my grandma Rose

Grandma is holding the baby...my uncle Johnny.



My cousins went to NYC to Ellis Island ... they found my grandma's name.... Rozalia Balaban Doseff.

I feel so PROUD!

Grandma Rose was from Czechoslovakia, coming here when she was a young woman. She already had my Aunt with her first husband who had passed away. She must of been married to my grandfather because his name was Doseff...he was always known as "the Gypsy". I spent a lot of time with grandma growing up. She had survived the Great Depression so she was a hoarder who hid money and food around the house. I remember her as being a good Catholic woman.

How many people can say they saw proof of their kin coming through Ellis Island!!

wedding binge 2009

me (in the dress), my son Tim and finance' Kristen...and yes these are ORANGE!

Another wedding...too much drama...the church was about an hour away and ideally the drive should of took an hour, but it took 1 1/2 so I was late. If you know the Illinois tollway system you know that traffic sucks any day of the week let alone during construction, also I blew an I-pass toll as the state moved the toll booth, it's confusing to find the pay lanes. My ex and his wife were at the wedding and started complaining about my 24 year old son whom they allowed to live them rent free. I was so miffed that I had to call my dad while on the ride to the reception. He reminded me that my kid's father will never change ... I felt better took a longer drive, then headed to the reception. Ex and wife were 3 drinks in so they were much more receptive to my very blunt suggestion on how to stop enabling my son. Hope they take my advice or stop complaining to me as their answer to his problems was to give him their debit card until payday!!!! DUMB!

HA! being one of the sober ones at an open bar reception has it's benefits!

Phillip Park /zoo fun

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I took the boys to a nearby park that offers a small zoo and a very large area filled with climbing equipment...all for free...plus a tram that goes around the park. It rained but we still had a great time.



Dayton's favorite saying is "see ya later alligator"...he got to see one of those too.

crashing grandson

After raising 8 kids, 7 of which are boys, and many other assorted children I have took charge over all these years I should be used to injuries, but I am not. Kids play, they take chances, they fall down, go boom.

Yesterday Jeremy needed to go shopping so I took the three guys to the park. First I had to scare off all the big kids off the swings. A couple of the girls road my bus in the past and the boys they were hanging with are much older and much more troubled. These two girls are good so far, but with too many days of hanging out with this group I can't say what will happen. An older couple sorta looked freaked when they saw this group, but not me. I told them I knew they're leader (who also road my bus) named Rose and I was in. They got off the swings and let the little kids play.

Near the time to go home Jacob started chasing Dakota and of course Dakota fell right on his big old head. He got a scratched nose, head and a wee little dot of blood on the tip of his nose. We looked at the injuries in a nice ladies car mirror, decided they were awful and then trudged the 5 blocks home. Dakota really wasn't bleeding just lots of tears and snot. Jacob was too worried about his loose tooth to care and well Dayton, he's just Dayton lost in his nearly 3 year old world, I only had to tell him once to stop walking through people's flower beds. After carrying crying Dakota home and assuring him his head would fine we made it back just in time for their daddy. He was fine, but not happy they were chasing each other....he should remember he was once the oldest of 5 boys and give them a break.

All night I had visions of the kid having a concussion, but a call this morning assured me the lad was fine. Off being the daredevil he was born to be!

Jacob's 6!

Jacob turned 6 today. His daddy will have a party for him on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile I am out of my funk. After a good cry on Sunday morning, and a visit with my ex sister in law, I am back to my normal upbeat self...

I started my route, which I will share with another driver, today. It is special needs grade school aged and all are mellow and quiet, mostly girls for a change.

The weather is cooler and sunny...nice change from all the heat. No matter I have an air conditioned bus.

The kids love this swing.

vent time...

My daughter Liz, my son Eric

Now I remember why I have a journal...it's a safe place to share...vent...bitch... My family thinks blogs are stupid so they will never read this....ever...so here goes My husband's brother is here...he is running from whatever demons real or imagined from his latest home...he's going to their sister house in Michigan...he can't leave until Wednesday. Right now he's downstairs with the TV blaring...my husband will not say no to him, me? I am not afraid, I already told brother that nothing would be different in Michigan because he'd still be there, he is the problem. I told my husband I did not want this situation with him working and his brother here, but here he is... I went to a wedding yesterday, friends of my stepsons. I had been in the sun all day at the pool with the grand kids, I was burnt...I had fun at the wedding, knew many people. Only bitch yesterday was that Jacob threw a fit and screamed his head off when he had to go with his mom. He wanted my stepson, but my stepson went to a party...shame, that kid loves his daddy.

Tonight I chose to not take time off from Mrs. H's to go to a wedding that my son Eric was the best man. I love the groom, I used to come home to find him sleeping on my couch. Innocent childhood stuff. I misread the wedding invitation and got to the party right after they had served the food. The dress I wanted to wear was not right according to my daughter and husband...winter they said. I was so pissed I grabbed the dress I wear out of the dirty clothes pile, sprayed it with perfume and left. I did put it on first! My daughter was mad that we were late and smarted off I was so ticked that I got up from the table to leave. But did not as I was not ruining my evening for no one. The evening ended up being wonderful. My son thanked me ... he and the groom were happy I was there, they didn't mind my dress or me being late. Mrs H was a pain tonight, complaining about her help, wanting me to take sides. I used the complaining as a way to get out early. I made them talk to each other and then left.

My husband is working right now, calling me & complaining about everything...always complaining rarely acting ... I was miffed he had taken two days off of work to hang out with his old classmates, but refuses to take time off for my stuff...
But now I just remembered ... "this too shall pass"

I am tired , it's late and I get to referee Mrs H and her help tomorrow @ 8 am

My son Eric and I...this dress has seen 4 weddings but I like it

BOUNCE TOWN

I took the boys to Bouncetown. It's a warehouse with 3 large rooms filled with inflatable bouncy toys. Jacob and Dakota had fun. Dayton still needed Grandma Roses to go with him on the toys.

I liked the big slides best!




These tall yellow guys were great to punch!



In the snack room they had a machine that had long spouts of colored sugar that you could buy and put in long tubes. Who in their right mind would pay to sugar up a kid???

I was mean and let the kids buy water and crackers. Judging from the 100 degree temps my choice was right.

Bet they took a great nap for their mom who picked them up after I fed them lunch and let them rest in the air conditioning.