SLOW DOWN!

I always have the honor of building special bears but yesterday was a grand honor. Local people in the Northshore may recall the terrible loss of life when Allie Castner was suddenly killed by a speeding car in Marblehead in '09, Well the entire time I am with this cute lil gal of about 9 years old I do not know the story behind why she is at the bear barn that day. When it came time to put the bear in her "cub condo" (no condo fees included) I said oh Allie I like that name for this pretty bear. Then the girl looked up at the adult who was with her and patted her head and gave her a squeeze. Still nothing with a story. So then I ask for the SFS club babw card so they can get their points and earn free stuff at BABW! So I type in the last name still not making the connection..then the 01945 knowing most all NS zips b.c of babw SFS program I know that is Mrblhd. So I saw there are 2 accnts for that addr...Allie and Pam...So the adult says please close the Allie one she is no longer with us and I get a bulb go off and well up with tears and say "Slow Down for Allie" and she smiled and said IT DID MAKE AN IMPRESSION THAT IS WHAT WE WANTED BY MAKING THOSE BUMPER STICKERS>So the adult says this is Allies sister and she was so happy to get you today b/c when she comes here she loves your energy and today she made the bear to look like Allie so she could feel close to her. WELL!!! To hold back the tears was not easy. I give the 9 year old credit b/c she was a trooper. During the "dress me" time I commented on how stylish the bear looked and that she was a very trendy lookin bear. That is why she was making her so trendy to look like her sister who passed away 3 years ago. Well my heart as bitter/sweet as that is breaks knowing that Allie was taken from so many at such a young HS age all b/c of another youngster driving way to fast. So many lives damaged not just one. As I end this post I leave you with...I am honored to make a bear just for the sake of making a bear as well as making a bear that is so special that it is to fill a void of a lost family member as well. I have many bear barn stories from the past 7 years and they stay so close to my heart. I do call my self a Master Bear Builder and I hope that my mastery shows with ALL my guests every shift I am there. I AM BEARIFIC! B bearific b e a r ic fic! You never know what one is going through so always be nice and kind!

Walked in Boston

The esplanade on Sunday was full of families, people and pets...WOW that place was hoppin! It was a flurry of bikes, skates and sk8 boards and even some people putting their feet in at the base of the Charles. ICK! LOL It was great to see Stephen both days for a little bit. I so see him as a city livin guy! The raised in the burbs kid LOVES the city! Who is he? HAHAHHA I guess his mama will be the visitor of the city life but I got the younger one who loves the burbs and a place to live when we get old! LMAO! While walking last night Ryan proclaims that he will have us when we get old. I said I just hope that wife of yours is a good gal and on board with that HAHAHHA I would NEVER encroach on my children that way. I just feel honored that Ryan even states that. He is a sweetie...BUT...here is the BUT he claims that WE, Michael and I would have to be the care givers to his children..I LOVE IT!!!!!!! Sure buddy I'd be honored! : )

It's the most wonderful timeeee....of the year!!!

I am hearing that song but not for the Christmas season but for S P R I N G!!!!!!!! YAY~! Happy Spring all!!!! Enjoy the days....I am so excited to walk and walk today with my lil ray of sunshine that I get to take care of...She sports her cute lil baby sunglasses and wears them proud. So glad she lets them stay on b/c it IS good protection to not have the rays in her pretty eyes! : ) Have a great day all! ENJOY!

a trip to Boston

Gravy Night!......... Got to have some Boston time today. The Pru is lit back up and open for business! I like that we can park in the WIT lot and walk a few city blocks there to walk around the place. All I saw was greennnnn....All sporting green...but not I ...What color do ya think I was sporting? ONE GUESS! P I N K~ pink! yup youuuu guessed it! : ) Please be safe if you are going out tonight to be Irish!

A cute lil Irish lassie

Lil Miss B so sweet to me...You make my day when we get to rhyme and play. I am honored to be apart of your care and can't wait to see how much you grow this year! : ) Love that lil Irish cutie doll face!

Happiness CAN result from exercising HELLLL YA IT CAN!!!!!

"Exercising lowers the body's levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. Depending on your stress level, you may need to alter your workout accordingly. If you're more stressed, it might take a longer, more rigorous workout to burn off cortisol and walk away feeling relaxed and refreshed. You may have heard of endorphins. Exercise causes the pituitary gland to release these powerful, mood-boosting chemicals. As with cortisol, the release of endorphins from exercise varies depending on the person or situation." so get up and get moving....don't wallow in sorrow all the day away...MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT! Hey it can't hurt..AND walking is 100% FREE! Ya go outside and walk costs ya not a penny! well if you already have clothes to wear and some shoes and I am sure ya do...so out you go. Have fun! and BE HAPPY!

seven more things!!!!!!!!!! : )

"Happy Birthday"

Today is "moms" b-day....Michael's mom Juliette;who has always treated me like one of her own. She loves and shows so much love to all her daughters-in-law as well as nephews and nieces. Her pride for the grandchildren is effervescent. She loves to be around them and has the take care of instinct for many. I am so happy that her "baby", favorite, loving husband and first born grandson can celebrate with her in Fl today. Wish we were sharing the time together. Enjoy your night and I hope you enjoyed the massage mom! xo

Delish crock-pot dinner

Had lots to do today so I made dinner at 8am....in the crock...it was so delish like we were lickin the dishes clean. It was kale, summer squash,zucchini, garlic, leeks, quinoa,tomatoes and spinach with flax and wheat germ...parm cheese spices and spelt bread croutons...WELLLLLL oh my my so glad the crock did the cooking b/c I would not have wanted to cook after being out and about socializing LOL

Super Emotional

Ryan has been painting the trip in the basement. He is such a great honey do lister lol. I swear he will be a great homeowner taking so much pride in his sweat equity and a great husband. I watch him and think he is only 3 years old how can he be doing these things. WELL MAMA HE IS 16 and a half! LOL no longer 3...so while taking off doors to closets to make sure he gets the paint trim perfect he came across some photo albums and most of the night we have been looking through the photos! Well my heart beams with joy. It is a tad bitter-sweet b/c the years have just flown by and I swear looking at these pics it just happen. Really where did 20 years go? How fast it seems that we have had so many happy memories and beautiful pics to recall the times of our lives. The period must be coming b/c whoooaa Mrs. Raf is emotional tonight. LOL sniff sniff! I don't want to over kill on the pics but I want to post so many more. XO

DREAM FOR DREAMS CAN AND WILL HAPPEN..YOU CAN BE A DREAMER:most of all be a doer!

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true

so touching

http://www.youtube.com/user/militarywiveschoir?feature=watch What the wives and husbands of the military have..so special.

♪♪Boston You're My Home!♪♪

thanks Ry!

The handy dandy Ry Ry installed the new detectors...thanks to Andrew the knowledgeable britha from anotha motha who helped with picking the correct ones and making sure we are up to code! Also Ryan has been busting he hump painting the place during his vacation. He is OCD perfectionist (where does he get that from?? HUM!) and he is mighty handy I tell ya! Hardworking Ry! THANKS BUDDY a steak is in your future lol lol

he shoottttsss heeee scoooreeessss

Off to "Boston you're my home" to see the first born shooot and score! then gots the son and 2 friends coming here to eat and be merry...and sleep over b/c they gots more hockey up north tonight! feed em food fest and just cleaned the bathroom so they can shower and get smelling good while they eat! :D lookin forward to the fun! : )

Let the day begin!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Monday, some may have off in observance of Presidents Day...not there...first to meet my exercise buddy and then to build bears, then off to price out a house to clean....off and running...the more ya move the more ya burn...Get that burn on babes! Also was reading in Fitness Magazine that sitting is like the new smoking...no lie the article said if ya have a desk job and got to chat for a while on the phone...just stand up and talk on it. Do calf raises or squat for 30-60 seconds..I did not need that article to tell me that one been doin that for a while now...Sit still? ME?! YA OK! lol So I wish you all a great day off if you indeed have it off, also wish you a great day at work if you are working..Enjoy every moment you have here because some where out there is a person who may have one last minute here...Be thankful and grateful for those moments...I KNOW I AM! :D xo

February Beauty!

I am over the top over joyed that these past days have been a treat. I can say if ALL the days in winter were like the past few days I would love it in Massachusetts!

funny

funnyyyyyyy

walking with my bestest friend & sniffin pup

After having a nice lunch with the 3 males I love most me and my bestest went to walk our "baby" pup that is..... The Lake was beautiful until we got out of the car and the wind just hit ya like a brick. So we must of walked about 500 yards and said lets go to Breakheart! The Wakefield side b/c the HILLS ohhhh I love the hills...make you get a good burn on while being in such a nice wind free place. When we were heading in some nice family said it was about 7-10*'s warmer in there. They were correct. I so love that place it makes me feel so at peace and one with nature. Michael and I can talk and chat about anything or go a bit and just bask in the silence of the sun and nature. Bailey barks a lil when he sees a giant dog or two, never when it is a little dog...no no too easy for that lol A man said cute lil dog with a great big attitude LMAO! YUP that's our Bailey. I realized as we were walking that on Saturdays or Sundays we would make it an effort to head to the "Don" to see Nana T even if it were just a lil bit of time. I recall I would kind of sigh sometimes trying hard to scramble there but would leave knowing in my heart of hearts we got to spend time with her regardless if she knew it or not. I found that it was so more for us than her towards the end. Thinking of all the weekends that we can not see her since her passing it hits like a brick that even though trying to make the time I wish I had to rearrange or scramble to see her. It was a bitter sweet kind of epiphany of sorts when Michael said she is still with us in our hearts. I know that my love but still hurts like a knife knowing we can't just walk into the Don head to her room and know she is right there waiting for us. As we walked in the warm sunshine we saw one...yes in this huge place one bud of a yellow flower peppin up and it made me smile to think one lil flower is budding for all to see. Pup sniffs everything and he wanders into the brush off the path to have me go get him...and I see a shiny penny...Nana T always used to tell me look at the year when you find a penny and see if that year means something b/c it most likely was a penny sent to you from Heaven! I ALWAYS look at stores, in parking lots ect...my most recent year was 1972...and I really couldn't find significance to that being maybe 1 years old...but today that penny was 1992! I knew then and there Nana T was with us on our Saturday....She in my heart is making sure I know that she is remembering that year that since it is the year of our wedding...She would say to me the morning of my wedding after I had an argument with her about my timing of leaving the house that you marry your best friend...thanks Nana T! I so did indeed do just that...infact my BESTEST! xoxo xoxo xoxo

NO SNOW

Thanks to the SUNSHINE STEPHIE DANCE maybe just maybe it will stay away!

Support and action to FIND A CURE

Thanks to many who came to support! http://www.npr.org/2012/02/13/146812862/komen-hopes-walkers-wont-walk-out-on-3-day-event?sc=tw