A Phantominal Day

The last 24 hours has been a "Phantom"-inal day! After work I drove to Cleveland to see "Phantom of the Opera" with friends Judi (here) and Cindy (taking picture). It was just absolutely great!! Cleveland is lucky enough to have several theatres that do great productions and this was one of them.

Then today we didn't do a lot except talk and sometimes that kind of low-key entertainment is the best.

On the way home I stopped for some more girl-talk with a little younger set....

Bailey was just too fun!!! Emma was too, laughing and cooing but she needed to go to bed pretty swiftly...ha! So baths, and time for bed....

Sometimes you just want to eat them up!!!

Good night, sleep tight...saying prayers...so precious to listen to. Being a grandmother is great!!

Off to sleep....what dreams dance in your head, little one????

Sweet pic of the girls...

New pics from Lori....Emma and Bailey on a hot summer day.

Lori and her girls.....

In the shade....

Water fun....

Miss Emma, lookin' cool!

....and napping.

Daddy and Emma...

Daddy and Bailey!

Look out dog dish...here he comes!!!

The crawling is at warp speed now and Bryden is learning the word, "no!" Can you see the impact??

He crawls up the windows now too and I have all kinds of little finger prints to show for it, ...here, thinking about it....

"I spy Paw-Paw"...

"Ah-Ha!"

Such a fun age...like the dawning of a little person!

Such a sweetie!!!

The Best Staff in the World!!!

I work with a bunch of terrific people! I feel very lucky and blessed about that and do not take it for granted. It's a staff that helps each other, is there for each other, has "each other's backs"....and is fun!
Kathy, below with me, is my husband's second cousin's wife...so we are related...sorta! We claim each other as "sistas of anotha motha"...ha! We have a lot in common...both work in surgery, premie babies, kids the same age, grandkids the same age and parents that lived in Chicago 10 minutes from each other when we both moved to this little town in Ohio! This morning as we started cases, Kathy said she had one more birthday surprise for me... She made this poster....

with lottery tickets all over the back!

The staff organized a lunch carry-in too and they are spectacular chefs!!! One doc said to me"Happy Birthday...I'm most glad it's your birthday so I get to eat lunch!!" Ha! The theme was (I can hardly say it)..sexy at 60. I said that resembles me as much as saying I'm blond...but heck, it was fun! THEN, they named the food....

Here is some of our nice, serious, very competent OR staff....

and here they are a minute later!

These are our fabulous secretaries...

My fantastic boss, Mary!!!...

The pre-op staff...such a really NICE bunch of gals!!!

A couple of the post-op staff

One of my co-workers, Elaine, that I have worked with the longest, just truly a wonderful person...

Shay...a FUN mother of six!!!

and the rest of the bunch...starting a case...

and a minute later....

They just make me smile....thanks, guys, for a really wonderful birthday!!! Can't wait till I'm 90!!!! (PS...Paybacks...)

One more birthday celebration...

These are the ladies I celebrated with on my actual birthday...it's an investment group that has been together for many years. They are an elegant bunch and twice a year we have dinner, once in the summer and once at Christmas. (front) Joyce, Merk, Mary Alice, Liz and Rosemary. (Back left) Janice, Mary, Me and Megan...thanks for celebrating with me!!

Family....

Yesterday the whole family came home for my birthday (today). Each year gets a little more poignant and I am amazed and touched by more reflections of life and the years. I remember leaving my parents home in Chicago many times and as my mother got older, she started to cry as we left each time. While it touched me and I knew I would miss her too, I didn't fully understand...until now. Now I "get it". As the kids leave, I, too, find myself misty eyed and often in between. There are so many precious moments that you know are so special ~and so fleeting. You see your life flash in your mind before your eyes...your children growing up so fast, the funny things they say, a look between you and then, especially when your parents are gone, -the fragility of life. These are the moments you want to hold forever.


Emma and her momma the kids playing...

the cute cakes that Lori brought....

Uncle Tim & Aunt Joni with baby Emma...

-she is too much fun to play with! She "talks" to you now, smiles easily and has a sweet personality!

Cooper in the playhouse...

and he and Bailey in the pool....

and the tents.

They get along well and it's such a pleasure to just watch them...

Doing art projects...

Emma just chillin'!

Chelsea, Brant and Bryden came a little later just in time for the festivities...

Bailey helping me open cards and presents...Chelsea, so thoughtful, planned a very special one.

Emma and mom...

A picnic for her too!!!

Bryden watched Cooper with cousin Bailey so wanted to play with Emma too but found out that little girls are delicate!

Mike and Bailey

so pensive...

Bryden, loves the pool too!

Patient Joni in the tent with the kids...

Brant and Bryden

It still touches my heart seeing my boys with each other....

They have always been best friends and still fall into that mode when they see each other. It's sweet to watch.

The only thing better, is to see them with their children. What a blessing!

I love a summer day and having family here is the best! Here are little snippets of the day...