my lucy > last day with her cast...or so we thought

 

She actually let me take photos - I think she is up to something!

family > today is the last day of a lifetime

... my lifetime that is.  Both of my parents officially will be retired by the end of the day.  It's kind of crazy if you ask me.  I couldn't be more proud of them for making it this far.

My dad has been in the generator fixing business (sorry I don't have a better term) for as long as I can remember. When I was young, my dad used to travel around the world fixing generators - mostly for third world countries. I vividly remember the phone calls at night before bed.  We would stop what we were doing just to get our hello's in.  A long waited "HI DAD!.....(6 extremely long seconds)....HI LOUIE!"  I'm sure you can talk to folks in Asia pretty easily these days on Skype with little delay... Unfortunately we didn't get to have him around as much as we would have liked, but for weeks to months at a time while my dad was away - he was doing it for us.  He got to see some pretty amazing things in his lifetime I'm sure.  More than I probably will ever see.  His job took him places that you only see on the news or read about in books or magazines.  He never really talked much about it (maybe because we were so young - or that at that time, we only hoped for a present on return..).  In the short time he was home, he would always manage to fix everything needing fixing.  From broken necklace chains, to appliances, to cars.  He got it done sometimes in only a short weekend.  Once we were older in high school my dad switched positions to travel really only here in the U.S. for basically a week at a time.  That changed the home dynamics quite a bit.  But in the end, we got to have him around that much more.  I'm proud of my dad for doing it this long.  He never gave up in the times when he didn't know if his job would be removed due to lay offs - or just simply because he was sick of it.  He kept with it teaching my brother and I a ton about work ethic.  I thank you for that.  And in the end, I think you are a pretty amazing man for doing the things you have done in your lifetime.  To me - you are the greatest at what you have done and accomplished in your career.  Thanks for all your hard work dad.

My mom.  My mom has worked in the SAME BUILDING since she was 18 years old.  I cannot even imagine.  To me, this is the end of an era.  I remember the days she worked for the lawfirm, Foley&Lardner.  We'd make that phone call the minute we got home from school, dialing her extension to let her know we made it.  That extension still engrained in all of our brains.  As years went on there were some ups and downs.  The ups mainly were the years she was able to take the summer off.  Those were the best summers.  The downs were when she couldn't of course.  When high school came around and eventually college - my mom swallowed her pride picking up a second job to pay for our college.  I think about it now and I just can't imagine how you did it.  You worked those days leaving the house at 7am, not coming home until after 10pm.  That was the most selfless thing anyone has ever done for me I have to say.  It wasn't once or twice, but years you did it.  Thank you for that - I am forever grateful.  Oh, and even with those hours - you managed to still wake up at 4:30 every morning to make our dinners plus lunches.  We always had a home cooked meal on the table every night - Somehow you did it. You are a Wonder Woman of sorts ;) ...Working with some of the attorneys brought her a connection with MLB.  She would tell us at the dinner table some of the famous ball players she got to talk to on the phone.  Soon following, she landed a job working under the Commissioner of Major League Baseball (yes in the same building).  This was her dream job. Everyday was Baseball.  For over a decade now my mom has been with MLB.  She was able to take us yearly to the All Star Games and all the VIP festivities that went along with it.  Pretty cool if you ask me - something that gave us all a little to brag about ;)  So it goes without saying that you too taught Tommy and I a little something about great work ethic. You were the hardest worker I knew.  And somehow you were able to make it to ALL of our happenings - EVERY tennis match, EVERY award ceremony, EVERY production, EVERY anything of importance to our academic and/or athletic achievements.  You made it.  How? I do not know.  So yes, today is your last day.  Not only is it probably the best day ever for you :) But it's kind of a sad moment to me.  The end of an era of work yes, but the end to the work phone call era :( From the days we would dial that extension, to the calls I make now from my own family home.  Since you Never have had a cell phone, it was my only way to reach you.  I will forever remember the thousands of holds you have put me on, the tears you have let me unleash on you, the laughs we have had, and the 'I'm just checking in' phone calls... all to/from your work.  We can say that we pretty much talk everyday during the week.  Yes, I apologize for the 3rd call of the day (normally that was a necessity).  So yeah, I'm totally happy for you, but sad that those phone calls will end. I'm sure they will only get better now without disruption (although, we still have dad and lucy in the background for a distraction). I just hope you don't run out of time living the retired life and forget to call me...

I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for making me into the person I am today.  Your work has made a huge impact my life.  Your time off work being some of the most special moments.  You made a mark in your fields whether you know it or not - and you made a huge mark in my life.  I hope these days of not working will only bring to you both new opportunities and longer vacations!  You have been waiting for this day forever.  Enjoy every minute! and mom, don't forget to call.....

Cheers to both of you - I Love You! ....as Lucy would say in times of celebration, "YA-HOOOOO"!!!!!!!

my lucy > this is 3.

What a change from last year...

my lucy > my monster

 

...I think she will hang pretty well with a little brother

family > the three man band...our last tour

Looks like we got ourselves another band-mate :)  SHE was, and has been an Awesome addition...We think HE will be pretty Rad too!

my lucy > a special treat for an awesome helper

Tonight after a very messy dinner, we put her in her first bath after 6 days (remember she has a cast - and there were a couple days before the cast...Eek)! After her much needed cleanup - I had a bunch to clean up myself in the kitchen.  If anyone knows me, I am an extremely messy cook - the kitchen is a disaster zone every night... I asked my little munchkin if she could help - and to my surprise, she did : Put a way the table mats, took cloth napkins to the laundry, put all the garbage clippings to the garbage, took the recycle out to the bin in the garage, gave me a fresh towel to wipe up with, and even picked up all her chalk and colored pencils scattered on the floor.  I was kind of amazed she never gave up even with the cast.  So as I washed the dishes, I got to share a yummy treat with my lucy. Some moments are the best.  Even when it's just a shared ice cream pop.

in the moment > ....the car

She insists on the car...but only makes it inside for about 1 aisle!  The rest of our trip consists of her standing on the dashboard backwards, trying to make it from window to the roof, or begging to push.  Have you ever pushed around one of these? It's an artform, I promise. Now try it with a balancing contortionist tagging along. Yes, I'm that mom.  If it's not this, then its me stuffing a doughnut in her face to keep her reasonable! (of course, we often get back to the car realizing we both have chocolate all over our faces - what the cashier and customer behind us must be thinking)!...They must love it when they see us enter!! ...The Daily Life of Louie & Lucy 

our phones > some of my faves this month

She's smart, independent, beautiful, creative, silly, thoughtful...and she's my little girl.  I hope someday we can be best friends like I am with my mom now. She makes me so proud, I could only be so lucky to be that person to her... xo

in the moment > a birthday countdown

She cannot wait until her birthday.  A Christmas tradition turned birthday.  She loves it.

my lucy > broken bones

We made it halfway through the countdown to Lucy's 3rd Birthday (post to come) when came a slight bump in road.  My sweet Lucy tripped and fell fracturing her forearm near the elbow, and denting the same bone near the wrist.  Even with the pain, she managed to smile the whole way through.  Moments like these give me such a proud feeling knowing I have such a tough little cookie. She is the bravest little thing I know!

(I posted the photo above on social media... it melts my heart.  Below is more so what I was dealing with)!

in the moment > some day soon when I feel like crud, she will be there for me

I know this looks scary, but she gets it.  Crazy as it sounds, she listens best in the kitchen.  It's all she wants - for me to get her stool out.  She amazes me everyday with her knowledge and passion of cooking.  Whether it's listing off the ingredients correctly, to pulling out the correct pans/utensils, or even correcting me on order of operation.  She's 2.75 years old, and she gets it.  I can only hope it continues - and that she someday becomes Master Chef Junior of course :)

(btw - she scrambled these eggs from start to finish.  I was by her side the whole time except to take this single photo.  For her first time at the stove, she killed it)

my lucy > fresh painted nails, dirt, chalk, apples & giggles

Some days top the rest....

her words > her solution to a big problem

Lucy: "Mom...my right arm fell asleep...and so did my left arm" 

(lifting opposite arms in such a cute pathetic voice)

Me: "Hmmm....how do you think we can fix it"?

Lucy: "Do you have any jumping beans"???????

my lucy > my human airplane

my lucy > magic trick gone bad...a daily log

Photos start from 10 minutes after the incident, and end with the last photo taken of any discoloration.  We couldn't believe it got so bad so quick...and what felt like it healed quicker than it got worse.  Regardless, I think she totally owned it. 

(this last picture is totally hammy - it's all I had...)