You're Gonna Miss This .... A Christmas Letter

Sharp, long shadows criss crossed with bright sun rays fell upon my face.  The blinds gently tapped against the window pane as a breeze made its way through the shade and kissed my cheeks. My arm slid across the crumpled sheets as I began to stretch and enter the world of the living.  Sleeping past 6:00 am was a luxury bestowed upon me that special morning, and I was relishing every second I could grab. The muffled voices that seeped under the bedroom door drew me farther from slumber and closer to reality.  

The door opened a few inches and in a strained whisper I heard ….
“Mummy? Mummy?…… Halffy Burfday!” 
“Sssshhhh Joey! Mommy’s Sleepin’!”
“Ok, guys … move aside I’ve got Mommy’s coffee”

I laid there with my eyes closed, playing opossum, straining to hold back a smile and a giggle.  Joe leaned over me … 
“I don’t know guys I think she’s still asleep, let's let her rest’
“Awwwee… buff its her Burfday!”

I let one eye open and started to smile
Ashley sucked in a quick breath and smiled, her excitement couldn’t be contained.
She bounced up and down on her toes.
“She’s awake, she’s awake I saw her open her eye!” 
There she stood, with her disheveled platinum hair, her wide crystal blue eyes and broad smile she melted my heart. 
“Mummy? Mummy?” 
Another little toe head bounced just above the side of my bed. I slowly slid my face to the edge of the bed, and peaked over the side.
“Ashwee, Ashwee you right! She’s awake! Halffy Burfday Mummy, Halffy Burfday!” 
There just below me, Joey’s chocolate eyes connected with mine. He squealed, grabbed Joe’s leg and buried his face into his leg. 

I scooted up in the bed and patted the blankets next to me, welcoming the kid's company.  Joe handed me off the coffee as Ashely snuggled in close under my arm.  I kissed her forehead and sucked in the smell of her hair, how could something smell so good? 
“I wanna sit wiff Mummy!” 
Ashley the forever good big sister moved over and let her little brother in, somehow my arm still reached around both of them. 

Joe sat at the foot of the bed and announced it was my day, so I got to chose what we would do for the day.  So I thought about it … 
“Hhhhmmm, how about we go grocery shopping?!”
In chorus .. “nooooo!” 
“Uummm, we can weed the gardens?”
In chorus the protest continued … “Nnnoooooo!” 
“I know, we can clean the bathrooms!” 
Joey … confused didn’t answer, Joe laughed and Ashley rolled her eyes and said “Mommy, No! Let’s do something fun!” 
I sipped my coffee, attempting to add a little suspense to the morning, honestly I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do.  Then it came to me … 

“How about we go to the Park?!”
Cheers of approval filled the bedroom. 
Then I threw them a little curve ball …. “That is the Park in  ……New York City!”
There was a moment of dead silence, exchange of blank stares between my three precious loves, then a cheer of approval. 

The spontaneity of the day was thrilling, I wonder if any other family could have packed so much into one day. We visited the zoo, we saw Balto, Ashely climbed up onto Alice in Wonderland’s mushroom and Joey begged to watch the remote boats race for what seemed like hours!  We recharged ourselves with hot dogs and lemonade under a tree where we dozed a bit and watch a local baseball game … we even rented a row boat and saw the park from a totally unique view, a view I had only seen through the photos. There were sticky fingers, ketchup on more than just the hot dogs, a skinned knee, and plenty of sun kissed cheeks. 

As the sun began to drop below the trees, Joe carried a tuckered out Joey and I held my baby girls hand as we made our way back to the car.  Joe buckled Joey into his car seat, Joey through a half yawn said “Halfly Burfday Mummmmy” I smiled.  I helped Ashley with her seat belt and she asked, “Did you have fun Mommy? I had fun Mommy, I hope you had fun, I love you Mommy” I sighed and smiled  “Thank you Babies … “ 

As I buckled my seatbelt, Joe leaned over and kissed my forehead then said, “Happy Birthday Honey”,  I thought to myself, this is the most perfect day of my life. 

That most perfect day was over 13 years ago, but I swear it happened this past August. Those little voices are as clear in my head today as the day they were delivered to me.  We never quite understand the speed that life rushes by us until we take a moment to reflect back.  I’ve been blessed to have many of these ‘most perfect days of my life’, truly blessed.  As I questioned what this years Christmas letter would be about, Joey jokingly said “Write about your wonderful kids Ma!”  Note: I’m no longer Mummy … I’m Ma!  Years ago Joey inspired a Christmas letter and once again he had done it.

 Joe and I are entering a new chapter in our lives, a chapter that I for one am having a little adjustment issue with.  My baby Ashley is living on her own in NYC, while I know she still needs us she’s a beautiful, independent woman working, paying her own way and living her own life.  My baby Joey (6’ tall, 210 lbs) is a Junior in High School, he still need us … (I make sure he doesn’t forget that) but my days are limited and this I know.  I’m treading dangerously into that zone of ‘crazy lady in the grocery store’.   We’ve all met her, the lady that stops and greets you and your wee one only to go on and on about how fast the time goes, and how you should treasure every moment!  …. Yep I’m her.  

Please, treasure today …. Make each day awesome and take every opportunity to create a rocking chair memory.  

Merry Christmas from The Davenport Family  

….. including the crazy lady from the grocery store 

You're Gonna Miss This .... 

Sisterhood of the Traveling Bedrooms (III) ...Sweet Seventies

Every era has a defining characteristic, something that rewinds you to the days gone past. 

For me, it's a teenage girl's bedroom.  
Maybe I'm just missing having Ashley home!  


Really, if you want an accurate portrayal of the trends today,  you should just take a peek upstairs, after all aren't those beautiful babies (hardly babies ...) our future?

Over the next few weeks, Ashley (no longer my brilliant teenager) is going to take you on a journey through the decades via the bedrooms that shaped generations. 

Enjoy my guest blogger.... 
All my best,

Welcome back! 

Get ready to be accosted with bright colors and patterns galore, 

because bedrooms this week are straight from the 70's!! 

This room has everything I love about 70's decor. Pattern, texture, and bold colors! The sassy bejeweled jungle cat is just a bonus. 

Don't you just love when your dress matches your duvet?

Once you get past the bright traffic cone orange, you may notice some delish built in shelving. 

(And another bejeweled jungle cat)

This room is by far my favorite. Nothing like taking a theme and sticking with it! You can even catch a glimpse of what must be an amazing peacock rug! 

Until next week... Stay fab!

definition of extraordinary

I bounced on my toes through the kitchen, into the family room, back to the kitchen following closely on my mom’s heals. “Can we go? Can we go?”  My bathing suit was rolled in my towel and tucked tightly under my arm, I was all ready to go. 

After what felt like an eternity to any young child waiting, the car was loaded.
“C’mon! c’mon!‘ I yelled as I shoved and pushed my way into the back seat.  Finally, Dad backed the car out of the driveway.  I knew the route by heart, I kept my face glued to the window watching each landmark speed by. We rounded the corner by Fowlers Market, and my toes began to tingle, as we passed the package store, my belly tickled.  As my dad was applying the breaks, I could see the tree line and sharp dip of the driveway, it was then that I would shiver with excitement. 

The car doors opened and familiarity filled my senses, a cool, refreshing breeze kissed my cheeks, the old transistor radio barked out play by play of a baseball game.  I ran towards the circle of lawn chairs squinting at the sun reflecting off the water, breathing in the array of smells, the musty old boat house, the freshly cut grass, the crisp lake and the sweet smell of old baking.  There they sat, my Grandfather, Uncle Steve, Uncle Benny & Uncle Stanley, I got a wave and a smile which was abruptly interrupted by a shout of joy, not for me but for a great play just announced through the radio.  My Grandmother sat in her chaise lounge snapping her gum and knitting away, Aunt Mary with her hair done and her signature red nails chatted away while flipping through the newspaper.   I made my way around the circle planting quick kisses on each of their checks. Uncle Stanley pulled me into his lap, and asked “how’s my girl?!” I giggled as he pulled my face to his and smiled widely.  He smelled of cigarettes, shaving cream and bakery confections, which were embedded into his skin. 

A familiar clatter leaked from the cottage, cabinet doors squeaking, dishes clanking, laughter and chitchat filled the air. I wrapped my hand around the screen door handle, pulled hard and scooted in quickly before the door kissed my backside as it slammed shut.  I ran across the cool crackling old linoleum floor, following my aunts voices to the back porch.  “Lisa!” My aunts cried, their eyes danced and huge smiles filled their faces.  They wrapped me in genuine hugs that I would squirm away a little to quickly from.  It didn’t matter if it was a week or a few hours, they always greeted me the same way.  

Through the back porch door I dashed, remembering to hold on carefully to the old railing, these were a few steep steps.  I raced down the hill, trying to watch for raised tree roots, I had suffered more than one face plant do to those nasty little buggers.  I waved my arms calling out to my uncles who were checking the stability of the old dock.  They waved back, the bright summer sun reflected off the water creating silhouettes of their faces, and although I could not see them, I felt their smiles. 

The water lapped against the lake wall, as my cousins splashed and played.  There was no need to say hello to the boys, I just needed to change into my bathing suit and then I’d see them. I ran back up to the cottage, through the back porch door across the crinkly linoleum floor to the bathroom.  Ugh, the door was closed.  I slumped onto the floor to wait.  The trees rustled outside the window, I heard my dad asking about the game.  I listened to my Mom with my aunts in the kitchen and started to count the ceiling tiles above my head, patience was not a strength of this child at the tender age of ten.  The bathroom door opened, my Uncle Jimmy tousled my hair and said, “It’s all yours kiddo!”  I couldn’t change fast enough, I just had to get into the lake!  I busted out of the bathroom, with my balled up clothes and tossed them into the bedroom.  I  darted though the kitchen, out the back door and ran, still cautiously down the hill. 

In my mind I had just gotten into the lake when Aunt Patty called for dinner.  Clearly we’d been in the water plenty long enough because all of us had pruned fingers and toes. With towels wrapped around our waists and dripping wet hair we lined up at the outdoor fireplace for our hot dogs and hamburgers.  Down the center of the long continuous picnic tables, sat potato salad, macaroni salad, condiments and green jello.  
Around the table were multiple generations, there was unconditional love, devotion, tradition, and dedication to each other.  

At the tender age of 10, what happened each Sunday at the lake was just common place, it was just what we did.  Now 35 years later, I see it as so much more.  The dedication my family had and has to each other is exceptional.  At the end of 2012 we closed the chapter on one generation, yet the newest one is continually growing. I watch my Aunts, Uncles and parents working hard to keep traditions alive, to keep us connected.  A task that in today’s world, when we rarely slow down enough to eat let alone spend time with family, is an enormous feat.  

I probably don’t tell my parents, my aunts and my uncles nearly enough how much I appreciate and cherish their efforts.  They in my mind they are not ordinary, but truly the definition of extraordinary.  When the time comes that they need to pass the torch, we will be ready to accept it.  To set a table with delectable, traditional foods down the center surrounded by that unconditional love, devotion, traditions and the dedication that I have been taught.  

I imagine there is a lake in heaven, where a circle of lawn chairs sits off to the side.  This Christmas there isn’t a ball game playing, rather a play by play of Christmas Eve events at my Aunt Trudy’s.  Grammy is clapping as the kids sing Christmas Carols, while Uncle Benny and Aunt Mary are leaning in to hear who is playing Santa this year.  Grandpa is grinning ear to ear knowing his gingerbread men are still alive and well, while Uncle Steve and Uncle Stanley are keeping tabs on which kids are Red Sox fans.  Uncle Jimmy throws his head back laughing as he listens to Amy or Christen’s little ones screaming because Santa is a little scary to them this year. 

Merry Christmas ..... here’s to unconditional love, devotion, tradition and dedication.