Okay, So beat me already! My last post was in August. What have I been doing!?

Let me see now? Krystal, Troy & the monsters, (aka my grandkids) moved to St Thomas in September. Wayne & I took Emzee & NayNay to Florida in October and survived 2 weeks with 2 grandchildren. One week after we got back from Florida. Wayne threw his back out, again. This time it had something to do with a suitcase, clean socks and our demented cat! The first of December, I decided to get pneumonia,causing me to miss both my company Christmas Party, at the Landmark in Burlington, where I could never afford to eat, as well as Krystal's "All Girl's Christmas Party in St Thomas" where I not only had the pj's to wear, but the booze to drink to make it an excellant Christmas party. Instead I spent 1 week in my favorite lazy boy chair hacking up a lung!!!

Okay, so I was back to work, with pneumonia, on December 10th, against my better judgement. I volunteered both Emzee & Yoshi to help me with my Christmas Baking and being the good little grandchildren slaves that they are, my baking is done. Although to a lesser degree than normal. I only managed to fill 16 tins, plus 6 pies which is down about 1/2 from normal.

I did manage to cook dinner for 18 with dessert for another 12. Again thanks to both my kids and grandkids who got roped into helping me. For those who haven't caught on yet. If you're foolish enough to hang out in the kitchen, you will get put to work!!!

Thanks to Pickle girl Alisha, Potato Masher (all 13 lbs) Aubrey and Gravy Master Shawn!

Once again, Cookie Nanny & Papa, aka Mom & Carl, did the best with their gifts for their great-grandkids, especially the potato chips, their grand-kids, all 13 of them, and of course their children and sons-in-law!

Mom, I have to say that you are A#1 when it comes to presents!!!

For those who didn't notice, Auntie Dolly & Uncle Johnny were not here this year. Auntie Dolly had a knee replacement and is not yet able to navigate stairs. Wayne & I will be bringing them a leftover dinner for Boxing Day along with their goodies.

Tired of being knee deep in presents, Wayne & I decided to hold Our First Annual Family Christmas Pot Luck last weekend, December 15th. It was the first and it won't be the last!! It was great. Every family brought a dinner and a dessert item. All of the grandkids gift exchange gifts and the gifts from Gramma & Grumpa were exchanged. There were crafts and a Pagent written by yours truly. I figure I have an whole year to plan the next one! You also have a whole year to figure out how to be included!

I also have to say that this was a very special Christmas for us becuase our oldest grandchild, Jessica, turned 16 on December 23rd. We gave her a very special gift that I hope she will have for the rest of her life.

Now I only have to say how much Christmas means to me!

I want everyone who reads this to think about the true meaning of Christmas.

It is the Celebration of the birth of Christ.
We exchange gifts in rememberance of the gifts of the Magi to the Christ Child.
The Christ Child was born into poverty.
In the name of the Christ Child should remember those who have less than we do.
When we chose our gifts to give, we should remember those who can't give, but are glad to recieve.
It is better to give than to receive.
As much as I would like to recieve, it is better somehow to give, and I have to remember the bleak years.
There but for the grace of God go I.
Thanks be to God for what we have and for what we can give.
If it is God's will I will give more to those in need next year than this.

To all of my friends and family I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the Care of God.

All My Love & Blessings

Anne Croley

Mom to Some & Anne to Others

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Another long weekend!!! Yayyyy!!! It's the Civic Holiday long weekend! What does this mean to me? A long weekend, of course!! And with no real purpose to boot. I don't have to be patriotic. We're not celebrating any family birthdays. All I have to do is party!!!

Congratulations to Troy for getting a job with St. Thomas United starting mid September!! Let's hear YAY TROISIE!!!!

Three whole days of being at home. Work is a mere memory. Housework just a pest to be dealt with. Wayne out on Saturday with Peter. Krystal & Troy out for the evening. Grandkids in bed, or else!! Some time alone!!!

Sit back & relax all alone.

Look forward to spending some time in Gail's pool on Sunday.

Beer Butt chicken on Monday.

Life is good.

Thanks to God.

Happy Civic Holiday!

Luv

Anne

Holidays!!!

Yay!!! As of 12:30 pm Friday the 13th of July, I am on HOLIDAYS.

After a week of looking after 2 grandchildren, Areal age 8 3/4 & Aaron age 5, I need a break! Krystal & Troy had to make a trip back to Winnipeg to finish emptying out the house and entrusted their 2 children to my care. Let me tell you, it's been a long time since my kids were this young. Carrie, my baby, is 29. Yes, I've looked after my many grandchildren before, but never for this long. Thank God for Wayne. Grumpa, I mean Grandpa has been great for pitching in. Auntie Carrie had the privelage of day care provider for 3 days, Kayla stayed over on Saturday so she could watch them Sunday morning. Josh stayed over Tuesday night so he could watch them on Wednesday & give Auntie Carrie a break. Uncle Shawn & Auntie Tracy, the newlyweds, kept them overnight on Thursday which was much appreciated.

My days are long. Work starts at 8:00 am and I have a half hour drive to get there. My alarm goes of at 6:00 am, but I snooze until 6:30 and can delay until 7:00 if I really want to. This week I was up and moving shortly after 6:00. Kids up by 6:30 with facecloths & clothes waiting for them. Run downstairs while they wash & dress to make breakfast. Run back upstairs while they eat to get myself ready. Out the door by 7:10 to drop them off at Carrie's. Work until 5:00 and then drive home in rush hour traffic to pick up kids and be home just before 6:00 pm. No time to nap - have to make supper. Collapse for a half hour if I'm lucky & then get kids to bed. Don't forget stories they each have to have one. Fall into bed myself by 11:00, get some sleep and start all over again in a few hours. Boy am out of shape! I fell asleep in my reading chair twice and fell asleep reading in bed twice.

That's okay. Krystal & Troy will be home Saturday evening and Wayne & I leave for Buckhorn Sunday afternoon. Five days of bliss. A cabin with no phone or computer. Books to read, a lake to swim in, sunrays to soak up, my friends Debi & Stuart to visit with and if we're lucky we'll get a boat ride or two. I'll cook a big breakfast one morning for all of us and whip up something wonderful for dinner one night, but other than that I'm taking it easy. Do a little sight seeing. Maybe some shopping. But definately enjoying the time away.

Holidays are wonderful because we wait so long to get them. Remember me while I'm enjoying mine and think about yours to come.

Anne

What being a gramma is all about!!!

Well it's been way to long since I've posted again, but sooo much has happened. Here's a brief recap.

My daughter Krystal and her two children, Areal & Aaron, flew in from Winnipeg in June. Her husband Troy arrived by van a few days later. They have temporarily moved in with us until Troy finds a new job. He's a minister and is currently interviewing in Southern & Eastern Ontario for a new church. Shawn (duckie) and Tracy got married on June 23rd. Troy and Aubrey flew back to Winnipeg on the 27th packed up the house and drove a very large cube van back here. Fortunately the furniture is in a storage facility here because my house is overfull of furniture & stuff in the best of times. Krystal & Troy left on another round trip to Winnipeg to finish cleaning out the house and hopefully to bring back what remains. If it won't all fit in their van, Troy will be making another trip later this month. Laurel called me last night with the news that Mike proposed! Fortunately for me they're not planning to be married until probably September of 2009. I'm still recovering from Shawn & Tracy's wedding. Now I just have to wait and see what Aubrey & Leandra will spring on me. With my luck they'll get married next year so I'll have 3 weddings in 3 years. Or possibly the same year as Laurel and Mike and I will just move into the poor house.

So, what does it mean to be a gramma? Well I have been blessed with 12 grandchildren - 6 boys and 6 girls. If anyone had ever told me that I would be this lucky (?) I would have laughed in their face. But seriously, I have truly been blessed.

I never really thought about what it would mean to be a gramma. I guess I was really lucky that I had two very wonderful, though very different grammas to learn from.

My mother's mother, Carrie Williams, who I always called Gramma Rock, was always there for hugs, kisses and treats to take home with me. Gramma was Onondaga, a native who couldn't speak much English, while I spoke even less Onondaga, but we could always communicate. My name for her came from me always asking her to 'rock gramma rock' when I was a little girl. She would pick me up on her lap and rock me in her chair. When I was a teenager and she would stay at our house for a few days she embarrassed me to no end by pulling me onto her lap in front of my friends. Not having much money to spend, she always made sure that I went home from a visit to her home with something - some home canned fruit, something that she had made or a part bag of gingersnaps. I had and still have long straight hair and she would ask me if I ironed it. I was fourteen when she died of cancer and one of my greatest regrets was that she did not live to see my children.

Gramma Asselin, my fathers mother, was very different. Visits always started and ended with a kiss, but she was not as affectionate as my other gramma. She was strict but loving. She was a very capable woman who always did her best. From her I learned that any job worth doing was worth doing right. She was an excellent seamstress and quilter and once made me take apart a dress that I had made by myself, correct my mistakes and resew it. She could cook up a storm and was an excellent baker. I have followed her footsteps in this. I was fortunate to have Gramma Asselin live until I was 32.


So where does that put me as a gramma. I would like to think somewhere in the middle with a few twists thrown in. I love my grandkids to death, yet don't believe in spoiling them. I like to tease them and to embarrass them at times. I also like to share my stories with them. Stories about my children, their parent, aunt or uncle. Stories about my life and their grandpas' lives. Stories about my parents and my grandparents. Family history is very important to me and I believe in passing it on. I have knit, crocheted and sewn for all of them and want to pass that ability on as well. I have cooked and baked for them and will pass down to them all of my recipes, as well as teach them how to cook. I think long and hard about the gifts that I buy for them, but I am very fair in treating them all equally. I'm not saying that I don't have favorites, but I try to find something special in each of them that is truly theirs alone that will make that child special to me. I can be very loving and affectionate, but I can also be stern and don't think twice about correcting them. I try to be their advocate whenever it's necessary. I offer advice but encourage them to make up their own minds. I frequently remind their parents what they were like at whatever age is currently driving mom & dad crazy. But most of all I tell them how much I love them.

What the Duck!!!

Anyone who knows me either knows my 'kids' or knows of them. This post is dedicated to Shawn.



Shawn Andrew Whalen was born on August 4th, 1976. Not bad considering my due date was June 16th! My doctor let me go 1 month past my original due date before admitting me to be induced. My ob decided not to induce because my baby was breech. After spending a day in x-ray and ultrasound, and comparing my previous babies birth weights, Dr Lamotte decided I was somewhere between 36 & 44 weeks pregnant and I should wait until August 15th!!! At that time if I had not gone into labor he would probably perform a cesearean section. My family doctor told me to walk, a lot! My father figured I would probably go into labor and deliver on one of Hamilton's streets (my first 3 births occured fairly quickly, although I was overdue with both of my first 2).



On August 4th my husband came home from work at 4 pm and I declared it to be my nap time. A few days before I had experienced a lot of discomfort, that I would later find out that was Shawn turning around. I woke up around 6 pm and went to the bathroom. Anyone who has ever been pregnant knows that that is your second home by the end of your pregnancy. After 3 or 4 minutes, I realized that more than my bladder was emptying. My water had broken! I went downstairs and called my doctor, who since it was a Friday was away for the weekend. The on call would call me back shortly. Art answered the phone when it rang. "Hello. Dr. Who? Oh, Dr. Yu! My wife's water has broken. No, not her first child, her fourth. Well her other labors were pretty quick. Okay, we'll meet you at the hospital."



Next comes the phone calls to family. We did not have a car at the time so it went something like this. Art calls his dad to take us to the hospital and asks his mother and sister if they can watch the other three. My father in law picks us all up. We drop the kids off at their house and proceed to the hospital. I'm admitted at 7:30 pm. By 10:30 I'm just about ready to scream with the pains. I have not yet been given an epidurmal. I ring for the nurse who has a doctor check me. I am told that I would probably not deliver for at least another 12 hours and I was no where near ready for any pain relief. After the doctor leaves and I resign myself to a long wait, a nurse comes in and checks my next contraction. She tells me to hang on and comes back in a few minutes with another doctor who checks me and arranges for the epidural. By the time the epidural is hooked up Dr Yu has arrived and I am wheeled into delivery. Shawn is born at 11:20 pm. Don't ever believe doctors when they tell you that you will be hours yet!



At 8lbs 1oz, Shawn was not a tiny baby. My family doctor finally decided that I was proababy due mid July and that Shawn was 2 or 3 weeks late. If you know Shawn, you will recognize this as a pattern that would be repeated throughout his life. Shawn was a wonderful baby, then he learned to crawl. While not quite as bad as his older sister Krystal, he was definately a handful. Shawn has always questioned limits. By nine months, he knew that he was not allowed to play with my rubber tree. If he crawled over to it and I saw him, all I had to do was shake my head no and he would crawl away. However, if I did not see him the poor rubber tree was fair game. That poor plant was repotted at least once a day, until it finally gave up and died. Shawn however did not give up.



At the age of 1, he was brought home by the police for wandering up to King Street. Now granted this was just a half a block away from our house. He had followed his big sister to the store, unbeknownst to her. By the next summer we were living in a townhouse survey. I had had Carrie by then and keeping track of Shawn was definately a problem. He would let himself out of the front door and go to the playground with his brother and sisters. This wouldn't have been too bad, Laurel being the oldest was very responsible and would keep a close eye on him, except that Shawn would leave a trail of clothes and diapers wherever he had been. Locked doors never kept him in. If he wanted out, he just unlocked the door when I wasn't looking and left.



When Shawn was 3 we bought a house on Maplewood Avenue near Gage Park. The first 6 weeks there were definately different. There was a bus stop almost directly in front of our house. My father was a bus driver who at the time was driving the route that stopped in front of our house. One day as he went to pull away from the stop, my dad realized that Shawn had gotten on the bus by the back door! Fortunately my dad was the driver and just brought him to our door. I always wondered if he had gotten on another bus, how long it would have been before the driver realized that there was a little boy on his bus all alone.



There was also a corner store a block and a half from our house. Now this was something totally new to Shawn. I had taken the kids to the store a few times and let them buy a treat. One afternoon, I hear a knock at the door. Upon opening the door, I see one of the young guys who works at the store and Shawn. He asks me if this child belongs to me. I say yes. He then asks me if this $20.00 bill also belongs to me. Apparently Shawn had gone into the store, put the $20.00 on the counter and when asked what he wanted, said 'CANDY!!!". At three years old he was driving me crazy.



At two Shawn had been diagnosed with a heart murmer. My doctor reassured me that Shawn would be fine as long as he didn't overexert himself. I asked if it would be okay to tie him up, because Shawn didn't stop from the time he woke up until he went to bed at night.



When Shawn started school I asked my doctor if he could be tested for hyperactivity. My doctor said that he was a normal boy! That was easy for him to say. He didn't have to chase him like I did.



When Shawn was in grade 1, I was asked if I could make him do his work in school. I told the teacher, that if she didn't mind me standing behind his desk all day, everyday and repeatedly telling him to do his work I would be more that glad to help. Otherwise, it was entirely up to her.



In grade 4 Shawn had the perfect teacher. Now you don't find too many nuns teaching anymore, but Shawn had one them. She was the perfect teacher for him. Recognizing that he just wanted attention, she bargained with him. 'Shawn, if you have all your work done this morning, you can stay in at lunch time and help me.' The problem child was tamed. After hearing that it was hard to grade Shawn because he never completed his work and therefore the teachers had no idea what he really knew, we were told that Shawn was very intelligent. He had an excellant head for numbers, and while his spelling was atrocious, his knew his work. Grade 5 was a completely different story.



Art and split up in October of 1986. We had just moved and the 3 youngest were in a new school. Neither of the boys fared very well. I was told by Aubrey's grade 7 teacher that he would probably be able to handle basic levels in high school. He later graduated from an advanced level. Shawn fared even worse. At 10, he was a scrawny little runt. His younger sister could take him in a fair fight, and she did on more than one occasion. I can still see Carrie taking a flying leap at Shawn. Tackling him to the ground. Wrapping her little fingers around his neck and pounding his head into the floor. Shawn was all mouth. He didn't care how big or how old the other kid was, he would instigate a fight. In school he was even worse. He managed to reduce his teacher to tears on quite a few occasions. He was obstinate, and would only do things that he wanted to do. Here's a sample of disruptive behavior in class. Shawn at his desk tapping his pencil while the teacher is talking. "Shawn. Put your pencil down." Pencil dropped to the floor. " Shawn. Pick that up now." Pick up pencil and go back to tapping it. How do you deal with a student like that? Murder must have crossed her mind. I know it sometimes crossed mine!



Lets skip ahead a little bit. 1988, I'm now with Wayne. Wayne enrolls in a karate class and takes Shawn with him. Now Shawn has played hockey since he was 5 and is a good player, when he wants to be. Karate is not an easy skill. Shawn lasts for a few months, but even though he has quit, it has taught him a few things about discipline and self worth.



Shawn graduates from grade 8 after once again having a teacher who understands him. Mr Hamza knows how to deal with Shawn. Act up in class - spend time in the hall at a desk where there is no one to impress. Shawn even asked Mr Hamza to be his sponsor for confirmation into the church. Shawn got an early start at high school by taking a summer school course in grade 9 French. However, true to form the first semester of grade 9 sees more than one suspension for absences at Boys Cathedral. After attending Boys Cathedral, Delta and Scott Park High Schools, Shawn finally drops out. All of his teachers say that he is a good student, when he is there.



Shawn never did understand what a locked door meant. In grade 7 and 8, he would go to a friends after school on Friday, and maybe show up at home on Sunday night. I've lost track of how many times I reported him missing to the police. When he was 15, his cousin Justin died in a tragic accident. Shawn was unconsoleable. The two cousins shared a brain, as we often said. Shawn was supposed to be at the party that Justin was at that night, but he had ran into an old friend and spent the Friday night with him instead. To this day Shawn believe's that if he had been with Justin he never would have died. I have often wondered if it would have been Shawn that would have been killed instead!



At 21, Shawn moved in with his big sister Laurel to help her out with her son Joshua. Shawn has always been the best Uncle that any child could ever want. From the day Josh was born, when Shawn was 17, he was always there for him. Any of Shawn's friends who have kids know what he's like. For someone who hasn't always been responsible for himself, he is always there for any child. Whenever his sisters couldn't take a babysitting job, Shawn would always volunteer. It didn't matter to him how old the child was, Shawn just loves kids.



As much as Shawn loves the little ones, he loves his grandparents more. After my dad retired from the HSR, he was the manager of the Local 107 Social Club. I worked for him as a bartender and so did Laurel. Shawn worked for him as a bouncer. There used to be "band nights" in the upstairs hall and it was Shawn's responsibility to make sure no alcohol was taken out of the bar area and that no fights broke out. Nanny and Poppa Carl are still his biggest fans. Shawn cuts their grass, weeds their gardens and when Poppa was in the hospital last summer, planted tomato plants for Carl so they would be there when he came home.



For many years Shawn has said that he would never marry or have children. In his words, "I'm not responsible for myself, how can I be responsible for anyone else." Then he met Tracy. I have often said that if I could have went out and picked a woman for my son, it would have been Tracy. A wonderful, kind, considerate, loving yet firm woman, she is everything that he needs. Tracy has 3 children from her first marriage, that Shawn treats as his own. As much as he hated being disciplined, he is very strict with Tracy's children. He is also very considerate, kind, loving, fun and treats them as if they were his own. I have a picture of Shawn and Tracy at Carrie's wedding in 2005 and even though Shawn had not yet proposed to Tracy, you can see the love between them just by the look on their faces.



We all laugh at what a mush Shawn is. When Tracy first started working as a Personal Support Care Worker she often needed directions on how to get to her clients. Shawn would come down and use our computer to check map quest. He would write out the directions for Tracy something like this. "When you get to such and such a street turn right, the side that your right hand man sits on."



On June 23rd of this year Shawn and Tracy are getting married. We have already been through the Stag & Doe and Bridal Shower. My heart is filled with joy and also some sadness that my little 'duckie' is all grown up.



By the way, Shawn's nickname of 'Duckie' goes back to 1985 when he first played baseball at Mahoney Park. Darlene Ryckman gave him this nickname after seeing him run the bases. As Darlene said, "He better be a good hitter, because he runs like a duck."



I love you Duckie



Mom

Where Does The Time Go!!

EEAAHHH!! How long has it been since I've posted? Over a month!!! I should be shot. I promised myself I would post weekly or more often.

I can offer some excuses - Stag & Doe for Shawn & Tracy, New floor in Kitchen, Matt & Jamies Wedding, New Gate and Yard Clean Up, and I'm sure I can find more excuses if I try hard enough.

Too much happens in my life! Just for once I would like to be able to start something and finish it without interuptions. My summer clothes are stacked on the ironing board waiting to be put away. My winter clothes are piled on the dining room table also waiting to be put away. The above range microwave is in the front room waiting to be installed along with the hall flooring and the airconditioners for the bedrooms. My backyard gardens are partly weeded. I have plants in my car for my window boxes. The gifts for Tracy's shower are buried in the spare bedroom. I bought them before Christmas, now I just have to dig them out! I'm having a barbeque for my dad's 80th birthday tomorrow and there is a wedding shower on Sunday.

All week I eagerly await 4:30 pm on Friday so I can enjoy the weekend and get some well needed rest. By dinnertime on Sunday, I can hardly wait for Monday morning so I can go back to work and get some rest!

Just to give you an idea of just how busy I am: Birthday Party BBQ for Dad's birthday on Saturday (up to 30 people attending)- Clean house, make salads, shop, plant flowers and have all this done before 4:00 pm; Sunday - Drive Wayne for window cleaning jobs, make salad for shower, pick up mom and be at shower by 1 pm, do laundry (I'm running out of clean undies again). Between now and June 14th - Clean out spare bedroom, making room for Krystal's family, put away summer and winter clothes, clean out basement so I can get new freezer delivered, install microwave over stove, put airconditioners in, help Wayne install new hall floor, make arrangements to have roof done, finish weeding gardens, clean out kitchen cupboards, grocery shop to fill up cupboards that have no food left in them, get rid of fruit fly invasion, figure out where to put 'stuff' that has piled up in spare bedroom and basement since Christmas, work out at Curves 3 times a week (I've missed the last 3 weeks), lose 10 lbs or at least tone up stomach so I don't have to hold my breath while wearing outfit for wedding. I also have to be ready for Shawn and Tracy's wedding on June 23rd. I have to find the time to do this while working Monday to Friday. HELP!!!!

Just a few more things to do and I know it will all get done and then I will find another whole set of things to accomplish on a deadline.

PS. Happy Birthday to my Dad. On May 14th he turned 80.

My Mom's Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

Okay, so I'm a little late posting this. My mom's birthday was April 19th. She turned 82! So let's all say Happy Birthday to Reta G.

Don't worry, I didn't totally forget her. I gave her a call on her birthday and the monthly family party is on Saturday. Like everyone else in our family, mom has to share her party with other family members. That's just the curse of having a large family. Our April birthdays consist of my son-in-law Craig, my grandson Colin, mom and my daughter Laurel, but this is just about Mom.

Reta Mary Anne Williams was born on April 19th, 1925 to Carrie & Jake Williams who were both Native. My grandmother was Onadaga and my grandfather was Tuscarora. She was their first child, although my grandmother had a son from her first husband and my grandfather had 2 children from his first wife.

Mom has always had lots of stories to tell of her childhood - some good and some not so good. She grew up during the depression and knows all about doing without. My grandfather worked as a foreman on farms in Southern Ontario, so they never lacked for food or a roof over their heads. However mom was expected to pitch in and help form a very young age.

One of the stories she tells is of having to cook a hot lunch on a wood stove for her family and the farm hands while watching her younger sister, my Aunt Dolly. She set the chimney on fire! While we would never even think of leaving a nine year old in charge of a 5 year old sibling, let alone having to cook a meal on a woodstove, that is the way things were then and I'm sure she got in a lot of trouble for not opening the chimney damper. I would challenge anyone reading this to cook a meal on a woodstove now and see how you manage.

Mom remembers her grandparents coming to visit at Christmas in a horse drawn sleigh! She insists to this day that when she heard Santa's sleigh and reindeer complete with sleigh bells one Christmas on the roof that her older half brother, my Uncle Jack, had something to do with it. To his dying day, Uncle Jack denied any part of it.

Clothes were washed by hand with water drawn from the well, or in the winter from melted snow. Sad irons were heated up on the wood stove and everything was ironed. I mean everything, not just clothes but bed sheets, pillow cases and tea towels. No automatic washers and dryers back then, let alone perma press.

When supper was cooking, a large kettle of water was put on the stove to heat to wash the dishes and being the oldest girl mom was expected to get up and clear the table and do the dishes as soon as meals were finished. Heaven help her if her father had to tell her to get to work!

No central heating back then. Mom remembers all to well waking up in a freezing cold house to my grandfather starting the fire. No running water. The crock that held drinking water would have a layer of ice on the top in the morning and that was in the house. No indoor plumbing. The outhouse was in the backyard and there would be a pail in the house to use during the night. Think about how cold it would be going to the outhouse to do your 'business', let alone having to empty and clean out the pail that was in the house. In the summer you had to watch for snakes in the outhouse, so you always had to 'check the hole' before you sat down! Now why any respectable snake would want to hang out in an outhouse hole is beyond me, but that was a favorite hide out of snakes.

Mom left school part way through grade 8. She was needed to help out with the work at home. By the time she was 15, she had a job in a canning factory. A 'Big Night Out' for mom was going into Hamilton on Saturday afternoon and maybe going to a show and for ice cream afterwards. Her favorite flavor even now is Vanilla.

She was engaged at 18 to a soldier, but she sent the ring back in a chocolate box. I think she ate the chocolates first though.

Mom was 21 when she met my dad while working at E.D. Smith's canning factory. They married after dating for only 3 months on November 30th, 1946. Due to some physical problems my mother was unable to conceive until she had 2 surgeries. I was born in 1955. By then my mom also was having marriage problems.

My father has always had a fair bit of wanderlust in him, so our family moved a lot. From the time they married, they lived in Fruitland, Hamilton, Stratford, Mallorytown, Brockville, Sept Iles Quebec and North Bay. My mom always wanted to be near her family, so in 1962 we moved back to Hamilton. They had separated in 1954 and again in 1961. In 1968 the separated for good. Not only did my father like to move around a lot, he also had a wandering eye when it came to other women.

From the time they married, my mother had worked at various jobs. Canning factories, house cleaning, grape vine tying in the spring and fruit picking in the summer and fall. After they separated, she went back to factory work. For any of you who have never done factory work, I can only say that you don't know how lucky you are. I remember when mom working at Ware's Foods packing jello powder and coming home and washing her hair. You could tell what flavor they were packing by what colour the water was.

Mom started dating an old family friend, Carl Gerard, late in 1968. They had known each other since the early 50's when Carl and my dad worked together. Carl had been divorced since the early 60's and along with his 2 children lived with his parents. They married July 25th, 1972.

Mom continued working until due to health problems she had to retire in 1980. After Carl retired in 1987, they spent 6 months of the year in Florida for 10 years. In 2000 they sold the house that they had lived in for 30 years and bought a smaller house. By that time mom could no longer drive due to health problems. She has been a hard time accepting her limitations in the last few years and now will tell you that she's not as young as she used to be and can't do what she once could.

Family has always been very important to mom. She was Nanny Trixie (that name came from the family dog) to my kids and is Cookie Nanny to her great grandchildren, due to the fact that she always has cookies for them. She still talks to her sister, my Aunt Dolly, at least once a day and is currently looking forward to her grandson's stag and doe next Saturday and his wedding in June as well as Carl's grandson Matthew's wedding in May. Knowing my mother as I do, she will be up dancing at least once or twice at each of these occasions. From one child and 2 stepchildren mom has wound up with 7 grandchildren and their partners, and 14 great grandchildren and yes she buys for all of us at Christmas and birthdays.

I could go on for hours telling you some of my mother's stories and I'm sure I will tell you more of them in time. However, for now I just want to say that I was blessed with a very loving mother who has had to take a lot in stride in the last 82 years. I know I speak for all of our family when I say that God blessed us all with this wonderful person that I call MOM.

Mom, May God Bless and Keep You for many years to come. We all love you more than we can ever say.

Your Daughter

Anne Marie

Doing What I Like Best

It's just after midnight. Wayne, Beau and Percy have gone off to bed for the night. I have the computer to myself. Now what to do with myself?

That's not such a hard question to answer. Load up a data disc of downloaded music that no one wants to listen to but me and play some tunes. Tonight it's some oldies. Music from the 60's. Frank Sinatra, Al Martino, Englebert Humperdink and of course some country. Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, John Conlee, Johnny Cash and a few other country classics of course. Make myself a drink, rye and coke for those who don't know me well, sit back and enjoy.

I value my time alone. After all I was an only child until I was 14. I listen to 'my music' and remember...

I was a little girl when we lived in Mallorytown and Brockville, circa 1958 - 1960, and my parents and their friends would get together and party. If the party wasn't at our house, I was often brought along and being a good girl would curl up on a couch or spare bed and listen to the party - music, laughter, talking and dream about being old enough to be a part of it all.

We moved back to Hamilton in 1962. My mother's family were all around here. I remember parties with Uncle Jack and Auntie Audrey, Sybil and Elmer, Stan and Thelma and my parents. There were others too I'm sure, but these people are the ones I remember. I didn't always get to go along to these parties, but one of Sybil and Elmer's daughters would babysit me and we would watch Hamilton's version of bandstand on TV. It was taped on Friday night at a studio in downtown Hamilton and aired on Saturday night. Sometimes Phyllis or Helen, my babysitters, would have been there and I would look for them on my tv. Other times my cousin Tommy, who I later called John and now Jack, would babysit me. Being 9 years older than I am, he was the closest I had to a brother at that time. I remember he would let me stay up until the cars pulled into our driveway, and then I would have to run upstairs to bed and pretend to be asleep. I still wished I was old enough to join the party though.

My mother's mother Carrie Williams, who I called Gramma Rock and who I named my younges afer, also liked to have a good time. I can remember her with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other dancing to the music at family get togethers. I have a plaque that says 'Your never to old to dance in the kitchen or kiss for no reason' that always makes me think of Gramma.

My parents separated in March of 1968. Mom started dating Carl, a divorced friend of 15 plus years, just before Christmas that same year. Carl loves country music. I got to listen to more of the old tunes as well as some newer ones. I remember when the album Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash was released. It was played over and over again in our house. Of course I'm sure you all remember 'A Boy Named Sue'. Charlie Pride was the best country musician when he came along, as far as mom and Carl were concerned. Nary a Friday or Saturday night went by when they weren't at the Avon Hotel, the Brittania House or one of the other Country bars in our city.

When Art and I married in 1970 mom and Carl hired a band for our wedding reception - Cliff John and the Tennesse River Boys, and of course they were country all the way. Art was just as much of a country fan as I was. Our wedding song was Crystal Chandeliers and I had the honor of being sung to by my new husband at our reception. The song - Please Release Me. That should have told me something then, shouldn't it? It had finally happened. I got to be a part of the party. Not just a listener to the wonderful country music anymore, but actually getting to be a part of it. I think I know how Cinderella felt at the ball.

I spent the next 16 years listening to Country Music and so did my kids. Laurel and Krystal I'm sure you both remember playing pretend and being 'Loretta and Conway'. Krystal I know you remember coming back from Dunville with Russell and singing along to Elvira. Then I know that both my mom and Carl remember going to see Strictly Country. A favorite local band that started out as just one person - Gary Nobes. He later added another guitarest Larry and then Neil. We were loyal fans and on more than one New Years Eve, after the Vienna House, where they played closed at 1:30 am, we would go back to Gary's house for a party. I remember coming home after 9:00 am on New Years Day after partying from 6:00 pm the night before.

I have always had a love of music. Not just country music, but rock and roll, jazz, blues, alternative, International and even classical. I've sang in 3 choirs as a first soprano and nothing is more thrilling to me than hitting a note that I think is above my range. I learned to play piano at 10 and took lessons for 3 years before quitting. I went back for two years with my grandson Yoshi (Josh) and own a 100 year old upright grand piano that I haven't played for over a year. I really must get back to that soon. My record/tape/cd collection is extremely varied and depending on the mood I'm in you could come in to country, gospel, bluegrass, classic rock, folk or heavy metal. I love to sing along with the car radio. In fact that's what I do best when my 20 minute drive home takes 2 hours in a snow storm. When travelling, Wayne and I sing old tv theme songs, old 50's and 60's songs and whatever else we can come up with.

When I hear an old song, it brings back memories. Not just of my childhood, but of my children's growing years as well. Laurel was into Donna Fargo at age 2, Rick Springsteen, Grease, Fame, Michael Jackson, Madonna and many others. Krystal has always shared her sister's love of all kinds of music, but her favorite musician now is her husband Troy. Aubrey is a bigger Beatles fan than I had ever been and can tell you more about them than you probably would ever want to know. Shawn has his faves too, but he keeps them more to himself. Carrie likes to listen to music and so does her husband Craig. We had an 80's hit weekend here over Easter and I don't think there wasn't a song that I heard that didn't bring back a memory of one kind or another.

When my granddaughter Emzee (Emily) was baptized, the anthem we sang was called "I was There to Hear Your Borning Cry". I was and everytime I sing or hear this hymm I cry. The words are beautiful and hold much meaning to me. My friend Dorthy always crys whenever we sing "I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (Here I am Lord)". This hymm was sung at her grandchilds first communion.

I believe that music is a gift from God. Whether we are listening to it or singing it. The bible tells us to lift our voices to the heavens. I hope you will do just that. It doesn't matter what the music is, our gift of appreciation is from God as is the gift of our voices. Go ahead. Sing the songs that you love, the songs you remember and that bring back memories to you.

By the way, I owe this post to Laurel and the song by Belinda Carlisle that she posted today. It made me remember ...

Luv and sing loud so all can hear

Anne

Collie Mac is 1 today

I'm going to try to do something very different for me. I'm going to try to not have run on for once in my life.

Happy 1st Birthday Colin. Gramma's Collie Mac is one today. It seems like just yesterday that your mom, dad and I were at the hospital waiting for you to be born.

After being your mom's coach when both of your brothers were born, I felt I was prepared for your 'coming out party', but you had to be different. Deciding at the last minute that you were going to be unconventional and not just turning around, but ending up on a diagonal gave us all a very different experience.

Mommy was more than prepared to give birth in the conventional manner, daddy was all set to watch you come out and gramma was more than ready to take her place by mommy's side giving support, guidance and lots of love to all who needed it. Mommy was not happy to hear the words 'caesarean section'. Daddy went from nervous to down right scared. Gramma took a deep breath and said, 'I'll be there for you if you want me to be'.

Sitting outside the delivery room while mommy was being prepped gave me time to think about this. Can I really do it? Can I be strong for your mommy? Do I want to see you being born? The answer to all of these questions was YES!!! It was an experience for all of us. I got to see birth from a completely different angle and yes I took pictures as you were being lifted out for all to see. You were and still are beautiful. In fact the picture of me on this blog is actually of the 2 of us just shortly after you were born.

Collie, Gramma loves you and wishes you a very Happy First Birthday.

Luv Gramma Anne

How Strange Our Families Are

Anyone who knows me, knows that I come from a very inclusive family. If you come to more than one of our family functions, you are automatically a member. Being an only child until I was 14, this was pretty cool. My mother especially, adopted strays into our family. I've noticed this more in the last 30 years or so. I know a lot of my family history on both of my parents sides, as well as my steps. I even know a fair bit of my first husbands family history.

However Wayne comes from a very different family. Being my best friend's brother, I knew his mother and father, Ruth and her family and one niece. Wayne has a very limited family history. His parents met during the second world war. His father was married when he met Wayne's mother. Harry had 3 children with his first wife, Phyllis, Kenny & Cathy. He divorced his wife and married Edith, Wayne and Ruth's mother. Wayne's mom had almost no family history that we know of. Her parents divorced and her mother died when Edith was in her late teens. We know she came from Peterborough and have tried to trace her life there, with little success. Harry was born in Blackpool, England and as a young boy was brought to Canada by his mother along with his brother Roy and sister Peg. When Grandmother Croley arrived here she changed their last name. We think it was originally Sams, Sims or something like that. We have no idea why this happened or where the name Croley came from.

Ruth was born in 1953, Wayne was born in 1958. Wayne has memories of his Aunt Peg, but after she passed away, there was virtually no contact with her husband or children. Uncle Roy was not a favorite of Wayne's. Apparently he had a bit of control over Wayne's dad, but not always in his best interests. Wayne has no memories of his grandmother.

There was some contact with Harry's two oldest children, Phyllis and Kenny, but almost none with Cathy. Wayne was born an uncle, his father being 10 years or more older than his mother and Wayne being a change of life baby. I tease him often, and tell him that he might as well have been raised by grandparents with a mother who was 45(?) and a father of 55(?) when he was born.

Family history, that in my family was a familiar and comfortable topic of conversation, was never mentioned in the Croley household. Wayne did not know his parents had another son, Donny, until Wayne was 19. Born blind, Donny was put into care before Wayne was born. He was never mentioned. Wayne was 17 when his father went into Sunnybrook Hospital, and 21 when his father passed on. I had met Wayne's father on a number of occasions and he was a very reticent person. I knew Edith, Wayne's mom, a lot better. She was a wonderful woman who loved her family with all her heart. In 1980 she suffered from a major stroke. At the time both Wayne and his mom were living with his sister Ruth and her family. She stayed with them until she finally had to go into a nursing home, where she passed away in 1984. Wayne lost both of his parents by the time he was 25.

Over the years we have spent less and less time with Wayne's sister Ruth and her family. Although Ruth's children and mine grew up together and she had been my best friend for years, we have drifted apart. We live in the same city, yet seldom even call, let alone get together.

Wayne's half brother, Kenny, passed on 2 years ago. We got the call that he only had a few days left and Wayne was fortunate enough to get a chance to see him before he died. At the funeral there were the usual promises to get together more often and to stay in touch. As often happens, these promises were quickly forgotten.

Tuesday evening we got another phone call, this time from Wayne's nephew Jeramie. Phyllis had only a few days left to live. The oldest of the siblings, she is an Alzheimers victim who lives with her daughter Pat in Waterford. We haven't seen her since Kenny's funeral.

Although there is little familial closeness there, she is Wayne's sister. I'm hoping that we can get to see her over the next few days, while we still can.

They say that still waters run deep. That describes Wayne to a tee. He might be a quiet person who doesn't always say what is on his mind, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't feel. He has been even more quiet that usual the last 2 days. Knowing him as I do, I know he is visiting his regrets. We all have them, some of us more than others. It pains me to see him this way. He knows he can't change the past. He wants to change the future. He also knows that wanting and doing are two very different things.

I think that most of us take our families for granted. I know that I do. I love my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and especially my children and grandchildren. I have been very lucky. I lost my last grandparent when I was 32. My children have 4 grandparents still living, and my oldest daughter will be 36 this month. I was 12 when my last great-grandparent died. My grandchildren still have 4 great-grandparents and my oldest biological grandchild is 13. My mother turns 82 on April 19th and my father turns 80 on May 14th. I am 52. My mother's father passed away when she was 32 and her mother when mom was 44. My dad was 49 when he lost his father and 60 when his mother died. I still have most of my aunts and uncles. My grandson Aidan, who is almost 7, thinks that Nanny Cookie, my mom, is soooo old. My mom and step-father see a lot of my children and grandchildren and make sure that there are always presents at Christmas, Easter and birthdays. This Sunday, Easter, there will be a full house of 4 generations of my family here to celebrate the risen Lord, along with much chocolate.

Please do me a favor. Share as much of your family history as you can with your children and grandchildren. Sharing with nieces and nephews won't hurt either. Try to keep your family alive for the future generations. Tell them the stories that you heard when you were young. Laugh at the stories of what your parents and grandparents did and God willing, someday in the future your descendents will laugh at stories about you. Trust me, you don't want to have the regrets that Wayne does.

With Love and Optimism

Always

Anne

My Body Was Meant For Better Things Than This

Well lets see, it's Wednesday. To some people that's hump day, middle of the work week. Only 2 more days to work. For me & Wayne it's bowling night.

When I was 7, my parents and I moved back to Hamilton. At that time there used to be a small amusement park on the beach strip. One of the attractions there that was open year round was a 5 pin bowling alley. This was 1962 and back then there were no automatic pinsetters, no computer scoring, no bumpers in the gutters and the game was slightly more challenging. My parents and I would go bowling sometimes and I was taught to bowl. Back then in order for your score to count, you had to get the left hand 2 pin. If that corner pin was left standing, you didn't count any of your other pins.

From the age of 7 I have loved bowling. I have bowled on both 5 and 10 pin leagues over the years. I even bowled on a league when I was 8 months pregnant with not one but two of my children. Unfortunately, I have never been a truly good bowler. My usual average is about 145 in 10 pin.

After not bowing on a league for over 20 years, I was invited to join a fun league with friends from church. This was 5 years ago. I was still under 50. By the middle of the 2nd game I could hardley walk. When I finally got home, Wayne figured that I would say 'no more bowling'. Wrong! I figured that if I was this out of shape, I better do something about it. I went back the next week and dragged Wayne along with me.

I have toughed it out, through stiffness and sprains, for good games (I finally broke a 200) and gutter balls, on big teams and small, till the end of the season at the banquet with prizes. I even bowled the winter I had carpal tunnel surgery not once but twice. This meant that for 6 weeks, I bowled left handed.

One of the things that keeps me going back for more punishment every week are the seniors. A large number of our bowlers are retired. We have at least 2 bowlers who are over 80, one of whom had hip surgery last summer and was back bowling by Christmas.

I want to be like them! My mother has willed herself into old age. At 82, this April, I agree that she's no spring chicken, but her get up and go left about 5 years ago. She used to be a reasonalby active person. She liked to go out shopping, camped in her Conversion Van in the summer, and liked to get out. Once she had to give up driving, she convinced herself that she was old and couldn't do any of the things that she used to.

I refuse to give in to aging. Sure, I know that I'm getting older, but that doesn't mean that I have to be old. For 1 1/2 years I worked 2 jobs, my office job and a part-time retail job at a luggage store. Yes I was tired, but I lost 25 pounds. When I quit this past Christmas I vowed that I would not put that weight back on. I let myself enjoy some down time until February. Then I joined Curves. I try to get out 3 nights a week, but most weeks its only twice.

I'm looking forward to aging gracefully, but I have no plans on being old. I want to be active both mentally and physically, busy doing the things that I don't have the time to do now.

I have 2 coasters that state my feelings on aging. One says "You are only young once. But you can stay immature indefinitely". The other one says "Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional". I keep them where I can see them often and remind myself of the sayings whenever I start to feel old.

Thinking Young Helps You To Stay Young.

The Superest Saturday Ever!

Yay Laidlaw Bantam Bruins!!! Congratulations on winning the championship today. I am so glad that I could be there to see Yoshi (Josh to most of you) and his team come in #1.

After raising my kids in a hockey rink, or so it seemed, I haven't spent much time in the last 12 or 13 years at the rink. Actually, I can probably count the hours spent on my 2 hands. I admit I'm a bad grandma, who doesn't go to all the games, like some of my friends do. I have good intentions at the start of the season, but time slips away from me and I just don't seem to make it out to games. The same holds true in the summer for soccer.

Anyway last Tuesday evening I went to see what would probably be Josh's last game for the year. In order to continue on to Super Saturday, they needed to win by 6 goals. They did it with just over 1 minute left in the game. I honestly think that if I hadn't been there cheering them on (who am I kidding, I was screaming my fool head off) they never would have done it.

Being the teams new good luck charm, I had to go out to today's game. Picture me holding Colin on my lap while jumping up and down to be able to see and screaming in my loudest voice 'Lets Go Bruins' along with assorted bits of advice like 'dig, dig, dig', 'get that puck out of there', stop him' and other bits of wisdom that only an experienced hockey mom would know. Poor Colin. He is by no means a light weight, but he nearly became airborne a few times during my leaps to see what was happening in the corner. He is definately a trusting child though, because by the third period he was sound asleep in my arms even though I was still leaping and screaming.

It made me very proud to see my number one grandson out there skating his heart out on a team that all gave 150% today. His coaches must be congratulated on their ability to lead their team onto victory and still teach them to be good sportsmanlike players at the same time. Everyboy was out there playing, no matter what their ability. I've seen many team sports over the years when the 'best' players played the most time and the lesser players kept the bench warm. Team sports are for everyone, not just the chosen few.

Anyway, if you happen to read this Yoshi, remember that no matter how many games I might miss, I'm your number 1 fan. Maybe I'll see you at soccer this year.

Happy 1st Birthday Madelainie

My youngest granddaughter turns 1 today. Madelyne Sarah was born one year ago to my youngest daughter Carrie and her husband Craig. She was welcomed into her family by her big sister Emzee (her real name is Emily, but I've always called her Emzee).

When I was creating my own population explosion, it seemed to happen so very quickly and even though for years I thought my five would never grow up, they did. I missed having little ones around and even toyed with the idea of having just one more after Wayne and I married in 1988. Carrie being the baby objected loudly to the idea and after some soul searching, I knew it just wouldn't be practical.

I was lucky enough to be a stay at home mom (for the most part) up until Carrie was 7 years old. When I did work, it was for short periods - usually long enough to save up enough to pay for Christmas! I had so many different jobs it wasn't funny. Waitressing, busing tables, printer's devil, short order cook, selling encyclopedias door to door, sales clerk and cashier.

After my first husband and I went our separate ways, I no longer had the option of being 'just mom'. I needed an income, which meant that I had to work. Funny how they won't pay you to stay at home and work 16 hour days 7 days a week, with no sick days.

Once Wayne and I married, I knew that I still needed to work full-time. Supporting a family of 7 on one income is next to impossible, and seeing as how I had brought the 5 kids into our marriage, I felt that I was responsible for providing some of their support. So I knew that if I was to have another baby, I would have to return to work and cover the expenses associated with being a working mom. Daycare does not come cheap! I honestly don't know how young family's do it!

Anyway, after saying good-bye to the chance of any more babies, I was blessed with my first grandchild in 1993. Joshua was grandma's pet right from day one. I got to be Laurel's labour coach and let me tell you, it's a lot easier watching than pushing. Within a few years we were over run with grandkids and Grandpa (or Grumpa on a bad day) and I have had a ball. We now have an even dozen, which includes 4 steps and I love them all.

Laurel has provided us with 3 boys, Josh who will be 14 this year, Aidan who will be 7 and Colin the youngest will be one in April.
Krystal has a millionaires family with a daughter Areal who will be 8 and a son Aaron who turns 5 in June.
Aubrey has a step-daughter Jessica who will be 16 and a son Zachary who will be 10. Their birthdays are December 23rd and 24th.
Shawn who is getting married in June will have 3 step-children Kayla turning 15, Alicia turning 14 and Tyler who will be 11.
Carrie has her 2 girls Emily who will be 9 and Madelyne who turns 1 today.

I grew up with my children and enjoyed being able to play and be silly with them. Being a grandmother of 12 at 52, means I can grow up with my grandkids too.

Happy Birthday Madelainie and thanks for being my baby doll.

The First Post!!!

This is it. I've procrastinated enough. I'm going live with this post. Now I just have to figure out how to do it!

Blogging is new to me. Not as a reader. My daughter Laurel started hers last fall and I thought it was the greatest thing around. Shortly after I thought I would set up my own blog. After choosing a template and starting to set it up, I chickened out. A few months later my youngest daughter Carrie set up her own blog. After visiting both of their blogs daily and promising myself that I would do this too, here I am.

As you can see by my profile, I tend to have run on. Fortunately I have a very quiet husband, 'cause when I get going he couldn't get a word in if he wanted to.

I take great pride in my family, home and work and would like to share some of it with the great world out there. Hopefully I can get the hang of this fairly soon and can put my creativity to good use.

Please feel free to comment on any of my posts. I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Anne