Our Goofy Girl Goes To College

Remember this Goofy Girl?  You can read about some of her antics over at the "Skateboard and Goofy Girl Post."

She's still skateboarding while multitasking, only she's doing it far, far, away.  Last weekend we took our grown-up beach Girl to University in the frozen tundra of the Midwest.  When we went into Orientation and came out again into that cold Illinois weather,  our water bottles were frozen!

Maggie and her Irish Twin Dylan, are the last of my five to fly the coop.  They were the cutest babies ever and just look at them as toddlers. This is a photo of their graduation from preschool.  Cute right?  That's how we like to remember them...because, oh, those teenage years — whew...

 My baby was born with one foot out the door.  She's always been my independent get me the heck out of this house, kid.

 Maggie, has a bucket list.  Number 14 had her off to the mall to sing in front of hundreds of people to win tickets to a Justin Bieber concert!

 Yep, she and her dad waited in long lines, got wrist bands and name tags, and then we waited in line again until it was her turn to shine, and our shy daughter was able to check off one of the things on her bucket list.  That's our "baby".

 Singing in public - CHECK!

 And she did it and did it well.  She's a super star.


She's pretty too.

Like, model pretty.

 She has two sisters.

And two brothers who love and miss her already.

She lives lived in a cottage by the sea, until she moved into a University dorm in the flatlands of the Midwest where it's burrrrr cold.  And she couldn't be happier!

Our girl never even looked back; and for a momma and papa who love their baby, to see her happy means we couldn't be happier!  Isn't that what we all want for our kids?  To see them happy makes our hearts soar. 

Maggie loves the pups and they love her.  After only a week they are still pouting around the house looking for her.  In and out of her room, especially at night, because she was their bunk mate.  Now they've been relegated to my studio upstairs for night-night time because, she's gone away to school hubby won't let the pups in our bed.

My baby loves babies.  She was the most sought after babysitter in our home town,  and the family she was nannying for before she left cried actual tears when she went away!  Besides that, they gave her a sweet tip.

 Maggie's nephews and nieces are really gonna miss her too.

 How sad is this?  This pretty princess looks blue about living without her Auntie nearby to play with her.

 Yep,  our Maggie is all about the babies.

 Big ones,

 Chubby ones,

And all the ones in between!  Abigail is not only Maggie's niece, she's her goddaughter too.

Maggie's friends old and new,  are gonna miss her and all her silly antics.  Her college friends have some good times coming their way!

 ???  Her nephew Cael is upside down with grief gonna miss her!

Hopefully the pups will lose their forlorn looks when spring break arrives.  I don't know if I can stand the sadness until then.  They kind of look how we all feel!

And Mags, if you're watching, thumbs up on that looong trip home.  So many people who love you will be waiting!


(You silly's - you didn't think I was finished yet, did you?)

Your surfboard misses you.

Your car misses you, although since it snowed in Southern California today you might say, it feels like it went to Illinois with you!

But all in all, and most of all, your Papa and Mommy miss you.

 Have fun in snow country making angels!

 I promise some sandy beaches and good surf when you come home.

And of course those gorgeous sunsets at our Cottage By The Sea.

I love you more than all the miles we're apart.

Bless your heart,

Mommy

Out With The Old-In With The New

What you see before you here are two (almost empty nesters).  We started out as just youngsters, raising our family 36 years ago.  One little baby led to two and then three, four and five.  In between those there were five foster babies and toddlers in the mix and we relished in our 'career' as the parents of a big boisterous family.

Now we are two oldsters, with six grandchildren.  We're tiiiiiiired as you can see as you can imagine.  It may take us 36 more years to recover, but we'll have a nice empty nest to do it in.   Our nest is getting roomier.  Or the rooms are getting emptier.  Or there is more room in our rooms.  Regardless, we now have room for you guys to visit us!

It's a new year and we rang it in with style.

This was our New Year's Eve view to the East.

This was our New Year's Eve view to the West.

I'm writing this from Illinois where I'm now taking my daughter to University.   I'm looking out at snow and it's 27 degrees.  The above two locations - I'll take either one.   No offense to those living in cold climates,  I'm just a big baby with cold issues or issues with cold.  I just know that I'm burrrrrr cold here in the Midwest!

Okay though,  I can get behind this.  This and many more literal and proverbial sunny hours, how about you?

Adieu 2012, can't say I'm sad to see you go.

Welcome 2013 and bring it on!

May you be blessed by all you do and everyone you meet and may you bless them too!  I hope you stay happy, healthy and w a r m!

Blessings to all in 2013.

Love you more than all the sand on the beach!

Tia

P.S.  More to come on leaving my youngest baby behind in Quincy, Illinois.   No one deserves it more than her!  Bahaaahahahahah.

Don't Miss His Birthday Party!

Don't Miss His Birthday Party!

It's Advent.  At our home we await the birth of our savior.  We prepare our home and our hearts as we prepare for his birthday.

We respectfully acknowledge that this is also a time that those with non Christian beliefs have their special holiday celebrations.  It's an exciting time for so many and we all have so much to be thankful for.  Whatever your belief's, it's about life and about love and, well, these holidays are all about hope, right?

While we await His birth around here at our cottage, we decorate with all the traditional ribbons and garlands and holly and everything that brings a little more hope and light into each day.  What do you fill your home with during the holidays?

From our home to yours,  wherever you may be, let us share our Christmas cheer!

The first thing we do is go to Home Depot and buy our tree.  This fills the whole house with the heavenly scent of pine, which is scrumptious in and of itself when outside you mostly have palm trees.
I'm not complaining, just saying.

I used to have 10 little hands helping me to place the ornaments on the tree.  Now it's just me.  Lest you cry for my desertion, as natural as it may be, things change regardless of my crying and weeping.  My hubby is still here and he hangs hundreds of lights just for me, from the tree, to the mantel, from the bedrooms to the front porch and all over the outside of the house.  He even dangles off the roof to appease me; now that's some true lovin', right?

 This year I disassembled  (for the season) my collection of glass floats and hung them on the tree.  I love the way they add a seaside vibe to my tree and they reflect the light from my old fashioned, very old, lights!  Here's a pretty green float.  I also included, yellow, red and lots of shades of blue ones.

You didn't think I'd forget my Irish did you?  This is just one of my many ethnic heritage bulbs, that hang on my Christmas tree.  xoxox

 A peek at the yellow glass float.  They're clear so you can also see the rope behind them.
So darn purty!

 My grandson Nicholas is ready.  He can't wait to celebrate the birthday of Our King.  Do you think he can wait until 25th December?

This is our mantel.  A good example of just a few of the lights I coerced my hubby  my hubby so willingly strung for me.  My vision is his burden.  Because,  you see, I believe you can NEVER have too many lights :)

Years ago when our kids were just little, my good friend Terri and I got together at her house and made tree skirts.  It's one of my favorite all time Christmas memories capped with lots of laughter, cider and the warm love that good friendships bring.   Mine is made of felt and beads and colorful jewels for the wise men!  It's a real treasure, and I'm sure my kids will fight to the death over it when I die.   Hahahahahahahahah!  ("Hello, Salvation Army, can you come pick up all the photo albums and this old tree skirt?")  My children aren't very nostalgic (YET).  You may see this for yourselves if you scroll to the bottom of the blog link postet here, and see how my son (whose thoughts pretty much represent that of all his siblings) feels about my Christmas decor.  Christmas Doves.  Remember Cooper, Santa sees you when you're naughty!


A wee bit more Irish has made me nostalgic for #1 on my bucket list.  To spend Christmas in Ireland!  If my husband hears that one more time, he may not be so willing to string all those lights for me anymore but, I'm willing to risk it.

A little sand and sea brings me joy all times of the year.  Hasn't He done a great job of decorating for his birthday this year?

And lest you weary of my Christmas decor.  One last photo just for silliness sake.  This is what my pup thinks of all this merriment...  I think he's saying in his little doggy body language, "there she goes again!"

Ah well, he doesn't know that there's a big rawhide under the tree just for him yet.  Shhhh.












HIS BIRTHDAY IS 25TH DECEMBER - BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

What I Treasure

One of the things I like to do during Advent is to reflect on what is important to me.  My faith and my family always come first.  They are almost, one and the same.  I have so many blessings in my life that it's hard to count them all.  Don't get me wrong.  There is sadness too.  Past, present and future.  I am old, wise enough to know that life is not a bowl of cherries.  But as one of my favorite blog authors, Ashley, over at lilblueboo admonishes again and again, through her bout with cancer and unbelievable adversities, to "CHOOSE JOY".  My sister and I were just talking about it today and we decided when things just get too hard to handle we will Choose Joy.  I hope you will too!

Here are some of the things that make me happy.  It gives me joy to share them with you and I hope you'll share some of the things that make you happy with me too.

These two nuts make me pretty happy!

This is a photograph of me with my mom, my sister and my daughter's, before we said our goodbyes's for the last time.  We Chose to make it Joyful!  It was a celebration of life and family.

My husband is the best man God could have chosen for me from all the men in the whole wide world.  I don't know what I did to deserve him but, Thanks again God!

My daughter Tara, her husband Jason and each of my darling 6 grandchildren make my heart sing.  Tara and Jason are a joy to behold as they so beautifully and gently raise up loving, talented, children.  I'm so proud and so blessed by them daily.

My awesome eldest son Cooper.  He's going to set the world on fire with his enthusiasm and great big heart!

My daughter Kate fell in love and said her "I do's" to Justin this year.  Watching these two prepare for and then engage in the sacrament of marriage has been an incredible blessing and joy.


What makes a dog?
Is it the cut of his coat? The length of his pedigree? His size or that of his dog house?
I think not.
It is the heart of the dog that makes him, for a dog's heart knows no bounds. 

Have I mentioned how much I love my pups?  I think it's a bit obvious, and maybe some think it's even a little obsessive  overboard, but I think the joy I get from these two is over the top joyful!

The sea is my front yard.  Oh JOY!  How blessed am I?  Indescribable the feeling I get every time I see, hear or smell the ocean.  That I get to live beside it is the best life can bring and I'm grateful for it every, single day.

I could go on and on and on, so instead I'll try to spread out all the love during this Advent Season.  Lest you think I've forgotten - I haven't.  Jesus is the Reason For The Season.  But guess what guys?  It's not the same kinda love, but we kinda like this guy too.  And, I hear he's coming to town!

Think about it.  These are some of the things I hold dear and am thankful for this Christmas.  How about you?  What do you hold dear?  I can't wait to hear from you.

Blessings to you and yours,

Tia

P.S.  Just so you know, I hold each and every one of you dear as well.  You are why I keep this blog going no matter how sporadically my old computer and skills hold up.  I love you all more than even that!