Cake and Berries with Grandma Rossmeisl

Growing up, it simply wasn't summer if I didn't taste Grandma's strawberry shortcake. She'd rise early in the morning, cut and sugar the berries and set them to marinate on the sun porch. She didn't use biscuits, but pound cake, a cheap alternative that was encouraged during the Great Depression of her youth.

She'd tell me what she had brewing when I woke for breakfast and promise that, if I ate all my dinner and was a good girl, I'd get an extra dollop of homemade whipped cream with mine later that evening.

Under the shade of the Concord Grape arbor we'd eat our dinner in the waning sun of the late afternoon. After I gulped down my food I'd eagerly await the beat up tray of carefully made up desserts and notice mine in an instant, confirming my goodness by the extra-large mound of fluffy white cream, carefully drizzled with sweet, red juice.

Nothing has or could taste as good as that first bite of Grammie's summer Strawberries & Pound cake.

Good Genes

I just wanted to mention that my grandmother, Grandma Rossmeisl, just turned the big 9-5 this week! WOW! 95 years old!
Born in 1914, she has seen so many things change and so many stay the same. She told me today she remembers the depression and people running on the banks. She spoke of the lessons she learned to be careful with money and how they are as applicable today as they were 80 years ago! I mean, wow!
She used to fill an afternoon telling me of all the changes and advances she's seen happen to the world and I'm so glad I was able to listen.
The greatest thing of all about my Grandma is the youth she still carrys with her and the sparkle in her eye as she jokes and laughs with me. She still keeps busy and her mind is sharper than mine is today, always remembering to ask about my husband and children. I wish that I am half as active as she is at 52.5 and am just like her! She is firm and stern, but a big softy when it comes to babies and small children.
The most precious thing she has taught me was to leave the working world and to "hold tight to my little ones, because when they go to school, they belong to someone else for 8 hours a day and are no longer mine." She is soooooo right! I love you Grandma and I miss you! Until we meet again. ;)

362 More Days Until Halloween!

I L-O-V-E day after (insert random holiday) sales. Love them, love them, LOVE THEM.

I was able to get out today and grabbed tons of post-Halloween decor and clothes for next year, most of the stuff at 75% off. One of the girls working at Party City was looking at me like I was crazy with my cart full of tulle ghosts and giant bobble-head trick-or-treaters. "Throwin' a late Halloween party or sumthin'?" she asked with a slight cock to her head. "No..." I explained, telling her how, since I was packing up my Halloween decor today, it's so easy to throw the newly-acquired discounted stuff in with the stuff I already had. And, I must say, I am excited about my finds.

Also, the majority of the stuff out there is G.G.G. (That's gross, ghastly and goolish.) To GGG for my little ones and their potential dreams. Today I racked up on cute ghosts and pumpkin things to add to what we already had. Also, when it comes to decorating for Halloween, is it just me or are most things either small in scale when placed in your yard or wayyyyyyyyyyy to expensive? I mean, really, it's pretty hard to see a carved jack-o-lantern from the road. But the ghosts I got are about 3-4 feet long and I picked up quite a few of them to make a nice grouping for next year. I can't wait!

Bad Economy = Time To Rethink "Wealth"

As the economy stumbles and slides, I've observed the stress levels of people all around me inch upward. As the overall financial health of this country is beyond my power (other than making sure I cast my ballot in Nov), I've decided to turn my eyes toward the things in my life I can control and the happiness I get from them. Here goes!

• Picking up Kate from preschool every day and the always getting a big hug and even bigger smile followed by "Mommy's here!" (as if we've been away from each other 4 months as opposed to 4 hours)


• Hearing Ashton always ask for seconds, not for himself, but to ensure Kate gets whatever it is he is getting


• Watching the leaves change on the trees and realizing how wonderful fall is in NC. I'm thankful that nature takes no notice of the NYSE!


• Buddy, the coolest cat of all time, is mine and always has time for me to pet him and cuddle with him.


• Having a good man for a husband. One that is patient, even keeled and a good father to our children.


• Meeting new and always interesting people in my job and seeing them insist on having fun, no matter what type of day they had


• Loving my neighbors and the fact that we all know each other by first name


• Listening to my niece's voice over the phone. (It's so adorable and tiny)


• Having both my mother and father alive and around for me, but also for my children to know their grandparents (Both of my grandfathers had passed away before I was born)


• Talking to my grandmothers, both of them, and realizing what huge impacts they've both had on my life and how lucky I am to have to help me parent my little ones


• Having a great mother-in-law that truly loves her grand kids and who's grand kids love her


• Thinking ahead to how this will be the first halloween both of the kids will really be into it and how much fun it's going to be to take my little red dragon and fair maiden princess out to trick-or-treat!


• While we have little left over, I am happy that both Paul and I have jobs and are able to pay all our bills each month and on time!


• Realizing that myself, my husband and my children are all healthy

I mean, really, happiness come not from what happens to you in life but how you react to it right? So, while my retirement savings circle the drain (remember, my background is in the financial industry) all I can do is look forward to working the rest of my life and raising kids that will do well enough to support me in my twilight years! ;)

F-U-N-achusetts - Part I

Where do I start? In the 4 days we spent visiting with my family in Massachusetts, we saw and did more things than we do in a month at home. (When Buddy heard the words "family" and "vacation", as evidenced by the photo, he tried desperately to join. I had to sadly explain that his 7.4lbs would tip us over the baggage weight limit but there's always next time.)

4/23/08 - Arriving
We departed for the airport at a very early hour of 4am to make a 6:40am flight. The kids were surprisingly well behaved, perhaps because they were half scared/half asleep. They loved taking the shuttle bus from long-term parking to the terminal and insisted, much to the dismay of our drowsy and under-caffeinated business traveling companions, on singing "The Wheels of the Bus". The plane ride went well, and both children were surprised when, upon boarding the plane, I whipped out child-sized backpacks stuffed full of Dollar Store finds and Wal-Mart treasures I had hidden from them. Our saving grace during the long boarding and taxi was a packet of truck/boat stickers that Ashton happily used to decorate a special green sippy cup. (I just didn't think he'd use all 100 and make layers on layers!) Kate enjoyed playing with her bumble ball for most of the way and loved the vibrations that happened with the pull of a string! (Thanks Auntie Neeker for introducing us to the Bumble Ball!)

Upon arrival for our connection in Philadelphia, we accidentally waited at THE WRONG GATE (it was a flight departing for Montego Bay, Jamaica) before realizing our mistake and rushing towards the correct gate. Now, if you've never been to the PHL, all I can say is the caterpillar layout, with it's endless gate "legs" is just insane. I don't care how many moving sidewalks that have, it was nuts. We finally arrived at our gate, red-faced and out of breath to then sheepishly discover we had an hour to kill. Thank goodness for the kid's area with all the great play structures! There was a huge kid-sized plane, baggage-car (the type you see on the runways zipping around delivering bags to cargo-holds) and all sorts of rocking chairs and benches for parents! This made the layover awesome and were actually sad to leave!

The 2nd leg of our journey was uneventful and our arrival in Hartford was great! The stars aligned in our favor when our luggage was the 2nd on the carousel and Dad was waiting right out side the door for us! Ashton gave him a great big hug with a "Hey Grandpa-pa!". I admit I was concerned Ashton would not remember him due to all the time that's passed between visits, but should have known better with that steel trap of a memory he's got! They were old pals in no time!

Kate was shy at first, hiding behind her Daddy's long legs, quietly emerging and obliging Grandpa-pa with a hug when he asked. She perked up quickly when she realized that in her vacation car seat, she could see clearly out the window that rolled all the way down! (In our van, the window rolls 2/3s of the way down only and she sits low in her seat.) Kate cracked us all up as we drove the back way to West Springfield, passing many CT farms, when she suddenly let out a VERY LOUD "Neigh!" when she saw a group of horses grazing in a field. I didn't even know she knew what sounds horses made! Quickly though, she began to tire and become inconsolable and so we requested to be dropped off at our hotel.

Kate fell asleep as we drove up to check-in and Grandpa-pa volunteered to lay down and keep an eye on her. After a VERY long morning, with stomachs growling, Paul, Ashton & I made a dash for Friendly's! For those of you who don't know it, Friendly's is always the 1st place any of the Southern branch of my family hits up when in New England. Man, I love the Cone Head!!

After Kate's quick nap in the room it was off to visit with Great-Grandma R! Kate had never met the 94 year old GGR and I was very excited she would get to. (See video of it here! http://uncutvideo.aol.com/users/dawnelizabeth8i/ec1d4ecb35b1576fbba3fce86977bab0?index=2 ) I think it was love at first sight for Kate, as she lay in my arms staring at GG and quietly pondering what we discussed, enjoying "girl time" that spanned almost a century of experience! I am looking forward to sharing these memories with Katherine as she grows up, providing her with family roots that go deep to keep her firmly grounded as she grows towards the sky.

Ashton greeted GGR like an old friend, saying he loves her and giving her a hug and a kiss. My hope is that he remembered his previous visits and he and Kate will keep GGR close in his heart. You see, both of my children are Rossmeisls, true and true - proud, intelligent, stubborn and leaders. They are not afraid of speaking their minds, having an opinion or being independent. I cannot speak for the Reid side to them, as I am still figuring out what qualities Ashton & Kate carry from their father's side, but I can say that while they may look like spittin' images of their father, they act more and more like their mother every day.