Aug 9

 Today is my Grandpa Roman's birthday - probably the only grandparent birthday I remember because it's so close to my own!

If you were here, Grandpa B, I bet little Roman would give you a big hug and help you blow out your birthday candles. When I was looking thru pictures, this was the one that stood out. Why? Because it's how I remember my Dad's parents -at their house (in their kitchen to be exact). Grandma B (Catherine) sometime before she had the stroke that slowed down her mobility. 

It brings up weird memories. Warm applesauce and a look to my mom like "what is this" and "do I have to eat it....it's WARM?" Like I said, random memories.  And 7up. They always had 7up at the ready, which was a treat. And we must have spent some overnights there because I do remember spending time with grandma, who'd take us outside and down to the park by the lake to that giant slide (still there, last I checked). I remember being so proud of myself for going down alone. She was also fond of books. I think I picked up on that.
And grandpa with his rides on the lawnmower. We couldn't get enough. We liked to "play" on the organ too, but that time was limited as well. I can kind of empathize with how you two must feel when we tell you "no", which admittedly is probably not enough. Roman was an artist and had what appeared to me an elaborate and professional working space in the basement. So many markers! I always wanted to draw there, but knew enough to know that was grown up space.  But I did draw. 4th grade seems to be the pinnacle for that activity, sometime around when Grandma had the stroke. I remember being told the compliments the hospital nurses gave her about her granddaughter's artwork (Snoopy, I would guess) That felt good (praise!). Maybe she'll be like her grandpa. Maybe.
And what I want to say kidlets is that I wasn't old enough or wise enough or mature enough to let my grandparents know I cared. But I forgive myself that. I don't think I really had my head screwed on right until I hit 30 and by then, they were gone. But I think they knew. I hope they knew. So here's my lesson for you two: it's never too late. Don't forget those that loved you. Never too late. Really.

Time machine back to the early 70's

Your Grandpa Jon has been hard at work going thru scanning, touching up and saving piles of negatives and slides that he's got laying around. "So you kids don't have to do it when I'm gone". Yeah, this is how Grandparents start to talk (I'm sure - I'm hoping - I will one day too). Here and there we get a picture. Here's what was in my inbox this morning.

A bit a of a resemblence to Roman?! The eyes have it.

I'm still astounded sometimes at how much Zoe looks like Mike (again, the eyes or more accurately the eyebrows). Very dramatic arch on that girl!  It's so funny how we've kind of crossed genders on some of the resemblances.  Although I guess I was told by my oldest brother Dan's friends that I reminded them of him too. Maybe in the gestures and things. It gets tough to see resemblences in your own family.

By the way, Grandpa Jon is looking for more traffic on his newly updated blog (a new years resolution perhaps), so give it a view:
http://jonniebegood.blogspot.com/

See any resemblance?

A little eyebrow action?



Hey - Mick-eh Mouse!


Yep, it's your dad.
Still gotta find some of grandma Candy...I think you've got the eyes, Zo.

This woman, dear children, is the reason you exist

Grandma Candy? Well, yes I guess that's true. Grandma Candy begat Daddy who begat Roman and Zoe. It's not often you get the word "begat" in a sentence.



The woman centered in the picture above- Liz is the one who set your Dad and me up on a blind date. Friend of Grandma, friend of your mom. I suppose that's for another post....But thanks to Liz, you are here!
I'm going to apologize for the color on these pictures, it's ghastly, but it is what it is. Soon: photos on the spanking new camera. Later: Good pictures from it after I figure out what I'm doing. In the meantime...

Cookies!



Both Roman and Zoe started the evening out with a giant chocolate chip cookie. yummy.



Later there were chips. And Roman watched me dipping mine in salsa and thought he'd follow suit. Not exactly what he bargained for.
And later still and ice cream sandwich. Yes, nutrition is king in our house ;)





These two walked away with goodies. Zoe with a pair of white, feathery wings (pictures someday, when it's possible) and Roman with a flashlight. RaRa went to bed with the flashlight and went right for it first thing in the morning when he got up.


This little light of mine...

Congratulations are in order

Zoe is happy to hear that her aunt Shannon and Ryan are now engaged!
Hurrah. A new uncle :)

Your Grandma Jane, an introduction

I'm going to start posting some excerpts from a book your Grandma Jane put together a few years ago. As you'll see by her intro, she was inspired by some books she read. I think this was about the time she retired too and was having some adjustment 'issues' with the new found abundance of free time she had. I'm glad she did this. Now I can share it with you two! By the way I think EVERYONE has an autobiography in them. Life is a journey.


Carolyn and Jane, sisters
Now, from Grandma Jane:

AN INTRODUCTION

My daughter in-law Jennifer and daughter Mary have in the past each given me a fill-in-the-page book to record my memories. I am grateful to them for that impetus. Recently I started writing a journal recording memories of my childhood after reading two memoir books this summer. Both authors wrote humorously of childhood situations more bizarre than mine. They lovingly told stories of their youth. Both grew into persons with notable careers and some fame. One became a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, the other a television network journalist of note who married into the Kennedy family. We may have pasts that influence us but they do not determine our lives. We do.

I emailed the first chapter of my memoirs to my sister Carolyn for her impression and critique. She responded with encouragement and then began collaborating with me. We reconnected in a new way and laughed and cried recounting our shared history. One morning I found four notes from Carolyn on email. She was now engrossed in recording our story for posterity. The whole {Carolyn’s family} clan encouraged me to continue. My son Daniel responded that “learning about grandpa was like learning about himself. People are made of stories. I am interested in your parents, and especially in your childhood. It informs me of where ‘I’ have been, in the sense that I am a reproduction of all the people and their stories.”

We grew up without much money and until I was about fifty I hid that fact from people I knew. I was ashamed of being poor. I was ashamed my parents had been divorced. I was ashamed my mom was a waitress. I was ashamed my dad did not have a normal “9 to 5” job. Then God healed me. Psalm 25 says, “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.” Psalm 34 says “Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.” These verses may refer to our standing before God, but they also spoke into my life who I was and freed me. I was a “new creation” loved by God. So I begin to write my memories. I use humor to convey some stories and a little irreverence. Some memories were bittersweet and some were tender, but in the end I realized I grew up without much money but not impoverished. We grew up with some conflicts but always loved by our parents. Our parents had some shortcomings but throughout their lives they grew in character. Dad may have not had that regular job but he did everything he could to make a living for us. Mom and Dad must have been unique being divorced parents who spent holidays together with their children. It probably wasn’t easy. Overall people do the best they can.

I have written some of the chapters with additions from Carolyn. I used quotes for her additions. Carolyn has written other chapters of her special memories. So to those who follow us, the family of Jane and Carolyn D., we leave our memories

the jungle book

Your dad has a collection of kids movies. Most of the Disney ones, but also a lot of others. I'm sure I was exposed to the Disney stuff at some point, but most of it I don't remember. I claim to have never seen most of them, but I'm really not sure. The picture below was taken in 1978 at Disneyland. Your Uncles Dave (left) and Dan (right) are beside me. Note the Star Wars t-shirt. Also note the Wesson oil patch on my outfit. Such class.



At any rate, as we were watching the Junglebook last night it finally occurred to me that the bear in the movie, Baloo, is the same bear I'd been looking at in that family picture all these years. It's kind of odd to have to translate a cartoon to reality and then back again to a cartoon. He was real to me in the picture, not as a character in an animated film!

A few months back I found a big picture book version of this story in German at a thrift store. Das Dschungelbuch... I realized it did me little good, so I gave it to my lunchtime learning German instructor. He and his German born wife just had a baby girl, so I thought they might make actual use of it (versus my use, which would be made up pronunciation). I did make a point of buying foreign language kids books when I travelled in my 20's. Maybe someday we'll actually get to look at them together!

Grandpa Jon, archived on archive.org

(link)
Grandpa Jon's "portfolio". Early work. When I was little we used to sit in the basement and watch this (on film!) I've seen these many, many times. I was just talking about this to G-Jon a few weeks ago and he reminded me that he put them up here. I was cleaning out my email box and found the email he sent telling me this.

Thesauraus find of the day:
Main Entry: film
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: movie
Synonyms: cinema, dailies, flick, footage, motion picture, moving picture, photoplay, picture, picture show, rushes, show, silent*, talkie (my personal favorite)

and more. Of course I linked to the cheesiest of the bunch.
Super Bad!
I don't know that it takes on a new meaning here.

Your Great Grandma Mary

Apologies to Annie - who provided this way back last fall. I got busy, I got distracted....But here it is..

Your great grandmother loved Arizona and moved to Fountain Hills in the fall of 1989. The pictures below are a collage of those years.


Mary and Annie Christmas 1990



E. Mary, Barb & Ashley at McCormick Railroad Park in Scottsdale
Ashley's a bit taller now!


GG E Mary and Harry in beloved Arizona (Note from your mom: your dad has a fondness for Arizona because of GGEM...And when we spent some time in there in 2004 I gained an appreciation for it as well, except maybe not the creepy crawlies that lurk about).



Mary’s first Christmas in Ft. Hills 1989


Mary at Saguaro Lake 1996
Mary loved to go to Saguaro lake and she and Harry went often. It is eight miles from Ft. Hills.


Annie, Pat B. and E. Mary at Pavilions
Pat B is a cousin to E. Mary on her Dad’s side. I am a cousin on her Mother Verna’s side.

Annie’s Personal Tribute to Mary

As the minister suggested at Mary’s services, that we each take a trait of hers we especially admired and try to incorporate into our life as an honor to her; what first came to my mind were the words: “No Complaints!”

When Mary was about forty-eight years old, she was stricken with Guillaine Barre’ syndrome while the family was vacationing in Florida. Barb was about eight years old and the boys, just teenagers.

If you know about this disease, you know it is a paralyzing disease (though, thankfully, a temporary paralysis and when one recovers, there is no residual). However, as the virus ascends the spinal cord, one first loses sensation and use in the feet and finally in the hands and arms. If the respiratory center is reached, there is No Recovery! It recedes in the reverse order.

Mary was first hospitalized after diagnosis in Florida for at least two or three months, then flown home to continue her recovery at a hospital in Park Forest for the better part of a year. As you can imagine, this was a very trying time for the entire family, but Mary (as she told me later) made a promise to God, that if He would ‘let her walk again’ she would never complain about anything in the future!

She didn’t, even in the final two years as disease slowly overtook her body despite all efforts (which were many) undertaken. I remember the day she asked my help, so sick, to meet her at the emergency room, to the day following in her hospital room where she said, “You’d better sit down, annie, the news isn’t good.” Yet, I must tell you that she joked with the young men who came when I was there to take her to her first (of many) radiation treatments. I also recall going to the oncologist’s office and joining her in the room with others receiving chemo. By the time I joined her, Mary knew them all and of course, they all Loved her. That was Mary!

When I start to complain (and I do, I must confess), I am reminded of her vow and how faithfully she held to it over the years between age 48 and age 77 and I am humbled anew to try and do better the next time.

But, most of all, my memories are a kaleidoscope of joys shared over the years from my first memory of Mary to my last and I can say with her:

Life has been good!

Great Grandparents

The first picture below is of your Great Grandparents Morrie and E. Mary B B taken in Cuba (IL!)in 1948

Great Grandmother Mary (dad's side)

(much procrastinated post by your mother! From Annie...)
Dear Roman and Zoe,
October 21, 2009

It was never intended to be such a long gap between ‘Christmas Nostalgia’ and this continuing history of your Great Grandmother E. Mary B. However,‘event’s intervened but now, let us continue:

The last entry had a photo of E. Mary and myself dressed nicely for Christmas. Remember it for comparison with the first one below!

Please remember that when you look at this next photo of us taken when we were trying to scrub and clean the front porch of the house on Pleasant Row in Cuba!

Cinderella’s at work




Cinderella to Princess

The second picture of your beautiful Great Grandmother E. Mary was taken as she came to Cuba to be a bridesmaid for her good friend (all of her life) Betty Q.
E. Mary had married Morrie and was then living and working in Chicago. This was approximately 1948.

Some maternal family background

Chalk this one up to "history", stolen from your Grandma Jane's blog:

There are couple less "good men" around this week. Two weeks ago our dear 95 year old neighbor died. This Monday Jon's favorite uncle Jack was buried. Both of these men will be missed by those who knew and loved them. They lived quiet lives. Good lives.
Our neighbor Harry, the 95 year old, volunteered at a local nursing home until his health failed in May. He is greatly missed by the daughter who moved him into her home eight years ago and cared for him. He is greatly missed by all his friends and family and even the family dog, Lucy, who still goes into his bedroom looking for him.
Uncle Jack was Jon's favorite uncle. He had polio as a young child and had some encumbrance with mobility all his life. In the last decade or so of life, that polio caused increased weakness of muscles and he used braces, crutches, then a wheelchair.
That disability didn't stop him from having a wonderful life. You might have noticed his deformed feet and spindly legs but quickly forgot those physical attributes when you spent time with Jack. He was one of the warmest, most engaging people I have met. Jack had many interests and spent a lifetime learning. He loved to read and had more books than some small town libraries. He loved doing research. He was interested in new ideas. His major interest was in history and he wrote several books about subjects in Stearns County, MN. Although he loved history, he kept his focus forward and marveled at new things that interested him and almost everything interested him. He was a lot like my father in-law Roman and they were close friends. Both were great storytellers.
Uncle Jack was a bachelor until he was forty. He drove a cool T-bird--a two-seater that impressed the nieces and nephews. He loved photography and had his own dark room to process his photos. He wrote. Most of his life he worked at St. John's University, first teaching English and then working at the liturgical press.
He married later in life but still managed to have five children.
My husband Jon stayed close to his favorite uncle. He always made copies of his vacation videos for him and Jack enjoyed this vicarious travel. At his funeral Jon met many of Jack's friends who told him how his uncle would brag about his nephew Jonny. They would also get to see the videos. I think this was a symbiotic relationship. Both men were creative and interested in life. Both men appreciated each other.
I know Jon will miss visiting with Jack. No more email. No phone calls. No more visits. Not until later. Jack is no longer living in St. Cloud. He is now walking the Streets of Gold, as Jon said at his funeral. Much has been made of the demise of the King of Pop as he made the rounds in his golden casket. He had fame, talent, and money but lived tragically. I don't think the King of Pop enjoyed his life as much as the humble man from St. Cloud. The celebrity certainly had the bigger send off but we are certain Uncle Jack had a very warm, big reception by the real King. Streets of Gold and no disabilities anymore. A whole new world has opened up for Jack in heaven. Surely Jack has a lot more to experience there and I know he is enjoying himself more than we can imagine. He loved the Lord and the Lord was waiting to welcome him home.

Jack is Catherine's little brother (Your maternal great grandma's brother).

Catherine (+ Roman)
|
Jon (+ Jane)
|
Mary (+ Mike)

You've got a new aunt

It's official. Your Uncle Andy proposed to who you'll always know as you Aunt Laura last night in NYC. How exciting!

Congratulations on the engagement Andy and Laura!

Here's a photo from last October, with Zoe.

Christmas on Pleasant Row (Annie)

From Annie P.

Though almost 69 years have passed, the memories of 'Christmases Past' at the Pleasant Row home of John and Edna have not dimmed! Pleasant Row is such an appropriate name yet today for that little community of folk who live along 'the hard road' into Cuba from the north!

A few years ago, I wrote those memories down for cousin John and am attaching them to this letter, first.

“Christmases Past Nostalgia”

Christmas at Grandpa John and Grandma Edna’s in the later 1930 and early 1940’s holds special memories for me and I would like to share them with you as I remember them.

The big two story bungalow still stands (and looks much the same as it did then) on Pleasant Row in Cuba. It was the family home of John and Edna and their six children: Verna, Reba, Wendell, Robert, Bernard and Louise. A long-covered porch runs all across the front of the house with the entry door in the center and two large windows on either end of the front. Along the south side there are also two large triple windows. It was inside the first of these two windows that the big Christmas tree always sat in the spacious living room with the adjoining dining room open to view with a couple columns supporting the archway between the rooms.

It was under this tree that the gifts were all placed and then opened together on Christmas Day. It was quite an ‘opening’ as you might imagine of six offspring plus their spouses and children. There were a lot of brightly wrapped packages under that tree!

Since this was still post-depression years, money was tight, but ingenuity was not! There was a limit of 10c per gift. Yes, 10c! so you can see (even then) what I mean about ingenuity! I can remember how Mom and I would keep our eyes open (or our thoughts) for items for everyone that met the 10c criteria: items for ‘the men’ and items for’the women.’ Kitchens gadgets (the state fair with its hawkers was a wonderful source for these) were high on the list as I recall and often homemade items as well.

But, what I remember most is the Fun! Real fun and joy as we shared together on Christmas Day and exchanged what each one had managed to find for the others. And, just the ‘togetherness’ with Grandma and Grandpa in their home was special. I know we all gathered in that dining room for a big meal too, but I don’t remember all that as much as I do the gift ‘hunting’ and giving of those years. I remember feeling the warmth of the family and their love for each other and the special time of just all being together at “The Home on Pleasant Row.”

Many Christmases have come and gone since those years of my youth, but they remain treasured memories still of wonderful joys of family no longer with us.
How I look forward to some day greeting each one again where ‘every’ day is Christmas.

Then, secondly, a photo taken either in 1939 or 1940 of the 'nuclear' family of John and Edna:



Verna is on far left, then Reba, Louise, Edna, John and Bob. Wendell and Bern are in the back row. As you can see, it was taken outside (again on the southside of the house!) and is only the children of John and Edna. I do not have one with the spouses in the family at that time.

This was the era of the Great Depression's ending and pre-WW II.

I also have a photo of E. Mary and I taken that same Christmas, standing in almost that same spot.



There is a little house in the background (behind Mary) and a good friend of ours still lives in that house. She is in her 80's now, but so good to keep me posted on happenings of today in Cuba. I was about seven and as you can see, Mary was a beautiful teenager, so with seven years age difference between us, probably about fourteen at the time. John would have been there that Christmas with his Mom and Dad at about the age of two. So sorry there is no photo of John or Uncle Bill (Reba's husband,) your John's Mom, Evelyn, or Aunt Phil (Uncle Bern's wife) if she was 'in the picture' yet at that time or of my Mom who just might have been the photographer. Aunt Louise did not marry until about ten years later.

Merry Christmas Present, With Joyful memories of Christmases Past and Anticipating Future ones,

annie

E. Mary and Peaches (Annie)

more from Annie...

Now, we have at last reached the entry of your Great Grandmother Mary, into the story!

Another pair of high school sweethearts, Verna H and Earl B must enter the story first.
They were married Dec. 1, 1922. Then, E. Mary was born three years later: March 4, 1925. The first photo I have of her is with her puppy Peaches.



He almost looks like a toy in the picture, but he is a real doggie!



As you can see Mary loved him and isn't she a cutie? This love of doggies was with her all of her life. My mom and dad had given her the puppy.

Mary was about seven years old when I entered the scene and the next photo is a postcard that her mother, Verna, wrote to my Dad (Wendell, her brother) about a month after I was born.



The other side is dated Nov. 3, 1932 and it was sent for one penny! I include it because of the sentence in it where Mary laments that I 'will be as big as she is before she sees me!' This was still in the years when the Great Depression in our country was in full swing, so any opportunity for work could not be missed! Burlington (where I was 'on view') was about 80 miles from Cuba where Mary and her parents were at the time.

Well, it was a bit sooner than that as the last photo attached shows!



It was spring in Illinois as you can tell by the spirea blooming in the background. I was approximately six months old and Mary seven years. The photo was taken on the southside of the Pleasant Row House (the home of Grandpa John and Grandma Edna) as most all the family photos I have were. It was the biggest spot and also with the best light. This is the first photo of us together, but not the last nor the many memories we made in life together!

Chapter Two: Class of 1895 (Annie)

More historical information from Annie P.

The 'story' goes on..................

After graduating in 1895, both John and Edna became teachers and then the high school sweethearts began their married life together in Cuba, Illinois. See class below.




But, by 1907, they had three children: Verna (the mother of E. Mary your Great Grandmother, Roman and Zoe), Reba and Wendell (my father.) The attached photo has seen some 'wear' but the trio is still visible!



Photos of the family are rare; as the first home that John and Edna had, burned, and all the family pictures (save those that had been sent to others) were lost! Grandma Edna (in later times) took a lot of 'ribbing' about the fact that all she thought to grab when fleeing the fire was the alarm clock! And, of course, seeing the children safely out!

That sort of 'evened' things out with Grandpa John, though, who also took the same 'heat' about his story of the yellow dog that followed the covered wagon when he came west with his parents and brothers. However, the truth is that Grandpa John was not born until the family settled in Illinois! He just remembered being told the story!

By 1910, another boy had been added to the 'fold' and a picture taken of Verna, Reba, Wendell and Bob is the last photo attached with this segment. Bob is the father of John W H (the first grandson of John and Edna) and he is named after his Grandpa John.



I am told that the looks on their faces are because the rug they are sitting (or standing) on has the picture of a dog on it. In any event, it is a charming photo of the ever expanding family of John and Edna. Two more children: Bern and Louise soon joined the family but I do not have any photos of them at an early age with their brothers and sisters, just one soon to come in another segment of them as adults with their parents.

On both sides of my family, many of the old photos were postcards sent to others, then somehow re-collected! A few years back I looked up the history of postcards from the early 1900's on and it is quite a fascinating subject. The two photos (except the 1895 class picture from a newspaper) in this segment were both postcard photos.

How it all Began..... (Annie)

from Annie P., your paternal Great Grandmother's cousin

Dear Roman Wesley and Zoe Cate,

The story of your 'roots' on your Great Grandma E. Mary's side (and mine) began long before the story of Mary and I, so be prepared for a lot of 'greats' as I tell you the tale of how we came to be cousins and best friends for many years! I hope you will enjoy knowing these things one day.

Our (Mary's and mine) great grandparents were Cal and Lydia P. Thus, if I am counting the 'greats' right, they are your great great great great grandparents. I did not know Great Grandma Lydia but I did have the joy of knowing Great Grandpa Cal P and he was my best buddy till I was five years old. I had many wonderful adventures with him and he taught me to spell dog and cat. He lived with us and I was fascinated by his white mustache and how he drank his coffee.He had a huge coffee cup and an even bigger saucer below it. He would pour his coffee (some at a time) into his saucer, blow on it and then drink it! It was quite a process!



He loved baseball and would sit with his ear right up to the old chapel style radio which was turned up to full volume to listen to the games (inside in winter and out in the garage in the summer.) He loved my mother's pies along with that coffee! Earlier in his life, he had run a restaurant 'uptown' in Cuba and before he died at the age of 92 was honored in the Town's Centennial up in the square. The picture of him that I am attaching was taken in front of 'The Pleasant Row' house about which you will hear more later.



I am attaching a photo of Great Grandma Lydia next, but I don't know where or when it was taken. She is the lady on the right and the mother of my (and Mary's too) Grandma Edna P-H.



The last photo attached is of your Great Great Great Grandparents: John Weston H and Edna P H when they were sweethearts in high school in Cuba, Illinois.




As you can see, they are in a heart and are standing side by side in the top row of the photo. In the next letter, I will send you the entire photo of the graduating class of 1894-1895 and at the bottom of the photo, they are identified by name so you will be able to be sure you are seeing them when that picture comes in the next 'installment.' A good friend who still lives in Cuba just sent it to me this past year when it appeared in the Fulton Democrat paper.

This is just the 'first installment' and there are more to come soon.

Love, your cousin (a few times removed) annie

P.S. I think it is four times: E. Mary, Mike Sr. Mike Jr. & You!

A new tradition

Your great Grandma E Mary's cousin Annie has been posting comments on your blog and has forwarded some history of your family which we'll be sharing here shortly. Included in the last week was this scan of her recipe for Butterscotch Bars. I made them for Christmas, only I improvised a little bit. I didn't follow the directions on your dad's favorite, 7 layer bars, so I had a bunch of the topping that crumbled off. Those "leftovers" of nuts, coconut, chocolate & butterscotch chips took the place of the "nuts or coconut" in the recipe. It turned out pretty good.

E. Mary's Butterscotch Sticks

1/2 c shortening
2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2 c sifted* flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c nuts or coconut
1/2 tsp vanilla

Melt shortening, add sugar. Blend & cool
Add beaten eggs & vanilla.
Sift* dry ingredients and add to shortening mixture.
Spread on greased pan and bake 30 minutes in 350 degree oven.
Cut into sticks and let cool in the pan.


Another cookie I think I'll always make is the Melting Moment. My favorite Christmas cookie. The recipe is here for posterity...

Melting Moments
1 c soft butter
1/3 c powdered sugar
3/4 c cornstarch
1 c flour

frosting:
2 tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla/lemon flavoring
1 c powdered sugar
enough cream to spread

Cream butter, gradually added powdered sugar. Add flour & cornstarch, mix well.
Chill 1 hour.
Form into balls and bake for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.


*I came home from 7th grade Home Education class and asked grandma where her sifter was. She said she'd never used one and we didn't really need one. I've baked a lot of goodies since then (and tested my share ;( )and she seems to be right - no one's every complained! So, I never sift. Sift if you like, but don't sift if you don't like.

Zoe B

We've explored the resemblances of Roman, so now it's time for Miss Zoe.

Dad always told me about how he was called Pumpkinhead when he was little. Apparently the chubby face and shape of his head warranted the nickname. I'd verify this, but he's taking a wee bit of a nap right now next to you Zoe. At any rate... we both agree that you look more like Daddy than Mommy. You've got the sweetest little chubby cheeks. You're healthy and strong and a good eater and a good sleeper. Hmm, that does sound like Dad.

Dad, above and Zoe below.



There's just something about your demeanor that reminds me of Dad too. A little more easy going and not easily fazed.


Yes, the photo above of Dad is a family favorite.


We all get pictures taken when we aren't expecting it. Proof yet again that Mom's photo shoots are grueling.

And on that note I better go do something besides get caught up on blog posts!

Roman B

It's funny how when you have a baby you want to try to figure out who they look like. Well they look like themselves! I must admit that when I first saw Roman I thought he bared a resemblance to my father, which by extension was me. After getting over the initial craziness of the first weeks I took some time to look at old family photos. There aren't many of me as a baby but I found a few. I can see a resemblance.
I was #3 of 4, and apparently by #3 the novelty has worn off, even when you're the only girl ;). Now #4, your uncle Andy, was a bit of a surprise so the novelty returned. He was a well photographed child. And very cute too!

Tonight when I was giving him a bath it struck me again how much Roman looks like my side of the family. I can't exactly pinpoint it to one person, but he definitely belongs in the family.

Mom, above, circa 1972. I think the most striking thing about Roman is his big eyes. If only I had my eyes open wide and was looking at the camera! Grandpa didn't have the luxury of a digital camera back in those days, unlike mom who takes about 50 pictures every time she gets the camera out. Volume = a chance of snapping a good shot.

This seems to be a shot at the hospital. Grandma B - so young! She had 3 kids by the time she was 27. I remember realizing that when I was 27. I couldn't imagine it. Who knew we'd get lucky with twins?!

Grandma B, Mom, Uncle Dan, Grandpa B and Uncle Dave. Andy was almost a decade and a half later. He didn't get the opportunity to get dressed in funky 70's clothes. Check out Grandma's pants!