Happy Good Friday to all. I’m a day late for the letter ‘B’… No worries. As I was laying in bed last night, I was trying to come up with a good story for this atoz post.
Today I’ll write about my boys, as the mother of 4 boys. Our 2 youngest boys (now grown men, husband’s and father’s) they have added so much joy to this family. Another one of my boys (our 2nd baby) is watching over his family from above…
Our 3rd and 4th son’s are retired professional ballet dancers!!! They both married ballerina’s that were also dancers on the same company …
Matthew Cavalier/NutcrackerMelissa & Connor/Romeo & Juiliet
I’ll post more pics as I have so many great ones with their careers !!!
Melissa & Connor aka Romeo & JulietMatthewMatthew #3 Son
Happy Monday today/tonight (it’s still Monday) I’m going to try to get caught up with the AtoZ Blogging Challenge. Was going to this weekend but it got away from me. Was a successful weekend though and got a lot done.
I’m going to start with the letter “H” for the post…I’m writing about things that have meaning to me. Dorothy said it best, “There’s no place like home.”
Scarlet’s Ruby Slipper’s
They are not too fancy, but when it comes to shoes I prefer comfortable over fashion 🙂 …I know they are nothing like Dorothy’s in the Wizard of Oz, but I think you see where I’m going with this blog post.
There really is no place like home. We built our first forever home about a year or so ago. I love my home. It is comfortable, it is my safe haven. I don’t think I ever want to move again. Below are the pictures of the homestead getting built. Enjoy the progress !!!
House getting builtFramingBastmentKitchenLiving AreaKitchenGetting CloserLiving Room/Looking over back fieldKitchen & The HusbandKitchen/Brand New AppliancesFront DoorKitchenBrand New Stove & MicrowaveAlmost Moving DayBrand New Double Door RefrigeratorMoving Day/Y A YBeautius Side Yard Fenced In !!!
Just a Quick Look at our Palace and it truly is. There’s no Place like Home…We are truly blessed.
When I managed to turn around to see my child, it made
me go back to the past, with just one sentence…
She was no longer within my reach.
I travelled far….
When did time go by and make us adults full of boring priorities??
We fight every day, for something we’re not even sure we really want…
When in fact grandma’s house, is what everyone needs to be happy.
Grandma’s house, is where the hands of the clock take a vacation with us and the minutes unhurriedly, go by.
Grandma’s house is where a simple pasta and homemade bread seem to have different flavors, delicious...
Grandma’s house is where an innocent afternoon, can last for an eternity of games and fantasies.
Grandma’s house is where the cupboards hide old clothes and mysterious tools.
Grandma’s house is where the closed boxes become chests of secret treasures, ready to be unveiled.
Grandma’s house is where toys rarely come ready, they are invented on the spot.
Grandma’s house, is where everything is mysteriously possible, magic happens without worries..
Grandma’s house is where we find the REMAINS OF OUR PARENTS’ CHILDHOOD AND THE BEGINNING OF OUR LIVES.
Grandma’s house on the inside, is the address of our deepest affection, where EVERYTHING IS ALLOWED.
That luxury no longer belongs to me – unfortunately – it will live with me only in memories.
Even so, if I could place an order now…any order of all orders in the world, I would order the same thing…
“CAN I SLEEP AT GRANDMA’S TONIGHT ???”
This was the 1st picture of all the grandkids and the featured picture was the last one. Although a couple more cousins still were not in that one. Irish/Italian Catholic Family …. Love to all the cousin’s. I was the one next to my sister in the green dress. My other two sister’s were in back of us. Grandmama would be proud 😉 ….
It worries me that I think there is going to be an entire generation that will not have a relationship w/their Grandmama…Those children will be the loser’s of that. My grandmama made a huge impact in my life. She didn’t live close to us but I spent the summer’s with her and my cousins. Those memories I will cherish in my heart forever.
I am so thankful for my Grandmama Fannie…I look forward to seeing her again someday. I was blessed with her in my life and all the time spent up on that magical farm in Wisconsin …
I figured out what I was going to do with this Letter
Family
This really is a great one for my b/c I have just the most amazing family of all time. I know, I’m probably just not too objective about this but I really do 😉 . They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well you can be the judge…
This is a video of our youngest. He was a ballet dancer and this was him as Romeo and he danced with what turned out to be his real life Juliet ♥️♥️… They are now married and have the most beautius little babies…
Adorb !!!!Ruby Mae & SamConnie & Missy’s Fam Ruby Mae & Sam
Next (and not in any particular order) is our only daughter the nurse and our beautiful granddaughters !!!!
Christmas, 2024Olivia & Mariah/4th of July, 2024Family,2024
Finally last but not least, there is Matthew & Hannah. They just had our #9th grand baby in December…
My GirlsThe Brother’sHannah w/Grandbaby #9Outerbank’s Fall, 2024
Those two met on the Ballet too. They are retired now and busy in their new roles as mom & dad to Mr. Oliver…
We are a family of artist’s…Each and everyone is just beyond talented…It was more of a challenge for the daughter, but that’s just how it is for girls. Every girl wants to be the prima ballerina and the guys have it I wouldn’t say easier. It’s just a different competition thing. Any way you look at it Ballet Dancing on a company is an extremely hard life. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to watch them all dance on a huge stage. The boys were on Joffrey in Chicago, Milwaukee Ballet, and then they both went out East and danced with Richmond Ballet.
We all use to do the community musical’s in the summer which was so much fun. We did Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat & Les Miserables…There were other’s too, I just don’t remember the names. Theater taught themso much about life, work, being the star and not being the star. It was a hard road, but it was very cool !!! Seeing your kids up on that stage…
Joseph the MusicalCinderella/Ugly SisterThe BrothersShowtimeCinderella/Ugly StepsisterRehersalUgly Stepsister RehersalCinderellaPracticeMelissaPractice/CovidThe Artist featured in MagazineConnor/Romeo & Juliet RehersalRomeo & Juliet/Melissa & ConnorMelissa & ConnorMelissa & Connor/Romeo & JuilietDancer’s/Bride & GroomBoth Retired Diancer’sRichmond Ballet at Wedding/Matthew & HannahI’m A Nurse !!!Matthew, Connie, LizzieTaye DiggsMatthew #3 Son A Dancer’s FamilyMatthew Cavalier/Nutcracker
I saved the best for last…This was at Matthew’s & Hannah’s Wedding. I always would tell Matthew that when I died, I knewI went to heaven if Patrick Swayze was there and I was dancing that song with him. The night before his wedding I asked him what was the song we were going to do the mom & son dance to. He said it was something I’d never heard of so I went on line and watched it so I would have some idea of how to dance to it. Below just gives me another chance to post this video, an incredible memory that I will never, ever forget. Thank you Matthew and Hannah for giving me that. I still smile when I watch it…
Family is not everything it’s the only thing. I love you guys !!! Thank you for picking me as your mom…
Hello fellow AtoZ Blogger’s…Been trying to get back in the game and really it’s just simple … Just do it already. Been preoccupied by the stock market, but I was pretty sure that President Trump knew what he was doing. Still it was/is a little bit Iggy …
Then I had a set back on my book, the one with Winston that I’ll go into at a later time. Right now I just want to do some writing about the letter ‘E’…
I’m going to write about our side business, Elan Creations…First off the meaning of “Elan/With Eagerness of Spirit.” This word has so much importance in my life. This concept literally saved my life and I would not be the woman I am today. It’s not just word, it’s a way of life for me !!! Another story for another day
We named our side hustle, i.e. small on-line business, that incorporated this word.Mean, nasty, jealous people have tried to ruin our business again and again, but we are thriving and they will not succeed.
During the pandemic, (the big lie)…I realized the husband was an amazing artist which was a bit strange as we had been together for 42 years at that time and all I ever knew was that he was a savvy business man who graduated from Northwestern University (the Harvard of the Midwest) and received his MBA from DePaul University. He worked during the day and went to school at night. A very ambitious man and a great husband and father of 5…I was the stay at home wife, raising those children.
When we were locked down, which drove both of us crazy he started painting. I don’t just mean beginner stuff. He was good, really good. He‘s so funny b/c he use to say death is a great move for an artist because all of the good ones didn’t get noticed until after their passing. I also was so thankful to his mom for making him go to college and get that degree from Northwestern b/c a starving artist is a real thing and we could’ve never been where we are today had he just painted…
The Artist
We are still selling and it’s a pretty good side gig and besides that he loves to do it. His Art Studio is in the basement and it’s a good place for him to escape too. I’m going to share some of his paintings with you. He’s onAmazon Handmade if you’re interested in any of them for purchase. I hope you enjoy what I haveposted but he can also be commissioned for special works of art if you’re interested. Blessing, and I hope you like them. They are very professional.
Painter’s Store
Glen GaryBootSt PeterThe Potatoe Eater’s/Van GoghThe Tiger’s Come at NightSnow Leopard
I’m working on our store link so stay tuned…Will have that up an running soon. In the meantime, if you’re interested just msg me…Thanks, Blogger’s. Blessings on your week…
I think this is one of my fav’s !!! I get to be me inside and that’s what the journal‘s means to me. I can be who I am w/no explanations…Just everything I love or not. No judgements and I’m right ALL the time 😉 …I’m not afraid to say that anymore. I’ve more than fought for the right to feel this way and it’s soooo liberating. It just feels so good and I’m really happy where I am right now.
I’m not going to share inside, well b/c I don’t want too and it’s where I make all the rules…I’m definitely one of kind, very unique. I think that’s what I love most about me. It’s taken me a long, long time to get here. Many challenges to over come. Not giving up and rising to them has made me the person I am today…
I like where I’m at and I won’t ever look back. Blessings
I’m not sure why I’m always a day late but hopefully I’ll catch up today. Probably b/c of the wonky weather we had on Wednesday…
I’m going to share my (C)ommonplace Book with your today. I started this book back in 2012. It’s a place where I write down things that strike a chord with me…Usually it is a profound quote that we all are familiar with, but sometimes I do write some pearls of wisdom that I have often said.
My Commonplace book
The outside got ruined some how and the husband tried to fix it. He did his best but then he said that just added to the charm of this book. I have to agree with him 🙂 …
Commonplace BookPower of a Dog/Rudyard KiplingCommonplace BookCommonplace BookCommonplace Book
This is truly one of my happy places. I read it often.I have an, “Inbox” where I keep scraps of paper’s with things written on them that I want to add to this book.
I’ll share more of it in future posts. Happy Friday !!! Y A Y for the weekend…
Happy Wednesday Blogger’s…Today I’m going to announce my, “Theme Reveal” for the April Challenge AtoZ … I absolutely love, love, love this challenge and it is great for a number of reasons.
It helps me to stay focused on what is important in my life. My motivation for this is, I love to write. It started when I was young girl and we had to read, “The Diary of Anne Frank”. That made such an impact on me and I realized the importance of writing.
So actually my theme is writing. I’m going to share with you everything, well not actually everything I have written.I write a lot … I have my commonplace book, my planner, my junk journals, my 10 year journal, my morning pages journal, my traveler’sjournal !!! I could go on and on, but I think you get it.
I realized that Anne Frank didn’t realize she was going to have her diary as required reading in school’s when she was creating her diary. I am so thankful for reading that book and being able to read and write. They both are truly a gift.
Here are just a few pics of my different journal’s I will share with you…So happy to be back with this community. It truly has made a difference in my life on so many levels !!!
Last year when I broke my right arm, not being able to do the physical act of writing was the worst thing ever. I’m so thankful to be able to write again with my right hand.
I’m hoping to get some new follower’s, and I hope you enjoy all of my craziness and love of journaling, writing and creating. Blessings to all and it’s going to be a great
There are many faces of #frainsthename…First I have to give cudo’s to the one who came up with that name. It was our beautius daughter (in-law) Melissa who was also ballerina…
We use it all the time now and I have to say I love being part of this group…What a great name, thank you so much Missy for being so creative. I might as well start with these two of the bunch…
Rehersal Dinner Inv.Mr. & Mrs.Mr. & Mrs. Romeo & JulietConnie ConnieThe FamilyThe new familyI love youRB IICostume PartyMissyMr. & Mrs#Frainsthname
We’re going out there in a few days so I better be careful with all the posting, but I don’t think they’ll mind… 😉 …
Moving on to the Patriarch & the Matriarch of #frainsthename 😉 ….
Mom &. Dad #FrainsthenameDad & MomMom & Dad…The SuitEverything is beautiful at the balletI definitely do !!!48 years you’re still the one
Our #Frainsthename Girl’s
Me & only daughterMerry ChristmasGrandpapa & GoobieThe FamGrandpapa & his girl’s
Last but not least of the #Frainsthename Bunch
The newest addition to the #Frainsthename…Mr. & Mrs. #Frainsthename, Mrs. Hannah & Mr. Matthew
Mr. & Mrs.Mr. & Mrs.Mr. & Mrs.#FrainsthenameOur Richmond FamilyMatthewMatthew
We are a great group of people…I’m so blessed with all the smiles and faces. I love you all. I really can’t believe how great you all are…#mommafrain 😉 …
