Nadreau Name

Yesterday my sisters and I went to the mall in Eau Claire with our Dad for a mini family reunion. The neat and sad thing was that my Dad was sitting there with two of the seven remaining Nadreau men, having a grand old time. Dad is the oldest remaining Nadreau man, having outlived all and past the age when all of them died. So my cousins kind of gravitate toward him, they find him facinating and are very engulfed in his every word. Which is fun to see. They ask him about events that now only he can remember and about Chippewa Falls and about his relatives. I have five men cousins with the Nadreau name, but only two of them had one son each. I'm afraid the Nadreau name will die away. I wish there was some way to keep it alive. I wish I would have named my kids with that name for their middle name or something. It would have been weird but at least that name would be out there somewhere. Funny when you're a kid how you feel things will always be the same. I wish I could go back and talk to all of my relatives who passed away. I would really listen to every word they say and treasure more moments. I have lots of them in my memory and I treasure all of them.

Childhood Games

Ok and speaking of games that I played as a child, in the Fall in our neighborhood there was a church with a big lot with lots of trees. So the leaves would fall and we kids would get racks and make a big "pie" and play "Cut the Pie". So much fun, there was also a church bell that hung down low so we could ring it. At the time I couldn't understand why adults would get so upset that the bell was ringing and chase us away. In the Winter we would go to the ice skating rink. My sister was a big outdoor girl and we weren't allowed to leave until I had my math homework done. She would "help" me do it and really did it all for me and off we'd go. We played "Pump, Pump, Pull Away" and we'd play "Whip it" I never wanted to be the last person, who would go flying into the snow bank. I've always been something of a whimp.

For some reason I was thinking about my old neighborhood where I grew up. When I was little the whole neighborhood of kids and there was A LOT of them would play night games in the Fall. We'd play "Kick the Can" and "Moon Light Star Light" I remember it seemed every night we'd be playing there would be the smell of leaves burning. OR there use to be a dump where everyone brought their trash down across from where Super Valu is standing now and Semi's park there now. But they would burn the trash and the whole town smelled of it. Ahhh...the memories. Those night games were the best.

Easter Clothes

When my sisters and I lived at home and especially when I was very small. My mother would buy us Easter dresses, gloves, hats and purses and shoes. It was always so fun to get our new Easter clothes. I always thought I was as beautiful as my sisters and felt so pretty. I remember one Easter in particular. My mom got me a light pink dress, white hat with long bow ends hanging down, white gloves and white anklets with black patten leather shoes. Sid got the same thing only in blue. Mom always dressed us the same, much to my sisters dismay. I always thought it was so neat to look like my big sister because I thought she was so pretty and I wanted to be like her. That's when we lived in the house across the street from where I do now, so I had to have been about 2. I remember a dress that I got for Easter when I was 12. It didn't look like Sid's. By then she was 15 and that would have been horrible for her. :) But the dress was yellow with white decorations and white shoes with big heals. They were important shoes. (the kind that make noise when you walk, click clack, click clack). Anyway, my grandma died and I wore that to her funeral. After a while the shoes bottom of the heel came off and it was hollow. I loved them even more because I would wear them to school and walk down the hall and they when CLIP CLOP, CLIP CLOP. It would just echo down the halls. I thought I was so so so so cool and important too :)It was great!!!

Memories

I've been told that I should reminisce and write about memories. So I will do that. Keep in mind though my life has been very ordinary and not very exciting. But here goes.... My earliest memories are when I was a baby in the crib. I must have sucked a finger or thumb and my mom put "Thumb" on it and I was falling asleep and put my falange :) (Thanks to "Bones") in my mouth and screamed. My mom came running upstairs to give me a drink. I was probably 3? I also remember when I lived across the street from where I live now. The house was torn down years ago, but it had a large wrap around porch and I remember looking up the stairs and thinking how steep they were. I was 2. The basement stairs from that house went to the neighbors and their sons used them for stairs to their tree house. As a two year old how would I know that those were the basement stairs, but I did. I was a strange child :) I also use to play in the street in the sand with trucks and tractors. And we would rake our leaves into the street and I played in the pile of leaves in the street hiding in the pile from the cars. I just shutter now when I think of it. In this day and age a car will whoosh through the leaves to watch them fly. Why was I allowed to play in the street? It was a different era. Wow.

It's been a LONG LONG time since my last post. I can't seem to find much to say. I look at everyone else's posts and get excited to see updates on them. But yet do nothing. I even had myself convinced I forgot my password. So when my "Gift from God" told me I needed to update, I tried and low and behold I got in. Aren't you glad? My girls are so smart they can even put pictures on theirs. I'm sure I can figure it out, but yet I don't. :)

Let's see, what on earth can I talk about? hmmmmm.....there is nothing there! I will try to think of something and post again....yep I sit here and think.....huh NOTHING. Sorry

Grandbabies

My life this past Saturday was very eye opening. I was given the opportunity to watch my seven grandchildren. I had 7 kids 7 and under. Three of them 1 and under. I had the usual AWWWWW moments, I had 9 poopy moments. I was a referee, cook, maid, bath giver, face whiper, treat giving grandma. My kids are amazing. They do this every day! I am still (and it's Tuesday) so tired, I had to drag my hinder out of bed to go to work. (I think I heard it hit the ground) I plopped down in my chair and am thankful I can just sit and use what's left of my brain. Just think....25 years ago, I was doing that every day. What a difference 25 years makes. But even with all the work that was involved I wouldn't change anything. I love each and everyone of them, more every day. I feel my heart will burst with love. Everytime from the oldest down, Tanner called me Gram (a name he just made up to call me). I'm Grandma to the rest, down to Bodie who gives me his amazing kisses, to Jack smiling his amazing smiles to our youngest Lydia for when she smiles at you, you feel you have won the biggest prize of all.

Thank you to our kids and their spouses for the gifts of our grandkids.

I'll try again!

Today I woke up with excitement of what the day would hold. I thought as I rose, that I'd better get my sheets washed right away. So I stripped the bed. As I walked into the other room. I was met by my dad with a hopeful look as to what the day would bring to him. Is there hope for a cappiccino and a ride to Winona, our usual Monday. And I looked at Al and saw the look of dread. What will I have to do today. I said to Al so what's up on this 4th of July? He said whatever I want. My day kind of lost it's luster....I told him he should go to the point, his place of solitude, and I would bring my dad to Winona cup in hand. But to meet back at 2. So off we went. Dad, me and the cappicinno. We went to McDonald's where dad got what he calls his $1 spicy chicken sandwich (a McChicken) and a senior cold drink. I got my usual hamburger and glass of ice for my pop I brought from Kwik Trip. They only have coke products in McDonalds. We went to Walmart like usual and then came home. On the way I played a marching band CD that is music you play on the 4th of July, when I was a kid and before that in the olden days. Can you picture the two of us in my car with the music blasting, because dad likes it LOUD, at the traffic light, heads bobbing to the music, sun glasses on, dad's the typical old people sun glasses that go over their original glasses. Looking out of the window at the other cars waiting for the light to change. You know they can hear the thump thump thump....of the bass. Dad likes bass...is it base or bass....hmmmm....

I was kind of nostolgic today too. While doing laundry in the basement, I had on of the moments you see on TV where the people are having a memory and you can see what they are thinking. I saw the basement in it's original state. White basement block with cement floor. Where I played all those years as a child before they covered it up with avocado paneling and orange/brown shag carpeting. It brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. I just remember how it was. And how long ago that was. I've lived here almost my whole life and love this house. Never wanted to leave. I know some day we will. Then thought of that line on that movie. The beginning is always scarey, the ending is always sad, it's what happens in the middle that all memories are made of.

This is the third attempt

For some reason this isn't getting published. I've written two other blogs and they don't work....so this is a test before I write too much

Company

We are going to be having company. My Aunt (whom I love so much) and my cousin and his wife. Plus my sisters too. Well, Al and I have cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. He shampooed the rug and we have washed everything that can be washed. I have to think, we clean because we don't want them to think we are slobs. When really it's a lie. We are slobs, why should we put up a farce? Let them come as we are. I really wish I could be that way. "Come on in, just step over the dog dustbunnies." "Oh...don't open that door, you may not live during the avalanche."

But now our house is clean and I had to go to work. Can you believe I was actually sleeping as I was typing. I wore myself out. I had to go out to my car to sleep a bit. Which was ok, because I was two hours early for work. I slept and hour and and a half.

Grandchildren

Al and I had three of our grandkids over last night for pizza and a double feature. We watched "Lady and the Tramp" and "101 Dalmations" The kids all ate a good one piece of pizza and had chocolate milk, white milk or juice. Yes all three had a different one. Then they each got three deserts. Which they all looked at me like I was crazy to give them 3 desserts. I said "Hey you're at Grandma's!!!" Then they looked at me with a knowing look. Like all was right with the world. Tanner said I better not have any more than that or I could get sick. :) Laina had an ice cream cone first and as she was eating the ice cream said pointing to the cone. "I eat that?" I said yes, then she took a big bite out of the cone, with a happy look on her face. Soon after that, Tanner and Sawyer also had to have one of Grandpa's special cones. This was followed by Sawyer telling me he had to poop. I told him of course to go. Soon I heard GRANDMA, I'M DONE. I went in to wipe his bottom and took him off the pot. My sweet little 3 year old grandson said while looking at the bathtub, "I remember when I took a bath in there, it was about 5 years ago!" :)

Honestly, I don't think I could love anyone more!

I've been thinking of my mom and dad. Especially yesterday, for what would have been their 67th Anniversary. I took my dad to the Mall in Rochester and I was watching him walk down the hallway. He looks so old, (and he is) but I remember him when he was a young man. He had a crewcut and was heavy. But he walked to work and would always turn and wave at me as I watched him from my bedroom window until he was out of sight. He seemed to be so tall, now I feel like I look down at him. He would go in the kitchen and sneak a cookie from the cookie jar. I'd look at my mom we could hear him carefully opening the lid of the jar, we were sitting in the our old TV room and she'd roll her eyes because he was "dieting". I understand his pain of dieting now. YUCK! My mom would sit and talk on the phone in the kitchen. The telephone had a six foot cord at the most and so you couldn't go far then. I'd put my head on her lap and she's play with my hair. I remember that clear as it if was just yesterday. I was home. I miss her. But for now I have my dad in his final years. I get to gather a bunch of memories to last me the rest of my life. I can take them out and go over them in my mind when I miss them. As my dad says it's the memories that help you get over their dying.

Shoes

I got off work and was walking to my car, looking down at my shoes. Funny the things you remember and think about. Like when I was a little girl wearing my uniform for school and walking home and how when I was little and HAD to always wear snow boots. And how I couldn't wait to wear my shoes again walking on the snowless pavement. And when I finally did how free I felt. :) I always loved that.

It was suggested that I start a Blog. I don't really know why. I don't have many ideas that would be of interest to anyone. But here goes......I chose this black background thinking of my dad. He always thought I was attracted to the dark colors because I was depressed or angry. Funny, I'm so far from that. I have always been a happy girl. Loved my growing up life and I love my life now that I'm an adult and a grandma. Life is good. No I like dark colors because I do. Told you I have nothing to say. :)