Family | Peaches Prattlings

{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!

{August 31, 2014} A day at the beach…

Is there really more to say? Well, alright, if i must!

Today was going to be a day at the beach with a few other families, to spend time together and celebrate a 5th birthday of another wonderful munchkin who calls me Auntie J!

I got up about 7:30, not because I wanted to, by any means, I was hoping for a little more sleep, but, there you have it. No sleeping late in this house! As I’m trying to get my eyes open, about 7:45/7:50 I hear ‘Is it time to wake Auntie J up yet?” “No” was my sister’s response, but I was up so i went upstairs.

There was fun to be had! Wrestling, tickling, silliness, you name it, we had it. Then ACS was going for a run and invited me to go. It was going to be a 5 mile day for him, he’s training for a half marathon in a few weeks. Yes, I wanted to go, I haven’t run in 2 weeks, it was time. [and you know I’m participating in a half marathon in November, I need to get moving!]

We started off strong, I kept up with him and his pace, which was a little faster than I am used to, now that i have a rhythm that started to work, but I did it. I kept up for about 1.5 miles and then he kept going and i walk/ran the rest of the way. I did my five miles, just not all running, but I am quite please with what I did.

I met ACS and my dad at the grocery store on the way home, stopped for a few things and hitched a ride home, I’m ok with that. Then it was make lunches, pack the car and get ready to go! What better way to go to the beach than in a convertible with the top dropped, they loved it!

It was a beautiful day for a drive, with the top down, to the beach. Guess who was the only one not bundled up!

We made it to the house, quick change and it was beach bound, across the street and down the path, what could be better?! The sand was hot, the water was cold and the air was perfect. There is nothing, nothing I tell you, like time on the beach. It so made me want to buy a place on the beach or live there full time. Oh, why can’t Colorado have a beach, then it would be absolutely perfect!

We spent about four hours, maybe more, on the beach. A walk with dad, played a little with the kids, had lunch and then took a nap, glorious! I have to tell you, I never sleep so well as I do on the beach or right near it, there is nothing like it, did I already say that?

The kids had a great time and even started their own ice bucket challenge, so to speak. this consisted of dumping buckets of ocean water on their heads, so stinking cute! One started, then another joined in, eventually there were four of them!

After the beach we headed to the house for showers and a cookout and then singing and birthday cake with ice cream, what more could you want?

A few hours later it was back in the car, top up and drive home. On the way, EJS asked if she could ride in my car tomorrow to the fair, guess what my answer was!

On to the next adventure! Goodnight!

{August 25, 2014} Saying goodbye…I will miss you!

Today I left Ann Arbor for a new venture and had to say goodbye to my friends and family and I’m sad.

Over the last few days, I’ve been packing a little and saying goodbye to my friends who are now my family at the Hilton Garden Inn Ann Arbor, because today was the day.

I hope you remember me telling you how fantastic everyone was when I first got there oh so many months ago and i have to tell you, the experience only got better and better and better.

Kirsten became “the weather girl” because even if i didn’t ask what the weather was, she knew I wanted to know, so…I would know. I love talking to her and catching up on her family, we only got closer every day. Debra was fantastic and took care of Jymy and Peanut for me this week, they loved being with her. I got to meet her daughter and new granddaughter, loving on Baby K, I feel like one of the family.

So many of the front desk feel like siblings or my kids, but much older, more mature kids! Lauren is sweet and lives for that Chow of hers, Izzy and loves to share pictures. I can’t wait to hear how school is going as she’s going back this semester. I was glad I got to see her Friday, i didn’t want to miss her before I left. Speaking of going back to school, she is joined by Liv, who apparently could be my daughter! Someone asked us! I’ll take it, a fiery red head? I didn’t get to say goodbye to her today, but she happened to stop by yesterday to pick up her check and since I hang out at the front desk, then I was bound to see her! Jonathon was the newest addition, who eventually took over as night auditor and is a sweet kid, especially when he brought in some home made pumpkin bread his girlfriend made, how nice is that?

Sean was fun to talk to, about new tats,healthy living, sharing favorite new foods, his new living arrangements, hopes, plans dreams, belt buckles. I’m going to miss that and hearing him say “friend” whenever he hung up the phone. Adriana wasn’t there as much over the last few months, so every moment has been precious and I got to see her yesterday, so, so great! The last person from the front desk I had to say goodbye to last week was Ryan, the night auditor. I didn’t get to talk to Ryan as much as I would have like to because he was on nights, we chatted a bit, but not as much as everyone else, but a super duper nice guy!

Nel, the bartender, and I became fast friends, I loved hanging out at the bar talking to her, joking and talking about school, she was like another sister. I didn’t get to see her today, we said our goodbyes the other day. Betty is one of the servers/back-up bartenders who was fun to get to know, talk about some of the trips she would take with her boyfriend. Janet is another server who I loved, sassy and sexy and with it! Kristin, another server, I got to see before she left on her honeymoon about a week ago, just glad I got to see her! I can’t wait to hear how her career is taking off!

Bobby was one of the managers in the kitchen/dining/banquet area and a smart arse, funny guy who I enjoyed talking to and joking around with. CeCe was the chef in that great kitchen and she ran it and worked it like nobody’s business! She was so good to make things that I could eat since the majority of the menu was not vegetarian or vegan friendly. Yesterday, she gave me a going away present! All sorts of great things for the kitchen, WOW, thank you!!! Moe was the other great guy in the kitchen, he’s the one who baked and served the HGI bars, warm and wonderful! [oats, cranberries, white chocolate, among other wonderful things].

Running the housekeeping staff are Arlin and Tammy, two fantastic women who kept me laughing and made sure my room was clean and wonderful. Arlin is sweet and funny and always ready with a hug and a smile, maybe a salsa move or two. Tammy always has a smile on her face and never seems to have a bad day. They both spoiled me by taking such good care of me! Marisol was always very sweet when she came to clean my room.

The maintenance guys, Matt and Alex spoiled me rotten, taking care of whatever it was that I needed, be it a new fridge, issues with something in the room, you name it, they took care of everything right away!

Running the hotel, in the front/back office are Ashley,the AGM, a fun, fit, goofy woman who i loved talking to about her son, her weekend, whatever. Christina is a fun chick who always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude. She’s also the one who remembered that i love sunflowers, when they put the beautiful bouquet in my room that day! I didn’t get to spend much time with Patty, but always a pleasure, a down to earth, happy person.

Frank is the GM, an avid runner and by avid, I mean distance runner! He’s a 100 miler runner and I love talking to him about his experiences and participating in the fun things that the hotel planned for the guests. Be sure to wish him a very happy birthday on Monday!!!

There are so many wonderful things these amazing people did for me while I was staying at the hotel and today…I got a gift certificate for REI from my wonderful HGI Family! They teased saying they would rename my room to the “JJ Suite”! Too funny!

How can I say goodbye to these people? I have no idea! It wasn’t easy, but I did it and walked away with a smile on my face promising that I would be back to visit and now, I can be friends with them on Facebook and keep in touch, which you know I will!

{August 20, 2014} A new opportunity

I got a new project!

On Sunday, i will be packing my car, going to Debra’s place, collecting Jymy and Peanut and heading to my next project. This adventure has me driving to Louisville, Kentucky for a new project and a new application.

Every new opportunity is the opportunity for a new adventure!

The only sad part in all of this is I am going to miss my family here in Ann Arbor. I am heading off to this project with one other person from my team and it’s going to be weird not to see KLS almost EVERY day and KNOB often, not to mention other great co-workers, but I have a good feeling that we will be on another project together soon and all will be right with the world.

What about the great people here at the Hilton Garden Inn who have become family? I guess I’ll just have to visit!

Here’s to the next chapter!

{August 17, 2014} Traveling with animals

It’s interesting.

Today, I packed up the car with some stuff, a cat box, food and two cats. How much do you think they liked that?

I picked up my car and cats to drive to Ann Arbor and then next week I will drive to my next project. Let’s just say they weren’t the happiest creatures; dogs, at least most of them, like going for rides in the car. Not so with cats.

After we wrangled each cat into a carrier, loaded the car and took off. The crying started. Who are we kidding, it started as soon as they were in their crates! After I was on the main highway and knew I was in for a long stretch, I let them out of their carriers and let them roam around, that seemed to help a little.

Peanut thought she needed to be at my feet or on my lap, the lap was fine and after a while she disappeared under one of the seats and didn’t come out until I got to the hotel. Jymy got on my shoulder like she did when she was a kitten and acted like a neck pillow for a while and eventually she sacked out on the passenger seat and slept there the entire trip.

I had no troubles when I got to rest stops or gas stations, they strayed right where they slept and never tried to get out and of course tried to stay in the car when we got to the hotel, go figure.

I’m in a pet friendly Hilton, which is great and I’m looking forward to having them with me on my next project, they’re calming…most of the time.

So…I drove about 9.5, maybe 10 hours today and have about 9 or 10 tomorrow with two cats, hopefully the crying won’t last too long…who wants to trade places with me?

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