• Personal

    Spring Break, part 3

    Our first full day of Phil’s big-birthday-getaway-and-relax went something like this… We slept in (what?), woke up to breakfast delivered to our room (what!), and ate it while sitting on the patio outside our cottage and enjoying the morning view (what.). Then we went for a leisurely walk along the wooden boardwalk and saw what there was to see. Of course I took pictures of everything… with my phone. And of course my phone is currently not cooperating and letting me get the pictures off my phone. So those will be added here… someday. Anyhow, after all that, we decided to head into the little town of Cambria to do…

  • Personal

    Spring Break, part 2

    The next day, Phil and I headed out for a little two-night getaway. Phil had a milestone birthday this year and when asked what he wanted to do to celebrate, he said he wanted to keep it simple and just have time to relax. No party, no fuss, no big deal. Well, I can surely handle that. So this time, I took over the researching/planning/reserving duties for this getaway and came to appreciate anew all the thought and effort Phil puts into planning all our other vacations and fun times. I am so blessed to be married to him. Anyhow, the goodbyes were said, the hugs were given, and we…

  • Personal

    My Baby A Turns Nine! Part 3

    Growing up, my mom never made a big deal or any deal at all out of our birthdays. She’d always comment that she didn’t understand why the kid had to be celebrated when it was the mom who did all the work to bring that baby into the world. Guess she did have a point there. She’d be joking but I could tell she also kinda meant it because she’d say it EVERY year without fail. Also, she’d kind of resent any time she thought we were getting too much attention or thinking too much of ourselves. The refrain, “Who do you think you are that makes you so special?”…

  • Personal

    My Baby A Turns Nine! Part 2

    Allie’s birthday celebration continued the next day. Phil was pre-call (meaning he had the day off and would be working the 7p-7a night shift), and I had made arrangements for the boys- Mikey would go home after school with one of his friends, and Jonah would be babysat by our good friends. All so we could have a special day out with the birthday girl. Allie invited her sister to join in the fun.                                                                        …