What day is it?

 It really is the most wonderful time of the year...

Mosaic

No, 2023 won't be the best year yet.

Nor will it be the worst.

You see, a year is a mosaic of absolutely everything.

Joy, fear, heartache, loss, beauty, pain, love.

Failure, learning, friendship, misery, exhilaration.

Each day, each moment even, is a tiny shard of glass in this beautiful, confusing creation.

2023 will be another mosaic to add to your wall of art.

A wall that shows the life you are continuously gifted.

A wall that shows you are human.

A wall of survival.

I wish you many broken pieces of glass this year.

Because this is living.

And before you march on in to another year of "everything", 

Pause to look back at the work you created thus far.

It is quite something.

Now onwards we go.

by Donna Ashworth

Christmas

We spent Christmas Eve in Watertown. It was sad not having Uncle Connie there, but I'm sure he was there in spirit watching over everyone. He was the most joyful, appreciative and humble man. I miss him. 

It was fun seeing cute little Vinny...

Christmas morning Danny and I were up early to get everything ready for the day...

It's funny how the older your kids get, the smaller the boxes get and the amount of money it costs is  more : /   But they were all very happy with their gifts. Julia got a new TV for her room.  It's mounted on her bedroom wall so she can pull it out and swing it around to the foot of her bed. Lucky girl gets to cozy up in bed to watch her shows and movies. I'll have to insert a picture of it here later. It's awesome!  Nicholas loves his new gold chain with Italian horn and Gianna got a new iPhone 14. Yes, they were all very spoiled once again this year, but I love to do that for them at Christmas. 

Kerry, Dena and Kimmy came over for the day. We had a really nice time. My sisters gave me such thoughtful gifts. 

Kimmy got Gianna a stuffed animal for her future dorm room. She loved it! It reminded me of the days when she was little and her favorite gifts were her beloved stuffed animals...

I got Kimmy a fun game called Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza. It was so much fun! Lots of laughs! I hardly took any pictures as I was just enjoying the day and the company. 

Christmas Traditions

Our little family of five created our own Christmas traditions over the years. The kids have outgrown many of them like making Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve (Julia and I still like to do this together) and sprinkling reindeer food on the driveway. Some traditions still happen like watching the Polar Express on Christmas Eve (although it may not be all five of us anymore) and enjoying our delicious Christmas morning breakfast of French toast with bacon and maple sausages. 

But one of my favorite Christmas traditions that we did with our kids was passed down from my Mom and Dad. The waiting at the top of the stairs to help build up the Christmas morning suspense! Drinking orange juice while you wait wrapped up in warm bathrobes. That feeling of knowing Santa came and you're not allowed to go downstairs until you get the OK from Mom and Dad. 

You kind of know when the tradition is ending...hahaha...notice Nicholas' face : )  That's OK though. It's a wonderful memory!! 

Then running down the stairs and turning the corner to see the beautifully lit Christmas tree with lots of wrapped presents underneath...and stockings filled to the brim with candy...and half eaten Christmas cookies you made the night before eaten by Santa on the plate with crumbs everywhere...and seeing soot left by Santa's boots covering the red bricks. It was evidence that Santa was really there. 

Such wonderful magical memories. I know I remember them so well from my childhood. I hope my kids will always remember them too and pass them on to their kids someday...and make their own traditions. It's the feeling and traditions of Christmas that we all will remember...and just maybe a favorite present or two (like a dollhouse).  

Merry Christmas 

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

 

Christmas at Kimmy's

We celebrated Christmas with CeCe last night at Kimmy's house. We had a Spot It tournament that was so much fun...

The kids killed the grown ups. It came down to Nicholas and Julia...

Julia won. No surprise there because she's super competitive and really good at that game. 

Merry Christmas from The Willis Clan

It wouldn't be Christmas here on my blog if I didn't include my favorite video of the Willis Clan. They're all on their own path doing their own thing these days and I wish each and every one of them all the best! And if you haven't read Jessica Willis Fisher's new book, Unspeakable, I highly recommend it. It's a difficult subject but it is so well written. She and her family are beautiful survivors. 

Christmas without your Mother

Christmas without your mother...

Means you are now she. 

You are the one who creates Christmas.

You are the one who honors the traditions

ensures that the joy is passed down 

as she would have liked.

But that is hard when you are hurting, 

when you are just a little girl, 

deep down, 

who misses her mama.

So, be kind to that little girl

but go forth

and do what your mother taught you to do...

LOVE.

Because one thing is for sure,

she taught you well.

College Acceptance #3

Endicott! Yay!! She could go to the same college as her sister if she wants. I'd be super happy about that!! 

Choose Joy

He's HOME!

This Mama is so happy to have her boy home! I haven't seen him in FOUR months! We picked him up at the airport last night. BUT...

he's sick : (  He went to urgent care this morning. His throat is a mess but hopefully the antibiotics will take care of it. Nurse Mama is happily on duty!  Julia will be home Tuesday and then my house will be full again...and so will my heart. 

College Acceptance #2

She got into Bridgewater State University! Yay!! She received a nice merit scholarship and an invitation into the Honor's Program!  Two down...four more to go! 

Twitch

We met Twitch years ago at a dance competition. He was such a nice guy. He took the time to meet all the kids and was so genuine and sweet. What a tragedy. He had a loving wife and three beautiful children. It's not always what it seems. You just never know what someone is going through. 

Rest in Peace. 

College Acceptance #1

Congratulations!

Gianna's acceptance to Quinnipiac is an accomplishment of which every member of your family should be immensely proud. Congratulations, from all of us at Quinnipiac!

Gianna was accepted to Quinnipiac! Yay!!!  She also received a great merit scholarship for $25,000 each year!  Very proud of her! 

Christmas (SKimmerella) by the Sea

Kimmy and I started our Christmas by the Sea with dinner Friday night at the BeachFire Bar & Grill. I decided to go up early as I don't have any motherly duties anymore : (  We had a glass of wine outside by the fire while we waited for our table...

Saturday Julia drove up from school for the day. I was so happy to see her!!! Kerry, Dena, CeCe and Carolyn came up too. We started at Perkin's Cove. The ocean was so beautiful!  Huge waves!  It was cold but it felt wonderful! We visited our favorite Christmas store and then had lunch at Jackie's Too. What a view!! 

We did some shopping and browsing at all our favorite stores. Then we all kind of pooped out and decided to skip the parade this year.  We went back to the house to play a game of Who Am I.  Julia picked Big Foot for me!  Haha! Then we watched some comedy on Netflix and had a delicious dinner of lasagna and salad. We watched a really cute Christmas movie "Last Christmas". 

Today Kimmy and I met CeCe and Carolyn for a yummy breakfast at the hotel right down the street. I love how they decorate the lobby...

Kimmy turned into Skimmerella for the weekend as Paula just had some surgery and wasn't there to help entertain. She was a wonderful host and I'm afraid we were all being a little needy : /  It really was funny though.  I really didn't take any pictures at all this weekend. I guess I was just relaxing and enjoying the good company. 

Always nice to come home.  And look at this...

A beautiful dusting of snow! The first of the season! Time to work on wrapping the Christmas presents tomorrow!! 

Uncle Frank

Danny's Uncle Frank passed away today. He was his Mom's only brother. Such a great guy. He called me Din-knee. Haha!! Never got my name right but I loved it. It always made me laugh! 

Nicholas pouring him coffee...

Two summers ago at Auntie Louise's birthday party...

And with Uncle Connie who loved him dearly...well Uncle Connie loved everyone dearly : ) 

But look at this...they held hands for the longest time while they sat and chatted...

This was the last time we saw him...this past October...sitting next to Danny and Cousin Danny like he was king of the hill.  He had that big smile on his face the whole time. Just enjoying the gorgeous day and hanging with his beloved family. And this is how we'll remember him...