Pizza with the Principal...

We are so proud of Owen. When going through is folder last night, we found two great big surprises: 1.) A "Just a Note" postcard from his teacher: "This is just a note to let you know many teachers have commented on what nice manners Owen has...Mrs. Tate" 2.) A "Pink Slip" from the Principal: "Pizza with the Principal: Owen Treece, for showing acts of Kindness and Good Manners." This one means because of his good behavior he gets a pizza party with his Principal.

Despite his orneriness and sometimes "macho" image he portrays at home, it was a true honor and blessing to have these notes from the school! We are so proud of our big boy :)

Love your Mom & Dad

2009 John Deere Calendar -Swimsuit Edition!

Guess who won the spot as July's John Deere Calendar Girl....





Okay... not really, but I couldn't resist the title for this professional model pose!

Little Miss Alice

All this football talk going on in the house, I had to take Olivia to the side and have some "girl" time. What better way to be "girly" than with some of Great Granny P's cherished treasures! We put on an old formal from when Granny was "Past Matron" of the Eastern Stars. We added pearls and a purse. Then, we topped it off with a hat and purple bifocals. Oh... and purple shoes, but unfortunately, the dress is pretty long. With all the material I had to work with, I might say, I tacked it up pretty well! We had so much fun! And I loved how Granny's scent is still so fragrant...

Olivia went to the "gosuree" store to buy gum, starbursts and tootsie rolls. She walked and walked and walked... clanking the purples heals all the way down the driveway and back. She'd get to the garage and hand me our pretend groceries, then say she forgot something and back at it she went...

After our "girly" time, we went into the house to take a break. She curled up in the chair with Troy and took a two hour nap... still dressed to the nines in Great Granny's treasures!

What a beautiful way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

Meet Coach Treece and Owen the water boy. It is the start of football season and our house is mass ciaos. But, then again, football really isn't the cause for being unorganized. Anyway, this season brings all sorts of news and firsts. Troy was asked to be Defense/Offense lines coach for Van Wert Freshman. However, they ended up doing away with the freshman schedule this year, so Troy is now the coach for Junior Varsity. He also gets the privilege of being on the field as the Varsity games, as well. The kids love watching him coach!

Owen was asked to take on a HUGE responsibility... WATER BOY for the Junior Varsity Team. He had his first game last Saturday at Bryan. He got to ride the bus with the team. A huge deal! I was a little worried that at age 6 he would not realize the importance of complete SILENCE on the way to the game. I can remember these days when I was a cheerleader. It was very important and sometimes very hard to not say one "bleep". The ride home was a different story (well, that is if we won!). Anyway... luckily, Owen took a nap on the way there. What better way to keep a 6 year old quiet!

Olivia and I enjoy being cheerleaders... rooting the team, the coaches and the water boy on to VICTORY!

C-O-U-G-A-R-S, Cougars, Cougars, Are The Best!

Good luck Van Wert Football... we're rooting for you :)

Flip of a Switch...

Okay... so I'm blessed with a "devil child". Yep, that's right... a little crazy 2.5 year old princess who seems to have turned evil queen. Equipped with a full head of hissing snakes, a nose wort and screeching, high-pitched yelp (one the neighbors 2 miles away can hear as it stops all life existing outside of our walls). Or should I say blood curdling scream?

This morning, Olivia definitely woke up on the "wrong" side of the bed. The left side to be exact. She came staggering into the bathroom, sporting her saggy pull-up and a wild mess of a mane. She rubbed her eyes and gave me the sweet and innocent morning grin that I love so dearly. She took her "poo-up" off and put it in the trash like a good little girl. We headed to her room to get the wipes and freshen up for the day. When I told her to pick out her panties, she immediately turned devil child... I mean, instantly... like the flip of a switch. I was truly amazed at this blood curdling scream coming out of this precious little girl.

The noise that bellowed out of this child was so loud and muddled, I could not understand WHAT she was screaming about. She was pointing to the top drawer where we keep her "poo-ups" and jumping up and down. I calmly asked her... "you want a pull-up?" Her red-faced reply... "YES!"

"Oh, but honey, you are a big girl and you pee in the potty. You only wear pull-ups at night."

Woo! NOT the thing to say...

So, this literally went on for 35 minutes while trying to get out the door and make sure big brother gets to Kindergarten on time. THE GIRL HAS BEEN PEEING IN THE POTTY FOR A GOOD 12 MONTHS. I was beside myself and it was taking every bit of energy I had not to lock her in a closet and come back later!!!! (okay, you know I really wouldn't do a thing like that, right?).

Not realizing Troy hadn't left for work and was outside watering plants, I was even more taken back when he walked inside and looked at me like I'm some incapable mother. The nerve of him, in such a dumbfounded way, to ask what could possibly be making such a precious little girl act like such a ferocious BEAST. He was amazed and couldn't believe how HIS "little pumpkin" was acting. HHHHHHHAAAAAAA...UUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG! Now you see what I go through, was my reaction and an added smirk as I walked past and let him handle the situation.

I gave him a clue, whispering, "Tell her she can put the poo-up on her baby."

Needless to say, it worked. Baby got to wear the pull-up and the devil came out wearing a pretty pink dress and her pretty dress up shoes...hair tamed down and all. We got Owen to school in time, the devil in her princess costume went to the sitter and I got to work, sipped my coffee and took a very DEEP, DEEP, DEEP breath!

1st Day of Kindergarten...

Tears of joy trickled down my cheek as I slowly walked back to my car. For, this is the day I dropped Owen off at Kindergarten for his first day! I held these tears back as much as possible. I dare not embarrass our son in front of his new classmates! He was so PROUD and INDEPENDENT! I saw a side of him I always knew was there, but shielded from my true vision. I didn't want him to see my tears for it's not sadness I'm feeling... but the fear of letting go and the fact that time is not going to stand still. I need to feel proud of what Troy and I have done so far and cherish each and every day.
He's ready for this new stage in his life... these pictures show it!



I'm all set for my first day at St. Mary's... you won't have to worry about me...



So, how do I look?



I look small in this picture. It will be fun to see how I grow over the years.

My best friend Evan... the dangerous duo!

Fourth of July on August 14th...

As I stare at this blank sheet of paper
I’m screaming for inspiration…
Usually, this comes pretty easy
but with a heavy heart and blurred eyes
my vision and inspiration is somewhat lacking…

I try to pull all my memories together but they seem to blur
not a grey dulled blur… but a blur of bright pinks, turquoise and purples…
This splash of color in my mind is my vision of you …
always dressed to the nines… high heels, suits, hats… the perfect accessories to match and all in bright colorful hues.

Another vision flashes in my mind…
a turquoise box Santa would always leave in your stocking.
When I think of this box, I get an instant wave of your “scent” for it’s not the box so much in my memory, but the perfume it held and how it flowered your house and your skin with a beautiful sweet essence…

I hear songs… those from movies such as Guys and Dolls, Gigi, Easter Parade…
Oh how we loved watching Fred Estaire dance with all his ladies… and how we wished we had their legs… and the grace and beauty of Audrey Hepburn. All the romance, music and dancing would just capture our hearts and whisk us away.

And how could I forget the Charleston… you and me in the kitchen… what a hoot!

I can’t keep up now… the memories are racing through… flashing, sparkling, like
Fourth of July fireworks in my mind: A celebration of you!!!!!!

Peanut Butter on potato chips
15-2, 15-4, 15-6 and a pair for 8
Purple,
Haagendas ice cream
the scent of gin and cashews on your breathe
cocktail napkins and coaster
Purple again
Shoes, shoes and more shoes
Bloomingdales and "Needless Markups"

As the fireworks come to an end, I smile… for my once blank white paper and blurred vision is now a colorful work of art and a celebration of your life and fond memories I get to take with my all the days of my life..

We will meet again… until then, I ask you to be my angel and guide me the rest of my journey.

Granny P ~ My Angel

Granny P ~ My Angel, originally uploaded by L Studio.

December 24, 1920 - August 12, 2008

We will meet again... until then, guide me and walk with me through the rest of my journey!

Love,
Me

Last Dance...

Wednesday afternoon was a beautiful day at Granny's. I walked in the door and the room seemed brighter as the sun shined in through the front window. My uncle Tom had the bed tilted so Granny was sitting up. And to my suprise, she was wide awake... and had been all morning. She had eaten her applesauce, some pudding and drank some water. To our amazement she was a "new" person with hope and energy. I stood at the end of her bed with my hands on my hips and was talking to Denise (a caregiver) and my Uncle. When suddenly, I caught movement from Granny out of the corner of my eye. She was "mimiking" me by placing her arms on her hips. I smiled and asked her if she wanted to dance. She moved a wee bit back and forth and started singing! Uncle Tom, Denise and I were amazed once again at her jubilant character. I walked over to her and embraced in the most memorable and loving hug as she pecked at my cheek giving me numerous sweet kisses...

This will be my last visit with Granny. I'm at peace with her passing and I have shared my feelings with her. I will leave my Dad, Aunt and Uncles to be at her bedside from here on out. At first I was scared and unsure to get involved, frightened that my last visions of Granny will be of her in her weakest moments... and unsure she wanted me to be there. My heart, however, couldn't stay away. I needed that time with her. I am grateful, very thankful and have the most wonderful vision of her to carry with me forever.

I know she feels the same... she thanked me with her sweet kisses, warm hug... and our last dance!

Jane, I'm coming...

Last Thursday, Hopsice brought in the hospital bed, oxygen, morphine, etc. for my Granny. She has come to the end of her battle with cancer. She's been quite a fighter in her 87th year. She made it through the first bought of cancer with flying colors. Making sure she was dressed to the nines for each treatment... Sunday bests and high heels... none the less. I can remember the ladies coming out to get her and commenting on how beautiful she always looked. After treatment, we'd go to lunch and then head back home. She made it through... losing her hair, feeling sick and weak. She bounced back so well, but should I be surprised? She's always been a fighter, always been independent and is a Matriarch in all her glory!

Her and grandpa raised five wonderful children...
She lost grandpa at a young age...
Continued on in life, knowing only one "True Love"...
Watched her grandchildren be born and grow into wonderful adults...
And was fortunate enough to watch 13 great-grandchildren be born and start to blossom...

She was "famous" in my eyes... one I want to be like when I grow old...

It wasn't only a few years ago, I was sitting by her in church and she started to cry during one of the hymns. I reached over and held her hand... she squeezed back. Later I asked her if she was alright... she replied, "I've lost my best friend... and she was the last to go... " After Granny lost her best friend, Jane, she was "alone". Alone in her eyes, even though we were all here and the great grandkids were here.... her generation was gone. And looking back, that moment in church was the moment she realized it... a moment she began to "weaken."

She didn't seem to bounce back after holidays... or "big" events like she had before. She seemed a little depressed even with the visits from kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. They would brighten her day at the time. But as the visits came to an end, the sun seemed to go down with the door closing behind them.

She still has the strength inside her, she can still fight... but what is keeping her going? She's lived 87 wonderful years! She's been the fighter, the one holding us all together... but, we'll be okay, Granny! You will live within us for years to come... you have left us all the most wonderful gifts... your strength, your love, your desire to be...

This morning, I think Granny came to terms with death as she yelled out...

"Jane, I'm coming..."