who should I vote for?????

I am absolutely flummoxed by this year's election. Perhaps it is because I am a taxpayer and scared of threats of socialism creeping in. Perhaps it is because I am scared of more of what has occurred in the last eight years. Perhaps it is because our economy is tanking quickly and we all want someone to save us. Perhaps it is because I have been bit by the celebrity bug. With the election ticker counting down quickly, I must make a decision.....and soon. I will "pull the lever". I believe it is necessary to teach our children the importance that our vote counts. I just don't know who it will be for.

unhealthy obsessions

I am obsessed, obsessed, obsessed with this.

we found the great pumpkin!

We had a great deal of fun at Critz Farms this weekend - the girls did very well searching for the great pumpkin and we brought home four VERY LARGE pumpkins! We will be enjoying roasted pumpkin seeds for weeks!

happy weekend!

A little family time here.

And more friend {and family} time on the family farm!

And of course, the most important thing to do for my husband this weekend is this.

a day in the life of moi

A very old and dear friend of mine has a phenomenal blog and has been posting stories from readers and friends about a day in their life. As I crawled into the shower this morning, I was envying many of these mothers, because I am exhausted from a day in the life of me.

Yesterday was a pretty average day. Awake between 5:00 and 5:30, which is when our 4-year-old Abby climbs into bed with us. She is up for the day and wants to be with us - she does not go back to sleep once the morning air hits her eyes. So, she spends anywhere from 5 minutes to a half hour wiggling between us in our bed. I love snuggling with my girls, but at this hour of the day, it is the number one reason I covet a California King size bed.

My daily aim is to be out the door and headed to the office by 7:00 am. I am blessed with a wonderful husband, who doubles as the father of the century, because he actually enjoys spending the morning time with the kids, getting them ready for their days.

Although our office "rule" is that I take no appointments before 9:00, so that I have two solid hours to get actual work done, my appointments keep creeping earlier and earlier. On this day, my appointments started at 8:30. By 9:30 I had to be in Family Court for four morning court appearances. Once I got to Family Court, the added another court appearance, which is never a good sign for my day.

At noon, I quickly scoot back to the office to finishing preparing for my afternoon trial and hopefully grab a bite for lunch. My very wonderful law partner {and life partner} runs out to grab me a healthy wrap and a not so healthy soda {ahhhhhh....blessed caffeine}.

Back to court by 1:00 for a sixth court appearance, plus a custody trial. We remain in the rather {contentious} custody trial until nearly 5:00, by which time my nerves are absolutely shot.

Custody trials {more on these some other time} are the most difficult part of what I do. Having two {or more} people that love a child and truly feel they can provide the best life for a child fight over that child's best interests is emotionally exhausting. And, it is so much more than emotions, because I have to endure the emotions to keep the legal procedures, and my client's rights, in check.

After court, quickly run home to dinner and get the girls ready for the evening. Abby has ballet class on Tuesday evenings, so we are all back out the door before 6:00. On this night, we also are stopping to pay respects to a truly wonderful man, Benny, who was a community icon and whose family was interwoven themselves with our own.

Then, I am back out the door to local town court to represent a client on criminal charges at 7:00 p.m. I am finally back home, for the end of my day, at 8:00.

Unfortunately, I have missed bathe, book and bed time. Izzy is already tucked in and Abby has one foot in the bedroom. Quick snuggles, then I am back to work. I finally finish my paperwork for the office around 10:30, which is when I collapse into bed.

Then of course, the hamster wheel began again this morning at 5:15 when Abigail climbed into bed.

I do love my life.......some days I just wish it was more......quiet.

Hope a day in the life of you is a happy one!

i love this book

I absolutely love this book.

"The Little Yellow Leaf" by Carin Berger.

When I ran into First Edition to pick up some birthday gifts for an adorable little 3-year-old named Tanner, I saw this book set on the Thanksgiving display. I quickly "leafed" through the pages and saw enough to be interested.

The story of friendship and facing fears of the unknown is rather simplistic, but is incredibly apropos for our little ones. I love too the illustrations, which used recycled paper as composite for the trees, leafs and littlest details.

Please check this book out - adorable!

happy international day of non-violence

In an {unrelated} follow-up to my posts about divorce - here's a cheer to today!

I wish more people could celebrate and embody the best of Gandhi in this world.

divorce-cakes

So, I am a divorce lawyer.....that is my chosen profession. Before you simply stop reading out of disgust, please know that I love what I do.

My parents were divorced while I was in college. It was a life-rocking event, fraught with many emotions, most being hyper-charged. At the time, I only knew one other kid that I had grown up with whose parents had divorced. It was taboo. It was forboden. It was just wrong.

But, my family has survived that trauma. Yes, there are some lasting scars that will always remain raw, but our family has overall turned out for the better.

I think it is because of this life-shaking time occurring simultaneous with the time in which I was blossoming as an individual is why I love what I do. I love being a divorce lawyer.

The issues come very simply to me. I am passionate about my clients and their families. Yes, sometimes I am more of a social worker than a profound legal machine, but that's part of the glory. I am simply a person helping another person get through a difficult period of their life.

I have been a divorce lawyer for over seven years. I love it. Sure, there are days that I hate it. But, I wouldn't chose any other area of the law in which to practice.

So, when I saw this post this morning, I knew I needed to share it. Let the divorce be a merry occasion - I love finding occasions to celebrate! And the width of my hips demonstrate that I am the first to celebrate with cake! As "she" famously said - "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche!"