INTRODUCING THE NEWEST GRANDPUP, OOPS, I MEAN GRANDKITTY

This is our newest little one, 

a rescue that my son found under his home.

Abandoned by it's mother at two weeks,

sick, dehydrated and blinded by gook in his eyes;

 my son and his wife brought him into their home,

took him to the vet, 

bottle feed and helped him go potty.

(I had photos of all this except I lost my phone recently and lost all my contacts and pictures :(

My daughter and I drove out to meet him at 4 weeks here...

and we both fell instantly in love.

 This is our boy now at 10 weeks.

Still deciding on a name, 

for now called little Tuna.

He has also been raised by a Grandfather Rocky,

an Uncle Dinkers and Step Mommy Little Farter.

So this will now be their 4th cat,

unless he gets adopted by us or perhaps one of their friends.

It was so very hard not to bring him home with me this weekend.

But our pup Sophie would be devastated and her nose so out of joint.

Soph has been an only child for nine years now and rules the roost in our home.

Ha!

LEAVING THE NEST

There have been several positive and wonderful changes in my children's life this year.

My son is getting married soon and also has a new job with better pay and benefits.

And my daughter has let the nest to try living without parentals.

And for the very first time has hung and put up her own Holiday lites.

She asked her dad to show her how and they worked as a team on this.

I really like her color scheme,

so soothing with the purples, greens, silvers and golds.

(Students,

what is the name of this Color Scheme.

Tell me on Monday when you walk in the door for extra credit) 

She surprised her dad and I by inviting us over for her home cooking 

and to show off her decorations.

It almost brought a tear to my eye when I saw her place decorated.

I thought she's really growing up and taking on home ownership and big time responsibility.

It just made my heart so happy and put a goofy smile on my face..

Also to see what lovely taste she has in not only her exterior but interior decor as well.

That's my girl.  

And then to the deliciousness.

My ex brought the appetizers

 and I brought the spirits and we settled down to a terrific taco building feast.

She used a favorite recipe of her boyfriend's mother.

She calls them Diana's Tacos.

I personally don't care for the packaged taco seasoning you can buy and add to your ground meat,

and was thrilled to know she seasoned it herself with garlic and onion powder,

salt & pepper and a few chili flakes.

It was scrumptious.

Danielle,

and if you ever read this post when I am dead and gone,

know how very proud of you I am.

And Diana,

I'm going to have to try out your taco recipe.

A MINI ADVENTURE

My daughter Dan invited me this last week 

to drive down to Carlsbad Beach, Ca. with her and the new pup Granger Doodle

for his first big outing.

All his puppy shots were done and he was raring to get out and about.

I was delighted to accompany her and my puppy grandson.

Our first stop when we arrived was a place she had found on the Internet

called Succulent Cafe.

Both of us love succulents and this little place was a gem and worth the hour drive.

It's a combo coffee/bakery and plant shop with indoor and outdoor patios among the plants.

Every succulent known to man is for sale in the most eclectic planters

like cupines, colanders, car oil funnels, door windows, levi's, shovel heads, and so much more.

We spent a good hour and a half trying to take everything in and do a bit of shopping

with the pup. 

Here is a vintage wood door with window panes removed and chicken wire used to replace them.

Moss was tucked into each hole and a brilliant array of succulents were thriving

as you can see above.

Here are the digging shovels

and below one of the largest succulent flowers I've ever seen.

After having lunch at a scrumptious BBQ dog friendly place,

we drove a few miles north and stopped in the beachtown of San Clemente.

Wonderful mom & pop stores, trendy boutiques and more fabulous eateries awaited us.

Below is the point where Granger had had his fill of shopping.

He is so attached to his mommy that he cried for her as she visited the cute little boutiques,

and made enough fuss to let us know he was ready to go home.

Overall he did great.

A sweet little car rider,

and very happy to meet everyone who gave him attention,

including other doggies.

I was a very proud grandma.

Ha ha

STILL HERE

Celebrated my baby's 24th birthday recently.

Happy Birthday sweetheart!

I'm so proud of the young woman you are,

and am thrilled that you've found happiness and love.

CHEERS AND CONGRATULATIONS...

are in order for my first born,

Zach,

 and his beautiful fiance Nicole.

We raised a toast to their engagement this past Thanksgiving with family.

Zach's father Inars and sister Danie,

 and Jim and I are so thrilled to welcome Nicole,

her brother and sister-in-law,

and parents into our family.

This is their 4th year with each other and they are so happy and good together.

They already share a home in the San Fernando Valley

and are slowly making it their own.

I'm filled with so much joy that my child has found someone who loves him so 

and will take great care with his heart.

Now...

only one more pup to go!

ha ha

LETTING GO

As I was going back thru my saved drafts today

I found this one from the inside of our family home that we sold this summer.

I had forgotten this piece of my daughter Danielle's life was inside the front coat closet door.

I discovered it on moving day when I was double checking that we had emptied all the closets.

When I opened the door and saw this

 I just wanted to rip off the door and take this piece of my daughter with me.

Instead I knew I could only have this picture.

So be it.

It's interesting to me to see at what age she stopped measuring her height,

or when it didn't matter so much anymore.

That would have been in 06 when she was 12 years old,

lt's the year she reached her full adult height,

5'3",

one inch taller than her mommy.

But then she revisits this space with her first serious boyfriend Tyler in 2011,

how sweet!

Her dad used to always help measure and record her height,

so of course he is right up there at the top.

BIG CITY GIRL

My cutie patootie daughter (on the right) is stuck in Times Square 

at the Halo Hair Show Convention she is working there in NYC.

A snow blizzard is coming in tonight and the airport is shut down tight.

She already lost her I.D. in the city.

A good samaritan found it and gave it to an NYPD on patrol who then posted it on FB.

Dani saw the post and told the police where she was staying 

and the good looking Lieutenant Stan delivered it to her at her hotel in person.

How about that for service with a smile.

Last weekend she got to work a show in Washington D.C.,

and next weekend they are sending her to Chicago,

all expenses paid.

What a great ride she is on with this hair company.

Good luck getting home petunia.

They should just reroute you gals to Chicago. 

Love you to the moon and back!

xoxoxoxox

Mommy

MOVING ON UP...

to the next Chapter in her life.

My baby girl has finally decided to leave Planet Beauty 

after spending the last 5 years of her life there,

2 of the last as Assistant Manager,

first working part time thru high school and full time during college.

Her Assistant Manager and now Manager Boss,

 Adriana,

 has been such a great friend to my daughter,

taking her under her wing right after Dani's father and my divorce. 

I'm so proud of what a hard worker you are Dan,

how you fit everything in and still manage to carry an "A" average in school,

work out and eat healthy,

find time for dinner & T.V. nite with me & dad,

and still have a bit of a social life.

You are pretty darn amazing and I love you so very much.

And thank you Adriana for taking such good care of her.

You have been her second mommy.

In Danielle's words in social media"

"Such a bittersweet moment to be leaving my position at Planet Beauty after 5 years. I basically grew up in this store and made so many life long friends in the process. I cannot be more thankful for my partner-in-crime @adri_f_baby for imparting all her thuggish wisdom into me; being with this girl 40 hours a week for the past five years has turned me into her little mini me and I wouldn't have it any other way 👯✨ I love Planet Beauty and everything it has taught me but I'm excited to start this new chapter in my life."

A WILLING PARTICIPANT

My baby girl is finally free!

She has had steady boyfriends since she was 15 years old (7 years),

and recently she and her current steady have decided to part ways.

YES!!!

So now she has lots of time to focus on her schooling and career path.

This summer she enrolled herself into Bartending School,

not satisfied with the money she is earning at her current job

 (that she still holds) in the beauty industry.

She passed the Bar Test this month,

and was recently hired at two different venues to serve drinks.

She has also taken on a 4th job,

that of hair model and salesperson for Halo Hair Extensions.

She travels around the country to their Convention shows,

this weekend traveling to Austin,Texas.

Plus she is carrying 15 units this senior year at Cal State Fullerton in Communications. 

So 4 jobs and school.

Man oh man Dan,

I'm so proud of you.

You actually have beaten your dad who had 3 jobs while he was putting himself thru college.

I really feel you are finally on your way to figuring out your life.

So last night she invited me, 

her brother and dad over to practice her Bloody Mary's on.

She warned us that she was going to get us messed up.

Ha!

Her first try was too heavy on the A1 & Worcester sauces.

The second one was too tomato-ie,

the third had too much pepper,

but the 4th one was just right.

She got really mad at me when I took her pix,

but too bad.

She was just too cute concentrating so hard to get that bloody thing just right.

So did she mess us up?

Not me,

I had to work today  

ha haa

Love you to the Moon and Back Dani-girl!

An aside Dani,

 when I first saw these pix on my phone gallery after I took them,

I noticed that your face is changing again.

I saw your grandmother,

my sweet mommy in you.

It brought tears to my eyes.

A GIFT FROM HER HEART

A surprise visit from my beautiful daughter on my birthday.

Thank you Dani.

I love you all the way around the world.

You make me so proud,

 and I'm blessed that you are mine.

BOO!!!!!

My little pumpkin and her best guy

 lighting up their creations Halloween night.

TAA DAH!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN...

from my little fruit bat and I.

My cutie patootie dressing up for Halloween at her shop

where she works.

Happy Hallo's Eve everyone.

Stay safe.

IT'S YOUR 21ST

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY/WOMAN

I just can't believe it,

it went by way , way too fast.

Today we take you out for your first drink  (ha ha)

your first legal one that is  LOL

You've always given us a run for our money,

my strong willed child.

And I've loved every second of it.

And some of my favorite memories are of your craziness in front of the camera.

I know you will hate that I'm showing these off,

but they are just so much fun!!!

Don't be mad  :)

5th or 6th grade

7th / 8th

9th / 10th

11th / 12th

And more recently... my baby has turned into a woman.

You take my breathe away every time I see you.

You are stunningly beautiful inside and out.

You bring so much JOY into our lives.

and I am so very proud to call you my daughter.

Your light, energy, sense of responsibility, goodness, heart and perseverance are so strong Dani...

I can't wait to see where all of that will take you.

I love you sweet girl.

xoxoxoxoxox

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE...

to share the wonderful day my children spent and treated me to on Mother's Day.

Zach took me out to lunch down in Corona Del Mar,

then off we went to my favorite place,

Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach.

And it did not disappoint.

Succulent gardening has gotten popular here in the Southland 

especially with our water shortage,

and Roger's is doing such creative designs with them.  

And the fuchsias this year were lush and varied.

My daughter Danielle joined us after she got off work,

and we had fun opening gifts, reading their loving cards, 

and taking pictures.

Danielle made a colorful stepping stone for up at the cabin,

as well as a mini succulent garden in a mason jar,

clever little crafter  :)...

and Zach helped me pick out that gorgeous Lily and yummy colored Dahlia,

both of which I re-planted in pretty pots,

 and I'm already looking forward to them re-blooming next year.

Then off to Sushi for dinner.

It was a fun and memorable day with my babies.

Thanks you two!!!!

I'm so very blessed.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxxoxoxoxoxox

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD...

for an Easter egg hunt.

My two children,

Zach and Danielle,

still insist on their dad hiding plastic eggs for their annual hunt. 

How old are you guys now?

26 and 20

Gotta love it!

The competition is fierce as Danielle tries her hardest to beat her brother,

something she has never been able to do,

poor baby.

:)

But she sure is cute trying,

 scrambling thru the yard and house like a puppy on a mission.

This year Zach's girlfriend Nicole was the top prize winner collecting over 50 eggs.

Her technique,

slow and steady,

finding the ones that the other two had passed up.

Last year Danielle's boyfriend Garrett (upper right) was the top collector.

We started the hunt this year before he was able to get there.

Hummmm...could that have been planned?

LOL

There is always a method to our madness at the Agrums/Sposa hangouts.

The Joy of the Season...

is taking this sweet, 

misshapened little tree...

and turning it into a work of art with all of my children's favorite ornaments

that we've given each other and made over the years.

And it's also watching my children grow, finding love and being filled with the Holiday Spirit.

My daughter Dani and her boyfriend Garrett

"En Plein Air"

Over the Thanksgiving break, 

my daughter and I were able to hang out and go to lunch down in Laguna Beach, 

one of our favorite places.

We ate at Las Brisas.

Sea bass,

crab meat and avocado in a caper sauce.

Yummy! 

Las Brisas is a  first class out door restaurant venue over looking the Pacific Ocean.

We could almost touch the water.

And what a beautiful day.

74% with clear skies.

We were lucky enough to catch an artist working "en plein air",

working on location.

He even entertained us with his Bill Clinton impersonation.

And of course we had to stop off at our favorite Gelato bar

which is right across the street from the Hotel Laguna.

What a Day!!!!