Happpy Turkey Gobbler Day

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, I hope you all enjoy your holiday. Family will be coming to my house today, Sherry is doing the cooking. She stayed over last night in order to get Mr. Turkey Gobbler in the oven this morning. I am smelling the wonderful aroma of the stuffing, in the beginning stages, and it's bringing back memories. I was awoken so many Thanksgiving mornings by that same smell. My Mom loved the holiday season, Thanksgiving was her holiday to cook. I remember her getting up very early to get everything started, by the time I woke up, the turkey was stuffed and in the oven. The menu hasn't changed much since my mom did the cooking all those years ago, I will be thinking of her often. I give thanks for the roof over our heads, the wonderful school and church communities who have been there for me, my awesome neighbors, my friends, and my family(in-laws included) who have given me support since day one. I will be thinking of all the people who are no longer with us to share this holiday, especially the love of my life, Peter.

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue





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Quiet Week

This is going to be a short blog this week, it has been very quiet around here, not that I'm complaining!! Helen has been listening at school so I have not received any more notes from her teacher. I have a parent/teacher conference with her next week so I'm sure we will be discussing it in more detail then.

Robbie played in his very first basketball game on Saturday, he was very nervous. They lost, 34-6, ouch! He was a bit disappointed because he never touched the ball. He needs more practice on defense, I'm not sure if he understood what you're supposed to do when the other team has the ball. At practice last night the coaches worked on that. I was told they played against the best team on the league, just our luck! He is looking forward to the next game because, according to Robbie, they are not a very good team, they only scored 4 points.

Tomorrow night we are going to our support group's Thanksgiving dinner. They are also going to have a candlelight ceremony for all of our loved ones who have passed away. There will be pictures of them as they read off their names, we can say something if we want to. Katie said she would like to say, "I love you Daddy", isn't that sweet? I am so proud of her, she really has come a long way from not talking at all. Today in the lunch room I could hear her voice from across the room!

I hope everyone enjoys getting ready for Thanksgiving, I can't believe it's here already! I'm hoping to not have Christmas creep up on me again, I've already done some shopping. Before you know it, Christmas day will be here!

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue








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Helen

This week started off as a nightmare, it actually started on Friday of last week and carried over into this week. Helen is being mean to her friends at school by playing rough with them. She bent the fingers back on one little girl and made her cry. On Monday she grabbed the hood of another little girl's coat and pulled. The girl is in kindergarten and I'm told, can blow over if a big wind blew by. This little girl started to cry, when the teachers went to see what was going on, she became very upset. I was told her neck was all red. Helen didn't listen to the teachers when they told her to apologize to the little girl, she said, "No" and walked away. I should say "tried" to walk away, the teacher took Helen inside and found her teacher. I was informed that usually a student displaying that type of behavior would have been blue slipped(written up), and suspended, even special education. She did loose her recess privileges this week. I'm not clear as to why she wasn't suspended, maybe because they know she doesn't do it with the intention of hurting anybody. My kids play rough at times, as do most siblings. I don't think Helen understands the difference in playing that way with your siblings and playing that way at school. We have a new rule in this house, no playing rough. If Helen starts to play rough with any of them, they are to say, "Helen, that hurts me, I am no longer going to play with you!" and walk away from her. I spoke with her teacher and she suggested they say that to her. I have also been talking to her about not touching the kids at school. I hope it all works, it's upsetting to receive notes about this, I felt like I had done something wrong.

The next few days are going to be busy for us. Katie has a Daisy meeting today after school, the boys have a Cub Scout meeting tonight, the theme is the Olympics. Saturday is Robbie's first basketball game, he is so excited. He started practice two weeks ago, until that time he had never played outside of gym class. He told me after his first practice, "If practice lasted 7 hours, that still wouldn't be enough time, I really had fun!" I can't wait to see how they play together as a team. Most of the boys on his team are from his class at school, they are starting now so when they reach 5th grade they would have been playing together for a few years. At their school, they don't play sports until that time. It makes me happy to see them take on traits of Peter. Ted was so into the election, he was perched on my bed glued to the TV on election day. Robbie loves sports, not just one in particular, but all of them. Those are the same things Peter enjoyed, especially politics. I am anxious to see what traits the other kids take on as they grow.

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue







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Sadness and Chaos

I just found out a friend's mom passed away so I am feeling deep sadness right now. It was one of Peter's friends who stood up in our wedding. She absolutely loved our ceremony because it reminded her so much of her own 35 years earlier(we were married the day after her anniversary). She was impressed that I had done things so traditionally, I told her it was my mom's influence, she told me my mom had elegant taste. She also told me our marriage would last forever because of the eye contact we shared during the ceremony. It had moved her to tears because it touched her heart so deeply to see Peter so in love, what a perfect thing to say to a bride on her wedding day. She was a wonderful woman, she always made you feel welcome in her home. I sent her a Christmas card every year, when we would stop by she would tell me how beautiful my children were. She will be deeply missed.

My kids are home from school the next couple of days, we have parent/teacher conferences at their school. Helen is still in school, her days off were last week. It sure would be nice if the school's had the same time off. On the other hand, it was nice spending one on one time with her. She didn't help me at the store last week, she stayed in the cart and enjoyed the ride. She did a good job, she didn't grab too many things within her reach!

Yesterday afternoon I was moving my car onto the street when my kids saw the neighbor blowing his leaves to the curb. They ran over there and were having the best time, I think he enjoyed it too. I don't get enough leaves in my yard for them to play in, so I was grateful to them for letting the kids play in theirs. Ted and Robbie came flying out of the house when they saw the other kids playing, and in doing so, let out Toby. He was running all over the place, the kids were trying to catch him. We were making so much noise we caught the attention of our neighbors directly next door to us. I saw them at their door watching and laughing. We must have been some sight, leaves flying in the air, kids running everywhere, me trying to lure Toby by calling him with a baby voice, and Toby running like the wind in every direction, what chaos. It wasn't until one of the roofers came with his dog that Toby finally headed home. I then had to get the kids back home, we needed to eat early because of Greek school and Religion class. It was quite an adventure, thank goodness I have wonderful neighbors!!

I hope everyone was able to get out and vote, what an amazing night. I heard some people had to wait hours in line, I was lucky to have been able to get in and out within five minutes. I had Grace and Noah with me, so one day I will be able to tell them they helped me vote during that history making race. I just hope he is able to make the changes needed to get us out of all the mess. As a widow with six children I pray he will, I am really feeling the crunch.

Until next time-

Take Care,

Sue

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