Creating Christmas Memories

Liam is ready and very excited about going to the Teddy Bear Tea at the Taj Hotel in Boston...It is a very special day..and the look on his face, as we start out, tells me it's going to be a "memory making" day.

The Taj Hotel, formerly the Ritz, is one of the finest hotels in Boston and they really know how to put on a show..this was a kids event but it was very fancy and proper..and so much fun.  Each child was to bring a Teddy Bear to the Tea, which would then be donated to charity...Liam has a mind of his own though.  I took him shopping and he decided that he wanted to bring a Monkey..I like that he knows his own mind and is not afraid to act on it...he took very good care of that monkey until he delivered it to the hotel.   On the way home though, he said he missed the monkey...

First on the list of things to do was for Liam to get that letter to Santa Claus written and mailed...this, my friends, was very serious business.  He drew the photo's on his letter and I did the writing and we got it in the mail just in the nick of time..I assured him that Santa would get his letter in plenty of time to make his wishes come true.

As you can probably guess, the girls far outnumbered the boys...and oh my, it was so much fun just to see the fancy outfits that they were wearing..it's been a long time since I've seen so many girls in real party dresses. They were really cute.  

Tea Time and so many treats...I'm wondering though if it is really a good idea to put a bowl of mini marshmallows in front of a four year old...his lunch consisted of hot chocolate with many, many marshmallows and a quarter of peanut butter sandwich...no fancy sandwiches for this boy...in the meantime Jenna and I devoured our sandwiches, scones with cream and petite sweets...oh yes, and let's not forget the tea.

Oh look who came to visit...Mrs. Claus and one of the Elves...Liam took them very seriously and it was so much fun to see him in awe of Mrs. Claus...after they left..he told his Mom and me that he didn't think the elf was real...to big.  Hmm, he's to smart.

After decorating gingerbread men, wreaths and candy cane cookies, it was story time...I'm not sure Liam was ready to get fully involved...he's just going to check it out first.  Just in case it's not his thing..

He decides it could be fun and he finds a group of boys and then he is "all in"...they had to close their eyes and also cover them while the Big Elf...hid.   It was there job to find the elf and bring him back to Mrs. Claus.  

There were many more things to do...he got his face painted..he had popcorn and colored.  It was a very busy day for this little guy.  His first big Christmas...he really gets it this year.  His excitement is barely containable and he is a joy to be with at this exciting time...Before leaving we got a photo of the three of us with the biggest Teddy Bear there...It was so nice to have time with my daughter and Liam..to celebrate the season. Next year it will be so much fun to add Jaxson to the mix...

While waiting for Liam to gather his things...I looked over and saw Jenna sitting on the windowsill, looking out to the Boston Common...such a poignant photo...reflecting on the beauty of the city, and all that the holiday season brings and requires when you are the Mom of small children...I was glad that she could sit quietly  for a moment...and just be.  She is a sweet and loving Mom..and I am blessed to have her.

What better way to end such a beautiful day than with a lovely glass of wine while we waited for the valet to bring the car...of course, we were in stitches when we found out how much it cost to park the car...whew...but none of that was important at the moment...we all left with such light hearts and visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads...

I believe that Christmas is magic, that Santa Claus is real, that all things are possible, that life is precious, That peace is reasonable, that laughter is special, that blessings are devine, and that love is grand.

Merry Christmas my friends...find the beauty wherever you are.  Enjoy the little things and never let go of the magic of this very special season...wishing you all the most wonderful of year ahead...in 2014.  Thank you for stopping by for tea.  For your Friendship and for your Love...

Several photo's textured with KK_Villa...thanks Kim..

The Gift of Girlfriends

There were 11 of us yesterday, one was sick...I missed her, just as I would have missed any one of these girls if they had not been able to come to my Annual Girlfriends Christmas Tea...These girls are my life line.  They are long standing...and they know my history and still they comes, year after year.   It is the one day that we take pause, during this busy season, and just sit and catch up.  All leave with a full belly, having eaten to many calorie laden sweets but we also all leave the table, once again, re-newed in our love for each other.

It's a mixed group of that I have picked up along the road of life.  One was my maid of honor 45 years ago, the longest standing was my friend way back in high school...I drove the school bus in town for many years with another one, and some I met through my kids playing sports..the thing they all have in common though is their longevity. They are my sisters of life. The sisters I never had growing up and we are fierce in our protection and love of each other...Good times, bad times, sad times, crazy times...at least one of these girls is by my side..  Two are nurses so I always seat them, one on my left and one on my right,...I like to cover myself as best I can.   Through thick or thin and fluffy...they listen to each other and give what help they can...usually while eating..LOl...I love that about us.   Then we usually "wine" a bit and that clears our head and our problems.

I can't imagine how people get through life without friends.  For me, after so many years with these girls, most often I don't even have to speak...they know when I need a lift, a shopping trip and they show up...some need to called once in awhile though...Holly..

Each day we go out into the world and people see us and make judgments...they know nothing of the road we have walked..the pain we all have had or the struggles that come with aging..they see what they want.  Not so with my "girls"..every one of them has walked with me..some for 50 years, they have seen the struggles, hugged away tears, laughed with me until we peed our pants...(many times). They have traveled with me through fat, fluffy and finally healthy and not once have they ever been critical or jealous...These girls are my life line to living a full and amazing life..these girls are my "it takes a village"...I shutter to think where I would have landed if each one had not come along to lift me up.

As I write this they all come to mind and so many more really...these woman are my family...I don't care about their DNA and they don't care about mine...what we do care about is each other.  They come to my table each year, with good cheer, humor, hugs and so much love...for me and now for each other..I wish that my table were big enough though to welcome all the woman who have touched my life...especially those who I have met and now enjoy through the internet...Some of you are so special...I have a Cowgirl Heart Sister, I have an English Sister..I love a young girl in Chicago...I met a flickr friend here and now we see each other often...and Oh, my special friend Kim...we have not met yet...but we will, and maybe someday I'll take a walk in the woods with G, and meet on the beach again with my Colorful friend...and I even belong to the "Groupies"now. All of  you inspire me.   So know, that anytime, my table is open to all of you.  My friends of long standing will push aside their chairs and make room for you at the table. That's the kind of people they are.  

So if time gets the best of you this Christmas season...make yourself a lovely cup of tea, use the good china, have a sweet and take a moment to think of all those who have touched your life in Friendship...I bet it you did your list would be longer than Santa's...

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 
― Maya Angelou

“Sometimes I need
only to stand
wherever I am 
to be blessed.” 
― Mary Oliver