Snow Day

Really, really, really, really, really, really big boy bed

Clayton got a queen sized mattress!  He’s such a cute little lump of blankets at the very top of it every night (he still sleeps curled in a ball with the blankets over his head).

Arachnimania!

This is a HUGE cat face spider I found in our house today.  Can you see the cat’s face?  It’s cool!  But way too big and freaky for me to be sharing my house with.  Should’a taken it’s picture next to a coin or something.  YIKES!  But COOL!

The big catch

Lillian caught her very first fish.  We wrapped it in foil and it’s in our freezer.  Every day, Lillian wants to take it out to look at it.  Every other day, Clayton wants to eat it for dinner.

School Days

I was so worked up about Lillian starting school.  Then I totally left everybody hanging and never posted about the start of school.

My big girl started school with some transition days.  On a Wednesday, Lillian, Clayton and I went to spend some time in her classroom.  Clayton had so much fun playing with all the toys – but he would not leave my side for more than a minute.  Lillian did some exploring of her own and then the children got together for community time and read a book and sang a song to learn each others names.  As they went around the circle singing “rickety, tickety bumble bee, won’t you say your name for me…” each child would sheepishly say their name on their turn.  When the guide (teacher), Robin (just Robin), got to Lillian she very confidently and loudly said pronounced her name.  Robin, who had not had a comment on any other child’s response, said, “I like how you say your name with such authority and confidence!”  My girl.  Where did you get all this confidence and flair for the dramatic.  I cried.

On the next day, Thursday, Andy took off work to join us for the first real good-bye.  We walked Lillian to her classroom door to leave her there for an hour and a half.  We made her a name tag and Clayton asked for one, too.  Robin said, of course he could have one.  I stuck it on his shirt and said good-bye to Lillian.  I didn’t expect it, but Clayton was so sad that he didn’t get to go into the classroom with his sissy as he had the day before.  We walked away and he was just so confused and sad.  I cried.

On Friday we were to try out the drop off loop where we drive through the parking lot in a line and the Guides at the school retrieve the kiddos from cars.  We weren’t ready for that yet, so we just walked Lillian up to the gate and said good-bye.  I cried.

On Saturday Lillian asked if she was going to school.  When I said no, she was highly upset!

On one of those days we practiced eating lunch out of our new little plastic boxes on the back patio.

On Monday we had our first ‘real’ day of school.  11:45 am to 3:30 pm.  Lillian carried her backpack, water bottle and lunch into school and I cried and cried.  Clayton and I went home and I couldn’t believe how quiet the house was without my sweet girl in it.  It’s amazing how contently and silently Clayton will play, all by himself, with no interruptions from his sister.

On one of the first days, I rode my bike with both kids in the trailer to drop Lillian off at school.  I had packed two identical lunches – one for Lillian and one for Clayton and I to take to the park after we dropped her off.  Clayton had a blast during his “mama-time”, eating, sitting on my lap and continuing a game he and Lillian had made up – retrieve rocks from the river and running up to the little ledge on the bank and throwing the rocks to see how big of a splash can be made.

Just about every other day, Clayton will stop what he’s doing, look around and say, “Where’s Sissy?”  He forgets that we dropped her off at school – even though he was in the car.  I guess it has something to do with the lack of permanence in the 3 year old brain.  Then he says, “I miss Sissy.”  I say, “Me too!”

What do Cosmetics Have to do with Breast Cancer?

Only 11% of chemicals used in cosmetics, personal care products, and baby toys in the U.S. have been assessed for safety for human health and the environment.

A growing body of scientific research suggest that exposure to toxic chemicals—even very early in life—are contributing to high breast cancer rates, other cancers, reproductive harm, and other health problems.

The Women’s Lobby of Colorado and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics invite you to join us for a FREE EVENT to learn more!

Tuesday, October 27th @ 6pm

Panelists:
State Rep. Dianne Primavera (D-Broomfield & Boulder County), four-time
cancer survivor
Susan Roll, founding member of the National Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and
board member of the Women’s Lobby of Colorado
Robyn O’Brien, Founder of AllergyKids, author of The Unhealthy Truth and board
member of the Environmental Working Group
Josh Onysko, Founder & CEO of Boulder-based Pangea Organics

Location:
First Baptist Church
1237 Pine St.
Boulder, CO 80302

Parking is available in the Spruce Lots or on the street Light refreshments will be provided and get a free goodie bag! Meet local companies doing good work in Colorado…

RSVP by October 23 at coloradowomenslobby.org. The first 100 people to register will receive a free goodie bag of safe cosmetics from Colorado companies.

etsy

I opened my etsy shop today.  Check it out at http://www.peewinkle.etsy.com Let me know what you think. 

Best First Snow

Our first snow of the season that stuck!  And a lot of it!  One local paper said it was the “best” first snow and another said it was a record low! Yikes!

Autumnal Equinox Party

Ruth Ann ~ A Remembrance

Ruth Ann Dye Burns passed away September 4, 2009 at Sable Palms of Largo, in Pinellas County, Florida.

Born to the proud parents Joesph Ralph Dye and Evelyn Mae Huffman Dye, on Tuesday September 3, 1929  at 1:27pm at Aultman Hospital, Canton, Ohio Ruth Ann weight was 7 lbs. 1 3/4 oz. The birth certificate states that Ralph was a Laborer in a steel mill and Evelyn was Housewife, both were 18 years old. Residence was 1619 Tuscarawas St. W. Canton, Ohio.  The delivery was by Dr. Bowman, and nurse was Lola Sowash.

From Ruth Ann’s Baby Book: First Laugh October 11, 1929 in front of Daddy. First shoes December 25, 1929 white trimmed in blue given by Harold Bixler. First steps August 7, 1930 in front of Uncle Bill and Aunt Betty & Mother from Mother to Uncle Bill. First Word was Daddy. First Playthings Rattle from Grandma Dye. Rag Doll from Aunt Nadine. First Lock of baby’s hair Near the age of one year. Brown. She was a little rascal and is very good child.  Exceptionally quiet.

Ruth Ann is survived by the rest of the Dye clan three sisters and a brother.

Mary Lou Benshoff  of Milton, PA

Joy Lynn Zimmerman of Lewisburg, PA

Jo Alyce Nolan, of St. Louis, MO

and Ned Dye, of Largo,  FL

Ruth Ann was Baptized at a Luthern Church. She attended numerous schools and graduated from Canton Township High School in 1947. Her friends called her “Dee”.  She was a member of Calvery United Methodist Church and Malvern Methodist Church. Ruth Ann was a daughter, student, mother, volunteer, Malvern Band President, Real Estate Agent Century 21, Hairdresser at Judy’s Salon, and child caregiver.  She found comfort in McLeods Daughter’s, Tennis, Horses, Plants, Florida Gulf, Football OSU and Bucks, glass collecting, quilts and sewing, cooking, Least Heat Moon, Barbra Streisand, Engelbert Humperdinck.

Ruth Ann’s favorite thing about school:  Recess and chasing people around.

Favorite thing as a child: Going fishing.  It seldom happened.

Favorite holidays:  Thanksgiving and Christmas

Ruth Ann married William Edgar Burns on June 29, 1947 and gave birth to four beautiful children. William Dale Burns of Belleair Bluffs, FL; graduate of Malvern High School 1966, graduate of  Canton Area Technical School 1968.  Deborah Ann Burns Otto of Longmont, CO; graduate of Malvern High School 1971, Canton Business College 1972, Hondros College 1999.  Cindy Lee Burns Green of Dunedin, FL; graduate of Malvern High School 1972, Ohio State 1978, Florida State in 2000.  Ralph Henry Burns of Massillon, OH; graduate of Malvern High School 1975 and Electricans Appriticeship Program 1976.

Will be remembered by eight grandchildren: Janna Otto Vance, CO; Benjamin Otto, OH; Kyle Otto, OH; Travis Herbert, FL; Evan Herbert, FL; Melissa Burns Baciak, OH; Christopher Burns, OH; Deanna Burns, OH

Her Littlest Angels, Great Grandchildren,

Lillian and Clayton Vance, CO; Sophia and Evander Otto, OH; William Otto, OH; Devlin Herbert, FL.

She will be sorely missed by all who knew her, learned from her and loved her.

Our humble thanks to  Dr. Ziegler, Dr. Sheets, Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, Sable Palms, National Cremation Society.

God Befriend and Bless you

May every blessing this life can hold

Be yours in the fullest measure.

May content, that is better than gems or gold,

Fill your future days with pleasure.

May clouds ne’er gather about your way.

Nor grief nor gloom oppress you.

And every hour and every day

May God befriend and bless you.

Given to me on my first Communion by a dear Num Sister Eulalia of Mercy Hospital, who taught me so much.  May she rest in peace. I believe her to be the Perfect Nun.  June 9, 1955

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever”   — Keats

A Christmas Thought and a Prayer

God open my eyes I may see

And feel Your presence close to me,

Give me strength for my stumbling feet
As I battle the crowd on life’s busy street,

And wide the f\vision of my unseeing eyes

So in passing faces I’ll recognize

Not just a stranger, unlived and unknown,

But a friend with a heart

that is much like my own…..

Five me perception to make me aware

That scattered profusely

on life’s thoroughfare

Are the best gifts of God

that we daily pass by

As we look at the world

with an Unseeing Eye.

– Helen Steiner Rice

On life’s busy thoroughfares

We meet with angels unawares -

For, while “angels” dwell in Christmas skies.

We too must come to realize

That all year through in many places

We catch a glimpse of “angel faces.”

– Helen Steiner Rice

God bless and keep you through the year

And fill Christmas Day with Joy and Cheer.

Signed  Mother & Dad and Grandma & Grandma & Grandad

May you be inspired

by all that is positive from your past,

and may you

hold in the Stars

the richness of your future.

Our Heavenly Father, help us to forget all the small things, things of no consequence that agitate us.  Give us Direction.  Help us to make something really wonderful of life and bring us closer to Jesus, so that we may grow in things spiritual until we triumph over things material.  In His name we pray. Amen

Dec. 10, 1947  Bill and I went to KY to get Corky.  We slept three hours and started back home.

Dec. 25, 1947  Bill got me a Singer Portable.  I got him a shot gun sight.

Dec. 17, 1949  We went up to a sale at Poland, OH to buy a John Deere.  Got new one instead $2150.00

Feb. 20, 1951  Combine Delivered

April 2, 1951   Went to Milton with Dale on train to see Mom

April 10, 1951  Came home with Grandma Grace and Bix

Sept. 5, 1951  Dale and I came home from Milton, Pa. in an airplane. Sure was nice.

Feb. 1952  Bill bought a GMC truck and is hauling steel.

August 16, 1952  Deborah Ann was born

Nov. 1952   We bought a 1949 Pontiac 8.

Jan. 1953  Bill smashed the truck but didn’t get hurt- 3 mo to fix it. Got a Lemon T.

Feb. 17, 1954  Went to stay with Grandma Burns until the baby comes.

March 11, 1954  Cindy Lee was taken rush C section 6:14 am

Aug 6, 1954  Went to Colorado to see Bill’s Uncle John

Nov. 1954  Bill bought a bigger truck trailer.

Dec.11, 1954  Bought Sub Zero Deep freezer from G.C. Miller

Aug.   1955  Moved to Canton  2309 40th N.W.

Nov.    1955  Bought 53 Pontiac

Dec. 6, 1955  Ralph Henry was born 8 pound 1 ounce

Remembrance prepared by Janna Otto Vance.  September, 2009