Grandfather's Clock

As I sit here on a warm crisp fall night, I hear a clock chime 7 o’clock. This clock actually happens to be my grandfather’s clock. It is a Herman Miller clock given to him for his retirement from the railroad. The Durkee men were known to have immaculate degeneration, a disease that would affect their eyesight. There was a time in my life where I would visit my grandfather on a weekly bases as he lived in Schereville, IN. I would do odd jobs for him and he would take me to lunch. I really only wanted to try and keep him company. He eventually moved closer to my father in Mokena, IL. There was a time when Rich and came home to visit during the holidays. Grandpa was upset because he couldn’t hear his clock and wanted to get a new one. 

We took him all around to search for one he would like and then we haggled with the owner over the price. Well it wasn’t long and Grandpa did not like the new clock. I Unfortunately, he was unable to sit up or move around. The infection finally took over and he passed away.

He was 92 when he died.

When I was little, I remember playing with this wind up clock that was red and had a school house theme. There was a song that played along with it and it wasn’t until recently that I found out.

It is: My Grandfather’s Clock

My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born,
And was always his treasure and pride;
But it stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
CHORUS:
Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tick, tick, tick),
His life seconds numbering,
(tick, tick, tick, tick),
It stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
In watching its pendulum swing to and fro,
Many hours had he spent while a boy;
And in childhood and manhood the clock seemed to know
And to share both his grief and his joy.
For it struck twenty-four when he entered at the door,
With a blooming and beautiful bride;
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
CHORUS
My grandfather said that of those he could hire,
Not a servant so faithful he found;
For it wasted no time, and had but one desire —
At the close of each week to be wound.
And it kept in its place — not a frown upon its face,
And its hands never hung by its side.
But it stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
CHORUS

It rang an alarm in the dead of the night —
An alarm that for years had been dumb;
And we knew that his spirit was pluming for flight —
That his hour of departure had come.
Still the clock kept the time, with a soft and muffled chime,
As we silently stood by his side;
But it stopp'd short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
CHORUS

Although Grandpa’s clock is one that can sit on the shelf, the song still holds true. Some might say that my Grandpa was a grouchy and grumpy old man. I saw a different side of him. If you just take the time to get to know someone, you might be surprised.

He was a great man and provided well for his family. He was a loving Grandfather as one could be. He loved baseball, music, and boots.

So as the clock struck this evening, I smile a bit because I know that is him chiming in to say hi.

Braedon turns 7

Dear Braedon,

I can’t believe that you are 7. A lot has changed in one year. You are the most kindest, reasonable, logical, and loveable little boy. I shouldn’t say little boy as you are almost as tall as me. You are about 1 foot smaller than I am. I know that you will be taller than I am, but will you be taller than your father?

You love to play with legos. Normally, your father or I put them together, but recently you did one yourself. It was a little car from the Dino set. I was so proud and you were so thrilled. We bought you a Pirates of the Caribbean Black Pearl boat. You and your father started to assemble it, but you lost interest after a bit. Me and your father had to finish it. So far it has remained intact even with your brother and sister around.

We gave you a birthday party you wanted. We jumped and played at a bouncy castle place. It was very fun. 

We invited your cousins and friends from coop. Last year you had girlfriend named Artemis but she didn’t return. We have only been at coop one week and you have a new girlfriend. Her name is Veda. She is super cute and sweet. She came to your party and the two of you played and played.

You are doing so well with your school work. Each day I love teaching you something new and discovering what you already know. There are times when you don’t want to do the work, but you melted my heart when you said, “Mom when are we going to do our math and geography?” I try to do a little each day with you. I want you to learn and be excited as much as possible. Again, I love the fact that we kept you home to do school. The thought of someone else being able to see you reach milestones would break my heart.

Speaking of milestones, the day after your birthday you lost your 6^th tooth. It seems as though one comes out and another one is loose. You do already have another one just starting to wiggle a little.

Your favorites: the color blue, minecraft, lego video game: batman, harry potter and starwars, starcraft game, angry birds video and toys, you love to drink milk or baba’s.

Gifts for you birthday: you got lego dinos, lego watch, lego spaceshuttle, batman mask, drawing book, some books to read, lego power miners,  and of course the boat.

You are an amazingly creative and talented child. You value right versus wrong and take things to heart when something is meaningful. You get emotional when things you are misunderstood or being scolded for something you didn’t do. When you want something and we say no, if you really want it you make a deal or a logical argument. Most of the times you end up getting what you want.

I am delighted to be your mom and watch you grow up into this wonderful boy. You are so helpful and kind to your siblings. You are concerned and compassionate about others. I wish you the best 7^th year and can’t wait to see what you accomplish.

Love—your mom

Braedon's first purchase--legos

Its been a long time coming. The kids see some coins on the ground and run to collect them. One would think they would put it into their piggy banks, but not mine. They put straight into their wallet.

Braedon has been hoarding his money for a while. He has been claiming that he would buy something with his money, but never has. I also think he forgets about bringing his wallet. It wasn't until Sebastian brought up the idea of bringing his wallet.

Before we set out to Target to stock up on household items, I had them count their money. Braedon helped a little and S didn't care (he just wanted "stuff"). I thought oh boy this is going to be a great learning lesson for both of them.

As we walked in, they both started begging me to take them to the toy section. After gathering up a few items, we headed upstairs. They looked around a bit and then asked me what could they get. Braedon had $15and more than S because he had "tooth-fairy" money. Yup losing 5 teeth pays off. Poor S only had $3. Again, another lesson that saving your money can get you better toys.

It took a while to get S his toys which he finally agreed to 3 hotwheels police cars. B finally settled on a Dino small lego set. I had to run out of there before each of them asked for the millionth time if what could they get for their money. I tried to explain to them but they just weren't hearing me or didn't care to hear me.

We went to the grocery store where I proceeded to lock the keys in the car and subsequently standing around for while waiting for assistance. Taking 3 wound up kids to Target, grocery store, and locking the keys in the car exhausted me.

When we arrived home, all I wanted to do was to put away the groceries and do nothing. Of course here comes B asking me to put his lego vehicle together. I politely asked him to see if he could start and if he had any problems to ask for assistance.

I never expected him to put it together by himself! He was so proud of himself and it gave him the sense of power.

Later that evening, S of course demolished B's car. B was upset and asked Dad to rebuild it. Dad forgot and the next morning Braedon rebuilt all by himself.

I can't wait until he gets more legos and see his ability to read directions to build something amazing.

Hello Kitty

Dear Jillian,

I never really knew Hello Kitty growing up. I saw her picture on many different things, but I was never really into her.

I am unsure of how you were introduced. I know it starts with your love for kitties in general. Your Dad helped further your interest when he bought you "baby kitty". I'm sure it also helps that you pretend your are a kitty and want to be petted.

So we've nurtured your love for Hello Kitty by purchasing a few items. Word had spread that you loved Hello Kitty and more items were purchased as gifts for holidays and birthday.

Your obsession has now taken over your clothing choices. You will not wear any dress unless it has Hello Kitty. Hence, I purchased 2 special dresses for you which you refer to as your "pretty dresses" or "princess dresses". Here is where you act like a girly girl until you want to run around outside in the mud.

We have also purchased special Hello Kitty shoes for you because your Aunt started this trend when she bought you a pair for your birthday. You love them and will wear them all of the time....even to bed.

Now you won't wear anything unless it has Hello Kitty. All of your shirts must be HK. I tried to put some jeans on you the other day and you wouldn't wear them. I am wondering if I put HK on them if you would change your mind?

I have purchased some iron-ons and patches to adhere to some clothes I purchased for you. Again, I am hoping that they will make you change your mind wearing them.

Loving Hello Kitty is the most precious thing and we enjoy seeing your personality shine. You light up when you see HK and do a great impression of a cat.

Today you said to me, "You can be the mommy kitty and I can be your baby" and then snuggled up with me. It was super cute and melted my heart. You won't be this way forever and I wanted to document this while I had the chance.

Love,
Your mommy kitty

Braedon's Broken Arm

Dear Braedon,

One day the topic of "Have you ever had a broken bone" will come up via talking with your friends or girlfriend. I prided myself on not having any broken bones and also can thank my parents for passing down good genes.

Your father, however can not claim this and nor can you now. Your father broke his leg when he was around 1-2 years of age. It was not of his own doing, he crawled under a moving rocking chair and well his uncle smashed his leg. This is not the only time he has broken something. While during his senior year at Indiana University, your father was playing a heated game of basketball. He jumped up to block a shot and his opponent smashed his hand into the backboard. Your father then had to drive himself to the Emergency Room in his BMW which was a stick shift. You guessed it, he had to drive with his busted right hand.

I am one of those helicopter moms people write about all of the time. I hoovered over you and your siblings to make sure you weren't hurt. I would run around the playground watching you like a hawk to ensure your safety.

You were a very cautious little boy and still are. You wouldn't climb anything unless you were sure you could do it safely. Even today you will not do anything that you think might harm you.

Technically you didn't break anything, but you did fracture your elbow. To be more precise your Lateral Epicondyle. It happened just as we were gathering you and your siblings for bed time. We have a routine where we all meet up in the bathroom. I was in the other room getting things prepared for you and I heard your father ask if you if you were alright.

There was a pillow with a star on it we had lying on the couch most of the time. It happened to be lying on the floor. Somehow you stepped back and fell over it. You put your left hand down to break your fall. In doing so, your humerous either hit your radius or ulna or it hit the ground making a fracture.

Instantly you did not look right or feel well. We were unsure of what happened to you but you insisted that you just wanted to go to sleep. We checked on you throughout the night but you didn't wake. The next morning, I could see that you still weren't doing well. You wanted to lay down in bed with your Father and you were "babying" your arm. It was swollen with a very mild discoloration.

It happened to be a Sunday and I knew the only place we had to take you was the hospital. We double checked with your doctor and the confirmed that if you needed a cast the ER was the place. I was very nervous because you hadn't had the need to see a doctor for anything.

You of course were very brave. They gave you some Tylenol when you arrived and that was the only medication you received during this entire process. They took you in for X-rays and you didn't cry although it hurt. When the pediatric surgeon came in to put your cast you were brave. It was only when they split your cast so that it could expand as your arm swelled, did you then cry. It was a very loud and scary machine. I looked like a saw and it looked as though it was going to cut you. Only until after the doctor saw that you were terrified, did he explain to you that it wouldn't hurt you.

We had been there for about 7 hours and you were tired. I was tired. We thought we could get out of there with just the cast but then the doctor returned informing us you might have to have surgery.

There was a long battle between your doctors and parents regarding what was best for your arm. They wanted surgery and we wanted you to have time to let your body heal naturally. Ultimately we won. You did end up having 4 different occasions of X-rays, which I felt was too many, but we wanted to comply with the doctor. We wanted to make sure you were healing properly.

After 6 weeks, your cast came off and you babied your arm for a bit. That is natural thinking you might hurt it again. Time has passed and you have full range of motion with your elbow. You haven't really given it any thought.

I couldn't believe that you had to have a cast and that my baby was hurt. I am grateful everything worked out and you are well on your way to 7.

Love,
Your mommy

What to do on a rainy day....

When I was a little girl, we lived in Frankfort Square, IL on Acorn Drive. I loved it when it rained during the summer time. It was warm but, the rain made it the prefect temperature.

There was a sidewalk across the street from our house that had a dip in between two slabs. It made the perfect place for water to pool. It made the best puddle ever.

If it wasn’t thundering or lightening, I would beg my mom to let me play outside. I remember the clear-bubble umbrella she bought me. I didn’t need wellies either; I would just go out with my bare feet. I would jump up and down in the puddles. I would make the biggest splashes. I was wet, muddy, and had a huge smile on my face.

The sidewalk that made the perfect puddle would be all murky filled with water and dirt but I loved every minute of it.

I wanted my kids to have the same experiences I had with rain, puddles, and umbrellas.  I made it a point to get them all the rain gear they needed to make their own joy (of course when they aren't playing in the backyard without their clothes--my nudists). So no matter what the weather was outside (hot or cold), I would let them play in the rain. Of course as long as it isn’t thundering or lightening. 

 

I wish we had a place that they could have a huge puddle like I had but, it is the little things that count. :)

Jillian turns 3

To my dearest Jillian,

I can’t believe it has been 3 years. I remember when you were born and recall the actions of that day. You were so tiny and precious—we knew we had something wonderful.

We celebrated your 3^rd birthday at a Children’s Museum in Frankfort on May 12^th. It was a Hello Kitty themed party because you LOVE Hello Kitty. In fact, you won’t wear anything if it doesn’t have a kitty on it. Mainly all of your shirts have Hello Kitty on it somewhere. Of course, I made you a Hello Kitty cake. All of your cousins came and some of your friends from coop.

You received: Hello Kitty purse, Hello kitty shirts/shoes, Hello Kitty little figures, book, crayons, gift card, kitty sleeping bag, a baby that talks (I’m not sure if you are into it or not), Little Princess-by Tony Ross DVD, Hello Kitty towel, and Hello Kitty bathing suit.

Likes/dislikes/favorites:

Color: you love pink. I think it is incredible because you aren’t always a girly girl.

Food: You are one tough/picky eater. You don’t really like anything unless its bad for you. You like crackers, hotdogs, Keifer bug yogurt which you call your Baba, maple yogurt which I freeze for you and you think it is ice cream. It looks like ice cream because I put it in a ice cream cone looking container you can freeze.  Sometimes you like green beans. You love bread—especially Italian bread. You like peanut butter but sometimes I give you almond butter (of course all natural and organic). You like French fries, popcorn, baked snap peas, pretzels, and veggie sticks. I have tried to get you to eat chicken, fish and other things that are good but you always say—Yucky and blow a raspberry at me. I’m hoping one day you will change your eating habits.

You like to watch: Peppa Pig, Little Princess by Tony Ross, Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, Wubbzy, Charlie Brown/snoppy, Richard Scarry’s Busytown, and some things that your brother’s like to watch.

Clothes: you are not a girly girl but you do like sparkly or shiny things—we call them bling (they are really rhinestones). You don’t like to wear clothes at home because you are just like your brothers. Sometimes you wear a shirt. I think mainly its easier so we can potty train you. You will only wear a dress if it has Hello Kitty on it. Mommy bought you a non-hello kitty wardrobe for summer and you won’t wear it. I am not seeking ways to put Hello Kitty on your clothes so you will wear them.

Playing: you love to play with magna tiles, you love the sand box and swings. Mainly you just love to help me as much as a 3 year old can.

Humor: you are a very funny child. You make us laugh all the time. Sometimes you are very silly but sometimes your Daddy encourages your silliness. You do things to aggravate your brothers but you do it for attention. You have a fake cry that sometimes is funny but sometimes can be a bit over the top.

Learning: of course you know now that you are homeschooled. You love to learn with your brothers and pick up things quickly. You will definitely surpass them when it comes to reading/writing. You love drawing with pens/pencils/crayons. You love to paint….I think you could paint every day. You are very creative and I love nurturing your creativity. Your vocabulary is incredible and you repeat everything that we say and then you use it yourself. So I make sure that I speak clearly and repeat things to you.

Personality: you can be very stubborn. If you don’t want to do something you cross your arms and say no. When we are walking and you don’t want to walk anymore—you just stop and won’t move. You cry very easily and are easily upset. But on the other hand you sometimes are tough as nails as long as something hasn’t bothered you.You love to act like a kitty making kitty noises and love jumping on people. You think that is funny. 

You are sleeping through the night with your brothers. You have certainly grown up quickly. You are mostly potty trained but we are working on underwear during the day. At night we put you in a diaper because you don’t get up to tell us you need to go potty. I know you’ll grow out of this stage.

Everyone thinks you are so cute and you know it. You go up to people and use your “girlish” ways to get their attention.  You do this with boys and girls.

While I am writing this you are walking around naked with your new Hello Kitty shoes your Aunt Chrissy bought you for your birthday and your Hello Kitty balloon I got for your birthday. You asked for your “BABA” but you aren’t really interested in drinking it and returned it to me. You are too cute.

We are so lucky to have you in our lives and are grateful for every day that we get to spend with you.  We love you so much and can’t wait to see what the next year brings.

Happy 3^rd birthday.Love your Mom and Dad.