Family | Peaches Prattlings

{March 22, 2016} We have a NINE year old!

I met her when she was one week old, wasn’t it just yesterday?

I remember the day my sister and brother-in-law called to tell me I was going to be an aunt! The wheels started turning, all the things I wanted to do and what I would have to do!

Halloween costumes, spoiling, giggling, airplane rides, cuddling, playing, playing dressup, movies, school plays and so much more! I could not wait!

EJS has not disappointed. She is an amazing, smart, talented, funny, goofy, athletic, inquisitive, silly girl.

Every time I see her, it’s huge hugs, she still runs and jumps into my arms, how much longer will I be able to pick her up? Forever I hope!

Every year she has some great ideas for her birthday parties, she never disappoints. She makes friends wherever goes.

She went from having everything done for her to “momma do it” to “I do it!”. She is timid in some areas and fearless in others. She’s tried just about everything…swimming, skiing, acting, dancing, karate, cello, soccer, softball, just to name a few.

She is a great big sister to MGS, she makes her parents very proud in so many ways, makes her Papa laugh and still holds my hand walking down the street.

Today she turned nine! Wow! We had a party over the weekend, got to hang out, play games and today, I got to be her guest at school to read to her class, was I over the moon or what! That’s the way to celebrate!

As she says, last birthday before the double digits…every day is something new, I cannot wait to see what is coming next!

Happy nineth birthday EJS, I love you very much!

{March 19, 2016} Wow, can those 9 year olds can party!

Today we had a party for one EJS, who turns NINE tomorrow.

What a day we had! I got to GES’ house, hugs and kisses all around, then it was off to Karate with EJS, she really is getting stronger with her kicks and punches. She was even called to the front row of the class, that is not a common thing for lower level students, that’s what she told us when class was over. The Master instructor called her out after class to tell her how well she did. Go EJS go!

Then back to the house, make rice crispy treats, never knew how easy they are, butter, rice crispy cereal and marshmallows.

A few errands and then the girls started showing up. Thirteen in total with EJS and MGS, oh my! It was a great mix of girls, some from school, temple, book club, family friends and camp, very nice.

Since they were from different places, not everyone knew each other, I had all the girls sit in a circle and we played an ice breaker game to get the girls to relax, laugh and maybe learn each other’s names. It worked a little, by the time they started the festivities, the girls were laughing together.

We started in the dining room with instructions, we were having fun with food.

They started with decorating their own containers with markers and stickers.

Next, on to the fun with food… first, they were making candy sushi! We made two different sizes of rice crispy treats, blocks and long thin pieces. Then take a Swedish fish or gummy worm and either roll it in the longer thin piece or put it on the block, then wrap it in fruit roll up like seaweed. How cool is that!

Next was melting chocolate and crumble cookie pieces to pour into molds and then after they harden in the freezer, wrap them in foil for their own candy bar.

Lastly, we had different flavored puddings, whipped cream, cookie crumbles, Graham cracker crumbs and mason jars to put it all in, with labels hand made by each girl.

Perfect timing, as one group of girls left a station, they went downstairs to play, then, after we finished taking the chocolates from the freezer, it was time to sing and eat ice cream cake. Pure perfection! Parents started showing up just about that time.

After most of the girls left, five stayed behind, four were spending the night, was doing a sleep under, she would stay until bed time and then go home.

The girls put on their pj’s, watched Paddington then headed upstairs to set up the sleeping arrangements air mattresses and sharing and floors and mommy and daddy’s bed, play a game, while they waited for the sleep under to head home and one other girl to come back.

By now, it was almost 10pm and I headed for the hills, or at least my place and my furry kids [and yes, they did exactly what I said they would].

Tomorrow, more fun with family and a birthday dinner.

I told you those nine year olds could party!

{March 14, 2016} News! BIG news!

Ooh! I am so excited and I can talk about it!

My grandson, Baby A became a big brother last night! I would like to tell you all about JJ’s new love, ELB. She was born at 10:14pm. Her daddy, JB, said 8 lb and 4 oz, but momma was spot on, 7 lbs and 14oz, admit it, a mother knows.

She is perfect and beautiful and already the apple of her parents eye! There is a picture on Facebook of JB and ELB looking at each other, poor guy, it’s all over for him!

I cannot wait to meet her, not too long now, I will head to Atlanta to see my newest love and her family. I was there the day her brother was born, wish I could have been there today, but soon enough!

I can’t wait to share pics on Facebook, be on the look out!!

Congrats to KAB, JB, Baby A, Uncle Bubba, Aunt Pow-Pow, her aunt CS and her cousins, LB, LS and Baby W! Her grandma CG and her grandpa, DCM. What a crew and crazy bunch of people she’s related to, present company included! Welcome to the world Baby E! You are so loved and you’re not even 24 hours old!

{February 29, 2016} Ouch…that hurts!

What’s a reasonable number of times to hit your head? In a day!

Yesterday was the day and three is the number, boo and ouch!

The first was in the shower, I dropped something, picked it up and went to stand up again and smack! Hairline, ouch!

The second, I was loading the trunk, went to put a bag in and apparently the trunk door wasn’t up all the way and I hit the latch, about the same place. Owwwww! That actually required a few choice words! There were even a few tears.

Last one, doesn’t seem possible, but I was on a flight, stood up too fast, and wham!

Needless to say, head hurts still, very tender right there. I only have one request…

Daddy, please come kiss my keepe and make it all better!

{February 20, 2016} What a day! Woosh

Back on skis for the first time this season.

The ski season has not been a very long one. Traditionally, it starts about October/November and should go through March/April. Not so this year. Apparently Mother Nature is not a skier. Or I should say, she might be a west coast skier, I get Colorado snow reports every weekend.

So, needless time say, I haven’t skied until today. As we talked about last night, I came up to NH with the families and this morning we suited up and went to Cannon Mountain. It’s a high and windy mountain and today, it student disappoint.

We got our lift tickets, put boots on abs away we went. On the way up in the express loft, express to the top, it got very windy abs EJS was not a fan, but we made it up and headed down the mountain. I will tell you, I wasn’t a huge fan, as there was a lot of ice and I’m not an ice skier, some people are, in not a fan of sliding and I don’t like the sounds of sliding and scraping over ice, that’s just me.

We are making our way down and have stopped for a moment and out of no where, someone comes barreling down, skis over MGS’ ski and plows into JT, knocks him down and actually breaks one of his ski poles! MGS lost a ski, it landed near GES. I immediately take off my skis and go to MGS, who is crying a lot at this point.

I held her while GES made her way back towards us. I checked and nothing was broken and I asked if she was hurt or just startled. Just startled, thank goodness. I rocked and cooed until mommy got there and took over. Get this…turns out that the guy who plowed into us was a ski instructor!

After a while, JT said he would ski with MGS between his skis. It took some doing, GES and I each had two sets of ski poles, but we made it down.

The only thing we were worried about was the girls not wanting to ski after this or being nervous and they’re both pretty good skiers. We got to the bottom and EJS and ACS were ready for more, MGS was not and then she was and away they went.

I have to tell you, so very proud of EJS and MGS for making it down and wanting to keep going, Champs I tell ya!

GES and I however, first got our lift ticket money back and since I now had $150 back, it was like found money, we went to the bar! GES had a beer and I had an amaretto hot chocolate, yum! Along with style Bavarian pretzels, we were set.

We had at least 45-one hour good quality sister time, then everyone came in for lunch. After lunch, they all went back on the slopes and GES and I enjoyed more sister bonding time.

After an hour it was time to head back to the house for relaxing, skating on the pond, and hot chocolate, kid friendly, maybe a nap or two. No technology though, it was nice. There was even some reading that had to be done.

Eventually we made dinner, then more games and off to sleep for the kids. The grown-ups stayed up to talk and use their technology, freedom! And now I’m talking to you!

All in all, an enjoyable day. Gotta get it all in, back to Buffalo tomorrow.

{February 19, 2016} It’s great, but bittersweet

One year ago last weekend…

Was the first time PSM brought me to New Hampshire to ski and introduced me to his ski house and life in Lincoln.

Valentines day weekend, can you believe it! It was our third date and he took me skiing! Not too shabby if you ask me.

So, this weekend I am up with my sister’s family and his cousin, J&A T’s family. There are five adults and 4 children, girls to be exact in a lovely house in Lincoln, NH, that is heated only by wood stoves. I’m glad I wasn’t the first one in the house!

On the way up, I stopped at the same rest stop that he, Mollie and I would always stop at for coffee, tea and a piece of banana bread, sigh. Traditions. I sent him pictures of the stop, it made him nostalgic.

My car almost went on autopilot and got off at his exit, but I had six more exits to go. It’s a charming house, everyone else is asleep, the only thing missing…PSM, oh, and Mollie, of course.

It’s snowing as we speak, should make for some good skiing tomorrow.

Happy happy birthday to my dear sweet friend, my butterfly, WM.

{February 14, 2016} Today is a doubly special day!

Not only is it Valentines Day, but it’s Gotcha Day!

So, we start with Valentine’s Day, the traditional day of love. I got text messages of love and photos, calls and cards from friends, family and my beau. I hope your day was just as full of love.

The next is Gotcha Day! This is the day that adoptions are final and your family is official and complete, well, that is unless you’re adding to it!

The reason I mention it is because there is a very special girl and mommy celebrating her Gotcha Day today…Miss A and SDL. This was the day it was official and I became an aunt to a very special person. Still trying to figure out what life was before she came into our lives.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my family and friends and your friends and loved ones and Happy Gotcha Day to my family.

I loves you all!!!

{February 12, 2016} Work, uhaul, a visit, lots of laughs

Just another day in paradise!

The day started earlier than planned, not sure if I woke up on my own or the cold, wet nose on my face.

I got up, did work for a bit and then headed out to uhaul and to meet my fabulous and very strong friend CG who agreed to help me.

We drove to my sister’s house to get the trundle frame for my bed, now I’m sleeping up off the floor. As much as I like sleeping on the floor, very much like college and bohemian, it’s nice to sleep in a bed, feels different, I like the springs. I’ll give it some time, who knows if I’ll change my mind!

At my sister’s house, CG got to meet my sister when we picked up the bed, I always love when people can meet my sister, she’s so groovy.

After taking the bed frame to my place, we returned the uhaul, wet got some lunch. We laughed because we’ve been talking about getting together since we’ve known each other and now we’ve had two meals in less than a week! We have so much fun when we together!

After I got back to my place, I made the bed with my new bed covers, thanks dad! Then it was work, work, work.

After I knocked off for the day, it was back in the car, sat in traffic heading back to GES’ for shabbat dinner with the family and movie night, we watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

There was silliness, laughter and so much love and goofiness, the perfect evening. Then it was night-night, a quick catch up and back to my place, first night in my new bed, I’ll let you know how it goes.

{February 8, 2016} Happy Chinese New Year!

It’s the year of the monkey!

The Chinese or Lunar New Year starts today and the festivities lasts 15 days.

This year is the year of the monkey. This is based on the movements of the moon and sun.
Were you born in one of these years? 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968

People born in the Year of the Monkey are said to be intelligent, clever, and gregarious, but also mischievous. They are skilled and smart, but shortcomings, like a quick temper and a touch of arrogance, tend to hold them back.

This is a great article giving you a lot of good information about the Chinese new year and how it’s celebrated around the world.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/chinese-new-year-2016-facts-dates-and-ancient-traditions_us_56b4e014e4b04f9b57d961d6

Happy New Year to JCT, mom, the whole family and all my friends who are celebrating.

{January 25, 2016} Goodbye, work, breakfast, work, goodbye, hello, goodbye, dinner and a visit

Another jam packed day!

I spent the night at LBK’s, as you know, got up, took a shower then sat down to get some work done. Their middle daughter JK was still there waiting for carpool pick up to go to school.

Then it was just me and the three dogs. Then LBK came home from her first appointment and we went and had a very nice brunch. Then she went off to see her next appointment and I headed back to the house to get more work done. AK came home unexpectedly and decided to stay and get some work done, had some network issues and went back to work. Somewhere in there, I picked their youngest, KK, up from the bus stop, LBK asked if I world surprise her at the bus stop. Of course!

Big surprise since we said goodbye last night! A little one-on-one time is definitely welcome!

Then everyone was home and eventually I left after another goodbye…got on the phone with DL, and had a fabulous time talking and catching up, made the drive that much more enjoyable!

And…KAB texted with some great news, can’t tell you yet, but I was tickled that she told me right after it happened! Think I teared up? You bet your sweet bippie!

I stopped at the grocery store and picked up two frozen pizzas, one gluten-free and vegan for me and some one serving ice cream cups. Then I headed to SDL’s house, I had dinner plans with CKM and Miss A. You know I never miss a visit opportunity with Miss A!

SDL wasn’t home yet, she has class tonight for her EMBA program, how fabulous is she!! I knew I would see her later.

When I got there, Miss A was having some dinner and then it was potty, bath and bed. I got to do one of my favorite things, brush and braid her hair before bed. After teeth were night night kisses and secrets and smooches and the occasional smack in the face, mine! And promises of future visits.

Then CKM and I went downstairs and had pizza, conversation, laughs, catching up, talking about ex’s and Facebook and….you know how all of this goes. As always, a great time, especially the laughing!

About 930 SDL got home, we talked about class, how the night went and then it was just me and SDL. These are some of my favorite times as well, just the two of us sitting in the kitchen drinking tea and talking in our jammies.

As with all of my favorite people, catching up, laughing, being silly, we talked about work, life, Miss A, oh boy do we talk about her, what a wonder!

We also did some tech support stuff and before you knew it, it was one am! Morning comes early for them and I have a flight to catch at 8am to Buffalo, so out the door by 545am, wahoo!

I’m sure I’ll see them in the morning to say goodbye.

To you I say, what a weekend! Good night!

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