Tiffany

I met Tiffany many years ago.  At the time, she was best friends with my cousin's wife.  In later years, my cousin's best friend married Tiffany.   

We became friends, as the circle of friends would hang out and party, during my early years of my marriage.  Her and her husband Jimmy were just smitten over one another, a love that grew so strong over the past 20 years. 

TIffany was diagnosed with breast cancer about five years ago.  She fought a long hard battle and lived her life fully in these last few years.  She lost her battle on September 6, 2013.  She leaves behind a great man, who is so fragile now it hurts and two kitties that she loved more than life. 

I've been a baking fool all day.  All day.  A double rainbow cake is in the works.  She always wanted a rainbow cake made by me.  I am sad that I'm making it for her a bit late.  Also two sheets of pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting.  Oh.my.

Tomorrow we celebrate her life. 

I know she will look down from Heaven with the biggest smile.  She will watch, as we remember, honor and share the love she shared so willingly with all of us.

Miss and love you, dear sweet Tiffany.  xoxo

I miss this blog

I miss this blog.  I actually think about it quite a bit.  I compose posts in my head.  They are so darn good in my head.  At the moment anyway.  When I try to recompose them in my head later, I've forgot everything "good".

I suppose that's normal.  Or maybe not.

What do I miss?  The ability to scroll back through my life.  Reliving all the details I shared here, both in words and pictures.  Yes, I have Project Life.

Yes, I have Project Life.  I'm on year two, album 3.  2012 was my first year, and I was much better at staying caught up.  2013, I'm.a.slackin'.   Not sure why.  Perhaps because I can't find a darn thing in my craft room.  It's out of control.  It's easier to close the door than stay caught up.  Uggh.

An then there is...sports, kids, school, work, dinner.  The stuff of life.  Yeah, these things seem to take priority on most days.

At this moment, I've just returned from JH's baseball game.  I'm locked in my room.  The house is full of 8 kids.  I hear the boys and the blender, making a video while they trying funky food combos -- i.e., grapes, peanut butter and macaroni.  Blech.

Sofia is watching a new TV series.

Lilia and Bella are playing the piano.

It's loud out there, and I kind of like it.

Break

I'm taking a break.  Figuring things out....will be back soon, I hope.

hello break

There is something about the days before Christmas that are so magical.  It's something I feel in the air.  I see it in the glow of my house.  The blue from the cold outside.  The feeling I can't explain.  I love it so.  I tell my kids not to wish for Christmas to come, because it will, and then it will be over.  I don't want it to be over.  I want that magic to stay, to last longer that it will.

Christmas has come and gone and so does the magic in the air.  I don't feel it anymore, not in my house, not as I drive around the city, maybe the rain washed it away.  It makes me sad.  It makes me reflect on the hustle and bustle and how I wished I slowed down more.

Christmas was a success.  Everyone is happy.  Everyone got more than they had wished for....

Today was the first day out since Christmas.  My head cold is on it's way out, although Sofia and Lilia are showing signs of sickness.  I hope it stays away.  Our sleep schedule is all screwed up, even Lilia was on the midnight-noon track, right with me.  Breakfast by 1pm.  I'm such a bad mom.

We have five more days left of break -- going to make it fun, tomorrow we will meet cousins at the pool by noon.  I hope we can all get up and out of the house by then.

 

Merry Christmas

Love.

Cookie Exchange

It was about ten years ago that the "mommy group" began between my friends/family.  I was home on maternity leave with JH.  Bella and Sol were also born in 2001.  We had play dates and the annual cookie exchange began.

Tonight was the tenth year.

I wasn't looking forward to it, really.  Just another thing to do.  Another thing to bake for.  Another thing to get dressed, showered and presentable so that I could leave my house looking have way decent.  Really, I just wanted to be home.  Friday I was gone until late, Saturday gone all day and today I just wanted to putz around the house and check off some "home" to-do's.

But we went.  I made five dozen bags of fresh peppermint bark and a large caesar salad for dinner.

Violet, Lilia & Ruby (Violet & Lilia are the same age)

The kids were ecstatic.  They had fun.  I had fun.  I do love these women.  I do love sitting, talking and catching up.  I wish I took a picture with them.  Next time, for now I captured these beautiful kiddos.

The A Team

Today's advent calendar said..."cookies and cocoa with the neighbors".

This is how we roll, a little counter-top dancing to Run DMC pre-partay.  (She was actually looking for sprinkles while dancing.)

Lilia, of course it's blurry, she's movin'.

And she sat and waiting for the A Team arrival.  "Two claps of my hands means they are here".

Clap clap.

They arrived around 6pm and quickly pulled up to the table to start the cookie eating decorating.

Two star cookies each and a cup of hot chocolate, complete with mini-marshmallows and whipped cream.  That lasted about 10 minutes and then they were off playing.

I baked molasses cookies tonight.  Three down, three to go....

Night.
xoxot