a spot of tea

Amy, Dianne & Charla

So, my college girlfriends, Amy and Charla have their birthdays within weeks of each other. We celebrated over tea at my house and got caught up on each others' lives. Seems like there's not enough time for that anymore, we are always so preoccupied with family / work / the day to day. It's nice just to simply sit for a few hours of uninterrupted time and chat, drink tea, take a walk, and listen. I was reading a book lately about friendships and something struck me. It said, " It's one of the most important lessons we learn in life: We should always take care of the things we love. If we want friendships to grow, we need to invest some time and engergy and thought into nurturing and maintaining them. it means checking in saying I'm still here, I know you are too, never forget I care about you." I myself am often negligent on many of these accounts. I all of my friends out there who I don't or haven't talked to in a while..."never forget I care about you."

marie

Evelyne is very attached to her "friend" Marie, a stuffed animal from the Disney "Aristocats" movie that we got at Disneyland. So, this morning she came down for breakfast and Evelyne was pretending to feed her. I wanted her to eat her oatmeal so I said "lets give Marie her own bowl...here is some with a little bit of milk in it for her to eat."
Evelyne looked at me quizzically and said "mama, remember that she's not really real."

painted lady & guy

gilbert's blue fingernails
evelyne's tinkerbell sparkle nails

Yes, I painted my son's fingernails. I painted evelynes and what is a mom to do...play favorites? No, I figured no big deal, some guys paint their nails...look at that nail guys on ocean's eleven, and the musician, charlie on Lost, and all the actors who get their nails manicured and buffed....I say no big deal. So, he chose a funky blue color, perfect for a growing boy. It was actually a great lesson in patience. They both were very still and let me do 2 coats plus stickers!!!

Happy 90th Grandpa and Great Grandpa John!!!
90 years young!

silly uncle alex

watching the superbowl!

blowing out candles on his apple cake!

My grandpa john just turned 90 on February 1st...Superbowl Sunday. We had an early Sunday meal at our house to celebrate, kind of a superbowl with a roasted turkey kind of dinner. We had family over and enjoyed each other's company and enjoyed watching the game...what a game! John is in great shape, so active and well for his age...I only hope to get there someday.