sure. feeling like i have had a good year, and saw some sweet success, and he does too. that was nice. hate the judgement of the dang things though. hoping to see another good one this year .... working on that for sure!



* traveled to Maine over the latter part of the week. worked in a small hospital that had some strange characters in the department (anesthesia dept that is) but just the same, had some good success with the capital devices there.



* hubby traveled northward to spend the night there, but before we saw all his pals, we ventured to meet the newest additions of one of the couples -TWINS! so stinking cute they are, and man are they wearing out their parents ..... only 8 weeks old, but 4 weeks adjusted age, so they are still quite new. mom and dad are spent. wish we lived closer, would be visiting and relieving far more often. {swoon - baby smell}



* watched a pond hockey game for the first time ever in my life. and my kid was a participant. that was way cool. i was a wee bit shaky walking on ice .... weird feeling that is. weird. but the day was really fun (uhm, no camera. d'oh!) k gal was there too, and she enjoyed it thoroughly!



* little man was hurt in practice - not awful, but it was his neck, so that was a scary thing. :O( he seems fine, just stiff today. appears to be all muscular. thankfully!


* later sunday went to the coach's house who has an outdoor rink there, and took these shots:





the threesome from C's team - the "99ers" I have spoken of, and the big sister of one of them. C's a *big* fan~!

the little sisters..... so stinking cute, huh?

* my nephew, my godson turned 16 on sat and i am still in awe. unreal. i remember the day he was born, and the phone call. man, was that yesterday!

* made a delicious beef stew today for dinner tonight. one of my goals for the year (not a resolution, don't like that word so much) is to cook more here, and less eating out. been very very good. enjoying the cooking too. perhaps a treat for me will be a new cookbook.

* worked my way out of a fave pair of jeans .... yep, the RIGHT way though. they are entirely too big. :O) THAT was another goal for the year - continue with the healthy eating, and gym going 5-6 days a week. i have four or five more pants that are entirely too big at this point, and i am worried that i will be needing a new wardrobe (or a fabuloso seamstress!)

* snow is coming! heard that wednesday we are in line for a nice little snowstorm ..... here's hoping they AREN'T wrong. :O) yay!

i think that's about all the things that have been going on ... will try and get here more to scratch the words down.

valentine's to be made tomorrow .... so pictures will follow!

cheers, and thanks for being here ...... :o)

February FREEZE!

It is cold outside .... as in 10 degrees at the bus stop this morning! yikers!


still very little snow, and that makes me sad, sad, sad. it's winter, and new england has glorious winters usually. i like snow. i do. i like the fun it provides my kids. i like the feeling it brings to adults that enjoy it. i like the way it changes the scenery you look at once it falls. i like the way people feel when it falls. i like the serenity after a snow fall. i like the peace, and the quiet, and the crisp white smell of it. and i love the way it changes the way you look at your home, your yard, and the earth covered in it. it's peaceful. it's cleansing. and i think we are getting whacked with global warming. :o( i read an article at the gym today that highlighted the changes with home owners insurance for east coasters - they are jacking up premiums (as in WAY up) due to the increased events of natural disasters. the risk we are as a group of folks living so close to the epicenters, as well as the ocean. and the likely cause being global warming. we have had a mild winter, and hot as ever summers the last few, and both of those things make me sad.


i want it to snow in the winter. i want it to be hot in the summer, but not unbearable. i'd love it is we could see some several inches of snow each weekend, play in it, throw snowballs at each other, and just enjoy the weather like we did when i was a kid (anyone remember the blizzard of '78 like i do?!)

but instead of snow, we have blustery wind, with temps in the teens ... therefore the windchill is in the minuses. brrrrrr. ick. kiddies freeze with red cheeks, and frozen fingers .... but the boys on the street still find a way to bare the cold to shoot pucks, and shoot hoops, and just run outside. it isn't long, for sure, but it gives me a great excuse to brew some yummy hot chocolate when they come in. :o) so we make the most of it, anyway.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

in other news, had a trip to the vet this weekend ..... :o( the big fella, my 9 year old lovebug of a chocolate lab woke up last tues with a terrible limp on his left front paw. he didn't improve too much, and didn't decline either, but it was clearly paining him, so i called on thursday and they got me in for first thing sat morn. he was due for his annual exam as well, as was the little monster cocker spaniel. so we did a twofer (or is that a threefer?) and chatted with the vet about my fella. :o(


best case scenario he told me was an injured toenail (which they discovered whilst clipping them - how'd i miss that in the three hundred times i palpated his leg, shoulder, spine, ankle, elbow, and fingers?) next case scenario was an old injury to his wrist that he has now developed arthritis in, and worst case - osteosarcoma. yes, bone cancer. a death sentence for a canine with it's inability to accept any treatment, or cure once it has metasicized - and inevitably it does in canines - so, he said that it's not likely, but it is an outside possibility. and he had to tell me.


i was crushed. wham. a hammer to my heart. murphy is my babe. my first babe. a big guy that found his way into my heart, and speaks to my soul. i have had many dogs, and each of them are very special. murphy exceeds that quality. he is by far the gentlest, kindest, sweetest dog i have ever had or known. s and i have only known our married lives with him. we got him when we were married only 4 months. we have birthday parties for him. we love him like a child. s spoiled him the most initially, taking him everyday to work with him, and keeping him entertained and allowing him to entertain others. he was a rock star very early on. for two years, the vet has discussed with me the conversation i need to be having with the kids about murph's departure - inevitable departure - from our lives. i've begun it, painfully, and unwillingly. i hope it happens years from now, not months.


so, we need to report back to the vet how he is walking (much better today, very little limping) and also if the whimpering has stopped while he lays down (it hasn't). he asked me to call him back on saturday to report to him the progress, and we can better lay out a plan for the sweetpea.


i am so sad to be in this position at all. i know it happens. i've had two of my own dogs in my lifetime, and they've passed. my family has had closer to 10 that have passed, so i've done the drill. i hate this drill. :o( you never are quite the same after the dog passes on. they really do feel like family members.


other than that, hockey was leaps and bounds better than the NY trip. c had 2 goals, and an assist, as well as 2 penalties. he played really well, as did the entire team. most importantly, above all else, the refs were SO much better. they were fair, and kept comlete control of the game. {sigh of relief}

we have another gymnastics meet (the first one i will see this year!) in two weeks, so she is working hard with that. piano concert has a date, according to the teacher, miss stephanie - june - so we'll be working on that too.

baseball signups are done, tryouts in march. batting cage (yes, batting CAGE) will be installed end of feb in the backyard. (s'pose that's a benefit of being married to a sporting goods salesman, right?) but c and s have a fantastic fundraising activity planned for that cage to benefit ALS for the summer months .... details on that soon! :) so proud of my guys .... k and i will be support gals, for sure!

so with that (all of that), i end today. all of your good thoughts would be much appreciated for my murph-inator ..... i'm remaining positive, and of course, strong to the best of my ability. it isn't easy yo think about, but knowing that he has been a dear friend of ours already for 9 years, i know that we are lucky. very lucky.

have a good monday evening ......

January is almost over .....

and I for one, cannot even remember the beginning .... it has been a whirlwind of a month! first Florida, then Mexico, then NY. wowzers, it really was fun, but it has taken a toll on me, a wee bit. tired, and overwhelmed with the activity that is left here behind to catch up on.

I am slowly tinkering along on that, and have only three things left on my list. albeit the three largest, time-suck things. ah, well, that's what lists are for, right?


i will say one thing about being away so much for so long ..... my bed never felt so good to sleep in! :O)


i missed several things back at home, as you can imagine. the greatest thing i missed was K's first gymnastics meet of the year. :O( she did really well, though, and i even received a video of the uneven bars that another parent took for me .... kinda cool indeed! she had a blast and did really well, according to all the folks that i've seen since then ..... she has another in a couple of weeks, so i will be sure to have a front row with my camera for that event .... no flash allowed, so i'll be-a-readin' up on that with a digital! :)


Mexico was a wonderful trip, and very fun to be there this year with work folks. i had a very good year last year, and received some awards for the effort, so that was really neat. additionally, i feel like a different person in the company, in other words, raised to a new level with my finish to the year. kinda different, and a good feeling .... and very much an enjoyable experience. the weather was not fantastic, but we only had one day that was a free day, able to soak in the sun that is, and the little yellow ball was cooperative that day, so that was nice. the resort was wonderful, and the view was amazing. the people of Mexico, and the folks at the resort are lovely. that was nice, too.

i made a decision not to bring my camera, and i am glad i did .... although i'd love a few shots of the place, there were tons taken by the professional photog that was hired for the event, so i am sure i'll get some from work, and i'll share here. additionally, the idea of carrying it into the customs area along with all my work gear, and business attire i had was a bit daunting. it feels so much more like a pleasure attachment than a work piece, you know? so, there's my reason for no pix - trust me, beautiful place! :O)

Oh, and i got to go horseback riding - THAT was awesome! my horse was Ruby. she was a doll - an absolute DOLL of a horse. that girl had her very own mind, and very own personality. she was not interested in listening to me, my commands, my ideas, or even my requests. nope, she had her own little agenda that day, and regardless of what anyone said, she was going to see it through. gotta love a woman with her own mind! :O)

we had a nice ride, and i enjoyed having her along for the little jaunt we took together. (there are photos of this - i am awaiting them from the friends i was on the ride with ....)


and then this past weekend we were in NY for the hockey trip to play another team from C's league. in a word - difficult.

the organization in NY has a reputation, from what we understand, of being very aggressive, and very physical. hockey *IS* a contact sport, checking *IS* part of it. however, there were blatant examples of 8 and 9 year olds attempting to injure the other players on the ice - our kids. :O( that i have NO TOLERANCE for. unnecessary, and completely against every good-sport rule i have ever learned, and passed on to my kids. the referreeing was an absolute atrocity, and the organization ought to be ashamed of themselves for having children play like that.

however, despite the overtly aggressive play, our kids played very well. we lost the first and tied the second. they were not a good team, by any stretch, and our kids might have won had the other team stuck to the sport of hockey. :o\ one never knows ..... what i do know is that it was a difficult thing to watch as a parent, and also as a spectator. my fears were so great that someone was going to be hurt by the illegal checks, and illegal activity without any of the referees calling things ..... i hope i don't have to witness that again any time soon. (and C and i discussed AT LENGTH why that was the wrong thing to do on thier part ...)


i do, however, have some cool shots from this weekend ..... the little man, and his hockey buds .... so cool!


here they are:




the pep talk with some good laughter from the coaching staff to lighten the mood (they were more frustrated than the kids about the aggression)

the threesome of '99ers on the team watching the play intently (C is on the right, orange glove hanging over boards) ..... these three are rock stars for this team! :o) they'll also be together throughout their youth hockey careers due to the age bracket rules .... very cool little fellas, and so fun to watch!!
a big sister of a '99er, and a little sister of a '99er. the quintessential cheerleaders of the team
(one is actually a stellar hockey player herself, and a hearthrobe of the C-man! understandable, right?)


and lastly, a certain '99er that pulls on my heartstrings like nothing i have ever experienced.


love this sport. :o)

So ... the story goes ...

that we left on Wednesday and headed to the southern neck of the USA, the place where Mickey lives!

what a trip!

the kids had a blast, and we did too. just watching them, and feeling the electricity and excitement. we started with character breakfasts with the all time faves, Goofy and Pluto. good golly, i love those two!

the baseball games were fun, too, and technically, the *reason* we were there, so i am thankful for that ..... (that's my guy - SUCH fun to watch him, and there are SO many pix ops!)

that would be the Tower of Terror. C and I partook in that ride!

we've already planned next year and all the changes we'll make. we'll likely head down a day early, and stay a day late - and NOT hit the parks on the weekend. it was, afterall, the holiday weekend, and apparently, everyone knew that. you'd think that could be kept a little secret, you know? ;)

so, Thursday was the first day at the parks .... MGM - with the Tower of Terror awaiting our arrival, I will say! :) and we absorbed as much as possible there, and then headed off for more absorption at Epcot. there until the evening, and even ate dinner at one of the countries. good stuff, that was.

although i enjoyed having the ability to get to more than one park, i really don't think it was necessary to do so. staying at one is really completely okay. therefore, that is another change for us for next year. one park a day. 3 or 4 days at the parks. the rest of the time will be baseball games, and pool time. or downtown disney too. <---- that was very cool!

Herbie the Love Bug was a big hit with K, and she asked where "the girl, you know, the Lindsey girl that was in the movie mom!" was .... had to break her heart on that one, but a picture with the *other* star was pretty cool.

and this is the view from our hotel room - how 'bout THAT!?

then we had another day at Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom. again, just not enough time to do all you want to do there, and the kids are so overwhelmed with the choices. i'd really love to take more time, and see more things, and just absorb more.

this guy was on the Safari at Animal Kingdom ... loved that! there were tons of critters all over ....

we stayed up too late. we enjoyed the company there. we revelled in the time *off* from our duties back home. and we really enjoyed the family time together. even though we are a busy and together-tightly-knit family back at home, spending quality time - in a hotel room no less - is really a nice change for all of us.

i will say, though, the feeling of our own beds, and bedrooms once we were home was splendiferous! but the hotel beds certainly fit the bill, as you can see with the sleeping angels here .......

glad to be back. feeling like myself today after a period of upside-down with disorganization, so i am grounded again.

I have approximately 300 pictures that i have been looking at that i took while there .... i'll likely just add a few tomorrow again - the faves. i'll try and keep it to a minimum of 100 or so - kidding!

sunday i leave for Mexico. :O( don't wanna go .... business trip. without the squirts, and hubby. it's the national sales meeting reviewing the last year, and it's mandatory. {sigh} the silver lining is this - i finished pretty well in the company, so it'll be a celebration of that, and i will enjoy seeing the co-workers. but i am already counting the days down.

then we go to ny for a hockey weekend with the big guy! :O) that, that is something to look forward to ......

that's the good stuff in a nutshell. in all, a great trip, and very needed at that point. it will be a little tradition for a while, and that is something i can live with.

Back!

oh, what a great great weekend it was ..... Disney is absolutely so much fun. :o)

I am getting caught up on things, we got in around 10:30 AM today, so laundry and unpacking has gone on all day. kiddies are in bed already - asleep! 7:00PM - it was a very exhausting weekend with loads to tell, and loads to share ....

but not right now.

still feeling a wee bit under-organized.

must get to bed, too.

so, i will leave you with this little tease .......

:O)

good stuff ..... looking forward to the next time already .....

Mickey Minnie Donald Goofy Pluto ....

they are all awaiting the arrival of a certain family of reds from the East.

woohooo ... leavin' on a jet plane and heading to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Oh, yeah, baby ..... Disney here we come!

Be back early next week ~ tan, relaxed, baseballed out, and ready to tell you all about it!

have a great weekend ......

"mom, you rock!"

wouldn't that just make your day, too? :D


that's what I heard from the 8 year old little man this afternoon upon pick up at school .... unprompted, and completely out of the blue!


all we had planned was a haircut, and then off to a hockey game. i had packed some snacks (current faves ~ including granola bars, a clementine orange for both) and they were walkers (non-bus riders) this afternoon. as we headed to the car, he exclaimed that, and grabbed my hand, and smiled up at me as he skipped/ran (and forced K gal and I to follow suit with skip/running)


so, then, THEN, she chimed in and added her warm compliment too ~ 'yeah, mom, you really are one of the coolest of the cool moms'. me. little old me. and here i thought i was just a regular old mom.


oh, sing my heart, sing! :-) :-) :-)


sometimes, love speaks to you in wee voices.



and just cause i am having SO MUCH stinkin' fun with the camera, here is the dude this past weekend at a scrimmage with his team .... (a little blurry on the photos, however, ramping up my digi learning for indoors/sporting events, so they will improve, i promise)











mucking around with the teammates just prior to the game ... lockeroom chatter is hysterical at this age!

{that's a cubby area that each kid has to get dressed. he's actually standing on the seat that is part of it}










and we begin with the faceoff at the start of the game ..... very serious indeed. {heh}


he snags the puck .... he handles it down the ice ..... he shoots ..... he ScOrEs!

the dash

i received a really great email once that referred to the dash as 'the line between the dates of your birth and death' ~ essentially, the dash represents your life. your time on earth. i really love this concept. it makes you stop and think about how you view that *time*.

how are you spending your dash?
are the people that will be left behind when you leave this earth going to be able to speak about your dash the way you'd like it to be spoken of?
are you filling your dash with love, and living?

i recently posted about the one little word reading that i had seen on another blog i visit. my word i had chosen was enjoy. i am adding a word.

dash.

i like what it represents, and i like the feeling i have when i hear it. typically, dash refers to moving quickly, running. i do that. often. everyone is busy that has young children, and dash will mean a similar something to everyone with that description.

i am looking at it as the 'time between my birth and death'. i want to live for each moment, and seize the day. i want to leave an impression, a mark, if you will, that makes me happy to have been the producer of said mark. i want my dash to be full of life.

life that i will enjoy.

dashing.

piano

music.

it is such a part of my life. not being a musician, however, enjoying the music others create.

we are so fortunate, so lucky that we have a little gal who enjoys creating. she harnesses that love, and tickles the ivy. her teacher is so proud of the music she makes, she has told us that she is a natural, gifted with the ability to *hear* the music, and understand the concept of the notes. a hard piece, apparently, when you're 5 and just starting. it's been about a year and 5 months since she was 5, and the teacher says she has developed beautifully. she is clicking with the lessons, and the learning has gone to a whole new level. {grins}

we love it. and she seemingly does too (albeit a challenge to focus on your practicing as often as one needs to, we're working on that piece a bit ...) our well-rounded athletic and musically inclined little gal, k.

we hope she always has a love for music - we think that's quite a strong possibility given the current state of affairs here. :p

new year ... new look ... new goals

so, with the new year, comes the push to make things new, clean the slate, find the peace .. all that shiny and fresh stuff. i have mentioned in a previous post how much i love the 'idea' of the new year - the new-NESS that it gives to us as humans.

i am all for that.

2006 was a good year for me. a very good year. even for the family, and for s, a very good year, indeed. i seemed to hit a groove, a stride, so to speak. i am pleased with the direction of life right now, and i am at peace (read: no stress) about my work/career. 2005 was the first year with this new company, and this past year i became very comfortable with the learning curve, and also the work load - now, truth be told, my kidlets are getting a little older, and life seems to be grooving with them as well, so i had the opportunity to work more easily, i know - however, bigger kids always means bigger activities with a busier schedule to keep for the family, so that was a change to contend with. albeit a lovely change, and yes, easily managed.

with the new year, also comes the fierce desire, as a woman that is, to make a change in "looks". no, i haven't dyed my hair green (although that would be a fun thing to try someday) and no, i haven't had any cosmetic surgery (hmmmmm ....) but i have commited even more to the daily gym routine that i have going. it is a drug of sorts. an addiction. a deposit in the bank of health. s and i are really working hard to get to the gym 5-6 days a week. i feel better than i have in 5 years (ahem) and my clothes are fitting quite differently. it's true, everything they say about exercising, and the fact that it has inumerable benefits - it's true. my skin looks better, my hair is shinier (and longer - a little change there, too!) i have more confidence, i feel happier, i have far less stress, i have far more energy (dear god, right? as if i need any more!) and i want to be at the gym to get these feelings i have. i am also having some fun with my style. i am trying some new things with my clothes, and my choice of dressing. it's fun, and easier with a body that feels more like mine.

so, with all of these new things going on (although the working out isn't new, but my commitment to continue it is) i needed to change some other things in my 'world'. i have a new digital camera ~ i am taking a photography course to learn how to use the heck out of it. i am signing up for a yoga class ~ once a week to change the routine up a wee bit. and i gussied up the blog here with some new colors and new design. {okay, so not huge major things, but still, good clean the slate things .....}

i have consciously made some decisions with regards to work, and the amount of time i dedicate to it versus the time with the family. that was a goal for 2005, and i made it happen that year ~ then i even refined it for 2006, 'focus on the task at hand, whatever the task may be: be it kid time, playtime, be it work, be it working out, be it a date with hubby ... focus on that "thing" for that time'. check, did it. focused, and relaxed about the other *things* that were not being done while focusing (and really, isn't that the hard part??)

that was a success story for me - and i am proud of that. now, I am refining it again. i am extrapulating (i love that word - did i spell it correctly?) each of the 'tasks' and working with them. for instance, numero uno on my list for this new year - find more time to have couple time. another is focusing on cooking more in my own kitchen, versus pick up, or take out, or even eating out. i'd like to take a cooking class, too, to learn some new tricks, and perhaps find some magic in the kitchen.

new.

a chance.

a change.

all of this i am so grateful for, and so excited to begin.

i read some other bogs and one of them asked folks to think of a word, one word that you can work into everything you do in your day to day life. a word that can change everything you do.

my word for the year is enjoy.

what's your word?

This is 8

and in the morning of your eigth celebration, you wake up, you run to mommy outstretched arms, and you say in a big happy grinny-voice ..................

"I'm 8 today ... all the way to eight!"

and mommy smiles, wipes the tear away without you seeing it, and reaches to grab all of the "8" and hold it in to keep it there..... but it always leaks out, and it seems to just keep on growing.

eight. 8. {sigh}

happy birthday sweet, terrific, loving, energetic, charismatic, genuine, exciting, and squishable 8 year old son of mine. another fabulous year i am honored to be a part of with you. enjoy all the 8 there is to enjoy! :O)

Happy New Year!

oh, the joy - the chance to begin again. like finnegan. you know, "finnegan begin again".

:O)

i have always loved New Year's. it is the end of one chapter, and a new beginning to another.

this year, 2006 has been a good one. personally, professionally, and from the standpoint that we, our family, are in a good place.

i am looking forward to 2007, and now have the foresight to see that things get better and better. i am working on my written goals for the year, so that i can post them at my desk. i reviewd last year's and i am pleased to say that 6 out of the 7 were completely fulfilled. the 7th was somewhat, but a better effort was necessary. (that'll be higher on the list this year)

it is true, our forefathers and foremothers were right .... time marches on, and we can watch from afar, or we can jump in an enjoy it for the moment it is, the moment it will be, and the memory it will inevitably become.

a day in the lives of reds

outdoor skating is such fun when your sister can now keep up with you! :O)

these are the reations of certain santa 'leave behinds' on one glorious Christmas Morning! i love, love, love fantastic smiles like this ~~ you cannot stage this much glee!

where oh where do i even start?!

i feel like it has been ages since i've been here for real. i need to catch my brain up, and then document the scattered thoughts i have in there .... so let's begin, shall we?

so, the last real moment i discussed was the Holiday Tradition of the Nutcracker with the K-gal .... what a treat that was! we had dinner with the family (my niece's family - bro and sil and other nieces - as they were attending to see her, too) and that was fun in itself, and we hadn't even gotten to the theatre yet! then the show was wonderful ~ my niece is just a beautiful dancer, and knowing i am biased - i can go beyond that, and i can see her from a completely different perspective. beautiful, and breathtaking, and just talented. i am so proud of her, and K-gal loved the show!

the week after our tradition was wonderful, as well. i made a concerted effort to complete most of my santa purchases early, so as not to stress out with the 'to do' list this year - it worked like a charm! i had time to attend school functions, cookie parties, social parties, and even evenings out with my dear girlfriends .... the kids had a ball decorating the house, the tree, making holiday treats, and baking with me too. i even fit some work in there too, and ended my year with a bang, jumping over a few people to perhaps finish the year at the top of the rankings (i'll find out officially in Mexico at our meeting in a few weeks). the week right before the holiday is always scattered and fun. the kids and i worked hard at getting teachers and friends gifts together, and entertaining each other with our verions of holiday carols. (oh, the music in this house!) then, on came the weekend of Christmas!

we had the pleasure, and the honor of spending our very first Christmas eve at my parents new place. it was wonderful. it was magical, truly. they are completely moved in, save a few boxes, and piles of misplaced things, and the place looks terrific! the entire family was there, along with my uncle, his wife, and her daughter. my sil A was there too from Maine, and that's always fun to have her here ..... we exhchanged some gifts with my bro and sil's family as they spent the next day with sil's twin sister, and then off we went to our home ~ the kids scurried to bed as soon as we were there to 'get to morning faster, mommy' {<-- must scrap that one!} and S, A and I played santa with one another, and packed the family room with a veritable explosion of gifts from the north pole! wow! was santa good all around ......

i treated my guy to a new, heavily coveted HD television for the family room, as well as a baseball glove he has been wanting for quite some time. he spoled the daylights out of me, including (get tready for this, my friends -- ) a digital camera. yep, he did it. he made me go to the dark side. heh. it is gorgeous, the Rebel XTi. i love it. i do. i cannot believe it took me this long, but again, understand why it did, too. i am still working with it to understand it, and get to know it, and also figure out how to get the pictures off of it. (soon, soon there will be several photos here - right her at this very spot. :) and i also got some beautiful sweaters, some new perfume, some sneakers .... oh, the list. spoiled. {grins}

the kids were off for vacation last week, and we had a very mellow, much needed week of doing very little. C's hockey schedule was really light (not complaining, it was nice ....) and K's gymanstics schedule was non-existent as the gym closes for the week. as i mentioned, i was down a day and that turned into two with a relapse over the early part of the weekend. :o( that sucked, and today is honestly, the first day i feel relatively normal. so, we were mellow, and quite, and enjoyed each other. we did go skating, and saw Happy Feet (rec'md it HIGHLY!) and even found a few items for the house that we were needing during a couple of shopping sprees. one said spree was to trade in my beloved car (oh, how i loved that car, but it was time ...) for the ultimate mom-o-vehicle. yep, caved. but i love it - love it.

so, that brings me up to the current state of affairs here. yesterday was NYE and we enjoyed the BrightNight activities downcity with the kids. it was an inexpensive, family oriented, relatively entertaining way to spend the last day of '06. the kids enjoyed the revelry, and the walking around downtown, and the circus. then they were my parents first overnight guests so s and i could ring in the new year alone ~ on a date. :O) it wasn't a planned date, but it was nice to enjoy each other, finish a few sentences, and say goodbye to '06, looking forward to the fresh new page of '07 in front of us. i love new starts, new, fresh opportunities, and new beginnings. this year was so good for me, for us, and for the family. i can only imagine what next year will bring.

and with that, here we are ~ looking at the face of our 7 year old for the last day in his 7 year old status. tomorrow we are the parents of an 8 year old boy. my son, our son turns 8 tomorrow.

{sigh} the time, the speed of light.

i cannot fathom that i will be the mother of an 8 year old. i still remember the moment he was born. i can still remember the feeling of his little body in my arms for the first time.

whoosh.

off to make some cupcakes, and giggle with the squirts on their last day of vacation ......

feeling caught up now ..... will likely be back with some photos. :O)

a day down

on the couch.

sleeping.

interrupted only by moments in the lav.

i had the ick yesterday. the nasty, evil, horribly unkind stomach bug.

feeling a wee bit better this morning, after spending the night on the couch - and in the lav. poor dh had no idea what to make of me.

off to shower, and with luck, eat something.

update soon ~ i swear.

*blush*

so, about a week ago..... yeah, a WEEK, my dear friend Fransie tagged me with a Christmas tag, and I have not had a moment to be here for any great length of time .... so, before I answer the questions, I need to say SORRY SO VERY VERY MUCH my friend ..... I have loads to blog, and tons to tell ... it has been a fabulous Christmas indeed! :O)

so here is the tag, and the answers ..... (by the way, LOVE being tagged! :O)

1. Egg Nog or hot chocolate? egg nog .... and not always spiked. i do enjoy it, but very limited as it tends to bother my belly ~ but so hard to resist!

2. Does Santa wrap his gifts or does he just put them under the tree? some of his gifts are wrapped, but the really fun, highly sought after tend to be unwrapped, with big bows on them.

3. Colored or white lights? growing up, my mom alwayas had the gihugent Italian colored bulbs on my tree, and I never liked them, now they are so nostalgic, I miss them. she still has colored, but they are tiny. we, however, only have white ~ inside on the tree, and outside decorating the house.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? no, sadly. we always had one at my house growing up, and i don't have one here .... hmmmm, must get one. :O)

5.When do you put up your tree? we try and get it two weekends before the holiday. any earlier, and the live tree struggles with the indoors, as well as the two dogs tails. :-\

6. What is your favorite Christmas food? probably the shrimp, or the lasagna. truly, i don't have a favorite ~ it's all good.

7. What is your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a child? oh, gosh, there are so many! I think though, heading home from my grandparents, and the HUGE family dinner we all had, and talking about Santa coming that night, then running in to the house, rushing to get jammies on and head to bed, close my eyes fast and fall asleep as my parents would read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Probably my most favorite memory though, is this: I remember once I had fallen asleep, and woke for what seemed only a few minutes later, heard some noise, and went to the top of the stairs - when i looked down the stairs, i swore that a man in a red suit was there, and he was humming a tune ... our three dogs were with him, wagging their tails, and he never saw me, so i snuck back to bed and never told a soul about the "sighting". But man, did i believe for ages after that ...... still do!! :O)

8. Do you open presents on Christmas eve? we have before the kids, now we exchange the gifts with those folks that we won't see the next day, and our kids know that sometimes people other than Santa give gifts to us

9. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? with pretty white lights, and all kinds of ornaments that are specail to each of us from the years we have all been collecting them. typically, S and I will get the lights on, then the kids go to town with the ornaments. the star goes on the tree Christmas morning

10. Snow! Love it or hate it?LOVE IT!

11. Can you ice skate? amazingly, sort of. can you imagine with a hockey phenom son, and i don't skate .... but, yes, i know how, but my skills are rusty .....

12. Do you remember your best gift? homemade, thoughtful, from the heart gifts have always been my favorite. there are so many ..... this year, i got one too! :O)

13. What does Christmas mean to you? What is the most important thing about it, for you? Christmas is a family holiday, rich with love, and peace. it allows a moment to take a breath and enjoy all the goodness in your life. it allows us to find what the fabric of our family is, and cherish the time we've had the previous year, and look forward to the next year, while enjoying the present and the gift we have in each other.

14. What is in the top of your Christmas tree? this year, a beautiful star. last year, a cherished angel.

15. What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Christmas Eve dinner and revelry at my parents house .... about 20 of us gather, and have a really great time all together. this year, it was bittersweet ~ we were in my parents new incredibly beautiful loft, but not the home we've been for the last 30 + years ..... it was a nice way to begin a new tradition!

17. What is your favorite dessert after Christmas dinner? I would have to say pecan pie when it's there .... this year, i had a cocktail for dessert. ;o)

18. What is your favorite Christmas song? I have too many to only choose one ..... I'd have to say The Nutcracker Suite soundtrack is very high on the list, though .....

19. Kerstkransjes. Do you like 'em? don't think i've had them ... but i know i'd like them!


20. What is your favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life and the all time favorite A Christmas Story.

thanks again F! :O)

That was fun .... I'll be back with an update soon ..... Merry Merry!

Holiday Tradition

Today is the day of Nutcracker. My niece, the dancer, K, is performing in Festival Ballet's Nutcracker.

And my Kgal and I are going for our third straight year of mommy-and-me time to the Nutcracker. Tonight.

:O)

I am so excited.

So is she.

New shoes, a beautifully hand made velvet dress by Mimi, and handmade velevet cape "like Christine's in Phantom of the Opera, mommy!" as she said .....

Oh, we are all giddy and electric with excitement.

My niece is like a fabulous added bonus to our evening ......

go here: www.festivalballet.com

and you can read all about the company and see the excitement!

Have a wonderful weekend ..... off to get ready!

what happened?

really.

what the heck happened to the last two weeks?

whoosh ~ ~ ~

yeowza, i think that the elder smart folks that used to tell me about time flying were right.

{sigh}

the kids are busy, and bustling Christmas energy balls. and therefore, we are busy. and bustling, too.

some good stuff first, as i find it enjoyable to rattle on about good things. :O)

C is the funniest kid on the planet right now. i swear, i might have to get him on a stage and make some money with the comedy routine. of late, his gig is singing - at.the.top.of.his.lungs. Christmas songs. word for word, relatively in tune, and dancing with the music he is making. he repeats that "this is the favoritist time of year, this Holiday time, isn't it yours??" he received a whoopie cushion in the 'countdown stockings' we have as one of our advent calendar-type fun things here (25 socks from our very own collections hanging by clips on a rope across the sliding glass door in the kitchen - SO stinking cute! got the idea from a mag article) and the child has been 'hiding' it under everyone's fanny just before they sit to make the loudest, and most obnoxious noise one can ever hear. then he rolls, i mean belly rolls with laughter at his own antics. the noise just tickles his funny bone. best $1.50 ever spent, i am telling you. arm farts. those may have been invented for that kid to execute at the most hysterical moments. it's hard not to laugh, even when you're trying to tell him that "at times, C, those are not appropriate ...."

and the yo-mamma jokes - oh, dear heavens, are you kidding me? my lovely dh busts a gutt when C tells one .... even after he's been 'spoken' to from the bus driver that, ahem, those are NOT appropriate bus conversation pieces.

but really, i laugh, and just watch, and get entertained. it's free, afterall. and he's only 7!

oh, yeah, and this little diddie: he told one of his hockey coaches that "we are only 3% Jewish, that's why we don't have a tree up yet, but, yeah, we do celebrate only Christmas". coach almost choked from laughing.

3% Jewish? where's he get his material? heh

and then we have the K gal - she is an absolute treasure. she is so kind, and so giving, and so perfect for this family. she has her silly moments, and her funny little ways, but her forte is loving. :o) she is just so nurturing, and caring. she has been taking care of everyone - including C when he was ill for a day or two, and needed to be out of school for one day - she cried for him that he was "left behind" and not able to go to school, she ran in from the bus to check on him and see if there was anything that he needed .... just a sweetheart. she is so sensitive, and loving. i love that about her. she will smile and cheer you up, and just change your day at any given moment.

oh, and she laughs like there is NO stopping her at her brother. she thinks he is the butter that goes on bread, and the best thing since the sliced bread. loves him. absolutely. unequivically.


in other news, C was ill this week, and that was not much fun. thankfully, he bounced back like a champ. he was out of school for only one day (his first EVER sick day out of school!) but he did vomit. and that folks, is waht this mamma can't handle so well. ick. i can handle blood. i can handle bones protruding through skin. i can even handle open wounds. diarhea, and vomit are a wee bit more challenging.

i have been lucky though, Mother Nature (to be referred to as MN now) knows this about me, and she is a kind soul. this was only C's second vomitting experience. and K has only had one. so, yes, i know, ridiculous when i hear all the horrible stories from other parents whose children seem to prefer that method of being ill, but again, good old MN is kind. or she is hoping i will repay her somehow .......

we got our tree finally. in a strange twist, we took our Jewish little friend with us to pick it out, and that was really rather funny .... she thought it was a real treat, as it was her first ever (she's 6) and we thought it was cool to see our two telling her all about the adventure of "tree-getting". S and i are still astounded at the speed in which we picked, payed, and put it up. literally, less than 1 hour to get it all done. we could conceivably decorate it tonight too (fresh cut, no need to let it drop) however, the squirts are sleeping already, S is playing baseball (readying for the Florida trip in a few weeks for a tournament) and i am about ready to turn in myself.

so, that's a beginning of an update ... and a little insight into the laughter you've been hearing from this house ....

'tis good this thing they call life with kids.

'tis good.

smile!

exactly!

A lesson for us all -BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid.

I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big
sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even
dummies know that!"My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that
day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma
always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous"
cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said
so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told
her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted....
"Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for
years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and
let's go.""Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my secondworld-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.

As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten
dollars.That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy
something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then
she turned and walked out of Kerby's.I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but
never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big
and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching
that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it
for.I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors,
the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about
thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid
with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went
out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling
the teacher that he had a cough, but all of us kids knew that Bobby
Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat.

I fingered the
ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a
coat!I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real
warm, and he would like that."Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter
asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed
a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag,
smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of
the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her book) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it.Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I
crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down
on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to
open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering,
beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized
that those awful rumors about Santa Clause were just what Grandma said they were -- ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on
his team.

I still have her book, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.


May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS
that care...And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Clause!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
with a second and first grader here, electric with excitement over the santa clause mystery, and the magic of Christmas, this couldn't have come at a better time!

It was a HUGE success!

:O)

I was so happy for her .... packed house, loads of yummies from the friend who catered for me (and is starting his very own business, too) and loads of happy ladies buying ....

buying .....

and buying!

My mom was so thrilled, and so overwhelmed with the purchasing .... the evening was a success, and truly a kick off for great things to come!

Friday however, was a recovery day. ;) *somebody* had some red wine Thursday evening at the successful party, and her head was a wee bit tender in the AM. It was a challenge, ahem for her to function for the first few hours of the morning. But with time, and a gallon of water, I, erhm, SHE seemed to feel somewhat back to her old self.

she went to bed early Friday night though. :

another hockey day today, in a far away city ... a little drive, with the little man, and a great game he played. daddy stayed home today with the little lady for some QT and some holiday decorating (yep, earning some browning points rigging up those lights, he is!) and the place looks great!

looking forward to our Sunday .... some skating in the AM, hockey team photos, and then a later afternoon game ..... in between there, perhaps a tree tagging!

there is a little nip in the air tonight, and with that nip and the lights up and on the house, the Holiday cards almost ready to be sent off with the post office, i am feeling very, very festive .... december arrived *just in time* ~~

let the Holidays begin!

have a great sunday!

Getting Excited Here!

tomorrow's the night (have I mentioned it here, yet?) the jewelry, crafts, art, and children's clothing party I am having for my mom. she is the featured artist, and she is so ready with SO much stuff!

dude .... i mean endless treats, and treasures. the stuff is fantastic, and all personally made. she is so dang talented! and i am so proud of her! we are currently investigating a website for her, and once up and running, you can bet i'll be listing it here .....

i have 45 people coming, and a caterer. (oooo the decadence!) and my dh is planning on hanging with the kiddies until they head to bed, and he may sneak out after they are sleeping to "escape all those women" haha

so, i will post some photos, and show the goods. she will be taking orders for anyone interested, too.

report cards

so, first i'll do the school report:

yep, first quarter is finished. the kids have completed their beginning steps to the new school year.

i am so proud. :O) so, so very proud.

C received an excellent report, and K's is just wonderful, too!

clearly, they love what they are doing (save for the music class that C received a little less in effort than other areas, when asked about it "well, mom, it's kinda boring ... we sing and clap, and play instruments. I'd rather do P.E." hmmmmm i can see that, no question) and they BOTH got outstanding social and behavioral comments. both teachers feel strongly that they are happy to be in school, and love helping other kids, and possess a strong desire to learn, their reading and comprehension skills are well above level. math is a strong component in their days, and they are tracking very well with this, science is a strength and C has a special affinity towards it, with the teacher really highlighting that! :o) and lastly, and probably the one item that really makes my heart swell with pride (and daddy's too) are the comments about their pleasantness, their magnetic personalities, and their terrific sense of humor. i for one, find it especially gratifying that they include this info in the report card.

see, shouldn't i be so proud?

second - thanksgiving dinner report card:

a resounding A! My sil and brother did a fabu job at their first go of it, and the kids all had a blast! 7 grandchildren and 8 adults, 3 dogs (ours stayed home, otherwise there'd have been 5 dogs) .... :o\ and we all made it, ate it, and enjoyed it. yum. favorite holiday BY FAR.

thirdly - the extra long weekend report card:

definitely an A as well ... right now winding down from the beautiful sunny Sunday here, i was alone with the squirts, dh attended the Patriot's Game, and deservedly so - his birthday today - and the kids and i had a very mellow day. they were playing outside most of the day, i popped in an out, played a little, and chatted a little, and then tonight we 3 snuggled for a movie - The Wild. good one ... liked it. they were snoozing since 7:30 (did i mention the busy part of the long weekend???) and they are so happy to be in their nice clean sheets. :o) i'm about t-15 minutes to do the same .....

so, about a year ago this time, i mentioned on my first time blog entries how thankful i am for the utter lucky status i have .... here i am again, utterly lucky. :o)

i am thankful for:

my beautiful healthy family
my wonderful supportive husband
my terrific, and comfortable home
my lovely friends, on so many levels
the flexible career we both have
the opportunity to share the lives of my kids
the honor to be part of this family
the ability to express my thoughts, and opinions
love, freedom, and peace of mind

and one last thing -

as we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. J.F.K.

what are you thankful for?

have a great Monday!

"The book you want to write, what's going to be in it?"

that's what the *imagination prompter* said to me last night.

i haven't clicked on that in months. several months.

and that, that simple statement was sitting there, staring at me from the screen.

i sat back in my chair. swallowed hard, and cleared my eyes. how on earth did that prompter know what was on my mind. what's been on my mind for months ..... all i can think of is my book. i even thought of a title. i've got the frame, and the theme.

now i need to just go.

doing it isn't even a scary thing. i am not afraid. 5 years ago i was. i am not any more.

i believe that there are ways of reading "signs", and ways of perceiving "signs". this spoke to me.

this prompt has me.

i even wrote it on a paper next to my monitor here.

it is time.

i need to do this.

this is the face of a girl

that lives right behind my house. she moos, and she watches the people stroll by, and meanders through the roomy farm she lives on. we watch her from our house, able to see her walking around, enjoying her life. we walk over to visit her, and moo to her and her farm-mates. and most of all, we hear her talking to her family, and filling the air with her voice. she recently had a baby, and she tenderly cares for her. there are three babies that were born, and the mommies are amazing with them. it is so neat to see it, and talk to my kids about the circle of life.

i love that we live in the fourth (or maybe the third?) largest city in our state, and there is a girl that looks like this behind my house.

she has a few sisters with her, and some two legged animals with wings, too. right in front of her house is a pond with *tons* of Canadian Geese. there are bunnies, and chipmunks, and skunks, and hedgehogs too.

yep, the country is everything that it's cracked up to be. there are three other farms right next to us (and about 10 within 2 square miles!) the largest right near us is that aforementioned girl's, but the next largest is about 3 or 4 minutes walking distance away. there they have horses, lots of them, and my little gal here *loves* to visit her girls at that one. it is wonderful to go outside at night, with all the little house lights on, and just listen to the breeze. the quiet is delicious, and the clean air is spectacular.

i feel so lucky to be here in the place. so very lucky......

a terrific weekend here. fun with some friends friday night at our house, two hockey games (a win and a loss - but very well played, nonetheless) piano lesson (with an awesome report from the teacher that she is doing so, so well!) gymnastics practice, the beginning of some car shopping with a great test drive, some holiday shopping, and now, snuggling with clean kids under a blanket for a good family movie night.

good stuff. 'tis good, I say.

have a great night!

10 things that make me happy today

* a layer of stress has been removed from this house, peace is restored, smiles abound
* my kids laughed ALL day today - with each other
* my son had an absolute blast with hockey practice tonight
* my daughter thought that her 4 hour playdate with her friend today was a slice of heaven sent JUST to her
* my dad came over for dinner and loved the chicken soup I made
* Thanksgiving is NOT at our house this year
* my parents house sold, after 15 months
* I am chipping away at holiday shopping
* my husband cleaned the basement today, getting ready for finishing
* I *MAY* be able to have a scrapping area all to myself down there

what makes you happy?

I have so much to write ....

and so little brain power to do it tonight! ;)

It has been a long week, one full of too little sleep (even for ME!) and full of lots of organizational things - as well as work. (sheesh, you'd think people would understand that I have lots of life to be gettin' on with for work to be in the way. ;)

ahem.

but it was a good week, all the same.

holiday cards are done - even printed! and some holiday shopping is even done - i am chip, chip, chippin' away at that list for Old St. Nick! (just stumped on hubby .... any suggestions?)

got my first-evah mom's (as in MY mom) party invites all set for the handing out. (having her art wares showcased here at my house for a holiday shopping extravaganza ...) very excited about that! she is UBER talented, and finally - FINALLY - has her stock up for selling. have 45 people on the invite list, and all can bring a friend - I secretly hope she sells out of stuff so she can have people pining for her art. :O) it'll be arts, jewelry, crafts, children's clothes, and trinkets she has been making. oh, she is so talented. i am so excited for it! anyone wanna come?

getting closer to the solid plans for Disney after xmas for the baseball tourney.

beginning the pre-holiday purge of kids "things" going - clothes, toys, stuff - so that in the receiving, we are also giving. in addition, getting the adopt a family plans solidly in place as well.

just general good things going on. hair cut tomorrow. out with my cousin in the evening, and then hockey and piano for the weekend. good stuff.

just lots of it.

:o)

I love this

..... and the entire roll of film I shot for our holiday cards!


this is one from the roll, and it's not even the "chosen one" for the cards .... but i love,love,love it!




I have to explain that the photo shoot was such a blast with giggling, and silly faces, and just an overall feel of glee from them. it was a roll of 24, and i am needing to choose only one. ;)

jeez, they are getting SO BIG!

boys ...

here are my two fellas..... well, K's *and* my two fellas.

she and I are the luckiest gals on the face of the earth. aren't we??? look at these two faces, just two peas in a pod ... we were on a trip to the pumpkin patch here afew weeks ago



and this ... this is the smile that melts my heart. and hers, I am telling you. man, she loves her brother, and that is an absolute treasure! :O)





and really, what would a post-Halloween post be without a silly candy haul photo of the cheesy-grin fella? he was mid sentence / song when I snapped, but the glee in his smile kills me. He was Manny Ramirez for the ToT'ing, so that explains the eye black.

good stuff this age they are at. :O)

Be

just like that.


be.

i look out into my world, into the faces of my children, and my husband. They are so content. So pleased with the here - with the now. They are just be-ing.

it is joyful to see it. It warms my heart, and tickles my soul.

i love them.

so very much.

my son had a playdate this week that made him so happy, and so giggly. it wasn't anything out of the oridnary for this kid. he plays everyday. he has friends over all the time. he is over someone's house the rest of the time.

why does this make you so happy? i ask .... because mom, J is so fun, and his house is so cool, and we laugh. A LOT - my belly wiggles when we see each other. :)

i see mom at the store today, and she confirms the giggles that occurred. she tells me that J fell off his chair at dinner he laughed so hard, and she enjoyed having my son with her for the afternoon. you know, she says, his face, i just love his little face .... i think he is the cutest kid in the world. (this coming from a mom of two beautiful, and scrumptious boys, by the way)

yeah, i echo, the giggles are what get me every time, too.

my daughter announced she wants to help people with all her heart someday, and be a doctor. or a veterinarian, you know, i've always wanted to do that when i grow up, mom. but this day i want to help people. maybe i'll help animals tomorrow.

yeah. anything is possible, kid. anything.

unique.
genuine.
gentle.
funny.
open.

be.

I believe ....

I believe-
That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe-
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe-
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe-
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe-
That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe-
That you should always leave others with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe-
That you can keep going long after you can't.

I believe-
That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe-
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe-
That regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I believe-
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe-
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe-
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I believe-
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe-
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe-
That just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe-
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe-
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe-
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe-
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe-
That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe-
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I believe-
That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe-
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe-
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I believe-
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe-
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

isn't that just so true? all of it?

My cousing sent this to me, and I really loved it. I am making a layout with it.

wanted to pass on here .....

A Rainy Saturday

hockey game (at a rink 1.5 hours away). check.

lunch with the family. check.

warm heat eminating from the stove whilst tea is brewing. check.

brother and sister gleefully playing pirates and maiden-in-distress. check.

dogs hovering at my feet awaiting yet the 356786645th ear rub from me. today. check.

pool about to overflow from heavy rains. check.

husband off to purchase pump to evacuate the water from said pool. check.

friends en route from Maine (two couples, one very, very pregnant with twins) for the night. check.

excitement brewing for triple date with said couples arriving for adult conversation and fun. check.

sitters for aforementioned pirate and maiden planned for evening. check.

and it's 1:00PM on Saturday.

Hope your day is as fun, and as filled with things you love!

and here is a little thing I received via email today ... thought it was neat.

The task is what it is. Your attitude is what you decide it is going to be.
Treasure the effort and you'll move effectively through it. Treasure the effort, and you'll joyfully create solid, lasting value.

-- Ralph Marston

yeah, I like that.

a day in the life .....

of us.

I have been feeling especially happy the last few weeks. It feels so good, and so pleasant to be around me - I mean, I am happy to be around me, hopefully OTHERS feel the same way! :O)
I am generally in a good mood, lots of energy, and happy to be *here* in this life. The past few weeks have been especially terrific, and that mood is even more pleasant.

The kids are really enjoying their school, their classes, their teachers, and their relationship building with friends has been going well ( a few snags here and there, but in general typical 7 and 6 year old things ...) I have been asked to be one of the room moms for K's class. :O) Love that stuff. I went to dinner with the Kindergarten teacher and two of the room moms from last year earlier this week. I have no doubt that Mrs. G will be a friend for many many years to come ... I hope so anyway!

The kids are both deeply involved in their activities and really finding pleasure with the fun of it all - a little update on that part of their lives:

Hockey is just amazing this year - this kid is just exploding in his effort, energy, understanding of the game, and his extreme pleasure in just being there. He is the leading goal scorer on his team right now, and they have been some really great shots he's made. The team is really beginning to blend together, and I can see that the remainder of the year will be equally as enjoyable! He's already talking about baseball for the spring, too!

Gymnastics is going so well - she has been doing backhandsprings and back hip circles on her own now for a bit, and she just BEAMS with excitement that she is doing that! She is finding the grace, and beauty in thje movement now, and that adds a whole new facet. Piano is just a treat! She is clearly, and without question a sponge for new things .... she picks it up without much difficulty, and she is happy to learn new things.

My job is keeping me "just right" busy. I am having terrific success with the sales aspect, and the product has been wonderful to work with. We launched a new product and that is just beginning to take off!

Sean is enjoying his job, and the learning curve has been a good ride so far. He is anxious to really dig in deep, and the initial strategy is to meet and greet, and then dig in. He's enjoying it, though.

Unfortunately, no more offers on my parents house. Looks like it will end in a way that we all didn't expect, but they will bounce back without question. I am putting together a "book of memories" of each person's account of the memories that house has brought to them. We are a family of 14 in the immediate family so there will be 14 stories for them to read. We are compiling the book to give to them on Thanksgiving. I think they will really love it. I am also planning a nice Christmas Present for them, related to the house, of course.

So, in all, that's what's been happening. Nothing really crazy, just life - keeping me busy and keeping the family busy.

Good stuff.

I will try and blog a bit more. That's what I'm hoping anyway .....

Number 9 ... Number 9 ...

We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary Thursday this week, and it still feels so amazing that we are *already* there. It has been an amazing ride, and a wonderful adventure.

Complete with challenges, and bumps, and of course frustration at times, but the majority of time has been wonderful, and fun, and loving, and exciting.

And, the reality of marrying your best friend, and living with your true soul mate, and building your future with him, is just phenominal.

I so often ask why I am so lucky, and why I get to walk in these shoes, in this life with this great guy....

So, thank you, S, for the 9 years filled with everything and more that marriage is supposed to be, for the love, for the adventure, and most of all for the friendship.

143 always,

:O)

* ________________* {insert inappropriate word here}

dagnabbit.

the people backed out of the sale of my parents home.

it's like a bad dream.

so sad.

so frustrated, and so overwhelmingly roller-coastered OUT!

if you have some peaceful, calming, good luck vibes sittin' around doin' nothing, would you mind sparing a few?

:O(

12 months .... and 35 years later

the house I grew up in will be inhabited by another family.

my parents got an offer Friday, and accepted it today. 12 months after placing it on the market.

and 35 years after moving in with their 7,4, and 2 year old children.

their house, my childhood home, is now in someone else's capable (I hope!) hands.

I am choked up with this. it is bittersweet for sure. it is time for it to happen, and it is necessary. but that doesn't make it any easier.

and it will be a very emotional day.

I learned to swim in the very first built in pool in the city there (my dad built it)
I kissed my first boy on the porch there.
I had long-into-the-night chats with my sister, and my friends, and boyfriends there.
I got dressed for my proms there.
I had one of the biggest confirmation parties ever there as my parents were at a fundraiser gala.
my bridal and baby showers were there.
I got dressed for my wedding there, and had all of my family pictures there.
I brought my first baby, at 12 weeks old, home there where we lived for 4 months while we renovated our first home we purchased.

my grandfather passed away there.

so many memories. so many beautiful times there.

35 years have passed, and my family has the memories to prove it.

time ....

I can't seem to find enough of it the last few weeks .... as a result, the computer has suffered with my absence. Thankfully, there has been little complaints from the 'ole fella.

Busy with daily life, and a few extras ...

S was away for a boys annual weekend golfing in the lovely weather of Myrtle Beach, then I was away for work (literally 5 hours after he landed, I was off on a plane ....) for a few days, and, AND the kids never slowed down in consideration of single parenthood for us (the nerve, right?). So, without question, spending time apart has solidified the fact that S and I will be sticking together. At least for another 9 years. (marriage anniversary #9 this week, it's true ....)

the kiddies are doing well. C seems to be transisitioning with some school stuff, and struggling with a facet or two of relationship building. Not enough for us to worry (well, that's not true, we ALWAYS worry, right?) but enough struggle to warrant discussions with him. He seemingly is weepier at odd times for him, so that has our attention, and of course, gives us the platform to open the discussion. He is processing well, and we are feeling that he is handling it. He is responding to the discussions well, and has some good insight into the situations, and that leads us to independently handling it. I will say, all of it just allows us the connection to the little man he is. 'tis a work in progress with growing up thing, isn't it?

K is just blossoming. She is just so connected to the environment of school, and friends, and development. we are just so enjoying her journey. she added skating to her repetoire of skills recently, and seems to really thrive in the adventure. she assures us that "she will not be playing hockey, she is only learning to skate". yeah, we'll see. she is still deeply entrenched in gymnastics, and piano, so this is an additional. thankfully, gym is two times a week, and piano once, so the once a week skating isn't putting her over the edge, so to speak.

other than all of that (good gravy, that IS enough, yes???) life is ticking ....

I'll try and not ignore the computer too much, and get here a wee bit more.

Truthfully, my life is exactly where I have wanted it for, well, for EVER. :O)

have a good night, folks.

And yet, another weekend ....

...is upon us.

This has been a busy week. And the busy continues onward through the weekend ......

I had some work organization to get done, and some accounts that needed to be seen. Then on Wednesday, my dear hubby flew off to Myrtle Beach through this Sunday for golf, golf, beer, golf, and more golf. ;) So I have been a "single mom" for a few days already, and it's going, well, it's going. It isn't easy, but it isn't impossible, either. We have tons of things happening here this week and weekend from a social/activity (as in a wine tasting, a hockey game, hockey practice, a wedding, and a surprise party - yes, I am serious ALL of that!) stand point, so that's been a drag without a *mate*, but other than that, the kids are doing fine - and so am I. The kids had a melt down (I reallllly miss daddy ..... kind of melt down) initially, but it's been better since then.

Went to dinner tonight with the kids to a very kid-friendly, fun little ice-cream-shop-type of local place here. Had a good time, and of course, topped it with ice cream for dessert, them - not me :)

Heading to Chicago for a few days next week for a product launch with my company. Looking forward to seeing the new product, as I hear it is AWESOME, but not being out of home turf, you know? As my friend, Fransie indicated, when the mommy leaves, it's a full time job just to get out the door to go where you're going. So .... during this busy weekend, I will be readying the kids, and the homestead for the departure of "mommy". Thank goodness my hubby is a capable dude, I think I'd just die if I didn't have that .... :O)

SO, with that, off to enjoy the quiet, resting house before the busy begins tomorrow.

before I go, though, I had promised some toothless grin shots of the little K-gal. The really up close one cracks me up, she looks like the Blairwitch project with a silly grin, doesnt she?? Maybe a Saturday Night Live future in parodies? :)

anyway, here they are ... and no, the "picture" hasn't changed yet - not a single sign of a new tooth replacing the ones that left. I'm getting a wee bit nervous. Ever heard of that? It's been two + months. eek, huh?





have a good night, all! and a wonderful long weekend!