Family | Peaches Prattlings

{August 17, 2016} Happy birthday SDL!!!

One of my most favorite people in the world is celebrating her birthday today…SDL!

SDL and I met in 1998. OMG, really? We’ve known each other for almost twenty years!! Can you believe it?!

We met when SDL was working on her undergraduate degree and I was starting my graduate program at Georgia State University. We took quite a few classes together and ended up becoming friends.

There was a.period of about five years thar we saw each other once or twice but then one year we reconnected at a going away party for her coworker who was my neighbor’s son and it was back on! And we’ve been friends ever since.

We’ve hung out, gone out, stayed out, traveled together, taken care of each other, I used to take care of her furry babies and plants when she’d travel, man, there are a lot of plants!

She was there for me through some really bad times and good times. I ask remember the day she stated talking about the adoption process and everything in between to the day Miss A came home. I even got a speeding ticket taking her and DJL to the airport for that trip!

I mentioned taking classes together, they were art classes. This woman is an amazing artist, you pick a medium, she’s excelled at it! Pottery, sketching, oil, acrylic, you name it…I was even lucky enough to receive one of my favorite pieces of hers as my 40th birthday gift! Talk about photography, I remember that she was one of the last people I knew who liked to develop their own film. So incredibly talented.

She’s an amazing mother to watch, I love seeing her with Miss A, the relationship is incredible, tender, firm, loving, silly and wonderful.

I love spending time with my friend, she is a trip, steadfast, opinionated, goofy, smart, funny and true. I look forward to the next adventure with this woman.

Happy birthday SDL, rock it!

{August 16, 2016} Happy anniversary dad and LaLa

I missed telling you about a special anniversary this weekend! Shame on me!

Dad and LaLa just celebrated eleven years together!

They met through mutual friends and hit it off. He had been going out and meeting people but no one clicked until LaLa.

I remember when he first told me about her and then when they started dating and then it was on, museums, theater, opera, trips, you name it, they’ve probably done it.

They’re similar in some ways and very different in others. Dad likes to plan a trip by getting the plane tickets, hotels and going. LaLa likes to plan in more detail, which works for him, it’s all taken care of!

They are similar in being fabulous grandparents. There are four on Lana’s side and two on dad’s side and they are grandparents to all six. LaLa was around before EJS and MGS were born and dad was around before Lana’s two grandsons were born. I think I told you that EJS couldn’t say Lana’s name, so it became LaLa and stuck. The cool thing about that…LaLa means grandmother in Chinese.

They love coming to Boston to see EJS and MGS, play games, spoil the grandkids, that’s their job, after all. And when they travel, everyone gets postcards from wherever they are, we all love it.

They don’t live together, but spend just about every weekend together and it seems to work, they have their lives together and individually, which is nice.

LaLa met us and became part of the family almost immediately, we took our first trip together, BK, before kids, to Las Vegas eleven years ago and we’ve been doing a family vacation every year since that and is been nice to all get away together.

You never know what is going to happen when your parents start dating again, will they met someone nice, someone who accepts you and wants to fit in with your family, not try to take over or monopolize your parents time and that’s what is been like with them, they have adjusted and blended and become part of each other’s families.

Happy eleven years Dad and LaLa, here’s to the next eleven. We love you.

{August 14, 2016} Welcome home EJS!

And we’re all very happy she’s home!

EJS has been at sleep away camp for the past three weeks, I think MGS has been a little lonely without her big sis, but she has has a lot of personal, one on one time with mom and dad, let alone Papa, LaLa and Auntie J…

GES, ACS and MGS left this morning to pick up EJS from camp. And from the pictures GES texted it looked like a very happy reunion indeed!

They got home, I met them there, got hugs, caught up and hung out until B&SM and M&C O’F came over to have pizza, salad, home made cookies and welcome EJS home.

After dinner a little play and everyone went home, GES and I sat in the car and talked for a long time, it was nice to have some one on one time, doesn’t happen very often. We even made a possible for next weekend.

Home and now talking to you and I have to crash soon, alarm is going off way too early!!

{August 7, 2016} A car show and a cookout…pretty good day

I got to sleep in a minute, it was nice.

I got a little work done and headed to GES’. We went to a car museum which happened to have a car show happening today.

The museum is on the Larz Anderson Estate, http://larzanderson.org/. Very interesting history, it’s the home of America’s Oldest Car Collection. There were Electrmobiles, Porsches, BMWs.

Outside there were Porsches, Lamborghinis, Ferrari, a McLaren and so many more. It was a lot of fun, especially watching the folks at the exit waiting for cars to leave and gun the engine and take off down the street.

After the car show we went into Brookline for one of ACS’ favorite pizza joints from when he lived there.

Then back to the house to hang out for a bit until we headed across the street for dinner, all sorts of goodies on the grill. Good food, good conversation and lots of laughter.

Now, home, packed, talking to you and ready to head to the airport in a few hours. For another great week!

{August 6, 2016} A better day and a homecoming

MGS is definitely on the mend, happy about that!

We all are! Apparently she woke Papa up at 6am because she wanted to take her medicine, good girl! Then they all went back to sleep, well, Papa and LaLa did, MGS went down stairs and watched tv.

I ran some errands this morning eventually when I got up, after I convinced the cats to stop trying to wake me every hour starting at 6am…then back to GES’ to hang with MGS, dad and LaLa.

Then I headed to the airport to pick up GES and ACS. Now, when I was leaving, LaLa asked MGS who I was going to pick up and her first thought was EJS! “EJS? Oh! I get to see my sister!” So cute!

I picked up my sister and brother-in-law from their trip from Iceland and Copenhagen, they had an amazing time! Sounds fabulous! We might be following in their footsteps, who knows.

They brought all of us treats and what did I get? Some fabulous seasoning and…she fed into my addiction…a bag! Wahoo!

MGS is better, welcome home GES and ACS.

{August 4, 2016} Happy birthday daddy!

Today is a very special day! My dad’s birthday!

Have I ever told you my dad’s name? I don’t think so, so here it is, it’s DWS. Ha ha, what did you think, I was going to reveal someone’s ‘real’ name?

My dad…what’s so special about my dad? Well, what haven’t I told you? Well, he’s the best dad on the planet, sorry everyone else, that’s just the way it is.

He’s funny, not just when he tells a joke, but when he gets a joke, it’s awesome! Especially when he thinks it’s funny, he laughs so hard and heartily, it comes from his gut, sometimes laughing so hard he cries. Performers at comedy clubs love him and call him out after the show, his laughter is infectious. We have a very similar sense of humor and laugh at the same things, we love a lot of the same literature, music, movies, art, we can spend days talking about anything.

He taught my sister and I so much growing up, we learned so much from him and our mom. We learned love and patience, sometimes, and tolerance and acceptance. We learned what joy there is in a good back scratch.

Not only is he a great dad, he’s an amazing grandfather, or Papa to EJS and MGS. To see them together is a treat, he’s silly, goofy, generous, endearing, spoiling, you name it, he’s just that good!

We learned how to be good parents and I learned how to be a good grandparent. What could be more special?
He’s a confidant, a friend, a pal, a buddy, a co-conspirator, a hero, a teacher, an inspiration. Do you know the phrase ‘Anyone can be a father, not everyone can be a dad’, that’s who he is, a dad, our dad. And I fully admit, I’m a daddy’s girl, always will be! GES will tell you the same!

Now, if I tell you the three of us share a similar sense of humor, you might not believe me, but just check out the cards that GES and I sent to dad…the same goofy card!

Today, I started my day by sending him a text of me singing happy birthday and I got to come home early from Chicago so I could hug him and tell him happy birthday in person!

Happy birthday daddy, I/we love you!

{July 31, 2016} A visit, a baby shower and a snuggle

It was another good day.

I got up and looked in and KS was gone already so I flipped on the bed and chatted with RJS and the cats in her room for a while. Then it was out to the living room for coffee and tea for more talking and snuggling with the cats.

Then off for some breakfast and Old Navy, she loved everything I got so we went in search of treats. She did get a fabulous shirt that was very her. Off to Target, I needed a baby shower gift.

The request was for books, diapers and wipes, done! I even got a book for the big brother to be! One of the books was The Ugly Duckling, the cool thing is it was in English and Spanish. I was inspired to get SDL The Three Little Pigs, since she’s prepping for a trip in the fall to a Spanish speaking county.

Of to the baby shower for CC, she looks and feels great! It was a very nice shower, we played one game, but I enjoyed how we started. We all talked about how we met CC and one thing we love about her. That was very sweet and touching, really nice to hear what everyone else had to say.

It was a nice shower, everyone was very nice and I got to meet CC’s sister, who’s been in the states for a while.

We played one game, then we all wrote something cute on a diaper for her to look at when she’s changing diapers.

After the shower, went to SDL’s, waited for SDL, Miss A and DJL. Dinner and then bath time while I drove DJL home, back to the house and snuggle with Miss A, talking talking to SDL while Miss A feel asleep.

This is my favorite time, just the three of us, talking, snuggling and just enjoying each other’s company.

Now, talk to you then crash, alarm is going off early!

{July 30, 2016} Good morning, goodbye, hello

I spent the night at SDL’s and got some good morning kisses from Miss A!

Could anything be better? Nope! I woke up to what I thought was a crash, nope…just her hitting the wall and mirror with her legs on the changing table, oh my! I’m up!

I got to catch up with her while she ate breakfast, we both wore a little. Then I helped her get dressed, did her hair, got her loaded in her car seat, kisses and they were off! I’m glad I’ll see her tomorrow for some quality time.

I was hoping to get together with TYL, but today was moving day into their new place, so it didn’t work out.

Fortunately or unfortunately, that left me with some time on my hands…tax free weekend in Georgia…so, first stop…The Children’s Place, guess who benefits from that! Next was Old Navy and Marshall’s, I think I am now officially “dressed” out! I can wear some of them in the fall with leggings and boots..ooh.

Then, off to RJS’ for a visit, dinner and Slimer l slumber party. I did a fashion show for her, like I used to do for my dad and she helped me make the go/no go decision.

Then it was catching up, eventually we got hungry and cooked dinner together for herself, me and KS. Yum! Spaghetti squash, green and yellow zucchini and sautéed Vidalia onions. According to KS, I did alright by the onions, fit not having grown up in the South! Why, thank ya kindly!

Then it was more talking and laughing. Lather, rinse, repeat! Until it was time for bed.

All the while being entertained by their babies, Max and Maddie.

A great afternoon and evening. Especially since PSM and I mark our one year six months today. Happy anniversary. Xoxo

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings! I’ll keep you posted.

{July 29, 2016} ST>WH>KAB, CS, LB, LS, BA, BE>SDL, CKM>JB

Got your attention, didn’t I?

Well…the day started at ST’s house, I crashed at hours place last night when I got to Atlanta. We motivated and went to Waffle House! Yum!

I worked for a few hours then fought Atlanta traffic to get to Dallas and see KAB, Baby A and his sister Baby E, CS, Lily Bean and her sister, Princess L. It took me almost three hours to get there so I didn’t have a lot of time with them, but the time was well spent! As many hugs, kisses and snuggles as I could get. Oh and the giving of gifts of course!

I left just in time…as the no nap melt downs were about to start. Oh my but I do love those fabulous wee tots! Their mom’s too! And how much do I love my new artwork for our new place in Hawaii!! JJ’s ‘tweet hearts’! Those are Baby A and Baby E’s footprints turned into birds!
I left and headed straight to girls night dinner with two of my besties, SDL and CKM! We had Thai food, lots of laughs and catching up and then on to the movies to see JB…the new Jason Bourne movie! CKM noticed when we were sitting, she was in a J sandwich, ha ha.

After the movie, back to SDL’s, kiss the sleeping Miss A, talk to you and then pass out. Full day, huh? Wonderful day! Let’s see what tomorrow holds!

{July 24, 2016} My date to The Secret Life of Pets

Today I had a movie date. Well, two dates to be precise.

EJS is leaving for sleep away camp in the morning for three weeks and I’m going to be gone for two weeks and I thought it would be nice to have a movie date with them and they agreed.

We loaded up in the car and headed to the movies. We got some popcorn and sour patch somethings, not for me, I can assure you! We found some seats and settled in.

It was a great movie, taking place in one day and my…was it a busy and long day!

As the tag line says “Ever wonder what your pets do when you’re not home?” So, I just ask you, do you ever wonder?

Different personalities for each pet, how they react towards and interact with their human companions and how they react and interact with each other. How they work together to solve a problem, learn to accept each other and when they don’t, asserting dominance, or trying to.

Sticking with your friends, sticking up to your friends and even telling your friends where to stick it!

There were a lot of funny scenes, we had some nail biting scenes with Animal Control and then there was the sewer scene with all the “Flushed Pets”, these were the pets no one wanted anymore, so they lived in the sewers, even they were funny! Especially when their leader is a teeny, adorable bunny named Snowball.

There was a point when Max and Duke got caught by Animal Control and EJS wanted to make sure they would be reunited with their human. I told her not to worry, this is a Disney movie.

All in all a great movie and a fabulous time with my girls. Holding hands, being silly, sittng in my lap when they get nervous, hugging me, do I love it? You bet your sweet bippie I do!

Go see it, totally worth it! You just have to get your own dates! Mine are taken!

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