The Graduate

On Friday, June 25th, Marisa a/k/a Cinderisa graduated high school. She left two days later for her internship with Southwestern Book Co. I have been so blessed with such amazing children. Though my heart is just broken over her leaving for the summer, I know, without a doubt, this is going to be an awesome experience for her.
My Dad and Marisa on graduation day; and Marisa with Aunt Dee, my sister. It seems like yesterday when we were my kids' ages and graduating. The time just flies - so so very fast when you have children.

Christina will be graduating in three years, so I have a little time left with her. I love this pic with my beautiful girls.



In her cap and gown and on our way to the War Memorial. I cherished every single moment of the ceremony. Cried through most of it. My kids are constantly looking at me, and wondering why I can't stop. They are just growing up before my eyes.


Marisa was a part of the Commencement Band, so we had an excellent view of her the whole time. She looked sad, nervous and stressed; but she was also having fun with her friends in the pit.




My Mom and Dad were so proud of her - they couldn't stop smiling. Neither could I, well, when I wasn't sobbing and tearing up.

And then came Sunday. 4am. The wake up call. Time to say, "good-bye." The hardest part of parenting, I'm finding, is "good-bye." Now I know she'll be back in mid-September, but watching her board that plane; watching it taxi the runway.........



that was the absolute hardest thing I've had to do as a parent. I know she will do well, very well; she has a strong and good head on her shoulders. I keep asking her sis if she misses her yet; but she says "not yet" - it's only a matter of time. She did say it was going to be a boring summer. She looks very sad. I'm praying the summer flies by.

Hang onto those children. Love them in every waking moment. Hold them, hug them and let them know, without a doubt that you love them. Before you know it, they are ready to leave the nest; and YOU are not ready to let them go.

Senior Ball, the Growing up stage

My big girl had her Senior Ball last week. My how she is just growing up, so beautiful and wonderful. It doesn't seem possible that she is just moments away from leaving the nest. And I do mean moments. She will be leaving us just two short days after graduation for her summer internship with Southwestern Book Co. and working for the summer.
Prayerfully, she will leave for the Air Force after her internship. It's going to be so strange without her over the summer. I'm missing her in my thoughts already, and cry everytime I think of her leaving.


She and her friends looked so colorful and bright. All dressed up like princesses. They were so excited and silly.
Wow, she really shrinks me here. Well, she did have three-inch heels on. I guess I forgot to get my glam on for the pic.

Oh, I almost forgot; as proms go, our school district really does it up! Well, not so much when I was in school, but they've come a long way. They have prizes and give-aways, gift cards, stuff like that. But, there is this amazing car dealer who has been donating cars to Seniors in the area and well.....

I know, I can't believe it either - Cinderisa won the grand prize this year.
She called at me at 3am from the "after party" - heavily supervised at the school, to tell me that she won the car. I, naturally, didn't believe her. I mean who wins cars??? Well, apparently, she does. Today, I was able to pick it up and surprise her with it at school. Had to decorate of course.

Why is it that it seems like yesterday I was graduating and moving on? Time flies so fast. Thankfully, I still have Chrisarella and the Little Man at home for a few more years.

RE - Entry

When we first moved into this house, the entryway was covered in a very full-on floral design that just wasn't, well, ME. So I slapped on a few coats of paint, added a suede finish and called it a day. It has been there for 7 years. I have since grown bored of it.

So a couple of stencils and some plaster here.

Some more pretty paint and glaze here and there, until I get the desired look. Or a look close enough to desire.

and this is my new look to the entryway. It really opened it up, brightened it. I even painted my once-red door and painted the "Welcome" sign on it.

I'm actually thinking of painting the inside of the door and applying a different sign. Maybe "Ciao" who knows. Next up is the kitchen. I can hardly wait! The pictures never do the job justice, it really did come out so much prettier than it looks. So nice to have good days to pretty up the place. I refuse to state how long the ladder was in the doorway waiting between good days.

Praying you all pain-free days.
Deborah

growing, growing. gone

Lexi enjoying herself in the misting fan on her final year of scholastic level Special Olympics. My big girl is 21 and graduating this year. She has been in school since she was 18 months old. She has achieved so much more than we were ever told she would. Boy did she show them!!!


I had a hard time pulling her away from this thing, she really did love it. It was so cute to see the kids get excited over such a simple piece of equipment. But they all screamed and jumped and squealed with excitement over it.


My other big girl who is graduating this year. Where oh where does the time go. This picture shows how much my girls resemble each other, and how much they just adore each other. Lexi was so excited when Marisa came over to the tent to see her. It was great to see so many high school and jr high students supporting the kids yesterday.


Meet our new resident duck family; Tony and Carmella. The kids and I are thrilled with their presence and welcome them. Frank on the other hand, not so much. I'm just happy they aren't geese.



Isis is hoping she can catch them, but we are trying to keep her away from them. They have been hanging out in the neighbor's yards behind us, in their pools also, so I think they are staying around.




As for the monster, I have been trying to keep that at bay, and am waiting for another round of radio frequency this coming Friday, to "zap" it away for another few months. Hey, here's hoping.

Cinderisa is making decisions for after graduation; ugh. She leaves the nest 2 days after she graduates to work for Southwestern Book co. for the summer. Which, in itself, is an amazing experience for her. I know, we are on our second year of hosting kids from Southwestern. I think all kids should try to take the opportunity and work it. When she comes home from that, she should be leaving for boot camp for the Air Force. She is just growing up and out.

Last weekend the kids performed their final drumline show, to which, I sat and cried; knowing it was her final performance. I have become a weeping, sap of mush. I am going to be a complete wreck on graduation day, not to mention that Lexi will be graduating in two weeks. I am a mess! Is this what is meant by growing pains?

Nicholas and his class performed for the Mom's yesterday - we all cried. They prepared breakfast for us and made placemats and sang us these sweet songs. It was just awful; in a sweet way, we were all complete messes.

On a funny note, when Chrisarella and I were driving yesterday, we saw a bunch of her classmates (14yr olds) playing outside with rubber and foam swords. Not just playing, but sweaty, and running and seriously into it. I had to turn the van around for her so she could get pics, because, hey, sometimes opportunity just knocks. My little guy (9yr) and his buddies play with Air Soft and paintball. So maybe the joke is really on me. I mean, he does gear up, heavily. It was just cute to see a bunch of teenage boys all into their sword fight. Boys will be boys. I suppose.

Thankful Me

Much as I'd like to believe this to be true, with his age, I'm finding it to be, well, BULL! Tomorrow our Rocco turns 7, let's just say he is really fortunate lately to have any day to celebrate. He is one bad dog.

Today we had an early appointment with my neuro, a much-needed appointment I might add. We had been running a little late, so rather than go through the "doggie schedule" of feeding and letting them out, and yes, they are equally OCD in nature as their masters, we left them in the dust and out of their minds with hunger. What would they do? How could they survive?

Alas, once the door behind the Beloved had slammed, the Bulldog in control knew exactly what to do.....

....pizzza...pizzza...PIZZZZZAAAAAA

.It was as if it was calling out to him. Of course! The Beloved had PIZZA last night! He smelled it, he hadn't forgotten it, oh no. It was still there, but where??? THERE IT IS! On the stove top. Up he jumps, without knowing, turned the knobs to 'HIGH' and set the boxes to the previous pizza on fire. And that's not all, oh no, he also lit ablaze the oven mitts, pot holders and various little .. . . . . .













please excuse this interruption. . . . This dog, the guilty face you see here, yes, this one is responsible, completely without even knowing, of starting a small kitchen fire. in my house. while I wasn't home today. idiot. Thankfully, it was contained in the stove area. Thankfully, my house didn't sustain any real damage. Thankfully, my dogs weren't hurt. I can't even imagine what they went through while it happened.

When we came to the door, the alarms were going off and smoke just billowed out the door as soon as Frank opened it. Rocco was sneezing and the house was just full of smoke. (you can only imagine the smell now) oh, and I might add, I've been in full blown storm for pushing 3 weeks now. lovely.

The fire must have JUST gone out because we could still hear crackling, which immediately had me call 911. Oh the firetrucks and police and the drama! So much fun when I was already a hmm, 6 of 10. Frank wanted to kill Rocco, I just wanted to hug the big dummy. He basically hit the deck from, no doubt, smoke inhalation as soon as I let him outside. I started to cry just from the pure intensity of the situation. So much more could have happened, yet didn't. Thank you, Lord for that. I cannot get away from the smell of the smoke. It is overwhelming.

Tonight, my sweet and wonderful MIL came over with dinner, and attempted to clean the stove for me. What a mess! Yes, Frank, I believe we actually may need to make a claim with the insurance company. It is melted into the countertop, which is burned to a crisp, literally. Then there is the constant chirping of the smoke alarm that I cannot locate. Every 40 seconds I hear a "chirp" but cannot decipher which one is making the sound. It is sure to drive us out of our minds .

chirp


chirp

Horror Story. . . What's New?

Saw the flash of light, the warning that I almost always ignore, or don't think of as a warning. The wee blink of brightness just out of the scope of my direct eyesight. I know it's there. You know it's there when it appears. We see it when our eyes are closed, try hard to focus in on it, follow it, but rarely can we. We know what IT is, but never do we really want to admit to ourselves that it's coming again. Because really, life is happening so much better without IT.

But there it is anyway. The aura. The pretty little light that blinks, spins, whirls and whistles it's way into being. It's almost always too late when I realize what it is. My stomach starts to rumble and turn. My face has become numb. It is only a matter of time before the pain begins to set in.

My rescue meds have not been working. Frank called my docs office and I ended up going in for two days of infusion; Thursday and Friday. This typically takes me 3 -4 days to break the cycle. I''m in no better shape today. Sunday.




I'm not so sure what to do at this point, other than wait it out. Call tomorrow, see what they can do for me, whether I can be infused, if she's in or not, I don't know. I'm supposed to go in on Friday for a new procedure with my pain doc. Right now I feel like I've had my butt kicked; not really sleeping, yet exhausted, restless.

I am facing week two of the migraine monster. again. Every sound seems louder than normal in my over-sensitive ears. Like they have somehow managed to grow in strength and size. Some sounds actually seem to have razors or shards of glass when entering my eardrum. So painfully loud.

The same with some scents; especially perfumes. My goodness, it's like people marinade themselves in it. I hate being so sensitive to such things. I used to wear perfume, and all different types and scents. I loved it!! Not anymore. I have one scent I can wear, and only because I can no longer smell it. That's because I've been wearing it for so long. My husband is no longer allowed to wear cologne when in my presence. My kids cannot put lotion or perfume on in the house, they must exit the front door first. They're pretty good about it, they understand that it 'hurts' me. And it does. It makes me sick. Who would have thought?

I find myself hiding my nose in my shirts, scarves, sleeves or coats; just to hide from the smells of perfumes or cleaning products. I've found a nice alternative for my own home environment that I myself can clean with that is both safe and useful to clean with AND will not make me sick with the scent it gives off. I can dillute for many uses in spray bottles to boot! What is this wonder product?? Clorox Green Works. I love it. No bleach scent to send me over the edge with the dizzy headache and nausea.

For now, I'm putting my head back down on the pillow. My soft pillow.
Wishing you pain-free days
Deborah

Still Deckin My Halls, Walls, even My Van

But first, my pretty buffet. I changed the paper behind my pears today. This is actually the paper I chose in October to start my wrapping. I love how it pops off the deep wine colored walls. They always come out looking Barney purple on camera. Go figure. OOh ooh, the white frilley tree I did today with Mod Podge and mulberry paper today. such the crafter. I know! Although, I'm thinking seriously of getting white feathers instead. I have a taller one, too. hmmm AND a turqoise and brown feather boa I'm just dying to rip into.


Wall stickers. LOVE THEM! Stink! I should have taken a pic of the little reindeer under the curtains! Just imagine them continuing their cute little selves going up, up up, over my window, and under the curtains. So cute. I have them EVERYWHERE!! And yes, they are ON my minivan. (no, not the reindeer, silly - stickers!)


This is my little collection of Santas. I inherited them from Millie, my neighbor that I also inherited the beautiful bulb collection from. They are so beautiful. Yes, I realize my very 80's fireplace door must go; but hey, it's a work in progress. Summer is coming and I love spray paint. Trust me, it's going to get done! Unless, of course, I can get a great big donation for that insert, because hey, that would be just lovely!

I must warn you, it's quite large!
But a girl has to hope right! Anyhoo, my nativity and pretty angel. Yes, Virginia, I made my own "hope" blocks.


Onto another work in progress; ugh, the kitchen, note the peeled wallpaper! Isn't that attractive!! Do you like the cottage cheese ceiling? Are you jealous? I know you are! But really, you should see how beautiful my garland is at night; it is absolutely gorgeous! But my how that bright white cheesey ceiling just steals the show huh! ugh!


That is what I have this week, next week, and really I will show more next week, even though last time I said that and didn't show up until THIS week; well, whatever. I really REALLY mean it this time. I will show my bird tree; YEAH still looking for new birds, I guess EVERY freaking BODY bought birds this year. Oh, and my FONTINA! My OTHER , no my ONLY Mantel, because the other fireplace isn't a Mantel really more of a landing. So, come on back next week. I will so try to take a pic of my silly van stickers, too. I suppose!

Thanks for stopping by. Merry Christmas