Memory Monday - 7-up

Grandma, Grandpa, Brent, Tracy and Shannon
Maybe 1979 or 1980

When I was little I remember when you were sick you could have 7-up to drink. My father being a nurse said it would help settle your stomach a bit. That was the only time I really drank 7-up or Sprite. Now, as you can guess, I really don't care for the taste of 7-up. I'm sure I associate it to being sick. Same thing with orange popsicles, I remember eating orange popsicles over a bowl in bed when I was sick.

Memory Monday... Michael Jackson Thriller

This is just one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. I remember playing this on the family record player in the front living room. Acting out the video and dance moves around the nice living room furniture. The song sometime skipping a bit from a shuffle slide stomp move that was too big and Hummel figurines rattling in the hutch.

Back then I loved Michael and if he had asked me to marry him I would have jumped in his arms.

To this day I love every song of the Thriller album... fond memories of my youth.

And yes, I can moonwalk, but it's been awhile... I need to brush up on my moves.

Memory Monday : My Frozen Face

Back on November 1st of 2005 I gave birth to my baby girl Anna. It had been seven days since her birth and I was home with her and my 16 month old daughter Amelia. My life juggling two kids under 16 months had just begun.

That morning I  had put on some chapstick and noticed that when I went to press my lips together I had a hard time. I thought that was really odd and kept trying, wondering why I could not control my lips. The next morning checking my lips I noticed I couldn't wrinkle up my nose... here is when I got a bit freaked out. I started to wonder if the epidural I had a week earlier while giving birth to Anna was having some odd side effect to me. I called the doctor to set up an appointment and they told me she was booked up a week out.

The next morning I still could not press my lips together or wrinkle my nose and now I could not wrinkle my forehead... this was moving up my face and I was scared. That morning I also notice that my breakfast had no taste to it. What the heck was going on?

I called the doctor again to try to get in that day. I told the nurse on the phone everything that was going on, hoping they would fine a spot for me, but they still said I had to wait until next week. Talking to the nurse she told me that "maybe I was just having the baby blues"... are you kidding me! I told her no that was not it, my face was not moving and I could not taste anything and I needed to know why.

After talking to Brian and my parents, we decided I should go to the ER and get checked out. They got me right in and seemed very concerned. I was run in to get a CT scan, they thought I might be having a stroke. I remember them also asking me to close my eyes and stick out my tongue and told me they would put something on my tongue to taste. Brian later told me he watched as they pored a whole packet of salt onto my tongue and as I tasted it I had no reaction to it at all, nothing. As I opened my eyes I remembered Brian and the nurse's face looking at me in disbelief.

After running several test I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a virus that attacks the muscles in your face. Normally it only effects one side of your face, but mind effected both sides (so rare it only effects 1%). This made me an oddity in the hospital and I had several teams of student doctors come through my ICU room that day, all fascinated with my face and lack of taste. That might have been my fifteen minutes of fame... but I sure hope not!

I was able to go home that night since I had a new baby to feed. I had to take steroids to stop the virus and go to physical therapy where the taped wires to my face and shocked it... ouch! I had to sleep with goo in my eyes and patches to cover them because my eyes would not close all the way. (Great for getting up four times a night to nurse a baby). I had to drink from a straw clenched in my teeth and lift  my lips out of the way to brush my teeth.

But the worst part was having no taste, everything was so gross, even my favorite foods were just a lump of texture in my mouth. I remember crying over the food, being a nursing mom you need to eat to nourish your baby and I had to make myself eat for Anna. I also worried for Amelia, how would it be for a 16 month old with a mother that never smiled or gave you any expressions... my face was frozen solid.

It took a full month for my face and taste to start to return to normal. Some people do not full recover and I think that I went back about 98%. There are small differences in my face that I think only I notice. I know I am lucky it could have been much worse.

Me and Anna (3 months old)... both smiling.

Memory Monday - Seeing Brian

 1996 - The first time I saw Brian...

I was waiting in the lobby for a job interview at Wilson Trophy Company... standing there (too nervous to sit) in my red blazer and giant portfolio in hand. I noticed a tall guy come out and make copies at the copier machine. He was only there a few seconds, not even a minute, I can't even remember if he looked my way or not. But I remember there was something about him. Later that day I was telling my friend Edna about the job interview and how I saw this cute guy working there.

Yes, there was something about him...

I didn't know at the time that it was love... my true love.

First date, 1997 at a friends wedding.
Brian making his usually silly photo face.

Memory Monday - Drive-In

I remember going to the drive in with my parents, looking over the back seat watching the movie with a big plastic bowl of popcorn nestled between me and my brother and the clunky sound box perched on the window. Then falling asleep during the second feature in the backseat snuggled in with a mountains of blankets and pillows. Good memories!

 We took the girls to the Drive-In for the first time this weekend and it was a lot of fun.  I made a big tub of popcorn just like my Mom had. The Drive-In is pretty much the same, but now a lot of people brings chairs and sit in front of the car. The concession stand must have been original, it was a low, white cinder block building that looked like it was from the 60's.... halfway through the movie a strong smell of onion rings came from it's direction.

It was a cool night and I ended up snuggling in the back of the car with Groucho and the girls. We watched Paranorman and Brave. We all had a nice time and I can see this becoming one of our yearly summer/fall events.

Memory Monday - don't peek

We took the girls to see Santa last week, 

Tuesday night is the best time to go... no line!

Amelia said this was the real Santa, his beard was real. 

Anna wouldn't get close enough to him to find out.

••••••

I remember when I was in third or forth grade. My brother and I were old enough to start giving gifts to each other. I knew Brent had hid a Christmas gift for me and I just couldn't wait to see! I went to search it out, which wasn't too hard because I knew it was in his room and the closet was the only place to hide anything. There in the bottom was a gray plastic shopping bag. I pealed it open to find the cutest, whitest, stuffed teddy bear. It was super soft and had a metallic bow tie. 

As I was closing the closet door Brent walked in and he knew what I was up to... he was so mad. Of course I denied ever peeking and acted totally surprised when I opened it. Since then I have never peeked at gifts again, I learned I didn't want to know. But then again... I wonder if I would ever have even remembered that stuffed bear if I hadn't had that sneaky pre-Christmas moment with it.

Memory Monday - Light Bright

Growing up this was one of my favorite toys. I remember spending hours at the kitchen table pushing the colorful pegs through the holes to create an awesome glowing design. I found this vintage light bright box at a garage sale for a buck. 

Amelia is working on a "Welcome Santa" sign on the light bright. 

(a nod from the "Elf" movie)

Just some plan old, good fun!

Memory Monday - flea market finds

This past Saturday morning I got up early to hit my favorite local church rummage sale. Church sales are the best... they have a ton of stuff in one place and it is usually marked pretty low (they don't want to get stuck with this junk stuff). Were else can you get 3 belts, 1 scarf, a puzzle and x-large knitting needles for only $2.75. You got to love it!


I remember going to flea markets and such with my parents every once and awhile. I do have a strong memory of going to some sort of flea market, it was indoors in some sort of large hall or barn. I think it had a rounded corrugated metal roof. There were tables and tables of stuff, some in large glass cases packed with small valuable items. I loved looking at all the goodies, so much to look at you could easily get overwhelmed. I remember one of the dealers gave me a toy warbler bird whistle. Do you remember these? It was a molded plastic toy, you fill with water and blow in it. I loved this little toy and it makes me think of my youth.


I'm going to get some for my girls, something fun for our vacation this summer. I wonder if they will like it as much as I did... I'm pretty sure they will.

What I'm listening to... "Toni Basil - Mickey"

This is on my dance mix playlist and if you peeked in our window around 5:00 pm on any given night you might find me and the girls dancing around the kitchen as we make dinner. I remember one christmas dancing around in my Grandpa Olde's living room with my Aunt to this song in 1982. We thought this was just the coolest thing!

Memory Monday - Our House

We've lived in this house for almost 10 years now and I remember the second day I saw it. Brian and I had been house hunting for almost a year and having a hard time finding the perfect house. We had been through many houses with our realtor and we also went to the Sunday open houses on our own. One Sunday we saw a listing "for sale by owner" in the paper and decided to drive by.

As we drove down the street we realized it was the same street that Brian's friend lived on, then looking at the house numbers we pulled up and realized it was his friend house! We did not know they were going to move! We went in and got a tour from Skip (we had been over to their house one time for dinner). We knew right away this was the house for us... you really do get a gut feeling that it's a good match. We called our realtor and she agreed to help us with the sale even thought it was for sale by owner. It was a little bit odd buying a house from a friend... and they did have another offer the same day we put in an offer, both for the full asking price.

Needless to say... we got the house and have been so happy with it and our lovely street of neighbors. Now that we have two kids I do feel the need for one more room but I can't see us moving anytime soon. The house was built in 1941 and from what I hear a family with 6 kids lived here! I guess if they were able to fit 8 people in 1,500 sq ft we can fit 4 in our little home sweet home.

Memory Monday - Lake 2008

I thank God for photographs so I never forget perfect moments like these!

Memory Monday - Spirograph

Do you remember this toy? I sure do, I played with it for hours and hours when I was a kid. I loved it!! I found two sets and gave one to Amelia for Christmas. When she opened it she had this look on her face like what the heck is this? But once I explained what is was both the girls have been going round and round ever since. I love being able to share my childhood memories and make new ones with the girls.

Now I need to find some fashion plates, do you remember those? I sure do!!!

Do you need a Spirograph set for your kids? They still make them, click here to check it out.

Here is an old commercial for the Spirograph.

Memory Monday - Religion Part 1

Amelia is taking PRS (Parish School of Religion). She really enjoys going to the class and is interested in the books. Last week I pulled out the giant bible my Aunt had given to us when Brian and I got married. This book is huge, Amelia marveled at the size and the golden edges of the book. She showed Anna... "look at the edges they are gold"! This bible has some illustrations in it and she was fascinated with the stations of the cross, she just stared at it, studying every illustration. I asked her if she knew what it was about and she shook her head no. I gave her a very brief and delicate description of each picture. I did not want to scare her. The next day she was studying the pictures again and then drew this picture.

I remember being scare of God & Jesus as a kid, I went to Catholic grade school until the 5th grade and I remember the day of my first confession. I sat in church with my family and cried through most of the service so anxious about having to go into that little room and confess to the priest, telling him all the bad things I have done.

The time came for me to confess... with sweaty palms I opened the door and entered the dark wooden box. The priest said he had seen me crying during mass and asked me why. That's all I remember, I think my mind must have went on autopilot because I don't know what I said, I don't know what else he said. I just remember how scared I was.

I am really torn about being catholic at this time in my life, I have some conflicting views from the church's views. I want my girls to have some sort of religious background but I don't want to scare them into being good people. I just want them to be good people.

Memory Monday - Alpha Xi Delta, Gamma Nu

I had a few of my sorority sisters over this weekend for girls night at my house. It had been so long since I had seen some of them! We had a great time reminiscing about our glory days as actives in the house.

I was the first person in my family to become greek so it was new territory to my family. They were not sure what to expect and neither did I. I had not even thought about rushing a sorority until I had gotten down to school and saw how strong the greek community was. It seemed like the right fit for me and I am so glad I had made that decision.

Looking back on those days we did do the stereotypical sorority things: parties, drinking and the odd greek events. But I also: kept good grades with the mandatory study halls, kept fit with intramural sports and donated my time and helped raise money for local charities. But mostly I gained a wonderful bond and life long friendship with a great group of women. Women who support each other to achieve their dreams with courage, graciousness and peace.

Memory Monday - Camp Cedarledge

We took our daisy troop to Camp Cedarledge this weekend for a saddles & spurs class where they learned about horses. Then we had a snack and took a short hike. I think the girls had a nice time.

The pavilion where we had our snack was right next to the counselor's lounge and it brought back a memory of when I was 16 and spent my summer at Camp Cedarledge as a lifeguard and counselor . We were always playing jokes on the other counselors . One night myself and one other counselor had the great idea to take all the furniture out of the counselors lounge and set it up outside just as it was inside. We carried it all out, set it up, giggling all the while! It was so funny! Until.... late that night after we went back to bed a heavy rain storm rolled in and soaked the camp. We heard the rain and talked about going back to put all the stuff back inside but we knew it was already too late.

The next day there was some talk about the prank but they did not seem too upset. The rain actually gave the old, dirty wooden furniture and cushions a long needed wash. It was a good thing the lounge T.V. was too heavy for the two of us to carry outside. Otherwise I think there would be a hunt down for us.

Memory Monday - 1978 Pixie

This is a photo of me in 1978 in my Girl Scout Pixie uniform. This was take on the front porch of our Bissell Hills house in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Mo, I lived here until 2nd grade. I always love girl scouts and have many fond memories. At this age I remember playing games and making crafts. I remember making a shellacked bagel with a little mouse on it that hung in our kitchen for years and an egg carton Christmas angel that I think my mom still has. I still have the GS pixie pin I am wearing on my shirt. It's stored away in my pink ballerina music box along with other mementos from my childhood.

Memory Monday - The Big Yellow Van

When I was young I remember three cars my parents owned, one was an old 1940's Ford truck (my Dad's toy), another was a green VW Bug that my Dad had reupholstered with shaggy green carpeting. I remember I hated the smell of that car, I think it was the glue he used to add the carpet to the sides. I also remember there was a small hole in the floor of the passenger side that you could see the road below.

The car that I really remember was a yellow van that my Dad must had bought empty and he added the seats, etc. There were two front seats and two back seat that faced the sliding door, so yes, we always were riding sideways. Under one of the side seats was an 8 track tape player that most likely was playing the Beach Boys, Kenny Rogers, or the Beatles.

This car was also custom upholstered by my father with shag green carpeting, he most have gotten a deal on that carpet. In the back half of the van he built a platform plywood bed about 4 ft high and 6ft deep, and yes it was covered in green carpet. Under the platform was a lot of storage for all our camping gear that you could access through the back doors of the van. We had the best time on the platform bed, we could sleep on long trips or pretend it was a stage and sing. But the best was roll around back and forth as the van turned back and forth and up and down on the windy roads (this was before any seat belt law). We would roll back and forth, bumping into each other and laughing. Or you could lay back there and just look out the window (which was at eye level when laying down) and watch the world go by.

This was one kooky van and we had it a very long time, I had to take my drivers license test with this beast and yes, I had to take the test twice because of parallel parking!

Music I like... My Home

The song "My Home" is on the CD "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego". This is one of my all time favorite songs. Brian wanted to play it for our last dance at our wedding. I had never heard it before but as I listened to the words I knew why he wanted it. This is one of those songs that when I hear it playing it transports me back to the dance floor with Brian holding me in his arms and then ending with an Irish jig dance from his sister. Go take a listen.

But then there's your face, dear,
And I know I'll never be walking alone.
The love in your eyes makes it clear,
Telling me softly...
This is my home.

Memory Monday - Aunt "Flow"

I remember having the "period" talk with my Mom, we sat on her bed and she showed me these two cute little books from the fifties. I was fascinated with the books and referred to them often.

I remember the first year having periods and always wearing a jacket around my waist worried some boy would see something... and oh the fear of a leak at school... terrifying!

I remember one day my mom came home from the store with some maxi pads for me. I grabbed it, hid it under my arm and ran upstairs to put it in the bathroom. My younger brother was at my heals asking me what I had. I kept saying nothing and he said no you have candy. I really wished it was candy!

I remember having my 12th birthday sleepover party at my house with some friends and my cousin Shannon. We were all taking about periods and Shannon being 4 years younger had no clue what we were talking about so we explaied it to her. Well, I guess we scared her, my Aunt called my Mom and my Mom came to me asking why we told her about that. We didn't plan to tell her it just happened. I always felt bad that we forced my Aunt to explain "it" earlier than I'm sure she wanted.

I also remember the first time my Mom sent me to the grocery store with my Dad to buy some pads since we were out. Dad handed me some money and waited in the car. I came back and he asked for the change, I told him there was none and he said, "How much are those things"! I sunk into my seat totally embarrassed! He didn't know that luckily I had some change in my purse to cover the whole bill since he had not given me enough money.

As you can see I have saved the books, it's a little outdated but I love the illustrations and will show them to the girls someday.

Memory Monday - Halloween

Me as Raggedy Ann and Brent as Robin with our homemade scarecrow. I think I was maybe 7 years old. I remember this wig, I wore it a lot when playing dress up.