What a mess!

Too much to say this morning...my dining room is a mess!

I can't stand piles and things that are not put away. I'm sure my sweet Taylor has a name for this disorder. But it makes me crazy. I have moved all the unwrapped Christmas gifts and piled them in the room. I did this on purpose to make sure I finish all the wrapping in a timely manner because I won't be able to handle having this mess for long. Last night I started with the wrapping, but Charley distracted me and so this morning, its still there. I do love my paper theme this year, but I say that every year.

It amazes me that I have collected this much stuff, but I guess that is what happens when you start shopping so early and then don't stop shopping until the week before Christmas. Girls does this fact bring a smile to your faces???!!! I know Charley was beeming last night. He just regresses to a little boy and can't help but snoop!

Everything is very festive and coming together...can you guys give me a count about who will be here for Christmas dinner?...I assume Morgan and Tyler will be heading over the pass early in the am, but Tay? are you and Dave going to Deb's this year? I know my sister will be here as well as Charles...so Sheri, want to pic the menu? Its all yours! Whatever you want, just let me know.

Facebook

So we all know how challenged I am with new technical gadgets etc...well Facebook is another part of that as well as even this Blog.

This is where I add my thanks to Taylor and Sheri who have added pictures so that people out there do not think I am only a shadow with a curley cew on top of my head as my real self. I only started the Facebook thing when Cheryl took the kids to Australia for the summer, and the thought of not seeing my little darlings for three months was too much...little did I know this would connect me with friends from the past that I probably would never cross paths with again after 15 or 28 years later. I am really grateful and now have a new appreciation for Facebook.

I don't get into the tests, pokes, etc...I just want updates on my old and new friends and their families. What joy. So I will now pop into my "profile" more often and update more often and enjoy the pictures other have to share and keep making new lunch dates!

Bathroom Remodel

So I've moved out of my bedroom.

The new bathroom make0ver is going very well but is quite messy. I was putting up with the dust, cold and knowing I had a trail of men going in and out of my bedroom all day. I had already moved out of the master bathroom once they really started and spread on cookie sheets all my stuff onto Sheri's bed. Dumb-dumb me finally saw the light (I have a tendency to look the other way and not see clearly the logical solution right away)...so I moved out.

Somehow it didn't dawn on me that I have four bedrooms in this house and they are all set-up as bedrooms...Mine and Charley's, Sheri's, Morgan and Tyler's and Taylor and Dave's. What??? So I have now moved into Taylor and Dave's room.

I selected this one mainly due to the heat blanket. All animals have followed me and everyone seems quite content. The bathroom should be completed by Wednesday and then a day to really clean up everything...then back to my old room.

I must say, I'm in parts of the house I've never been before. Finally used Taylor's shower....realized how awful the shower head is. Charley changed that real quick. I guess I should just roam from room to room and spend a little time in each just to make sure I'm not missing something.

I think the bathroom is really going to be pretty...thanks for everyone who helped me with the challenge of colors and the many types/color etc of tile!

Pre-Planning Thanksgiving

Today is a day of catching up and getting ready for the BIG meal....Thanksgiving!

Since Sheri is arriving on Monday, I have been stashing all the Christmas gifts in her room for the past few weeks. Got to move them. How about Morgan and Tyler's bedroom?...nope, they are spending the night also. Okay, then Taylor and Dave's room...again, nope. They also are staying the night. I love that all bedrooms will be filled and the laughter is going to go on all night. So anyhow, my challenge is where to put things....out in the backyard in my new "cottage"...might get damp. So this morning over coffee I have been very creative in hiding everything with the mind set of the Easter Bunny. I really hope I don't forget anything once I drag it all out again. Could end up missing something under the tree.

I also started my Thanksgiving grocery list. Funny how I have always loved every aspect of food. Deciding what I need, making the list, shopping from a mix of stores, filling the food pantry (not to be confused with my book pantry), cooking, eating and this is the really scary part...cleaning up and having the kitchen spotless as if nothing had ever been created and consumed.

Charley is picking up the "Blessed by the Pope" turkey in Yelm this morning and I've had to pull out shelves in the fridge so the beast will fit. Is it possible that I actually need more than two fridges in this house? Where would I put a third? Can't go there, not going to happen.

Family, be sure to bring next week your "turkey eating pants" as we once again will have lots and lots of great eats...anyone have a game they want to bring???

Red Wine

Saturday night Mike had a 50th birthday party for Jimmy...he's so old! He is now an honorary club member of my 37th Club...Anyway, there were 4 couples invited and it was very quaint and sweet. Dinner was amazing and the company, of course, spectacular.

What surprised me was the new wine snobs in the old neighborhood. We tasted, sniffed and downed a variety of reds. Usually this is not my thing...I'm a white drinker, but the reds I tasted this particular evening were amazing. One of the new favorites with the neighborhood is Olson's wine in where else.....Prossor. Right behind Airfield.

Jimmy and Richard are now both part of their wine club and have introduced me to a new color. And the latest studies show...red is actually very good for you?!! Have we been making fun of the "step-monster" all this time for died teeth and lips for nothing?

Post Glowing

I know I've said this before, but I can't describe what it means to me to Morgan and Taylor's mom.

It is almost like a physical ache or expansion of the heart (sort of like the Grinch) that seems to want to bust out! Today I read blog stories from both of them that make me so obnoxiously proud to be their mom and part of their lives, that I can't put it into the correct words to describe what joy these girls bring me yesterday and every day.

Sheri and I talk all the time about what amazing adults they are. We are not biased, just very realistic.

I never did glow being pregnant with either of the girls and always felt I missed out on something. I have been making up for that now because I have been glowing for a lot of years and really shining today!

Christmas Adulthood

So my girls have been acknowledged to the world of adulthood.

Last night, Mike and Jimmy called me to let me know they have decided to invite both the girls (and their boys) to the infamous Christmas Party.

As the girls grew up...they longed to just sneak a peak at what was going on next door at the Christmas Party. No emergency was big enough to justify a quick visit and a quick peak. Now they are going to get an invitation in the mail instead of the traditional Santa letter Mike would send them. This should not be taken lightly... its an honor. I can't remember ever, any "off-spring" being included in this event.

Girls feel honored! And what fun to shop for the ornament exchange! Its always been one of my holiday highlights and I love it now that it will be shared with you!

Funny how grown up you guys are now....but still get presents from Santa!! Go figure?

Laundry Room

Well David is done and moving to Italy, but not until he has completed my very beautiful laundry room.

Is it very bad to be so smug about having the most gorgeous laundry room ever? or are my joys in life so pathetic and that this new laundry room makes me so happy and smile?

He did such a great job and with the furnace in this large room and its always warm-if only I could manage putting a bed in there, I think I would love in! I haven't moved things back in yet as the flooring is still tacky and since Charley and Georgia have already messed it up once and it had to be fixed, I think I'll wait a bit before I walk all over it. I love that I have my folding table again and haven't decided whether to move the freezer back in or leave it in the garage. I have all new cat boxes, rugs to put in the new room...all fresh and new!

Next project - Guy will be here on Monday to start replacing all the galvanized pipes with the new stuff...then my new shower/bathroom! Very exciting water pressure!

Cozy Morning

This morning my kitchen is filled with amazing smells and so early.

I'm still a bit on east coast time and been getting up early. Good since tomorrow I go back to work. In the past few years, Morgan has been requesting for her birthday dinner (in July) to have a Thanksgiving feast. Well, this year for some reason she selected a different menu. Here I thought I was so smug because I prepared for it by getting an extra turkey, froze cranberries etc. just for the event. Well now its October and I need to cook up this bird! The cranberries have been simmering and the pie is now baking.

The girls make me laugh...Morgan's response was "are you going to make all the sides that go with the turkey?"...Taylor's response "you're going to make that dinner without me?"...(she adjusted her plans so she'll be here now.) Funny just when I start to think my children are such adults, they come through with comments that just make me smile.

I sure love being the MOM.

Rest assure my sister....I am not going to skimp in any way on next months real Thanksgiving dinner and you will have all your favorites!

Back Home

Being back home is always good.

Charley and I arrived last night from our trip to Quebec and the cruise. We have definately found out we are too young :) to be part of the cruise scene. Even though it was nice not having to pack your bag every couple of days to move on to the next location (which is one of the reasons I really wanted to go on this trip), it will more than likely be our last one until we are in our seventies!

We met people who all they do is cruise...love the food, the bingo, the "lounge" entertainment. Not our thing. I must say it was the most restfull trip I've had in a very long time, but not the best trip I've had. It was wonderful with Charles and seeing the East Coast in the fall.

It was cold. While in PEI we actually saw a snowflake and the wind was so strong that I couldn't keep my umbrella from going inside out! I really liked Halifax...and a lot of that probably had to do with it being sunny and of course we were able to get around a bit more. The Portland, Maine lobster was to die for! We had our first one in Halifax. We went to a store, a lot like Met Market and asked the fish monger where to get the best lobster in town...he said with him. He actually picked us out a lobster from the tank, went in the back and cooked, cleaned and served it to us. He also made some garlic butter. It was amazing....then onto Portland. We could see all the many, many lobster pot markers, everywhere. We went to the art museum to see an N C Wyeth exhibit and the art docent there told us of a "hole in the wall" chower house to get a great meal. We ate like pigs. Fortunately we shared so we could have a taste of many choices. Clam chowder, clam cake, fried clams and our own lobster. Now this lobster was fabulous! I guess it does make a difference about the temperature of the waters etc...this was great and the city was so pretty. My future trip will be to fly into Portland and rent a car to cruise around the states and then see the Andrew Wyeth museum while eating lobster all along the way.

Being home....was a lovely treat of having my family take such good care of our dog. Georgia had some medical issues and everyone participated while I was gone. Thank you. We came through the garage coming home (after picking Georgia up from Taylor and Daves) and my new laundry room is gorgeous. Unfortunately, the floor was still tacky and now David will have to do some touch up where we walked. But, the cabinets he built and my new folding table, the walls, trim etc are great. I can hardly wait until everyone sees it!

Today, I will be cleaning floors, shampooing carpets and hopefully rake leaves. I feel the need to get the house back in order and having Abner and Chloe cooped up here for almost two weeks, was enough to make the house smell like an animal lived here! Not good!

Great again to be home, great trip and Sunday dinner is scheduled!

Quebec City

Our flights were perfect yesterday. No flaws and exceptional seats. That is such a great way to start a trip.

It is unusually cold here, as the winter apparently has come about 8wks early. Thank goodness Charley, the king of preparness, checked this out and inspected my packing items! I now have plently of wool sweaters and turtlenecks.

Flying into the city was spectacular...the color of the trees are beyond words. So beautiful. The city feels like being in France, my favorite place! Everyone speaks French and broken English... We had a very typical and amazing french dinner last night. I actually had red meat..steak with parsley butter, frits, salad, french onion soup, lovely french red wine. Charley had duck, rutabaga soup, mushroom risotto and we shared for dessert, little puffed pasties with cheese inside and drizzled with chocolate...you guys, we are all about food, so I will be describing the goodies the whole trip!

While Charley was in the shower, I did leave to get coffee and a plain cake donut...guess where, Dunkin Donuts!

We are going to explore the old town and I am waiting patiently for the slow man upstairs.

Wish you all were here, it almost seems wrong to be in an environment like this without all my family.

(While Im working on the computer, me of all people, am helping this little old man manover the computer as the keyboard is different and they all keep popping into French...poor man, only me to assist!)

I'm Back!!

I will really, really try to be back in the swing of blogging, especially since I am now leaving on our fall trip and won't be in touch with the Power of 4 every day.

Today I had a bunch of stuff go get for the cruise but more importantly, is the things I needed for David to work on my new laundry room while I'm gone. So he is now stocked with all the pulls, hinges, paint etc to finish my state of the art, beautiful laundry room. I'm very excited.
Also while we are gone, Guy is going to re-insulate under the house and start the change over from the galvanized pipes to copper...things are finally getting done and luckily, while the house is not being lived in.

I also stopped by and got a flu shot, not the new H1N1, but the regular one since we will be on a ship with lot of people. It was a piece of cake.

Taylor and I had time to hang out and have lunch, take Georgia over to Denny's and shop a bit. It was such a great way to start my vacation. Too bad Morgan was in court again today :( and my sister in DC.

So anyway, Sister, here is my itinerary as it will look very familiar to your cruise last fall with Lorna and Faye.

10/16 Quebec City
10/17 Cruise the Saguenay Fjord
10/18 Sept-Iles, Canada
10/19 Charlottetown, PEI
10/20 At Sea
10/21 Halifax, Canada
10/22 Portland, Maine
10/23 Boston, Maine

I will be very good on the ship to keep my blog up and going to let you know our adventures!
Hugs and lots of love to my favorite people!

Digestive Wonders

So last night I'm on the couch reading after a day of errands and sort of getting things done for the trip in two days. Today is a pony tail day...got lots to do and don't need to be messing with my hair in my eyes. Not always a pretty sight, but efficient. Now that I'm reading I must take out the pony tail so I can lay back to read. I think its really cute when Chloe runs up and wants to play with the thick hairband Taylor has left. These are very precious to me as I don't have them and she accidentally has left one or two around the house before she moved out. Well now Big Boy has seen Chloe doing something and it can always be mistaken for some sort of food so he rushed right over, takes her toy from her and before I can even scold him, it has now been consumed.

He swallowed it so fast that there isn't any possibility of chewing it at least in half. How is this going to digest and come out? This guy is a pig not a cat!

Hair Balls

I'd like your input all you cat owners, which are all of us, why is it when you need to extract a hair ball or just plain throw-up, you must find carpet? We all have lots of hard wood floors in our homes, but why must you find the most ornate pattern on a throw rug and puke there so that its very hard to find? If you happen to be bare footed...nice cold mush between your toes, but how about not finding it until it has now hardened like a pieced of marble from Greece?

I just finished pulling out the carpet cleaner to clean all rugs on the floor...lovely, and how many more will I find not being home for 9 days? I so look forward to the warm, crusty welcome home.

Count Down

Girls.....tomorrow is a great day to celebrate due to the fact that we leave for PARIS in 10 days and will be meeting up with Auntie!!

:) :) :)

How do you spell remission?????

LORNA

Irish Maggie

Tonight I'm having happy hour, which is one of my favorite social outlets, with my core group...Maggie and Ellie. Maggie is really having a hard time with Marty and it makes me so very sad. She is able to break away tonight due to Marty's brother coming to town yesterday and his goal is to try to talk Marty into taking his meds and realize there are some medical issues that really need to be addressed.

Watching first hand his behavior is startling and disturbing. How quickly his mind is slipping somewhere. Maggie can leave the house now for only about two hours and then must quickly get back to check up on him. I see the toll its playing on her already and her health is currently very good, but she is turning 70 next month.

My Maggie, who always sends a prayer to my family, who can drink me under the table, who always can get by with her "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" at any time, who always has a story...my heart goes out to you at this very trying time.

Easter Sunday

How much do I love holidays??? Lots!

My kitchen table has Easter bags all set and ready for hiding. I've been telling friends and customers what a crazy mom I am and will always be for still making my adult children and their respective husband and boyfriend search and find their personal Easter Basket!

As I am sure I enjoy this hunting event more than most, so I've found the secret to the success and ensuring there won't be too much grumbling, is to make the baskets worth the search. Having great surprises inside the baskets or bags can only be good.

The day is usually pretty predictable....same dinner and I know I'm not allowed to any variation to the menu...I can add to the menu, but never remove an item. What a rule you girls have insisted upon. Then the basket hunt. We all know Taylor will find all of them first and Morgan will just stand in the middle of the room, make a circle or two and them exclaim that she can't find anything and for her sister to help her. Then we all make fun of her and sit back and watch.
Boys and girls...get ready cuz this year I have collected great stuff!

I still strongly feel that just like Christmas with Santa...."those who don't believe, don't receive."
If you still want the Tiffany's box from Santa, don't mess with my fun...if you want a fantastic Easter Basket, you better search for the prize....the winner??? Me!

The last couple of days we have been having beautiful spring weather. I know I've been selfish about wanting more and more snow. I've stopped that wish since last week, again we had a day of white fluffy stuff.

I've been able to sit on my front porch with my coffee...which everyone knows has been my habit since I've moved here, and my neighbors have been walking by as usual with a salute to my routine. I've been able to work in the yard, prune trees, pick weeds, watch Georgia think shes back in Mexico panting in the heat. What lovely weather.

My only wish now would have been that my sister was up here to remind her of what it can be like in Seattle....I need her back as my neighbor. So once again, I'm starting to house shop for her and will try to lure her by giving detail to Sunday dinner menu items etc.

Please everyone...help me with my new selfish quest...e-mail Auntie with lots of dangling carrots. .

MIA

As everyone knows, I wasn't happy with leaving Mom at the funeral home back in January. I'm so glad I picked her up because I was afraid that she would be lost on the shelf waiting to be buried. Thank God I did, as they little yellow sticky note with her name on it could so easily have fallen off and who knows what urn would be buried next to Grandma and Grandpa!

Well I was suppose to take her back to Yakima some time ago, but continually making up excuses why I couldn't. My dear brother, Denny came to my rescue and said he would go with me and set a date. Can't get out of that now can I. As it turns out, we decided that I would take her over to his house on Saturday and he would take her today, Monday to Yakima. I've been blocking it out on how hard taking her off my mantle and letting her go would be. It has been so comforting to have her with me. I can't explain it, but seeing her when I leave for work and when I come home has been very nice.

My sign from my mom has so obviously been the snow she gave me right after I got home in January. She gave me days of swirling white fluff that didn't bother anyone and I know this is her way of helping me through everything as the we always e-mailed or called with every flake we each received...sort of our thing. This leads me to my story...I dropped her off at Denny's and wouldn't you know that morning he had a yard full of snow! I didn't have a flake, but he did. I shouldn't be surprised, but again she's reminding us of how this is okay and that she's okay.

By waiting all this time, and all of us battling over letting her just go, we have decided to keep a bit of mom. I know she didn't say we could, but I know she is skipping around being delighted that we all want her on our mantle. She didn't want to be forgotten and now we can see her everyday like I have been...its so great! The lovely paperweights and wind chimes are going to give us such comfort and mom such joy!

I guess I wasn't suppose to be responsible, logical, timely etc. and take her back. I was just be defiant like always and it turned out for the best.

Brisket

Last night we had an amazing Sunday dinner.

Its been a long time since I've fixed a BBQ brisket and now can't figure out why? There were eight of us and we ate 11 lbs! Plus a pile of greens, cornbread with honey butter, blackeyed peas and Charley's baklava....what a meal.

I bring up these details with the wicked intent to continue my campaign to get my wonderful sister to move back up here and I will go to the lowest of lowest means to do so.

What if I told you today for lunch I'll be having King Wha??? isn't that another great pull!

Seriously, we had a couple over for dinner that Charley has known for years. Steve went to UofW with him. I talk about my family all the time of course, and it was so uplifting to hear over and over again how great they are and how proud I should be with such a group of girls and boys, which if course again....I am. But being as shallow as I am...I don't get tired of others complementing about my clan.

Now as an after thought...sisterhood, I will be making this dinner for you in just a couple of weeks...no worry.

Cherry Granola Cookies.

Well all know my darling Charley is a snacker. Last night he stopped at Trader Joe's on his way home as he changed his flight due to the Denver snow storm and so we would have an earlier dinner.

Trader Joe's is his favorite place and so he not only brought in a beautiful bunch of tulips but snacks. He knows I don't keep a lot of that type of stuff around the house. Neither of us need the extra calories. But....he brought home Cherry Granola Cookies....oh my!! they are so good!

Another hit that I just felt compelled to pass on... a product everyone needs to try.

Art or Embarrassment

So lets tale about tales of embarrassment....The book Twilight. When Taylor read this book and told me "you have to read it!" I thought, please a book on vampires? whatever...but I still enjoy reading what my girls read and so we can discuss different characters, story lines etc...well I basically developed bed sores from the two days I didn't move from the couch to read Twilight from start to finish! Crazy, but it just sucked you in.

I then had my dear sister during her Christmas visit, "just read it"....well she sat in the living room for about two days and had no social contact with anyone but with Edward and Bella.

I have kept this a very close secret that I read Twilight and enjoyed it...its embarrassing. It wasn't that great of a book by any means, but giving credit where credit is due, I couldn't put it down.

The saga doesn't stop....now the movie is on DVD. On Sunday we had a delayed flight to LAX and being in my special role...Global Services. I "entertained" Peter Facinelli (Dr. Cullen) for about six hrs. So on Monday I figured I should rent this DVD and check it out as I am now a bit more fasinated. Well, I really liked it and worse than that, I'm going to watch it again! What is happening to me? I need to finish my book club book, Ursula, Under and guess what...I'm going to read the next in the series to see what happens to Edward and Bella.

Please make me feel better by sharing an equally embarrassing read and/or movie that you've not admitted to anyone!

My Colorist

I love my new hair do....today Erica again livened up my color and trimmed my hair. She is so accomodating and flexible with appointments, great vision, listens to what you say, makes you feel great when you walk in as well as when finished up, lets your dog come in the salon and she is so affordable!

I left my hair still longish....due to both Taylor and Charley's very vocal opinion. Takes a bit more time, but kinda fun putting it up. We'll see how long I'll leave it.

I'm telling everyone out there, you may really like your guy for cut and color, but you should give Erica a try.

Small Things To Be Thankful For

I have had such a great past couple of days.

**My cold ended up being very short lived, but I did pass it onto Charley....sorry.

**Saved my dear friends Lorna and Faye and my sister a bunch of money on our trip to Paris.

**Had dinner with Morgan. Not often do we have the chance to be just the two of us.

**Morgan has commited to going to Paris, so now both her and Taylor will be there. Replaying one of our best trips together.

**Its been sunny outside.

**Jordan has started blogging again.

**I'm having lunch with some of my dearest friends.

**Its Briana's birthday....8yrs old.

**I set my Mom in the sun this morning.

**Taylor has been off from school this week, so less stressful and busy with time to plan her big trip with Dave on Monday. She deserves a lovely, warm break.

**I'm having the last of my jam from the cottage in Longbeach.

**Morgan is saving me a trip to Bell Square for my moisturizer.

**I still have Grey's and Private Prac. to watch with my coffee.

What more could one ask for???

TAXES

Update, I'm feeling better. I received a lot of sleep this weekend and being waiting on. Thank you Charles.

I did finish up my taxes and sent them off. Thank you Turbo Tax. Funny this is the first year I haven't claimed Taylor as I needed to show UAL that I claimed her so she could have medical and dental insurance. Now that she has her own and will be turning 25, it is no longer an option. My refund this year is almost double that it was last year? Go figure. I have saved more in my IRS, but this is a substantial difference filing single. Perhaps I won't rock the boat on this issue and remain this "status" for a bit longer!

Help

I need help!

I've sailed through the fall and winter without being ill and I've giving the flu shot I received the credit for this. Horror....I think I'm getting a cold. Charley and I have big plans this weekend and I really want to enjoy it completely without a red nose, tissue everywhere and snoring due to the fact that I can't breath. These issues are for his benefit as well as mine. Bless his heart, he doesn't care, but I really want to feel better.

Does anyone have any quick remedies for me?

Oscar Nominations

Last night we went to see yet another one of the Oscar Best Picture nominations. I know we are late as we all try to see them before the actual Oscar event, but this has been a very busy year so far.

We went to see the Reader. Great movie and Charley loved the nude scenes as every guy will love seeing adorable Kate Winslet. But besides this issue, the movie was really touching and I understand why she won the award.

Now I still have two more to go. Doubt which is still playing in limited theaters and the Wrestler, which I really don't have any interest in seeing. I still want to imagine the old Mickey Rourke when he was in 9 1/2 Weeks. Now that was a movie! I just ordered it at Blockbuster to see if it still has the effect it did on me way back when. If so, I'm restocking my refridgerator.

But back to the Reader....also it doesn't hurt to see any movie in the most fantastic theater around...Lincoln Square. Nothing beats the leather, rocking, recliner seats. Perfect.

Pig Ears

Denny and Janet just stopped by to bring the "racing dog" a treat. Apparently the marvelous butcher up the street from me has these pig ears that appear to be fresh. They are somewhat plyable and Georgia consumed this in less than half an hour. Gross. But I'm afraid I will end up finding myself ordering an ear or two as she certainly does enjoy them.

This leads me to my real intention of my blogging today...Tokyo. I am not a very good sport.

Charley and I had again a great time, as we always do on our many trips. He is very adventuresome and will eat just about anything that people are offering to consume. I just don't feel it??? A Japanese Temple vs. English castle ruins. Cottage Pie vs. cooked animal stomach. The list can go on and on.

I'm very glad we went and the fish market was so interesting that we went two mornings. The crazy dress of the young adults. They even have there own version of our favorite Harrods in England.

The trip was lovely and very sad as we parted in Narita. Charley few back to Seattle while I boarded a flight to Los Angeles. Good news, getting to Yuma and seeing my Sisterhood and brother...that is another adventure and great story.

Can May come any faster???? Paris here I come!

Signs from Heaven

When mom died, my brother Denny told all of us to watch for special but small signs that mom was watching and around us. I completely believe this with all my heart.

Morgan had her turn at Grammy's house when she spoke to her and told her that she knows how much she is loved. Morgan is 100% sure this was her moment as it was loud and clear.

I had mine on January 24 while in the Global Service office at work. That day it snowed unexpectedly, literally all day long. The snow was always in a state of swirling and constant, but nothing stuck to the ground. Mom knows how much I love the snow and we would e-mail or call no matter what time it was with a quick note that it was snowing outside our window. My gift from mom was that I sat all day watching outside the window at the snow. I remember thanking mom for the gift and talked to her about how gorgeous it was. Morgan that day also watched a perfect snowflake land on her windshield and thought of Grammy. This was my special sign. I will always remember it.

Taylor had hers this weekend. We took leftover King Wha to Grammy's and were having lunch on Saturday. I went outside to sit on the swing in the backyard. I looked up and there pinned to the awning of Grammy's swing was a note to Taylor. After I pulled myself together I got Tay and had her sit in the swing to see her sign....Grammy left her a note. "Depends" -" T.J. - I love you! " There is no question about this special pinned up note for Taylor and that she needed to bring this swing home. Mom and Tay had purchased this together when she first moved to Yakima and Taylor put it together. Mom spent most summer nights sleeping on the swing, her favorite place...Taylor now dismantled it and when she has a place of her own, it will be in her backyard.

Denny received his sign in his own garage. He really wanted this one special picture of mom when she was a little girl. Its adorable. Unsure if he could just keep it, or make copies for the rest of us, he was putting it back in the box to look at later when it fell to the ground and split in two. It ended up being two exact pictures together so he kept one for himself and one now for someone else to have copies made. He asked mom for the picture and what a surprise, she gave it to him.

Sheri, please, please be patient and don't look for the neon sign as I was first looking for. It will happen I promise. Denny promised me it would come and it did. My whole being feels it will come your way...just don't look to hard. You deserve a great one and I can hardly wait for you to share your story when it happens.

Mom Just Keeps Giving Gifts

Its sort of hard when I reflect on yesterday...how I can have such a great day when I should only be having a heavy heart?

I spent the day with my brother, Denny. I've already acknowledged that while in the hospital with the girls and Denny's family, that Mom was thoroughly enjoying the fact that we laughed, cried and mended our hearts with each other. But after yesterday, I'm giving full credit to my Mom. Sure we still cried yesterday on occasion but in a good way. We talked about issues that were hard for each of us but knew they were topics that had to be covered and explained before we can completely trust each other again. The elephant has left the room. We still will have moments I'm sure, but I feel safe with exposing my feelings and thoughts as they surface.

Plain and simple, it lifts my heart to know my brother is back! Thank you Mom, once again for another gift....and this one will just keep on giving.

My mom has died.

Its so easy to beat yourself up at this time about what you did or didn't do while she was alive and I know everyone does this to a certain degree. Of course, I'm right in the middle of this game and so lucky that I have many around me that pull me back out.

I know my mom would be very upset with me about this personal beating, so I am going to let it go the best I can and continue with all the lovely, wonderful events her and I have had in the past year or so. The last major event that Mom loved being involved in was Morgan's wedding to Tyler. One of the things that she adored was because it involved so many of us that she treasured like none other.

I'm gathering pictures of current events to share on her joy and involvement that is plainly written on her face. This lady, who would trek across the mountain pass just for my birthday party? Amazing. Her greatest pleasure in life was her family which is so obvious as you look in her home. Pictures everywhere. It didn't matter what room she was in, there was another one framed so she would never be alone.

I am so grateful for my sister during this time and every day. Even though Sheri wasn't able to be there physically there with mom, I was. I know mom never seperated the two of us. We are like one. Its very interesting to me how mom considered us together as one being. She also made this combination with my girls, Morgan and Taylor. You talk to one, you are talking to two. You hug one, you are hugging two. You love one, you are loving two. Its simple and true.

Mom also gave me the gift during her last days, of having my brother Denny and his family with us. I know mom loved that we were all sitting stuffed in her room laughing and talking. She never wanted any bad feelings between any of us that would keep us apart. Another gift from mom as there are so many generous times when indirectly she should get the credit for helping the healing in a relationship. Michael is another example. What a time she had with having you this summer. An everyday connection and company and to be with your family this Thanksgiving....she said over and over again "I was treated like a queen."

I know lots of moms negative feelings made people keep some distance, but I know this is not her true feelings as I'm sure the pain was the root of the cause as there were so many issues. She loved everyone so very much and treasured every conversation, e-mail, picture, event etc. I hope you all have peace with this knowledge that you brought joy and happiness continuely to Grammy.

My Mom

These past three days have been more powerful than I could have ever imagined.

My mom is really sick. Her body is not healthy and won't be healthy. Her confusion is real. Even in the hospital bed, she was happy, relieved, calmed as well as scared at the sight of me and my sister. Sheri and I make a great team. What one can do the other may not and vice versa, but together all can be accomplished.

Going through some of mom's things in her home explained to me so much on how much each of us meant to her. She has every card, note, picture, announcement...anything to do with us, saved and treasured. It is obvious how important we each are to her and we are her life. I wish so much she would have moved over here earlier so that we could have enjoyed her more and her us.

I don't want my mom to be scared anymore and I want her to be comfortable and be able to looked forward to everyday with a visit from one of us and not her life being guided by a visit to a doctors appointment. I want her to realize how much we really do love her and will miss her, that this is real and that she can have confidence that it is true.

I Am Sad

.....

WESLEY

I love the idea and that we followed through with the Power of 4, to do a book exchange. I would like to add to this though...I think that we should rotate these books so everyone can read them especially back to the person who initially gave the gift.

SHERI this means you!

Let me ask you first of all one simple question that even a 5yr old would know...what do barn owls eat? That's right mice. I'm thinking the author split her time writing about Wesley and what Wesley eats. I have learned how you purchase mice at the pet store in a "bag" then get them home to kill them. Since Wesley is in a home environment, he doesn't know how to kill them, so that is now up to the owner. You spin the live mouse and flick your wrist as it hits the wall or floor to make a quick kill. Then you freeze the newly killed mice in baggies of four.

Time to eat!!! Well you get out a frozen bag of mice (next to the sweet potatoe fries) and thaw them in the microwave. You must then feel the mice to make sure there are no hot or cold spots. Now the fun part...until your owl is old enough to swallow them whole and that is head first, you must cut the mouse up in chunks. I have learned that an owl needs to eat all the mouse to get all the vitamins its needs to grow and be healthy. Interestingly, they don't drink any water because again, they get everything they need from the mice. The heart and kidneys as well as other organs carry enough blood in them to fulfill this requirement. Now Wesley doesn't like all the parts of the mouse, so he just spits out the intestine onto the floor, wall, pillow, your head, wherever it needs to land. So after eating a meal, which consists of 7-8 mice a day, you will have to clean up smelly, rotting mice organs about 8hrs later.

Now another great part of the detail this book shared is that after you swallow this whole mouse, the next day you will cough up what is called a "pellet"...this is what many high school or college labs love to have to examine...what is a pellet, you ask?...it is the hair and all bones...cleaned completely. You can actually build back a mouse body...all seven that you had for dinner yesterday.

Thank you sister...oh I almost forgot, I also know how to make rat patties!

Are you ready to swap books yet?