The same face I've seen while learning to walk...skate...swim...bike with no training wheels...jump waves and more. I can still remember those letting go moments. Teaching...teaching...teaching....and then seemingly sudden, ready to take off on her own. Isn't that what we've been doing all along? Teaching and preparing our kids to venture out into the world....little by little....on their own. This feels like one more step towards letting go. Bittersweet and somewhat ironic.

Driving lessons...a very special afternoon with my "little girl"......it reminded me of so many other moments teaching, trusting, encouraging, laughing, calming and pushing this same spirit throughout her whole life thus far. Open and trusting, proud and timid, anxious and thrilled, eager and mature...yet still the same little spirited, spunky and curious baby I knew since she was inside me....Biff and I kidded that our baby to be was our little love muffin in I will treasure these days together. It's not often these days that little muffin feels the need to rely on me. In my life today, our teens aren't often interested in getting more instructions from parents. As Grace navigated the winding beach roads, I coached quietly and reviewed the teaching moments we've shared along the way. Please don't confuse this with watching my life pass before my eyes!

EDIT
Back to the drawing board!
TAKE 3.
READY ON THE SET....ACTION......CAMERA.....ROLL 'EM!

Phew! I did it...I rolled 2 teenagers out of bed...got them moving.....had them speaking coherently....polite conversation.....they were dressed......out the door...and on the bus. As for me. That's another story.

Jinx and Daisy have the right idea....we're all exhausted.

We all had a wonderful weekend....a whirlwind of family, friends and fun. It all came together quite well. Biff and I have always said we want to have a home that is always welcoming to friends and family.  No matter what. No matter when.

Thankfully. Because we are far from perfect. Our friends and family seem to know that well and love us anyway. With lots of travel, work and kid scheduling, our house ends up last on our list. We knew that when the invitation for Thanksgiving came up....when Biff hacked my facebook and wrote as my status,"Who wants to come for Thanksgiving?" There were many funny comments on that post. Friends from across the country were all on board. With only 20 something coming for dinner, it seemed like a light crowd to feed. No problem.

People...easy. Food....easy.  Home to-do-list....long. Nothing makes us happier than having company to get us motivated. We are motivated but without a specific date, other things on the list get priority. With more travel than ever in November, we were truly challenged.

We accomplished quite a bit. Not everything.

Fitzgerald, Fitzy, Fitz......whatever we call this sweet puppy.....she is still a beast when it comes to food. Is this the face of a dog who ate half of MY turkey sandwich, put her nose into an apple pie sitting on the stove, conned some guests into hand feeding her turkey or once again, lapping up a cup of my coffee? Oh! Did I forget to mention the TWO 64oz. plastic bottles of juice she opened and drank while in the car? Yup. Don't let her fool you....that sweet face....that needy look she gives.....it's all an act. She used that on our overnight guests...they felt sort for her.....in an instant, she was into our garbage can....with a lid......up to her shoulders!

Biff left before 4 a.m. this morning. As we kissed goodbye this is what I saw! Daisy and Boo...cozy as ever.

Daisy catching some zzzz's while I've been off to the post office.....after a busy weekend with lots of company. Since food was a major activity over the weekend, Daisy was on high alert...watching out for Fitzy....and perhaps cashing in on some of Fitz's poor "manners"...exhausting!

Sunday afternoon...after our friends left for Massachusetts. Biff and I got our quiet before some more friends stopped in for a visit en route to Vermont.

A long walk on the beach with the dogs.....good fun!

"LOVE THAT PINK" By Revlon....that's the new color of our dining room! That was not the name on the chip. It was after Biff and I painted the first coat, it hit me.. the great color choice was meant to be...it was just like mom's Love That Pink lipstick! It was the perfect color pop of pink that I wanted! Best of all...when I checked in with Biff ,just a cell phone call away from the paint mix counter, I asked just how much he trusted me and how comfortable he was with his manliness......while  the man at the counter wait ed with bated breath to hear Biff's response. Biff didn't even have to pause before saying, "How much is it?" Silly. I told him it was about the color of the paint...... not about a new car! With color, he trusted me implicitly! I knew that already. I told Biff that it was just a courtesy call!  He said he knew that too! I knew that he knew me all too well.....but he knew that already. We communicate well. Painting....we're pretty good too.  He likes the taping and cutting in....I just love all of the rest! The details like unscrewing light switches.....just slows me down. Thankfully, those picky little details make him jump! After his initial panic....over lights and doo hickies.....oh, and some floor covering....Biff jumps right in to "help" or keep my Picasso in touch with his Michaelangelo! It was meant to be. It looks beautiful. And, we still love each other.

Thanksgiving Day quiet. I'm grateful....

The night before Thanksgiving.......An annual game between our football team and the big rivals...we won!

Funniest facebook status that popped up today. This was posted by an old friend, Jane. She lives in New York City.....

JANE: 

Today I made a clothing donation at a non-profit org. that provides business attire to women recently released from prison to help ready them for the job market. When I got to the front desk the receptionist asked me what time my appointment was.

 

SALLY:

You and Martha Stewart!

KATIE:

Or you and....Lyndsay Lohan.  Did you check out the clothes they had before you left??

JANE:

Next time I'll wear boots to hide the ankle bracelet.

DEDE:  

Perhaps it was the black and white stripe shirt?! 

JACKIE: 

LOL....

JANE: 

I was wearing an orange jumpsuit!

 

Sometimes facebook tickles my funny bone. to have so many friends in one place...popping in and out...mixed with newer friends and older friends and family friends we remember from years ago. We all have our facebook opinions. I enjoy the simple connections with family and  friends across the country. It's an amazing world....

World's Biggest Pipe Organ

ALL I CAN SAY IS.....WOW! 'Tis the season for random acts of anything good and cheerful and upbeat and moving and positive and thoughtful and loving and kind and caring and outside of ourselves......thinking about others and caring for others uses way more energy than feeling sorry for ourselves! I know we all have to take time for ourselves and I know how important it is to have balance in our life.

It makes me much happier when I take the time to acknowledge other people out there in our world.....wherever our world is....even on the street or in a store....I notice how people smile if we just say thank you and call them by name. Life is busy. Life is challenging. Everyone has their share of difficulties. As one of the greatest friends from college always says, " If you could trade your problems with somebody else, you'd want your own problems back!" Even if we can laugh at ourselves or have a little laugh with someone else in our world, it will be a better day...for all of us!

Hope you love this video! By the way, the dear, dear friend who sent this to me has been going through some very scary times with her husband and his cancer. Very serious. Very challenging. They are an awesome couple who love each other deeply and have shared their love since college. They live a wonderful life together. Billy has had cancer. He has survived his cancer and cancer treatments. Now after some time being in remission, they have been challenged by more cancer...caused by chemotherapy.

They have been in Mass. General Hospital for months. Their spirit and positive attiude and sense of humor( what her husband is known for most of all....when we hear his name it brings a smile to our faces....he is the one who made our Grace smile and laugh simultaneously for the first time!)....they do not stop fighting this disease. Billy is due to have a bone marrow transplant, from his brother, on November 30th. They need our prayers and good thoughts and love....from all over...the more the merrier.....love and hope and strength Whoever may read this blog, one or one thousand, please send your good thoughts to Billy and his honey, Jean.

The reason this came to mind is because throughout this whole process of her sweet husband's cancer, Jean has written the most inspirational letters to keep all of our friends updated. Jean's spirit has been a gift....to Billy and everyone she comes across. She trusts that her higher power will keep helping them through their chain of events. That has kept them strong. They are living in the moment. They are treasuring every moment. They share their ups and downs. They trust that they are taken care of. They know that there are no coincidences in life. They have been a gift to us all.

Jean has a gift in putting it all down on paper. I never even knew how well she could write. She was a math major in college, not a writer. Now, with passion and love, she has been blessed with the gift of writing beautifully and she has brought us all along on her journey....with thanks and love. Jean is giving and giving and giving and giving more.

Giving. Thanksgiving. Give thanks for everyone in our lives. Everyday. We won't have them all forever. We all have to get over ourselves and give...of ourselves.We all have to let go of what was. Who cares who is right and who may be wrong. Ego can mess up our whole world. If we stop thinking of ourselves and share with others, we may all live a better life.

If we try. If we share. If we are open. If we are honest and let down our guard. If we trust that we will be taken care of. If we let go of fear. If we stop wasting our energy on hate. If we just try every day to share random acts...of goodness...any kind of goodness,our lives will be fuller and richer and we will feel more love.

That's just that. Sounds kinda preachy. This is for me...to remind myself....to remember....to live it....to care....for OTHERS...not specific others.....those everyday others that we may pass on the street or in the grocery store. I wish this for the ones I love. I wish it for all of us because, I know when I stop and get grateful all of the good and all of the love....that surrounds us all....if we look and take note......life is better when we share.

If you are reading this, I thank you. My blog has changed my life. I thank you for helping me to have a better life...by sharing....by letting me write and laugh at myself. This blog and the encouragement from many of you has been a gift. Thank you. Very sincerely thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving week! Let's give thanks.  Allelujah!....... like the song!

Daisy waiting to play....we should all be enthused everyday..for the little things. Our animals remind me that everything is new everyday...every minute! As I always tell Grace and T.J. ,"you can start your day over at any time, it's up to you."

Daisy waiting to play....we should all be enthused everyday..for the little things. Our animals remind me that everything is new everyday...every minute! As I always tell Grace and T.J. ,"you can start your day over at any time, it's up to you."

Daisy waiting to play....we should all be enthused everyday..for the little things. Our animals remind me that everything is new everyday...every minute! As I always tell Grace and T.J. ,"you can start your day over at any time, it's up to you."

Late afternoon walk today with Daisy and Fitzy today...we were all home today. Grace and T.J. studying for trimester finals while Biff and I finished painting the dining room. We've wanted to for months. Biff is home. I am home. It's time to take advantage of this and get to some long overdue projects. PINK....the dining room has gone from green to pink. It reminds me of mom's favorite lipstick by Revlon. Who knew that when I picked the chip? Biff and I laughed and said it will be her way of being with us for. Thanksgiving!
Oh...did I mention that we're having Thanksgiving at our house! Yup! We love it at our house....hope we finish painting or we'll have to pass out brushes instead of turkey. Biff and I have always said company keeps us clean! Hope so because we have twenty something people coming....some to stay over...we love that! We have lots to do...tables and chairs should magically appear...like the loaves and fishes? I think I'd better get on that or we'll be having a sit in! WWPD? What would the pilgrims do?

On the sniff trail...

Biff and I taking a quiet moment to catch up after the busy week. Exhausted.

Can you believe it?Only another blonde junky will understand this.
Biff and I still think it's not the right "me blonde".SO self absorbed ....that's what some may say. Unless you know the Blondie/Foodie/Druggie/Drinky/Sweety/Shoppy/Gambly obsessions some may see this as shallow, narcissistic, needy being! Not true. At least not all of it's true. Give me a chance. I am "NEEDING to be ablonde "BEING."
Please remember that in every aspect of my life I have OCD....."OBSESSIVE COLOR DISORDER" and ADHD,"A DECENT HAIR DAY"

My hairdresser ....who laughed when she heard my voice on the phone early this morning.