What Now?

What now has been been the reoccurring question in my mind for the last year, knowing that much in my life is and has been changing.....There are so many exciting milestones that will be happening along with the changes. I wrote a little something and wanted to share it. Some of you will read it in my upcoming "Over The Top" newsletter. But for those that don't read junk mail, missed the list or whatever, I wanted to share with you.

I should feel footloose and fancy free! Why don’t I? I no longer have sleepless nights, runny noses, ear aches, trips to the doctors, bouts with Croup, diaper rash, potty training, or even tardiness to deal with! My babies are not babies anymore!

Now what? I’ve been talking to other moms that are in the same boat and I’ll be darned if we’re not all seemingly floundering! It seems we are stuck or in a holding pattern. For so long we’ve been singing the same ole song, “Get up, do your home work, don’t smart mouth, wipe off that smirk!” Now they are older. College bound or should be. Some how now we must figure out a way to just let them make mistakes. Let go. What do we do with all of this pent up energy?

I suppose that’s what started the Beanie Babies craze. I really doubt it was some demanding little kid screaming for “Baldy” or else. I’m certain it was some, no life having, mother struggling with her own empty nest issues that took up a new obsession to fill her time. It’s like the same predictable behavior of the woman that is turning 40. She’ll probably never look better because she’s scared to death of aging and weight gain, so she diets, gets a trainer and works out like a fiend so she can attend her own 40th party to look like Barbi and have her first real meal and piece of cake in over a year. The next day she forfeits the gym because she’s now liberated and who cares. She’s 40. Or what about the woman that continues to care so she can be the “sexy grandma” type? Now that’s scary.

There has to be a happy medium. I am on a quest to find it. I am just about the empty-nester. Some things about it are great. Other’s leaving me shrugging, asking now what? The same with being 40. Some things about it are ok. I’m not so hard on myself or others (mainly my poor husband). Other things are down right funky! Like excessive hair growth on ONE arm! Please, tell me there is some kind of middle ground here. I’m looking and I’ll let you know what I come up with.

By the way, I commissioned (for free) a talented young man that is supposed to write a song about all this stuff. A good, mushy, emotional, soulful, heartwarming, rewarding, song, that speaks of thanks and praise to all of us sacrificial moms left wondering....what now? I wonder how it's going.... Love and hugs and I won't say this again, at least for another few years,

HAPPY LEAP YEAR!

ExTrEmE mAkEoVeR wOw

Rachel and I were bored with our looks and decided it was time to try something else. She is gong to KILL me when she sees this blog! I couldn't resist. If any of you would like to nominate us for What Not To Wear, please do. I've tried twice to get on and so far have heard nada!

Just a little fun in the City by the Bay

Is that MARTY??? Sure is....


We decided to forge the City on a day that promised buckets of rain. But with a little enthusiasm and our swords drawn, we were unstoppable!Our daughters were stellar in their fight against weather, rain and foe. As you can see, His majesty and I reigned safely that day.Our international travels included a stop in China town. Again, we were fiercly guarded by our girls.
AHHHH! But look what we found! Our little friend Marty-Cat! We caught her for a minute and should NOT have let her go - back to Cincinati!
Of course this is one of the people we tried to encourage with love and good works. She wasn't to responsive.
This is all of us after eating A LOT at Scomas! Too tired to walk back to China town we cable car'd to our car!

A Thanksgiving Update

We DID have a lovely Thanksgiving. The holiday is so often overlooked in my heart. I forget what it's about, until it's passed. This past Thanksgiving we spent with Jimmy's family in Reno. Mom cooked a fabulous meal. She even sat with us. Often she out does even the best buffets. This year was bitter sweet. More than once, I DID reflect on why we were there. Not only did we celebrate the holiday, but it'll be their last in Reno. If all goes as planned they will soon be living in Colorado. Why do we recognize what we have only when it's about to be gone or not so near.

Merry Christmas

I tried to get it out to all of you. So for those of you that didn't get it, please forgive me. Merry Christmas everyone. We love you and thank you for being a part of our lives.

I just finished our Christmas letter. It's been a true family project. I had little motivation this year....The girls sat on my bed last weekend and plowed through their paragraphs and then sketched out mine and Jim's. With a little bit of this and little bit of that, it all came together. I'll be mailing them out this weekend.

Nothing else that has been approved for reporting. So chow for now!

More than a peasant

This is my neice Jennifer and her brother Daniel, six months after driving in Tahoe. You should see her today. When I get a picture I'll post it. She is a Nun. She is a praying Nun. She prays for a living. She's a great girl. She's full of life, smart, funny, beautiful and a praying woman!

I called this more than a peasant because she looks peasanty in her browns. She's all decked out in the black and white now. The white must be hard to keep clean.