Childhood Holiday Memories

I love Christmas! It is my favorite time of year. I love the excitement, the lights, Santa....everything! I attribute that love to my childhood. Lately, I have been longing for that innocence of childhood, the belief in Santa, celebrating with family. I want that old fashioned holiday!! I owe my parents, my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents a great deal of thanks for instilling in me a love of being together and enjoying each others company; of laughter, warmth and family.

I loved traveling to my aunt and uncle's home. I remember movies, games, food, fun. I remember wondering if Santa would know we were not at home and my parents assuring me he would know where we were. And sure enough, Christmas morning, I woke up ran upstairs to find he had most certainly come to my aunt and uncle's home! I remember much laughter and many Polish jokes. Back then, you could tell Polish jokes and my aunt is very Polish! And the food... there was always alot of good food! I loved to see what everyone was bringing. I remember one year all us kids sleeping on the floor downstairs. (that could have been at Easter! Old age...memories can get jumbled!) I remember the years we went to the farm house. i wanted to live there when I grew up. I LOVED that old house. I loved the memories, stories, that came with it. I loved that sometimes, because there were so many of us, we had to use the outhouse, or we couldn't flush the toilet after every use! I remember it was so warm and cozy there. I remember sitting around the table peeling potatoes, or making fruit salad. I remember my grandfather, father and uncles going hunting and running to the basement when they got back to see who got a deer. Oh, my dad got one once!! We were all surprised!! I remember sharing a room, and bed, with my cousin. We were like sisters! It was just like when our moms lived there and had to share a room... and sometimes a bed! I remember the snow, walking out to the woods, down to the pond, the beautiful scenery, the deer. Most of all, I remember my family and how much I loved them; how special and lucky I was to have such a great family. I remember how happy my grandma was. She was always happy when her family was around. I miss her! I miss my Uncle Bob who once told my cousin Karen we were having her goose for dinner! Or maybe it was a duck! We weren't really! I miss those family gatherings. Unfortunately, time does not stand still. Life must go on. We grow up, move away and start new traditions. I hope my children can enjoy this time as much as I did. So, thank you family for helping make such wonderful, wonderful memories for me to carry in my heart for the rest of my life. I love you all!!

Garage Sale find

I found this great poncho at garage sale. I couldn't believe the lady was getting rid of it! It's beautiful! I guess the lady's aunt made it. Oh well! I have it now!! Love it!

A visit with Grandpa

When we arrived at the cottage, Grandpa was cutting twigs! The boys were so excited to be there....well, Steven was asleep then he was cranky for awhile, but once he ate, he was much better! Glad we were able to go visit! (not sure what is up with this font!)

Church progressive dinner/bonfire

Had a great time at our churches Progressive Dinner/bonfire...we didn't attend the bonfire part! The appetizers were at our house. My mom came up to help me finish cleaning and get the food ready. She made this beautiful wreath to display and hope to sell! She also helped the kids get some of the food ready.

We had fruit cabobs or as Jon called it a porcupine!

Our Olive tree!

Our Feast!

Nicky found a new friend!

Cailtin in her own bed after a long night!

Pumpkins

One of Jon's projects was growing pumpkins. Well, it worked! Next year. I think we will go with smaller pumpkins!

More pics

Rainbow on the way to my parents house

An extremely small frog!

Jason's vest from when he was a child!

Waitress Samantha

Who dresses this girl! I found these really cute dress boots on clearance and just had to get them! Of course, sami had to wear them the next 3 days! At dinner one evening, she come out with an apron on and a pad and pen! Very creative!!

Misc Pictures

making use of our box from the garage sale

Hobo Jon

Caitlin taking a snooze

steven getting warm after a bath

Jon's chicken eggs

As you can see, that is one big chicken egg! Jon's comment was you can make a whole omelet out of that! We have no idea which chicken popped out an egg that big, but man that had to hurt!! The little one is actually from a mini bantum, Flappy Peepers. She just started laying and then died. Thought maybe we had an ostrich in the pen somewhere!!

No beds!!

Well we don't have any place for the kids to sleep!! Kinda like we don't feed them either!

Sami and her fits

Sami is almost 6 years old and continues to have "fits". We have tried everything. We say she is like a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Scary! I think today we hit a classic. I really need to share it! We were at Walmart picking up some things. Sami and Steven were sitting in the cart because they had been eating their lunch. Since they were done they decided to bicker over everything I put in the cart. To make a long story short, Steven ended up falling out of the cart. I turned my head for 2 seconds, heard a thud, turned to find Steven on the floor! We ended up at the dr's office. While there Sami announces she has to go the bathroom really bad. I direct her to the bathroom across the hall. A few seconds later, she comes back to the room....."I want to pee in a cup." What??!! 'No, you don't need to pee in the cup today." "But I want to pee in the cup!" She is starting to get REALLY upset, stomping her feet, voice getting louder. I pull her in the room, "No, you are not going to do this! Go in the bathroom sit on the toilet and pee, flush the toilet, wash your hands and come back to the room quietly." "Hm!" She stomps off and slams the door! Ha! Couldn't believe she was about to have a fit over PEEING IN A CUP!!!!!!

Random pics

Caitlin Erica Kobelia, Part One

Caitlin Erica Kobelia, born April 11, 2010 at 1032am. She arrived at 36 weeks and 5 days. She weighed 5lbs 9 ozs. Caitlin is named after my brother Todd, whose middle name is Eric. He suggested Erica.

I woke up with a terrible migraine headache. I had already taken at least 3 hot showers in hopes that it would relieve some of the pressure. Didn't help! I decided to get up and start some cleaning thinking that if I was doing something maybe it would go away. Tried to fold some clothes, but the longer I sat there the more it hurt. So, I thought, maybe if I just sit on the couch and don't move, then maybe it would go away. That didn't work either! I knew I was in trouble when Nick wandered down and I couldn't take care of him. I went out to the garage, in tears because my head hurt so bad, and told him he might need to take me to the hospital. I have only had to do that one other time and I found out I was pregnant! I called my mom...someone would need to take the kids. And thankfully, being Sunday my father was home also. I called the doctor to find out what I should do. After many questions, he felt I really needed to go the hospital to rule out pre eclampsia. It was a very long ride to the hospital! Every bump made my headache worse! I was biting my lip not to cry I was in so much pain! When we arrived at the hospital, I felt a bit of relief...like we were safe now. Within an hour, I was in the OR! My blood pressure was 151/98! All signs of preeclampsia. I was so scared I was shaking! I kept praying to try and calm myself down. The nurses were yelling at the doctors, the doctors were yelling at the nurses. They couldn't find a vein to put the IV in! And the the nurse that was standing in front of me gave me a hug and whispered that everything would be okay, she was here to take care of me. I felt a little better! When Caitlin was born, they immediately took her to the NICU for a full heart scan. She stayed there about 2 wee ks before she was transported to Rochester Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial.

The dishwasher

Stevie helping Jason try to fix the dishwasher

Sometimes things go from bad to worse. Our dishwasher decided to go. I guess after 10 years it had enough. Why can't these things go at a better time....if there is such a thing! We thought we could get in on the rebate program, didn't include dishwasher! We thought we could get a good sale waited to long. Always the case! So, one Monday we packed all 4 kids in the car went down to Syracuse and visited a few places....some more than once! After 6 hours and a Wendy's lunch, we finally decided we really needed a dishwasher....today! Not a month from now! So we ended up back at the only place that had them in stock. We still managed to get a good deal on it. If we replaced the pump it would have cost almost $200. So we made out well purchasing a new one. Thank you Lord!

The kitties

Pugsy and Cat

Usually these two are at each other. But the other night, I look over and Pugsy is licking Cat! Awww!

Valentine's Day Craft

Well, it was certainly to cold to do anything outside so we decorated some cereal boxes to collect valentines in. Not the my kids will get any valentines being homeschooled, but they had fun anyway! I told them they could make valentines for each other. We will see how that goes!

We made waffles in the morning, had school (our craft) and then we watched a movie while Steven took a nap. Relaxed afterward and had some dinner. I wanted to play a game with the older 2, but spent 2 hours waiting for Nick to drift off! By that time, they were in bed and I had a headache! So, I went to bed. A good day!

It's cold!

Well, it is cold inside and out! But we managed to get Nick all bundled up and off to school on this cold, cold, day. He was so funny getting all his clothes on. And he kept saying "cheese" for his picture! Thankfully, the bus is able to pull all the way up to the garage so it is a short walk to the bus.

Dress up day!

Sami got out her dress up stuff one day and the boys decided they wanted to play too!

Now doesn't he just look sooo cute!!

Christmas with my parents

Didn't get too many pictures while at my parents either. If you look closely at Nick's picture you can see the awful rash covering his face and neck. He was somewhat better after the ist dose then it went down hill from there! The kids had a great time. It's nice having grandparents to spoil you...well at least a grandfather!! I wish I had taken a picture of the tree. The gifts were over flowing from under the tree! It was funny! Then you come home and it doesn't look like there is anything under our tree!! Good times!

Stevie checking everything out!

Jon with his balancing bird

Nicky playing with a light up toy

Jon and his chickens!

On a nice warm day..way back when...we were outside waiting for Nick's bus taking some pictures.

Jon and his "favorite" chicken, Funny Feathers

Jon with the four that didn't end up in the freezer!