If those walls could talk......

A few days ago, Courtney, the owner of our "old" house was humorously complaining that she'd like to annex the toy room from their house. I explained in my wise, elderly "been there, done that" voice that soon enough her girls would be gone and she'd miss the mess...literally! It's in the back of the house and no one has to walk through that room to access any other...the perfect spot for a mess.

As I was lying in bed later that night, I remembered that room vividly as it had been a part of me for over a half century.  It was originally my Grandma and Grandpa's house and as a child, I had spent every holiday and countless overnights in that house and particularly that room..the den!  It held the most uncomfortable furniture, a maple couch and chair with wooden arms and cushions that were surely stuffed with rocks covered in cow hide covered in pink magnolias.  There was always a small glass candy dish that held round, checker sized circles made surely of Pepto-bismol.  They said mint, I said chalk....but for some reason, I always grabbed one??  I spent a lot of time in this room as it was the "thinking room!"  I was often banished there for saying, outloud, what all the adults were thinking! We weren't the closest bunch:-/  All the games were stored in the beautiful lead glass covered cupboards.  I was usually the one who got to choose the game...I was the baby!  Our choices were Button Button who's got the Button, Chinese checkers or Bingo (in the red box with the wooden, lettered pieces.) Many memories were formed in that the den.

Many years later when it was our house, that was my den!  It was where my desk was, my chair was, my TV was and later my computer was......it was also, the Toy Room.  We all managed to cohabitate there quite well.  They were leaner days so a toy box usually sufficed to hold the toys and the closet had room for the overflow of books and games.  I do remember a tall, colorfully spotted giraffe that didn't fit anywhere but was one of Jeff's favorites. The den made the transformation from trucks and cars and Dukes of Hazzard "tigars" (guitars) to My Little Pony and Rainbow Brite in a mildly, confrontational fashion.  After all, it was still Mom's den and the floor needed to be free of jacks, Legos and Barbie shoes.

Soon the kids migrated to their own rooms and once again I reclaimed my territory.  My new obsession was scrap booking and this room was the perfect place to leave my mess out and work at my leisure.  Wow, the memories that room alone provided would keep me "scrapping" for years.  I could merely close the door and no one was the wiser that it wasn't as impeccably arranged as it had been for the prior 4 decades.....yeah right!  The lace curtain on the door did it's job!

Next, along came the granddaughter!  Once again the toy box was filled, the oriental rug was changed out for one with pink ponies and purple flowers.  My scrapbook closet now resembled a scene from E.T.. I was relatively sure I would open it one day and something alive would be living in the center of the stuffed everything pile.  My chair was now more a rocker than a recliner and the ambiance turned from crafty to cozy.  It was one again the Thinking Room but more for memories than for reflection of imperfect deeds and words.  The 5th generation was comfortably enjoying this room... My favorite, regardless of whether it held toys, tots or thinkers.  If only those walls could talk, the stories they would tell♥

Blah, Blah, Blah Awareness month!

I understand the exposure of incurable diseases and causes.  I understand the need for fundraising ....to some degree.  I do believe that not much of any fundraiser goes directly to actually curing the illnesses or bettering the plight of those causes.  Barraging the public with incessant ads, sponsoring walk-a-thons and wearing ribbons of various colors might bring attention to the specific month but after hourly ads on television, radio, and social media for 30 straight days sometimes....enough is enough.  I don't mean, in any way, to lessen the severity of any of the causes and I understand the plight of each and every one...from cancer to domestic violence to saving the whales. I've known someone who's been affected by all of these dreaded maladies....OK, I've never actually known a whale or someone who's suffered because of a whale related death.....but I sympathize and understand the need for awareness.

With that being said, I think we need a little more levity in life....and advertising.  I think the Debbie Downer Advertising Agency should add a few new causes to their Awareness portfolio..  I'm thinking maybe Bacon Awareness month or Chocolate Awareness month (ribbons could be made from bacon and chocolate)......even Wine Awareness month.  There should maybe be a Recliner hot line or a Rehab facility aimed directly at those who overdose on social media.  All worthy causes that could use some awareness.  I, for one, would be more than happy to be tested for high levels of pork or cocoa beans or volunteer to test the new bacon, transdermal patch.

The information just needs to go public.  We need to be informed and aware.  If there are any months that are lacking for an "awareness", I suggest we stand up for pork and raise our glasses to Pinot Noir. The need is there....let's grow a pair.....and be aware!!

                                               Eat Bacon, drink wine, Surf the net !

Never Ever....

Never, ever have I loved my son more than today.  Jett has been under the weather for the past few days with a viral case of diarrhea.  Never fun...for anyone. Sleepless nights (just when he was getting the hang of it), bland food (just when eating everything was so much fun), Red, raw hiney (when going commando felt sooo good occasionally), and really only wanting Mom and Dad (when new faces and a change of scenery have always been his favorite!)

Mommy went back to work today so I stopped in to give Dad a chance to shower and do a few chores..(and to have a break!)  I watched Daddy lovingly, gently and antiseptically change Jett while simultaneously loving, kissing and caressing him!  He hugged him, played with him, walked with him and talked with him!  Then he changed the bed, did the dishes, folded the laundry and took out the trash.

I'm pretty sure my husband and my father never did any of those things singularly much less in the same day:-) !!!

As I've said before, I never thought Jeff would be a dad.  It wasn't on his bucket list and babies were foreign entities that belonged to others who were perfectly content and on board carrying on their family lineage.  I guess the right woman changes your mind!  Jett has been a challenging baby but every day now he does something wonderful and new and grown up.  The next few months will be full of "Daddy Daycare!"  It will also be the time when words are uttered, steps are taken and unconditional love will be abundant.  "Da Da" already popped out and "Ma Ma" will come soon.... They'll both be followed by the dreaded "No" but the very best is yet to come ....and the very best Dad will be ready!  ♥♥♥

Order in the Court!

Well finally.............................somebody is listening to our intelligent, articulate, frustrated, little (not so much) girl! It took years, innumerable trips to court, thousands of dollars in fees, arrests, orders of protection, indicated CPS reports, a law guardian who understood that no means no and finally an attorney who simply gave a shit!    And.... it sure didn't hurt that the wolf in Dad's clothing FORGOT about his court date!

The ball is literally in Bailee's court now and the weeks, months and years of fighting for her rights and well being are coming to fruition.  Hopefully, this will give her the sense of safety and well being that she has begged for in recent years.  Hopefully, she will begin to have positive feelings about adults and her self image will drastically improve. Hopefully, she will have the security and freedom to look forward to her week-ends and life in general.  Hopefully, her 11th year will be full of peace of mind, hope and positivity and the confidence that what you say and think is important......even if you're a child.

I love this little girl more than life.  She's wise, articulate, funny and beautiful.  Who cares if she can't carry a tune in a bushel basket ;-) She will be a strong woman in years to come and I'm eternally grateful that we finally had Order in the Court!

It's a Wonderful.....Week-end!

We just returned from a quick week-end in Old Forge.  Got to spend a couple days with our grands and that it was!!!  The colors were spectacular, the weather perfect, the company exceptional and the photo ops were abundant!  Sunday was bit cloudy but Monday was glorious. Everyone, but chicken me, rode the chair lift to the top of McCauley Mountain and reveled in the beauty of the Adirondack scenery.  Mother Nature painted a pretty awesome reason for us to stay put in the northeast for the rest of our days.  Sunshine, sand and surf are fine for a visit but this is the place to be......period!  I can't imagine being where the temperature and the surroundings remained the same for 365 days...

Jett is getting such a fun personality. He's babbling and finally saying Da Da...Now we move on to Mama and kisses and walking and SLEEPING....(hopefully.)  Daddy is laid off now for a few months so hopefully he will get the hang of sleeping longer and putting himself back to sleep if he wakes up. (Jett, not dad) He loves his Mommy and when he sees her, that's his parent of choice..... Out of site and he's good with anyone... Kind of like when the cat saw the cat food box in that old commercial!  He does love new faces though and kids crack him up. When he's happy, he's a joy to behold....when he's NOT, he's the baby from hell :-(  Thankfully, for us,  that's usually in the middle of the night....

Bailee had a great time too... Shopping, swimming, walking, feeding the birds, hunting for Pokemon or is the plural, Pokemen???  It's funny how prioritities are so vast between ages.  Jett just needed access to his folks, Bailee just needed access to WiFi and Lee and I just needed access to bathrooms :-/

Here are a few photos of our great week-end getaway:

BOO

This guy steals my heart at every turn....and these days there are many!!!  His personality is such a vivid combination of his parents'.  He is funny, serious, happy, sad, miserable , cranky, loving, smart, crazy, snuggly, questioning and bizarre all rolled into one tiny human!!! He loves to eat, hates to sleep and smiles incessantly in between!  Each day he acquires a new talent or level of skill for things he's already doing. Safety at the 1 foot level has been achieved and anything not nailed down is gone... So much for the beautiful plants, flowers and candles.  He LOVES new faces which is sheer joy for me as I always felt badly for folks who picked up a baby and they screamed bloody murder if it wasn't Mommy or Daddy.  This guy loves a change of scenery on the quarter hour.  His Papa was never much of a baby guy but Jett has changed all that.. He shares pictures with his buddies, tells stories of his newest adventures and brags till the cows come home about how handsome and smart he is...(Jett not Papa)

Today I'm sharing his newest gift from his aunties, Helen and Christy from Charlotte. He'll be 8 months old this week and this Fall is sure to bring some of our cutest pictures yet... Wait till you see what we have in store for his Halloween, 8 month shot!  A little (tongue in cheek) candy porn !