I'm continuing my "I Remember When" theme this week & today is a post for my parents and the memories they established for me. So here's to you Mom & Daddy and all the stuff I remember about home.
My Mom is a hairdresser, so I always remember her fixing my hair. One time in particular stands out to me the most...she put curlers in my hair & I remember sitting under the dryer in the laundry room & whining because it was taking forever. When it finally cut off, I said "thank GOODness!" I whined so much she even got the tape recorder out & recorded me. I remember baking during Christmastime while listening to Christmas music on the radio (still do this one). She would take me out to eat at Yamato's for lunch when I had an orthodontist appt. We love to shop together (as I got a little older) & she would sometimes take me to pick out one outfit per season (spring & fall) at The Limited... that was huge to me! I remember standing on a stool & watching my mom bake cakes & eating the leftover icing. I remember my Mom mowing the grass in a terry cloth halter shorts thingy and I just couldn't wait until I was old enough to wear one. And her shoes! Oh I wore them all of the time & begged to wear heels & remember the first time she let me wear them. They were Nine West navy blue pumps.
Daddy would always pick me up from MamMaw's during the week & a lot of times he would take me to City BBQ for supper & we ate livermush sandwiches & onion rings. He taught me how to hit a baseball... left handed and I learned to ride a bike (on an old bike that was my cousins & he spray painted it blue for me) at the little bit of flat grass we had at our house & Daddy running behind me to keep the bike up. We would go to the beach & stay at the Ocean Lodge. My Daddy walked to the Boardwalk to get us cherry dipped ice cream cones & ran back to the hotel before they melted. I remember when Daddy brought home my first dog... Flash. She was a basset hound puppy only a few weeks old & I freaked out when I got into his truck & saw her in the box at my feet.
I remember going out to eat supper at Western Steer on Saturday nights (with the pink or green ranch dressing) & going shopping at Kmart afterward & getting a bam-bam balloon (you know the kind you blow up, attach a string to it & beat it against your fist...). Watching Hee-Haw & The Muppet Show as a family. I remember having our Christmas on Christmas Eve a lot because my Daddy always had to work on Christmas Day and I just couldn't seem to wait any longer to open presents. Going to Homecoming lunches at our old church and eating outside under the trees & Mom always made cherry yum-yum (Mmmmmmm....) in a sliver pan with a lid. Taking trips to Julian Price park in the mountains & having picnics & walking trails around the river.
I love reminiscing about the old days (yeah, I'm not really old, but....). Thinking back to what life was like as a kid has brought many smiles to my face. So free & full of life with not a care in the world. Man, those were the days. I'm wondering what memories my kids are establishing?
Friday, March 27, 2009
I Remember When: Grandparents Edition
I've never really done a "series or theme" on my blog, but I had a good conversation with a friend today that inspired me. My kids were complaining about something the other day & I told them "well, I didn't have all this stuff that you have now like an iPod, Wii, computer, DS, etc." They just looked at me kind of blank. I think kids are so overstimulated these days with everything that's out there to keep them entertained that we've lost sight of what like really used to be like... you know when you actually "played". I had a great childhood & many fond memories, so these next few posts are going to be about memories I had growing up.
I loved my grandparents! Sadly, none of them are still living, but I want my kids to know how it was for me when I was little. I know my kids are forming their own memories with their grandparents now, but this is what I remember about mine.
My MamMaw Kirby (my Dad's mom)
I remember riding the bus to her house after school and walking up the gravel driveway to have her meet me in the garden to pick something to eat for a snack. I also remember her giving me Doritos & ranch dressing for a snack too :-) I remember getting a drink of water from the well on her front porch. This was the kind that you had to lower the bucket into & crank it up with your own muscle & sipping from the bent ladle that hung from the side of a ledge on the porch. I remember her teaching me how to peel cucumbers with a real knife & how hot it was in the kitchen in the summer. I remember helping her can cucumbers & storing them in the storm cellar and almost coudln't wait for them to get ripe enough in the cans to eat. I remember helping her pick cherries off the tree beside the house and eating them frozen from the storage containers in the freezer. I remember watching Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune while I waited for my Daddy to come pick me up.
My MeeMaw & PawPaw (my Mom's parents)
I remember going over to their house every Sunday after church for lunch. I remember playing in their backyard with my cousin & eating on the concrete picnic table that was back there while my PawPaw sat & watched us. I remember helping my MeeMaw hang clothes to dry on the clothesline and walking to the laundry mat across the street to dry them in the winter. I remember having Christams Eve at their house every year while they sat & just watched everyone open presents. I remember listening to old records & putting on my PawPaw's headphones and having steak, baked potato & salad every Friday night... I even remember the taste of her ranch dressing. I remember sometimes walking to our church (which wasn't too far away) with my MeeMaw & her teaching my Sunday School class when I was little. I remember the old desk that was built into the wall at their house & how I loved to rummage through the drawers & use all of my MeewMaw's pens & pads (she worked for a lawyer's office, so she always had really cool stuff). I remember looking through their old photos from when they were young & thinking how much my PawPaw looked like Bing Crosby.
My Nannie & Pa (my Mom's Grandparents)
I stayed with them a lot in the summers when I was little while my Mom worked. They lived beside my MeeMaw & PawPaw as well, so I seemed to float back & forth between their houses. I remember stringing green beans & shucking crowder peas in the garage with the doors open & fans just a rumbling. I remember my Pa going to get KFC once a week to get us lunch & him drinking cold coffee out of a bowl. I remember baking a lot with my Nannie & she would give me frozen butter, sugar & icing anytime I wanted it. Her apple pies, chocolate cupcakes & lemon pies are what I liked the most. I remember Nannie taking a huge old knife & scraping ice from the walls of the freezer (this was before frost free ones & they always had ice build up) onto a plate with purple flowers & eating it. We ate lots of pinto beans & the cooked forever on the stove. I remember playing on their big front porch & taking naps on a cot out there. I remember them sitting in their rocking chairs on this porch & watching the traffic go by for what seemed like hours. I remember my Pa paying me 25 cents if I would pick the blackheads from his neck (gross, I know, but I always did it). I remember making bells with my Nannie & she always seemed to have some kind of sewing project ongoing... like raggy ann dolls. I remember a huge, old plastic doll that I loved to play with that had 2 missed fingers. I think it was my Mom's doll when she was little.
As I've sat here typing these, it seems like an eternity ago but it's fresh in my mind as if it were yesterday. Stay tuned for more to come....
I loved my grandparents! Sadly, none of them are still living, but I want my kids to know how it was for me when I was little. I know my kids are forming their own memories with their grandparents now, but this is what I remember about mine.
My MamMaw Kirby (my Dad's mom)
I remember riding the bus to her house after school and walking up the gravel driveway to have her meet me in the garden to pick something to eat for a snack. I also remember her giving me Doritos & ranch dressing for a snack too :-) I remember getting a drink of water from the well on her front porch. This was the kind that you had to lower the bucket into & crank it up with your own muscle & sipping from the bent ladle that hung from the side of a ledge on the porch. I remember her teaching me how to peel cucumbers with a real knife & how hot it was in the kitchen in the summer. I remember helping her can cucumbers & storing them in the storm cellar and almost coudln't wait for them to get ripe enough in the cans to eat. I remember helping her pick cherries off the tree beside the house and eating them frozen from the storage containers in the freezer. I remember watching Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune while I waited for my Daddy to come pick me up.
My MeeMaw & PawPaw (my Mom's parents)
I remember going over to their house every Sunday after church for lunch. I remember playing in their backyard with my cousin & eating on the concrete picnic table that was back there while my PawPaw sat & watched us. I remember helping my MeeMaw hang clothes to dry on the clothesline and walking to the laundry mat across the street to dry them in the winter. I remember having Christams Eve at their house every year while they sat & just watched everyone open presents. I remember listening to old records & putting on my PawPaw's headphones and having steak, baked potato & salad every Friday night... I even remember the taste of her ranch dressing. I remember sometimes walking to our church (which wasn't too far away) with my MeeMaw & her teaching my Sunday School class when I was little. I remember the old desk that was built into the wall at their house & how I loved to rummage through the drawers & use all of my MeewMaw's pens & pads (she worked for a lawyer's office, so she always had really cool stuff). I remember looking through their old photos from when they were young & thinking how much my PawPaw looked like Bing Crosby.
My Nannie & Pa (my Mom's Grandparents)
I stayed with them a lot in the summers when I was little while my Mom worked. They lived beside my MeeMaw & PawPaw as well, so I seemed to float back & forth between their houses. I remember stringing green beans & shucking crowder peas in the garage with the doors open & fans just a rumbling. I remember my Pa going to get KFC once a week to get us lunch & him drinking cold coffee out of a bowl. I remember baking a lot with my Nannie & she would give me frozen butter, sugar & icing anytime I wanted it. Her apple pies, chocolate cupcakes & lemon pies are what I liked the most. I remember Nannie taking a huge old knife & scraping ice from the walls of the freezer (this was before frost free ones & they always had ice build up) onto a plate with purple flowers & eating it. We ate lots of pinto beans & the cooked forever on the stove. I remember playing on their big front porch & taking naps on a cot out there. I remember them sitting in their rocking chairs on this porch & watching the traffic go by for what seemed like hours. I remember my Pa paying me 25 cents if I would pick the blackheads from his neck (gross, I know, but I always did it). I remember making bells with my Nannie & she always seemed to have some kind of sewing project ongoing... like raggy ann dolls. I remember a huge, old plastic doll that I loved to play with that had 2 missed fingers. I think it was my Mom's doll when she was little.
As I've sat here typing these, it seems like an eternity ago but it's fresh in my mind as if it were yesterday. Stay tuned for more to come....
Thursday, March 26, 2009
"Mom" according to my kids
Chandler (8) aka: CKH, Carter (6) aka CLH, Kensley (2) aka KGH
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Chandler: Always be respectful to your brother & sister.
Carter: I love you
Kensley: I lubba you
2. What makes mom happy?
CKH: when children are doing good
CLH: when I give Kensley a bath & get her ready
KGH: sad
3. What makes mom sad?
CKH: when the kids are not doing what they are supposed to
CLH: when we (him & his siblings) fuss
KGH: cause i'm not
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
CKH: when she tells funny jokes
CLH: when she's in the kitchen doing a dance
KGH: i don't know
5. What was your mom like as a child?
CKH: a little blonde headed girl
CLH: a little girl with blonde hair
KGH: bubba's room
6. How old is your mom?
CKH: 36 (ummm... NO!)
CLH: ummmm I don't know... 33 (b/c his brother yelled it from down the hall)
KGH: OLD! (man that's pretty funny!)
7. How tall is your mom?
CKH: Giant
CLH: 40 feet tall
KGH: big & tall
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
CKH: doing art stuffy
CLH: make cards
KGH: color
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
CKH: cleans the house
CLH: go shopping
KGH: i don't know
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
CKH: art stuff
CLH: make pretty cards
KGH: I DON'T KNOW-ah!
11. What is your mom really good at?
CKH: craft making
CLH: working at school and making cards
KGH: play
12. What is your mom not very good at?
CKH: mowing the grass
CLH: throwing baseball with your son (ouch... that hurt & I thought I was pretty good at it)
KGH: sad
13. What does your mom do for her job?
CKH: be an assistant teacher
CLH: work at church school
KGH: in the tore (store)
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
CKH: chicken enchiladas
CLH: eggs & bacon & bread (????? random)
KGH: salad
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
CKH: being respectful to us
CLH: my mom is a good maker of cards
KGH: happy
17. What do you and your mom do together?
CKH: sometimes clean the house together
CLH: hang out together when i am sick
KGH: play puzzles
18. How are you and your mom the same?
CKH: we both have blue eyes
CLH: we both have eyebrows
KGH: big girl
19. How are you and your mom different?
CKH: she's bigger & I'm smaller
CLH: i have brown eyes & she has blue eyes
KGH: red shirt (she's wearing a striped shirt)
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
CKH: she hugs & kisses us when we go to school
CLH: when you say "I Love You"
KGH: yeah
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
CKH: to the New Kids on the Block concert (ha!!!!)
CLH: to go see her mom
KGH: in the tore (store)
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Chandler: Always be respectful to your brother & sister.
Carter: I love you
Kensley: I lubba you
2. What makes mom happy?
CKH: when children are doing good
CLH: when I give Kensley a bath & get her ready
KGH: sad
3. What makes mom sad?
CKH: when the kids are not doing what they are supposed to
CLH: when we (him & his siblings) fuss
KGH: cause i'm not
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
CKH: when she tells funny jokes
CLH: when she's in the kitchen doing a dance
KGH: i don't know
5. What was your mom like as a child?
CKH: a little blonde headed girl
CLH: a little girl with blonde hair
KGH: bubba's room
6. How old is your mom?
CKH: 36 (ummm... NO!)
CLH: ummmm I don't know... 33 (b/c his brother yelled it from down the hall)
KGH: OLD! (man that's pretty funny!)
7. How tall is your mom?
CKH: Giant
CLH: 40 feet tall
KGH: big & tall
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
CKH: doing art stuffy
CLH: make cards
KGH: color
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
CKH: cleans the house
CLH: go shopping
KGH: i don't know
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
CKH: art stuff
CLH: make pretty cards
KGH: I DON'T KNOW-ah!
11. What is your mom really good at?
CKH: craft making
CLH: working at school and making cards
KGH: play
12. What is your mom not very good at?
CKH: mowing the grass
CLH: throwing baseball with your son (ouch... that hurt & I thought I was pretty good at it)
KGH: sad
13. What does your mom do for her job?
CKH: be an assistant teacher
CLH: work at church school
KGH: in the tore (store)
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
CKH: chicken enchiladas
CLH: eggs & bacon & bread (????? random)
KGH: salad
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
CKH: being respectful to us
CLH: my mom is a good maker of cards
KGH: happy
17. What do you and your mom do together?
CKH: sometimes clean the house together
CLH: hang out together when i am sick
KGH: play puzzles
18. How are you and your mom the same?
CKH: we both have blue eyes
CLH: we both have eyebrows
KGH: big girl
19. How are you and your mom different?
CKH: she's bigger & I'm smaller
CLH: i have brown eyes & she has blue eyes
KGH: red shirt (she's wearing a striped shirt)
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
CKH: she hugs & kisses us when we go to school
CLH: when you say "I Love You"
KGH: yeah
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
CKH: to the New Kids on the Block concert (ha!!!!)
CLH: to go see her mom
KGH: in the tore (store)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friends via the Blogosphere
I've often times found myself clicking away at other links to other blogs via friends of mine in the blogosphere. Sometimes I come back to them & sometimes I never visit again. This one blog in particular I have visited a couple of times...MyCharmingKids...a mom of 4 kids... she's pretty funny & has some really catchy names for her family. Today I was directed here again from a friends blog. I couldn't help but to tear up when reading this. I don't even know this family but I am so moved to pray for them. It's a long story to catch up on, but you can know enough just reading the last two posts to see they are a family that loves & trusts God. Pray that God's grace & peace would cover them during this difficult time for their family.
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