Conversations in the Car and a Christmas List

Jill to Dad:

          Jill: If I ask you a question, will you tell me the truth?

          Dad: Of course!

          Jill:: Is there really a Santa Claus?

          Dad: Do you really want to know?

          Jill: Yes

          Dad: There is no Santa Claus.  

Jill: (crying) But what about the Easter Bunny?
 
Dad: Nope
 
Dad: And there is no Tooth Fairy either. 

Later, to Stephanie:

Jill: If I ask you a question, will you tell me the truth?

Stephanie: Of course!

Jill: Is there really a Santa Claus, an Easter Bunny and a Tooth Fairy?

Stephanie: Of course! Where else would all those presents come from?

Jill: Yeah, that makes sense.

Mia's Christmas List (Written by Jill)

A little zee toy that sings the ABC's
A baby bumblebee pillow pet
or bees or bees lamp
Lala Lopsey silly hair
A Barney movie
Candy (shugger free)
Flat screen 3D TV
Another puppy  (golden retriver)
A Winter the Dolphin movie
Disney Tangled for Leapster Explorer
Toy Story 3 for Leapster Explorer

****
Mia and Jill were talking about caterpillars when Jill told about a butterfly cage they had at school. First the caterpillars ate the leaves, then they formed a chrysalis, and then the kids actually saw a butterfly emerge. Jill said there was "paint" on the bottom of the cage from the butterfly's wings.

Mia: I think the fairies paint their wings. (Pause) I want to catch a fairy.

Jill:  Once, when I lost a tooth, I saw a little light under my pillow!

Mia: I saw that, too!

I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Mia trying to wiggle one of her teeth.

Precious Christmas Memories

One of Cory's first Christmas gifts, a toy barking dog - 1972

 Jaime and me - 1981

Jaime, Mom and me - 1980

My favorite picture of Jaime by the tree - about 1985

Jonah - 2000

Jill - 2003

Jonah and Jill - 2003

Jonah and Jill - 2005?

Jill and Jonah - 2004?

Jill, Santa and Jonah - 2006

Jaime and Mia - 2007

Mia and Jonah - 2007

Santa and Mia - 2010

Shari and Roger - 2006

A few old pictures from Christmas past.

Preview to Thanksgiving Day

One of my favorite places in the world, Riverhills Park in Temple Terrace, Florida



Mia had a Thanksgiving show at her new church preschool. She is dressed as an Indian. There was a feather in her headress, but it flopped over. The drawing on the front of her "vest" depicts what she is grateful for. Grandma!

Jaime's dining room dressed for Thanksgiving. We traded tables. The long table I have had for 25 years went to her house and a small round table moved to mine. She added a smaller table to make it longer and covered it with the Thanksgiving table cloth handed down to her from Aunt Darlene. 

  The chairs don't match, but I think Jaime's dining room is beautiful.

Happy Thanksgiving. I woke up extremely early and put a turkey in the oven. I am cooking here and Jaime is cooking at her house. Roger will stay home and watch football in his own chair with his own dinner, but I will also be going around the corner to help Jaime with her dinner which is scheduled at 2:00. Jill will help us with preparations. We will watch the parade, the football game (Roger is a die hard Lions fan), and have a good meal with friends and family. I wish peace and happiness to all.

Mia's Birthday 5

Princess Bouncy House and Slide

Mia's 5th Birthday. Princess Bouncy House, hordes of people, sugar free cupcakes, a sparkler shaped like a "5", and loads of presents. A little girl who has had some bad luck had a great birthday party. It is easy to see why she is convinced that everyone loves her. Since she was born she has had an extended family who adores her. Later that night there was hula hooping, and a campfire. and bouncing in the dark, but Mia stayed in the house and covered the dining room floor with drawings made by her and her dad. As I was leaving, she started a new drawing and said, "And the little girl enjoyed the kite festival . . ." Happy Birthday, Mia!

My Workspace

  Desk top

A sign I found at an antique store in Ybor City. I like to imagine it hung on a school principal's door.

The coffee table is always full of cook books, magazines and catalogs.

One bookcase and a basket of Country Living and Country Home mags.

My reading spot. Also used for watching Project Runway and the Cooking Channel. The long brown pillow is a perfect neck prop.

Bedside table. I am trying to read "The Piano Teacher" but haven't gotten into it yet. Instead I reread old favorites like "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "A Year in Provence". I am also a Susan Isaacs fan.

For artwork I have posters I found years ago and family pictures.

My new office for my part-time job with my friend, Dr. Linda Hebert Ford at Worldview Publishing.

I was inspired by Ruth's posting at Sync-ro-ni-zing of her work spaces and her book shelves. She has wonderful books but I must be honest. I am a reader of coffee table books, shelter magazines, and cookbooks. I did recently read "The Help" and "Water for Elephants" and I loved them. My daughter-in-law, Stephanie, recommends books to me. I also have a wierd interest in true crime books such as the ones by Ann Rule. I occasionally break out old favorites such as "Gone With the Wind" and "Little Women". Right now, I am reading "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen with my grandson. My husband loves Dan Brown, Clive Cussler and James Rollins.

I used to love to read "Ladies Home Journal" and "Redbook" at my aunt Nellie's house. I never noticed for years that the dates on the magazines were very old. I still enjoyed them. Maybe my granddaughters will enjoy my magazine collection someday.

I have a new part time job with a long time friend. Years ago, as a school counselor, she and a co-worker created a social skills program called "Right Choices". She has parlayed that beginning into her own company, Worldview Publishing. I have done some editing and desktop publishing for her over the years, but now will be her part time secretary. My duties include mailing out materials, answering emails, creating a monthly newsletter using Constant Contact, and a little bookkeeping. I am excited.

"Mac-A-Lena" by Jonah

Jonah's book bag is a treasure trove. I don't know when he wrote it or what the assignment was. The writing was very neat. The piece speaks for itself. I know I shouldn't laugh, but tears ran down my face as I read it. I think he is doing better now. We work on spelling and grammar every day. But this is pure, unedited Jonah.

The First day of school a kide named Mac-A-Lena, Mac-A-Lena Rubenstein walk-a-dime Hokey pokey Loca was her name! She hade a rond head and Two strays of harr one was died and the nuther one was craled up and hade a big nose that take up some space. She had Two teeth one poeting North and the uther tooth was poeting Sawth. Then she had a big long neck long as a pool with a mool in the senter of it. Then two armes a ten fengrs her belley was rond as a ball Then she has two long leges shapt as a (S) Man she was a mees. eweone made fun of her because she was funny looking no one hanged arand her.

Family History - Thanksgiving 2001

Thanksgiving 2001 - Me, Jaime, Jonah, Jeremy and Cory

In anticipation of Thanksgiving, here is a picture from 2001. I thought Jonah would like to see his second Thanksgiving and a picture of him and his dad, Jeremy McGee.