The Differences Are in the Details

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Christmas 1987

Somehow, my adorable little girl has discovered that there is no Santa. Not really.

We thought we had her totally fooled the year we hid her new bicycle out on the porch and brought it in just minutes before her dad shook the traditional Christmas bells. Just minutes before we got her and Lorenzo up for the Christmas morning opening of the presents.

"Look you guys! Santa was just here! It's still cold!"

Years later she confessed that she had seen a large box in the back of our Ford Escort and could poke her finger through and see pink tubing that she knew was a bike.

#fail

When she did find out that there was no Santa, she broke into tears. I pulled her into my arms to console her.

"Don't cry baby-girl," I said.

"But Momma, this means that all these years you and Daddy have been getting us TWICE the presents and letting Santa get all the credit."

I think I sobbed along with her I was so touched by that little girl.

Christmas 1992

Somehow, my other adorable little girl has discovered that there is no Santa.

I looked at her little face. Tears were streaming, running into her curls. I prepared to pull her into my arms for consolation.

"Aaaah Momma! You mean you guys have been LYING to me all these years??"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love both of you guys and I have all the memories of each Christmas lodged in my brain.

Forever there along with the year I made all three of us wear matching tree sweatshirts with black velvet stirrup pants. I thought we were so cute!

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Hot Men Friday

Again? Friday? I really need to stop drinking wine every night. Wait, no I don't. Oh what the hell, the reservatrol is good for me yes? Say yes. SAY IT!!

Small sidenote: we went to dinner last night with Lorenzo, Bella, and The Big B to St. Paul to the most charming place I've been in so long. It was Lorenzo's choice and she ferreted out The Strip Club.

All I can say is NUMMY! I had hanger steak with poached carrots. Bella and I shared a bottle of Spanish wine, Lorenzo indulged in the vodka, and the boys had cola. The boys take care of the girls.

Our table was up in a tiny loft area we accessed by climbing a circular staircase. A tiny-ass circular staircase. The servers navigate this to bring everyone their food. They must have asses just like little, firm apples. I need a job there.

It was make-out dark at our table. Love this! Pup had to bring his menu over to a floor lamp to read the menu. The server kindly pointed out that the little lamp on our table turns up to reading level. Ooops and okay.

Lovely lovely. Whoever says that life can't be good doesn't like to eat. Every bite was something to be savored. We had a couple of small plates to start. A steak tartar delicious thingy along with frittes that had a cheddar cheese sauce along with chorizo. Oh dear. Damn! The perfectly spicy spicy chroizo

And, of course, we got bread for the boys. They were as happy as a pork belly. Which is what Lorenzo ordered and I had a mouth-melting bite. Holy hannah. Who knew?

I want to go back today which I kinda can since I have some steak and carrots waiting for me in the fridge. Oh YUM!

~~~~~~~~~~~

John Stamos

In a former life (mom of young children) I would watch TGIF every Friday night with my girls. He is the only reason I could live through it.

He is my definition of handsome. HANDSOME!

I'm just going to scroll through all of these a few or a million times to get my day started right.

Mmm!

 

 

 

 

 

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Birthdays

Yesterday was both Momma B's birthday (she turned 80!) and my Lorenzo's birthday.

Baby-girl Lorenzo! My baby-girl.

When I was newly married to my girl's daddy I rashly stated that I didn't want to have girls when we had children. I wanted to have boys. Girls were little wenches and snotty and boys were awesome.

So, of course, I had girls.

What the hell was I thinking? Girls, my girls, have been the biggest blessing in my life. The end. I mean that.

They have been such a blast from their first little farty smile, to their crabby adolescence, to their blossoming womanhood. That is the part that no one really ever tells you about. How wonderful and unexpected it is to watch what you helped to create turn into a grown-ass woman.

And I have to say, about both of my girls, that they are such great women.

Lorenzo is the kind of woman everyone wants to know. I truly do not know one person that hasn't been charmed by her. She is fairly calm in crisis, a wild-child when out hooting it up, a great person to bounce ideas off of, a lovely woman. I'm proud to be her momma. Love you Lorenzo.

It was also Momma B's birthday! Who could ask for a better momma-in-law? She is adorable and as incredibly talented crafter. You should SEE the crocheted tablecloths she makes! Works of art.

Last night we had part of the fam over for cake, ice cream, coffee, wine, beer, and anything else anyone wanted.

I was also trying out my Nikon with varying results. I tried, last night, simply setting it on auto no flash.

Every time I pointed that thing towards anyone they got annoyed! I need a bigger lens so I can stealth-shoot. Of course I am hardly The Satoralist so who gives a flying crap? Ha!

Yes, I baked both of these cakes. Scratch frosting. Don't hate me 'cuz I'm the only martha you know

 

George, ever hopeful Pup will let him lick his plate.

Adorable LD and her bro, Jamester.

Handsome Kiss.

SuzyQ

Momma B

Lorenzo, she will be pissed. Sorry baby-girl! I always think you are gorgeous!

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I KNOW He Was Here a Minute Ago

Seriously Cute Dog

Pup is bugging me about grandbabies.

Pup: "Please! Tell Bella she and B have to have babies now! I need grandbabies! I can't wait any longer."

Me: "B and Bella will have babies when they are ready. Not when you are ready."

Pup: "I don't like that answer! She needs to have grandbabies now!"

Me: "Talk to some of the young uns on your side of the family. Your niece Lyndsi just got married. Start bugging her!"

Pup: "That won't be the same. My sister won't share that baby.

I run from room to avoid more whining.

Alright, now, cut to this past weekend. I'm out shopping with my GF deb-oh-rah and my 'berry rings.

"Hello?"

"Do you own a dog? A dog named George?" (Thank you I.D. tag!)

"What?? Do you have my dog?"

"Yes I do. He's here with a bunch of us over at the school playground."

"Oh my gosh! Thank you for calling! I'll call my husband to come and pick him up." (Pup was at home and I was miles away.)

I quickly dial Pup who answers his phone with, "I'm in the car already looking for him."

I say, "Call me back when George is safe in your car."

Pup: "grumble, grumble."

Of course, this isn't the first time Pup has lost George, but I let the past be the past. (heh)

So, the next time I am with Bella I'm telling her this story and she turns to me and exclaims,

"Momma! Ask Bonus-dad how can he be trusted with the grandbaby he wants so badly if he can't even keep track of George"?

Bella and I BUST OUT laughing!

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Could I Have Been Anyone Other Than Me?

Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn, turn we almost become dizzy
~Dave Matthews

True, we are not German tranny homosexuals (supposed inspiration for the song), but we were Dancing Nancies Wednesday night when my daughters and I went to see the Dave Matthews Band at the Xcel Energy Center.

God I love this band. I don't care if the bulk of his fans are polo-shirted, young, just-out-of-college, straight men. I don't care if I was one of few Boomers there (although I did see a woman my MIL's age and she was having a marvelous time!). I don't care that I had a strange urge to stop at McDonalds to have a quarter-pounder after I dropped off my girls (I resisted). I LOVE THIS BAND and I'll make no apologies.

They seriously put on one of the best shows I've seen and I've seen lots of shows. The improvisation is so fun to witness and the vantage point we had this time around let us see some stage stuff I've not been privy to in the past.

Every every time I see this band I see how playing the violin is SEXY! Hella sexy.

LOVE THIS BAND.

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Who Says I'm Not Cool?

This is what happens when we stay up to watch Saturday Night Live. We fall asleep during the last half hour and wake up right in the middle of a BRILLIANT infomercial about 80s music.

Journey
Boston
REO Speedwagon
Heart
Foreigner
Pat Benatar
The Cars
The Pretenders

We hopped right on our 'puters and ordered us up some ballads. I've had them a week now and my vocal chords are RASPY from all the bellowing going on around here. I even called my darling Sarah Bella to play Sara by Starship to her over the phone.

She said, "Momma, you're such a nerd." but I could hear her giggling.

I've often said that the 80s passed me by in a blur. I was a young mom, in the middle of the busy years of bedtime stories, baths, lunches, hair combing, laundry, cuddles, cleaning, playing Barbie with "the voice."

But somehow the music was still a part of my life as it had always been.

One time my Sarah Bella had some little friends over. I think she was six or seven? I got them set up to play and made my exit, moving into the kitchen to do whatever it was that consumed my days then. I had the radio on and I was singing away and dancing in the kitchen. All the kidlets ran into the kitchen to sing and dance away with me. I thought, "cool! I can be a fun mom"!

The next day Sarah begged me to never, ever sing and dance in front of her friends again. Ha! She was MORTIFIED! Just goes to show you how delusional we all can be.

I remember another time when my youngest was, maybe, 15. My wasband and I were having a New Year's Eve party and we were part way into the party. Enough into it that my best bud, Reechie, and I were on our way to delusional.

She and I were dancing away in the family room in front of a large sliding glass door. We thought we were lovely visions of coolness. Hard rockin' momma's with style and endless moves.

We did not know that Lorenzo and her band of miscreants were outside of the door laughing their little arses off at our "cool moves."

So it goes.

Who cares right? If WE think we have moves, then by all that is right, we DO have cool moves.

I know in reality I look like Elaine Benes from Seinfeld, but in my mind's eye I am hot and sexy, moving like a rock-goddess.

Rock on little mommas and papas!

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Sundays

They are the best.First we brought in the tree that we picked out last night.

Then I made Sunday morning eggs.

Then I got beautiful.

Goofed around in the office.

Watched some football with Pup.

Read my book.

Calvin took a nap.

Pup put lights on the tree. This pic really is bad!

We went to the kidlet's house for dinner.

Girls drink wine while . . .

Boys cook.

A brilliant day.

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Closet Edit and Styling Session

My first! Yes, it was my daughter, yes she "volunteered," and yes it was the best fun. We started about 11:00 in the morning and were still going strong at 5:00 that evening. So great hanging out with her and getting this done.

She is a darling girl with kick-ass legs. During the edit, we discovered that skirts look the best on her when the hem hits just above the knee. She has a HUGE pile of skirts to take to the tailor.

We took pictures of most of the outfit possibilities. 69 pictures in total! I left her with a list of additional accessory purchases she needs to make for outfit snazzing. It was great seeing how just the few scarves and necklaces she did have could be used in endless ways.

Styling with her was energizing and inspiring. I cannot wait to see her in every outfit.

She has tons of jackets and tons of skirts. Look at those legs! What a great outfit for work and then happy hour yes?

Another great jacket combo.

And another.

This jacket is great in person. I loved it with the sleeves rolled up.

These pants are great. They have pleating at the top. She hadn't found a way to wear them. We came up with about five options for her. I really adored this one.

This option made her look incredibly tiny! Who doesn't love that? Plus, she is tiny!

Look at the detailing on this fantastic suit. When this skirt gets shortened (with about five others) this suit will be in constant rotation.

Got the booty going on! Another fabulous jacket.

Same jacket, different option.

This skirt is incredibly versatile. We had endless ideas for it.

After all that styling, this is what she was wearing out that night with her husband. Of course it was an Ugly Sweater Party. Oh the 80s!

A lovely lovely day.

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Beauty

Here is the beauty.

Here is the cheesy. I love this shot!

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Hot Men Friday

Wowza . . .

No special reason - just because.

On another note . . . I got married! We took the young uns with us and went to Vegas baby! Had a great time and now I'm Mrs. Pup!

It's been crazy crazy around here for the past month.

My dad and Momma Bee were here for a month from Idaho. Parked his big-ass camper in our driveway! That looks like so much fun! Pup and I are thinking about renting one for over Labor day. Hmm . . . fun? Yes!

Then my darling Bella and her Big B got married!
How adorable.

Forgive me from stealing the photo from the photographer's website. She's an awesome photog btw. The pictures are phenomenal! I will be buying millions of them.

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