Saturday, January 3, 2009

OUT WITH THE OLD-IN WITH THE NEW 2008-2009

Summing up 2008 --- we had Bills surgery on his shoulder, moving my mom and dad to another apartment, death of my Aunt Bonnie :-( - Greg and Karens wedding-moms back surgery (she is recovering so well by the way)- yard sale and estate sales---gas prices-(yikes), the economy falling- worried about businesses and jobs.... yet.. I still feel blessed.

Have you every heard the saying "I love them so much it hurts?" That is how I feel about my daughters and husbands and yes, Kiara. My parents and my family and friends and friends at work.

We are all surviving and I feel that God has taken care of all of us.I wish you all a happy, healthy and prospros 2009!

God Bless you all.

DECEMBER-CATCHING UP

I will sum up the rest of December in this blog. You may want to grab something to drink while you read! Unlike Staci, I won't do several blogs but will summarize for you!

After our trip to Chicago we started getting more serious and ready for Christmas.

December 18th I was sitting at a stop sign in Ionia and was rear-ended twice by a S10 Pickup and that threw me into the truck in front of me. Needless to say, my car is currently at the body shop being repaired. I on the other hand am trying to rest enough to heal myself with out having to have physical therapy! It is amazing how being hit and being tossed around (thank god for seat belts) can leave a 50 year old sore! On the up side--- how nice it was to have such a good agent taking care of my claim!!!!! :-)

December 24th started out with us normally getting together with Bills side of the family. Since the flu bug had gotten some of them we postponed our Christmas until middle of January! So, the girls and I went to First Presbyterian Church (Bill was sleeping at home) at 11pm for their candlelight service. It was great. A nice way to put into perspective what Christmas is really all about.

Earlier that day my youngest, Stephanie Joyce, brought me the paper. And she had put my picture in it with a "If you see Becky Wagner wish her a Happy Nifty Fifty Birthday" Yes, I was 50 on the 24th. And of course she couldn't just put in my first name she had to put in the entire name. Along with a picture of me in 1976 Yikes! I had clients, family and friends calling and wishing me a Happy Nifty Fifty! I must remind Stephanie that paybacks are coming!

December 25th. Santa came to the Wagners house! We all had a nice Christmas here then went to dinner with my side of the family. All my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and my Bills niece Melissa were all able to get together for dinner with my mom and dad. It was nice to have us all there together at once. We all had a blessed Christmas!

December 27th. Bill and I were going out to eat at Corner Landing as Steph had given us a gift certificate for dinner for my birthday. (Which I later found out was a bogu gift card!) We got there and my two daughers had set up a birthday party surprise for me. There were about 35-45 friends and family there to celebrate with me. I was shocked. On our 25th anniversary they surprised both Bill and I with a party. I had no clue that there was a birthday party and Bill didn't let it slip either. This was planned and paid for by the girls (dad may have helped out a little) and it was a total surprise.
It was so nice to be there with my family and our close friends. Everyone I cared about was there to enjoy the party with me. (there were a few gone but I will forgive them!)

I was so lucky to get some gifts also...I am now the proud owner of a purple cane (female version I am told) with a mirror that tells me how beautiful I am, a horn that will tell you to get out of my way and a can of something called "old man repellent!" How lucky can one get!

My mom and sister made the texas sheet cake which tasted great.. however they felt the need to put that same flattering 1976 photo on the cake only this time in an 8x10 version! I am going to have to hide the old photos!

Staci and Steph--thanks so much for making my birthday so memorable. We always celebrate but Dec 24th is so rushed and usually so busy that this just made it special!

Note to any of you turing 50---hide the photos!

CHICAGO TRIP DECEMBER 5-6,2008

December 5th and 6th Bill and I drove to Chicago. Staci was putting us up at the Days Inn near her apartment for our Anniversary gift. (It was in September).The weather was good and the driving was easy on the way to Chicago. However, coming home the next evening we were in a terrible storm complete with white outs!

We made it back all in once piece so all was good!We got into Chicago about 11 am on Friday. We met up with Staci, tried a new sub at a place called Pot Bellys... that was fun.We put up her christmas tree and helped decorate it and dad did a couple "fix it" things around the apartment.

Friday night we went out to eat for our anniversary with Staci and Gary. We went to an Argentinian restaurant. That was fun. Lots of meat and potatos so the guys loved it! What is nice is that in Chicago the restaurants and bars have no smoking. That makes it nice when out having a meal! Michgan should adopt that.After dinner we went to Zanies comedy club. I have been there before, Bill had not. It was funny and we had a good time! They picked on Bill one time. We were lucky as we were stuck right in the front!

The next day we went out to breakfast and then headed to the John Hancock building for a wonderful view of the city and some drinks. The city at Christmas time is spectacular!We did some shopping with the guys. Well, they looked around, slowed us down, so we sent them back to the apartment and Staci and I did some shopping in her neighborhood area.

Since it was her birthday the next day, I wanted to look for something for her rather than just giving her money. We found a VanGogh panting that she had been looking at for her apartment and so she got her birthday gift. I was happy and she loves the painting!We went to World Market (love that store) and did some other shopping before going back to the apartment and heading back to Michigan.

A few tips for you if you venture to the city:1. Take and wear good walking shoes and in the winter dress warm..2. Remember if you are in Chicago 1 block is actually about 3 Michigan blocks .. (this is why you need the walking shoes and warm clothes!)

We had a good time with Gary and Staci. Thanks for sharing some of Chicago with us!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

The baby Shower

Saturday, the day after Black Friday we had a family/friends birthday shower for my niece Melissa. She is due on January 15th and we are all excited for the new arrival, Joslyn.

We had food, fun, games and a good time. The momma to be went home with many wonderful gifts for baby Joslyn.

I would upload photos of the momma to be but until one of my girls show me how to insert a photo into this specific blog you will have to wait to see her.

We are all waiting for the delivery---- I will once again be a great aunt!

THANKSGIVING

So much has been going on. We have moved my parents earlier and their house is for sale. So we had two big days of Estate/Indoor Yard Sales... now we only have to clear some more out of the stuff that didn't sell. Yard Sales are nice but then you have the left overs to distribute somewhere else.

I have been singing on and off in churches and December 14th we will be at ZION Church. I love singing during the Christmas Season. I love the music and how different it is from everything else. In fact starting Wednesday the 3rd I will be playing the piano in the entrance/waiting area of Carson City Hospital. After remodeling they have a nice waiting area with a coffee shop and seating. They also have a baby grand piano! I will play there for the next 5 weeks for an hour at a time. I will enjoy it because I love playing piano!

Thanksgiving was full of food and family. We had Thanksgiving with the Wagner side on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It started with picking up Staci at the train station and having about 20 minutes to spare before dinner. Staci was able to come home from Sunday before Thanksgiving through Sunday the 30th! It was GREAT to have my baby home. Actually both the babies were home.. and yes, once again Bill was outnumbered!

We had Thanksgiving again on Thanksgiving Day. With the move and less room, we didn't have it at mom and dads apartment. This time I cooked for them and we ate together. My niece Melissa came also. It was small but a lot of food and fun time to enjoy and catch up with each other.

We played Sequence throughout the week. A game Staci brought home with her. It was myself, Staci and Stephanie. I would be lying if I said I won all the time...it was a new game and rules to get used to. I may have forgotten the rules a little and thus irritated Staci :-) Oh well, I am the mom and I can do that. It was a fun game... looking forward to playing it again.

The three of us went into Lansing the afternoon of Black Friday. Staci was looking at a ring for about 2 years and decided to purchase it. Believe it or not.. yes... I did not buy one thing. That is very hard to believe I know! I was busy checking out what the girls were getting and offering opinions.Staci's friend Sara (friend from her Detroit Days) who I call Sara D.. (as there is a Sara Chicago also!) met us in Lansing. It was fun having lunch at Olga's with all the girls (Staci loves Olga's almost as much as Vernors.)

It is amazing to sit and watch Sara D., and my two girls talking about world issues and their lives. Several times they asked me what I was thinking... and actually I was thinking how proud I was of each one of them. They have grown into beautiful young women.When asked what I was thinking, I said.. "oh nothing ".. But I was actually thinking of the day when Staci went to college---calling my mom and crying on the phone because I missed her. Worrying that I didn't teach her everything she needed to know to be on her own... The same feeling happened when Steph started college. Sitting and watching them I realized, I taught them what I could-- they have learned a lot on their own and God is watching over them.

It was a fun day.Sunday--well, not so fun. Taking Staci back to Detroit to catch a plane out---holy cow what an ordeal! A 2 hr and 15 minute trip took 3 1/2 hrs one way and 3 hours back ... and the driver----- The Dad! Bill drove and hates Detroit traffic. Well it was bumper to bumper due to the weather and most of all the traffic. I never realized how many people travel home that day. Staci eventually, after two delays, flew off to her Atlanta home away from home. We both decided we learned a lesson---travel home the Saturday after black Friday or wait until the next Monday! (As a side note---Bill was great driving in the horrible traffic when he really did not want to be there--- I appreciated not having to drive that day)

Thanksgiving is over but I hope we are not forgetting how thankful we should be each and every day.

Thanksgiving Dinner---$88.00

Gas running around with daughters and being their Designated Driver $37.00

Spending time with all my family this Thanksgiving-- PRICELESS!

Birthdays

Stephanie Wagner is now 21 years old! It is hard for me to believe that she is 21 years old.

We celebrate 3 November birthdays and 6 December Birthdays on my side of the family.I think Stephs birthday (November 18) was so much better this year as she had shot her first buck. (Pictures available!) Of course it could not be the norm for Steph. It was five points on one side and it had lost the other antlers. We teased her that she could not decide on a buck or a doe!We are proud of her. She was excited and it is about time. I think this is her 4th year hunting. She took her dad with her and she shot the deer and helped drag it out of the woods and yes, her dad gutted it for her!

On her birthday she and 22 of her friends met at Champs in Lansing and had dinner. I was invited along with Melissa. It was a lot of fun. (Dad did not go as he was processing and packaging her deer!)

We hope you had a Great 21st birthday Steph.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

PLEASE--NEVER START A SENTENCE WITH "MY MOM SAYS..."

To all of you who have listened to Stacis version of why we have the change of Daylight Savings Time and how we name hurricanes.. I am going to explain my side of things!---was I wrong in doing so or was I right in my explanations..... Staci won't let me forget it.. I think I did what any mother would do----after so many whys!!!!!!!

A little background first... I have a daughter named Staci. She, at a very young age (as soon as she could talk) would ask question after question after question... until a normal sweet kind mother (myself :-) would go crazy.....

Staci had been around adults until she was almost 5 when her sister was born. Being with adults I think a child asks more questions and gets more attention. And let me tell you she could ask the questions! I was working, a mom and pregnant and to be honest sometimes we moms get sick of answering the why question! Staci has two issues that she won't let me forget.

Issue #1
I believe Staci was kindergarten.... and I told her she would have to go to bed earlier as the clock would be changed and she would lose an hour of sleep. Good Lord... it started.. Why do I have to go to bed early.. can't you leave the clock... Why don't you change it all the time...etc you get the picture.... so I tried to explain why we did the time change but she was little and had that look like.. what are you talking about .. so like any busy, tired mom I told her that we changed the clock so that it would be lighter in the morning for the school bus driver to pick up the children. Now at that time she was absolutely fine with the answer. Seemed to accept it with no problem!

Issue#2
We were watching television and Staci was about 5 or 6 and the news was showing terrible wind and rain and weather and they were referring to it as Hurricane Frances or some such name. She asked who was Frances and I explained it was a Hurricane named Frances. So then it began.. Why is Frances making it rain.. Why do they call it Frances.. more of the Whys... I tried explaining it to her and when she said why did the mommy name it Frances I told her that whoever spotted the hurricane could name it! Simple for her. She quit with the whys...

Now, 20 years later you would think I caused her to need therapy over these issues. What brought me to blog about it is that she brought it up again last weekend. Please... enough already. I pay my school taxes. I certainly thought that the Ionia School system would teach her at least 2 things while she was there for 13 years. She would learn in Science about the naming of hurricanes and about Daylight Savings Time... oh no.. she must have been "socializing" while the teacher taught those two subjects. To this day she states that she never learned either one in school....until college.

Yes, while at Western Michigan University, at the cost of at least $15,000 per year, she did learn two things for sure. One being the truth about Daylight Savings.. and another about the naming of Hurricanes.

I received a call one day from her.. in her class no less (thanks to the invention of take anywhere cell phones). She said, "Mom, I am arguing here with the Professor.. he was talking about the Daylight Savings Time and I told him that my mom said it was so that the bus drivers could see the kids in the daylight--The entire class laughed at me." Well, hello-----you didn't learn about that in Elementary--Middle School or High School???????? Nope--- she didn't. But she trusts her mommy, so my little girl was arguing the point because her mommy said it was for the bus drivers!!!! Uggh! Then talking to friends, told them about the naming of the hurricanes which resulted in another upset mad phone call to me.....

Why am I blogging this? For you moms with small kids...... regardless how over their head it is... explain, explain,explain.. otherwise this could happen to you.

I certainly would have taken the time and answered her 20 million whys to the truth if I thought she understood it... I never had a clue she would go thru life, into college, unaware of why she is really re-setting her clock twice a year! I had more faith in our education system!

Staci brought this up again a couple weeks ago... I am thinking maybe for her birthday I will get her a gift certificate for some therapy so she can finally get over this! I would welcome comments from you other moms!

The best part of the story??? Being on the phone when your child calls from their college class and proceeds to ask you, while in class so that they can correct the professor, these questions!

I have asked her to never start a sentence with "My mom says" anymore! So if anybody hears her starting a sentence that way... keep an open mind!