Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I am so thankful to all of you who read my little blog and provide amazing friendship to me. I am so thankful to my family, friends, community and friends that I have yet to meet.

I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving - whether enjoying your time with your friends and family, enjoying your reflective alone time, reading a book, having a typical day as my friends abroad will be doing, or perhaps enjoying a vacation(like me).

Much Love, t.

Resting...

I am taking a rest - a rest from blogging, a rest from cleaning(oh, I already do that), a rest from cooking(yeah, like I cook every day..not...), just a rest...

...I will be back blogging in a week or so...

..enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday...

..and make sure you take you naps with your Uggs on. It really does make a difference.

xoxo, t

Birthday Update...

Sometimes Fairies come and make all of your wishes come true...
...and it is evident in your smile whilst awaiting your guests...
...dreams and wishes of 12 little girls making necklaces...
..wax and beads and ribbons and glitter..oh my...what more could a little girl want..
..a cake perhaps...
..with your friends all around waiting in anticipation...
..that you will eventually get all of the candles blown out...
..and girlfriends so excited to give you their presents...
...just complete joy on a birthday...
..another birthday wish fulfilled...and so many more to go.

xoxo,t.

Final Preparations...

Eloise won't be 6 for 12 more days, but we are having her "kid" birthday party today. I thought it would be nice to do it before the Holiday's get crazy, vacations, etc. She is confused though as to why she is having two birthdays. I think I would be thrilled!

Anyway, I have finally gotten smart and I am not hosting her party in our home. We are going to a local natural toy store where her and 10 of her girlie kindergarten friends will do a natural craft, eat cake and hopefully behave as well as 5 and 6 year olds behave.

I will share some pictures after the festivities tonight...but in the meantime, SEE I have been sewing...look at the little ribbon drawstring gift bags/purses I made for the little princesses. Eloise approved.

xoxo,t

Fall Gardening Update...

Dying...

..almost dead...

..quite dead....

..really dead...

..my work here is done...thank you.

xoxo,t

Rocking...

Two years ago, I bought Esther a rocking chair from a garage sale. It looked just like the one I had when I was a little girl. It has sat in the garage, unfinished until last weekend when Jed finished sanding, painting and tightening the lovely gift to her.

I starting carrying it to the house while Esther played outside and I raked, and she insisted on trying the rocking out while I finished raking the leaves. Always the princess.

I am glad it is safe inside now where it should be...with her and us.

xoxo,t

A Wish...

(...uncooperative child today)

(..plan b if Esther did not cooperate)

See Tracy Sew...

See - I HAVE been sewing...I had my good friend Tracy(great name by the way) make the girls some embroidered "E" shirts - and I made them coordinating twirly skirts for Halloween!..I bought striped tights and custom Boo bows - the works.

I presented them to the girls to wear the week of Halloween and they both rolled their eyes at me and said "NO WAY ARE WE DRESSING LIKE THAT".

Anyone need a size 4 and size 6 matching custom Halloween sets?

xoxo,t

He must really love me...

...because he bought and installed a new dishwasher last week.

You know it - no more wash and re-wash, cursing at the dishwasher for me anymore. It must be love.
xoxo,t

A Mommy Confession...

...sometimes, when we are alone in the house...and I know that no one else is watching...

...instead of using a washcloth to wash off her yucky face from lunch...I lick it off(especially peanut butter) because her cheeks are just that yummy...

sshhhhh...
xoxo, t

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Jack! 32 years! I hope you have an amazing day - we love you! I wish we were closer to deliver flowers and take you to dinner. Big hugs.

There are many things I love about this photo - circa 1976...Jack's haircut, his blue suit - the fact they they match the wallpaper in our living room.

Mostly, as a 7 year old I remember how old I thought they were - and wow, they were both younger than I am now...oh and as a 7 year old I was mad they didn't let me miss school to go to their wedding. ;-)

Love you both so much!
xoxo,t

Goodbye Old Friends....

I bought you on the Kalverstraat 7 years ago...you have served me well..through rain, snow, sleet and sun..with jeans, cords, skirts and dresses. Casual yet dressy...cute yet edgy...comfortable and classy. Just perfect. I have loved you to pieces.

However, all good things must come to an end..you are now scuffed, smelly, your straps are broken and well, it is time to move on my friends.

I tossed you in the garbage today. Goodbye.

I will survive though - and have moved on. It is Nordstrom's half-yearly sale you know, and I found a sexy, black, zip-up flat little pair that did just the trick to ease my pain.

I won't post pictures though - as that would be too much evidence of my shopping. Please, if you see me wearing my new friends and Jed is near - ask me why I am wearing those "old things again." I would appreciate your support.
xoxo,t

Lazy Sunday...

Today, I could have put away the laundry...

...or picked up the mountain of toys on every floor..

...or bought groceries so we had more than just liquids in the fridge..

...or picked up the leaves before the snow..
Instead I Was Lazy

I chose to kiss my girls all afternoon - whether they liked it or not.

xoxo,t

Aubie John...

Did you know that you have like the best name ever? I love the name Aubie. Secretly, even though I always wanted girls...if I DID ever have a boy, I would've loved to name him Aubie. Strong, unique, individual, fabulous..and well, you.


Happy Birthday, Dad!!! I hope you have a great day today. We love you to pieces. Thank you for being so handsome - because I look like you...so that is quite important to me. Thank you for every Saturday...I am not sure what the girls would do without their Papa time.

We love you!
xoxo,t

Pictures of Other People's Kids...

I figure you must be getting bored of my lovely offspring..so I went to Eloise's Kindergarten last week. They had their Halloween costume parade.

I got home and realized I took ZERO pictures of Eloise...well, she almost made it in - but the chicka in front of her kept blocking her face with her wand thingy. Darn kids.

So please enjoy these pictures of other people's kids.

..and of course pictures of Bob the Builder...aka Sister Sara.

Seems they spent the entire week gettin' ready for Halloween - makin' treat bags, rehearsin' for the parade, watchin' movies, eatin' popcorn...good to know they still have fun in Kindergarten....don't want too much of the readin' and writin' goin' on...(oops sorry, just got a bit Sarah Palinesque on ya...aren't ya glad we won't hear that anymore)(oops sorry again...that will be my last political statement of 2008).

xoxo,t

You Did IT!

You got out and voted, America! You stood in lines, you waited for hours, you made your choices, you should be so proud to be an American.

You wore your work uniforms, maybe your pajamas, maybe your evening gowns..and perhaps your ballerina ensemble...and YOU voted.

I don't know what the next 4 years will bring...an improved and growing economy, an end to the wars, improved international relations, more jobs, heathcare we can afford...I don't know. But, I do believe it will bring hope and a unified country once again. I have been missing that these past 8 years.

We were so blessed as a nation to have 2 great Americans running and wanting this top office..so lucky to have such amazing choices. So blessed to live where we do...

I think many tears were shed last night...over your disappointment or about your intense elation. I know I shed more than I ever expected. It is historic, important and humbling. That is how important our voices are in America.

I am happy and oh so hopeful today.

..and selfishly, I am so excited to see what those sweet and beautiful girls are going to wear every day. But this is my blog and I can be shallow that way.
xoxo, t.

A Thankful Halloween.

There are many things I am thankful for this Halloween...

1. Auntie Amy came to Trick-or-Treat with the girls...

2. That many neighbors hand out chocolate bars that I steal after the girls go to bed...

3. It was almost 70 degrees and we didn't need snowmobile suits over our costumes...

4. That not one person came to my door dressed as Sarah Palin..

5. ..and I am most thankful that after Jed locked me out of the house with only my bag of candy and a glass of wine...for 1 1/2 hours...that I could go Trick-or- Drinking at my neighbors house once my glass was empty. I love my neighbors.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween.
xoxo,t