The Cass in the Coat

 Coats...I seem to have a lot of them.

But my favorite is this pink one. One day I was out and about having left my pink coat at home. Later that evening...I discovered this series of photos "someone" had taken using my iPhone.

The sun did not shine, it was too wet to play.

So they sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day.

"I know some good games we could play" said the Cass.

"A lot of good tricks, I will show them to you. Our mother will not mind at all if I do."

. 

"I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny. But we can have lots of good fun that is funny."

"Take it off", said the Henry..."this is no fun at all"!

"Take it off", said the Hank, "I just want to crawl".

"Look at me! Look at me! 

Look at me NOW!

It is fun to have fun. But you have to know how."

Later that day when I had returned...I said to those two, 

"Did you have any fun? Tell me, what did you do?"

Should they tell me about it? Now what SHOULD they do? 

Well...What would you do if your mother asked you?

Snips and Snails

What are little boys made of?

Snips and

snails and

puppy dog tails

 That's what little boys are made of.

Squishy and chubby

 filled with insatiable curiosity

and maybe just a little bit of adorable naughtiness.

Little boys are mesmerized by anything with wheels


and bouncy rolly-polly balls.

Big boys and little boys like to play together as it seems they love the same things.

Eyes full of wonder

and a face full of giggles

little boys too soon grow up.

But not today... because today this little boy just wants to snuggle with his mama.

Leaping Lizards February

 It's leap day...one photo that made my heart leap this month.

Presenting her royal highness...Queen Bee Olivia! Isn't she perfectly bee-utiful in her little hat Papa found last summer at our Farmers Market.

Thirty days hath September

April, June and November;

February has twenty eight alone

Except in Leap Year, that's the time

When February's Days are twenty-nine.

It's currently "blizzarding" at our house on leap day...yippee! I hope your leap day is fabulous too.

Ewey Gooey Chewey Part Deux-ey

Brace-Face, Tin Grin, Metal Mouth, Tinsel Teeth...just some of the nicknames used to describe that awesome time in your life when you have braces.

Or how about "Jaws"? The name of the metal mouth evil villain in the James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me". The worst thing about having braces according to Chet, is having your mom cut off the kernels on a cob of corn just so you can eat it.

I can scarcely believe it's been a year and a half since we celebrated Ewwey Gooey Chewy Day with The Teenager. But lucky for Chet, the day to remove his braces finally arrived. Dr. Hlavaty insisted/didn't give him a choice on Chet's last color of braces-BRIGHT PINK...implying it would make him more manly. Plus it was Valentines day, and it seemed like the perfect color at the time.

Tada!!!!

It's time for Ewwey Gooey Chewy Part Deux...the sticky treat party following a year and a half of braces.

 He was not excited...not one little bit!

Yes, he did share...well sort of. He knows how much I love Tootsie Rolls and let me have a couple.

Congratulations handsome Teenage boy...what a beautiful smile you have. That's four out of four kids' braces finished. The Garlick Press is ecstatic to have them all completed and especially paid for.

According to Chet...the best thing about getting your braces off is having smooth teeth again, plus food tastes just a little bit better.

Also...Dr Hlavaty claimed he would not be held responsible for all of the chick magnification that was going to happen once the braces were off and the girls saw his charming smile.

On The Tip of My Hip Nose

Being quite hip...at least I like to think I am, I frequent fabulous stores like Anthropologie, J Crew, and the designer department (code for pricey) at Nordstrom. Definitely not the old lady section as the daughters commonly refer to it. Lately I have taken a liking to a brand called Free People...very bohemian...that's what I am!

I know that Tangerine Tango is the color of the year, purchasing a couple of items in this delightful hue. Truthfully...I bought them because my closet is filled with pink and I am trying to branch out. But hey...at least I know that Tangerine Tango is cooler than just plain old Orange

Almost daily I receive a battering of catalogues from Williams-Sonoma, Victoria's Secret, Under Armour, Pottery Barn and Sephora...making sure I stay on top of all the latest trends.

Summer and Winter months alike, you will find me hiking and skiing in our mountains. Working hard to stay in shape and feeling good about myself. Last week I skied a chute at Snow-basin and even hucked a cornice. Ask your kids what that means!

Tech gadgets are plentiful at The Garlick Press, including an iPhone, pink laptop (did you even have to wonder), and a Kindle. Admittedly though, no iPad here...that belongs to the business travelling husband. I'm convinced I wouldn't have time for it anyway. My tech savvy offspring keep me informed of new must-have apps to download...my favorite is Shazam. I pursue photography passionately and post regularly on this blog...although sometimes I wonder why, but that's another post.

I carry a black patent leather Kate Spade bag to hold all of my awesome stuff, including jiggysticks, frequent buyer cards from all my hip shopping places, and sunglasses...cool sunglasses.

Music is a huge part of my hip, youthful lifestyle and I love it all...Maroon 5, The Black Keys, Train (slight addiction), A Fine Frenzy, Ingrid Michaelson, Elton John, and Queen. I'll even admit to loving a little Lady Gaga just for kicks and giggles.

When it was time to transition into grandparent-dom...I hoped to go there tastefully and gracefully. Olivia and Henry make sure that I have my hip name Nana. Summarily, you must agree I'm definitely not your stereotypical grandmotherly type.

BUT...you knew there was a BUT coming...despite all efforts to remain cool and hip and youthful, reality has landed . And I mean landed right in front of my face at the tip of my nose!

Early one ordinary Monday morning a few months ago, I sat down at my computer and had the rudest of all awakenings. Despite all my best squinting efforts I COULDN'T READ A BLASTED THING! Blinking vigorously, I willed my eyes to focus on the words in front of me. Quickly reassuring myself I just needed a new pair of contacts, my favorite eye doctor gave me the news I had been dreading for years...nothing wrong out of the ordinary.

Just cold, hard reality...welcome to the wonderful world of reader glasses.

Ugh!


Officially it's called presbyopia, but I call it annoying! Getting older...I think there is a word for it...but I can't say it here. Free People, Kate Spade, or even Lady Gaga can't do a single thing for my aging eyes.

After wallowing in the pity pig pen for a few days, I did the only thing this hip Nana could possibly do...I went shopping! I now own 6 pair of  hip reading glasses...stashing them in various rooms all over my house and even one in my Kate Spade bag. My fabulous hip friend Jill commissioned daughter Andi to make me an adorable beaded eyeglass holder.

And if you haven't heard, apparently it is hip to wear reader glasses now...for even Anthropologie carries them! Oh, and I plan on owning this growing old thing...bring it on!