We don't leave the south for a reason

My Grandmother's memorial was this past weekend in Lincoln. It was a nice service and I got to see the relatives but cold. I lived in Nebraska for 5 years in my life and do not remember it being like that before and know it usually isn't that extreme. I think the highest temp was 7 the whole 3 days. Once the wind settle down it wasn't so bad other than the 7 layers of outdoor clothing. It was so windy Thursday that we got to see a sun dog driving from Omaha to Lincoln.

Van ventured out in the snow at my Grandmother's house with his cousins. Clad in hand me downs he had trouble walking in the 2 feet plus of snow cover and kept calling out "for a little help". Casey went into the indoor pool and the closest he got to the snow was looking at a drift through the pool windows. Van watched the 40 years of Sesame Street DVD in the car and I Love Trash got changed into I Hate Snow which I sung in my head each time I went outside.

I Hate Snow

(sung to the tune of Oscar the Grouches I love trash)

Oh I hate snow
It's all cold, clingy and crunchy
It's all slippery, icy and turns slushy
Yes, I hate snow

I have snow in my pants
It's only negative 2
A 2 foot snow cover is eating my boot
I hate it because it's snow

Oh I hate snow
It's all cold, clingy and crunchy
It's all slippery, icy and turns slushy
Yes, I hate snow

The sun dog in Omaha

Van in the 2 feet of snow at my Grandmother's

Casey at the indoor pool

Uncle Jim (who Casey is named after) Van Casey and Kate

Stealing Other's Posts

Mommy Attorney wrote her post and I liked the idea so I stole it. Many times I have wondered if anyone reads what I wrote.


De-Lurk!
This week is national de-lurking week.

What is a lurker? Someone who reads a blog but does not comment. The best part about the internet, for me anyway, is dialogue that can occur between folks who go through the same experience or have different perspectives on life.

I have a few faithful readers, many of whom comment. But there are a few that I know read regularly and rarely or never comment.

So...

come out and say hi!

Say anything!

Say what you like around here!

Say what you don't like around here!

Say how you found me!

Just say something!

(and yes, I'm talking to you!)
Posted by Mommy Attorney at 5:24 PM

Fa La La La Pbbtthhhhhhhh

I had plans for what to do during the holidays and then I just went Pbbtthhhhh. I wanted to post the holiday letter on the blog, I was pushing it just to get it emailed before Christmas. I wanted to order more paper cards to send out, NOPE. Van still hates the idea of visiting Santa.

I did change up the outdoor decorations and the indoor decor came together after 3 days of tilting my head and saying I didn't like it. It did come out more Mike's style than mine,more rustic cottage than I wanted. But I do live in a house full of boys so pink sparkles just don't seem to fit in well.

Christmas went smoothly. The Grandparents all got in without problems. There were no medical problems. Santa came, toys were opened, tree was packed up to make room to play with toys, Christmas dinner was made and eaten. Other than some really sweet sweet potato mash things went great Christmas day.

New Years Eve the swing set was delivered, outside decorations came down since it was 65 degrees, really glad I did it then since its been a bit chilly since. we went to the neighbors to eat and shoot fireworks until Van admitted he was tired at 9:30. I am amazed at how many fireworks 5 families can amass.

My main goal for 2010 a new couch and maybe some chairs and to recover our dinning room chairs. The couch has lasted well over the price I paid for it and both Mike and I would like more seating. And well Van had done a number on the dinning room chairs. All easy fixes after once we decide on what we want. Hopefully all done by February.

New Years

 

Casey eating Video

It's a bit long but I have not mastered editing yet. And I hope I changed Van's video to public so all can watch.

Van helping me feed Casey.

New Camera

Mike got me/us a Zi8. I tried it out with Casey and Van. Van has been videoed on Amber's phone and knows the deal about being able to watch yourself after. He just doesn't get that you can't watch yourself while being taped. So it's a bit hard to get him to fully finish what you asked him to do before he starts asking to see.

Trying to get Van singing his ABCs then I join in to help him remember some of his missing letters.

Remembering Helen Van Sickle

My Grandmother Anna Ellen (Helen) Van Sickle passed this morning. She lived a life of 90 years and we have known this was coming for quite some time. She had 5 children, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren which leaves me to wonder if 5 was ever a lucky number for her.

Things that I remember or have learned from her....

She had this pink outfit around the time of my high school graduation. It was pepto pink and completely matching from the LA Gear high tops, socks, long shorts, shirt and tennis visor and I think a matching fanny pack. But this was the way she always dressed, everything matched. My gifts of clothes from her came this way too.

She always had my favorite potato salad from the store in the fridge. She was also the one to create my hatred of stew. My grandmother was not a very good cook. Stew was one of the only things that she made that my Dad could tolerate eating when he was dating my Mom while she lived at home. Each time we would go for a visit the first dinner we would eat was stew. I hate stew. Once you mentioned liking anything edible that she had, it was always in the house each time you came.

I believe I get my need to garden from her. She had a huge vegetable garden in the back yard. There was mint and rhubarb, tomatoes and cucumbers. I do flowers. She would spend hours tending that garden.

She was an Army nurse, signing up to serve during WWII. I remember the white uniform she wore when she worked at the VA hospital. I had my own white paper nurse hat and stethoscope.

I learned about the strength of unconditional love. She was not a fan of us using Van as a nickname. Van was her nickname for my Grandfather Willis Van Sickle (who I was naming Van after), she was the first to call him that. She expressed I think to everyone except my mother and I that she did not want me using Van unless it was his real name. Well, she lost that battle, but that did not stop her from loving on him the first time she met him. (pictured above) Nor did she stop loving me nor I stop loving her, I did have an issue of not liking her for awhile though. I learned that just because you love someone unconditionally doesn't means that you have to like or tolerate all of their behavior or even forgive right away. It means you will always care about them.

Her passing was not a surprise. She had not been doing well over the past few years. It started with losing hearing and then not following conversations. She went into a care facility about 2 years ago and the best way to describe it was kicking and screaming. There are not many that would kick and scream over anything after 85 but she did, she even ran away once. Which is proof that my stubbornness is hereditary.

The one thing I do not have is a material item that will always remind me of her in my home. Nor do I have an idea of what that could be. I have a painting of my grandfather and antique cameras, barware of my great aunt, jewelry from others. I hope I can find that item somewhere in my memories of her.