My 'Pal'

Warm Water, Warmer Red Rocks, 'Forgotten Canyons',An Abundance of Sea Shells (don't ask me how they got there)
Very NICE friends to save us when 'Family First' (my Dad's boat, his pride and joy)
became Family Last and broke down on Day ONE (that's right)!
Thank Heavens for NICE friends who have a
NICE boat and were NICE enough to say they actually enjoyed hanging out with us
and completely saved our trip!

The feeling of warm sand squishing between our toes

Time spent with the Greats

A beach all to ourselves.........

These are just a few things I love about my good friend, Pal.

At the young age of 2, I made a life long 'PAL'. Traveling down south to a warm and beautiful lake has become a expected tradition my entire life. We didn't make it down every year, but we went enough to develop a close friendship with this magical place in the dessert. She has taught me much on the subject of beauty, discovery and family bonding. It was on her 'glassy' early morning water that I first learned to water ski, behind my Grandfather's boat: 'Paul's Ark'. My earliest memories in the extreme sport of tubing happened as a young girl skidding across her warm waves and holding on for dear life. Dusk boat rides into Pal's beautiful canyons opened conversations with my brothers and husband that I still think about today. Luckily, my family was the first to introduce my true love, Kelly, to our friend, and he in turn became very fond. So fond that is, that he did indeed make 'Studs of Pal', a dvd complete with pictures and video from 9 years spent on the lake. We enjoyed his digital masterpiece on the first night of our trip, laughing at how much we've aged and how much longer men's swimming trunks are these days.
Now, 29 years later, she still lives up to her reputation. Lizzy, became a little braver on the tube and hiked a mountain without breaking a sweat. Rosie didn't let the cooler than usual weather and water stop her from enjoying the lake's spoils. Max, oh Max, he enjoyed being next to his Dad, while wanting to do everything everyone was doing......at once. He, like usual was hard to keep up with, and is still asking to return. I love spending time with my family, especially my parents who want so much for their children to remain close and continue a family tradition. Pal's peacefulness and tranquility fuel me. She, like a best friend, never disappoints, and I think always looks forward to my next visit.

Part 2- Ballet & Me

Enrolling your child in a dance class can be tricky. Just like choosing a pre-school, dance educational philosophies must be thought about and decided upon. Finding the perfect mix of quality and fun instruction- (meet Ms. Karame) can be difficult. Hoping your children make friends within their class can be worrisome. Wanting a classy dance recital that uses age appropriate costumes and music can be hard to find. And lastly, having all of these things and enjoying the company of the other Mother's seems like a tall, almost impossible order to fill. But, somehow I was able to have it all this last year.

Elizabeth and Rosie's ballet school became my Wednesday afternoon Home. I looked forward to going each week and often wondered how the 2 hours passed so quickly. Both the girls and I made new friends, of the close friend variety. Advice was given, recipes shared, support offered and bonds created. When news of the School closing came, tears flowed freely as we discussed how much we loved our little Ballet School; how much we loved each other and how we had taken it all for granted. Now, after a successful June recital, we pledged to stay together, once strangers, now a cohesive ballet family. We have found a new place; we will make it our new home.

My girls enjoy dancing for different reasons it seems. Lizzy, naturally graceful, cried after her recital because she would never be able to perform her dance again. Rosie, a bubbly people-person, cried herself to sleep because she wasn't going to be in “Ms. Karame's class ever, ever, ever again”. As for me, I'm mourning a loss of yet another element in my life changing, and at the same time, doing my best to enjoy the journey along the way.

Sands Through an Hourglass, part 1-

PART 1-

"Rosie, do you know what you would you like to be when you grow up?"

"Yes!", "What?"

"A FANCY LADY!!"

"Like Sands Through an Hour Glass,
So are the Days of our Life"

(Who didn't watch Days in their teens?)

I must confess, the days of my life have been pretty sweet over the past 9 months of school. How did they go so fast? We celebrated with Rosie as she and her preschool classmates entertained us with song and poem at her preschool promotion. Rosie knew every song, preformed every move with incredible stage presence. We were so proud of our little Rose. She enjoyed it and I could tell really loved her classmates and her dear teachers. She will now advance to another year of preschool, but will it be the same?

Both Rosie and Lizzy attended Ms. Lorie's preschool. The same preschool my younger siblings went to, in my home town. I love Ms. Lorie's curriculum and educational philosophies. Rosie attended preschool with my two good friends' children, promising to marry one...."DABE" (Gabe). Seems perfect. I spent those Tuesday and Thursday afternoons spending time with my close friends. Sometimes the park, sometimes the mall, sometimes McDonald's, many times Target. We shared a year together. I cherished those days. I looked forward to those times with just Max. What a different boy he was as a 'singleton'. I learned so much about my son, I learned so much about myself.

Now, Rosie will go to a new preschool near our home, for the convenience of her Mother. I look forward to carpooling with my favorite carpool buddy. But, I can't help but wonder if I'm making the right call. I love Ms. Lorie and Mr. Avery (her father). I love Rosie's friends, which are my friends' children. I'm sure the new preschool will be fine, but will it ever be great?

Cami expressed the feelings of remebering the moment so beautifully in a poem written for my birthday. I don't normally share this sort of thing, but it seems to be the perfect ending for this post and so, I shall:

REMEMBER WHEN

“Remember when” That’s what we will say,

That is what we say

We eat salads
The sun on your face

The freckles on your nose

The “theme” for the day.

Your eyes like chocolate

From one mother to another

A gift only given in a space

Created, nurtured

By the power to relate

A space forever occupied

You with your perfect-ness

I forgive you for that

Me Not so much.

You forgive me for that

We apply sun-block

We wipe noses

Lizzy and Monet

With their missing teeth

Gabe and Rosie

With their hidden kisses

Max with his Trains

Tea with her thighs

“Remember when” we’ll say“Remember when”

My Cup Runneth Over

My Dear and Faithful Blogg Readers,

I apologize for my lack of posting as of late. I have been busy. Busy filling my pail. Busy drinking in life's goodness and blessings. I promise to return after one more trip to the well. I plan on bringing buckets and buckets of happiness to share and remember. Stay Tuned!