25 days until Christmas

My dining room is filled with gift baskets, boxes of treasures and packing materials. Not complaining but why is time always rushing towards us, no matter how prepared we are?Deep breath and go forward. Blessings are all around us, so have to appreciate all that is there. Kids arrive 3 weeks and a day. These are my blessings.

Fa la la la la...www.4sistersgifts.com. I do love the name.

still learning.. and still thankful

I am reminded that even a crazy, rainy day at the beach with my family and friends is better than a day anywhere else.

I also know that sitting in my beach chair near the sand or in the water with my mermaids is still the best. And now I get to watch my grand merkids..

"Gonna get back to the coast..."

Knee deep in the water somewhere....

That song will always make me smile, I had it on non stop today as I mowed the lawn in the Berkshires. Missing the ocean, the family time, the craziness and joy of my kiddos and assorted friends. Hope the time of my "coolchange" will come soon, I really do love the ocean. For now I am thankful for our family, our precious time together and everyones' health.

Summertime, summertime...sum sum summertime..

July?? How did that happen? Saw most of the kiddos over 4th of July. Had good news from Em, hooray!!! Dave and I just back from seeing Rachel in The Buddy Holly Story in Pa. She was fantastic of course. She really does light up the stage. She sang, she danced, she played the piano and was "sassy" .. what a role.. hardly had to act :) Now off to another beach road trip to Delaware with Kate, Tom and family. Then a couple weeks of regrouping then off to Ol' Cape Cod.

Really look forward to this time to sit back, relax and appreciate all of our blessings and to read.. while at the ocean, with my loved ones. That's just about perfect. And awaiting news from Keel & PJ about the birth of our newest grand kiddo. Life is good! Sending out thanks and appreciating my blessings.

Now off to cook some Armenian food. So what else is new....

Happy 2011

Really?

Wow, a mile stone year ahead, I can just feel it. Tonight for the first time since 1977 we will spend New year's Eve just the two of us.

Really? Yes, really. At first it was a sad thought and although I would welcome anyone of my family here this evening, it is not to be.

So, we awoke, lit a fire and had a delicious breakfast. Then we got a life changing and heart warming phone call. We then went to lunch to celebrate at a great Japanese restaurant. I introduced Dave to a fav, the bento box. We have dinner planned and the asti and champagne chilling.

Here's to a happy and healthy and prosperous new year for us all!

Peace!

Normally.. ha!

I am not bothered by small things. Generally I am too busy doing to notice what others are doing. Also, I look around and know I am truly blessed by so many wonderful gifts in this world. My children, now adults, my grand children, true blessings and of course my husband. He is a special man and I am lucky to have him in my life.

That being said I am noticing a few pet peeves. Is this the sign of getting older, impatient (even more) or just watching and listening more? One of the newest (and there have been many) is the "new" saying that everyone seems to say, every season has one, every quarter it changes, some people stay with a saying for far too long "like", "as if", etc. Now it appears to be"see what I did there?" Yes, I heard what you did there, you were funny, you quoted or misquoted something. I "saw" what you did there." The other is critiquing of Christmas music. I do it myself. I have fallen into the "I hate this holiday song" rhythm. I love most and many still quite unexpectedly make me cry. I will just have to work on not hating or maybe get busy doing rather than listening.

Blessings

The main thing is the love. We are so truly blessed to have such a wonderful and kind family. Having all the family home was invigorating and exhausting. Having Keel here before everyone gave us a special time that we have not had in a very long while. They are such great parents. NJ is so sweet. Wish we could do it all again. And then to have all the babies, of all ages, under one roof, fantastic. Grace is the time that we had to spend together.