Mr. Jackson, we'll miss you...

OMG! Did you hear the news? My first crush (ok, after Kirk Cameron) is DEAD??? Michael Jackson has apparently died of a heart-attack at 50. Let's all bow our heads in a moment of silence for the King of Pop. We'll miss the music, the dance, but not the freakish life that became his. Now he can rest in peace, just him and the man in the mirror... such a PYT.
Listen and relive...The moves that made him famous,
The way he looked when we all fell in love with him (one of my all time favorite MJ songs)!, another great video (the beginning of the plastic surgery...)...

Happy Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's day. I am generally the kind of wife that makes sure my hubby feels ultra-appreciated on any of his special days (and even a few in-between)! However, I was not home for Father's Day this year. Instead I was in a car headed home from sunny Saugatuck, Michigan, with three of my dearest friends. Collectively we form the Dead Dads Club (or "The DDC" as we like to call it). All four of us have lost our fathers at some point in our lives, and while this is not the thread that binds us, it is a blanket of comfort for each of us at different times.

We had a great weekend (will post a pic of the beach and our B&B later). The weather was sunny and hot (although it rained the first night). We had a great time relaxing on the beach and enjoyed the band at the Butler on our last night. We laughed so hard, my abs were sore! As with every meeting of the DDC, we spent much of our time telling stories about kids, work, family, memories and joys. Typically, we always end up talking about our dads.

We all have such different memories of our fathers, mostly because we were all at very different places in our lives when they left us. My dad was such a loving man. While there is so much I didn't get the chance to know about him, I can say without doubt that he was very proud of me and made sure I knew it. He had a great smile and whistled to get your attention. He wore Blue Blocker sunglasses and always smelled of Lagerfeld. He was very smart, but never acted like he was "above" anyone. He tapped his fingers on the dashboard in time with the music, a trait that I do today, and he popped his knuckles- another trait I picked-up... I selfishly miss him deeply for all the things I wish I knew and all the things I wish he could be a part of, especially my girls' lives.

I do feel a bit guilty for not giving Pat the full-fledged Father's Day he deserves. He's an amazing father. He's the father I wish I grew-up with. He's sometimes the parent I wish I could be. I watch him with our kids and fall more in love with him. Ask any of my girls, and they'll tell you how great their daddy is. He plays with them, builds forts with them, reads with them, hugs them, laughs with them, loves them. And while I wasn't there to make him breakfast or let him sleep in, I hope he knows that I am so proud to be his wife. I pray my girls are much, much older than I am today when they become members of the club that I hold dear, and when they do, I know they will have quite a collection of memories of one great father who loves them very, very much.

When does school start?

Today was our official first day of summer! It rained a monsoon... ALL day long! Originally, we had grand plans of lounging in our leisure, eating bonbons and watching television talk shows- oh yes, there are the children to think of... :) No, instead we immediately got into the hustle and bustle that comes with selling one's home. In the twenty days since we've been on the market, we've had ten showings. You do the math... I've never professed to be a clean freak, but I sure am now. I am NOT complaining though (too much). If this keeps up, there must be one person that will want to buy, right?

At any rate, after a few hours of picking up messes, we were off to see the doctor. Mairin was to go with her father to the grocery, while Maggie would accompany Molly and me to the doc. As Mairin does, she decided that she instead wanted to go to the doctor. In fact, her words were, "Why does Maggie get to go when I have something so hurtful???" Um... what? "My stomach, my head, my lips are dry..." I guess she couldn't think of anything more, and I had to walk away to hide the huge smile that spread across my face! Needless to say, she went with Dad, ailments and all!

Our trip to the doctor was nothing to note. The good news is that Molly does not have another ear infection. The bad news is that her bad mood may just be a part of her almost-two-year-old temperament! UGH! Did I mention it was raining? How about that it was cold? Was it ever... 53* to be exact... That made it a fun jaunt through the parking lot for Maggie (IN FLIP FLOPS- seriously, who dresses that kid?)... We decided to meet Daddy and Mairin for lunch. Then off to get haircuts.

I must tell you that Molly's first haircut was a complete disaster! By disaster I mean screaming, crying, flailing baby being held by her mother while a lovely woman tries her best NOT to stab anything, but still to trim said baby's hair... This says it best...









Today was much better! She was happily watching Elmo, while I sat on pins and needles waiting for the ball to drop. Maggie got her hair layered, too. Pretty cute, but a bit of a "big girl do" for my taste. I guess that has to happen...

We finally came home and all Hell broke loose! I guess they had forgotten how much they hate being indoors because they were absolutely crazy! We put Molly down and Maggie started in on how bored she was, then we heard an eruption in the garage, which was Mairin falling while trying to hit her father (karma) onto the garage floor... We walk over her and unload the groceries... and so it goes. One catastrophe after another... At four thirty we got in the car for the showing and sighed a big sigh of relief. Elmo back on, markers and Polly Pockets kept our kids occupied for the hour, strapped in and relatively in harmony...

So, how many more days until school starts??? :)