Happy Birthday, Precious Abby

It all began with an innocent first date.  Just a good contact.  But then something happened. We fell in love.  We got married.  And not so long afterward, we had a beautiful baby girl. 

We named her Abigail, thinking of another strong woman in history who had forged a path for women. We knew that she would be special.

And she is.  Happy 7th birthday, my beautiful, special Abby.

Halloween Indeed

It was quite the Halloween.  And now my world is upside down or at least sideways.  I have no idea why...but hopefully you can see my little cuties!

A Crying Day

Once there was little girl who decided to grow up and go off to first grade.  She bounced out of bed, put on a pretty flowered dress and blue headband, buttoned her blue cardigan and slung her backpack over her shoulder.

She walked hand in hand with her mommy and daddy to school, stopping to shake hands with the principal at the school door and assuring him that "thank goodness she was back."

In the classroom, there were new books to look at, insects in a large glass case and old friends to catch up with.

And then she said goodbye and assured mommy, who had tears in her eyes, that it was time for her to go outside if she was going to cry.

And so her mommy did, shaking her head that her little girl was starting 1st grade and wondering how she was growing up so quickly.

A NYC Fairytale

Once upon a time there was a little girl and her mommy. They took a train from Washington, D.C. on a Friday afternoon. They sat and giggled and read books and napped. Then they...arrived. They walked out of Penn Station to see skyscrapers and jostle the crowds to take a taxi uptown, smiling at what awaited them.

They met mommy's friend and then went and got their nails painted. Pink, of course. They sat at a cozy neighborhood Italian restaurant with their mommy's beautiful friend, Becky, and ate steaming plates of pasta, while the rest of New York bustled about.

They had lunch amongst martians at Mars 2012, after arriving on a spaceship, with their friends, Debra and Kate. Then, they want through a revolving door to see dolls everywhere. Some were blond. Some were brunettes. Some were riding bikes. Some were leading horses around. The little girl picked one named Julie who looked like her, with gleaming blond hair. They tenderly took her out of the box and the little girl said she would be her new mommy.

They were tired and hungry and went to tea. There were lots of cakes and cookies, some of them with powdered sugar and fancy icing. They had endless lemonade and sat with their new babies, eating like grown up girls and talking with their mommies.

At Bloomingdales, they were given little bags with perfume while their mommies tried on various fragrances and lipsticks. Then they ate frozen yogurt which dripped over the sides of the cups.

Soon it was time to go home and they boarded the train back to Washington, D.C. They cuddled and talked the whole way home, telling about their favorite part of the trip. Being together.

Happy Mother's Day

To all my fellow mothers out there far and wide.  Young and old.  About-to-be and about-to-be empty nesters.  To my sisters  and sisters-in-law. To my best friends.  To my mother.  To Grandma Henny.  To those who are in my heart forever, Ruth June. 

You inspire, nurture, cajole, direct, soothe, mentor, tutor, hug, soothe, heal and motivate.

You are simply wonderful.  Happy Mother's Day! 

And, of course, to my little ones.  Thank you for giving me the chance to celebrate today!

Happy Valentine's Day my Sweet Little Ones

To my prince and princess...

For their love...

For the love they have brought out in me...

For hearts and flowery messages...

Happy Valentine's Day (and to you, too, sweetheart)

Giving Thanks....

We have so much to be thankful for. Every year, we go around the table and have to name something. This year, Abby initiated it and said she was thankful for her family. Such insight from a 5-year-old, who had just spent the morning gliding through Central Park on her scooter and marveling at the balloons in the Macy's Day parade.

We spent a magical weekend in New York. Window shopping along 5th on Black Friday. Playing in Central Park. Walking through the Asian Collection at the Met. Eating well at Mezzaluna and Orsay on the Upper East Side. Seeing the balloons being blown up on the eve of the parade. Hanging out with good friends. Seeing Nana at the Mandarin for breakfast and peering out over the Hudson from her 42nd floor room.

So very much we have to be thankful for on this holiday and all year long.

the Latest Little Traveler

Happy 12 weeks, Stefan!

Swedish Inspiration

Given that my husband is partly Swedish, we've often talked about doing a lavish Christmas Eve Swedish table -- pickled herring, lingon berries, glog -- you get the blue and yellow pciture. But until this year, I haven't been truly inspired. Transport me to Sweden and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be whipping up a Swedish feast but admist the hustle and bustle of the American holidays, I've never been truly inspired...until now. What has contributed to this state of mind? I was partially transported the other night on Coming B (okay, it was a French website) and a trip to Ikea today, so I'm now dreaming of our lovely table.