Thanksgiving with the Hunters

We just had a really fun Thanksgiving weekend in Ojai. A lot of cousins were there. Steve and Tracy and their kids, Scott and Kristy and their family, Jim and Kathy and kids, Billy and Melanie and their kids, Louine and Bob and my sister Brett and her husband Shawn. The kids had a fun time jumping on the tramp hiking in the orchards, playing tennis and having a great time with their cousins. Of course they made a few trips down to the Johnson's for lollypops.

Lest we forget

Since tomorrow is Veteran's Day or in Canada we call it Remembrance day, I wanted to honor two of my heroes. My Grampa Baldry who passed away a little over a year ago and my Grampa Hicken who is 90 years old. They both fought in WWII.

This is my Grampa Baldry who fought mostly in Italy and Holland. He was something of an engineer, I believe and he was special trained to build and dismantle special bridges that allowed the troops to continue their paths after bridges had been bombed out. My Grampa was very much a homebody and I can't imaging how hard it was for him. One thing he said in his history was, "I wondered if I would ever again see the prairies of Alberta, the beautiful rocky Mountains, the little town of Coaldale, my parents and family and friends but it was too late as I had voluntarily made a commitment to serve my country. I was needed, there was a job to be done." 

In my Grampa Baldry's history he shares what it was like liberating the country of Holland. He said, "Oh how we were welcomed as we moved north! It is difficult to put into words the feelings we shared with the dutch people. they were thankful to see us. In many instances we were literally mobbed by young and old. It was a mayhem of huggings and kisses, tears and laughter, dancing and then many prayers of thanks. I often shed tears when I think of what a terrible 5 years the people of Holland had experienced under the occupation of the German forces. I shall never forget the drawn faces and emaciated bodies of the starving people, especially the very old and the very young. The look of, "can this really be happening," soon changed from wonderment and caution to happiness and thankfulness as tears rolled down their cheeks. This was the most rewarding and emotional time of WWII for me and something I will never forget. " 

I thought of this when I recently read the Diary of Anne Frank. It felt a little more personal knowing that my Grampa was involved in the liberation of those people--even thought for Anne it was too late.  I'm so proud of my Grampa Baldry. 

This is a poem we recite a lot around Remembrance day in Canada. As a side note I was chosen one year to recite it as part of a Remembrance day program. I remember my mom sending me to have some voice coaching so I could recite it with expression and the right intonation. Funny. We also wear the poppy for remembrance day. It is a red flower that grows over many soldiers graves in Europe.

This is my Grampa Hicken. He was in the Airforce. This was the airplane that he flew in the war. 

Here he is with my Grama. 

That's him again in the middle.

I don't have as much information about his war experiences but I am resolved to find out more. I do know that he was very brave and recieved many medals of honor. As I find out  more I will edit this post. I love my Grampa's so much and will always be grateful for their bravery. 

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

I just finished this book today and it's left me pained. I don't know how else to describe it. I think the holocaust was a horrific and tragic event in our history. I can't understand that kind of hate. I recently read The Diary of Anne Frank and what leaves me the most saddened is the loss of potential. All the lives of these people just like me my family and friends -- taken for no reason except being Jewish. Doctors, poets, mothers, children, teachers, etc. People with great futures and dreams. Normal people living normal lives ripped from their homes and lives and families. What a tragedy. I can't stop thinking about it. Heavy, I know but right now I'm so sad about it. Why do people hate? I've decided not to hate--I don't think I hate anyone but if reading about things like this has taught me anything it is that we must not hate. It leads to sadness and persecution and revenge and destroying peoples lives. Hate is evil.

Carson's moves

Carson had so many great ninja moves--although I think he was a GI Joe character--that I felt he deserved his own collage. Notice that he was so speedy, many of the pictures are blurred.

Halloween

Halloween was so fun. On Friday night we went with our neighbors from across the street, Robert, James and Janie to a haunted swamp at the Port Hueneme military base. It was super spooky and super fun. On Saturday we went trick or treating with some of our friends. Claire went with Cambria and Kayla. It was her first year going with friends and they went with Cambria's older sister Mckenna and her friends. I think Claire was loving being out with the teenagers and not with the parents. It was wierd for me though. There was also a super spooky haunted house they they waited an hour in line for but said it was worth the wait. Even Ella and Miriam braved it through. Ella admitted later that the haunted houses were too spooky--but she was pretty brave. In case it's not super obvious, Ella was Dorothy from the wizard of Oz, Kade was the lion, Carson was a GI Joe--don't know which one but he had some great Ninja moves, and Claire along with her friends were spooky softball zombies. They all looked great. Oh yeah and Kade was so cute at the doors saying "ticky teet" that people kept giving him extra candy. It was adorable. Needless to say it was a great night for Kade and candy.

Look who got a haircut

Kade finally got a haircut. I've been loving his long blond locks but it got a little too long. At first it started out as a trim but it turned into a little bit of a mullet and then Matt had to take it all off. It just got shorter and shorter and shorter. He looks so different--still so adorable. It reminds me of when I cut Steph's hair when I was, like, eleven or something. In my memory I had my mom's permission--but in hindsight I can't imagine that I did. I had to keep cutting and cutting and cutting--trying to get it even. I turned out pretty awful and she looked like a really cute little boy. Steph you should get me a picture so I can post it with this blog. I am still awful at cutting hair. I've tried a few times with my girls and even myself but it never turns out good. Good job Matt.

Life is good.

I love my life. It is good. That's not to say nothing every goes wrong in my life--but over all it is a happy life and I wish it could remain how it is. My kids are growing too fast, I am getting older, things are changing here and there i just want things to stay how they are--nice and happy.

So I am the art teacher for Claire's fourth grade class. That's right--31 fourth graders and me learning art together. They claim you need not be artistic, although I do think I am a little bit creative and slightly artistic it is definitely not one of my greater talents. Today we worked on two projects--a spider candy holder and a halloween scene. They did pretty good but we were unable to finish the spider and will be finishing it on friday. It was pretty crazy and it took me a while to come down from the chaos of 31 fourth graders but I enjoyed it and it's nice to get to know Claire's classmates. She was pretty excited to stay and help me clean up after. As much as I would like to think it was because she wanted to be with me, I tend to think it was to get out of class.

I saw Ella on my way to Claire's art and she was sitting at the lunch table with her friends eating lunch and it made me sad. My Ella is in school. Spending more time with her friends and teachers than with me. I miss her. She came and gave me a big hug and that made me feel good.

Carson scored 3 goals in a soccor scrimmage tonight. He was on fire. And one other thing--the other night when I was snuggling Carson for bed he sleepily said, "your the best, mom."

Today a couple of neighbor girls came over to babysit Kade and when I tried to pay them they refused payment saying it was just too easy and he was so good. He seems to have that effect on girls. HEE HEE. He is pretty adorable.

I just got off the phone with Matt. He is traveling a lot for work lately and I miss him. We talked for about a half hour which is pretty good for a non phone talker like matt. We just talked about the interesting and some not interesting things of the day. It's nice to have someone to talk to about my day--even if sometimes he watches TV and I blog while we are talking. Love is grand.

This is why life is good.