The Kids Reaction to A Death

Last Saturday our neighbor, "Grandma", passed away and today is her funeral. Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Holly are raising their great grandaughter who is one of Mallory's best friends. I just wanted to share the 3 kids different reactions to Grandma's death.

1. Ezie was quite, but later wanted to call and check on Earl's mom.


2. Mallory has been very distant with her friend since Grandma was diagnosed with cancer last July. The sicker Grandma got the more Mallory has stayed away. When she heard Grandma was not going to make it she felt very guilty. Since Grandma died I haven't been able to keep Mallory home. She is back to basically living next door just like before Grandma got sick. Mallory has been supportive and a good friend.


3. Jace's reaction is the one that I will remember forever though. Little children have a way of coping and reacting that always amaze me. I told him that Grandma had died and that she wouldn't be over at her house anymore. I explained that Grandma had gotten sick and couldn't wake up. He looked at me and said, "So Grandma melted, she melted and won't come back anymore." I was shocked and amazed at his analogy. He had watched his snowman melt a few days before Grandma's death and new that it wouldn't be back so I guess that must have been what he was thinking of. He told me he didn't like that Grandma had melted and that it made him sad. The next day Jace asked me if we could "talk" about Grandma. Jace had an idea, he wanted to know if a Super Strong Doctor could please give Grandma some medicine and fix her. He wanted to know if those talking germs that he saw on tv killed Grandma and if he should wash his hands more. I told him that the Doctor's did try to fix Grandma, but yes those germs were just to strong and that it's always good to wash our hands, but those aren't the same kind of germs that Grandma had. Jace told me again that he didn't like it and that it made him sad that Grandma melted and then he went off to play.

I'm sure after the funeral today the kids will have different feeling and questions. I am proud of them though in how they have been supportive and a good friend to our neighbor.

A Couple of Cuties

Merry Christmas!

My grandson Anthony decorating their Christmas tree

Another grandson, Chad, Jr., sitting under the tree.

Chad, Jr.'s first visit with Santa

The Kids Visit with Santa

Last night we took the kids to the mall to see Santa. I didn't think we were going to get to go, but, Yay!, we borrowed a car and we all 5 got to go. Jace is asking Santa for a big Purple Present. He doesn't care what's in it he just wants a big purple present. Easy enough! Mallory isn't telling anyone what she asked Santa for because she wants to prove to her friends that Santa is real. Of course he's real! The kids all only asked for one thing and we'll see if tomorrow morning if their wishes came true! Now I'm off to sew some more because I have gifts to make to take back home. We leave in 3 more days! Yay!

Have a Wonderful, Safe and Blessed Christmas Eve!

Just a quick and random fact: "A Visit from St. Nicholas, better known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," was published in the Troy Sentinel on Dec. 23, 1823.
Today that poem turns 186.
It was first published anonymously, but was later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore.

Earl's hometown it Troy, NY. Every year he reminds me of this and every year the newspaper prints the story on the front page. I think it's a nice tradition.

I Have Witnessed the Magic of Christmas

I don't usually blog about our family problems, as it is so much nicer to blog about happy things, but I to share this story I have to blog about some bad things.

Earl and I have had a rough couple of years financially. We honestly had no money to buy our kids Christmas presents. I have been sewing and crocheting like crazy to make things (that's why I haven't been blogging), but I can only sew so much. I didn't know what we were going to do for our little ones this Christmas in regards to "S". Ezie and Mallory are wonderful about understanding that we don't have money, but they're still kids and they still want real toys not just things that mom made.

So I just wanted to share with you some of the wonderful miracles that we have been blessed with in the last week and to let you know that there are some wonderful, giving people out there that I will be eternally grateful to for making our family have a blessed and wonderful Christmas.

1. My mom bought me and the 3 kids bus tickets to Kansas and is letting us stay with her for 3 weeks plus some money for food along the way. Mom, it's been a long time since you've had a house full...you may regret this gift!
2. My dad sent us our Christmas money early so I was able to order the kids each a nice gift from "S".
3. Someone left a laundry basket full of food on our front porch the other night and said it was from "Santa".
4. Two of my kids and a friend gave us a total of $230.00 to use for Christmas and our trip.
5. The kids school adopted Ezie and Mallory and yesterday they dropped off 2 huge bags full of presents and a $65.00 gift certificate to the local grocery store.

You don't know how much all of the kindness that people have shown us has meant to me and Earl. It is hard, embarrassing and very depressing to be in this position and normally I wouldn't share any of this with my blogging friends, but I am so grateful and so touched by the kindness of others that I had to share some Christmas "Magic" with you.

Christmas, Snowmen and Sewing

We had a nice time the other night with all of the kids and grandkids here for Christmas. It was busy, fun and exhausting! I forgot to take pictures of the things I made, but here is some of the stuff.....12 pillowcases, 12 mice ornaments, 7 building blocks, 6 hotpads, 4 tissue cases, 3 drawstring bags, 3 crocheted dishcloths, 2 crocheted scarves, 2 baby blankets, 2 covered photo albums, 1 lap quilt, 1 baby bib, 1 tote bag, and I'm almost finished with a crocheted hat, scarf and another dishcloth. I think that's all. I still have so much more to get done!!!!

Here is a picture of Jace, Ezie and Mal with their snowman after it snowed last week.

My kids love the snow!

Here is my grandson, Anthony, with his snowman that him and his momma made.

Here is the fabric covered Grandma's Brag Books that I made. It turned out pretty nice, if I may say so myself.

I hope the recipients like them!!
There is a slot to put a piece of cardstock with the child's name and BD.

I just used the little $1.00 photo albums that Wal-Mart sells.

Okay, I have to go get busy. Have a wonderful day!!!

Today is the Day!

We're having a unusually early Christmas this year,

but with 8 kids, 5 spouses and 9 grandkids

all having different schedules this was the day that

worked out to have everyone over for Christmas.

I have so much to do today.

Clean (I really need an elf!!),

cook (a few of the kids favorite things:

beef stroganoff, broccoli soup, and cheesecake),

finish sewing (I'm still not done with a few gifts)

and then wrap everything.

So wish me luck,

have a great day

and

I'd better go get busy!

We are still having Christmas with the 3 little ones on Christmas day,

cause you know,

Santa can't come this early

and when we go to Kansas we're having

Christmas with my parents and siblings.

Yay!!!

Sometimes I Amaze Myself!

Two years ago in December I had cut out these squares to make a blanket for my grandaughter Olivia. The squares have been sitting in a baggie ever since. I decided I would finally finish this blanket for Olivia for Christmas and I was so relieved when I remembered I had taken a picture of the layout and that I had the pieces stacked in the right order. Yay Me! I'm so glad I had a smart day 2 years ago so that I'll have an easier day today! Better get busy sewing!!

Have a great day!!!

20 Days and Counting

My mom bought bus tickets for me, my 3 little ones and my oldest grandaughter to go to Kansas for a 3 week vacation. Yay for my mom!!!! We are leaving in 20 days, Dec. 27 (Lexie's 19th BD)and arriving in Wichita at 12:30 on December 29. I haven't been home in almost 10 years and I am so looking forward to this trip!! My much older brother (hee!hee!), Mike,is turning 50 on January 7 and mom wanted all of us 6 kids to be home for his birthday party. I will get to see my 3 sisters and 2 brothers and their spouses, my parents, niece's, nephews, my Nana and hopefully lots of other friends and relatives while I'm there. We're going to have Christmas together, a baby shower for my niece and then of course my brothers birthday party. Lexie, Jake and Anthony are going to be going to, but they are flying out a week after I leave. Earl probably isn't going to get to join us (I'm pouting) because his second job, who is also our landlord, won't give him a week off to come. Hopefully they'll change their minds in the next few days.....you never know.

Anyway, I'm so excited and so thankful to my mom for giving me and the kids this wonderful trip!!!

We're Getting in the Spirit

We're getting in the Christmas spirit this weekend. I've been sewing and crocheting gifts and the kids have watching Christmas DVD's. We've all been going around the house singing Christmas carols. I just need an elf to please come help me clean the house. The fairies don't seem to want to help me so maybe an elf will???

One of Mallory's friends had a Ginger Bread House Make and Take Party yesterday. Now I think that her friends mother is absolutely crazy because she had 30 kids at her house to decorate gingerbread houses. This mom even made all of the gingerbread from scratch. All she asked was that each child bring a bag of candy to share with the others for decorating.

This is a picture of Mallory's gingerbread house and I think her brothers stuck the car next to it.

Then we had snow yesterday. The kids have been out for over an hour this morning playing with our neighbor. They are having so much fun! Jace LOVES the snow.

This is a picture looking outside of my computer room window of the snow.

If anyone needs some quick and fun Christmas gift ideas make sure and check out Twyla and Lindsey's blog, Two Crazy Crafter's and also Aunt Pitty Pat's blog. They all have some really neat ideas for Christmas.

Fairies, Birds and Mice....Oh My! An Enchanted Ornament Swap

Val from Yarni Gras hosted an Enchanted Ornament Swap and as usual, I couldn't pass it up.

I even won one of these little mushrooms from Val.

It is so cute and my first mushroom too!

Thanks Val!!

(I borrowed your picture too)

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the person who sent to me was my sweet blogger friend Missy from Fairy Child Heirlooms. I received a beautiful dish towel that she made, some yummy peppermint bark that Missy and her girls made and then the most beautiful little fairy ornament.

I just think she is so pretty! She reminds me of fairies from storybooks that I looked at as a child. This little fairy is not getting put up at Christmas but she is going to be out all year long where I can enjoy her.

Thanks Missy for the wonderful package!!


Here is what I sent to my secret partner, Jennie from J. Nichelle. The first thing on her list of things she liked was birds. I made a couple different things before I came up with this little cone that I filled with a bird and some other doodads.

Then I made her the little mouse in the walnut shell ornament.

It reminds me of Thumbelina.

and then I sent her kids a couple of my mice candy cane holders.

Thanks Jen for letting me borrow your photos! They turned out a lot better than mine did. I had fun with this swap and if you like nature based and enchanted ornaments

Val is hosting a year around swap for 2010.

It is called "A Year of Enchantment" and every month there will be a different theme and by the end of 2010 you will have 12 enchanting ornaments for your tree.

Be sure and stop by Val's swapper blog to get more info and sign up for the swap.