What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{May 17, 2016} We have a SIX year old!!!

I cannot believe it! Can you?

I remember the day I met her, what a doll baby! Teeny and precious and happy and sweet and things have not changed.

Well, they have, as she’s grown, she’s all that and so much more. She’s smart, funny, silly, goofy, stubborn, fearless, clever, creative, sneaky, snuggly, loveable. You can’t help but smile.

We have private moments, giggly moments, crazy moments, snuggly moments, wiggly moments and moments of such pride and joy.

I love watching her when she builds a creation out of Legos, finding an empty box and making something magical, seeing the wheels turning in that brain of hers.

I love watching her with her sister, so much giggling, sometimes they’re happiest trying to throttle each other! Rough and tumble with daddy, silly with mommy one minute, I love yous and snuggling the next.

Precocious, happy, curious, fabulousness. I could go on, but I want to stop so I can get back to seeing what she does next!

Happy birthday MGS! Live it up, it’s your day!

{May 16, 2016} Zoolander2

Loved it!

This movie was just as horribly fabulous as the first movie! Or was it fabulously horrible? I don’t care, I loved it!

I’ve probably told you I wasn’t always a fan of Ben Stiller, I found him or the characters he played annoying. Then he was in The Royal Tannenbaums, I liked it and then there was Night at the Museum, I really liked it. I really liked him in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

When I saw Zoolander, I loved it! It was like a spoof of itself. A bevy of superstars acting goofy and or stupid and by stupid, I don’t mean acting like fools, but actually stupid.

I was excited they were making another and they did not disappoint, this was just as bad. I still don’t like Will Farrell and this did not change my opinion. I’ve only liked him in one movie, Stranger Than Fiction. He was goofy, silly, obnoxious and evil, just what a good villain should be, well, in this type of movie.

The one character I really didn’t like was Kristen Wiig. Her character was like the off female characters in the first movie. She played it quite well.

Owen Wilson was back in his role as sex crazed Hansel. His “Orgy” [relationship] was a mush mosh of characters, headed by Keifer Sutherland, great, along with some great cameos throughout the movie.

The premise is pop stars are being killed off and the only one who can help…Derek Zoolander…go figure.

Want to laugh out loud here and there? I did, on my flight today, first class, laughing my arse off!

If you’re looking for Oscar worthy material, go somewhere else!

{May 14, 2016} A 6th birthday smash

And what a party it wad!

MGS is going to be SIX on Monday and today was the big party. What she wanted was simple…let’s look at the list.

Bounce house…check
Monkey piñata…check
Friends…check
Presents…check
Snacks…check
Pizza…check
Cake…check
Crafts…check

They arrived about 11:30 and partied hard until about 1:30. Then dad, LaLa, ACS were on a mission…a new bike for MGS’ birthday. Dad got the bike, LaLa got the accessories [helmet, basket and tassels].

Back to the house, play date and another family came for dinner and more cake for dessert. All MGS wanted tonight was take out and bouncing in the bounce house, sounds good to me.

What a day! Happy birthday party day MGS!

{May 13, 2016} Bestest dad ever!

Have I told you how awesome my dad is? Well, he is.

Today he and LaLa came to Boston to celebrate a birthday, which I will tell you more about later this weekend.

He’s a very talented artist, add I’m sure you have realized from the different pieces I have posted. Well, again he did not disappoint.

He brought me my Mother’s Day gift, a new painting…isn’t it fabulous?

It’s me teaching and it says “The teacher is in the room” in French, he thought it would bring back good memories, he was very right!

So…how awesome is my dad? Very!!!

{May 12, 2016} An apple for the teacher

First, sincerest apologies for not posting last night, apparently, I fell asleep in the middle of posting and then woke up at 6am, apparently I was tired.

That being said…Today, I had a great “teacher moment”.

Yesterday and today I had a class of Managers learning the new system. We had a great time yesterday, they warmed up, got into the material and the application, relaxed and we had a great time, have to, we were going to be together for two days.

I opened with some bad jokes, well, I say opened, it was really the few minutes before class started, we can’t start early. I teased and engaged with the class as I always do and feel you need to. One of the guys in the class had an apple and I teased him, asking if he brought enough for the class, stuff like that. Everyone was a really good sport.

Well, today, one student brought a box of little strudels and lollipops for us to give out later in the day, she knew we’d need a pick me up later in the day.I ended up giving them out for right answers and people were clamoring to get them! So cool!

Another student brought pastries from a Mexican bakery, this was great! And finally, the student I teased about the apple…brought two apples for the teachers! How cool is that! I really was touched. I have it sitting on the nightstand. Am I going to eat it? You bet your sweet bippie!

I can’t wait to see what next week brings!

{May 11, 2016} Taught my first class…killed it!

I think we talked about practicing with the cats over the weekend to teach a class.

Well, today was my first class and I…killed it. You knew that was coming! The day didn’t start as well as I had hoped though.

I got a taxi and gave him the address…what I forgot to give him was the city. He took me to the address in Chicago, we both thought it wasn’t quite right. An abandoned lot and building, yeah, no. I asked if this was Melrose Park and, guess what…nope, that’s in the suburbs, oh brother! Drive on…another 3o minutes. Let’s just say I was supposed be there about 8am, got there about 8:40am. I did make it!

We headed out and I was SO very lucky that LS was there early and was able to set the classroom up with everything we needed. She was also my co-trainer, she’s written most of the materials, so she’s pretty knowledgeable, you might say.

We were set and at 9am, we started. We stayed on track, kept everyone engaged, you know my teaching style and finished on time! There were spots where we were behind, once 8 minutes, another time 20 minutes, but made up for it here and there. There is A LOT of material to get through in six hours, we are there from 9 to 4:30, but you have two 15 minute breaks and one hour for lunch.

We felt great when we were done and there were some great questions asked during training. We had some folks in the class who could answer questions, which was incredibly helpful.

But…in the end, it was a great experience. I got through my first class, tomorrow and Thursday are the next class and then next week I do it all again and then the next week and the next. But, I’ve got my first class under my belt and I’m excited about that.

Can’t wait for tomorrow!

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{May 10, 2016} A high end hotel deserves a high end meal

Isn’t that true?

I imagine that if you travel you might have a favorite hotel chain and if you do, there might be a favorite food you order at that hotel.

I was talking to a fellow road warrior and when I mentioned The Palmer House, she mentioned the mushroom soup she loves. I’ve had that at a few hotels here and there.

I imagine you might try some different things on the menu to see what you might fall in love with, you might even think you need to try higher end food, so to speak. I’ve done all that, as you know, from what I’ve told you before.

Well, yesterday I checked into The Drake Hotel, an old and historic hotel in Chicago. It’s grand, elaborate and beautiful.

I realized I was hungry and looked at the room service menu. It was limited on what I could eat and really expensive. Even though I can expense it, there are some things I still can’t do. Especially from room service.

So, what did I order? One of the least expensive items and exactly what I wanted. PB&J. I went for the healthier side, fruit, instead of fries or chips. I should have ordered that tonight, instead of the mediocre Chinese food I thought would be comforting.

PB&J. Ahhh…comfort food at its best.

{May 9, 2016} Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Birthday

Today is that very special day that we honor our mothers.

Mothers come in all shapes, sizes and forms. We are young, old, every color of the rainbow. We give birth, we adopt, we marry and become step parents. Our children are two legged human, three and four legged furry. We are teachers, care givers, role models, guardians, playmates, disciplinarians. If we’re very lucky, one day we become grandmothers.

Each mother is unique in her own way.

Our mom was an amazing woman. She was giving, loving, silly, serious, smart, sarcastic, cultured, a foodie who could go out for fine cuisine on Monday and a pb&j on Tuesday. Breakfast for dinner, experiments for new dishes.

When I decided I wanted to be a vegetarian, she was great, always looking for new recipes to try, even going so far as to make two meals, one for me and one for everyone else or one for the two of us and one for my dad and sister.

She and dad made us the best birthday parties, an amazing hostess for holiday, family and everyday gatherings. She was the inspiration for the parties I did for my kids and my sister does for EJS and MGS.

I remember getting an email from my daughter thanking me for so much and the memories of those birthdays. I know the girls will remember the parties their mom threw for them. I know we all do!

I know I’ve told you about my amazing sister, one of the most fantastic mothers I know. To watch her each year as she grows as a woman and a mother is a joy, treat and an honor. I know our mom is proud of her, I know I am.

I had a wonderful treat for Mother’s Day myself or should I say treats. The day started with brunch with my sister and brother-in-law, just the three of us, so nice. Then there were hugs and kisses from MGS and EJS.

I also received some fantastic presents. Pictures made by EJS and MGS, photos they selected, a beautiful Chinese ink drawing by my dad and the other day, pictures from Baby A and his sister ELB.

The next amazing and wonderful thing that happened to me was when I was at the airport. I’ve told you here and there about my daughter TH and her brother CH.

TH’s birthday is today and every year, I send her a birthday message and today was no different. Well, what was different is that I found out she was married a few months ago. She’s now THL, I’m very happy for her, she seems very happy, which means everything to me.

What made me need a box of kleenex is what she said next. She is going to be a mother and she wants me to be a part of her child’s life. One of the things I always hoped when I was with her dad, helping to raise her, was to one day share in her joys of being a mother and my dreams is going to come true, my baby is having a baby. I’m tearing up writing this.

Happy Mothers Day to all the amazing mothers out there. To those I know and love, admire and cherish, women I am honored to call family, SDL, LBK, TS, JCT, DL, CC, LGR, KWH, KAB, CS, SV, CGS.

Happy Mothers Day LaLa!

And happy mother’s day to you my friends and family, you are all fabulous and wonderful and I love you all!

{May 7, 2016} I can’t talk anymore!

I’m talked out! Is that even possible?

You’ve met me, what do you think? Nah…

So…I believe I’ve told you, I’m on a new project in Chicago, this Wednesday will be two weeks on the project. The other trainers went through a full seven weeks of T3 or Train The Trainer. T3 is the session that a trainer will participate in to learn the new application, hence, train the trainer.

I participated in T3 for a week and a half. Last Monday I was given a lesson to teach and on Tuesday I did a “Teach Back”, where I teach the lesson to the other trainers. It’s an opportunity to teach in front of a class and for the other trainers to see your teaching style and for the Training Leads and Managers to watch and see your confidence and knowledge level.

I got up there, had a great time and let’s just say, I killed it! I think my feet didn’t touch the ground for a while, do you remember that runners high I told you about? I got great feedback from the other trainers and the Training Lead and Manager. Felt great. I need that feedback, both positive and areas that could use improvement.

Apparently I did well because on Friday one of the other trainers quit and I got an email yesterday when I was boarding my flight, asking me if I was up for taking over those classes next week! Oh my! Learn two classes the weekend and teach on Tuesday?!

I spent the flights yesterday going over the materials and today, teaching the first class to the cats all day. [I’ll do more tomorrow and Monday eventing.] Lots of talking and I’m done! Don’t even want to talk to the cats!

Look out Chicago, in ready to take on the world! Or I will be Tuesday! But until then…mmmmmm

{May 6, 2016} I need a tissue!

Have I mentioned how much I love my family?

Especially the wee tots who call me Auntie and JJ. I get the most wonderful cards and pictures at different times.

Do you remember the picture from LB and Baby L, their footprints making flowers last easter? My birthday cards from EJS and MGS for my birthday and Mother’s Day. My pictures made with Miss A’s hands. The list goes on and I hope it never stops!

Well, today, I got home from my week in Chicago and found something wonderful in my mailbox…my Mother’s Day gift from Baby A and his new baby sister, ELB.

Do I love it? What do you think? Kleenex please! I’m turning into my mother! Gladly!!!

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