The Joy of Six...

Happy Birthday Bella Joy

Happy Birthday little red-headed lady;

delivered upon us those five years ago.

In wonder we’ve watched as you’ve grown and you’ve blossomed;

and told us your story of the child we know.

 

Of imaginary places and people who live there;

And game times created in a little one’s mind;

And storybooks read…more than anyone thought of;

And handmade business cards…..one of a kind.

 

Of crayons and coloring, and crafts and stickering…

‘Designs by Bella’ left everywhere, I think.

Of American Girl, Barbie and Princesses…

Her bedroom….a haven in purple and pink.

 

                                                                           Of soccer and pool-swimming and backyard running;

And laughing so hard at daddy’s chases.

Of loving her movies and shows like no other;

And rolling on the floor from grandma’s silly faces.

 

And lately what you say kinda blows us all away;

You’re ready to leave baby things behind.

If we look behind those big brown eyes, what will be the next surprise?

Grandma loves to think what she would find.

 

 

Happy Birthday my BIG GIRL…..Grandma can’t remember what life was like without you.  ~xo

Sweethearts Two

When you were little I couldn’t imagine that there could ever be anyone who could take better care of you than I could.  I couldn’t imagine that anyone could watch over you and keep you from harm’s way as well as me.  As you grew up and life took more and more moments of you away from me, I knew I had to have faith that you would make good decisions for yourselves that would keep you on a smart and safe path; or that you would choose others in your lives that would be wise enough to watch over you in a way that might reassure a slightly paranoid mom.  I needed to know that they would adore you for everything you had to offer, which was considerable. 

If they could love you with just a fraction of the love I felt from the first moment I touched all your fingers and toes and kissed your little bald heads, then I surely could be at peace for the rest of my days.  You have chosen well sweet girls.  Even before the ‘right’ ones came along in your lives, you had done well by yourselves.  Out of my reach and parted by far too many miles you both walked into womanhood more beautifully than I could ever have dreamed of.    I was proud of your choices, your decisions, and your values….and so terribly proud of the strong women you had become.  One thing became quite obvious…. you needed no protection from me any longer. 

     

It’s hard not to have you close by.  Sometimes when we talk on the phone I wish I could just pull you through the receiver for a little hug or two.  Our time together is precious.  You have a world of people who love you.  I will forever hold the record.

 

June 16th....

 

My sweet Gemini girls....beautiful ladies....

                      Always and ever,

                               Mom  ~xo~                                                                                                                                                                                     

Alaskan Cruise Update

 

Well, SOMEONE'S having fun.....

Bella and Bastian....Snugglebunnies!

For the first time in her almost five years of existence, Bella is finding out what it's like to have to share her TV and video viewing time with someone else....and a little brother at that. 

"What?  What do you mean I gotta share?  You don't care, do you Bastian?"

Up until now Bastian could have cared less about watching movies or TV shows.  He was much too busy running around playing ball, or reading his books, or playing 'choo-choo,' or whatever else he could make up.  Bella had it made....and she didn't even know it.  He loved books and anything that resembled a ball....but most of all, he LOVED his big sister and anything and everything she did.  She has always been GOLDEN in his eyes. He imitates everything that she does...and everything that comes out of her mouth; which by the way is a considerable amount these days. Bella can make Bastian laugh without even trying.

These days Bastian is starting to like to watch some shows on TV.  He actually likes to SIT for a while and watch stuff like Dora and Elmo.  He's even been watching some movies with Bella lately.  Maybe this makes for some bonding moments.  What do 'ya think?

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                  

And....they lived happily ever after....for now.   THE END.

Moms in My Life....and On My Mind

Mother's Day is right around the corner....

My 91-year-old mother-in-law has always been, and still is, my shining example of motherhood.  At this point, I think she's everyone's example.  Strong of heart, soul, and mind...Nana is a constant wonder.  Up until the last few years Nana had more energy than any of us; and I can tell in conversations that she's frustrated with having to slow down.  She loves to play bridge on occasion, and probably remembers more than I do about it.  She still tries to use the computer...e-mail mostly, and enjoys keeping updated with everyone.  She has taught our family so many valuable lessons over the years...and continues to do so as the beautiful matriarch of our family.

My daughter, Julie, is the busy mother of two terrific kids....Bella and Bastian.  I've written about them numerous times, as many of you know.  Julie is also a Women's History professor at a college in downtown New York.  She is in the process of writing a second book and is working on several other projects.  Her husband, Chris, has his own insanely busy schedule as a patent lawyer for a law firm in New York.  To say her lifestyle is hectic would be an understatement.  Like many young couples today, Julie and Chris are trying to balance it all...trying to make it work.  There are days when Julie's not so sure she's doing such a good job 'balancing.'  I DISAGREE!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               I think she and Chris are doing an AMAZING job.  I mean that.  I tell her all the time how proud I am of the job she's doing...and that I think she's a terrific mom.  I can see the sacrifices...who comes first....and what has to be done.  Sometimes hard decisions have to be made...but they are made...and those kids are always first and foremost.  Both she and Chris know what's important and never misplace their priorities.  These are busy, growing years.....fun years.....years you want to appreciate and enjoy.  I tell her that too; but thank God.....I think she already knows that.  She's a good mom.....a really good mom. And I wonder if she would ever believe that I am just as proud of the job she's doing as a mom as I am of the many credentials she has earned in her professional life....maybe even more so.

My sister-in-law, Mary, has been one of my best friends forever.  I knew as soon as my brother brought her through our front door some 40+ years ago that she was going to be someone special.  She hasn't changed at all over the years. Full of energy....funny, creative, loving, thoughtful, compassionate, patient, generous, caring, hard-working...40 years of all those same wonderful qualities. How lucky am I that my one and only brother chose such a beautiful person for his lifemate.  How lucky are we all?  I feel especially fortunate that my children have had Mary as their Aunt.  She's just always been there for them....like a second mom.  Mary's planning a wedding for this fall.  My niece, Heather, will be getting married...and we all will be going to Wisconsin for the big day.  With all the weddings Mary has happily attended...it will finally be her turn to be the proud mother of the bride.

It's almost two years ago since my mom passed away.  Her last Mother's Day was a sad one....languishing in a place that she hated and prayed she'd never-ever have to spend her final days in.  It was the saddest Mother's Day I can remember.  I hope all of our moms who are no longer with us are walking in fields of flowers, basking in beauty as far as the eye can see......knowing only love...pure joy.....and peace. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the lovely ladies out there.....

   

Blessings from the Birthday Boy

Tomorrow is your birthday

my precious Pisces man.

My existence wrapped in blessings

from the day your life began.                                                                                 

How could I have imagined

that your soul would be so true

with love and generosity

just oozing out of you?                                                                                           

What was it that I looked for

in that little boy so small;

that hasn't come back twofold

by the blessings of it all?                                                                                        

Happy Birthday my sweet baby boy,

from a mother's heart so true;

No words I know are written

of the love I have for you. 

                         ~ Mom                                                                                    

Just some of the things Joe has blessed me with....

~ Countless hours of arms around my neck and kisses on cheeks....then and now.

~ Laughter, laughter, laughter....even if I'm not sure I want it....or need it.

~ Hours upon hours of cheering at little league baseball games...rain or shine.

~ A strong shoulder and unwavering devotion when it is most needed.

~ My first brand new car since I was a newlywed.

~ Some great DVD series....and his company watching them.

~ Way too many moments of 'rolling-on-the-floor-from-disgusting-comments' than I'd like to admit.

~ His generous gifts....both personal and material.

~ His long arms for out-of-reach projects.

~ His love and respect of people.

~ His ability to remind me of my dad.

~ His love of tradition.

~ His trivial pursuit knowledge...especially in sports.

~ His calming manner.

~ His love and friendship....and the on-going gift of HIM.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE!!!    

Notes from Joy

Update on The Jory Express.....Well, she was true to her word in her one-day visit.  She hardly broke open her computer.  Hardly, well not until the morning when she had to catch up on some e-mails and business calls.  We had a wonderful relaxed evening starting with dinner out (she treated), lots of great conversation, watched American Idol (which I taped), and ending in a combination of conversation and Mom's soothing arm rubs until we both groggily conceded that it was time for bed.  All in all, we made the most out of the one evening that was given to us. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jenna and I are taking Joe out for his birthday dinner tomorrow night....that's if he doesn't get called into work (he's on call).  We have no idea where we're going yet;  but told Joe to think about where he wants to go.....no word yet. (He's not very picky about these things.) Even though Joe's birthday isn't until Wednesday the 19th, work schedules get in the way of celebrating on his actual birthday.  It's hard to believe my baby is going to be 32 years old.  He still seems like a kid to me....and definitely has a "kid-at-heart" personality.  I'm hoping to post something about his birthday in a couple of days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My cousin, Donna, called me today.  Although that may not be earth-shattering news in itself, it was the first time we've actually talked to each other (outside of e-mails) in probably more than 30 years.  Many laughs, some tears....and about two hours later, we finally said our goodbyes with intentions of getting together for lunch or something.  WOW...she sounded so good, and not so different than I remembered.  We covered a lot of ground in those two hours; but have a lot more to say. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jenna and I still haven't made our appointment with H & R Block to get our taxes done.  She plans to call soon.  We've gone together for the past couple of years, and I'm always so relieved to get it done.  Since this task has landed in my lap since Joel died, I'm always anxious until it's over.  Why is that?  Do you all feel the same way?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bastian talked on the phone with me yesterday; with a little prompting from Julie.  He's repeating everything you ask him to say and starting to say a lot on his own now. "Hi Gamma. I lu yoo."  Oh be still my heart. Bella was MUCH too busy to take a few seconds out of her hectic schedule to talk to Grandma.  I'm always amused at how much she dislikes talking on the phone, but will chat forever with me if I'm sitting in front of her.  That child is a hoot!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm almost afraid to say this, but.......I SEE SPRING!  Oh God, I hope I haven't cursed us.  But...you can't blame me for being a little excited.  We've been waiting sooo long for signs....any signs.  I know this could all blow up in my face tomorrow, but here are the signs:

~All the snow has melted....at least in MY yard.  I HAVE GRASS!

~It's been in the 50's for the past two or three days.  It feels very balmy..almost sunbathing weather....okay, maybe I went too far.

~I've actually seen some buds and a few blossoms around.

~Dudes are riding around with their car tops down.

~The sun has decided to come out and play and be our friend again.

If in any way I have just put a hex on us and Mother Nature decides to get even with plummeting temperatures and anything looking remotely like white fluffy stuff, I will be blogging my next post from the 'psych ward' of the nearest hospital.

Have a GREAT weekend everyone.......  Hugs....

The Jory Express

Jory called me on Friday to tell me she was coming in town again....on business.  It's another one of those one-day, fly in ~ have meetings ~ and fly out again, kind of deals.  With the daily grind of her hectic BlogHer life, these visits have become more the norm than not.

I'm okay with it, and actually I'm thrilled she always makes sure she stays with me whenever she can.  Even in the busiest times we try to find those moments when we can sit down and chat about things.  I have to say....she does keep me in the loop about everything. Sometimes her calls are 'mental maintainence' reality checks.  You know...the ones where you just have to talk things out or rant about something and get someone's input....hopefully from an objective ear.  It's no secret that I always want to be that ear. So when her flight comes in somewhere around 8:00 PM on Tuesday...

Here's what I'd like to have happen....

We pick her up at the airport.  If she's hungry and not too tired, we'll stop for a little bite to eat.  Or, we'll go home and grab something there where she'll promptly set up her computer, because that's what she does....even in her sleep.  Then, in my ideal plan, we'll take the measly two or three hours we have left before having to 'hit-the-hay' and just talk....and laugh....and talk.  Then in the morning I'll make some coffee while she gets ready for a day of meetings in Chicago.  We'll have coffee and she'll leisurely eat her usual bowl of cereal while we chat some more.  I'll take her to the train, send her off with kisses and hugs and get a call from her from the airport after a successful day of meetings in ChiTown.  I'll get a final call from her when she arrives home.  With these one-day trips, that's about as good as I can expect.

Here's what will probably happen....

We pick her up at the airport.  Upon getting home she immediately sets up her computer. (that never changes)  Depending if she's too preoccupied with business calls and e-mails, she may or may not eat something.  While she's rifling through her e-mails, I'll disperse bits and pieces of conversation her way, and she'll try to do the same.  When she is no longer dispersing pieces MY way, I tell her I'm going upstairs to do some work and I'll see her when she's done. "Okay mom, I'll be up in a little while." (Those are the last words I hear from that child's mouth for WAYYYY longer than the little while she originally predicted.  Although we have had some pretty strange conversations yelled between the first and second floors; we try to keep those to a minimum.)

Finally she shows up for bed, showers, etc.  She plops herself on my bed to chat...even if she is tired; because damn it, she's home....and it's the thing to do.  She may or may not request a back massage; but it makes no difference....she'll get one.  Her lips may be silent, but her eyes tell another story.  When neither one of us can stay awake any longer and my arms have stopped in mid-massage, we call it a night.

In the morning, if I'm not too out of it, I usually wake her before her alarm does.  I go down and make coffee.  She gets ready.  We have our coffee (no matter what) and she scarfs down that bowl of cereal while she's on the computer and deep into her e-mails again.  Then as she realizes she's running late....we scramble to make sure she has everything she came with, and we're out the door.  I drop her off at the train....kisses and hugs....and I drive home wondering if she got enough sleep to get through her hectic day.  I get the call from the airport telling me that everything went very well and she procedes to give me the lowdown.  She promises to call me when she gets home later that night....and she does.

It's nice when we have a few more days to work with; even so....it's always worth it.  But I'm always wondering..."Was it as good for you Jor?"

Aquarian Child

Tomorrow is my daughter, Jenna's birthday...my oldest child.  I can still see her as a 2 ½ year old toddler positioned between her newborn twin sisters' cribs like a sentry standing guard ready to alert me to the slightest stir from either little body.  Even at such an early age, Jenna was ever the 'little mother.'  So proud of her new siblings...and so full of love.  That was my first glimpse into the caring and giving nature that was to be our Jenna.                                                                                                       

When Jen was six, we finally added a male presence to the distinctively female essence of our family.  Baby Joe was 'the bomb.'  No baby boy could have been more loved and pampered than that little guy...having three older sisters will do that.  Jen was totally taken with everything Joe did...and he didn't have to do much. She almost loved the stuffing out of that sweet baby.  Of course Joe absorbed every tidbit that came his way...and Jen had that special touch with her little brother that would follow them both through the years and into adulthood.  She's got a beautiful heart.                                                                                          

Jen's always had that special touch when it comes to children.  She just intuitively knows what to say, how to say it, and how to show it.  (Just ask Bella and Bastian)  So it surprised no one when she decided to become a teacher.  What better way to showcase her love for children than that?                                                               

Jenna teaches Special Ed for 1st and 2nd graders.  It takes someone with a lot of discipline, patience and love to be able to deal with the various problems these kids bring to the table; and Jen is the perfect fit...even on the days when she can barely see straight enough to make it home.                                                                                                         

One of the most rewarding things I've done from time to time is to visit Jen's classroom and spend a few hours around 'her kids'...watching them go through their day with Miss DJ.  It's a beautiful thing to see these sweet kids learning by Jenna's hand.  She and her teacher's aide, Betty, are a wonder to behold and run a tight ship...but always with a lot of love.  I can see that Jen takes it personally if even one of them doesn't achieve what she knows they are capable of.  With these little guys there are so many things factored-in that play a part.                                                                   

I was just in Jen's class this past Monday when she and Betty hosted a  Mardi Gras-themed breakfast in the teacher's lounge. (actually it lasted most of the day)  OH THE FOOD THEY HAD.  I sampled as much as humanly possible and still be able to get in my car and drive home safely.  Needless to say, the faculty loves when Jen and Betty have their breakfasts.  It's a smorgasbord no one wants to miss.                                                                           

That's Jenna to a tee!  She goes overboard for everyone...family, friends, co-workers.  She knows no other way and has been that way all her life.                                                                                                                     

Jen's been looking into going back to school for her doctorate.  She'd have to do it with night courses several times a week while she's still teaching.  I honestly don't know how she'd manage it; but she knows I'm behind whatever she decides...as long as she survives it with her sanity in tact.                                                         

Joe and I are planning to take Jen out for dinner and give her our presents.  It's kind of a traditional thing we do for all of our birthdays.  We like treating each other, and Jen's notorious for paying for everyone's dinner at the drop of a hat.                                                                     

I couldn't be prouder of that little girl who welcomed each new addition into our family with open arms and a loving heart.  The same loving heart that guides her into her dad's old office to have a few quiet moments with the urn that holds his ashes.  I'm proud of the woman she's become...as I'm proud of all of my kids.  Generous, caring souls...every one.                                                                                                      

Happy Birthday my sweet Aquarian child...bright, compassionate humanitarian that you are.  You make my heart sing...                               ~ Love,  Mom 

Silent Night....Where's Our Flight?

Good News or Bad News first?  Bad news you say?  Okay.                                                                                       

I’d rather be poked in the eye with a sharp stick than sit at an airport for 5 ½ hours…..TWICE!                                                                                                       

I’ll try to be as clear and concise as possible.  IT SUCKS!!                                        

There’s a reason why I don’t travel much, and it couldn’t have been made more clear than this latest trip to my daughter Julie’s for the Christmas holiday.  The only shred of sanity that kept me going was the ‘pot of gold’ waiting at the end of the rainbow….spending time with my kids and grandkids.  It’s amazing the level of frustration one will endure for the chance at that sweet pot; and thank God it was all worth it.                                                                                                          

My daughter, Jenna and I left Chicago’s O’Hare Airport that Sunday afternoon under some pretty suspect weather conditions.  Extremely cold and icy weather and strong, gusty winds….just short of tornado standards,  was the menu of the day.  Yes sir, just the kind of weather I want to be flying around in an airplane in.  Hell, they even had to de-ice the wings of our bird before we could take off….a view I watched intermittently right outside my window.                                                                

Ah, take-off. Now that seemed to be the keyword of the day.  It would suggest that one would actually be leaving the ground en route to another destination.  Oh believe me, there was some concern that it might not happen.                               

We could have made the fatal mistake of just showing up at the airport in plenty of time for our scheduled departure.  Does anyone do that anymore?  As luck would have it….and my dislike for hanging around airports, I called my handy American Airlines 800 number four or five times from home to see if our flight was leaving on time.  Each time I called they added at least a half hour to our departure time with the explanation that they didn’t have an aircraft available yet.  WHOA…that’s kind of an important detail to be missing. When I finally got the same departure time three times in a row, we were on our way to O’Hare.  Oh, if only it were that easy.  What made me think it would be smooth sailing from there on out?  Naivete??  Stupidity?  Both?                                                                                                   

Long story…short….                                                                                              

We had two gate changes and three more delays.  By the end of the day we rolled into Julie’s driveway some 4 ½ - 5 hours later than planned.  My daughter, Jory and her husband, Jesse, had it even worse than us....coming from California.  They had a layover in Texas and were literally in an airport or on an airplane for 16 hours or more.  Needless to say, our travel mishaps put a big damper on our first day together.                                                                                                               

The trip back home was just as frustrating with a four hour delay and one gate change.  It seems there were some mechanical problems that couldn’t be easily remedied and we had to wait for a new plane.  At one point they were issuing ‘free food’ vouchers and giving people the option of going ‘stand-by’ on a rival airline that might leave an hour or two earlier.  Now THAT seems like a bad day in “Airlineville” to me….but you should have seen the line of people who took them up on it.  With no guarantees that this option would be any better, Jen and I stayed put and waited out the 4 hours.                                                                              

The flight was smooth and uneventful…something we were all hoping for by that time of night.  When I limped through the front door at about 12:30 a.m., my tired and achy body couldn’t fall into bed fast enough.  I could still hear those ridiculous garbled airport messages in my head as I hit the pillow.                                                       

I found out the next day that Jory and Jesse had it worse than us again....arriving at home at around 3:30 a.m (my time) after sitting in an airplane on the runway at O’Hare for several hours. (layover….again)  I think I’d go friggin’ crazy sitting on an airplane going nowhere for that long.                                                                      

Well, that little recap was good therapy.  Now let’s concentrate on the Good News…..                                                                                                                  

EVERYTHING ELSE!!!!                                                                                        

                                                                                                     Well, except for Jenna slipping on Julie’s wooden staircase the day after Christmas and bouncing down a few stairs on her butt.  We’re pretty sure she has a bruised tailbone, but she’s a trooper; and with a good attitude and some ibuprofen, she managed okay.  Besides, Bastian thought she was the best thing since sliced bread…and that will keep Jenna going forever.                              

As a matter of fact, we all had such a good time with Bella and Bastian that we actually opted to rise at ungodly early hours every morning when we first heard him go downstairs with Mommy or Daddy.  He was addictive.  I just loved to sit and watch and listen to everything he said and did.                                                          

“Da ball, da ball” …..as he whipped any number of toy balls past our heads.                      

“Choo-choo, choo-choo”….as he sat on his new tricycle from Santa and read his train books.            

But the best part of all was the hugs and kisses…..and he was very generous with both.  He never ran out, and he had them for everyone…topped off with a little chuckle or two.                                                                              

Then there was the delightful and often hysterical antics of 4-year-old Bella.  What a card that child is.  She was in rare form and chatted with all of us about everything….school, friends, movies.                     

“That’s the first I’m hearing about this,” Julie said in amazement.                                       

Bella doesn’t always volunteer to just chat about these things…..only if the time and tides are right….and she’s in the mood.  Julie was enjoying it as much as we were.  We never did get to some of the things Bella had on her “to do” list; like having a tea party with her new tea set and polishing and putting decals on all of our fingernails.                                        

What with presents to play with, gingerb