Today is momentous -- it is my little Kylie's third birthday. It is amazing how this extaordinary tot has morphed into the diva of all princesses almost over night. She met us (and anyone who happened to drive down their street at any time yesterday) at the door in her royal attire which included a tutu, crown and magic wand. She was so excited and verbal although I still am not fluent in Kylie-ese but "presents" rang loudly and clearly throughout her kingdom. Forget princess, this child was definitely queen for a day and all those around her were priveleged to serve her and to follow her orders.
She was awed by the many glittery princess-themed items she received, particularly a pair of high heeled sandals which she insisted on wearing and mastered a comical but effective walk that rivaled anyone on the red carpet at the Oscars. Her ensemble of ornate jewelry with long, dangling earrings, very short tutu and the high heels gave me very scary images of what she may consider high fashion in her teens. I'll be very surprised if she shows no interest in drama.
We enjoyed a beautiful purple princess cake that she had specified be chocolate and it was very good. But the first thing she said was, "I wanted yellow cake." That didn't stop her from scoffing down a big piece and I'm glad her mom didn't choke on hers.
Birthdays are meant to be celebrations of life and I am so grateful that I can celebrate Kylie's and Logan's presence in our lives and we'll soon celebrate their little brother or sister's arrival. We all will be delighted with either Colton or Sophie but think it's Sophie. Of course, most of us have been wrong both other times so no money should be placed as bets just yet.
Let the holidays begin since we're already in party mode.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Time for Change
Time for another learning experience -- motherly euphanism for "Oh, my God, what are we in for now?"! Anyone who has ever had kids probably knows to expect the unexpected and my daughter Keri will probably be re-teaching me that lesson for the next 30 years, should I survive that long.
Having departed a teaching job at a rough middle school in Dekalb County, we were delighted when she secured a position teaching fourth grade at a nearby school in August. My sighs of relief were replaced by stomach-clenching nerves recently as I witnessed her anxiety and despair over the stress and pressures of the educational system. Not one to wallow in misery for very long, Keri is in the throes of pursuing volunteer work in a foreign country. She isn't one to allow lack of income to deter her. At least it is with a missionary group that I'm familiar with since they are headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, where I'm from, and located across the street from where my dad worked for many years. "Danger" never flusters my daring daughter, while I can't even watch "24" by msyelf because I get scared to death.
The good thing about all of this frustration is that both Keri and I are feeling at peace now and are experiencing some "meant to be" moments. Of course, there are many details to be worked out, such as acceptance, and money to be earned in order to fly to training sessions in California and the actual mission site which could be Bolivia or one of various points in South America and Africa.
A couple of days ago, I read a quote from a prayer by St. Therese about not worrying, because "You won't abandon me." Amen.
Having departed a teaching job at a rough middle school in Dekalb County, we were delighted when she secured a position teaching fourth grade at a nearby school in August. My sighs of relief were replaced by stomach-clenching nerves recently as I witnessed her anxiety and despair over the stress and pressures of the educational system. Not one to wallow in misery for very long, Keri is in the throes of pursuing volunteer work in a foreign country. She isn't one to allow lack of income to deter her. At least it is with a missionary group that I'm familiar with since they are headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, where I'm from, and located across the street from where my dad worked for many years. "Danger" never flusters my daring daughter, while I can't even watch "24" by msyelf because I get scared to death.
The good thing about all of this frustration is that both Keri and I are feeling at peace now and are experiencing some "meant to be" moments. Of course, there are many details to be worked out, such as acceptance, and money to be earned in order to fly to training sessions in California and the actual mission site which could be Bolivia or one of various points in South America and Africa.
A couple of days ago, I read a quote from a prayer by St. Therese about not worrying, because "You won't abandon me." Amen.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Autumn is here!
Wow, September flew by before I truly appreciated it, but October is beautiful. What bad things can you say about a month that starts out with the feast day of St. Therese, the Little Flower, on the first and of the Guardian Angels on the second? My Catholic school roots are showing as much as my gray ones!
My son Eric loves October because it's synonymous with UGA football and every other team, college or pro, that ever crossed a field. Keri, now a fourth grade teacher in Snellville, is excited that the first quarter is almost done and can't wait for the Beer Festival in Decatur. October makes me remember various foods: apple cider, pumpkin pie, the turnips (frozen) my mom used to mash with potatoes, and the best apple pie I've ever eaten that we'd get at Wallabee Farms in Pennsylvania when we lived there. We even gladly endured the smell of cow manure as we trudged to the barn/shop where they sold wonderful, home-made ice cream as well as the pies. My dad was just telling me last week that he loved going to my brother's youth football games on Saturday mornings and now goes to watch his grandson play.
October is a time for memories, pretty flowers and yummy foods - not too bad a reputation for a month.
My son Eric loves October because it's synonymous with UGA football and every other team, college or pro, that ever crossed a field. Keri, now a fourth grade teacher in Snellville, is excited that the first quarter is almost done and can't wait for the Beer Festival in Decatur. October makes me remember various foods: apple cider, pumpkin pie, the turnips (frozen) my mom used to mash with potatoes, and the best apple pie I've ever eaten that we'd get at Wallabee Farms in Pennsylvania when we lived there. We even gladly endured the smell of cow manure as we trudged to the barn/shop where they sold wonderful, home-made ice cream as well as the pies. My dad was just telling me last week that he loved going to my brother's youth football games on Saturday mornings and now goes to watch his grandson play.
October is a time for memories, pretty flowers and yummy foods - not too bad a reputation for a month.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wedding Drama -- A True Reality Show
Well, my short trip to the Jersey Shore is history but it was a good trip. It's always fun to get together with my crazy sisters, especially when we're celebrating and are away from our own homes. The girls had rented three houses, with many bodies of adults and children packed in on beds, air matresses, couches and floors.
My niece Kelly offered to host the rehearsal party since the groom's family didn't want to. Kelly's father-in-law, John, is a wonderful caterer who happens to live nearby at the beach. The night of the party, the caterers arrived and put the food into the oven. Apparently, the former tenants had had done some cooking and smoke billowed through the house, setting off all the smoke alarms. It was very hot inside and was raining, with lots of lightning thrown in just to add to the fun. One of the rooms was flooded; they said it was from condensation but I think some sprinklers must have gone off. John had left his team to take care of everything and had gone to visit his dying sister who was in hospice. After the caterers finished serving all the food, they took their equipment and left. A mess remained. Kelly, who is a bit of a drama queen, started shrieking at her sisters to help her and lovely spats resulted and two of her three little kids were crying.
The wedding day was beautiful with clear skies and attitudes were a little sunnier too. The groom and his men arrived by boat at the yacht club where Megan and Kyle were married on the dock. The reception was a lot of fun and yes, we all boogied to We Are Family and lots of other stuff. Megan was the calmest bride I've ever seen. Of course, that may be because she and Kyle were already married. The Archdiocese of New Jersey states that couples have to be wed in a church, so they, along with only their parents went up to Newark where her uncle is a priest and were married at his church a month earlier. Fr. John graciously came down to the shore to do it again without telling anyone that they were watching a repeat performance!
I loved being with all of them but I was happy to come back to my calm life in Lilburn. At least I thought it was calm until I heard about all the drama going on in the library system. The excitement never ends.
My niece Kelly offered to host the rehearsal party since the groom's family didn't want to. Kelly's father-in-law, John, is a wonderful caterer who happens to live nearby at the beach. The night of the party, the caterers arrived and put the food into the oven. Apparently, the former tenants had had done some cooking and smoke billowed through the house, setting off all the smoke alarms. It was very hot inside and was raining, with lots of lightning thrown in just to add to the fun. One of the rooms was flooded; they said it was from condensation but I think some sprinklers must have gone off. John had left his team to take care of everything and had gone to visit his dying sister who was in hospice. After the caterers finished serving all the food, they took their equipment and left. A mess remained. Kelly, who is a bit of a drama queen, started shrieking at her sisters to help her and lovely spats resulted and two of her three little kids were crying.
The wedding day was beautiful with clear skies and attitudes were a little sunnier too. The groom and his men arrived by boat at the yacht club where Megan and Kyle were married on the dock. The reception was a lot of fun and yes, we all boogied to We Are Family and lots of other stuff. Megan was the calmest bride I've ever seen. Of course, that may be because she and Kyle were already married. The Archdiocese of New Jersey states that couples have to be wed in a church, so they, along with only their parents went up to Newark where her uncle is a priest and were married at his church a month earlier. Fr. John graciously came down to the shore to do it again without telling anyone that they were watching a repeat performance!
I loved being with all of them but I was happy to come back to my calm life in Lilburn. At least I thought it was calm until I heard about all the drama going on in the library system. The excitement never ends.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Family Wedding -- It Must Be Summer!
The symbol of summer for our family has once again arrived at our house -- a wedding invitation. Over the last several years, my son and five of my many nieces and nephews have said "I do" in assorted locations: Arizona, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and the Bahamas. A couple were in late spring but most were held during the summer. Megan, my sister Patty's daughter, will be getting married on the Jersey Shore in August. Other families schedule reunions; we usually just do weddings.
These are not simple affairs that last a few hours, but celebrations that continue over a weekend and often longer. The ceremonies are always inspiring and the beautiful receptions seem right out of a Martha Stewart book (and they might be!). My sisters appear elegant, chic and gracious. Until they get to the dance floor. Then, you'd better watch out or they'll mow you down as they work it out to "Jump" and "Celebration" and break the sound barrier with their theme song, "We Are Family." One sister changed her clothes and blew dry her hair three times at her daughter's festivities. It's tough to have fun like a teenager when you're going through menapause.
Megan's big day will be here before we know it. I sense a need to go shopping for some new dancing shoes.
These are not simple affairs that last a few hours, but celebrations that continue over a weekend and often longer. The ceremonies are always inspiring and the beautiful receptions seem right out of a Martha Stewart book (and they might be!). My sisters appear elegant, chic and gracious. Until they get to the dance floor. Then, you'd better watch out or they'll mow you down as they work it out to "Jump" and "Celebration" and break the sound barrier with their theme song, "We Are Family." One sister changed her clothes and blew dry her hair three times at her daughter's festivities. It's tough to have fun like a teenager when you're going through menapause.
Megan's big day will be here before we know it. I sense a need to go shopping for some new dancing shoes.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Max-imum Joy
Say what you will about two-year-olds, they know how to enjoy themselves. Kylie and her little brother Logan visited the library last Saturday so that Kylie could meet her idol, Max of Max and Ruby storybook fame. She sat quietly with me (usually asks "Where's Mama" and "Where's Daddy?" over and over) and listened to the story. She then stood on line with me forever since we seemed to keep ending up at the end of the queue no matter what and was so calm and patient, unlike her grandma who wanted to smack the charming little brat who screamed, "You cutted in, you cutted in" at the top of her lungs. As we got close to Max, she beamed with joy and her little arms shook in excitement. She then let her hero hug her and posed for a picture. If I could figure out how to attach a photo to this I'd do it.
My home computer is dead as a doornail so I use the one at work while I'm on the help line in between calls. One of our callers recently asked me "How much is a circumcision"? And people think my job must be boring!
The excitement didn't end with Max since we all went to eat at Bambinelli's. Thank goodness it was a pretty slow time! Kylie danced around the table (had her first ballet class that morning) twirling spaghetti as if it was streamers. Her mom ordered her ice cream for dessert after her "bites" and it arrived in a wine glass -- idiot wait staff. Her brother, who is the closest thing to a football player any 10-month old could possibly be, wasted no time scooping the ice cream out of the glass until it finally broke. His aunt Keri plopped him onto her lap and he immediately knocked her full glass of water onto her lap and he didn't have one drop on himself. Of course, she was going directly to see her boyfriend too so no chance to change. Luckily, it was very warm out and she dried before she knew it.
My replacements are here so I'll keep you posted on the exhausting -- I mean wonderful -- tales of grandmahood again soon. Toodles for now.
My home computer is dead as a doornail so I use the one at work while I'm on the help line in between calls. One of our callers recently asked me "How much is a circumcision"? And people think my job must be boring!
The excitement didn't end with Max since we all went to eat at Bambinelli's. Thank goodness it was a pretty slow time! Kylie danced around the table (had her first ballet class that morning) twirling spaghetti as if it was streamers. Her mom ordered her ice cream for dessert after her "bites" and it arrived in a wine glass -- idiot wait staff. Her brother, who is the closest thing to a football player any 10-month old could possibly be, wasted no time scooping the ice cream out of the glass until it finally broke. His aunt Keri plopped him onto her lap and he immediately knocked her full glass of water onto her lap and he didn't have one drop on himself. Of course, she was going directly to see her boyfriend too so no chance to change. Luckily, it was very warm out and she dried before she knew it.
My replacements are here so I'll keep you posted on the exhausting -- I mean wonderful -- tales of grandmahood again soon. Toodles for now.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
A Bit of Celtic Charm
Is there anyone who hasn't seen and heard the Scottish lady, Susan Boyle, who knocked the socks off the judges and audience of "Britain's Got Talent," England's equivalent of American Idol? Just to see the look of shock on Simon Cowell's face and to watch the smug spectators' snide expressions turn to "gobsmacked" looks of awe and admiration was priceless. I rarely buy CD's but I'm definitely purchasing hers when it comes out.
I am such a fan of almost everything Celtic these days. My green roots are showing -- they might be an improvement over the grey ones -- and I'm consumed with reading all kinds of novels set in Ireland and Scotland. Keri and I are planning to take a trip to Ireland and hopefully visit Scotland as well next year -- if she doesn't do something major to change that, like get married!
My parents come from County Carlow, a very small area but where many of our Irish priests in this country went to seminary. We hope to trace my family tree. Apparently, the Irish are very eager to sell you your "history" so it is necessary to bring birth or death certificates along to make sure you get your real family's information. We'll tour some of the big spots like a castle and the Blarney Stone but we are both eager to get to know some of the local folk, which my daughter assures me can be best accomplished by frequent visits to the pubs. Should be an interesting trip -- if we can remember any of the sights.
So, for the time being, may the road rise to meet you ... And when you need to see that the impossible sometimes really does come true, go to youtube to listen to Susan Boyle.
I am such a fan of almost everything Celtic these days. My green roots are showing -- they might be an improvement over the grey ones -- and I'm consumed with reading all kinds of novels set in Ireland and Scotland. Keri and I are planning to take a trip to Ireland and hopefully visit Scotland as well next year -- if she doesn't do something major to change that, like get married!
My parents come from County Carlow, a very small area but where many of our Irish priests in this country went to seminary. We hope to trace my family tree. Apparently, the Irish are very eager to sell you your "history" so it is necessary to bring birth or death certificates along to make sure you get your real family's information. We'll tour some of the big spots like a castle and the Blarney Stone but we are both eager to get to know some of the local folk, which my daughter assures me can be best accomplished by frequent visits to the pubs. Should be an interesting trip -- if we can remember any of the sights.
So, for the time being, may the road rise to meet you ... And when you need to see that the impossible sometimes really does come true, go to youtube to listen to Susan Boyle.
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