Lexi's First Birthday

We were talking last night about children's birthdays. Why is it that the first child always gets the big bash on their first and the other kids get a cake if they're lucky?? Lexi was one year on St. Patrick's Day. I managed to get the cupcake made and left the rest up to the family. We had a little party with a few cousins so it wasn't that bad. At least we have a photo to show her when she grows up!!!




She got into it and even managed a bite on her own!

YUM!!!!

Three For Three

I got the Giant CupCake pan before Christmas and decided my resolution for the New Year would be to bake each grandchild a giant cupcake for their birthday. So far I have done it, starting in January for Tiny, then Lino and Buddy. Tomorrow is Lexi's big numero uno so will be baking a pink one for her. Sabra put a pick of Buddy's cake on her blog but I am going to post one too, for the two people that read my blog:) Buddy came to play a couple of days after his birthday and wanted to know why he didn't get the gumball on his cake. He was very excited at the time about the soccer balls. So I remided him he liked the soccer balls but he still wanted the gumball. I told him I did have a red one or a pink or white one. "I think I'll take a blue one." "I don't have a blue one." "Well, you can go down to my dad's shop and take a quarter and get a blue one, or a green one." What a wonderful little boy. I just love that kid!!! Anyway, here are my boys with their cakes! Happy Birthday to all four of my favorite little people born in the months of January and March!!!

Ides Of March

Twenty years ago yesterday,the Ides Of March, we moved into our house on Bardeaux. Crazy where that twenty went. Our life has changed so drastically, and mostly in the last month! But that's whining for another day I suppose. Anyway, Ceaser died and yesterday my mother fell down. Scared the living right out of me!! Then I was so mad, I mean sooooo mad!! And that is for another day too. I really can't be positive right now so I better move on!!!

March Onward

March, it came in like a lamb! Though most days I feel like I have been mauled by a lion,today however, was an exceptionally good day following an exceptionally good night. Mom slept from 11pm to 5am with a pit stop and then on into the morning, finally rousing around 9:30. We got dressed and had breakfast, then moseyed out for a spin in her stroller. We had a great laugh about how you start out life in diapers with someone pushing your stroller and you pretty much end life the same way. I almost dumped her out of the wheel chair, getting her out the door. Then I forgot to lock the brakes while I was hooking up the dog's leash and looked up to see her rolling down the street. I didn't even know the street sloped! We talked,laughed,looked at birds, well I looked and pointed, she couldn't see much. But she did like the smells and sun on her face. It was a good day! Then my brother form Montana arrived. She always loved Larry. He could make her laugh when no one else could. Happy days!!! Hoping for another restful night! Thanks to you who commented on the previous post with your kind and inspiring words. I appreciate them more than you could know.

Life and Learning

How is it, that one minute everything is perfect, for the most part, and then....
Tom and I were at lunch a few weeks ago and I told him that I had been having thoughts about how our life was so blessed. I was thinking about the trials and adversities we have had. I wondered if those were my refiner's fire or was there something larger, more defining in our future. Was I to be tried so much more that perhaps I would not make it through? Where I would question my faith? Was I to have some trial perhaps, that would break me or at least mold me painfully? Would I be able to overcome? And he said he had been thinking along the same lines. We have been so blessed in our lives, our family, our business. What payment would be required at the Lord's hand? How would He choose to refine, define, and make us what we need to be to inherit what He has for us? Anyway, it was a great discussion over tacos at our favorite restaurant. And then WHAM!! Life as we knew ended one Friday night a few days later. On Feb. 12 to be exact! One of those dates that must surely have cosmic overtones!!!(Both of my grandmothers were born on that day.) I went to lunch with friends to celebrate one of their birthdays and then came home for a little siesta. Life is good! Went to dinner and a movie with dear hubby! Came home and just sat down for a little relaxing before bed and the phone rang. I usually won't answer it but since it was about 10:30 I thought it might be important. It was. My mother was on the other line gasping for breath. "Come, I need you!" And we went. And life was never the same again. By Tues. it was evident that she would never be able to be on her own again and there was no way my brother and I could make it work, taking turns at her home. So I made the decision to bring her home. Tom supported me fully, the devoted and wonderful husband that he is. We called all of the family and many came to bid farewell. We thought it was imminent. The nurses at Hospice thought it was imminent! Maybe it still is! That was 2 weeks ago. When the family started arriving, Mom rallied. She is still weak as a kitten and has to be fully tended but she is still very much with us most of the time. One more brother is due to arrive on Tues. With her medication, she is still able to breathe and her sweet litte heart continues to pump, though very very softly and slowly. I don't know how long she will be with me but I count these moments precious. That is not to say this is not the biggest trial of my life thus far. If you know me, you know I have a somewhat, shall I say, aggravating?, relationship with my mom? From the time I was very young, we butted heads. But now, I am being molded in patience, compassions, long-suffering (especially the nights!),and in doing good. I am learning that is hard to put your needs, wants, and desires all on hold, not knowing for how long, to do the hard things needed doing for someone else. Life is not easy these days. Some days I want to cry and say, Give me my life back!! But someday I will have it back and that will mean I won't have my sweet wonderful mother to kiss and tuck in at night. She used to tuck me in and sing me a little song, " Ship Ahoy". Now it is my turn to tuck her in and sing to her, to hold her hand when she can't get her breath and tell her it will be all right. It is a privilege to be her daughter. She has born many sorrows in her life, and I am blessed to be able to help her through this end of times. She is gracious and so very grateful, never forgetting to thank me for letting her come home with me,like I could let her go anywhere else. Looking on her, so frail and slight, I am amazed by her inner strength. Though we have locked horns many times through out our lives, she is truly my hero and I am blessed among daughters.

Birthday Boy

Our Miracle Baby

Happy Birthday to Strider. He is three years old today. Our little miracle baby, we are so blessed to have him with us. He is so bright and fun and a little bit of the devil and we love him completely. He is always entertaining, even when he is tormenting his brother and sisters. Tiny,as everyone calls him, melts my heart when he puts his little arms around my neck and squeezes tight. He loves to play out in the sand and water and eat candy at Grama's house. He has this raspy deep voice and I love it when he talks. "Grama, have fruit rollup?" He always asks for those when he comes to play. Life is passing at such an accelerated pace these days, it is hard to grasp that he is already three. Happy Birthday Tiny. We love you!!

Happy 2010

Happy new Year to One and All. Christmas was busy and bustling and just down right fun but I am ready to relax with my new book now! I am still enjoying the decor and have to be in the mood to take it all down so maybe by February I will be there. I love the holidays. And I love the down time that comes after. January is my favorite read month and I usually get about 3 or 4 books read this month. I am into my new one I got from Sabe for Christmas. It is called The Help. Great read so far. We had lots of good times, good food, and good family and friends to share it all with. We took all of the kids caroling before Christmas on a Monday night. The Jones went with us and they still came back on Christmas Eve so it must have been fun. We also had our annual Christmas Eve bash with the pinatas and Santa Bag. Then Christmas morning was the big breakfast, followed by the opening of gifts with all of the grandchildren and children. This year Ashley spent the night before Christmas with us so we had someone to wake up with Christmas morning. It sure is different with no little ones to rouse from the bed. I used to dream every Christmas Eve that I forgot to stuff the stockings. But last year I didn't have the dream and it didn't return this year. Apparently my anxiety levels over the morning have dropped off. I didn't get very many good pictures at all, even with the new camera. Too busy I guess to stop and shoot. But I will always carry the memory of my beautiful family in my heart. I love them all so much. We missed Kaylie but got to talk with her on the phone during the party. So now it is on to the New Year. I haven't written down any resolutions yet but I have one that I am already working very hard on. And I am sure it will take many years if ever to become proficient. I used to always write my resolutions down, even categorizing them. But the last few years I haven't done that. Made me feel like a failure when I didn't realize them. I think perhaps I had too many. Well, I am totally rambling now so that means the time has come to get off the blog.