Can't believe it is December

Here it is December already.  This year is really going fast.  I think it is because I am going to retire and I have much to do before I walk out of the school on May21st.  I have accumulated many things ove the past 30 or so years. It is going to be bitter sweet.  I know I am going to miss teaching.  I will not misss how things have changed and   feel for all the new teachers who never got to experience the way teaching used to be.  I am not sure what to do with all of the "Things" I will need to get rid of when I leave.  Oh well, I'll figure it out.  I am ready for the break at Christmas to get refreshed for the rest of the year.  It really feels like December today too.  It was 18 degrees this morning.  Tino was pretty quick to take care of business and come back inside this morning.  Tonight we will take JJ to his mom and dad, pick up Amara and then go to Stillwater to see Dominic and watch OSU wrestle. It will be fun to see how Dominic and Amara play without JJ there.  JJ is  going to a Thunder game with his parents tonight.  He will have fun too.  I am running out of time to get my Christmas shopping done too.  I have bought for 2 people and have many left to buy for.  I did get my Christmas cards ordered though....I think they are gong to be really cute. 

Life's A Dance: Time flies when you are having fun!

Life's A Dance: Time flies when you are having fun!

Time flies when you are having fun!

Wow, it has been so long since I have taken the time to write a blog. I think it has something to do with facebook. I have let it take up too much of my time. I also have JJ during the week and we have been meeting twice a month in sorority this year, which I think is great. We have a meeting on the first week and then go to eat or the movies on the third week of the month. I really love being with my sorority sisters. We have 17 members now and they are great women. I have also been in Stillwater about eight different weekends this fall. I love going to Stillwater, I love OSU football, but it is so hard coming home on Sunday and then up and at school on Monday. I am glad that I have made my decision to retire in May. I know I am going to miss teaching, but it is time. It is hard on us old people keeping up with this new technology. When I a say technology, I don't just mean computers....that is easy...it is alot more than that. I think it has helped to keep me young. LOL but I feel the need to be free to travel with Mike, and not just during the hot summer months. We have so many things we want to do and places we want to see. I hope we have enough good years left to do it all. This year does seem to be going by rather quickly. Here it is almost Thanksgiving. I am sure I will miss JJ next year when he is in school in Oklahoma City. I try just to enjoy the time we have. Well, I will try to go back and blog about specific things that have happened this fall at a later time... and add some pics. Take care all.

JJ's First Day of School

JJ came to Anadarko to stay with Bop and GiGi to go to Pre-K. His teacher is Alicia Humble Glidewell. She graduated high school with his mom, Amanda. JJ woke up on his own for the first day. He was ready to go to school. He was probably most excited about riding the bus from his school up to GiGi's school. It is about 1/4 of a mile from his school to mine. Amanda came down and took him to school the first morning. She stayed around to pick him up at my school. She surprised him with a Spiderman balloon and cupcakes. He had a great day. After getting off the bus he said"That was the best day of school ever, GiGi". It is great for him to start with a wonderful attitude like that.

On Friday, Bop to him to school. He had a second great day and again rode the bus to my school and then Bop picked him up to take him for a snowcone. We then took off for OKC to go to the Red Hawks game with Amanda, Amara, Krista, and Dominic. We all had a great ti me. He went home with his mom. Great first week.

JJ's First Day of Pre-K. Aug. 13, 2009

Searching...Searching....Searching

Mike's uncle, Kenny McComas, asked me two years ago to go to Ellis Island next time Mike and I were in NYC and see if we could find Mike's Great, Great Grandmother on the books because she came to the United States from Denmark. She did, but she came before 1892. Those who came before 1892 came through Battery Park. Mike and I still went to Ellis Island and still looked for her. We talked to a lady there and she told me what web site to go to and I should be able to locate her there. Let me tell you, many people came through New York City those days, many with the last name Jenson and or Jensen. Marion was supposed to be her real name, but she was called Mattie. It has proven to be very hard to figure out this family because there are many men with the name Jens Jensen. Many changed their names when they got here and there are other problems in tracing this family.

Now, Mike wants to kill Kenny because I have spent many, many hours, days, weeks maybe on tracing all the families that my children belong to. I have researched the McComas, Jensen, Starkey, Strever, Willis, Schaefer, Deason, Rogers, Morgan, Wilkinson, Coffman, Davis, and I think there are a couple of others that I can not think of at this moment. My eyes are so tired and my brain is getting that way. There are three families that I am not having much luck with. This has proven to be an addiction. I can not stand to look for something and not find what I am looking for. I may not be cut out for this. I tends to keep me up late at night. At some point I am going to have to just stop and be happy with what I have because it is consuming much of my time that I need to be spending on other things. I am happy to be able to pass this information on to Krista and Amanda as well as any other family members who are interested. One family on my Great Grandfather Wilkinsons family tree goes all the way back to 1330 in England. The last name on the list is Thomas Mede. Mead, Meade, are two other spellings for the name in the tree. This is also true of other family names. There are many different spellings of last names.

I should have asked more questions to more people while they were still here. My Grandfather Deason had a cousin named Willie who traced the Deason family many years ago before computers. I have an new found admiration for her. I can't imagine how many years she spent putting together the information that she did. I am happy to say that my girls will at least know the names of all of their Great, Great, Great Grandparents names and where they came from. The McComas family goes back to Scotland, the Jensen family goes back to Denmark, the Strever family goes back to France and the other part from the Netherlands, the Starkey family goes back to Wales, the Deason family also goes back to Scotland, the Morgan family goes back to England, The Wilkinson family goes back to Ireland and England, the Schaefer family goes back to Germany, there is more, but I can't think at this point. Anyway, my children are from Europe....I have to say it has been very interesting doing this. I hope Krista and Amanda find it an interesting read someday. We will be able to tell their children where they came from.

Enough said tonight. I will try to give more background as I find it. I have a couple of stories to tell about that I need to sit down with pencil and paper first before I put them on here. The things that I remember my granny telling me. I was only 19 when she died but I did listen to her tell me stories...I hope I can remember some of them. I don't want this history to be lost. My girls have been at a disadvantage because their grandparents died so young. Thank goodness Lucille is still here so they do have one great grandmother.

Life's A Dance: Little Lady bug turns one.

Life's A Dance: Little Lady bug turns one.

Little Lady bug turns one.

Today is Friday, July 17, 2009. Amara is one year old today. She is our little lady bug. We love her so much. She has been walking for about 2 months. She loves her brother, JJ, and calls his name all the time. We are having her birthday party tomorrow at her house in OKC. She has eyes that are going to drive the boys crazy. She likes to make faces and noises. Andrea took pictures of her so we could send out announcements about her turning one. We had a great time taking the pics. We changed her clothes five times. It took two different times to get them done, but we did it. Amara is a sweetheart and she even likes me. She follows me around as close as possible when her mom isn't here with her. She is starting to warm up to her Bop. She so has him wrapped around her little finger.

Summer 2009

Oh my, I have been so busy since school was out that I have not written anything. This is supposed to be when I have time to write. JJ is playing T-ball every Tues. night. Mike and I went on a trip...that is an understatement. We flew to NYC on June 18, rented a car and started driving. We drove to New Haven, CT that night. Next morning we drove to northern CT. to see Becky Brewer. After a visit with her we drove SE to Newport, RI. The next day we drove through Mass. and NH on to Maine. We spent the night at Kennybunkport, Maine. Then the next day back to Boston, Mass. We were there 2 days. Then we drove NW through Mass, up into NH and over into VT, then back south through CT. to NYC. All this took us 5 days. We then stayed 9 days in NYC. We did things we have done before and we also did some things we had never done on earlier trips. This time we went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We looked up family at Ellis Island, but they came to the US 12 years before they used Ellis Island for that purpose. We did find where they had come into NY through Battery Park. This was Mike's Great, Great Grandmother as a girl came to NYC on a boat from Europe. She was from Denmark. She came on June 21, 1880. Mattie Jenson. Her real name is Marion. We also went to the top of Rockefeller Center to the Top of the Rock. We went to the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field which is the Mets new ball park. We even watched the Mets play the Yankees. We had a great vacation. We did not come home until July 2, 2009. I think this may have been our best vacation ever. We just had a great time.

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. We are going to OKC to meet up with the kiddos. Mike and I went to the cemetery and put out the flowers this morning. I waited until today, because the last two years we have had winds the night before and everything would blow to the fence. No wind this year. We put out flowers at Ryan's grave, the Deasons plot and the McVicker plot. Vicki can't get here because she takes care of Jessie. We will play with the kids and eat and just find things to do that the kids like. They are really starting to be fun. Even Amara who is walking now is getting in on the fun. We will remember our loved ones and be thankful for those of us who are still here. We survived the tornado on May 13 and now today 12 days later, life goes on. We really are blessed. I love my grandkids.

35 Years

Today Mike and I have been married for 35 years. It is hard to believe it has been that long. Ryan would be 33 years old. He has been gone 12 years now. That too is hard to believe. I will take things to the cemetary tomorrow. The weather in Oklahoma dictates that. Krista is 29 and Amanda is still 27 until July. Mike has worked 7, 12 hour days this week, but he still wants to take me out tonight. He still loves me. As Mike says our life has not been dull. We are still friends too. This will be short because we are getting ready to leave. School is out and I will add more soon. The last month has been hard so that is why no posts.

What a week

This will be short and sweet. The week has gone by quickly. It was a pretty good week, but Wed. night my eyes began to burn and then Thursday morning when I woke up my eyes were matted. PINK EYE. I got some medicine and now on Friday they are better. I just seem to flat out have a spring cold. JJ had called me on Wed. and asked to come to GiGi's house after school on Thursday. Because of my eyes I did not get to go get him and bring him to my house. I hope he wasn't too disappointed. I was. I was really looking forward to spending some time with him. Easter was the last time we were together. He is such a sweetie. We got to see Dominic last weekend. Dominic too has an eye infection. Maybe we all got it at the same place the same time. Who knows. I hope to see JJ and Amara this weekend. Hope I feel well enough to be around them. Don't won't to give them what I have. See you all later. I'll post more later.

Opera

Friday after school Mike and I drove to Stillwater. We were on our way to a benefit music recital for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Kevin Short a world known opera singer/wrestler agreed to a recital to raise money for the special projects they do at the museum. This year it was "Wrestling and the Military". He was a Bass/Baritone singer. It was a wonderful concert. The people who had the opportunity to come and didn't missed a great performance. He sang "Ole Man River" as good as I have ever heard it sang. He wrestled for Morgan University in college until he decided to concentrate on his music. He graduated from Julliard School of Music in 1989. He sang at the Olympics in Japan. He sings in operas all over Europe. He plans to come back next year and raise money again. It was something everyone who likes music would enjoy. He sang in English.

We very much enjoyed our weekend with Dominic and his parents. Saturday morning we went to the Arts Festival in Couch Park. Dominic and Bop walked around and enjoyed the history exhibits while Krista and I looked at the jewelry. There was a man riding a bull, horses for the kids to ride and many other people dress up like pioneers. It was cool and damp but we still had a good time. There was music for Dominic to dance to. He was so tired when we left that 2 min. after we got in the car he was asleep. He slept through the shoe store. Mike was the only one to buy anything. He finally got a new pair of sandals. I wasn't like he needed them. He has worn the last pair for about three years.

Saturday night was fun. We played on the Wii again. This time it was Rock Star though, and raced Mario Brother cars. Wes played the guitar and Krista, Mike and I took turns playing the drums. Krista and I were also singers. We aren't that good but we had fun. Dominic was doing everything. We had a fun day. Dominic has learned to say O S U. He said it all over the pet store Saturday night. We found the perfect place to take Dominic to eat. Buffalo Wild Wings, it's loud, and they have a TV on sports. He can be as loud as he wants and watch sports too.

Sunday morning I made biscuits and sausage gravy for all of us. Then it was time for us to come home. I think we all had a good time, but were ready to rest for a little while before we had to go back to work on Monday. We will miss Dominic, but hopefully get to see him again soon.

Life's A Dance: Easter 2009

Life's A Dance: Easter 2009

Easter 2009

 
Yesterday was Easter. We had a very large family get together at my brother David's house. Amanda, JJ, Amara, Krista, Wes, Dominic, Merv, Sue, and myself went to church at South Yukon Church of Christ. It was a little tricky since all roads but one are closed to get there. I only got lost for about 30 min. We all made it though and had a good lesson while we were there. We all went to David's in a caravan after church. Merv's children and grandchildren did not get to come, we missed them. Hope they can come back next year. David's two boys and their children were there. Barbara's sister and her children and grandchildren were also there and then some of Brian and Kenny's extended family were also there. Paul, his wife and youngest child came. He is Barbara and David's foster son. We had tons of food and the kids had a great time, even though they had to stay inside because of the rain. It helps that D&B have a 5,000 square foot house. We each bring something for the kids easter baskets and then David puts money in the eggs that they hunt. The grown children, ages 15-38, play Deal or No Deal with David. The grand prize is $50.00. Brian won again. Everyone gets at least a dollar. JJ and Phobe became great friends. Amara had a wonderful time. Dominic was having a hard day especially when he and JJ were playing and he got a bloody nose. He loved the easter pails and eggs and did not want to give his up. We recycle the buckets and eggs every year.

My three grandkids were dressed alike. JJ and Dominic had matching shirts and Amara had a dress with the same color in it. They all looked so cute. There is a picture here of the three of them. Dominic was being camera shy, but I still got a pretty good picture of them. It was a long day, but I love being with my family. I think everyone had a great time.

The boys!!

JJ and Dominic love to go with GiGi to OSU sports. Here they are at an OSU wrestling match. They also go with me to the OSU football games and we have even managed a few basketball games too. Bop likes to take the boys to baseball and softball games. They love to go to tailgates in the fall to run and play with whatever kids are there. Pistol Pete is one of there favorites too. These two love each other and each wants to do what the other one does. If one is in GiGi's lap they both want there. They love to wrestle and rough house. Dominic is 2 years 8 months younger than JJ, but he thinks he is just as big. I hope they will always be great friends.

The kids!

My kids and their families. Krista and Wes with Dominic. Amanda with JJ and Amara. This picture was taken at my brother David's house. We had most of our family there. I think Mom would like the fact that we still try to get together as a family as much as we can. She would really be surprised at how many great-grandchildren she has. I think she has 13 if I count correctly. She would love to see all of the kids playing, opening presents at Christmas and hunting eggs at Easter. She always helped the kids color eggs. They have so many good memories of her. She was probably the best grandmother ever put on this earth. She had 9 grandchildren and she was able to make all of them feel special. We could all take lessons from her on how to be a grandparent. More about Mom on another date. I am going to try to create a blog about each one of my children's realtives that I can tell them about. I hope I come up with the correct information.

Monday, Monday....

I arrived at school this morning at 7:15. I walked out the door tonight at 5:50. This was a very long day, especially since I came home and cooked after that. I was gone last Friday. It is so hard when you are gone. I spend 2 to 3 hours getting ready to be gone and then I spend another 2-3 hours the day I come back trying to get caught back up. Papers to grade, grades to post, getting ready for the next day. It just seems like there is so much to do that I never get caught up much less ahead. I also figured out that I need to re-teach at least one lesson too. We have CRT's this Friday. We will be testing most of the day. We can only hope that the students will do their best and try their hardest. They will do fine, if they do that. We have certainly covered a lot of material. It is a good thing I like what I do. I think that is enough about school today. I can't wait till this weekend when the kids get to hunt easter eggs. They always have soo much fun. Amara is going to wish she could walk. She might try to crawl for the eggs, now that would be funny. Dominic will have more fun this year, and I am sure JJ is going to find more than last year. He found more than his share last year. It is really fun watching 20 kids or so look for eggs in David's back yard. Everyone has a good time, even the adults. I will just keep thinking about the egg hunt and that will make this week go more smoothly. Today was really cold and tonight is going to be even colder. Tomorrow is still going to be cold, but I think it will warm up in the afternoon. I surely hope so. I am really ready for some warm weather.

Life's A Dance

Life's A Dance

Saturday Morning

We have seven more weeks of school. This has been quite a year. There were times I wasn't sure I would make it to the end. Now, it sort of seems all down hill. Teaching in 2009 is sure different than it was in 1979. Some changes are for the better and some I am not so sure about. We don't have control over that though. I still love teaching and trying to help children. That is why I continue to teach. I do enjoy my weekends though. You have to have a break so you can re-fuel for the next week. I hope that I have been able to make a difference to at least some of my students over the years. Yesterday I went to the Oklahoma State Geography Bee. Some of these young students are so knowledgable. There were many questions they answered that the average person would never know the answer to. There were many questions that geography teachers didn't know the answers to. It covers much more than just location of places. It covers currency used, crops grown, current events, population, bridges built in certain countries. WOW was I impressed.

Grandchildren are a gift from God.

Amara is our only sweet little girl, but guess what, she is going to give those boys a run for their money. She can hold her own with the two of them. Dominic was trying to wrestle her the other day and she just rolled with the punches. She is crawling everywhere. She is pulling up and it will not be long before she walks. She thinks she is much older than she is. She wants to eat whaterver every one else is eating and thinks she can drink out of a big cup. Amanda is Mom to JJ and Amara. They look very much alike. Amara worships her big brother. He can make her laugh louder than anyone else can. She is a little angel to us. She has not been here very long but she has all of us under her spell. She's our lady bug, sweet little miss.

Grandchildren are a gift from God.

This is Dominic. He was born October 29, 2007. He is a little charmer. He almost always has a big smile on his face. Everyone at his daycare says he smiles more than any child they have ever seen. Dominic is our second grandchild. Krista and Wes are his parents. Dominic is built just like his Bop. He really likes to be held, hugged and kissed. When he first started to talk you could not understand a thing he said, but he said the same thing every time when talking about whatever is was he was trying to say. He knew, we didn't. Now he is talking and he almost always says several words at a time. One of his very first words was Gi Gi and JJ. I think he likes us the best. I can think that if I want to. He also loves at go to the sports activities. He also can say Pete when he sees Pistol Pete. He has the bluest eyes. You can get lost in them. He is going to break some girls heart some day. He is quite a sweetie pie.

Grandchildren are a gift from God.

This is "JJ" James Rogers Jr. He is my oldest grandchild. He is so full of life. JJ has a smile that just melts your heart. Everyone who sees him thinks he should be a model. He calls me GiGi and Mike is Bop. Our own children were and still are precious to us, but our Grandchildren are the numero uno. I did not realize that I could love someone this much. He is just so cute and cuddly and he gives his love so unconditionally. JJ's birthday is on St. Patricks Day. I think that is ironic since his great-grandfather's name was Patrick. JJ reminds us so much of his Uncle Ryan. He wants to be busy all the time and he loves just about every sport that he watches. The plan is for him to play T-ball this spring. It will be his first organized sport. JJ is four years old now. He is growing up to be a fine young man.

Sleep

I should be in bed. I do have trouble sleeping. I hope my students are good tomorrow. It is so much better when they come ready to learn. Maybe tomorrow, or should I say today, will be a good day. Mike is going to see JJ. He gets to do that in the middle of the week. Shift work does have some advantages. He doesn't go back to work until Thursday night.

First Blog

I have never done this before. I like to write, so maybe I will put pen to paper (key to laptop) and try to put some thoughts down. I have tried to write before, but found it hard to keep up with a journal. I have even considered children's books. I am best at short stories or essays. I'm a little apprehensive about someone else reading what I write.

I turned 55 about a month ago. I don't know why I would worry about someone else reading this. I have been married to Mike McComas for 35 years this May. Mike and I had three wonderful children born to our marriage. Ryan was born in 1975. Krista in 1980 and Amanda in 1981. Each one is unique and each one is very special to us. Ryan left this earth on January 14, 1997. He was 21 years, 4 months and 11 days old. Krista and Amanda are still with us and have added to our family. JJ (James) was born in 2005, Dominic in 2007 and Amara 2008.

I have wished time and again that I had asked my great-grandmothers, grandparents and even my parents more questions. I wish they had written more things down. I wish I knew more about my family. For that reason I plan to write down more things for my grandchildren so they will know where they came from, who they are, history wise. I will take my friend Ted as an example. Hope you don't mind. I will try to go back and write the history as I remember it. I will also try to keep up with what is happening in the here and now.