All in a weeks time...

It was a busy week ~~~~~

It's been a week now since we officially became empty nesters and we've seen Nikki more than when she lived at home!!! 

I joined a great group of ladies from Jr's and went to Hines Hospital to play Bingo with the Vets!!!  They are always so appreciative!  One of the guys in the group I had was being discharged in the next day or two!  He said he'd wished he had his tux to wear home!  I'm sure he and his family have lots to celebrate and wearing a tux would have been a nice touch!!   Got to see the gentleman that looks just like Morgan Freeman!!!  He really does!!!

On Wednesday I helped out at the Community Table that is held at the First Church of Lombard.  There were so many extra hands that night that all I helped to do was collect plates from the attendees that were finished eating. Hubby and his buddy John worked really hard washing the dishes.  Kind of felt a little guilty inviting hubby and then he ends up working!!!   Oh well,  we got to sit down with our friends and enjoy the meal of pot pie ~ boy was it delicious!!!

Today ~ I wrapped up the Christmas gifts that we'll be taking to DC once the newest family member arrives!   Gotta be ready ~ mommy to-be has been contracting on and off now for a couple of weeks and is dilated to 2.  He really has about 5 weeks left  ~ so every day that he remains in mommy is a plus!  Even though we are excited to meet the little one and see his big sister again I'm hoping that mommy can hold on till at least next Friday...

Tonight ~ hubby and I will be babysit miss Cam so that her mommy and daddy can get out by themselves.   Gonna get to watch her walk all over the place and entertain us with her charm.  Oh, the joys of grandbabies!!!   A wonderful way to end to the week...

Wow ~ this is my 50th post!!!  Thanks to my 8 devoted followers!! 

empty nesters...

Empty nesters ~ we've felt this way for awhile cause our youngest Nikki, who is 22, was NEVER home. Today marked another milestone in the Tufano household ~ we are officially empty nesters! We've just returned home from helping her to bring her stuff to her 'new' home.   It truly is bittersweet ~ I'm thrilled for her and a yet a bit meloncholy.

Does she look exicited and ready?!!!!

After seeing where she is going to be living I feel so much more at ease ~ she's with a friend, her brother and in a nice home in a very nice neighborhood.  I fell in love with the house the minute I saw it!!! 

 

 The situation is perfect.

This being Nikki's 3rd attempt at moving out it is definetly meant to be ~ heck,

she may be in Bensenville

but she still lives on Hawthorne!!!!

 

Even though we've reached this milestone in our lives I'm at ease with it ~ my kids are at wonderful stages in their lives and I am happy for them!  I've learned through the older 3 that they still know that "home is where mom is"!!!

Happy Birthday...

Michelle
due on Sept. 29, 1983
2 weeks early

 my second baby
daughter
sister

quiet as a baby

a little peanut at age '1'

loved her 'thumb'

 always inquisitive

curly hair

daring 

bright 
gymnast
lilac princess
independent
top of her class
wife

mommy
loved

birthday girl!

Wishing you a very Happy 27th Birthday!!!

Love ~Mom

Eve of a birthday...

As my daughter Michelle now awaits the birth of her 2nd child I find myself thinking back 27 years ago to what was unknowingly the eve before her birth.  Also my 2nd child ~ her due date was to be September 29th, the Feast of St Michael the Archangel.

I can still vividly remember the day ~ older sister Cara was sick and I was so ready to have the baby.  We laid around the whole day. I guess that was meant to be cause I awoke around 4:00 am on the 16th and off to the hospital we went....   

Michelle is scheduled to have a C-section October 21 ~ so with it being a bit too early for the little guy to make his appearance into our lives ~  his 'mommy' gets to celebrate her birthday resting with her feet up while letting others pamper her!!!

Orchids

Orchids ~ a flower that I used to attribute to Easter, Weddings and Mother's Day.  Something the 'older' women wore!   I was given this beauty from my dear friend Nancy S and I came home and immediately put it into warm water inside this beautiful blue wine bottle of which I had to finish off first!!! It was Friday what can I say!!!!  I also received an Orchid plant for Mother's Day, from hubby, that I am trying really hard to get to bloom again. 

Just look at this beautiful Orchid!

Why am I finding them so attractive these days? 

 I no longer see them worn only by the 'older' women!!! 

Or is it that I am one of those 'older' women now?!!!!

lost and found

Have you checked 'Cash Dash' ~ Illinois' Lost and Found?  I did and have found at least four unclaimed properties in my father's name. My father passed away March 2, 1996 so with a  little digging and some copying of documents I will now wait and see if I've proven my relationship as his 'only' child.  The amounts unclaimed won't make me rich but they sure will come in handy now!

Take a look ~

you never know if you or someone you know will be listed.