Not such a tame world....

And here's a touch o'Green....

The foyer tree:

 

So here was the Valentine's Decor....

 At the front door was my $5 find from Wal-mart:

 

And in the foyer is my seasonal tree. I try to limit my decorating to my foyer tree and the living room mantle. Mainly so that a) I'm not storing gobs of stuff and b) the house doesn't start to look like a theme park. I do hope that down the road in a few decades,Tabitha remembers how much fun the house was around the holidays. And she may remember how giddy, looney I get about decorating. :-)

So here's my foyer tree with the banner I made this year with my cricut. And yup - I was goofy enough to special order pink lights off the 'net. (I planned ahead and got some green ones at the same time, too.)

 

Some close up's:

 
 

This year, I wanted pink lights for the kitchen bar space. And of course, lots of fluffy white marabou feathers just add to the fun factor.

 

I decided that the dining room table would indulge my "glamour" girl.

 

And then I went all hearts all over the mantle.

I had treated myself to tulips during Feb, but they finally were past their prime. So I ditched'em before the pics. Bad feng shui to have dead stuff around the house anyway....

I had found this adorable pink feather bird at Michael's. I loved it right away even though I had no idea how I'd use it. So for good measure -- I bought two! And they were right at home perching at each end of my homemade banner. Again, I put my cricut thru it's paces.

 
 

So that wraps up the Valentine's Day 2011 Showcase. I'm in the process of decking out in green for the month of March. So far, the foyer tree is sort of done. And that's about it. I'm still dreaming up what to do for the mantle etc.... I need to go on a shopping excursion in search of glassware. But I guarantee that green will be there!

Stay tuned....

"Oh Happy Day!" It's March 1st and that means....

It's time to start celebrating a month of Green!

Wahoo!! My favorite color, for a whole month -- what more could a girl want?

So the project for today is to take down the Valentine's Day decor. The theme this year was pink. And honestly, I'm not sure that I've even taken photos of what I did this year. Well, except for this one:

 
This the collection of jars in the center of my kitchen island. I started decorating with jars of candy about 4 years ago. It was the only way I could think of to keep clutter from accumulating on the island instead. Which was what was happening. And it drove me nuts! Nowadays, instead I have no clutter and a reputation in the neighborhood as having the "good stuff" out on the counter all the time. What can I say? I know kids & how they think. [Big & small, by-the-way....]

I'll go take some pics and post tomorrow. I got pretty darn crafty with my Cricut this year.

So moving right along to March and GREEN, I'm sprucing the place up with some bright green touches. The one that I've gotten done so far was making slip covers for some couch pillows.

This project came about because:

1. I got some new Christmas decoration this past year and didn't want to buy another storage bin to store. So something had to give and not get packed up. After some selective purging -- the best I could figure was that the Christmas pillows that usually live on the couch would get to stay.
2. But it would be totally weird to have Christmas pillows out after December, right?
3. "Sew simple solution" was slip covers. I've done this before and even though I've got sewing skills, this is just super easy straight lines.
4. Then when I happened to be combing the remnants at a nearby fabric store, I found the most striking remnant of green upholstery velvet. I've used this type of fabric before and it holds up well to abuse. And Baby - can my kid & critters pass out abuse? Oh Yes they can! Besides it was cheap and really wide.


So voila!

Before:

 

After:

 

Not too shabby, I think. So now I'm off to work on the rest of the house. I'm feeling a trip to Michael's or Hobby Lobby coming on. Oh -- and then I need to find some bulk candy in green....

Fresh starts....

"Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today, because if you enjoy it today you can do it again tomorrow."    ― James Michener

I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone in the surge of hope & motivation I feel at the start of a new year. It's a blank slate. A chance to start fresh. Make changes. Grow. Evolve. Improve. And for the moment, all of the potential is bright and untarnished.

But then, after a few weeks, life happens and enthusiasm fades. It is so much simpler to return to familiar routine patterns. And slowly I feel myself settling back into the comfortable ruts that I've traveled before.

Anyone else? Yeah. I thought so.

And as always, January 1 marks that day to take stock and make resolutions. Even more so this year since the date happens to be 1/1/11. That doesn't happen very often, does it? January 1 just feels more significant than most other days because it very obviously is the start; the very first day of a brand new year.

So last night in the company of family & friends, I started a discussion about resolutions. Ahh....and from the mouth of babes came this wisdom from Tabitha: "I don't do that resolution stuff -- it just doesn't work for me." This coming after only five years worth of New Years celebrations. The consensus was though, that goals might be a better choice than resolutions. Of course the group list had the common ones: "work out more", "get in shape", "get organized", etc.

But there were some originals. Tabitha ended up choosing two: "1) improve my grades and 2) be more responsible." One of my friends voiced that she plans on finishing writing her book this year. That goal espcially resonated with me because I keep saying that "one of these days I'm going to write a book!" So how cool to hang out with someone who really wants to do the same thing. Maybe this will be the year that we inspire each other?

Reviewing my brainstorming list of what I want to accomplish this year, I've got some very concrete goals and then some that are a lot more nebulous at the moment. This year I would like to:

• Work on myself some more . I'd like to focus on my writing/blogging and grow as a photographic artist. I'd like my muffin top and its 30 pounds to go away. I'd like to feel stronger and healthier and more energetic. I'd like to continue to update & revamp my wardrobe, including my shoes. I'd like to continue to evolve my style and condense down to the really key components. I'd like to be able to do more with less.
• Complete some projects.As I look around my office right now, there are scores of projects in multiple stages of development, but none of them is DoNe! I'd definitely like to fix that
• Replace my kitchen table & chairs with something "Sam-proof". I love that dog, but he'll chew anything that doesn't bite him first. I'm thinking that this year, the kitchen will get more of a wrought iron, vintage metal motif in the decor department. I'll keep you updated....
• Continue to purge the clutter -- Simplify!!
• Redecorate the guest room (after de-cluttering, of course)
• Finally decorate the master bedroom. I've started to get some inspiration and now I have a direction to work in. Let's hope Michael is ready for some changes.... (It's all good Sweetie! I promise!) Let's face it, anything will be an improvement if it gets rid of the baby puke colored paint on the walls!
• I'd also really love to travel more this year. I've already got a good start on this one, since later this month I will be taking Tab back to New England to visit family she hasn't seen since July 2007 & April 2008.

I'm sure there are other goals that will come into being as this year progresses, but this seems like a good start for now.

So how about you? What are you hoping for in 2011?

On the Twelth Day of Christmas....

My true love gave to me....

Well, I guess that'd be my true love, wouldn't it now?

Michael

Goodness, what to add to what I've written previously? 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2009 we were apparently busy living life & I was focused on Face book more than my blog. [Sorry Bloggy! Sorry Sweetie! Really. It's been a great 13 years....]

So instead I'm sitting here & jamming to Muse and revisiting old blog posts that have "Michael" in the category field. And overall I'm overwhelmed by the immense blessing this man has been to my life. Don't even go into how he helps me stay mentally stable.["Serenity Now!!"]  He has been reliable, and caring, and trustworthy, and loyal, and supportive. He keeps the home network running and all the household computers in-line. He gets Tab up & moving most mornings. He walks dogs. He wipes paws. He pets cats. He grocery shops (people & critters). You name it -- he's been there/done that. For instance, this was him about 7am, after being in the ER with me for 5.5 hours while we waited for me to be transferred to the telemetry unit, August 25, 2008. He was exhausted and very stressed -- but he was there....

 

Without him, I'd have no appreciation for the fine art of coffee brewing. [I don't drink, but I'm highly entertained by the precise process he goes through just for the "perfect" espresso/latte/cappuccino.] Without him, I wouldn't know that I have a yen for sake. [Pun intended - just for you Sweetie!] Without him, I wouldn't have someone else to defer the 630am puppy reveille to. [Of course, I'm on the midnight shift for that one -- divide and conquer....] Without him, I also wouldn't have someone who every single time, falls for my "puppy-dog-eyes" and then indulges me -- usually as I'm talking about the latest & greatest in camera gear or scrapbooking accoutrement.

This is Michael doing some serious coffee mill maintenance:

We've been together long enough now that we get each other's quirks. His absent-minded professor ways don't frustrate me so much -- I've learned to expect them. And fortunately for me, he's got a much higher level of tolerance than I do.... And he makes me laugh, most times without trying very hard at all. And this past year, he's really loosened up around me & the camera & I've started to be able to capture that silly goofy side of his. And I LoVe that!!

As the years go by, there's more grey sprinkled in his hair. [It's still all there though!] There's more character around his eyes. And I love him just a bit more every day....

 

So Sweetie, If you're reading this -- Thanks for being my True Love!!

Love ya! T.

So that concludes my 12 Days of Christmas for 2009-2010. Thanks for reading & commenting. And maybe you'll be inspired to write down how you feel about the people in your life whom you love. Let'em know. Life may be shorter than you realize....

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas....

My true love gave to me....

Tabitha

Good Grief! Where to start?....

How about "that adopted children are 100% intentional." Since joining our family almost 4 years ago our lives have certainly changed. And mostly for the better. We are definitely not bored. I've greatly enjoyed watching not just Tabitha grow, but also Michael evolving into the Dad he is. And he's amazing by-the-way.

When we started dating about 16 years ago, we always knew we wanted a family. I daydreamed about 2 boys and a girl and Michael was OK with whatever I wanted.

Turns out that life doesn't always work out the way you expect. It was 11 years later that we began to pursue an international adoption. The process was an adventure from the start. There is an emotional roller coaster aspect that cannot even be expressed adequately. Reams of paper; hours of time; multiple appointments of "vetting" to defend "Why we wanted to do this" and "why we thought we'd be good parents"; were followed by two very long flights to Russia with the subsequent adoption of this magical little girl that we call Tabitha.

 

You can read more early adoption stories at my original blog.

It suddenly hit me the week before Christmas 2009 that she really is growing up. The new haircut, the contacts, the orthodontics, but mostly measuring her along "the Wall" and realizing that she's seven inches taller than when she first came home -- all hit home. It makes me realize that the time we have her at home with us is racing along, much faster than we think. And as much as I'd love to slow the clock down, I can't. It also makes me hope that she's getting the parenting that she needs and that we aren't "screwing up" too much. I guess I'll know more in about 20 years and I'll get back to you on that....

In the meantime, it has been delightful to observe that quick mind of hers learn English fluently. This year, she's making huge leaps in learning idiomatic language, i.e. "The walls have ears". Her sense of humor is also developing. Not so much on doing chores & homework, though. She is a gifted athlete and almost a natural at every sport she tries. She is tender hearted for small children and loves loving on them.  Same goes for animals. She is one of the most resilient people I know. Her life experiences to date would have made lots of adults I know, curl up in a ball and cease to exist.

That being said, she can infuriate me like noone else can. We seem to know how to push each other's buttons with just a glance or word. She is my match in the stubborn department. And most days her emotions rocket like a roller coaster. But still -- I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Michael & I agree that our lives weren't complete until she was here.

There are lots of Tabitha  stories between both blogs. On this one, she has her own category on the right side-bar. So I'm not going to repeat myself. Instead I'm going to share a few of my favorite photos over the past 4 years:

2006

 

2007
 

2008

2009

So who knows what kind of photo material she'll give me for 2010?...

So Tabby-Cat, if you happen to read this, hopefully you'll know how happy we are that you're part of our family; How much we wanted you! And even on those days when I drive you crazy [and likewise], I love you very much!

Mom

 
 
 

On the Tenth Day of Christmas....

My true love gave to me....

Doug

He ranks as the best kid brother ever.

We are nearly 4 years apart, and I'll admit that in our younger days -- I gave him quite a bit of grief. Now that he's 6'5" and I'm only 5'10", I mind my manners. Because when I don't, he picks me up off the ground until my toes don't touch. It only took being handled like a sack of potatoes once for me too "get with the program"!

So here's an early shot. He was a cute devil.

Family legend has it that my Dad took me to the observation window for the nursery and dragged a chair over for me to stand on to look through at Doug in his crib. As I stood there, I looked up at Dad and very seriously said "Can we leave him here?" I'm sure my Dad fought to keep a straight face, and I remember him telling me "Well it doesn't really work that way. He belongs to us now so we have to take him home." Some 36 years later -- I'm glad we kept him.

(Don't worry. He wasn't really dressed in pink, it's color shift on the slides that this was scanned from....)

Doug and I fought like cats & dogs all through our childhood, but as soon as someone else started  to pick on one of us, they ended up with both of us to deal with. That comes from having been Army Brats growing up all over. We ended up being the most constant companion in each other's lives.

We didn't actually start to grow close until I left home for the last few years of college. It really is true - Absence does make the heart grow fonder. The fighting greatly calmed down and we started to really watch out for one another.  

Early on in life, I was the "evil genius" and got him in trouble all the time. As we reached out 20's, that changed & he had a way of talking me into "stuff", i.e. I remember a country-western dance class & fencing class in college. In the CW class I ended up being one of 20+ girls along with about 5 guys. You would have thought I had an automatic dance parter but not so. And the fencing class? Yup. Not only did he talk me into that, but he talked his best friend into it too. So much for having an automatic partner there as well. Of course, I can't begrudge him that too much, since otherwise through a series of subsequent events I wouldn't have met Michael....

He's been there for me at key moments in my life. He was the one to find me when I collapsed from a massive bleed at 19 years old. And in August 2008 when I ended up hospitalized with pulmonary emboli, he literally dropped everything in his life to move into my hospital room. He stayed with me the entire time and for a few days after I was discharged. And not once did I have to ask. He asked me "Do you want me there?" and no sooner had I said "Yes" than he hit the road and was on his way. He kept it real though and "insisted" on documenting the experience....

One of my favorite times with him was in March 1999. I did my last rotation of medical school in Hawaii. [I know -- I hear the chorus of "poor Theresa" in the background. If it's any consolation, the team I worked with decided to treat me like an intern instead of a medical student & what I learned there I use almost daily now. Still, there was plenty of "beach time"!] For 5 weeks I stayed with Doug & his wife. She was working nights most of the time, so it was one of the first & only times that Doug & I had to ourselves for an extended visit and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Besides the fact that he's always introducing me to new music, or new books; we now get to share the "joys of parenthood" together. He resides on my short list of speed-dials and often times we'll call one another, just to hear each other's voice. He is my buddy. He is my longest known best friend. He is the best "little" brother a girl could have. And like I said earlier, I'm glad we kept him....

So Too-Tall, Here's Lookin' at you Kid!!

Love ya' more than you might know....

Red  

 

On the Ninth Day of Christmas....

My true love brought to me....

Sam & Merlot - My fur boys

They are unconditional love in the best warm & fuzzy packages.

Merlot

This is Merlot & Brie's baby picture. Merlot has the light face & darker ears. Brie is looking at my shoulder.

Here's Merlot now. He's considered a Champagne Point Tonkinese.

 

Merlot is my soul kitty. He connects with me at a level that has us able to read each other's mind. This February he and his sister, Brie, will be 5 years old. Michael & I half-way joke that love per dollar, this was the best money ever spent on a pair of cats. And I love Brie, but she's much more partial to Michael & Tabitha. When they aren't around, then I'll do. But with Merlot, I am his person & he is my cat. He follows me around the house; talking all the while a-lot a la Tonkinese style. When he first started doing his stealth "flying attacks" where he leaps 4-5 feet up off the floor onto people, he started with me first. Very rarely will he pounce on Michael. I know I'm loved and adored by this cat when he jumps into my lap, turns around to settle, then kneads my arm before he goes deeply to sleep. For him to sleep on me is the ultimate in feline trust. He's also a kisser, and just like the late Molly, he has the roughest sand-paper tongue!

 "We humans are indeed fortunate if we happen to be chosen to be owned by a cat." Robert A. Heinlein

 

Sam

 

I fell in love with him from this photo in an email forwarded to me by my Mom, titled "Free Puppies". One look at the photo & I was over the moon. I thought about it for a long week, and then May 19th, 2009 in the span of a three hours called the owner, confirmed he was still available, cleared my choice with Michael, got Tab from school and she & I drove two hours away to go get him. When we brought him home, he was about 7 weeks old and weighed 10 pounds. Now he's 9 months and weighs in at 64 pounds. I always wanted a big dog growing up and now I finally have him. And Sam was completely worth the wait.

I named him Samuel Jasper. Sam for short -- which just happens to be my Mom's initials. In a way, I get to give her credit for connecting us. And then the Jasper is after the character in the Twilight books because  just like the character, being around Sam makes you feel good. It's just a bit ironic that with time as he grew that Sam's eyes changed from blue to gold, just like the Jasper in the books.

Sam is young, but he is a Momma's Boy to the nth degree. The joy he exudes every morning when I meet him in the kitchen is overwhelming. I adore how he presses his entire side into my legs & knees and then stands on my foot, so that I have to stay and give him pets. His tongue is so warm with soft gentle puppy kisses and his fur is so soft. Of late he's taken to wrapping his entire mouth around my wrist or arm and "gumming" on me -- that's his way of giving me hugs. I love walking through the garage door to the kitchen and being greeted by my "fan club". We've nicknamed him the "Pup-arazzi" for how he'll howl & bark waiting for me to come through the door. He recognizes the sound of the Jeep driving by, so he knows when I'm home before anyone else, and I love that. It turns out that he and Merlot are buddies and they will hang out together, but they're camera shy. And turns out that Sam loves kids and especially babies. He was in that photo a few days ago of Mr. X, whom Sam adores. He is unbelievably patient & gentle with them. For such a large dog he amazes me with his gentleness. Keeping this real, he's also the most destructive dog I've ever known. He's a chewer. I have a running list of the things he's destroyed and one day it will make a very funny scrapbook layout. In the meantime, you know I really deeply love him, because even when it's my stuff destroyed -- I don't get mad. I just shrug it off and move on....

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults.  Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment.  ~George Eliot

So somedays, when it feels like the world is stacked against me, I snuggle these two and know that I am very much loved.

It's difficult to understand why people don't realize that pets are gifts to mankind.

Linda Blair

On the Eight Day of Christmas....

My true love gave to me....

Da Girls

Brace yourself -- this one is a long post, and possibly a tear-jerker. [Mascara alert!]

I honestly think that I'm one of those lucky women who was born without sisters, so that when I grew up I would search them out and pick my own. And they know who they are, but for the rest of my blog-o-sphere: in the order we met, the ladies are Heather, Kirsten, Kim and Jill.

Good Grief! I don't even know where to start, to tell you what these women mean to me. They are my sounding board, my safety valve, my sanity when I'm at the end of my rope. They can talk me "in from the ledge" as well as talk me into buying that really cute pair of shoes, or a great scrapbook gadget. [Oh wait!I'm usually the one talking them into buying the scrapbooking stuff....That's why they call me "the Enabler"! ] They have let me cry on their shoulders and they have cried on mine. We have shared so much of our lives, to such an extent, that we know each other better than some of our relatives do. In time of need or time of joy, these are the people I call first. They are my speed-dials.

Since I don't actually have a photo of all of us together, as we do operate on different schedules, I'll slip in a few timely photos:

Heather, AKA Mrs. H

I met Heather almost 5 years ago as a result of our scrapbooking addiction. We were the two core members in a monthly crop group, so we ended up getting to know each other because for three hours monthly, we were the only ones present & talking. She's boosted me up through all the adoption drama, and then the subsequent post-adoption trauma-dramas. When I started doing medical examiner work & needed to practice blood draws, she volunteered to be my guinea pig. She takes credit for getting me hooked on the Twilight series, although I've carried that to an extreme on my own, thank you very much! Her daughter is a couple years ahead of Tabitha, and I find myself using her as my developmental touchstone; i.e her daughter started liking blue at age 10, got pierced ears at 10, contacts at 11, etc. Of the local four of us, Heather is the organizer. She keeps us in line & desperately tries to keep us focused. [Although as soon as the wine is open, that's a losing battle....] When I was hospitalized with my pulmonary emboli, she visited me every day in the hospital & brought Coca-Cola offerings with her. She is my reality check and more often than not makes me realize that I'm harder on myself than anyone else is. I love that she's addicted to all things fleur-de-lis and Louisiana, and that she let her husband decorate their den in LSU gold & purple. It makes me sad that one day they want to retire to Louisiana, but I guess that means she better have an awesome guest room!

Love ya' H!!

 

Kirsten, AKA Mrs. K

[Although is some earlier posts I interchange Mrs K with Ms. K....Call it editorial license!]

 

OK. For starters, this photo makes me laugh because my baby is so badly wrapped. I promise I know how to do better than that and that I didn't always have the sloppy babies. Also, K & I didn't agree to wear the same color shirt; just worked out that way. This was Valentine's Day 2006, so I guess we both just "think pink"!

Moving right along....

I had the pleasure of meeting Kirsten in November 2004. She came to shadow me for a day at the newborn nursery group to see if she'd like to join us. We hit it off that day in spades! And I actively set out to recruit her. "SCORE! " was how it felt the day I knew she'd taken the job. Whew -- Have we covered some ground since Spring 2005 or what!?! She's up to four kids and I'm at one. We won't even count critters nor job changes. But through it all, when I need to talk to another physician/pediatrician I trust her implicitly. We'll brainstorm about interesting patients. We'll review outcomes. She is my closest clinical sounding-board. She was a scrapbooker when we met, but we've definitely encouraged each other to branch out & try new creative endeavors, including photography & sewing. I cheered her on to dip into blogging and she's bolstered my flagging confidence as I build my locum tenems practice. The process of medical training tempers you as an individual and only another physician can fully relate to the sacrifices and choices made to do this job, and at that level Kirsten is one of the few people in the world who really "gets me". I love that even though she lives 4 hours away now, when we do see each other we pick up right where we left off. We try to talk weekly on the phone, but calls vary depending on family & work demands. Kirsten is my fellow creative braniac.

Love ya' K!!

 

Kim, AKA Ms. K

I met Kim in August 2006 and after just a few weeks I knew we would be close friends for life. She has seen me at some of my lowest lows and highest highs. When I had crushing chest pain at 2:30am on an August morning, after I woke Michael up and EMS was en-route, Kim was the next person I wanted near by. Without hesitation she was at our house and consoled Tabitha as I was taken to the ER. Other than clothes & shoes [due to size differences -- I'm Gulliver remember!!], there's probably not much that we don't share in our lives. She's my fellow crafting junkie; my fashion re-styler; and my fellow Twilighter. She's taught me everything from "how to use peanut butter to get bubble gum out of Tabitha's hair" to "how to buy a bra" and lots more in between. If Heather is our Organizer, then Kim is our Energetic Dreamer. She's the one who wanted to start going to scrap retreats and Heather's the one that searched out the go-to crops. It amazes me how much enthusiasm is packaged up into such a tiny person. I can be exhausted and flopped on the couch, but get Kim going and the momentum will even get me, Mrs Inertia, on the move!

K! Love ya' more than you know!!

 

And last, but hardly least is Jill, AKA Mrs. J

She is the newest to our group. I met her about 15 months ago. She is just slightly older than me, by about 6 months, but much more young at heart! I'd classify her as a "Rev, Rev, Va-Room" Girl. She decides on a goal and she decisively accomplishes it. I love that she is so confident and doesn't tolerate any grief. I feel a little bit braver just being around her. [And those who know me well, know that I identify much more strongly with the Cowardly Lion than the Scarecrow -- "avoid conflict at all costs"...] She brings wisdom & counsel to our group in ways we haven't even experienced yet. Kim & Heather are slowly working to bring her "into the scrapbooking fold" and I'm just on the sidelines for moral support when she needs it! I am looking forward to many more years experiencing this friendship develop. [And I promise to get a better picture of us - Tabitha took this one and it was all I had to work with!]

 J, I know it's been just a short time for us, but it's been intense! Love ya!!

So there you have it. These girls are my peeps, my support group, my sisters and I love that they accept me unconditionally, flaws and all. I couldn't make it without ya'll!

Hugs & Purrs, Girls!!

 

On the Seventh Day of Christmas....

My true love gave to me....

The precious gift of Cousins!

AKA Bonnie, Andrea, Erin & Candace.

I have the privilege of knowing them from their very earliest days, since I'm ahead of them by about a decade. I distinctly remember the phone calls my parents received on the days these girls were born. I also very clearly remember them at this age:

Which, by-the-way, was quite some time ago. ;-) 

In my late teens & early 20's, when I'd visit family in New England, one of my favorite parts was getting a chance to just hang out with the girls. In spite of our age difference, we all had lots in common and genuinely enjoyed each other's company. Over the years, our age difference doesn't seem so great. And while it may be 1-2 years since I saw all of them, we keep in touch often by phone, e-mail, text and Face Book. I love being able to still be involved with them even though I'm half a country away. Seriously. What would we do without technology?

Early on I had that mysteriously cool aura of being "the oldest grandchild", so I tried to set a good example to lead by. I was the first woman in my family to finish college and then go on to graduate school and my doctorate. So far all four have gone to college and two have gone on to graduate work and completed masters programs. Not too shabby, I think!

From the very start we have joked that when I'm with them I tower over them like Gulliver. I am forever grateful that they don't make too much fun of me for being the "tall one" and usually they behave without too many "How's the weather up there?" jokes. [And yes, I am slouching in this photo to "fit-in" better....]

Apparently I also set the trend that, while engaged, one moves in with a guy first, gets a house and then gets married. At least I got the "engagement, marriage, then parenthood" order correct! And thus far the girls have followed suit.

Interestingly, as we all get older, instead of being the mentoring one, now I'm on the receiving end of advice. Bonnie has been my go-to gal for education feedback for Tabitha. Erin and I commiserate on parenting woes. [Mostly Tab drama -- her kiddo isn't old enough to really cause trouble yet!] Andrea & Candace keep me in touch with what's "young & hip" otherwise, as I rapidly approach 40 I run the risk of terminal "fuddy-duddy".

When our grandmother was dying January 2008, we all came together -- but at a new level of adult maturity and I was able to really appreciate how my little cousins had grown up. I miss them terribly and it pains me to live so far from them, but I know that our lives were meant to be led in different directions. I don't know that they know how much I deeply love them. They are the little sisters that I never had and I feel fiercely protective over them. I deeply hope that as we continue to grow up, that we're able to maintain our close family ties, and that our children will be close cousins as well.

And did I mention that these girls can DaNcE!!

Love Ya'll to the Moon & Back!!