Life with Granny Blog

Grandma Ford swinging

Today was a bitter sweet day for us.  Kelly, Max and Emma traveled with Great-Grandma, me and Mike up to visit Eric.  We left Dave behind because I could only fit 6 people in my car.  I’m sure he enjoyed a quiet Sunday at home (after he finished his Honey-Do List!).

Max checking out the special playground equipment

Eric’s birthday is Thursday so we wanted to go up and celebrate it with him.  It’s a really long drive up to Wabash from our house but the little ones did great.  I was a little worried about how Max and Emma would do on the drive but Emma took a nap both ways so the trip seemed short for her!  Max just chattered the entire way about trains and firetrucks, surprise, surprise!

Emma playing on the slide

Eric looked great and we were able to take him outside on the playground for about 45 minutes before it started storming.  Of course the entire state needs rain so badly that we were happy for the rain to arrive.  We finished our visit inside and we were given a tour of the new wing that will be finished in mid-September.  Eric is on the list to get to move into the new wing which is beautiful!  They are choosing the residents by seniority and Eric is one of the residents who has been there the longest — about 25 years!   If you’re wondering why I’m not posting any pictures of Eric let’s just say he wasn’t in the mood to have his picture taken so I had to put my camera away.

After our visit with Eric, we stopped on our way home to visit Daddy at Our Lady of Peace cemetary.  Next Sunday will mark the 7th anniversary of his passing.  I can’t believe he has been gone that long — sometimes it seems just like yesterday.  He is missed so much and it always makes me sad to visit him there. 

Great-Grandma with Max and Emma saying a little prayer

It was a long day for Mom but she was happy to get to see Eric and also visit Daddy. 

Before I close, I want to wish both my children a very happy birthday:

Eric, August 11th

Julie, August 13th 

July 17, 2011 Family Reunion

What a great time we all had today at the Konechnik Family Reunion!  What better way than a huge family gathering to honor what would have been Grandpa & Grandma Konechnik’s 100th wedding anniversary year.   The turnout was fantastic and it was fun reconnecting with all the cousins.  We have such a large family–what a legacy Frank & Mary Konechnik have left behind.  There are 280 direct descendants and counting!   When you add in the spouses and step-children, we are over 400!

Konechnik Family Photo

There was a photo table set up with old family photos.  There was also a video playing on a TV with the 1992 Konechnik Reunion.  It was so much fun to see how everyone looked 19 years ago!  It was also a great remembrance of the family members who have since passed.   

Aunt Mary

Lots of pictures were taken today.  I’m hoping that we’ll all be sharing our photos as I would like to put together a digital scrapbook as a special keepsake.

Roger and Cousin Diane

A special thank you to cousins Anna Zupancic and Helen (Zupancic) Smith for their hard work in planning a great reunion.  A big thank you also to cousin Arleen (Loviscek) Krebs for her hard work on the Konechnik “Blue Book.”    That was a major undertaking and it took over a year to put together all the information.   Of course this book will never be finished as our family continues to grow.

Greg and Mom

As for the Ford family, Mom purchased our copies of the “Blue Book” and you will be able to pick up your copy(s) the next time you visit.

Jimmy, Annie, Great Grandma and Annie

I know I haven’t posted for a few weeks but between vacations, my stamping schedule and computer trouble, it’s been rather difficult.  But now I’ll try to catch you up on what’s been going on in Granny’s life.

Emma, Taylor, Kelly and Julie

Both grandsons Matthew and Max just finished up their kindergarten year and are excited about having summer ahead of them.  To celebrate the end of their school year, Kelly and I joined Julie at Chicago’s  Pizza for lunch.

Max and Matthew

Mike and I went on our Florida family vacation the first week of June.  Julie’s family was not able to go with us this year but we did go with Kelly’s family.  We returned for the 3rd year to Point Estero Resort in Fort Myers Beach.  The weather was beautiful and we only shared the beach with a few other families.   It’s the best time to go to Florida  because the Florida schools are still in session and it’s off-peak time for the resort.  Max and Emma had a blast.   I’m not sure if they liked the ocean best, digging in the sand, or playing in the pool.  

Kelly, Max, Emma and Dave

Emma and Max swimming in the ocean

Mom did not want to go back this year so she stayed with Peggy and Mike while we were gone.  While there, Peggy had a big birthday party for Mom.   Most of the family got to attend and Mom had a wonderful time.

Jessica asked if she could bake Grandma Ford’s birthday cake(s) this year.  Check out the 2nd cake she made!

Now I’m getting ready for a big stamping class just for kids.  I’ve got 11 little girls coming over tomorrow afternoon for a fun class of card-making.  Since Kelly’s home for the summer, I have more time for my stamping business so I’m planning several stamping classes for children.  I’m also planning on a 6 x 6 recipe swap for my customers.  They’ll pick two favorite recipes and actually ‘scrapbook’ them on a 6 x 6 page.  Then we’ll all get together to put the recipe books together.  It’s a lot of fun and everyone goes home with a great recipe album.

"My Beary Best Friends" Stamping Class

I’d like to wish a very happy 83rd birthday to my beautiful mother, who is still enjoying life to the fullest.    Pictured are Emma and Max with Great Grandma who love spending as much time as they can with her.   

Emma, Great Grandma and Max

Max and Emma

We had a fabulously busy weekend.  On Friday evening we went to Kelly’s house to celebrate Max’s 6th birthday.  Julie’s family joined in the fun (even though Max’s birthday is actually Tuesday, along with his mommy’s birthday). 

Great Grandma giving Max a birthday kiss

Then on Saturday morning we met Dave and Max at Home Depot for the monthly kids’ workshop (Kyle and Matthew couldn’t make it this month).   This month the children made the cutest little planter for Mother’s Day.  I was so excited because Max surprised me and gave me the planter he made, complete with a little flower as my  Mother’s Day gift.

Max working on his planter at Home Depot

Mother’s Day was very nice.  Mom had lots of visitors and they all came around the same time so everyone got to visit with one another.  The ones that could not come either came earlier in the week or called her to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day.  She got so many beautiful flowers that our house smells like a florist shop.  I’ve got to post all the beautiful flowers because they are all so pretty.  Of course these are just the bouquets–she also got several beautiful pots of flowers for outside. 

Julie's flowers

Mary' flowers

Greg's flowers

Jeannie's flowers

Mark, Grandma Ford, Sarah, Marie and Lucy

This has been a very great week.  It started with a beautiful Easter weekend.  While the weather wasn’t very beautiful, it was a great weekend as we had lots of visitors, which Mom dearly loved.  Mark, Marie, and their daughter Sarah and granddaughter Lucy drove down on Saturday morning to visit.  They showed us lots of photos from their recent trip to the Holy Land.  And it was fun watching Lucy — she is such a little cutie.  She is 14 months old and already getting potty-trained.  And, she is doing quite well, from what I hear.

Lucy playing with my bull dog.

Later in the afternoon Greg, and his kids, Danielle and Caleb stopped by.  We sat by the kitchen table eating fresh, out-of-the-oven poticia rolls that we had just baked.  I’m trying to learn how to make them just like Mom always did for the holidays. 

Caleb, Danielle, Grandma and Greg

 

The grandkids showing off their goodies from the Easter egg hunt.

Great Grandma and Matthew

Nichole and Sheila

Brittani

Max and Me with the cards the grandkids made me

Emma in her tiara

Me in my tiaraEmma & Max wearing their royal crowns

Emma and Max wearing their royal crowns

Taylor with her princess cake

On Sunday we celebrated our youngest grand-daughter’s 3rd birthday (her birthday is actually on the 21st of April).  It’s really hard for me to believe that three years have gone by since we celebrated her birth.  Time has a way of passing by very quickly so I really see the importance of  enjoying each precious day we are given, especially with our loved ones. 

Blowing out the candles with Max and Emma looking on

Last week Mom and I went to the Penance Service at St. Jude’s.  Our priest, Father Vince, does not have penance services at SS Fancis and Clare.  Mom really likes going to confession at such a service so that’s why we traveled to St. Jude’s.  Mom was so happy because not only did she get to go to confession to Father Wilmouth, but she also got to chat with Father Wilmouth and Father Pat after the service.  They both really made over her so she felt very loved.  She smiled all the way home!

Max and Great Grandma coloring

Now we’re busy getting ready for Easter.   There’s lots of baking to do and Holy Week services to attend.   Both girls and their families will be coming over on Easter Sunday for a pitch in meal and an Easter egg hunt for the grandkids.  We’re looking forward to Easter as Kelly’s in-laws, Jim and Colleen Barton will be joining us this year.  They will be in town for several days visiting Dave & Kelly.  We always enjoy spending time with Jim and Colleen and always look forward to their visits. 

I’m sure a lot of my siblings will also be dropping by to visit with Mom.  So, Easter will indeed be a very busy holiday for us.  I hope everyone has a Blessed Easter, as we most certainly will.

Well, April has arrived but my spring break is over.  While it wasn’t my ‘typical’ spring break (I usually go to Las Vegas), it was still fun and relaxing.  It was also ‘catch up’ time for me with my stamping business.  I had been very busy during January, February and March because of Stampin’ Up!’s biggest promotion and I needed a little downtime to re-group and get ready for my spring classes.

Aunt Mary and Mom

Mom and I went out to Applebees for  lunch on Thursday.  We met Aunt Mary, Anna and Arleen to celebrate Aunt Mary’s 88th birthday.  We had a wonderful time visiting with everyone and Aunt Mary looked great.   We were also able to help Anna plan the Konechnik Reunion that will be held in July.  She is getting the flyers ready to send out to everyone.

Emma watching brother Max sleep

On Thursday night Max and Emma came over for a ‘sleep-over.’  They had been asking all winter if they could spend the night together and I finally gave in.  Max has slept over several times but this was the first time Emma was going to be away all night from her mommy and daddy.  I don’t know how they did without the kids but Max and Emma had a great time.  (Actually, Dave and Kelly went on a ‘date night’ since they were without the kids.)

Max and Matthew with their plant holders

Saturday Mike and I met Kyle and Matthew, along with Dave and Max at Home Depot.  It was the monthly workshop and the boys really enjoyed making this month’s project, which was a planter (or a great toy holder).  It was a lot of hammering but I must say both boys are getting very good at using a hammer.  Great-Grandpa Ford would have been proud of these budding carpenters (and I’m sure he was looking down from Heaven and smiling on Saturday)!   If any of you have young children/grand-children, Home Depot offers the workshop on the 1st Saturday of each month and there is no cost.  The boys also love getting to add the workshop pins to their official aprons.

Max working on his planter

Matthew hammering away

Mike and I also were able to squeeze in an over-night trip to Lawrenceburg to stay at the Hollywood Hotel/Casino.  As many of you know, I’m a big video poker player and that’s mainly what I play when at the casinos.  I’m happy to report that at the end of our casino visits I’m usually able to give Mike back whatever he gave me to play with plus a little extra.  Of course all winnings go back into our gaming account for the next fun trip.  That’s one thing about gambling, you’d better be good (or lucky) and you’d better be disciplined with your money. 

Easter is only a few weeks away and I’ve just finished the greeting card that I will be sending to my son Eric, who as you know lives in a nursing home.  It was suggested that since Eric loves to get cards in the mail, I should post his address and ask if you would send him a card from time to time (a big thank you to my Aunt Betty who regularly send him cards!).   Eric’s address is:  Vernon Manor Children’s Home, 1955 Vernon Street, Wabash, Indiana  46992. 

And now that spring break is over, the count-down to the end of the school year has begun……

Tomorrow is my oldest grandson’s birthday.  Matthew will turn 6  but it seems just like yesterday Kelly and I were flying out to Lenexa, Kansas to be with Julie for his birth.  Time has a way of going by very quickly.

6-year old Matthew and Great-Grandma Ford

We celebrated his birthday with him on Saturday at Monster Golf  in Avon.  I’m not sure what great-grandma thought of it, although she said she had a great time.  When you walk inside the building  it’s extremely dark, lit only by black lights and the lights from the arcade games.  We were ushered into the “party room” and it was like entering into a room you’d find in a haunted house. 

Taylor and Matthew

The main attraction of the place is the putt-putt which is in the dark.  It was pretty neat, except for the fact that no one warned me to be careful of what I wore.  Under black lights EVERYTHING shows up white, including the lint on a black  shirt that might have been washed with the towels.  Oh well.

Taylor golfing

I think all the little ones had a blast playing putt-putt.  It was fun to watch them playing under the black lights.

Emma checking out the spider web on the party table

Great Grandma and Max

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATTHEW!

It’s been about a month since I last posted so I thought it was time to update my blog.  I can’t believe we’re almost half-way through the month of March already!  We’re all anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and some warmer weather.  I heard it was 80 in Las Vegas.  I’m sad because this will be the first time in over 10 years that Mike and I won’t be going there for spring break.  But, life changes and with it we have to be able to change and adapt.

Mom and Aunt Polly

We had a great day today.  We thought we’d take advantage of a decent day and decided to go visit Aunt Polly.  A week ago it appeared death was knocking at Aunt Polly’s door but she was able to recover and go back to her nursing home.  She looked wonderful and her mind is as sharp as a tack.  It was so good to see her and I know Mom really enjoyed visiting with her sister. 

Max and Martthew showing off their race cars

We’ve been busy with the kids.  Mike and I went with Kyle and Dave to Home Depot 2 weeks ago to watch the grandsons make their monthly project.  The lady at our Home Depot is so sweet.  The project for the month was a wooden race car and she gave each of the boys an extra one to take home to their little sisters.  Each month the girls want to tag along and we told them they are too young for the workshop. 

March Class

As usual I’ve been busy with my Stampin’ Up! business.  Next Sunday is my Punch Art Class where the ladies will be making a cute barn door tin complete with cute farmyard animal note cards, all made using various punches.  It’s really a cute class and I’m looking forward to it.  This week I’ve got to finish up preparing for my April class which will be designing 20 scrapbook pages.   So, it will be a full week for me.

Mom working on her latest puzzle

Mom’s still working on her puzzles.  She’s put together all the Christmas puzzles so I had to run to Walmart to pick her up another one.  Once spring arrives and we’re able to get outside we’ll pack up all the puzzles for next winter.

Mark you caledars:  I think the Konechnik Book is just about ready to go to the printer.  Anna Zupancic is heading up the Konechnik Reunion project.  The reunion will be held on Sunday, July 17th, and we will be honoring Mom and the other surviving Konechnik siblings and their spouses.  It’s hard to believe that over 100 years ago–on May 11, 1911–Grandma Mary Konechnik and Grandpa Frank Konechnik married and because of that union today we have 280 direct descendants.  There are over 400 when we add in the spouses and step children.  It has been 19 years since the last Konechnik reunion, so I know it will be fun getting together with everyone and seeing how their families have grown.  Mom is really looking forward to it.  More information will soon be sent out to everyone.  We’re hoping to have a good turnout to celebrate the surviving Konechnik children.  I know Mom is hoping her family will be well-represented.

And before I finish this post I would like to wish my sister Judy a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!