Meet The Trio

Meet Jake.  Jake is outgoing, friendly, kind, considerate, compassionate, well-loved, and a great soccer player.  Little things mean a lot to him, like the simple watch I got him when we went school clothes shopping (which he raves about) (though he forgot and left it at his pap's first day of school).  Anyway, you get the picture.

Meet the trio.  Marissa - entering middle school this year.  Jake, 5th grade.  Summer, 1st grade.  Report at days end was good news.  They all loved school this year!

Summer was so excited to wear her new school clothes and carry her new lunch container and she couldn't wait to see all her friends.  Just look at that smile!

Marissa is a beautiful, sensitive and quiet young lady and was super-nervous about going to a new school this year!  The good news - her new school is the school Jake has been attending all along.  He took her under his wing and made the day especially easy for her... even introducing her to his friends.   He is a sweet, sweet boy!!  

And I am a very blessed Grammy!

In The Summertime

In the summertime when the weather is hot

You can stretch right up and touch the sky

When the weather's fine, you got swimming you got swimming on your mind

Have a drink (of water) have a drive
Go out and see what you can find

If you're face is cute find a mirror that's fit

If you're in PopPop's lap take a picture of it

Eat the crabs and the shrimp and the pizza and fries
Don't forget them when you dine

We're all glad people
We're having fun last day
of vaycay before school starts.... tomorrow!!!

Oh When the weather's fine..  we got swimming
We got swimming on our mind...
 
Luck, blessings and especially prayers over all back-to-school kiddies heading out tomorrow!!

In the meantime, Have a drink have a drive
Go out and see what you can find...

Don't blink!  Before you know it the song will be SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER!

Wet Oatmeal Kisses

It was like magic, having a baby growing inside of me.  I could feel fists and feet kicking and poking... eager to get out and begin a life in this big bad world.  You were my first.  From you, I learned much.

I was only twenty-three back then, working in a sewing factory and relishing not only how my co-workers said I glowed during my pregnancy with you... but also the baby shower that they surprised me with weeks before your birth.  On the way home that day, I stopped at Dairy Queen for a Hot Fudge Brownie Delite.  I was eating for two ya know! 

So my weight went from 98 lb  to 155 lb in nine months.  Then came you.

Happy couldn't describe my state of mind.  I couldn't believe my miracle.  I'd watch your crib at night and pray to God that He'd shelter and protect you always.

You grew.  Learned about life.  Had fun.  Made mistakes.  Cried.  Learned more about life... then became the wonderful person you are today.

I cherish you're beautiful and loving heart.

And as I go through your baby book I remember...

A time of firsts...

 a time of innocence...

and I become saddened by my little boy gone. 

Wet Oatmeal Kisses

by Erma Bombeck

One of these days you'll explode and shout to all the kids, "Why don't you just grow up and act your age!" And they will...


Or, "You guys get outside and find something to do -- without hurting each other And don't slam the door!" And they don't.


You'll straighten their bedrooms until it's all neat and tidy, toys displayed on the shelf, hangers in the closet, animals caged. You'll yell, "Now I want it to stay this way!" And it will...


You will prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't had all the olives picked out and a cake with no finger traces in the icing and you'll say, "Now this is a meal for company." And you will eat it alone...


You'll yell, "I want complete privacy on the phone. No screaming, Do you hear me?" And no one will answer.


No more plastic tablecloths stained. No more dandelion bouquets. No more iron-on patches. No more wet, knotted shoelaces, muddy boots or rubber bands for ponytails.


Imagine.... a lipstick with a point, no babysitters for New Years Eve, washing clothes only once a week, no PTA meetings or silly school plays where your child is a tree, no car pools, blaring stereos or forgotten lunch money.


No more Christmas presents made of library paste and toothpicks, no wet oatmeal kisses, no more tooth fairy, no more giggles in the dark, scraped knees to kiss or sticky fingers to clean.


Only a voice asking, "Why don't you grow up?" And the silence echoes: "I did".

Happy 40th Birthday Jack!  You will always be my #1.

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

With so many great vacation moments it's hard to pinpoint the highlights...  but the live piano player in the lobby each night would most certainly be among the best.

Upon our arrival to the lobby the first night we were greeted with this song in honor of the shirt I was wearing that read "DOG MOM"

Requests were then taken and we were a part of a cool sing-a-long.  Love these old songs.  Music, Music, Music!!

The first night, this boy sat quietly beside me in a big overstuffed chair and he asked if he could play something.   Do you know how to play?  They asked.  He said he could play a little...  and he'd improvise.

All I can say is WOW!!!

And then the next night, a different piano player.  Mama Mia?  I requested.  And he got out his big thick book and played a mix of Abba songs that kept the girls (and the grammy) tapping their feet and dancing along.

Words Hurt

The one good thing about leaving the warm sand and fresh ocean breeze at the beach to return to the mountains and back to the daily grind is... 

Nothing.  I can think of no one good reason.  Vacations should last forever.

Why would one wish to leave fun and sun?

Every year though, I think...  am I getting too old for this?  Walking through the hot sand to the water is not my idea of fun. However - - -  once I hit the umbrella and feel the sea breeze sweep over me, it's like  ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Directly in front of our hotel sits an umbrella/beach chair/boogie board etc. rental business.  All you have to do is tell them what you want and pay them and they follow you to your desired location on the beach where they plant the umbrella for the day.  At the end of the day they go out and retrieve it.

We always get an umbrella...  and sometimes chairs.  Beside of us this year was another older couple who had enjoyed the luxury of a chaise lounge for each of them under their umbrella and they were kind enough to gift it to us when they had had enough and were ready to head back up to their room.

When we left, we found another couple to pay it forward to...  They appreciated it as much as we did!    If the Lord wills us another vacation at the beach next year, I will have a chaise lounge under my umbrella!!

Wait!  What?!?  You can't think of one single reason to come home?  Seriously?  Not even one??   Well then!  My new pack consists of just me, Squeaky Man and Wormy-Friend.  You need to make it up to me... somehow...  Words hurt, ya know?  Use your imagination if you will.  Toys.  Treats.  More Treats.  Playtime.  Walks.  More Treats.  More Treats.  More Treats.  A belly rub.  More Treats.  It will take a very long time for me to forgive you...  but I think it can be done.  We will take it one day at a time.    

Go...  

Wedding On The Beach

A wedding on the beach. 

Congratulations to Rob and Theresa!

Five Best

Top Five Best Things About Going On Vacation

1.  Spending time with loved ones

2. Stopping along the way to check out groovy stuff.

 3.  Laughing in the elevator at with grown-ups who forget how to put their shoes on the right feet.

4. Feeling groovy

5. Getting treats and presents when Mom and Dad get home.  Now where-oh-where can I hide this cookie that once said good girl but melted into goere goewu or something like that.

And why does this kitty kat smell?

BooHoo

I'm having some trouble uploading pictures from my iPhone.  I think I took too many.  Like, way too many.  Ha!

Back from the beach, but still getting my bearings...

 I will be able to visit everyone later in the week, after I get caught up with work and everything. And of course, I have collected enough material to talk about vacation for weeks.  **OH MY**  I will try to make my postings short.

There's nothing like a little time away to give you a second wind.   We had a gorgeous week at a beautiful hotel with a lot going on!

For the girls the fun's not over yet.  Tonight is an indoor sleep-over in tents at Summer's karate place - Kickmasters.  They have been looking forward to it!  As for me, it's back to work on Monday.  boohoo.

It's A Family Thing

Tomorrow will be the start of shimmering waters and sandcastles as we head to the beach for the week.

Gracie will have my sister to dote over her and house sit.

Party! Party! Party!  I will help Angie watch the house.

So I will be taking another blog break but I will be back next week.

Last year was fun, and this year we will be adding some new faces.  It's a family thing...

2017

It's A Mom Thing

 This morning it was up early to get #2 Son to the hospital for a colonoscopy and upper GI.  Sleep did not come easy last night, even tho I went to bed early.  I tossed and I turned and I read and I tossed and turned some more.  When I finally slept, my phone played the Walton's Theme song (ring tone applied for #2 Son) at 5 AM.

"I can't drink all this stuff!"  He said.  I understood.  Oh, did I understand!!!!!

He was on his second round of poison  colonoscopy prep stuff and he was sick in more ways than one.  He has horrible allergies and he was covered in rash and sick to his stomach.  I told him not to worry, I'm sure he had gotten enough of it into his system to clean out and move forward with the procedure.

All looks good but there was some inflammation in his stomach and the doc did some biopsies.

I should have had my video camera ready for my arrival into the room after the procedure! First words out of his mouth, "Mom, I really love you!  You are so very-very special!  You are a wonderful person!  etc. etc. etc."  Of course, a mom likes to hear those words even if it is the drugs talking...   (It's a Mom thing)

Dad.  What are you doing?  Don't!  Dad, don't roll me over on my back and rub my belly.  Not here.  Not on this chair.  You know I can't get up from this position.  Mom!  Help!!  Mom...  can ya help a dog out here?  I've been pushed over and I can't get up.   #MustGoOnADiet #TooFatToMove #Help