Hi!

So, in contemplating my life choices the past few weeks, I have discovered I miss writing. Not in a diary or even a gratitude journal, I miss storytelling. Maybe because everyone I know has heard all my stories? Could be! So welcome to my blog, where I get to write life stories that make me giggle, cry, or just need to vent a little. They may not amuse you, but I hope they do. But hey, they amuse me. And let’s face it, as we get older, life is more about me than those around me. Don’t you agree? Life is more about you as you get older and wiser?

Now, for a little bit about my life so you can picture it in your head… We live in a small town surrounded by the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Our town is almost in the middle of it all. We can drive for 45 minutes in any direction and never leave the metroplex. It’s a lovely area, lots of shops, restaurants, hiking trails by the lake, and fun events happening all the time. We moved here from California about 11 years ago, when our youngest was just starting school. Before you jump to conclusions, I am not from California. This move was about coming home. It was about bringing my babies home to grow up with Grandparents, cousins, Aunts, and Uncles who would adore them. And so I could do the same for my nieces, nephews, parents, and siblings. 

We have three beautiful daughters, who are all a great mix of my husband and me. I can see a wee bit of myself in each of them. Ok, for real, they all look just like my husband and his family – but if you look way-down-deep, deep, deep inside, there is a hint of me in there! I swear! It is funny how genetics work; it should be 50% from each parent, right? I swear these three are carbon copies of my husband’s family. His genes are so strong, and I think mine just rolled over and said, “whatever.” BUT my genes are definitely in there, so deep down it’s hard to see, but when they speak, it’s all my sass coming back full-force at me. My middle kiddo is so funny! She is all me; she may look like my mother-in-law, but she is all me. I swear I once said the same things to my mom that she says to me. But she is lucky, my mom would have slapped that sass right out of my mouth. (Or at least she tried. She tried, but failed because my sass is still very strong today.)

My girls are my life. I have been accused more than once that I wish I were them, or that I am living too much through their lives. Yeah, I am. I hope I am not! I feel like I have more fun then they do these days. Anyway, I am seriously not the mom who wants to be their best friend, or wish I could be back in high school. No, I don’t. I just wanted them to have all the things I did not get as a kid – dance lessons, soccer, basketball, theater, band, school trips, clothes, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I did not grow up lacking for anything. My parents gave us what they could, and honestly, back in the 80s, we had very little to judge ourselves by other than the kids around us. But I always wanted to take dance lessons. I don’t even know that was available back then, but I wish I had! I also wish I had taken piano lessons. One day I will, but not right now. 

Like many of you, I am in the thick of raising kids and taking care of my parents. Well, parent. I have already lost my Dad to Alzheimer’s. So now my siblings and I are caring for our Mom. We are the Sandwich generation – I still prefer Gen X – but whatever.  I do think the moniker is spot on. We grew up eating the sandwiches we made by ourselves, because we are also the generation of latch-key kids who had two working parents or came from a single-parent home. We literally raised ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, my mom did the BEST she could raising 3 of us. While my Dad was around for the most part, he was of very little use to my Mom. He was more like a 4th kid than a life partner. Which is why she divorced him, and we were all better for it. I should not make him out to be a villain. He was not a villain. I have said it a thousand times at least: he was not a great father, but he was an amazing grandfather. It just took him until he was in his 50s to realize he should have been more active in our lives. Which was great, we got many wonderful years with him! 

Now we are sandwiched between kids and aging parents. Lucky us! I am very thankful I can help my parents. They were great role models for my siblings and me. 

Ok, that was more than you needed as an introduction. Sorry, I am an open book and will always say more than I should! My goal with this blog is to bring humor to life while passing on tidbits of my favorite things – recipes, trips, how-tos – you get the idea. So stick around – I hope to brighten your day.