~Time~

....time goes too fast....and in the blink of an eye.... Dante is...

Running...laughing.... A smile to melt my heart!!!

~Tradition~

                   ....We all have them ... and like me , I'm no different.

 Back in the day when my tribe was  small , Story time before bed was a MUST !! As they got older...it faded away....like most things from their childhood...like milk and cookies while they cuddled up on the sofa with their favorite blankets.... a show they could all agree upon to watch... I was sad when that day arrived ,and they no longer desired such things.

 Years later the first grandchild was born...and thus opened the door to what was once closed.....Story Time.. Tradition . We all loved reading to the newest member of our family.
As time went on...two more grandchildren joined the party .

      I'm blessed to see them almost daily....Their spirits are unique.... our home is full of  laughter the moment they step through our front door. 


  Even though they don't live with us ,we still keep story time a must.....Every night I get a ring from my eldest granddaughter...and she will ask "Tutu ,can you read us our bedtime stories??  But of course my little lovey....
                                                        
          Monday and Tuesday was  some family favorites pulled from the vintage bookcase ....

    Wednesday night was full of giggles , Thursday was the favorites from when Greg and I were kids . 

 After the pages have been read and the books put down....I wish them the sweetest of dreams and how I love them all so.

My time as a mum has gone by far too fast...but my time as a  Tutu is going far faster then I would care for.  Makes me think of that Harry Chapin song "Cats in the Cradle ".....It all goes far too fast...stop to enjoy the adventure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s5r2spPJ8g

~Once ~

There once was a day I would take all the children with me shopping......and truth be told , I loved it .I would be told by other people in the market... "Wow!! You have your hands full!" After a while the older children tired of hearing that from strangers .

 Over the years ,less and less kids came out with me to do the marketing . The kids got older , jobs of their own , school plays , youth group and hanging out with their friends.

I really thought those days were behind me....Until now....

                           My husband and sons come with Coral and I

                           Our youngest son wanted to help push the cart

                        Our littlest detail.... seems like he growing up fast

         He loves the freedom to walk around while we furniture and paint shop

As our lives change from being a big family with grown children moving out ,boyfriends/girlfriends,
schools , jobs , learning to drive ,sleep overs and having a 1 year old running around , I figured that  Life doesn't go in the direction you want, just in the direction you need go.
With this new phase of our lives...I can hardly wait to take this little guy on some grand adventures.

~Butterfly Kisses~

Where did my time go with my girls?? Was it not just yesterday my girls were little?? Disney movies with popcorn at the drive-in ...trips in the car . Playing in the courtyard picking flowers from the gardens... Chasing down lady bugs ,dragon flies and butterflies ... Catching snakes , swimming in the pool and  awaiting the ice-cream truck to come ringing down the street . I so miss 'Those' days. Life seemed more simple ,busy yes...but easier back then .  In the past month 3 more of our adult daughters have  moved out of the only home they have ever known. Time...it goes just so fast . I thought I had more time....More time for late night talks , more time for movies in the media room....more time to listen for them to come through the door....more time to hear their laughter...more time for family dinners....just...more time.

                        Bottom line....as ready as they were...I wasn't ....

            I am in awe of our daughters....Their strength  ,their love for each other....

          Greg and I set out to raise a family of love .... and I think we did just that.

There's two things I know for sure: They were sent here from the heavens and I love them so!!

 ...and this song reminds me of them....

~I dreamed of you~

Yes...yes I did. And I was sadden that I would most certain have to wait til my next life time to hold you ...to know you ...to love you.

 Life...what a trip!!! The life choice to be a mum came with way more then I ever planned !! I grew up with dis function at the highest with selfish parents .But hey ,survived it!!

    I wasn't promised a rose garden and rainbows at every turn... Fancy cars in courtyard....A huge house.....trips to sunny places I read about in class .Truth be told ,I like , no L.O.V.E. vacations at Disneyland  when time allows .But I was promised that life can be better. I was promised the love of a good and hard working man ,who loves kids is a blessing. Good thing ,since we  had a few .

                        Number ten in line,Dante is already a funny kid 

                                                     He laughs

                                        He has a bright light and spirit

                I look at him in wonder  everyday..."We have a baby" ..."How did we get a baby??"
 But again ,truth be told ,I thought and said that about every baby I had ,and the son who stayed but  a moment in time before returning back to the heavens .Oh...how I love them all so!!!!

                 ~Back in the day when I thought six children was alot~

                                           {From February 11 ,1998 }

~The Little Things ~

It is the little things in life that make me love being a mum . Since becoming a new mum again , yet another door has open that was once closed...case in point.." BATH TIME  "
There are so many extras that add to make bath time fun...Bubbles, rubber ducks {A must have in my book}lavender infused wash clothes , bath tints , tub crayons and some super hero toys for good measure .  
 After a long day of playing ,exploring ,napping ,crawling after our house cat Dina ,and dinner time with Dad...

      
                                       It is time for some water fun.

 When I see him I can't help but think of that Bobby Darin song from 1958 .....

    
 ~¨*•♪♫•*~¨*•♪♫•*"Splish Splash, I was takin' a bath"~¨*•♪♫•*~¨*•♪♫•*
  And at the end of the night ,after all said and done ,Hugs and kisses from his siblings plus a few reads of  his favorite bedtime book of  'How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night"

....Good Night ,Good Night ,Little Dinosaur.

~A Baby Boy~

This same time last year , I was worried about the baby I carried .Would he be healthy ??? Would he be normal ??? Would I carry him to term ??? How will my other children {His siblings} see him?? Would they love him ??? And the biggest question I had was...Am I too old to have him?? Would I ....could I be able to keep up with him ???

          He turned 7 months old just the other day.....and I watch in wonder at his leaps and bounds .
   ...Listening to his laughter...his first words....trying new foods for the first time...and crawling.

 Silly now to think of all my time and energy wasted on such silly worries. Thinking about it...He opened doors long since closed to certain parts of my life. The fun to be had at new experiences once done for his siblings before him...Fireworks....Road trips...Ice-cream cones....The river for the first time....Swimming in the pool....

            I never thought I would be a mum again....So happy and blessed I am. I find it harder to remember life without this bright eyed little baby boy...and in some ways...I was waiting for him.

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