Peaches Prattlings











She said a few times.  Sigh…

Last night I went to GES’ to see everyone since I’m going to be elsewhere the next few weekends.

GES flew out very early this morning and ACS and EJS had somewhere else to be, so I offered to stay and be with MGS in the morning, save them a babysitter session.

I got up when I heard her talking with ACS. I got to see them,  give hugs and kisses before they left,  have to get them in to take me through the next few weeks after all.

Then MGS and I settled in to watch Zootopia, which she was kind enough to describe certain things that were happening throughout the movie. So cute!

All of sudden she crawled into my lap to snuggle…sigh…

A few times that morning she looked at me and said “I’m glad you’re here,  I’m having fun with you”. Did I melt into the floor? You bet your sweet bippie! I told her I felt the same way and then we had a tickle fest.

A great morning!

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Exactly what we looked like,  minus the shutterstock!



{June 11, 2016}   I have my own snack bag!

I’m one lucky Auntie!

I came to GES’ house tonight to see the family for a bit since I’m going to be gone for a few weeks, weekends included.

Very early in the morning, GES has a flight to catch and the girls made her snack bag for the flight. I said “gee, I wish I had my own snack bag for my flight!”

I was teasing the girls, but…guess what happened! I got my own snack bag! I said I need this every week and they said ok!

EJS wanted to know what I can have, she knows and remembers about some of the things I can’t have,  isn’t that sweet!

I have trail mix, dried fruit and candy. I’m set! Now I’m ready to fly! Thanks girls! I’ll be back in a few weeks for more snacks. Oh and hugs and kisses too, of course!

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{June 9, 2016}   Happy Happy Birthday GES!

Another year and she just gets,me fabulous!

Yup,  that pretty much covers it! Ok,  ok,  I’ll tell you more since you asked!

I know I’ve told you that she is an amazing woman,  she is a fantastic mother,  the way she is with my nieces is a pleasure to see. She’s silly and goofy with them, rolling around on the couch or the floor, laughing and giggling, patient when working with them on anything,  from homework to thank you notes for birthdays to any learning opportunities and teaching points that happen and firm when she needs to be. And the birthdays she plans, amazing! We had great inspiration.
Let’s just say, mommy would be proud, she was a great role model.

She’s a fabulous wife to my brother-in-law, ACS, they are a great team when it comes to raising the girls, she is always taking his needs into consideration when making decisions, appreciates all he does for and with her and when she throws him a celebration, it’s a celebration! They are silly, goofy, loving, in tune and I even get to see a PDA every now and then.

GES is a great daughter. We love trying to think of things to do for dad for birthdays,  fathers days and holidays,  not always easy, but I think we do a pretty good job. She loves to include him in family events and celebrations and adores him as Poppa to the girls, we both knew he’d be aces at it!

A great friend is an understatement I think and I believe her friends would agree with me. They come to her for friendship, love, advice, silliness and fun. Could be why there is such an amazing outpouring of love and people at any event for her and when she was going through treatment, a line around the block “what can I do”.

There are so many people who she looks at as extended family, most of her friends are aunties to the girls,  it’s a true testimony to her.

To say she’s an amazing sister, well,  that would be an understatement. As kids we played, fought, were silly, goofy, conspiring, loving, just what two sisters should be. Sometimes we were playmates because we had no choice, most times because we wanted to be. I loved that she wanted to wear my clothes and hang on to some of my favorite stuff when I went to college,  it made me feel good. Better than when she would take my stuff when we were little. Our relationship hasn’t changed much,  except we don’t fight as much and when we disagree,  no one sits on the other…well,  not always. We still get goofy and silly,  but we love spending time together, those special moments when it’s just the two of us, I love,  I’ve even gotten her to get away with me twice since the girls were born, love those!

So…maybe a little further insight into my sister,  GES, fabulous,  no?

Happy birthday Baby sister. I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you and I haven’t regretted a moment since.

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This is from a tech event last night,  written with a light pen!



{June 9, 2016}   After a rough day…

What do you do to wind down? Everyone does things differently.

Some people go for a run, some purple take a bath, have a drink, take a nap, eat, candy or ice cream. People joke about getting a drink,  I’m sure you’ve been there.

Today, during class, a few issues in the training environment people were joking about getting a drink.

What did I do? I don’t drink, the one or two recently was to participate, so…I went to get some dinner.

I went to Red Robin and I ate forbidden food…with my veggie burger…fries and onion rings. Oh my! But they were good! A big smile on my face! But oh my…ouch, what it was doing to my stomach! Smile through the pain!

Worth it? In the moment…you bet your sweet bippie!

What’s your go to?

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Doesn’t that look fabulous?!



{June 8, 2016}   Feeling sassy

I am indeed feeling sassy, or with attitude…sassah!

You know when you make a change, you might have a new attitude, outlook or pep in your step? Yes, I said pep in your step! Well, that’s what I have!

Since I cut my hair, I’ve felt a little extra sassy. I had forgotten how much I love having short hair, well, not completely, but it all came rushing back. I la la la love it! I use about a drop of shampoo and conditioner, I use a hand towel to wring it out, I put goop in it after I shower and muss my hair up and then go on about my business and it dries that way, all messed up and I love it!

I have new big hoop earrings, funky hair and I have a new strut to my step, I run my fingers through my hair throughout the day, no worries about a pony coming out and I can’t really mess it up.

I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I’m like BAM! I look good! And no, I don’t have trouble fitting through a doorway with my ego, HA HA!

See…Sassy personified.

[I’m actually sitting at the hotel desk looking in the mirror when I look up, it’s on the wall in front of me and have little conversations with my mom! She’s looking at me, why not!]
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My fabulous grandson, Baby A is THREE!

Can you believe it? He’s three, can I still call him Baby A?

First,  I must tell you that he is three years and five days today, let me explain why I’m telling you today. Do you remember June 1st is a bittersweet day, it’s bittersweet because it’s the anniversary of my mom’s passing and the day the Baby A was born. I didn’t want to talk about both in the same post,  they each  deserve their own post. And here is his!

Now…Let’s talk about this amazing,  fantastic, silly, goofy, rambunctious, bright, energetic, stubborn. I don’t know if you remember me telling you that I got to meet him the day he was born!

I was in Atlanta to get my hair cut as I di every two years and KAB went into labor. I was kept in the loop and when she was ready for visitors, I went to see them both, JB as well, of course! What a doll baby! So tiny and perfect and smelled and felt so good. 

I held him and we talked, about all the world has to offer and how much he will discover and learn and all the fun we would have in his life. And what fun we’ve had so far! The Halloween costumes, oh my! Harry Potter!

When I go to Atlanta I do my best to see him and it gets better every time. He runs and jumps into my arms,  I get hugs and kisses and snuggles and yelling and giggling and so much love.

Our phone conversations are very brief, maybe two sentences, three, if I’m lucky,  then he’s off running and playing somewhere else.

He loves his mommy and JB and his new baby sister, Baby E, he wants to love on her,  hugs and kisses and shout it to the rooftops,  the last one,  much to her chagrin, so loud!

Yesterday he had his birthday party, friends and family. His parents got him a huge backyard playset, fabulous! They know their kid! I got some pictures today of him playing with his new bubble machine, yup, from me, oh he loved it,  what kid wouldn’t!

I love that he asks for me now, when am I coming back to see him! Soon, sweet boy, soon! I can’t wait!

Happy birthday Baby A, JJ loves you!

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Tonight was the third time I have seen EJS perform on stage. And it was fabulous!

She is in a theater  program called show stoppers. They have been rehearsing for the last few months every Sunday. It paid off!

Today was the production of Beauty and  the Beast. EJS played two roles: Nadia the Knife and a wolf. As Nadia the Knife,  she was part of the kitchen numbers, even had lines! Oh, and fabulous jazz hands,  great expressions.
As a wolf there was great clawing.

We were all blown away by the quality of the performance. There was some really strong talent in the leads and the supporting cast was great. Every supporting player had at least 2-3 lines, it was terrific.

The entire show was about an hour and dine just to script.  It made me want to watch the animated feature. Some people in the audience were singing along with the numbers, that was fun.

I didn’t know who else would be in it, but it was fun seeing people I knew who had kids in the show. The bigger surprise was song PSM’s aunt and uncle! Their grandkids were in the show,  H&M T, so of course they were there. It felt good telling them how PSM is doing and they are coming to Hawaii next March, how fantastic!

After the show,  we went back to GES and ACS’ house,  B&S M came,  with banana bread,  per EJS’ request and we had breakfast for dinner to celebrate. 

At some point it was time to go,  I had a flight to catch!

EJS was great and had a terrific time, I’m so proud of her…I can’t wait to see what’s coming next!

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My sister.

She’s fabulous.

We celebrated.

The end. 

Kidding. My sister has a birthday coming up this week and while dad, LaLa and I were in town this weekend, ACS thought it would be a great excuse to celebrate GES’ special day. 

He was right. There were about 14 of us at a fantastic restaurant owned by a friend of hers. Bacco, a great Italian restaurant  http://www.bacconorthend.com/

Good food, drinks,  good friends, family, atmosphere and the entire upper floor singing happy birthday.  What could be better?

Nothing!

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{June 3, 2016}   Family time…ahhh

I needed that.

I got in from Chicago today, headed to the office for some IT help, snuck into Marshall’s to look for a rolling tote and I found one! Those Instructor Guides I’ve been teaching out of are heavy!!

Next stop…my sister’s house! When I got there everyone was home, including dad and LaLa. Huge running hugs from both MGS and EJS.

Catching up, dinner, silliness, giggles, snuggles, oh boy do I love those snuggles.

Ahh…I needed that.

Back to my place for some snuggle time with my furry babies.

Ahhh…I needed that.

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{June 2, 2016}   In honor of…

June first is a bitter sweet day.

I sit here with tears in my eyes to tell you why. Today is the day the world lost an amazing woman. She was smart, funny, unexpectedly goofy on occasion, witty, not just smart, wicked smart, sassy, just to name a few of her better qualities.

Oh, there is so much I could tell you and I know I’ve told you a few things before, so many things I loved and others loved about her. She was a foodie, someone who knew what to pair, as in what beer or wine goes with what food, a great cook, yet pb&j and breakfast for dinner was on the menu. She could dress up and dress down, just by adding an embellishment to her outfit. She could cheer you up with a look or a gesture, wake you up with light touches on your back and her question in the morning when she touched your face “did you take a soft pill?”.

She taught us to never go to bed angry and as my sister posted today on Facebook, one of the things my parents established is kissing their kids on the keppy [head] goodnight and saying “sleep well, get up well and I love you”.

It was eleven years ago today that she lost her battle with bone cancer. She had enough and who could blame her, she fought an amazing fight and before she passed, she gave my sister an amazing wedding and as a family, we went on a cruise, she knew how to make an entrance and an exit.

Something I decided to do on the first anniversary was to cut and donate my hair. It felt good and a great tribute to her and I decided to do it again two years later and two years after that. This year is my fifth [if you’re good at math, you might realize that I should have done it last year, I didn’t have enough hair to give, so this year was it] and final year cutting and donating my hair. It has been a journey of love and I would not change anything for the world.

Mommy, I miss you and love you so very much and as I close I kiss you on the keppy and I say “sleep well, get up well and I love you”.

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et cetera