Happier Days....

Our friend, Bill Pentz, passed away unexpectedly a few days ago.  Paul and I have known him forever.  Last May, we went on a double-date with Bill and my friend Pat.  There was a budding relationship there and I thought we would have a lot more time to watch it bloom.  It reminds me, again, to never take people for granted.  We'll miss you Bill.

Throwback Thursday - 5th Grade version of "Alice in Wonderland!"

The year was 1985 and Mark's 5th grade class performed their version of Alice in Wonderland.  Mark was the March Hare, and his two classmates on either side of him were Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.  Together they sang "A Very Merry Unbirthday to You."

I was looking through some old pictures the other day, actually looking for pictures of my grandmother and her sister Sadie, when I came upon this picture.  Every time I see it, it makes me laugh.

I talked to Mark about it the other night because I wanted to get the facts straight (before I can't remember anything about it, LOL).  He told me that his friend Andy's mother, Norma Turcotte, just happened to have this large rabbit costume.  I don't think he was too thrilled to have to wear it!

Another story saved.

Throwback Thursday - Nan's sister Sadie

In keeping with Nan's family that I talked about last Thursday, this story is about going to visit Nan's sister Sadie.  The year was 1991 and Sadie was in a nursing home in Ulster County, Kingston, NY. She had had a 99th birthday party.  We were not able to make it to the party, but we went to visit her shortly after.

My two aunts - Dot and Esther, me, and my grandmother went to see her.  Sadie's daughter was there with her.  I believe that the last time they saw each other was in 1979.  Sadie was blind at this time and when we got there, my grandmother when up to her, took her hand, and said, "Sadie, it's Lu.  I've come to visit."

It was kind of tense and I thought my grandmother might start to cry.  Sadie hesitated for a moment, and then she said, "Where the hell have you been all these years?"  At that point we all burst out laughing, the tension was broken, and we had a wonderful visit!

Sadie was the oldest of the four girls, and my grandmother was the youngest.  At this point, Sadie was 99 and my grandmother was 90.

I blogged the picture below before, here.  Sadie is the one in the  dark dress, and my grandmother is the baby.  The other two girls were Eldora (left) and Marion (right).  There were also four brothers, and two baby girls who died before their first birthday.

I'm so glad we had the opportunity to visit with Sadie that one last time.  I just don't know why we didn't do it more often!

Finally finished with Project Life 2014 - Weeks 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53. Project Life App scrapbook pages, Winter Wonderland, Christmas 2014

Week 49

Week 50

Week 51

Week 52

Week 53

Throwback Thursday - Nan

January 12th, this week, my grandmother would have been 114 years old!  She wrote the date on this picture, 1963.  She was 62 years old, younger than I am now.  I can't believe she has been gone for 14 years.  I still miss her.  Happy birthday Nan.

Throwback Thursday - Nan's family

My grandmother came from a large family.  There were four girls and four boys and two baby girls who died in infancy.

The family was from Chateagay, NY, almost to the Canadian border.  She didn't see her family much after she got married and moved away.

This picture was taken in October of 1958.  Three of her sisters and one brother came to visit.

L to R - Sadie, Aldora, Marion, Bert, and Lucy.  She looks very happy in this picture.  I never thought much about it as a kid, but it must have been hard for her not to see her family very much.

Miriam's first trip to the museum

Paul and I wanted to take the kids to the museum over Christmas break but the problem is that we can't fit all three of them in our car at this point with two car seats!  Kristen came up with a good idea.  She said that if Janelle could drop off Mason and Miriam on her way to work, then Kris and Toby would pick Marley up on their way home from work.  It was perfect.  We were there from about 11:45 until 5:00.  Miriam was so good there; she even took a nap. We all love the museum, and for now, our transportation problem is worked out!