Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Technology. Being able to connect in real time with Lily as she travels abroad is just the best for my mama nerves and also such fun for me as a wannabe traveler. I feel like I'm with her as she visits La Familia Sagrada one day and the Colosseum the next.

 

Opportunity. She's in Rome this weekend. They booked their economy flights, packed their tiny back packs and are having a big experience in their first foray out of Spain.

 

A house all to myself last night. Mike was out and Ted went to Madison. I made a naughty grilled cheese for dinner that I shared with Gus and I binge watched Nine Strangers before tucking into bed with my girls Hazel and Ina.

Back to the books. Ted inspired us to commit to reading every day for 75 days. Yes, Ted my son who has never been a big bookworm. I have missed this ritual of curling up with a good read and a cuddly cat so I must thank him.

Memoirs. One of my favorite genres. Ina is someone I admire so this book is a good fit for me.

Moving. Another intention for the new year is to do this more. Mike and I bundled up and took an end of day walk yesterday and it was a reminder that even when it's cold, there's nothing like fresh air for PMA.

Getting shit done. It's a theme at Casa Wags right now. Last week, I whipped Lil's room into shape. I started with her room because I was missing her and being in her space felt good. And also because I've no earthly idea where to start in my own room.

 

Cats in costume. These are their new looks. I think they wear them well.

Two dates last weekend. Friday night Costco run followed by dinner out with my brother and sister-in-law. Saturday night dinner with my guy at a Thai restaurant we have wanted to visit for years. It was fantastic.

 

Zero plans for this long, frigid weekend aside from deChristmasing. Yes, our trees are still up and lit and yes, I will miss them, but it's time.

 

Holiday Inventory

I have not been a very good family historian. This space is our running family record more than anything these days. When I started this blog, I was working through the grief of losing my mom. Writing was therapeutic. It also became my mission to capture the moments of our lives so that someday when I am gone, my kids would have a answers to any questions that come up, that they would know how much I love them and that they would be able to hear my voice when reading my words. Now that Ted and Lils are young adults, they don't need me to be their memory keeper anymore, I tell the same stories and they let me know they've heard it before and I know they know how adored and cherished they are. I am shushing out what will become of this space. There are still stories to tell, but the minutiae doesn't feel quite right.

 

That being said, here are lots of photos and a few highlights from our December.

 

Enjoying: 

 

The hygge of lots of twinkle lights and calm, simple decor.  Yes, our trees are still up and lit every night or cloudy day.

 

 

 

 

Baking with Lily and Gus. We only made our eight favorite kinds. Sorry if you received any kitty hair with your cookies.

Game and movie nights. Our current favorites are Catch Phrase and Wavelength. Always cribbage for the boys too. I can recommend Yesterday and Captain Fantastic, but most everything else was rather meh.

 Homemade pizza night too.

Cooking for the kids. Lily, our resident chicken only girl, requested a steak after years of no red meat. Mike went out and bought a couple beauts and she remembered that she really really likes steak. She asked for Spanish Sheet Pan Chicken for her last meal I guess in homage to her destination. She is prepping to be a more adventurous eater as she travels Europe.

Loving:

All the beautiful blooms on my Christmas cactus and that she blossomed right on time.

How much cats love Christmas. They are like little kids in and on everything.

 

How much Grandma and Grandpa love Christmas too even when they say no presents.

 

When you give just the right gift...a solar AI bird feeder for the avian loving grandparents, a travel poster for your brother from his latest trip for his growing collection, tickets to see a show of choice in London's Theatreland.

 Christmas Eve mass...the four of us in our pew. I was next to a parishioner whose son was in the procession to the manger. She broke out her good camera and started snapping away proudly. I shared that my kids were a part of that tradition for many years. She looked at me knowingly.

 

When Manny comes to visit. Meryl too! They came late Christmas Eve for a little holiday cheer before heading to California for the rest of the holiday.

 

Grateful for:

 

Family who come for one last good bye.

 

I

 Thinking about:

 

2025 goals. I'm going with intentions over resolutions. What it means to live my best life. Our trip to Spain. It's time to start planning. Visiting my aunt and uncle in Arizona. This year we celebrate thirty years. Lily turns 21 and Ted 25. How to celebrate?

 

 

She Made It...

But neither one of us got much sleep. She was uncomfortable being packed in like a sardine. I was in mom mode watching the airplane icon track over the Atlantic. In the wee hours, I found myself on a travel abroad forum and I started stressing about things way beyond our control now. Things like travel insurance and liquid restrictions for carry ons. Should she have brought this? Not brought that?

Then I got this picture when it was still pitch black here and I was able to finally close my eyes. She was in London, through security and ready to get on her next flight.

When I got this picture of the Pyrenees, I slept. She made it.

A few hours later, I woke when she Facetimed to show us her apartment. It was 10 a.m. my time and 5 p.m. her time. Her little place is nice and right next door to her roomie, which is what we were hoping for. The apartment was a little dirty, but the concierge took care of it and things were off to a good start. Lesson one in self-assertion a win especially when delivered with a little sugar.

I could tell she was beyond exhausted, a little dehydrated, a tad overwhelmed and more than anything...excited. The girls set off for the mercado to pick up some essentials and then went out to explore their new city. They had freaking awesome tapas for dinner at 10 o'clock and then found a club in the historic Barceloneta neighborhood, a neighborhood I told her to avoid because I read that somewhere. Silly me. Lesson one in trusting her instincts a tough, but necessary one as I've never been to Spain. That being said I was relieved to hear they were on their way home a little while ago. It was 4 o'clock a.m. I think they are acclimating quite well and on their way to fully embracing the Spanish culture.

Of course, I have a million questions, but the may have to wait until Thursday as I expect her to sleep most of the day tomorrow. I will sleep well tonight knowing that she is home safe and sound.

And She's Off

 

As I write this, Lily is a couple hours into her journey to Barcelona. She'll arrive in London while we sleep and in Spain as we wake. She was ready. Eager. Excited. I was a much cooler cucumber than I expected. There were a few tears, but this is an amazing opportunity and the fact that she can study abroad is something to celebrate. These four months are a privilege. A gift. 

We arrived at O'Hare in record time. Not a traffic issue or a single slow down as we traveled south. We saw her off at security and we were home before she even boarded. The fact that she had to pay $100 for her overweight suitcase is partially my fault so I cannot take issue, but why this is even a thing is something that irks me. She's going abroad for a semester and traveling around and through Europe. A girl needs her things. I'm quite proud that she was able to hone it down to 55.5 pound suitcase, a carry-on and a very small backpack. I'll have almost as much when I go to visit for ten days if Mike doesn't have anything to say about it.

Ted was in Cali all week so we used his room as the staging area. Lil and I were the gatherers and gather we did. Mike was the packer. How he got everything on the bed into those three vessels will always astound me. Compression bags help, but still I will call it what it is...an act of magic. Maybe a miracle.

Limbo is what we called the time between the holidays and her send-off. We were done celebrating births, endings and beginnings, researching travel tips, shopping for one last must-have and ticking off the days, and yet they were such good days.

The holidays were very zen and that was just what we needed this year. We had smaller, more intimate gatherings, little fanfare and lots of quality time with loved ones. I wanted December to last forever, but the memories made will live on. We rang in the New Year as we usually do...with Pete and Sue. They prepared such a lovely dinner that I'm grateful we popped for the Veuve.

The new year is off to a solid start. I'm feeling optimistic and hopeful for 2025.