Family | Peaches Prattlings

{January 2, 2016} Day 2 of the new year…let’s go to a party!

How does one ring in the second day of the new year? Why, a party, of course!

When we were at the friends Christmas party, I met another of PSM’s friends, L&C. That night, night, L said they would be hosting a party on January 2nd and hoped to see us.

This morning, PSM and I were out walking with Mollie and I asked if the party was still on since we hadn’t heard anything. He reached out and found out it definitely was, wahoo!

We headed up that way, got there a little before 7p…before some and after others, or should that be other way around?

It was a great time, lots of fabulous people, most of the same folks, usual suspects, as it were. We discussed the holidays, new years, what’s next. And…next weekend’s celebration, we say “aloha” to PSM.

There were kids and adults to enjoy the evening with, the big reason is that he may not get to see somem before he leaves for Hawaii. There are two special kids who call him uncle and their goodbye was very sweet, I’m glad we went, I know he is too.

For me, it was gear to see everyone, they are all so welcoming and adore PSM to bits and I know I’ve had to pass some tests to be sure I’m right for him, that’s what family does and your friends can be tough! But I’m looking forward to some girls nights out!!

A great time was had by all and we get to see them again next week for his send off!!

Happy Saturday night!

{December 31, 2015} Happy New Year…Its 2016

It’s 2016, where did the time go?

Weren’t we just here a minute ago? How was your year? Was it everything you hoped for?

So much happened in my life…GES turned 40, she’s 100% and rockin’ her new job, EJS turned 8 and excelling at sports, MGS turned 5, lost her first tooth and started kindergarten, ACS left his corporate job to become a teacher. Dad and LaLa celebrated ten years together. We traveled to the Bahamas together for a fabulous family vacation in April.

I met a great guy, PSM, and a new adventure began for me, East coat skiing, weekend trips, movies, theater, a place in Boston, new places to discover, three international trips together and now the greatest adventure, moving to Hawaii in a few months! I can’t wait to share that with you!

I was on a project in Boston and got to spend a lot more time with the family, getting even closer with EJS and MGS, I didn’t have to go more than a few miles to celebrate their birthdays with them.

On my projects and where I was I made some new friends, acquired new skills and discovered new strengths.

I got to spend some time in Atlanta with my friends and family, watched Miss A thrive, spent one on one time with Baby A and KAB. Drove to NJ to see SRH walk across the stage to get her diploma.

I completed a 15k, a few 5ks and two half marathons 8 days apart on two continents! One in Brooklyn with a friend from high school.

Another year of blogging, only to be continued, January 6th will be 3 years, can you believe it!

There were some tough times, some great times, some injuries and triumphs and I got through all of them with the help of my friends and family, I thank you.

I hope this year brings you health, happiness and all the joy your heart can handle. 2016 is going to be great!

Happy New Year!

{December 29, 2015} Another masterpiece!

Last night, CKM and I participated in one of our time honored traditions…painting class!

This time we chose Painting With a Twist. We weren’t crazy about the instructor and they’re was no down time to let the paint dry so it didn’t all run together, but we managed. In glad it wasn’t our first time, it may have been our last!

It’s almost like paint by numbers, just no numbers. The instructor gives you direction on each section, which is very helpful. I kept waiting for Bob Rossi…”now we’ll paint a tree, a happy tree”!

All in all, a great finished product, we realized this was our forth or fifth time. Can you guess which is mine? (See what the street names are?)

I gave mine to PSM tonight when I got home, something he can put up in the new place, only snow he’ll see there!

{December 28, 2015} More friends…can you be any luckier than me?

I don’t think so.

I started the morning off at ST’s, after we all got back from dinner, I threw in a load of laundry, always nice to have clean clothes.

Then it was off to see RJS and her new kitties, Max and Maddie, also known as M&M. So very cute!! They are about 5.5 months, affectionate, sweet, smart and very precocious. They definitely keep their human parents on their toes.

After a bite of lunch, back to the house for more catching up, laughing, silliness.

Next was time to meet CKM, we met at an Italian restaurant for pasta, mine was ok, but I was jealous of CKM! Apple and goat cheese ravioli, oh my did it smell fantastic!

After dinner we went to do one of our favorite things, a painting class! We decided on the blue background. Tomorrow I’ll show you the finished product.

Before we went into the class we sat in the car and exchanged gifts, it was raining cats and dogs!

After another fun class, we chatted a little on the way back to the restaurant to get her car, back to RJS’ house for more catching up, talk to you and lights out.

Another great day, as always! I’m beat!

{December 26, 2015} Another fabulous day!

Today was laid back and packed.

The day started not too early…well, sort of, 6am, but doze fire the next two hours until SDL and Miss A came down and we had breakfast.

Today it was a blueberry muffin. We discuss world events, the economy, you know, the usual stuff you talk to a five year old about. It’s actually one of my favorite things I get to do with her, meals.

SDL and I had a chance to catch up, one on one, which I love as well. Then everyone else started getting up and joined us.

After a bit, I got showered and dressed, then headed out to see my house, just a drive by, see if everything is in order, it is.

Then off to see TS and her daughter, KS and Miss Molly, the furry one in the family, at their new house. It’s lovely, and suits them to a T, just right.

We had a tour, TS has the first floor and KS has the upper floor and Miss Molly has the run of the place, of course.

We chatted for a while, then went to get some dinner and after dinner decided to see a movie, Sisters, with Tina Fey and Amy Pholer, quite funny actually.

Back to the house to talk for a few hours, not even realizing how late it was!

Now it’s time to talk to you and get some sleep! Tomorrow is another jam packed day, of course!

{December 25, 2015} Merry Christmas!!

Are home made gifts the best or what!!

I promised to share what I got from Baby A and here it is! The two canvases are made by him, red swirls with A’s underneath and…Mistle-toes! Do you love it! You know I do!

And in front…coffee filter butterflies made by Miss A!! You know I am just eating this stuff up!

Today started too early, but Christmas starts early with little kids! I was still at JT’s house and for the 13 month old, we started at 7am! There were slides and brooms and princesses and…and…

DT made breakfast, yum, A Christmas Story was on, the beginning of the 24 hour run, then we put on Its a Wonderful Life, eventually I took a shower and headed to my other favorite family to spend christmas with them. SDL, Miss A, SDL’s sister DL, her parents, also known as Momom and Popop.

We opened presents, talked, laughed, cooked, opened presents, talked, laughed, cooked and eventually sat down to eat.

It was fun opening presents, every family has their own traditions. In this family, Santa fills the stockings and everyone wonders just how Santa knew! Then we open the “regular” gifts and everyone knows who they are from. Lots of laughter and fun!

Dinner was grand…there was turkey, stuffing, veggies, sweet potato, mashed potato, rolls, salad, oh my! Full bellies.

Then sitting and chatting for a long time. Clean up, talking, eventually dessert, more talking and then all of a sudden, it’s 11pm! Time flies!

So, I have done my Christmas traditions, so far. Christmas Eve with JT’s family and Christmas Day with SDL’s, my life is complete. I love these families dearly and I can’t imagine anywhere else I would rather be at this time and I’ll be back every year, as long as they’ll have me!

To you and yours, if you celebrate…Happy and Merry Christmas!!!

{December 24, 2015} ‘Twas the night before Christmas…

Happy Christmas Eve to one and all!

Today is Christmas Eve and I got to continue a fabulous tradition, spending it with crazy friends.

I started my day seeing my grandson, Baby A. What am I going to call him? I can’t keep calling him Baby A! He’s two and a half! I’ll think of something soon. I drove out to see him and his mom, KAB, had a fabulous time and forgot to take a picture of what he made me, pure awesomeness! I will take a picture tomorrow and post it, promise!

After a fabulous visit, I headed back to JT’s house, picked him up, we went to the store and picked up stuff I could eat for dinner, then back to his place.

People started arriving, including ST, who joined us because JT’s family graciously extended an invitation. I told him how great JT’s family is and ST experienced it.

This year was a slightly different crowd, since some of the usual suspects weren’t there. Some of the same faces, some new, but as always, warm, fun, entertaining and amusing, loud, boisterous and fabulous. What more could you want.

For those of you celebrating…Happy Christmas eve!!! I hope you are with the ones you want to be with and having a fabulous time!

{December 22, 2015} A first concert!

Tonight was my first foray into the world of grade school concerts…from the “parent” side.

EJS decided at the start of the school year that she wanted to play an instrument. Her decision was an interesting choice, the cello! It’s almost bigger than her!

When she was making the decision, I told her, after I told her parents of course, that I wanted to be her patron. Try explaining what a patron of the arts is to an eight year old!

She really likes The cello and tonight we got to witness the results of all the practicing and rehearsals.

We started with the beginner strings, this included EJS’ group, cello, violons, violas. These were the third graders. Then it was the advanced strings, fourth and fifth grade. Next was the wind instruments, beginner, then advanced. The winds include clarinet, which GES and I both played, flute, trombone. Then orchestra.

The beginner strings started with the traditional beginner piece, ‘Hot Cross Buns’, of course, then there was Martian Cross Buns, huh?

I have to say, the beginner strings were better than we expected, fair thinking for a beginner concert.

Along with being very proud family members we, GES, ACS and I realized we are now in the parental group that must attend and sit through not only their own child/family member’s performance, but the entire school’s performances! Oh my!

A realization came to mind, how lucky we were as kids! Our parents did it for us and smiled the biggest smiles they could.

I looked at GES during one of the other group’s performances and said “Does this mean we need to call daddy and thank him?” Yes it does!

To our dad and mom, who sat through our concerts and to all those parents who sat through their child’s concerts, no matter how good or bad, we send a big collective “THANK YOU!!” You are now up for sainthood!

{December 6, 2015} Happy Chanukah

Tonight is the first night of chanukah and I was lucky to spend it with family.

PSM and I flew back from Hawaii today, we’ll, yesterday and today, sorry about no post, I didn’t think about it until today! We left at 5pm yesterday and arrived on the mainland late morning. Anyway…

Tonight startes the beginning of the celebration of Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights. For those of you not in the know, the Festival of Lights celebrates the miracle of what happened so long ago.

When the temple was destroyed and the Jews went in to clean things up, they found enough oil to light the lamps for one night, but a miracle occurred and it lasted eight nights. That is why we celebrate for eight nights.

Things that are special to the holiday are things like potato pancakes or potato latkes, they are fried in oil, which is what makes them special. We might also serve donuts, fried in oil, maybe filled with sweet jellies.

We play games like dreidel and sing songs. It’s so much fun as a kid and to play and see through the eyes of a child.

Each night, we light candles on the menorah, one more each day until the eighth night, the menorah is aglow with warmth and hope and love.

Tonight, I was with GES and family. The only thing missing was the rest of the family. Before dad left last week they celebrated chanukah together so they could enjoy the celebration together.

The menorah I lit when I got back to my apartment was one I picked up after we got back from our big trip. Doesn’t it scream Antoni Gaudi!

On the last night, I’ll post a picture in full glow.

Happy Chanukah!

{December 1, 2015} I’m in Hawaii, what?

I was in Europe three weeks ago and now I’m in Hawaii? How does that happen? Well, I’ll tell ya…

I couldn’t say anything before, it was very hush-hush, but PSM was looking to shake things up a bit and one of the things he did was interview for new opportunities within his company.

And then we waited.

And we waited.

We got tired of waiting and ran away to Europe. And here’s where the cool part comes in.

It was our first day in Marseille and we were on the Il d’If, the prison I was telling you about that the Count of Monte Cristo was based on. We were in someone’s prison cell when he got the call. Cool, huh? I thought so.

Good thing it was a large prison cell, I had to walk around it for the next twenty minutes while he talked to his new boss! I took a lot of pictures from the same window, great view!

“But, JJ, you still haven’t told us why you’re in Hawaii.” I’m getting to that dear friends. The new position, if you haven’t followed my chaotic train of thought is…in, yup, you guessed it, Hawaii!

It has been a whirlwind! I couldn’t tell you before because I had to tell my family first and I couldn’t tell them until he told his family first and then his first cousin’s wife, AT was waiting so patiently for my sister to find out so she could say something! It was like a sitcom!

Now, I’ve told my immediate family, first reactions were: Dad “I knew that when JJ said PSM was going to Hawaii, she was going with him”, GES “April break, auntie’s house!”. ACS “oh yeah!” then I’ve told some friends and I’m working on telling the world. For PSM, it’s a quick phone call to friends and family, maybe a 15/20 minute call, max. For me…1-2 hours! My mouth went dry!

The plan is that PSM will move in January, he starts work mid-January and I will join him when my lease is up, around August/September. Until then, I will do what I can to visit him as often as possible, hopefully once a month, if not every two months. If I can get a job on the west coast, then it will be a lot easier to come on the weekends.

I have to tell you, it was easier getting here than I thought. PSM got a flight yesterday morning, very early as his girlfriend got him to the airport at 4am, what a girlfriend he has! He flew through Texas and got to Hawaii about 2pm yesterday. I flew out at 6pm, after a fabulous time at the Nutcracker with the family, got to LA about 9:30, got a room for the night and was back at the airport for my 8:30am flight, 10 hour layover and then to Hawaii and I got in about 12:15pm.

I have to admit, I think I liked the way I did it, especially if there were kids involved, fly 5/6 hours spend the night in a bed getting decent rest, then fly 5/6 hours the next morning, get in relatively early and have the entire day ahead of you. On the way back, I am flying through LA again, but with a one hour layover, we’ll see how I feel!

So, the reason I am in Hawaii with PSM…he is here looking for a place to live and I was hoping to, based on my schedule, join him so we could look and make decisions together and much to our surprise, things worked out and here I am!

It was a crazy day. I landed, PSM picked me up, we went to the hotel, dropped bags, went out for a bite to eat, then met the agent taking us around about 2pm, looked at about 6 or 7 properties. A few apartments, some houses, some town houses. We went in a few and others, we checked out the neighborhood to decide whether or not we wanted to even go inside.

The last house we looked at, from outside was in a great neighborhood, on a hill, overlooking the island and the farm PSM will be working with and met the neighbors, great people who we ended up talking to for TWO hours! The sun went down!!! It was a very long day, some of the houses started to blend in with each other, but I think we picked the one we want and fingers crossed it’s available!

We are on the island of Oahu, for those of you with inquiring minds. And now you know why I am in Hawaii! Looking for a place to live, can you believe it?

Yes, we’ll have a guest room, all ready for your visit!

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