Family | Peaches Prattlings

{October 6, 2014} My [furry] baby had surgery and is fine

Today I took Peanut to the vet’s to be spayed.

Anytime you take a family member to the doctor, be it two legged or four legged and furry, it can be nerve wracking, but all is right with the world. I have been remiss in not getting Peanut fixed before now, she is 6 years old, but it’s done and she’s doing well.

I dropped her off at 8am, looking at me like I was abandoning her forever and then happy to see me when I arrived at 4:45, when they finally brought her out, could have been the heavy pain medication, but I am hoping it was because I was there to rescue her!

Out she came with an e-collar around her neck, poor little bit, with instructions to keep it on for 10 days, huh? There is also 5 days worth of pain meds that I am sorry to say my sister will have to administer for days 3-5, I think it will be alright. Peanut is a very good girl and I’m hoping better than Jymy at taking her meds!

The post surgery instructions said to try to keep her from jumping and running, huh? this is a cat! I got her home, GES and I got her out of the carrier, fixed the e-collar and zoom, off she went! Running and jumping! She was on the furniture, off the furniture, up the bannister, then vanished, later to be found under the bed, looking sad. Eventually I coaxed her to come out and get on the bed, much more comfortable.

Tonight she has been sitting on my lap, looking up at me on ocassion to make sure I’m not going anywhere and she’s ok.

Yes folks, she is fine and will be right as rain in a few days, please send her your good vibes!

Positivity Challenge – Day #20
1 – I am thankful that Peanut was well cared for when she went in to be spayed today at the Parkway Veternary Hospital
2 – I am thankful that I was here and able to take Peanut to the hospital and pick her up after the procedure
3 – I am thankful that Peanut knows that her mommy is here to take care of her and won’t let anything bad happen to her.
Please send her your best vibes

{October 5, 2014} A 5k and my family was there!

Today I did my first 5k in almost 2 months and I had a cheering section!

Normally, when I do a 5k, 10k or 1/2 marathon, I am usually on my own, arriving and crossing the finish line. Now, don’t get me wrong, there have been a few races that I have done with people and as you know DCM used to take me and be there when I crossed the finish line.

Today, I had an extra special treat! ACS dropped me off at DeFazio Park at the packet pick up for the Walk for Walker 5k, http://www.walkforwalker.org/. The 5k started a few minutes after 10 and we were off, there was a 5k runners group and a 1 mile walker group.

For the first time, for most of the race, I was actually last, which was perfectly fine, because I was doing it, I didn’t care. The funny part was there was a police officer following to keep traffic back, so here i was going really slow and the officer had to drive that slowly! Even better, there were three that did hand offs, so for the first time in my life, I was followed by three police officers and I wasn’t even in trouble!

As I came around a bend about 1.5 miles in, there was my family! GES, ACS, EJS and MGS! My very own personal cheering section and it was the best feeling and sound ever! I kept running, then I heard them honking the horn and shouting as they went by to the finish!

I continued on running and then came around at the 3 mile mark, only needing to finish the .11 to the finish line, there were GES and EJS cheering me on to the finish! I crossed the finish line, got my bottle of water and waited for them to catch up so we could get the rest of the cheering section together.

Bottom line, it was so very cool to have my own cheering section there to support me during my run! I know what other runners, like my brother-in-law, ACS, or AK, feels when he does a half or full marathon and the entire family is there to cheer them on. It is fantastic!!!

Positivity Challenge – Day # 19
1 – I am thankful to have finished my first 5k in almost 2 months in 42:29, I am quite pleased with my time [for not having trained!]
2 – I am SO THANKFUL my family was there to cheer me in the middle of the course and at the end, that was awesome!!!
3 – I am thankful that I do not have to wear big poufy early 1900s dresses with teeny hats that tie under my chin

{October 4, 2014} Services, cooking, break the fast, lots of people

Yesterday, I told you what Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, is about and today, we observed.

As I mentioned, we fast for 24 hours, sundown to sundown, some people don’t and it’s not mandatory, but requested. Kids don’t have to fast until they become bar or bat mitzvah age, then they are adults and kind of expected, but it is a personal choice that you make for yourself.

Today we got up and went to children’s services at a different location. The services are a little shorter and more kid friendly, lots of singing, but with a more modern, folk-songy twist, which I like. The sermon that the rabbi gives was great and geared towards kids and parents alike. The services lasted about 1.5 hours, then we went back to the house to start cooking for all the people coming to break the fast, and let me tell you, it’s not easy to cook when you’re hungry!

There were about 40 people coming, kids and adults and we had to feed them all! Everyone brought something to share, but we provided the bagels, lox, cream cheese, as well as egg salad, tuna fish, challah hummus, salad, juice and coffee and monkey bread for dessert. Then people brought a few different koogle, blintz souffle, fruit salad, cheesecake, pumpkin bread, cookies, bars, you name it, we had it!

We started cooking about 12, set up around 3 and then people started arriving about 5 and we dug in about 5:30 and the feast was on! Everyone was so very hungry and it was wonderful to be able to break the fast with so many wonderful people of all ages! The last person left about 8:30 and we were pooped! It was bath, books, bed. Guess who fell asleep after reading to EMS while laying there with her!

Got up, kissed MGS, then went downstairs to hang with GES on the couch for a minute and fell asleep there, now here I am writing to you! It has been a very long day and I need some sleep, I have a 5k in the morning!

Again, I wish you a happy, healthy and sweet year. L’Shana Tova!

Positivity Challenge – Day #18
1 – I am grateful to get to be around wonderful friends and family to break the fast today.
2 – I am grateful that I may have found someone to take the piano i have to get out of my house!
3 – I am thankful that my sister, GES, and I get along so well and make amazing things happen together

{October 3, 2014} May you have an easy fast

Tonight was the beginning of Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement.

This is the most holy day of the year for Jews, part of “The High Holy Days” beginning with Rosh Hashanah, The Jewish New Year. For Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, we ask g-d to forgive our sins and we ask our friends and loved ones to forgive us for any transgressions we may have had against them.

For a period of 24 hours, we fast, no food or water, so that we may concentrate on our studies and prayers to ask g-d for forgiveness and to inscribe us in The Book of Life. For Rosh Hashanah, we say “May you have a healthy, happy and sweet year’, for Yom Kippur we wish everyone to “Have an easy fast”.

So, my friends, as i sit here writing to you, If I have wronged you in any way in this past year, I apologize and ask for forgiveness.

For my friends who are fasting, I say to you “Happy New Year and may you have an easy fast”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur

Positivity Challenge – Day #17
1 – I am thankful that I got to sleep until 8:30am this morning, waking before the alarm!
2 – I am thankful to have made it through another year
3 – I am thankful that my cats want to snuggle with me every night!

{October 1, 2014} Happy Birthday to Me!

Today I turned 43! Yup, you heard it! A woman admitting her age!

It was a work day, a good day, some birthday wishes, great phone calls and I lost count of the well wishes on FaceBook! Thank you to everyone who made me feel amazing by wishing me a Happy Birthday!

There were also phone calls, text messages and birthday singing to me by my dad and GES and ACS.

All I can say is Thank you Thank you Thank you!!

I got a beautiful sterling ring from GES and family, a sweet Very Bradley wallet from LaLa and some great cards from dad and my sister, brother-in-law and my nieces and dad, so much fun! Get ready to laugh!

I had a great lunch with

All in all, a great birthday!!

Positivity Challenge – Day #14
1- I am SO VERY THANKFUL to be so lucky to have been wished a happy birthday by so many people, I am SO SO SO THANKFUL to have you all in my life and care enough about me to say Happy Birthday!
2 – I am thankful for the great gifts I got for my birthday from my family!
3 – I am thankful I am here to say thank you to everyone!!!

{September 28, 2014} What a day!

Have you heard the expression “I need a vacation from my vacation?”

I need to go back to work to get some rest! This has been an amazing weekend and today did not disappoint!

The day started out way too early, as always, ok, not before the sun, fbut it was Sunday and before 10am is too early! About 7:45, I was prying my eyes open, but laying there in hopes they would stay glued shut, no such luck, so upstairs I went, to greet the day and the family. Then cleanup around the house, straighten things and put the toys away, that sort of thing.

Just before 11, we dropped EJS off at Sunday School and headed to J&A’s house for brunch. There we saw their daughter P, who called me Auntie J for the first time! She and MGS are the best of friends. Eventually, their son S was there for a few minutes and a bite to eat. He and EJS are the same age and a perfect fit as friends! ACS’s brother, JS and his wife AS were there as well as other friends who had all gone to camp with my brother-in-law, it was a great time, lots of fun and great conversation and I found a fellow sci-fi geek, truth be told, he might be a bigger one than me! He had himself cast in carbonate! GEEK CITY! I loved it!

After brunch, we left to pick up EJS from Sunday School, order bagels for next week and head home for a minute and a half. Then it was change into bathing suits, swim lessons! Both girls asked me to watch their lesson and to swim with them while the other had a lesson, I love when they fight over me! Swimming was fun, so great to watch them excel and get better! EJS has amazing form! I can’t wait for our next vacation to swim with them!

Then it was home for another minute and a half and then off to dinner. It was great that I was here this weekend so we could celebrate my birthday together as I will be in Louisville on my birthday. We went to a great Italian restaurant called Paparazzi and had great food, great conversation and fun! I got some beautiful presents, a charming ring from my sister’s family, it’s called the Little Black Ring, from Silpada, kind of like the little black dress every woman should have in her closet! I got a generous gift from my dad and a cute Vera Bradley wallet from LaLa. I will post pictures on my birthday [I haven’t taken any yet!] and I loved the cards I got from the family! Thank you!

Home again, home again, jiggity jig! [No roasting of fat pigs!]. PJs, games, books and bed. The wee tots are snuggled in their beds and now everyone else is, except for you and me. Even Jymy is snoring on the bed next to me!

Off to sleep I am…gotta get up in a few hours and head to the airport, back to Louisville I go!

Goodnight!

Positivity Challenge – Day #12
1 – I am thankful I was able to see my nieces at their swim lessons and beam at how much better they are getting!
2 – I am thankful to be close with my sister’s family’s friends and Auntie J to all their kids!
3 – I am so very thankful I got to spend my birthday dinner with my family tonight!!! Thank you!!!

{September 17, 2014} Watching movies with little kids

This is quite the experience.

Today, MGS wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed home from school and one of the movies we watched How To Train Your Dragon 2. She had seen the movie in the theater with her dad and sister when it came out, but of course, there were still questions and I answered.

There are always questions in the theater or at home. “Is this the scary part?” “Why is he doing that?” “Is he the good guy or bad guy?” and the list goes on. Sometimes there are more intense questions that make you think about what you’re going to say before you say it, you can’t just blurt anything out because, as you know, that sometimes leads to more questions.

Then there is that moment that they are sitting next to you and put their head on your shoulder or little hand on your leg that is right there next to them, is there a feeling any better? Not a chance!

ps…One nice thing about watching movies at home with kids…if there is a potty break, you can pause the movie!

Positivity Challenge – Day #3

1 – I am grateful to have a good job
2 – I am grateful that good job allows me to travel
3 – I am grateful I made my connecting flight

{September 4, 2014} We have a 2nd grader in the family!

EJS started second grade today! What? When did that happen???

Where does the time go? I am going to get sappy, you’ll just have to deal with it!

All over the country, mostly in the northeast, students went back to school this week. In the south, they went back to school last month, traditionally in the north and northeast, the day after Labor Day. You know the drill, pictures all over FaceBook of kids dressed and ready for the first day, some with signs, some not.

For my very wonderful, funny, smart and fantastic niece, yes, I am biased, EJS, started school today, second grade to be exact. I saw pictures posted on FaceBook, two of them, one with just her and MGS and the other with her sister and dad. Such great pictures!

Ok, here comes the sappy…I remember the day I met EJS for the first time, she was one week old, eight days to be exact [at least I think it was eight, could have been seven]. I saw her and held her in my arms and I was in love! And here she is seven years old and starting second grade.

When i got to their house on Friday, I opened the door and she ran and jumped into my arms, how much longer am I going to be able to pick her up? Who cares, I hope she does it for as long as she wants to and I can at least lift her off the ground a little.

Today, I got a call from EJS! She was calling to tell me about her first day of school. “We didn’t do any learning, we just got to know each other” and tomorrow is going to be a new day and the next step towards a great year. She likes her teacher and classmates, how can you go wrong there?

I want to wish EJS and everyone starting school this week a very good and successful year, whatever your grade. It’s going to be a great year!

{September 1, 2014} Pool day!

A day of rest? What’s that?

Today I did actually sleep in, until almost 9am! Wow! Did I do something good to deserve this treat? What is it they say…I need a vacation from my vacation!

We all got motivated, did coffee runs and had breakfast, then it was make lunches, pack up the cars and head to the pool! It’s been over a month since I sat in a pool, outside. I’ve been to hotel pools, but they’re all inside, this was great!

We were at the pool maybe three minutes and we were already getting pulled in! “Hurry up! I wanna swim!” EJS has been taking swimming lessons and has improved so much over the last year! She even took her test to get her the band to allow her in the four foot deep section without an adult! Next will be the test for the nine foot deep section of the pool.

We all splashed and played and had a great time, breaking for lunch then getting back in, not right away, took a break and then went back. Took another break later, read a little of my book, started to doze off and then it was time to go home. Oh yeah, a little FaceTime with GES somewhere in between, since she had stayed home to get some work done.

Back home, we showered and got dressed and did some work around the house and then ACS’ friend, JR, came over and we all went to dinner at a local Irish pub, it was fun and entertaining.

On the way home, stop at Petco to pick up stuff for the cats, some toys and scratching posts. Oh! Papa, or my dad as I know him, worked out a deal with EJS to help with the cats: food, water, litter, every day and each week, she will get $3, sounds fair to me! I’ll definitely be getting in on this action ! Thanks for thinking of it dad!

Home for bath, games and bed. RG came over to chat for a while, it was great to see her! Finished packing and now I’m talking to you!

Good night dear friends, I have a very early day tomorrow, back to Louisville!

{September 1, 2014} A country fair and lobster fest!

How does one follow a day at the beach? With a country fair and lobster fest, of course! Didn’t you get the memo?

The day started way too early, 7:30 to be exact, is there a pattern here? The bad part wasn’t the time, just the fact that I fell asleep at 3:30am! Party, Party, Party!

We got motivated and out of the house about 10:15, which was only 15 minutes later than planned, go us! We loaded the girls into the convertible again, they were ready for it, sweatshirts on this time, still continued to bundle up, windows up, top down and we were off!

We were meeting ACS’s brother and sister-in-law, JS and AS, at the 154th annual Woodstock Fair, http://www.woodstockfair.com/. It was a good, old-fashioned country fair, who doesn’t love that! There were rides for all ages, vendors, animals, exhibitions, car races, food, funnel cake, games and so much more. There were crowds of people, most of them smiling, some of the wee tots don’t smile so much when someone tells them no!

We started off taking a trip around to see some of the booths with fun goods. I got a new face mask that will double for the motorcycle and skiing. My last one had to be thrown away, this one is just like it, with pink flames! I will rock the slopes again this year! I did find a gorgeous pair of cowboy, or I should say cowgirl boots, of course, they were on sale for…$289. I just couldn’t do it, even though my birthday is coming up…it’s not the perfect pair I want, those I might spend that kind of money!

Then we got some fried dough, GES and I thought we were getting funnel cake, not so. But there was powdered sugar and it satisfied half the craving, and the girls liked it, what more could you want!

Next were the animals: cows, GIANT rabbits, chickens, roosters, chicks, ducks, sheep, pigs, alpacas, goats, oh my! There were sheep being sheared, cows being born, it was amazing!

I believe she was smiling!

We went into some of the exhibition barns to see different competitors and entries. There were race cars and music and entertainment and giant gourds! Oh my!

The sand art was amazing!

The living statue was creepy and cool, all at the same time!

I love handmade crafts!

Wouldn’t this be great for CBS Sunday Morning?

O M G!! The largest one was over 1100 pounds!

Finally, there were games and rides and oh did the girls love those! Bumper cars, carousel horses and ring tosses, oh my! Were we wiped out? Yes we were!

Back in the car, top up, windows down and to the house James!

When we got home, it was just in time to bring things to the driveway next door for Lobster Fest ’14! This is a tradition that the families on the block have been doing during Labor Day weekend for years. They have done it at GES and ACS’ house many times in the driveway, but this year…the neighbors weren’t there, so guess where we set up!

We had lobster, burgers, dogs, salads, veggies, dips, chips, beer, wine and LaLa’s famous home made sangria. For dessert, there was watermelon, champagne grapes, cookies and cakes, oh my!

We ate and drank and laughed and had the best time and then packed it in just as it seemed it would start raining and we beat the clock! We cleaned up, got the kids inside, baths, books, games and night night!

And then the second shower of the day for most of us, we were hot sticky messes! Now, I sit here writing to you about my day and after I load some pictures into this post I’m going to bid you a fond good evening. [fingers crossed i get more than 4 hours of sleep!]

What will we be doing tomorrow? Who knows…but as you’ve guessed, there is never a dull moment around this house!

Goodnight!

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