Thursday, June 28, 2012

Throwback Thursday - 42 Oleander St.


Over the last year, since Dot moved to the Atrium, we have been very slowly breaking up her home. It has been a sad process for me. The whole family, including my Dad and my aunt Ettie, have been to the condo, choosing things that they wanted.

This past week we met with a realtor, and the process is in motion to sell her condo.

Yesterday, we moved the last of her furniture out. One of the things that I took was the highboy that was in my room at 42 Oleander St. There were so many things in Dot's condo that go back to that home, things that I remember.

I wish that I had been into blogging and scrapbooking earlier in my life. I wish I had more pictures. My aunt Dot took a lot of pictures but, like most people, they were pictures that she took of events and people. If there was a picture of a room, it was just incidental. I wish I had more pictures of the rooms at 42 Oleander St. and what was in those rooms.

I am trying to take more pictures of everyday, ordinary life. Who knows, maybe someday my kids and grandchildren will find this interesting. Or, maybe I'm just weird and they will all wonder what in the world I took these pictures for. I'm not taking any chances though!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Throwback Thursday (Tuesday) - 5th grade

Today is Marley's last day of 5th grade. Next year she goes to Middle School....sigh!

It got me thinking of last days of school for Kristen and Mark, and also myself. I remember the excitement of the last day of school.

This is Kristen in 5th grade - 1982...



and this is Marley in 5th grade - 2011



I know it sounds like such a cliche, but it really is true that time flies!

Happy last day of school Marley!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day


Happy Father's Day Paul, Toby, Big Baba, and Mark.

P.S. Mason got a catcher's mask for his birthday, and this is his "mad" face that I guess goes along with a catcher!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Throwback Thursday - Yardstick Bubblegum


When I was a kid, my cousin Lynda and I used to take turns visiting at the other's house for the summer. They lived, at the time of my story, in New Jersey and I thought it was such a long trip. My uncle Bob, who was a minister, used to have contests for kids at his church. I'm not sure if it was Vacation Bible School, or a promotion for Sunday school, but he used to have these prizes that he would promote throughout the contest. One of these prizes was a yardstick of bubble gum. I'm sure I never won it, but I always thought it was the greatest thing!

So you remember that Lyn?

Fast forward a million years, and while we were on vacation this year we went to Smoky Mountain Knifeworks, and there it was - the yardstick of bubble gum. I couldn't believe it. I hadn't thought of that in years and years.

I looked at it for awhile and we actually left the store, got out to the parking lot, and I just had to have it.

After I took some pictures of it, I gave it to Marley. Here are a few pictures of it.







Isn't it amazing, when you least expect it, memories come flooding back and it's almost like you were there again. I hope I never lose my memory!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Mason's 3rd birthday party!


The birthday celebration actually started Saturday night after we got back from dinner at The Fort. We decided it would be fun to let him open the presents from the grandparents.

This birthday was all about Super Heroes, and the hit of the night was the Spiderman mask from Grandma Joyce. Isn't Janelle's expression hysterical?



Once he put it on, it stayed on. Except to let Daddy try it on.



Of course it was a little hard to see to open the rest of the presents!



We had lots of laughs watching him in that mask!



The day of his party was beautiful, sunny and warm.



Toby did the grilling.



After we ate, the kids played for awhile and then it was time for cake. We lit the candles (again, I had no regular candles and had to use those three big "1" candles!) and sang Happy Birthday.



Doesn't he look happy?



The kids had fun in the little pool and the Slip 'n Slide.....all except Mason.



For him it was all about playing sports - basketball, soccer, baseball. We kept trying to get him to put his bathing suit on and at least get wet. He looked so hot. Finally he decided to play with the Slip 'n Slide, totally dressed. At least he cooled down!









Then it was time for presents.



We ended the day by playing corn hole. I think we need a smaller set for the kids!



And that's how we celebrated Mason turning 3. Happy birthday Mason!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Dinner at The Fort


A few months ago Janelle said that she would like to celebrate Mark's graduation by having dinner at The Fort, which is just about their favorite restaurant. She wanted it to be a surprise! I thought it was a great idea. It was just family and Mike and Maria and their children, one of Mark and Janelle's best couple friends.



The kids seemed to have a good time together and they were so good!





This was the "younger" table.



Paul and I hadn't been to The Fort in almost 40 years. I had forgotten just how unique it is.

What a fun night it was.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Coburn Family Picnic and Mason turns 3!


Today I went to the Coburn Family Picnic at Marley's school. They have it every year, but I have always been working. This is the last year for Marley as she goes to middle school next year (sigh...). It was a beautiful day and we ate outside on the grass. We had hot dogs, beans, watermelon, and a bag of chips. Marley's friend Britney ate with us.

These are the teachers in Marley's class.



These are the mulberry trees that Marley picks mulberries from.



The school has a big back yard....



That ends in a playground.



I went to junior high at this school and I jump at any chance to go back and look around. I am so happy that I got to go to Marley's last family picnic at Coburn.

On a side line.....I have been taking pictures of fiberglass animals that are placed around some towns. West Springfield has terrier dogs around town. Coburn school painted one of the dogs with maps of the different countries that the students come from. I have been wanting to take a picture of it, and today was the perfect opportunity. Marley took me to the principal's office where it was located and told me to ask the secretary if I could take a picture of it, ha ha. Here are a few pictures of it.









Today is Mason's 3rd birthday. We are having a party for him on Sunday, but tonight being Friday night with Marley, Mason and the Babas, and also the fact that Mark and Janelle bought this little cake for him today and brought over half of it, we decided to celebrate. I didn't have any regular candles, but I did have three "1" candles, so that is what we went with. A little big for such a small cake, but he loved it.





His parents were doing some birthday shopping and decided to let him have this present tonight. Mark assembled one of the goals and Mason was SO excited. He was one happy camper!



Happy birthday Mason!!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Higgins in Blandford



Back in July 2003 Paul and I started working on Genealogy. I really wanted to find out when and where both sides of Paul's and my family came to America.

Paul's family is relatively easy. His father's people came from Germany, in fact, both of his father's parents were born in Germany. His mother's people came from England. Paul's Uncle George has been doing a lot of family Genealogy and has gone all the way back to England on Paul's mother's mother's side. As far as I know, Uncle George has not gone all the way back to England on Paul's mother's father's side, but the general consensus is that they did. Get all that?

Anyhow, back in 2003 we decided to concentrate on my family.

We have found out that:

- On my father's father's side: My grandfather's father's family came to America from England in 1638 and first settled in Malden, MA. My grandfather's mother's parents were born in Germany.

- On my father's mother's side: They came from Chateaugay, Quebec, Canada near the St. Lawrence River in the mid 1800's and settled in Malone, NY.

- On my mother's mother's side: They came from Ireland in 1767 and first settled in South Carolina.

In the last couple of weeks, starting on Memorial Day, we have been getting involved in my mother's father's family. We found out that they came from England in 1632 and first settled in Plymouth, MA.

It has been so much fun finding all of this out and then following how they eventually ended up living in this area. We have Family Tree Maker on our computer and have added all of our information there.

Today we went to the Blandford Historical Society and the Blandford Public Library and they gave me so much information.

One of the neat stories that I found out is that my great-great grandfather, William C. Higgins, (the picture of his grave is on my Memorial Day post), served in the Civil War and on his return moved from Worthington, MA to Blandford, MA and started a basket factory.

This is a picture that my mother gave me years ago of his basket factory.



Through the help of the historical society and the library we were able to find the address of the old basket factory. It has been remodeled into a private home. We left a picture of the old factory for the new owners (they were not home at the time) and they called us back to thank us. They knew their home had been a basket factory at one time but had never seen a picture of it. The man said that when he and his son were building a patio a few years ago they actually found remnants of basket making in the ground.

This is what it looks like now.



The historical society also told us there was a relative in Chesterfield who still operated a basket shop. We located it, but to my dismay, it was closed up. We found out that this had been the basket shop of Benjamin C. Higgins, and his son-in-law had been making baskets there since 1974. He is no longer able to do it and the shop is closed.

This is a picture of The Basket Shop.




I just love doing this. I like all the facts, but I like the stories the most. I am always trying to find out new stories. I guess that is why I like blogging and scrapbooking so much. Maybe some day my "descendants" will be interested in the stories too.

Throwback Thursday - Paul's graduation from AIC


The date on the back of this picture is June 4, 1972.

The facts:

- Paul was graduating with a Batchelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting Major, from American International College.

- The graduation ceremony was at Symphony Hall in Springfield, MA.

- He was 22; I was 21 and almost 7 months pregnant with Kristen.

- It seems like a million years ago!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Happy 11th Birthday Marley!


Today we celebrated Marley's 11th birthday. I know this is not a very good quality picture, but it cracks me up.

Marley was coming home from her Stars Retreat weekend this afternoon, and we had everything ready for her.





I asked her what she wanted to have for her birthday dinner and she said spaghetti and meatballs....



and spice cake with cream cheese frosting!



Mason was very helpful with the presents!





One of her presents was a SLAP watch.



Mark, Janelle, and Mason gave her, amont other things, a coat rack for her room that she had requested.







She also got a lot of "girlie" things, nail polish, earings, etc.



Marley wanted/needed a new bike, but Kristen had a bike that she was not really using and so they decided to let Marley use it until she gets a little older. Paul pumped up the tires and put the seat as far down as it could go, and it was perfect. Marley seemed very happy!

After some pointers from Toby,



We all rode with her.



Mason rode on Marley's old "Pretty in Pink" bike with her "Barbie" helmet!





Doesn't he looke cute?



Happy Birthday Marley. I can't believe you are already 11!