For Brooke

As of today all sales of childrens items listed in my Etsy store will go directly to the Mulford family of Salisbury, MD to help offset costs that will be incurred while their 4 y/o daughter Brooke goes through the fight of her life.
Please check back often as new items will be listed throughout the weekend and into next week.

Children and cake make it all better

If you read my post yesterday you would have read that it was the anniversary of my mothers passing. Since she died back in 1993, Jan 7th has always marked the start of my 'Sad Period' and I hate it. Every year is hard, last year was the absolute worst and I fell into a depression that lasted for a couple of months, it was bad and it was scarey. This year as the date approached I began to feel fearful, I didn't want to feel that way again and so resolved that I would do something that would prohibit those thoughts, but I had no idea what. I don't know about you but I find myself talking to God on a pretty regular basis, it's not the down on my knees kind of praying, it's just conversation, much like I would have with a friend, so starting last week I started asking him to put a plan in the works for me in order for me to have a day full of joy and not sadness, little did I know that he was putting something together via Reagan, and that makes so much sense in the long run.
Sunday whilst I was wallpapering my stairwell Reagan came out to me telling me that she needed help spelling some words, the words were Blueberries, Blueberry syrup and Peaches. I asked why she needed the spellings and she informed me she was making up a recipe and was writing a list of what I needed to buy when we went to the store. Monday we went to the store and she reminded me she had a list too and asked if we had flour, sugar and eggs, because we needed those items too. I asked what she had in mind and she told me a Blueberry and Peach cake, hmmm, ok.
Yesterday as I was going about my day and doing all that I could not to feel sad Reagan came out to me and said "It's time to bake my cake." Honestly I didn't know where to start as she had the recipe locked up in her little 5 year old head, so I began by asking what kind of pan she wanted to bake it in, she looked in the cupboard and came out with a fluted tube pan, so the wondering was over, we made a Pound cake and added blueberries and peaches to it and OMG, it was soooo good.
We were both salivating over it as it was cooling and finally when it wasn't quite all the way cooled down we couldn't wait a moment longer. Reagan suggested we eat it on fancy china and have a tea party. What a great idea, I let her go to the china cabinet and pick the china and lo and behold she came out w/ my mum's wedding china.
And so yesterday afternoon we had a wonderful little tea party and celebrated my Mums life and I just sat in awe thinking how something so innocuous could possibly mean so much and heal a hurting heart.
Why does it make so much sense that it was Reagan who was 'put in charge' of turning my sorrow into joy ? Because she is the one most like my Mum and Grandmother, my Grandmother owned her own bakery and tea shop, my mother was an awesome baker and loved to throw high teas every Sunday. Reagan is my child who loves to bake and loves to set a fancy table and eat off of the fine china, just because it's pretty.
Today I am still feeling the joy and know that this year is going to be a whole lot different than last year and all because of a 5 y/o girl and a slice of cake.

Remembering Mum

June 12th 1944 - January 7th 1993

My love for and memories of you never fade, they are locked away in a special place in my heart.

Thankyou for all you taught me, how to be happy in the midst of turmoil, how to be strong in my times of weakness. Thankyou for teaching me how to love, laugh and play.
Thankyou for supporting me even when I was moving ahead with things you didn't believe I had any business doing. Thankyou for teaching me that it's ok to be selfish sometimes and put myself first and above all others.
Thankyou for teaching me the arts of baking and sewing and thankyou for NEVER teaching me how to cook kale and cabbage the way you did (BLECH)

Thankyou just for being you, you totally rocked as a Mum and a Grandma.

I miss you but know a part of you lives on in me and my children and that makes me happy to no end. Victoria has your laugh, Ben has your compassion and Reagan wants to be a little Susie Homemaker just like you ;-)

Smooches being sent up to Heaven,
Penny xoxoxo

Duh

Most of you that read this blog know that Victoria had some major knee surgery just before Christmas. That particular leg has 5 incisions on it. Today we sat looking at something on the computer and she whinced, I asked her what was wrong and she said "My leg feels like it has a cut on it. " Do ya' think ? I know they have her on some pretty strong pain meds, but hello.
Thankfully she did realise what she had said as soon as that crazy sentence came out of her mouth, for a split second there I was really wondering about her.

The secret to getting things done

I have had an ongoing wallpapering project going on now for close to 6 months, maybe longer *BLUSH*. This weekend I decided was the weekend to get it completed, it's wallpapering the stairwell so there are some high areas and even standing on stairs there are some areas that my 5ft 3in frame simply can't reach, so I asked Marc if he would please do the high areas for me. Now he is not a DIY kind of guy at all, I do all the home decorating and split the repairs with a paid handyman, I knew my question would be met with a grumble but hello, how stupid would it be to pay someone $50 just to get a couple of pieces of paper stuck on the wall ? He told me very half heartedly that yes he would, I then asked if he thought he could get it done before his Mom and one of his sisters come for a short visit next week, he smirked and said "I don't know" To which I replied "Well if you don't, I'll tell your Mom I did all the work and that you wouldn't do the out of reach places for me." Right away he told me to get the paper ready for him and he'll do it after work tomorrow.
Yep, I pulled the Mommy card and it worked, wonder what else I can get done between now and the 13th.

Such excitement

Our house was buzzing this morning with 3 excited children, 2 of whom couldn't wait to get outside and 1 who couldn't believe she was stuck inside on such a glorious day.
This is what they saw through the kitchen window and couldn't wait to get out in.

Yes, in Maryland, something like this is something to get excited about.

Happy 2009

I hope you all have a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009