Looking Back

This is the SADDEST year I have lived through... each of us lost DEAR LOVED ONES in our family... My Biggest was my DAD...you know in life you are going to lose your parents sooner or later, but you are never truely prepared even if you know they are sick... then my brother in law Jeff lost his PAPA, I did not know him but I'm sure it was hard to say good-bye.. just as it was for us to say good-bye to BUMPA.. my brother in law Kevin lost his Dad without any warning... no time to say good-bye... very hard just the same... I will miss his smile... Our SWEET GEORGE... what can I say... we all loved him... Aunt Jeanine, along with two of my friends , and Bernie all in a two week period.. some with illness, Bernie without a warning or being able to say good-bye... then not only did the children lose grandpa's, but also pets... We have had alot of loss ,but still have Loved ones.. Family, Faith & Health....Life is still good because of the people in our lives that we lost... We are what we are because of them... I'm hoping the New Year brings happiness and lots of good memories of the ones we lost near and dear to us..

This was my biggest loss of my LIFE... my sweet DAD.. I will forever be lost without him



My sister Nena... then lost their Papa...Jeff's granddad



Unexpectedly My other Sister Connie lost her father in law... Kevin's Father... Buxahootee... my daughters loved to tease him.. Mr Geiling



SWEET GEORGE what can I say...we loved him... our glue in the Gagne family



Aunt Jeannie.... Uncle Dennie's wife



Without warning my sister in law BERNIE... my brother Jeff's wife... my Morning Facebook Buddy



My friend Sandy... my friend Veda's sister... a 3rd grade school teacher



My friend Doris... sick for many years... but to young... only 46, one of the first friends I made when we moved here.... a co-worker



Levi, Bailie & Mattie lost their pet cat SOCKO.. they had for many years



And Gabe & Katie lost their pet HAMMIE

Merry Christmas...

This is what I needed this Christmas.... to have all my kids and grandchildren HOME for Christmas morning... lots of giggles and excitement as they opened all of their gifts... We started with breakfast...bacon, sausage, pancakes..and scrambled eggs.. while waiting for Tera & Paul to get here... the others could not hardly wait... opened gifts, then had a small Brunch with lots of goodies... Troy & Kim went to her sisters to visit and Tera & Paul went to his Mother's in the afternoon... the rest of us took a nap... Teresa and I made a Stir fry Dinner.. and then they were back... A GOOD DAY

Decorating the christmas tree

Kaya and Kevin had fun decorating the tree this year... as you can see most of my ornaments are on the bottom of the tree... they had fun though... we also had fun driving through the neighborhood looking at all the lights... FUN TIMES

Happy Be-lated 25 th Birthday!!!!!!!!

Sunday was Miss Lindsey's 25th Birthday.... I should have posted it then... but forgot to get on the blog page with putting up the tree and my decorating... sorry that's no excuse... this picture was taken over 12 years ago... she is much bigger now... but just as sweet.. hope your having a Happy Birthday... in Florida..

Christmas shopping!!!!!!

Wow, this has been the a busy two days.... lots of shopping... Christmas Cards and getting pictures taken for Christmas of Kaya.... I like to get as much done as I can early, so I have time to wrap and spend time on baking the last week before christmas...I usually have the house decorated by now, but I don't... just outside, but hopefully this week-end I can get done... I always think I'm not going to make it, but I always do....As we were going to the mall today Teresa and I were listening to a music station that plays only Christmas songs at this time of year. They were talking to two small children that they had heard about from the newspaper... Their Mom asked them what their wish was for Christmas. They said they wish they could make sure all the kids in their school would have enough to eat this Christmas and to have a warm house... they did not want anything for themselves just that wish... It touch my heart, because their Mom said they thought of all by themselves... when the radio station hear about their wish... they donated the money to their local food pantry so the kids could help the children in their school...it was so sweet... makes you think about a SIMPLE christmas and those in need...and to be thankful... we had a talk with Kaya and explained to her that she was lucky that he mom made sure she always had a full tummy, because some kids go to bed hungry... she got really quite... makes you think

Thanksgiving Day

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

It's alot of hard work and I'm really tired... when I have to be at work by 6:30 am
but as long as I make a list ..... cook & bake the day before I can still pull it off... The meal was good , but the best part is FAMILY.... much to be thankful for... 3 Great kids, 2 of the BEST ( daughter & son in law) and 5 grandchildren... we thank GOD for health

Hard to say good-bye....

Saying GOOD-BYE is very hard.... I live far away from my sister-in-law, but I chatted with her on a regular basis... before facebook it was though e-mail...As I watched the video that her girls made at the wake alot of memories came to me... the day Jeff & Bernie were married... the yellow dress she had on... their wedding cake... the food her family had made... the kids playing in the yard that evening... running and having fun... the times Joe & I stopped over at the house when they lived on Olson Rd & up north... just sitting around talking... She had her own style, she did'nt care what other people thought... but that was bernie... you just took her like she was... She was always good to my son & daughters... Troy said Bernie always told him... I got your back....Teresa was telling me about a day when she was little... she spent the day with her, she painted her fingernails & toenails purple, I never knew that... but Teresa remembers.. she has fun her... when my Dad was in the hospital those last 4 days of his life Teresa spent hours in the waiting room with Bernie... just talking and laughing... She laughed harder than anyone I have ever met... usually a little snort along with it..LOL..She loved her daughters so much and my heart broke for them today as I watched them say good-bye. She loved her Grandsons without a doubt..she probably was not the tradition Grandma,but I'll bet they had fun with her and will remember the fun things they did with her. She loved my brother for over 28 years...she made him HAPPY... that is what is important... He love her... He loved her.. I'll miss our chats in the morning BERNIE... I'll miss you!!!!!

Happy 30th Birthday Tera

Thirty years ago today my sweet Tera was born...5 lbs 14 oz ... 18 inches long... she was so tiny, but very cute... the first picture is the day we brought her home, the next is now thirty years later. She's a Wife & Mom... great at both ... works outside her as a nurse with heart patience... does'nt seem that long ago we brought her home. I love you Tera ... Happy Birthday

Good -Bye Bernie

My heart is broken tonight as I think about my Brother and what he must be going through tonight.... I love my brother so much and wish I could be there to put my arms around him and never let go.... My Brother lost his wife of 28 years this morning and he loved her more than anything... Bernie loved her daughters and her grandchildren... when ever I spoke to her or chatted on line she was always telling about something they were doing.... She got to spend this last week with her daughter Shemiah... she was so looking forward to her visit to Florida... she was just teasing me about ht warm weather she was going to. All I can say was he loved her... he loved her...... no matter what was going on in LIFE ... He loved her... We will miss you BERNIE we will miss you!!!!!!!!!!

Aunt Jeannie

Last night November 4th Aunt Jeannie went to heaven and is no longer in pain with the dreadful disease that took her life. It is so sad to see someone suffer and be in so much pain. She left behind 4 children. I feel for her children as I know to well the feeling of losing a parent. I don't know what it feels like to be in my SWEET Uncle shoes as this is the 2nd time he has lost a spouse. My heart goes out to him and her children. I have known Jeannie since I was a little girl . I would spend time staying over night with my Aunt Gloria and she lived next door to her. My Aunt
spent hour visiting with her outside as they were tanning in the sun, they were very good friends. When my Aunt passed away, a couple of year later Uncle Dennie married Jeannie. The top picture is at the reception the family gave them. The second picture was taken in 2007 at my Mom & Dad's 50th Anniversary Party. She will be missed as part of the Family. God please be with Uncle Dennie at this time!!!!! Life is way to short, we have lost way to many family members this year... we need to take in each moment, love each other... spend all the time you can with each other.
Sixty Six is to young... Take someone today by the hand and just tell them you love them...

Halloween night

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

We had a good day on Halloween, first we made popcorn balls, cupcakes & cookies. Kaya decorated all the cookies herself... check them out on the the first page. Teresa carved out 4 pumpkins and filled 150 bags of candy to prepare for our trick or treaters. Before Teresa & Tera left with the kiddo's she made a fire in the firepit for Papa & I to sit by while we passed out treats. I was in the kitchen making a pot of stew to eat after all the trick or treating. The air was cool but nice to sit by the fire... some of the mom's and dad's ask if they could warm their hands by the fire and told us it was a really good idea the halloween... actually we borrowed the idea from the neighborhood street behind us from last year. After the kids were done Paul joined us and we ate our Stew, and was very TIRED... a good day!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Grandma

On October 26, 1906, Eula Marie Gay was born... she had four children that she loved dearly. She was one of the hardest working woman that I ever met. She had very little, but managed to raise her children on her own. I learned alot from her...and at the time I did not realize I was learning.... how to make homemade noodles..fry the best chicken... iron my clothes... plant a garden..and harvest it...so many things that are a big part of my life now... all because grandma took time out of her already tired day to teach me.... I miss her everyday... I'm reminded of her when I use her big spoon to stir my stew or chilli... or when I wash my clothes down stairs and see her ironing board... Thanks grandma for all the lessons...one of my favorite sayings that you used to say was... got to get the canning done so we don't starve to death this winter...LOL...Happy Birthday Grandma I love you ... miss you

Our Day At The Pumpkin Patch

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

We had a great day at the Pumpkin Patch... the weather was cloudy but around 55 degree's. We picked apples, rode a wagon to the pumpkin patch and then picked our pumpkins. Feed the animals and played in the hay. It was a very relaxing day... the rain stayed away until after we were in the car on our way home.

Halloweens Past & Present

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Fall Fun With Papa

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Getting ready for the frost

Well I hate to see the frost come but they say it might frost tonight or tomorrow night. The temp outside right now is 45 degree's. I thought I would work out in the yard for a while this afternoon. My mom sent Joe and I a ROSE earlier this week in HONOR & MEMORY of Grandpa George. A Veteran Rose, I think you call it, so I planted it, then I thought I would takes some pictures of my white and purple daisies that still have blooms... I put the hoses away, the lawn furniture, some of the decorative pots and thought I would post some of the pictures of Kaya playing in the leaves... I know everything must die, but the summer is way to short for me... I really do enjoy being outside and looking at my flowers... Hopefully the rose will make it through the winter and though the years to remember a man that was very Dear to us... Mom sent a ROSE to each of my sister's also in Memory of Lindsey's Grandpa and Gabe & Katie's PAPA... Next spring we should all be able to enjoy the blooms and remember our loved ones..... THANKS MOM

Happy Birthday Mia

Yesterday was my neice Mia's 34th Birthday, she was born the year Joe & I got married. I want to wish her a very Happy Birthday... These pictures were taken in June of 93. Mom & Dad had a little Dinner party for Mia when she graduated from High School.. Uncle Kevin , Aunt Connie, Lindsey.. Uncle Dennie, Grandma DeGuise, Joe, Troy, Tera , Teresa..Ryan, Tyler, Shawn & Nena, some of her school friends and of course myself... Always a good dinner when Mom cooks... love the balloons hanging off the light, but it was fun and a beautiful day for a beautiful girl. I wish I could spend more time with her and know her better, I'm ashamed that I don't, because we live so far apart. She always sends the nicest Christmas card to me at Christmas and I love HER... She is very ambitious... starting a school for children that are troubled and maybe would not finish school if it was'nt for her and her love for them....I'm very proud of her... I try to keep up with what's she doing with the help from her mom and dad when they can fill me in... She's got a good heart... HaPpY bIrThDaY!!!!!!!!!
SWEET Mia Love you