The Toy Box Years: Slow Going....

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

I have to admit - I think I have writer's block. I really haven't had the desire to write much since I got back from my trip back home. I honestly think that the momentum has temporarily left me. I just don't feel inspired or witty. I know that will change here shortly, but it's frustrating.....

So, for today, I'm going to share with you some of my favorite pictures of my beautiful hometown......

A little known fact about Pittsburgh. We're knows as the "City of Bridges" (also known as the "City of Champions" once again thanks to a Superbowl victory & Stanley Cup victory in one sports season!) Pittsburgh is only second - behind Venice, Italy - for the number of bridges it has!

View of Pittsburgh through one of the many bridges.....

The following pictures are what's left of the old steel mills not too far from my childhood home (my parent's still live there). My daddy was a steel worker - and I'm proud to say that I'm a steelworker's daughter. These pictures show all that's left of those majestic and powerful mills -- mills that produced steel to build America. Now, apartments, shopping centers, and restaurants stand on that ground. It makes me a little sad to see that part of history now resorted to a picnic/tourist spot along the river.

The pictures are of the actual mill that my daddy worked at.