Remembering My Grandma

(The pictures with lots of people in, you'll have to click on to see better
If I make them big like the rest, people are cut off)
My grandma's wake is tonight.
Her funeral Mass is tomorrow.
My mom's family lives in California
(except one brother that married my dad's sister and lives here)
My grandma had 6 kids, was widowed when the youngest was only 8
She worked for many many years at May Company
(a California Macy type department store)
Most of my pictures are from when I was older,
because that's when I had a camera!
They are also almost all from vacations because of the distance.

My  mom has 3 older brothers,
 and one little brother and sister
Here she is holding my first born baby,
sitting with her 9mos older brother Larry
(he's the one who lives here in MN)
and Grandma
Uncle Steve is standing
He always teases that he's Grandma's favorite child.
(11 years ago)

Here's another photo showing

3 of my  mom's brothers-aren't they handsome?

This was 1992

Larry, Steve, and Richard

Here she is with my mom, my sister Brenna and myself

My 2 Grandma's, they always got along great.

They are just a few months apart in age.

This was May of 1991

Nice Jordan!
(this is my little brother that just got married!)
 I think this was 1993, we were headed to the Minnesota State Fair!

 Here's Grandma with her Minnesota grandchildren, plus Michael and Tom

(the two upper right boys) who are from California
This was 1997 right before her 1st Great Grandchild was born
(my brother's daughter)

 Richard, Mike, the baby brother, isn't he handsome? Grandma, mom and Larry

 Mom and Grandma

Proof that Diet Coke does not kill

My grandma lived to be in her 90's.
(click on picture, Diet Coke in lower right corner of picture)

 My mom's little sister!! Kathy, Oh, I love her so much!! 

She has taken care of my grandma for the last over 4 years.

Her love and sacrifice is not forgotten and we are so thankful for her devotion

I'm sure it was not easy, but done with love

 I love this photo

my 2 grandma's, with my grandpa (who is now in heaven)

peeking, smiling behind!  

Now, they would call that photobombing, I think!

1997

I have to share some of my favorite memories of Grandma Foster. 

 When I think of her, I smile and can only think of good things.

 She was loving and fun to be around.

 Her oldest daughter is my mother.

 The first daughter born into the Foster family for like 100 years or something,

 so you can imagine how Grandma must have felt

 when she met a handsome young marine,

 named Jim, and quickly fell in love,

 married and whisked her off to Minnesota. 

 Grandma, being widowed as a young woman, 

with 6 children, she was no stranger to sacrifice.

 Growing up, we moved from Minnesota to California several times.

 This was not easy for us kids, but turned out to be a blessing.

 The blessing is in the time we were able to spend with Grandma. 

 We also vacationed many times to visit her and other precious family near her. 

 She vacationed to Minnesota

 to visit her Minnesota children and grandchildren every few years.

 (her son, Larry visited his "little" sister in Minnesota and ended up falling in love
 with her sister- in -law
 and so Grandma lost another child to the cold tundra)

 Because of the cold weather in Minnesota,

 Grandma almost always came in August,

 a promise of hot, humid weather for her warm bones,

 still, she almost always wore a sweater and froze here.

 (the day we moved back to Minnesota, the day after my high school graduation)

(us 4 kids with Grandma)

 When I think of Grandma,

 I think of the times I stayed with her and shared her bedroom,

 her in her curlers, night hat and face cream.

 I think of Grandma jammies 

(I think my mom wears those now)

 I think of late night giggles before falling asleep.

 I remember her smell. 

 A sweet, fragrant smell a little girl will remember forever.

 I remember making homemade noodles with her and talking about frozen milk

 (she'd freeze for us to have when visiting)

 and plants on her back patio-deck. 

 I remember the ice cream truck singing in her neighborhood every afternoon.

 I remember how she talked with her Missouri accent

 and how I loved to just sit and listen to her.

 Her laugh was infectious and made you want to sit with her just to enjoy her company. 

 She always called me "Kathy" or "Connie" but I didn't mind,

 I have since, found out that that is hereditary,

 especially when you have 6 kids!!

 She was always working on something she could make to give away.

 Beautiful afghans and Christmas decorations. 

 Beautiful crosses, necklaces, address book covers, she was always giving. 

  Her letters, I will always remember her beautiful letters.

 We have been pen pals since the first time I was able to write. 

Every time I WASH something,

 I will think of how she pronounced it "Warsh"

 and smile...so now laundry and dishes will become a little sweeter

 because of Grandma Foster.

 I miss and love you Grandma.

 Thank you for all you've been to me

My Beautiful Grandma

My beautiful Grandma passed away this morning.
My mom said it was beautiful.

 She and Kathy, her sister,

 had just finished reading the Psalms to her and she went peacefully.


Eternal rest, grant unto her O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. Amen.

May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

My favorite picture of my Grandma, holding my first born daughter.

 I loved seeing her, in her 80's at the time,

 holding new life.

I am so very sad, 

especially being so far away, 

I am missing the time we were not able to spend together, 

and remembering the times we did.

Today is my dad's birthday.

Life and death 

both such mysteries

Toddler/Preschool Time

 A while ago, a few readers asked me for suggestions for activities 

for littler kids during school time

I am absolutely no expert on this,

as most days my littles are crying at my side while I'm trying to teach.

But getting used to a schedule and routine is hard for them too.

They are not used to mama being busy (like that anyway)

Actually looking at this past month of pictures

makes me wish I could do just preschool, 

but I can't do that, and I'm guessing you can't either,

So my advice

is simple:

fit whatever you can in, whenever you can.

small, big, reading, painting, coloring, cooking

include them in everything you can.

Pushing them off to "play" is not going to cut it

(for them or you)

(trust me, I know this from experience)

I'm not saying that doesn't still happen, because it does,

but if there are back up plans,

 it fills some of the time for them and you.

 Bake with your kiddos!  

Big kids can bake with them too,

 they are probably more patient than you anyway...

 Gosh, isn't she just a dolly?

 Let your kiddos paint!!!  

It cleans up! 

Use washable paint (found at Wal-mart)

or use water paint (it's even cleaner)

We have lots of paper, I buy copy paper reams, 

or Tom brings home papers from work and we use the backside.

 Just remember, it will get messy...

There will be lots of smiles and their finished product 

won't look anything like what you would paint.

 This is important for type A personalities

 Use Q-tips and aprons, or old tees, because they will get it all over.

(they will)

Remember, it washes up!

 They will mix the paint, but that's good!! 

 That is how they learn!!

 So good for little fingers...

Look how proud he is of his work

 "What did you say?"

 "It's time to clean up?"

 "I am not letting go of my paint stuff!"

"I am not done!"

 There will be temper tantrums when it's time to clean up

That's OK, I speak his language!

 Let them sing and play on the piano....

 Make sure they get outside!! 

I put my big kids in charge as they get done with school

 Let them play with water....and mud!!

 I love how he's so cold here, you can see his ribs, 

but he's not letting go of that hose for anything!

 There has to be reading time!!  

Even if it's only one story, which actually never happens

because when I say only one story, they beg for 2 or 3 or a whole pile...

My point?  Take time to read,

 even if you only can spare time for one or two books!

 You will foster a love for books and catch  moments like this one!  

(She's reading Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle)

 Oh, they will crawl in and under things

 And probably bonk their head on the way

 Just one of the many distractions within a day....

 Trampoline=best purchase ever.

Let them jump!!

 and run!!!

I dare you to not giggle watching them on the trampoline!

 Play dough, play dough, play dough

 Oh, how I love you!

You are cheap, soft and occupy them for looong periods of time!

 Some pinterest idea somewhere...

use tooth picks or kabob sticks and put cheerios on them

 They both loved it!

 He ended up  liking the sticks better than the cheerios...
(I cut the kabob sticks into different lengths)

 Legos!!!

Force your boys

Ask your boys to share their loose legos with the little kids

This will occupy them for hours!

 Make cool, fun, good-smelling "Soap Dough"!!

 Equal amounts of shaving cream and cornstarch, and a little food coloring

 It is messy...just a warning.

Very messy.

 And very distracting for the older kids who are supposed to be doing their schoolwork.

 Books, books, books...have lots of books!

(and packing tape for mending books!)

 Pinterest fail

It was supposed to be a rain noisemaker

It said to fill a bottle with toothpicks (lots of toothpicks)

put some rice in it and put on the lid.

The problem is when you move it, 

all the tooth picks go to one end, they don't stay all messed up 

so it was STUPID

but it took up some time and she stickered up the bottle when she was done.

 Be prepared for messes.

And then, remember you LIVE here.

It's OK

 Clean mud!

This is Baking Soda with water.

You put a lot of baking soda in a bowl or container

and then add water slowly to the consistency you want

Think "Clean mud"

We still have it in a sealed container and pull it out, 

It seems to be saving good.

It will be messy

Very very very messy

and the baking soda looks like you've cleaned the counter 

with your soapy dishrag, but it will dry chalky...several times.

Just warning you.

 Magnets and magnet things like this occupy time

I have a container of magnets that I've saved 

since I was in High School! 

 (I used to put magnets in my locker)

Whenever there are free magnets, I take them!

 I take it out and let them put them on the filing cabinet, the fridge

and the door!

We also have a magnetic write on/wipe off board.

 Crayons!!

Lots of crayons, markers, and pencils

and lots of scrap paper!

 Blokus!!

We lost a few pieces of our old game

so recently bought a new one

(They have gone way down in price, $19.99 at Wal-mart)

I saved the old game and the littles play it while we play the new game!

Win win!

 All they need is a little time

 And I promise you...

they will steal your heart! 

Other ideas:

Shaving cream play on a tray

Play dough, play dough, play dough

Oops, did I already say that?

I have an extra Saxon Math Manipulative box

just for the littles to play with! 

HERE

(I bought it years ago when it was only 50 bucks)

(so yes, I have 2--one for using for school and one for the littles)

My world is not perfect, not even a little close to that,

but I hope this helps a little!