Mooney's 7 Js

Thinking of Jeremy

2011-06-28T22:25:00.000-06:00

It's been 32 years since that day that we went to the Holy Cross Hospital and met Jeremy John for the first time.

I was thinking of him today. I think of him often, but today was a special day because it was his 32nd birthday.

I wonder what his path in life would have been if he had walked a little farther.

Would he have been mischievous? He looked like he would have been a lot of fun. His smile made you melt. He would have had his mama wrapped around his little finger, with that smile.

Would he have enjoyed Sunday school like his big brothers did? There were lots of kids his age in our church.

Would he have been a good student in school?

Would he have graduated from Western Christian like his brothers and sister did?

Would he have married his high school sweetheart?

Would he have children by now. Would we be grandma and grandpa to more precious grandchildren?

No matter. What might have been, is not.

What is, is the knowledge that he is in the presence of the Lord. That he is loved, more than even we could love him. And that one day we will meet again.

But still we miss him. And still we think of him, and wonder.

ENGLISH ?

2011-02-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning up some files today and came across this. I don't know who wrote it...but it is somewhat interesting...and thought provoking...and maybe even just a touch amusing.

Maybe it was Andy Rooney from 60 Minutes. It sounds kinda like something he would write.

Have a read.

If you enjoyed it, leave a comment. If you didn't enjoy it, lighten UP!

You think English is easy???

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce.

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language!

There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.

English muffins weren't invented in England or French Fries in France ..

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why when the stars are out they are visible but when the lights are out they are invisible.

PS. - Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' ?

You lovers of the English language might enjoy this...

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP'.

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report ?

We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP! When is rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.

When is doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so........it is time to shut UP!

Oh . . . one more thing:

What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U-P!

WE REMEMBER...WE ALWAYS WILL...

2010-11-09T16:55:00.000-07:00

November 9, 1979 - Rochester, Minnesota

Jeremy John Mooney

Budded on Earth to bloom in Heaven

She would be 100!

2010-08-15T22:20:00.000-06:00

Clarice (Hurlburt) Mooney

Today, August 15, 2010 would have been my mother's 100th birthday.

She was a good woman and a wonderful mother.

I wish I could give her a call, as I always did on Sunday evening. I'd wish her a Happy Birthday and tell her that I appreciate her more every day. It seems that you have to age and mature, (grow up) and experience some of the things that she experienced as she took her journey through this life, before you can truly understand what a precious gift you have been given, and what an incredible loss you have experienced.

Happy Birthday and thank you Mom!

I love you.

I miss you.

If you would like to know more about this wonderful woman please go to my older posts and read about her life as expressed last September on the tenth anniversary of her graduation to her new life eternal!

Jeremy John

2010-06-28T23:36:00.000-06:00

The song in my heart today has been a melancholy song. A song of yearning. Yearning for something that is just out of reach. It has been a sad day.

Grandpa Jack's Meaty Slow Cooker Stew Recipe

2010-06-03T10:29:00.000-06:00

Grandpa Jack’s Meaty Slow Cooker Stew

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 potatoes, cut into small chunks (I wash them and leave the skins on)

• 1 or 2 onions, skinned and cut into chunks

• Lots of white button mushrooms, sliced (or whole if they’re small)

• 2 – 3 sticks celery, washed and chopped

• 3 – 4 carrots, washed and sliced into chunks

• 1½ - 2 pounds (or maybe even a little more) lean stewing meat, cut into chunks

• Green pepper, sliced and cut into chunks

• 2 cups (500 ml) beef stock

• 2 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

• 2 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 tsp (5 ml) dried marjoram

• black pepper to taste (lots of pepper, lots of taste)

• olive oil for sautéing the meat (if you choose to sauté the meat)

• flour

• 2 cups frozen peas

• 2 cups frozen corn

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Prepare and place the vegetables into the slow cooker.

• Dredge the meat chunks in flour and then sauté in olive oil in batches till browned.

Or

• Add the meat chunks raw and add a little flour to the stew to thicken the juice.

• Add the stew meat to the vegetables, add the herbs and spices and mix well.

• Finally add the beef stock, the Worcestershire sauce and the soy sauce.

• Give the mixture a good stir and then cover the pot securely with aluminum foil before putting on the lid.

• This tight seal ensures the maximum flavour!

• Cook on high setting for 45 minutes and then reduce to the low setting for about six to eight hours, (hey, it’s a slow cooker!!) adding the peas and the corn for the final 30 minutes of cooking.

• This is an excellent recipe using Beef, but it is equally good for wild meat like Antelope, Deer, Elk and Moose.

It's like someone read my mind...

2010-05-29T14:33:00.000-06:00

Yeah...surprise, surprise. Haven't been motivated to share anything for almost a year. Just don't have a lot to say.

This isn't original. I received it in an e-mail from an old friend and thought you might enjoy it, as I did.

Thanks my friend.

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the !*%#! are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? xxxx it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste!

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

29. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey -but I'll bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

30. My check engine light has been on for three months now and nothing's happened. I'm starting to think that my car is just an attention whore.

31. I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

32. Sometimes I pretend not to remember details about people because having a good memory apparently equates to creepiness.

33. My GPS says "Estimated Arrival Time." I see "Time to Beat."

34. Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

35. My keyboard needs a removable crumb tray like my toaster.

36. What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

37. I wish it were appropriate to say to a complete stranger, "Excuse me, would you like me to show you how to discipline your child?"

38. I never understood why the Lions and Cowboys always get to play on Thanksgiving. Shouldn't the Patriots play the Redskins, and then steal their stadium afterwords?

39. Double-Stuffed Oreos should just be called Oreos, and regular Oreos should be called Diet Oreos.

Still Water?

2010-02-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard the old statement "Still water runs deep." Sometimes it's true. But sometimes...sometimes...still water is no more than a stagnant puddle. At least...that's the way I see it.

Mom

2009-09-20T16:58:00.002-06:00

It was 10 years ago today, September 20, 1999 that my mother graduated from this life and went on to meet her Lord. She was an excellent mother. I think of her often, remember her fondly and miss her dearly.

Mom

December 26, 1996

One of the treasures I have from my mother, and actually I think it was originally her mother's, is a small framed picture that hung in her dining room and now hangs in my office. The painted glass picture has the following poem inset within it.

Mother

To one who bears the

sweetest name,

And adds a lustre to the same,

Who shares my joys,

who cheers when sad--

The greatest friend I ever had!

Long life to her,

for there's no other

Could take the place

of my dear Mother.

I remember the days preceding her death. We, my sisters and I, had been made aware that she was approaching the end and we were together in her palliative care room in the Radville nursing home. We sat around her bed, together as her family. We laughed, we cried, we reminisced and sang songs. We weren't sure she was completely aware of all of us there until we sang one of her favourite songs "You Are My Sunshine". I remember watching her feet moving to keep time to the rhythm of the song. She loved that song. I still get misty eyed whenever I hear it and am drawn back to that day.

I am proud of my mom. She had a tremendous influence on my life, the lives of my sisters and their families, the lives of my children and the myriad of other children that she taught in her career as a first grade teacher.

I'd like you to know a little bit about my mom. So today I want to include the eulogy that I gave at her funeral on September 25, 1999.

I want to introduce to you, my mom.

...................................................................................................

CLARICE HELEN MOONEY

August 15, 1910 - September 20, 1999

It is difficult to encapsulate a life that spanned 89 years 1 month and 5 days in just a few minutes.

This woman, my mother lived through two world wars. She witnessed incredible change throughout her lifetime. She saw the world develope from the horse & buggy to the man on the moon. From the first primitive flight to the Space Shuttle. From the Model T to the Sports Utility Vehicle. From the wood stove to the microwave. From splitting wood to splitting the atom. From the ink well to E-Mail. From the coal oil lamp to electricity. From that cold path in the dark to indoor plumbing.

It’s impossible to cover all of the significant events of her life but I want to share with you some of her history…some of her experience…some of her life.

Birth:

Clarice Helen Mooney was born Clarice Hurlburt at Ramona, South Dakota on August 15, 1910 to parents Frank and Lottie (York) Hurlburt.

Parents:

Frank Hurlburt was the son of Elisha Hurlburt and Eunice (Harroun) Hurlburt of Broadhead, Wisconsin.

Lottie (York) Hurlburt was the daughter of Christopher Columbus York and Arena (Curtis) York of Richland, Missouri.

Siblings:

Clarice was born the third of five children.

Two older brothers:

Alvin Frank: born March 13, 1905 at Ramona, South Dakota

married Lillian Dahl

passed from this life January 19, 1986 at the age of 81 years

Roy Elmer: born January 28, 1908 at Ramona, South Dakota

never married

passed from this life May 20, 1953 at the age of 45 years

One younger brother:

Harold Clifton: born October 7, 1912 at Ramona, South Dakota

married Velva Frymire

passed from this life December 2, 1998 at the age of 86 years

One younger sister:

Ione Muriel: born December 2, 1922 at Radville, Saskatchewan

married Art Thue

residing in Radville, Saskatchewan

Immigration to Canada:

In 1912 the lure of inexpensive homestead land in Canada prompted Frank Hurlburt to sell his land in South Dakota. In the summer of 1912 Frank Hurlburt and Roy Levee came to Canada seeking land to homestead. In the spring of 1913 when mom was just 2 ½ years old, Frank, Allen, Floyd and Ralph Hurlburt along with Roy Levee moved themselves, their families and their possessions by railroad and then horse and wagon to homestead land near Radville, Saskatchewan. The Frank Hurlburt family homesteaded about 12 miles south of Radville in the Soda Lake area.

Education:

Mom started school at Soda Lake School, which was about a mile west of the family homestead. She attended school there until grade 4 when her family moved to Radville to get better schooling for her and her brothers.

Upon completing high school in Radville mom attended Normal School in Regina in 1929-30. Apparently Normal School was a training school for teachers. I remember mom talking about her days at Normal school on many occasions. I recall wondering as a child how they could call anything to do with teachers “NORMAL”.

Early Life Friendships:

During her early adult years mom developed friendships with some very special people. Mother would tell stories of adventures and names of dear friends would come out. Names of friends like her life long friend Lillian Torkelson. Signa (Jelsing) McLeod, Lavina (Jelsing) Bailey, Cecil Bailey, Wilfred Orr, Manley Jacobs and J.C. Bailey.

Starting a career in education:

Mom acquired her first teaching school in the Buffalo Valley School District near Brooking in 1931. Her salary for her first year teaching was $600.00 per year. Room and board was $20.00 per month. She taught at that school for three years from 1931 to 1934.

Mom next taught one term at Gibson Creek School just west of Brooking. From there she taught two years at Blooming School District midway between Lake Alma and Gladmar. It was the “HUNGRY THIRTIES” and her salary had decreased to $350.00 per year which included doing the janitorial work at the school.

I remember mom telling of rising at 6:00 AM, before sunrise, walking for a mile or more through snow that was knee deep…..uphill…both ways…no matter the weather, to get to school. She would enter the cold dark school…feel her way down into the basement to the furnace and start a coal fire so that the school was warm for the arrival of the students.

During her two years at Blooming my mother never received a pay cheque and when she left teaching at Blooming the school district owed her $580.00.

Meeting a mate:

During her early teaching career, at her first teaching school in Brooking, mom met a young Irishman named John Mooney. John had immigrated to Canada from Ireland with his parents James and Agnes Mooney at the age of 6 months. John lived with his parents in Brooking, SK and worked for the Canadian National Railway.

Courtship:

It was the depression and thoughts of marriage were tempered with economic concerns. John Mooney and Clarice Hurlburt went steady for about six years and were engaged at Christmas 1936

Marriage:

Mom and dad were married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at her parents farm south of Radville on June 30, 1937. The fact that the date coincided with the end of the school year may or may not have been significant.

Family Development:

The newlyweds made their home in Brooking for the next six years. They were blessed with their first child, a daughter Marilynn Carole in November, 1938. For those of you who must count…that’s about a year and a half. Old habits die hard for school teachers so they scheduled the arrival of their second daughter Janice Ione for June 29, 1940. Next came daughter number 3, Faye Janelle in October 1942; daughter number 4, Gayle Maridee in August 1943 and daughter number 5 Sheila Lynn in June 1945. That’s an amazing 5 girls in under 7 years. This completed their family…or so they thought. Mom and dad took in a little 9 month old boy, Michael as a foster child in April 1952. Now the family appeared to be complete….but I stand here today as living proof that accidents happen. I was born in March 1953. My parents also took in foster children and cared for five or six children for various lengths of time until they were placed in adoptive homes.

Residence Changes:

During these years the family left Brooking in 1943 to move to Spring Valley and then on to Goodwater in 1945. In October 1953 my dad, John Mooney became the section foreman for the Canadian National Railway at Radville so the family moved from Goodwater to live in the section house in Radville.

Death of Spouse:

In the fall of 1957 there was a worldwide Asian flu pandemic (H2N2). My father contracted the Asian flu. He was unable to obtain leave from his duties with the Canadian National Railway and his flu deteriorated into viral pneumonia. Dad died on October 24, 1957 at the age of 47 years, leaving mom with 6 children and a crisis. Mom was forced to add to her responsibilities of mother and homemaker the new roles of sole parent and breadwinner. She was forced to pack up her family and vacate the section house within weeks of my father’s death. She had no money and nowhere to go. Fortunately she was able to move in with her mother.

I was fairly young, just 4 years old when this happened. I do, however remember the strength of my mother. I can’t remember ever seeing her cry. I can’t recall ever hearing her whine or feel sorry for herself or ask why this had happened to her. She just looked forward and found a way to succeed.

Second Career:

Mom had been away from teaching in the classroom for over twenty years. Her confidence was low but she new she had a family to provide for so she approached the School Unit and accepted a position teaching at Gladmar in the spring of 1958.

She then took a 6 week refresher course in the summer of 1958 to get her teaching certificate renewed.

In the fall of 1958 Mom went back to her original one room school in Brooking where she taught grades 1 through 8 and a little bit of kindergarten as well as I attended school with her every day as a four year old. At the end of that school year Superintendent of schools, Chester Teal convinced her to accept the position of grade one teacher in the Radville Public School for the fall of 1959. Mom remained in that position until she retired from teaching in June 1974.

I remember those days well. Mom would get up early and get ready for school then leave so she could get to school early, before 8:00 AM to make sure everything was ready for the school day ahead. Mom would then stay long after the last student, teacher or janitor had left the building, preparing for the next school day. I remember well that old three story red brick school in Radville. I can picture the doors and the wide wooden stairway and banisters to the second floor. Mom’s room was just to the left as you came in the front doors. I can still see her big oak desk at the front of the room, the blackboards with the alphabet in large and small letters. The pictures and phonix props hanging around the room, and the sandbox on the table at the back of the room.

I can remember cold winter days when mom would read to her class during the lunch hour about Br’ere Fox and Br’ere Bear. I can remember the silence in the room as she captivated the children with her ability to bring the story to life.

Mom was dedicated to her job and loved to teach first graders. She always made learning interesting and fun. I’m sure she instilled a love of learning in the lives of many young children. I know she earned the respect and praise of her peers and her superintendent Ches Teal. This fact was brought out vividly in a speech filled with praise and admiration given by Ches’ wife, Jo Teal at mom’s 80th birthday party.

Retirement:

Mom retired from teaching in June 1974. She spent the next 20 years of her life involved with the Rebecca’s service club, the Radville Senior Citizens Club and travelling. She took up many crafts and activities and even played in a kazoo band with other members of the senior citizens club. She loved to quilt and spent countless hours at the club quilting. During these years she developed close friendships with a few people but two names in particular kept coming up in our conversations. Amelia Bourassa and Evelyn Crone were two of her closest friends in Radville in her retirement years.

Travel:

Mom traveled extensively with her friend Lillian Torkelson. She visited every province and territory in Canada. She visited Hawaii, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Great Britain and Europe.

Residence Changes:

Mom lived alone in her own house in Radville which her father built and her parents lived in until their deaths, her father Frank on November 25, 1955 and her mother Lottie on August 3, 1977.

Mom moved to an apartment in Imperial Plaza in Weyburn in 1995. She lived alone but was cared for daily by her youngest daughter Sheila and visited regularly by her life long friend Lillian Torkelson.

Over the next 3 years mom’s health progressively deteriorated until she was forced to give up her apartment and take up residence in the Radville Marian Home in August 1998.

Mom appreciated the care she received in the Radville Marian Home. She would always say that they treated her “So Good, she felt like a princess.”

Mom’s short-term memory started to weaken in the last couple years of her life. I remember sitting at her bedside and asking her what was new…and she struggled to remember…. but just mention something from her days as a young adult….one of her experiences with her friends and she would perk up and tell a story that often would start …” Oh yes, Lillian and I “ …. Or maybe “ Oh, that Cecil Bailey, was such a tease.

Ask her a question about dad, or the girls, or her teaching days and you were set with conversation for hours.

Mom passed from this life on Monday September 20, 1999 in the room next to the room her husband had died in 42 years earlier.

And so here we are, gathered today to remember this woman. To honour her for her love and dedication to her family and her service to her community. To wish her a fond farewell and to congratulate her for a job well done and a life well lived.

Farewell mom, til we meet again.

...................................................................................................

Part II - Well Known Proverbs

2009-09-19T16:01:00.057-06:00

Well, even though only one person, (my daughter-in-law Brandi) made the effort to comment on Part I, I suppose I should just accept the fear that readers have of admitting that they visited and give you Part II.

Here are those beginnings of those same "well known proverbs" from Part I. How did you do in filling in the blanks?

A first grade teacher collected them and gave each in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading these keep in mind that these are first graders..."6" year olds, because the last one is classic.

Better to be safe than...punch a 5th grader.
Strike while the...bug is close.
It's always darkest before...Daylight Saving Time.
Never underestimate the power of...termites.
You can lead a horse to water but...how?
Don't bite the hand that...looks dirty.
No news is...impossible.
A miss is a good as a...Mr.
You can't teach an old dog new...math.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll...stink in the morning.
Love all, trust...me.
The pen is mightier than the...pigs.
An idle mind is...the best way to relax.
Where there's smoke there's...pollution.
Happy the bride who...gets all the presents.
A penny saved is...not much.
Two's company, three's...the Musketeers.
Don't put off till tomorrow what...you put on to go to bed.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and...you have to blow your nose.
There are none so blind as...Stevie Wonder.
Children should be seen and not...spanked or grounded.
If at first you don't succeed...get new batteries.
You get out of something only what you...see in the picture on the box.
When the blind leadeth the blind...get out of the way.
Better late than...pregnant!!!

Hope you enjoyed them.

Part I - Well Known Proverbs

2009-09-17T13:23:00.001-06:00

I am feeling a bit nostalgic. I remember well many of the sayings that I heard as a child from my mother and my grandmother. Let's have some fun and see if you have ever heard these sayings.

Here are some "well known proverbs"...well, more accurately here are the beginnings of some "well known proverbs". Fill in the blanks.

In Part II (could be later today, tomorrow or after sufficient comments are contributed by readers of this blog) I will give you the answers from a group of first graders...stay tuned. (Y'all come back now...ya'here)

Better to be safe than ________.
Strike while the ____________.
It's always darkest before _______.
Never underestimate the power of _______.
You can lead a horse to water but _______.
Don't bite the hand that ________.
No news is _________.
A miss is a good as a _________.
You can't teach an old dog ______.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll _______.
Love all, trust ________.
The pen is mightier than the _________.
An idle mind is _________.
Where there's smoke there's ________.
Happy the bride who _________.
A penny saved is ___________.
Two's company, three's ________.
Don't put off till tomorrow what _______.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and _____.
There are none so blind as _______.
Children should be seen and not _______.
If at first you don't succeed ______.
You get out of something only what you ______.
When the blind leadeth the blind _______.
Better late than _________.

Heart Swelled with Pride

2009-09-08T13:21:00.002-06:00

Well folks...at long last, here is my little girls wedding.
.

Of course this is the prep...the night before.
.

And early the morning of...somebody looks happy...which is peculiar at this time of the day for this little girl.

Mama's doing her best to get it right...through the tears.

It's coming...

Hey..did I tell you that I'm getting married today?

Oh, I hope somebody woke Kenny up this morning...

Yup...looks good mom...

Gotta look good...gotta look good...

OK...you've got the flowers....I've got the rings...now let's "Git-R-Done".

Dad was a little rushed...didn't get his suit all the way on...at least not the suspenders.

And here we are!

Hey...weren't we just here...seems like yesterday...I came down those stairs too...remember!!!

OK...I gotta remember where I'm supposed to go...man it's early...why didn't we go for an evening wedding...

I think it's this way...

Oh dear...oh dear...I can't see...

OK Maggie...we're supposed to go up to the front now.

Hold on to my hand...

He's 3, she's 2 and that's perfection!

These guys are trying to decide if they should let her out of the room...after all, she is our only little sister...

And here she comes....wow...my little girl...double wow...I've been waiting for this her whole life...and look at her...BEAUTIFUL!!!!

And there she is...my bride...and wow...I've been waiting for this my whole life...and look at her...double wow...SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!!!

One of the proudest moments of my life...

Not sure here if I should hold on to this young guys hand and make sure he knows how lucky he is or if those tears in his eyes already show me that he knows.

And there they are...together on their wedding day.

I'll just shut up now and let the pictures tell the story...

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Sonmor!!!

It's Coming...Soon!

2009-08-26T09:50:00.004-06:00

OK...my little girl got married last Friday...and I should have had a posting up by now...I know!!!

The dust is settling. The clean up is complete. The guests have left for home. I am now without excuse. I will get it done...soon. But for now here is a picture of Mr. & Mrs. Sonmor.

My grandchildren make me sick.

2009-08-13T17:07:00.003-06:00

Well that should have sparked a little fire...but before you get too outrageously angry with me, please, allow me to continue.

Here I sit ...eyes watering, nose running, throat sore, headache, sinus congestion...feel like crap warmed over...yeah...you guessed it...I have a cold.

Now there is nothing that garners less sympathy from a wife than a man who is feeling sorry for himself...especially if the self pity is the result of something as insignificant as the common cold...right? We've all heard the girls cackling about their "poor little husbands" and how "pathetic" we are when we get a "little sniffle"..."why, they should just try giving birth to a child...that would change their tunes"...right? We men may pretend to not hear that cacaphony of callous cynicism from the women...but really girls...we are sick, we are not deaf.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

I have a cold. I rarely get colds. At least up until the arrival of our grandchildren I rarely caught colds. But now that has all changed. I have had four colds already this year. And through each malady runs a consistant thread.

We made our first trip to Regina in early January to capture our coveted "granparent fix" from our children's children. The little darl'ns had coughs and runny noses. We returned home after a glorious weekend of cuddling little Mooneys and shazam...the first cold of the year. And it was a "lillipaduzer", if you get my drift. Why, it was so incredibly debilitating that I lost my voice for an entire month. The best I could do to communicate for the entire month of January was a feeble whisper. And to top it off, the entire time I was so greviously afflicted my loving wife's face sported the most gratified smile...what's with that?

Then in early May we used our eldest grandchild's third birthday as an appropriate excuse for another trek to Saskatchewan. This time those eight beautiful little eyes (four little boys - two eyes each - nothing strange here - OK) were oozing gooey secretions...and days after returning home...wham...another cold for grandpa Mooney.

Hey, I'm no dummy. I started to put two and two together and, after a well crafted statistical regression analysis, concluded that there was a 95% probability that grandpa's colds were directly correlated to cuddling little grandsons. So we employed our ingenuity and began quizzing our grandchildren's parents to determine the grandchildren's medical condition in the hopes of securing the desired cuddle time without the resulting illness time.

In mid June, after getting the all clear on the grandchildren's sniffle meters from their parents, we made another weekend excursion to Regina. This time there was no evidence of sniffles. And, upon returning home we were smug at our prowess at outsmarting the cold bug. So there it was...a strategy to get what you want (snuggles and cuddling of grandchildren) without paying the price (weeks with a chafed nose).

Then in early July grandma strayed from my well crafted strategy. Judy made a flying trip to Saskatchewan to share the weekend with her mother to celebrate Gladys' 81st birthday. She flew into Regina and just couldn't resist a good dose of grandson loving, both coming and going. Apparently there was some evidence of oozing during this visit. Grandma seemed to be immune....but she must have transported some of what was there home to me because days after her return...yup..you guessed it...kershplatt...grandpa's whimpering again....and this time I didn't even get the satisfaction of playing with those four little gaffers...how unfair is that?

So...what, you ask has that to do with my current grievous condition? It may just be a coincidence, but I was cuddling my grandsons over the past weekend. And yesterday...wham...afflicted. Hence the title to this blog posting.

Actually, come to think of it...I have two beautiful grandaughters right here in Calgary...and I cuddle them every chance I get...and I don't ever remember getting sick from either of them....hmmmmmmm...

I guess the title of this post should be "My grandsons make me sick!"

And you know what...it really is worth it.

Advice From a Retired Husband

2009-07-25T11:43:00.004-06:00

It is important for men to remember that as their wives grow older, it becomes harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping as when they were younger. When you notice this, try not to yell at them. Some women are overly sensitive, and there's nothing worse that an overly sensitive woman.

My name is Jack. Let me relate how I handled the situation with my wife, Judy. When I retired a few years ago it became necessary for Judy to get a full time job, along with her part time job, both for extra income and for the health benefits that we needed. Shortly after she started working I noticed that she was beginning to show her age.

I usually get home from the Golf Club about the same time she gets off the bus from work. Although she knows how hungry I am she almost always says she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts dinner. I don't yell at her...instead, I tell her to take her time and just wake me up when she gets my dinner on the table. I generally have lunch in the Men's Grill at the Golf Club, so going out again for dinner is not reasonable. I'm ready for some home cooked grub when I hit that door.

She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished eating. But now it's not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after dinner. I do what I can by diplomatically reminding her, (several times) each evening that they won't clean themselves. I know she really appreciates this as it does seem to motivate her to get them done before she goes to bed.

Another symptom of aging is complaining, I think. For example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour. But boys, we take 'em for better or worse, right? So I just smile and offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two or even three days. That way she won't have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn't hurt her any (if you know what I mean). I like to think tact is one of my strong points.

When doing simple jobs she seems to think she needs more rest periods. She had to take a break last Saturday morning when she was only half finished mowing the yard. I try not to make a scene. I'm a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice big cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit by me here in the shade for a while. Oh, and as long as she is making one for herself she may as well make one for me too.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Judy. I'm not saying that showing this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult if not impossible. Nobody knows better than I do how frustrating women get as they get older. However, guys...even if you just use a little more tact and less criticism of your aging wife because of this posting, I will consider that writing it was well worth while. After all, we are put on this earth to help each other, right?

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Jack died suddenly on 1 September of a perforated rectum. The police report says he was found with a Calloway extra long 50 inch Big Bertha Driver II golf club jammed up his rear end...with barely 5 inches of grip showing...and a sledge hammer nearby. His wife Judy was arrested and charged with murder. The all woman jury took only 10 minutes to find her not guilty...accepting her defence that Jack, somehow without looking, accidentally sat down on his own golf club.

OK...OK...I know that this post has generated a level of disgust among all readers...(especially you Nicola, and you Jennifer, and definately you Brandi) but just for the record...it isn't true...at least not all of it.

I received this "humorous" post in an e-mail from one of my friends, Danielle McKearney. I too felt a certain level of disgust when reading it. I also found it humourous. But honestly I felt a little bit of shame as well.

As you can probably tell the names have been changed to not protect the not so innocent.

You see, I am "retired", at least partially, and Judy is working full time...but she doesn't have a part time job...at least not yet...(feeble attempt at humour).

Judy likes the company she works for, she enjoys the people she works with, she enjoys the social interaction and the feeling of accomplishment and contribution. But, in the back of her mind she would like to be retired, and have the freedom and time to be a mama and a grandma and a wife and a friend. (Things she already accomplishes...and very well.)

And I want to stay retired (at least from punching some employer's time clock) but enjoy working full time (on a self employed basis) by using my knowledge and experience and the skills that I am very good at...and up until the last few months that is what I have done.

But, with the economic downturn the main clients that I have are struggling financially. They still have ample work that they need me to do for them but they don't have ample money to pay me for doing the work. So although I am busy, I am, for the first time in our married lives, not the main "breadwinner" in our family. This is difficult for an "old school", "conservative", "male chauvenist", "red neck", "cave dweller" like me to deal with.

You see, I get up with Judy every morning, very early. I drive Judy to work and drop her off at the door to her building every morning, as I have for the past 7 years (she doesn't take the bus). I come back to the house and get busy doing my work. I don't golf. I don't eat out at the Golf Club. I don't have a "Big Bertha" (thank goodness). And I schedule my day around being back in front of her building, on time, every afternoon to pick her up at the door and bring her home.

So far it's not too bad...

But then the story hits home...Judy gets in the door from working all day and loves to sit down and watch Dr. Phil, or Judge Judy, depending on the time. I don't have supper waiting for her. (When I was the one working outside the home she always had supper waiting for me when I got home from work). I usually go to my home office and try to finish up whatever I was working on during the day. She makes supper and lets me know when it is ready. Sometimes she even has to wake me up and let me know that supper is ready. (Shame on me)

I printed out the original e-mail from Dani and gave it to Judy to read on the way to work yesterday. She laughed...but she also cried...and that tells the story from her side...it obviously hits a little close to home for her as well...

Only a dummy wouldn't get the point...I guess I better do better...and I will.

I asked Judy to add her thoughts at the end of this posting. She said that she would make her comment as a comment...so look for Judy's perspective there.

Egg McMooney - The Perfect Breakfast

2009-07-23T09:42:00.003-06:00

Years ago...lots of years ago...I sold my 250 Can-Am motorcycle to buy my wife an Amana Radar Range. The thing was huge, and expensive (the Radar Range not the Can-Am)...and you couldn't ride it like the Can-Am...but it was the latest and the greatest new thing that was supposed to make your wife happy...(and we all know that a happy wife is a good thing)...especially for a less than perfect husband.

I didn't know much about micro wave ovens but I had seen the "Radar Range" on "The Price is Right" or some such TV show and thought that it must be the one to have.

One thing I had heard about micro wave ovens was that you couldn't cook eggs in them. Well, I was young and knew pretty much everything there was to know about pretty much everything there was to know, so I set out to show the world that you could, in fact, cook an egg in the micro wave.

After a few minor explosive events...(it's amazing how one little egg can cover so much of the inside of one of those ovens)... I experienced success. The following recipe (instructions on cooking the now world famous "Egg McMooney") is the result of my experiments.

WHAT YOU NEED: (every recipe should start with this...kinda like the "some assembly required" instructions do)

A microwave oven
A toaster
A cereal bowl (cereal bowl should be about as big around as a piece of bread...you'll see why when we get to the end)
A small plate that can cover the top of the cereal bowl without falling off (this cuts down on the cleanup of the inside of the microwave)
A cutting board
Another small plate (like your typical bread & butter plate)
A paper towel
A knife
A spoon
One large egg (raw not cooked...duh)
One slice of bacon
One mushroom (or two if one is real small)
A brick of cheddar cheese (I like "Old" but you can even use "Marble")
Salsa (I like it "HOT"...but you might not)
One slice of low fat cheese (like you would put on a hamburger)
Two slices of bread
A dinner plate upon which to serve what's coming (to eat off of might be more clear)
An oven mit or a dish towel

WHAT YOU DO:

Using #8 (a knife) cut up #11 (the one slice of bacon) into small "bite sized" pieces on #5 (the cutting board) (it's easier to cut cold bacon than molten bacon...at least on the fingers holding the bacon...and the cutting board will save your counter top)
Put the "bite sized" pieces of #11 (bacon) on #6 (another small plate)
Put the #6 (another small plate) with the bite sized pieces of #11 (bacon) into the #1 (microwave oven) and cover it with #7 (a paper towel)
Cook in #1 (microwave oven) for about a minute and a half (two minutes for the squeemish)
While this is cooking, break the shell of #10 (one large egg) and put the innards (not the shell) of #10 (the egg) into #3 (cereal bowl)
Take #12 (mushroom(s)) and using #8 (a knife) cut it/them into tiny little pieces on #5 (the cutting board) - (it's probably a good idea to wash the #12 (mushroom(s)) before you cut them up...you know what they grow them in ....right?) and throw all of the tiny little pieces into the #3 (cereal bowl) with the innards of the #10 (egg). (From this point on we'll refer to this developing concoction as "fix'ins")
Take the #13 (brick of chosen cheese) and using #8 (knife) cut off a chunk...like about as much as you'd like to eat right then and there...on the #5 (cutting board)
Then using the same #8 (knife) and the #5 (cutting board) cut the chunk of #13 (chosen cheese) into "itty bitty bite sized chunks" and throw all of them into #3 (cereal bowl) with the rest of the fix'ins (At this point you will probably want to cut off another chunk of #13 (chosen cheese) and just eat it...)
Take about a table spoon or two of the #14 (salsa) and pour it into the #3 cereal bowl with the fix'ins
By this time your #11 (bacon) should be well done...using #18 (oven mit or dish towel) take it out of the #1 (microwave), take all of the "bite sized" pieces of #11 (bacon) and put them in the #7 (paper towel) and soak up the excess grease. Then throw all of the #11 (bacon) pieces into the #3 (cereal bowl) with the rest of the fix'ins. (you can now throw the greasy #7 (paper towel) into the trash.
You now have all of the ingredients (fix'ins) in the #3 (cereal bowl)
Using the #9 (spoon) mix all of the ingredients until they are a complete mess...make absolutely certain that the innards of the #10 (egg) are completely encompassing all of the other ingredients and that everything is completely gooey from the innards of the #10 (egg)...then you know it's ready to go.
Put the #3 (cereal bowl) with all the fix'ins in the #1 (microwave oven) and cover the #3 (cereal bowl) with the #4 (small plate) - cook on high power for about 3 minutes
While all this is cooking in the #1 (microwave) take the #16 (two slices of bread) and put them in the #2 (toaster) and toast them. (Your egg and your toast will be done about the same time...amazingly)
When the # 1 (microwave) dings indicating that the cooking is done - and your toaster pops up indicating that the #16 (two pieces of bread) are toasted to perfection:
using the #18 (oven mit or dish towel) take the #4 (small plate) off the top of the #3 (cereal bowl) and put it in the sink or dishwasher if you have one (careful, it's stink'n hot)
using the #18 (oven mit or dish towel) take the #3 (cereal bowl) out of the #1 (microwave oven) and set it on the counter (careful here too...just as stink'n hot)
take your #16 (two pieces of bread) now toasted to perfection out of the #2 (toaster) and place them on the #17 (dinner plate)
using the #18 (oven mit or dish towel) pick up the #3 (cereal bowl) and using the #9 (spoon) loosen the now cooked ingredients from the #3 (cereal bowl) and slide them onto one of the #16 (two pieces of bread) now toasted to perfection.
take the #15 (one slice of low fat cheese) and place on the steaming concoction before taking the other piece of #16 (two pieces of bread) now toasted to perfection and place it on top of the entire assembly making what appears to be a sandwich.
Using the #8 (knife) cut the sandwich any way you like

You now have a world famous (at least in my little world) Egg McMooney. Enjoy!

SUBSTITUTIONS:

You can use a bagel instead of #16 (two slices of bread)

You can use ham instead of #11 (bacon) and you don't have to cook it so that saves time and mess.

You can use a cheese grater if you have one to grate the #13 (chosen cheese)

You can use a microwave dome to cover what you are cooking in the #1 (microwave oven) if you have one.

Try this recipe...it has been a staple around our house for the last 30 years...just ask anyone...really...

Once you've tried it...leave me a comment and tell me what you think...good eh?

Flowers Have Arrived

2009-07-21T09:18:00.000-06:00

Judy and I went to the Saskatoon Farm on Saturday morning to get some hanging baskets for our back yard. Jacqueline is wanting to use our back yard for a few wedding pictures and a bit of entertaining. We waited until this late in the summer (we hadn't even seen anything resembling summer until Saturday) as we usually get some hail here in early July. Hail kinda wreeks havoc with hanging baskets...if you get my drift.

It was really quite fortunate that we waited until we did as the Saskatoon Farm decided to clear their baskets out for $10.00 each...wow...double wow...20 baskets later we have more colour in our back yard than the flags at the United Nations. I had a feeling, so when I drove Judy out to the farm I took my little trailer along...just in case...Hey, 40 years together...even a dummy's gonna catch on to some things.

So, the back yard is now quite splendid with Judy's perrenials and the new hanging baskets. I will give the flowers a few days to acclimatize to their new home before capturing their beauty in photographs. When I do I will post some pictures of "Judy's Garden" so you can enjoy it too.

Until then...stay tuned.

What to do?

2009-07-15T12:34:00.000-06:00

Well, I've run out of children. Or maybe that should read, I've run out of children's birthdays to blog about. So now what am I gonna blog about?

Judy's flower gardens are growing but they're not ready for a pictorial presentation yet... I could use last year's pictures and try to make you think the pictures are from this year...but I'd probably get caught and lose my credibility...

Mr. Quincy D. Springer is an amazing dog...but that's my opinion... and I don't want to bore you with my ravings about him...even though they would be well deserved ravings...have I told you what an incredible dog he is? Well, let me tell you...oops...there I go...sorry!!!

Judy will have a birthday...but that's not until October...let's see...Aug...Sep...Oct...that's a thumb and two fingers away...it should be interesting though...ya think?

I do have a half dozen grandchildren...but their parents should get to brag about them...don't wanna be stepping on anyone's thunder or stealing their toes...if you know what I mean...

I could offer good advice...but where would I get that from? ....on second thought, over the years I've learned to give advice only when asked....anything other than that and it ain't advice it's being a "know it all...busy body...control freak" and who needs another one of them...?

Oh well...I'll try to think of something....

If you have any ideas or suggestions, leave a comment...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - JAMIE

2009-07-10T21:41:00.000-06:00

Hello again.

It's time for us to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our first born son, James Robert Mooney.

For your information, if you double click on any picture it will zoom in and you can get a better look at it. You can come back to the blog by clicking on the back arrow at the top left side of your screen. I add this for people who are from my vintage...and somewhat technically challenged when it comes to computers.

So with that let's go and have a look at Jamie's life...to this point...in pictures.

This is Jamie on the day his was born, thirty-five years ago.

It's hard to believe that I've got a middle aged child.

We named Jamie after his great grandfather, my father John's father, James who immigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland in 1912.

His name is James, but we called him Jamie when he was born.

Here's Jamie on the day he came home from the Holy Cross Hospital. He is 4 days old. Yeah, you heard right. In the old days, in ancient times, mothers got to stay in the hospital for four days before being discharged to face the real world with their new baby.

We were sure that we would have a girl. In preparation for our new baby, Judy hand knit a sleeper that was gender neutral to bring the new baby home from the hospital in. As you can see this sleeper has both blue and pink...but mostly pink...Jamie still likes pink.

This is a very proud young man (at age 21, really just a kid himself ) with his first born son. Judy and I were too young and naive to be scared. We should have been more scared...

The reason we were so sure that our first child would be a girl was statistics within our families. I was the only son of an only son. Judy has two sisters and only one brother. Judy's mother's family had only one boy. We thought that the probability of a male child would be slim to none. Boy, were we surprised....our first four children were boys.

Of course, the novelty of a new life had to be captured in pictures. And boy did we take a lot of pictures. Unfortuntely for the younger children, the picture volume decreased for each.

I was working long hours and the kids were often asleep for the night when I got home from work around 8:00 PM and were still sound asleep when I left for work at 6:00 AM. As a result I have a number of pictures of Jamie sound asleep. Here he is with his head on a little elephant pillow that had been mine when I was a child.

Here's the little mama with her first baby...and carrying his soon to arrive little brother.

We lived in Calgary, so we had to have a horse for our little cowboy to ride. And boy could he make this horse bounce.

This is Jamie with my mother, his grandmother, Clarice Mooney. Grandma Mooney spent a lot of time grandmothering the Mooney kids...and they got to know her and love her.

In the background was our family car, a 1969 Camaro RS. We had to upsize to a station wagon a few months later when Justin arrived.

We still have the Camaro sitting in our garage. It still runs.

This is Jamie sitting on his great grandmother Lottie Hurlburt's knee. Next to Grandma Hurlburt is her sister Stella from Holyoke, Colorado. In the baby seat at their feet is our newly arrived second son, Justin Charles. Grandma Hurlburt was very dear to me and my sisters as she really stepped up and helped my mother raise me after my father died when I was a young child.

Here's Jamie on his first birthday. Looks a little apprehensive doesn't he?

This is Jamie's first Christmas. He is just over 5 months old here and looking right at home on Santa's lap.

Jamie's second birthday.

I think this is probably after he ate the whole cake. Or maybe I was "fathering" him and he is not impressed. I've grown accustomed to this look from my children...

Jamie with Judy's dad, his grandfather, Herman Weis.

In the background is my truck and Bobcat. I had changed jobs from being a forman with Standard General Construction to being a self employed Bobcat owner/operator.

From this point on, to the end of high school, the boys were together most of the time. Sometimes they didn't think that was a good thing...sometimes it was almost more than Judy and I could keep up with. Seems like two little boys 11 months apart could get into way more than twice as much mischief as one little boy could.

They shared their birthdays. Justin's second, Jamie's third.

Must be Stampede week in Calgary.

Another birthday, shared. Even Judy is in the Stampede spirit.

But here it looks like the whining helped.

Jamie seems to be having his own birthday cake.

I think that is Grandma, Gladys Weis, next to him.

Jamie may have had his own cake...but Justin was never far away.

And now it's school picture time. This would be ECS at St. Margaret's school in Calgary.

And Jamie in Grade 1 at Collingwood Elementary School in Calgary.

The Jamie I remember well.

Jamie in Grade 2.

This is Jamie and Justin's first hockey team. We never had any intention of putting our kids in hockey but got talked in to it by this coach. The big guy on the right is our long time friend Wayne Holmgren. Double click on the picture and you will see Jamie on the left end of the back row and Justin second from the left end of the front row. For those who know him, Jeffrey Holmgren is in the back row directly behind the goaltender.

Jamie getting his first hockey trophy from Wayne Holmgren. Justin is in the red shirt right behind him.

Looks like another shared birthday party. And now you can see little Josh sitting in the front of the picture, wanting a chance at getting into that cake.

Jamie in grade 3.

This is Justin on the left, with Stephen Courtney in the middle and Jamie on the right. I think they were going door to door asking for bottles. (I think there may have been a bit of fraud involved.) The boys were fairly creative at finding ways to get money.

Judy made these Halloween costumes for the boys. Jamie is a clown and Justin is a cat if my memory serves me correctly.

This is Jamie and his cousin Michael McKinney.

Jamie came home one day and didn't want to be called Jamie anymore. The Bionic Woman television show had come on TV and the character was a girl named Jamie Summers. The kids at school were giving him some grief over having a girls name so he wanted to be called James.

The boys got new house coats for Christmas. I believe they were hand made by their mother.

We moved from Calgary to Regina in 1983. This is James with one of his Regina hockey teams, the Leafs.

5th Grade at Elsie Dorsey School in Regina.

We moved to Estevan in 1985.

This is James with the Estevan Atom Oilers the first year we were in Estevan.

Grade 6 at Pleasantdale Elementary School in Estevan.

James second year in Estevan got him into an incredible hockey group coached by Alan Biette and managed by Bob Cossette.

Grade 7 at Estevan Junior High School.

The second year in Pee Wee AA had a weaker coaching staff. The bearded guy on the left is the head coach...me...we did OK but our success was based more on talent than good coaching.

Grade 8 at Estevan Junior High.

In 1988-1989 James was back into the strong hockey group. He was a first year bantam playing with some outstanding hockey players. They went on to win the Provincial Bantam AA championship and represent Saskatchewan at the Western Canada Purolator Cup Championship.

Grade 9 at Estevan Junior High.

We moved to Calgary during the summer of 1989.

James was the last cut from the Canadian Champion Midget AAA Buffaloes and played on the Midget AA Rangers as a second year bantam.

Grade 10 at Lord Beaverbrook High School in Calgary.

James had to choose between the Junior A Royals and the Midget Triple AAA Buffaloes for his first year of Midget eligibility in Calgary. He chose the Buffaloes so he could play in the Mac's Midget hockey tournament and get a chance to try out with Team Alberta for the Canada Winter Games.

Grade 11 at Lord Beaverbrook.

James played with Team Alberta at the Canada Winter Games. They lost the Gold medal game to Ontario and had to settle for the Silver medal.

James moved to Dauphin, Manitoba for his final year of high school. He wanted to graduate from Western Christian College.

James got to play for the Dauphin Kings Junior A hockey team while attending high school at Western.

This look kind of summarizes James attitude toward school in grade twelve. Up to this point James had been an outstanding student. It seemed that other things, (girls and hockey) had begun to overshadow school in his life.

I can remember trying to get his priorities staight through his early teen years with a saying. As I recall it went something like this..."School's first...Hockey's second...and girls don't exist!" (Wishful thinking, I know!)

Our close friends Doug and Cheryl Cox were the dorm parents at the boarding school in Dauphin, Manitoba. Doug also liked to dabble in photography. He took some of these pictures for James.

James got his wish to graduate from Western Christian College.

And as I said before, the boys were together most of the time. But you can see to the left of the picture that Justin's interests were expanding...that is his future wife Jennifer at his side.

James was scouted by many American Universities and ended up accepting a hockey scholarship from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. James graduated from Brown with a degree in Urban Studies.

James played a year of professional hockey in the East Coast Hockey League.

James finally opened his eyes and his heart to a young lady from Calgary that he had know for most of his life.

They were married in 2005.

Their wedding was a beautiful affair at the Calgary Zoo on a gorgeous summer day.

It was incredibly hot and sunny.

The bride was beautiful in white.

The groom was handsome in sweat.

And they lived happily ever after!
.

.
But wait...there's more.

On June 26, 2007 Margaret Olivia, our precious first grandaughter arrived.

They call her Maggie.

She is without a doubt the sweetest little girl in the world.

A proud papa, a beaming mama and a beautiful little girl.

See, I told you that James is still partial to pink.

This is James with Maggie at her first birthday party in 2008.

On April 16, 2009 Maggie got a little sister, Lyla Claire.

This is grandma Judy holding Lyla, who is a few hours old, with sister Maggie and mama Nicola in the background. We are so proud of our two beautiful granddaughters.

I now have one daughter, three daughters-in-law and two grand daughters.

Here's James, Nicola and Lyla just before leaving the hospital

And this is the way they all look now. If you want to know what this picture is about click the link for James and Nic that you can find on the right hand side near the start of this blog.

Well done my son. Your mama and your papa are very proud of you.

Have a wonderful birthday...

And more grandchildren would be OK too...I'm just say'in...

He would be...

2009-06-28T19:23:00.000-06:00

As you can see from my recent blogs I have been doing a "Happy Birthday" blog for each of our children. This may seem a bit excessive, (almost exploitive), but the only readers I seem to have for my blog are my children so it gives them an opportunity to see each other's baby and photo albums online. This undoubtedly leads to some gentle teasing...sometimes boardering on not so gentle...even approaching laugh out loud guffaws at the expense of their siblings. Today's blog won't lead to any laughing, or teasing. Today's blog is a serious blog and I warn you that it may be somewhat disturbing.

If you are easily upset or distressed by disturbing images please stop reading when I say that you should stop reading. My intention is not to upset anyone. My intention is to tell the life story of my third son, born on this day 30 years ago...

So come along, at least for a little while and meet our precious son, Jeremy John Mooney.

This is Jeremy on this day, 30 years ago - June 28, 1979.

His delivery was an easy one, at least for him. Judy might remember otherwise.

Jeremy was a smaller baby than either of his older brothers.
His oldest brother James arrived weighing in at 8 lbs 15 oz.

His next older brother Justin weighed in at 7 lbs 14 oz.

Little Jeremy came in weighing 6lbs 13 oz.

He was smaller, and had delicate, fine features...he was beautiful!

Judy and I had started our family early in our young lives. We had our first child, James when we were 21 years old and added Justin when we were 22. Judy just loved having a baby to mother. She wanted to continue our family and her heart was yearning for a baby to cuddle when her big boys would soon go off to school.

Jeremy was our first planned child. We awaited his arrival with tremendous anticipation.

Our many friends and church family made sure that Jeremy's arrival was recognized as can be seen from the numerous flower arrangements sent to Judy and Jeremy in the hospital.

As usual Judy hand knit a gender neutral baby sleeper to bring Jeremy home in, from the hospital. As I mentioned in an earlier blog we lived in the old days when there weren't weekly ultrasounds. We always went to the hospital completely oblivious to the sex of the child we would be bringing out of the delivery room.

This is Judy and Jeremy moments after bringing Jeremy home from the hospital.

Here he is in angel white. Mama is barely more than a child herself as you can see. But we thought we were pretty grown up by this time...I mean we were 26....who would ever have thought that we would be that old?

What a beautiful little boy!

For some reason we had a family picture taken that year. It may have been for a church directory or something. We are so thankful that we have this precious record of our entire family at that time.

This is Justin aged 4, Judy holding Jeremy at just around 6 weeks old, me and James aged 5.

It was shortly after our family picture that Judy took Jeremy to Dr. Heimbach, our pediatrician for his 6 week check-up. We went into that six week check-up without a care in the world. Everything seemed to be normal and we were on top of the world.

During the check-up Dr. Heimbach detected a "slight" heart murmur. He assured us it was nothing to be concerned about but wanted us to see another doctor for a second opinion. We were sent to see Dr. Sommerville, a pediatric cardiologist.

From Dr. Sommerville's office we went directly to the Holy Cross Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit.

This is a very proud dad with a very sick little boy.

We spent a few days in the NICU while the doctors did a series of tests to try and diagnose what exactly was wrong with Jeremy's tiny heart.

Jeremy was suffering from congestive heart failure.

We went through a series of tests as the doctors tried to zero in on a treatement that would stabilize Jeremy's heart.

Jeremy was happy and smiling through this entire ordeal.

I will stop talking now and let you absorb the photos of Jeremy John in the early days of his illness.

Once Jeremy was stabilized and a dosage of digoxin was determined we were able to take Jeremy home.

Jeremy was out of the hospital and the expectation was that with stringent medical care we could manage Jeremy's heart condition and hopefully get him closer to a year old before we tried to correct his condition with surgery.

But those hopes were short lived. Jeremy was soon back into congestive heart failure.

So it was back to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

This cycle, in and out of intensive care, continued for the next two months.

In these picture you can start to see that Jeremy was losing weight and beginning to look very frail.

His body was failing.

But his spirit was soaring. He was the happiest little boy.

The boy in the bubble!

But still losing weight...

It was starting to become clear that we wouldn't be able to get Jeremy to a year old before he would face surgery.

When he would see or hear Judy come into the ICU room his face would light up and his smile would melt your heart.

This is Judy feeding Jeremy his lunch. Judy would go back and forth from our home to the Holy Cross for every feeding. She would hold him and cuddle him and when he would go to sleep she would head home to take care of the older boys. Then she would get back in the car and head back across the city to be with Jeremy when he woke up.

This is the smile I remember from Jeremy. It was heart melting...the most beautiful smile from a baby so young, 3 months old, and so sick.

Notice the little bear on top of his bubble and the boxing gloves hanging at one end.

Judy kept up a relentless pace...what a mother won't do for her children...she cared for all of them...and thought nothing of it.

But things were not getting any better.

Jeremy was getting weaker and Dr. Sommerville had been in touch with other Pediatric Cardiologists to weigh out the options.

One day I got a call at work to come home. We were told to pack our bags and be at the hospital within a couple of hours and that we may be gone for an extended period of time.

At the hospital we were joined by Dr. Sommerville and a nurse, taken to a waiting ambulance and whisked to the Calgary airport where we boarded this chartered Lear Jet.

We flew through the night and landed in Rochester, Minnesota where we were taken to St. Mary's hospital, the Mayo Clinic.

THIS IS WHERE YOU SHOULD STOP IF YOU ARE EASILY UPSET BY DISTURBING IMAGES.
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This is a pictoral explanation of Jeremy's congenital heart defect. Jeremy had a condition known as Truncus Arteriosus.

Simply put, the plumbing in his heart was defective and his blood cycled from his heart to his lungs and back with limited blood being distributed to the rest of his tiny body.

When we got to see Jeremy in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary's he was covered with tubes, sensors, probes, wires and needles.

Judy and I have never been in such distress...

We had never been under such stress any worry...

You can't understand the agony and helplessness of watching your precious child suffer...

Judy and I had each other...

and our faith in God...

We prayed and we prayed....and we worried...and we prayed...

This is Jeremy moments before they wheeled him down the hall on his way to surgery.

Words can't explain the agony you experience as you walk down a hallway, holding on to your child, rapidly approaching a door that you know you will not be allowed to pass through. And then you have to do it. You have to let go.
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My Remembrance Day post from last November 9 details what happened next. You can access it if you wish by going to the very bottom of this blog and when it stops scrolling down you should see a place to select "older blogs". If you click on this you can then scroll down to November 9, "Remembrance Day".

THE PHOTOS THAT FOLLOW ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

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We were in tremendous despair. All we could think about was getting out of Rochester and getting back to our family and friends as fast as we could. We were two kids all alone and knew we were in trouble if we didn't get around some people who we could cry with.

Thank God for our church friends who met us at the airport...they will always be our most precious friends.

Now we are back in Calgary, a few days later, sharing a few minutes alone with our Jeremy. Judy is sitting quietly staring at our baby, and remembering. We brought his little bear and his boxing gloves that had been with him through his fight from the start. He was such a little fighter...

He lookes so tiny and frail. We had been so close to him through this whole ordeal that we really didn't see how frail he had become.

We had his funeral in Calgary in the morning and then, after a short luncheon we got in our cars and drove the 9 hours to Weyburn for Jeremy's burial.

Uncles Dean and Ed were the pall bearers for the tiny casket.

Jeremy is buried in Weyburn, SK beside his Grandfather John Mooney and was joined 20 years later by his grandmother, Clarice Mooney.

I remember driving out of the cemetery and looking back, out the back window of the car and seeing this tiny blue casket, sitting all alone in the cold November wind...and my heart nearly broke.
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Jeremy's Obituary

30 years have diminished the incredible pain. Where there was once an almost unbearable ache in my heart there is now a different phenomenon. It's as if there is a compartment in my heart that, when opened releases uncontrollable emotion. But the emotion is not attached to pain but rather to love. The ache has been replaced by a warm confidence that it is all right. The emotion is uncontrollable in the sense that their are instant tears, sobbing and difficulty controlling speech or even talking. But the pain is gone. The memories flood back and bring with them the emotion...and it is warm...and it is welcome.

I leave you with a poem by Edgar A. Guest

"I'll lend you for a little while

A child of mine," God said,

"For you to have the while he lives,

And mourn for when he's dead.

It may be six or seven years

Or twenty-two or three;

But will you 'till I call him back

Take care of him for me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you

and, should his stay be brief,

You'll have his lovely memories

As a solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay,

Since all from earth return;

But there are lessons taught below

I want this child to learn.

I've looked the whole world over

In search for teachers true;

And from the throngs that crowd life's land,

I have chosen you.

Now, will you give him all your love

Nor think the labor vain?

Nor hate me when I come to take

This lent child back again?"

I fancied that I heard them say:

"Dear Lord, Thy will be done.

For all the joys Thy child will bring

The risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness,

We'll love him while we may.

And for the happiness we've known

forever grateful stay.

But should Thy angel call for him

Much sooner than we've planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes

And try to understand."

....................................................................

People aren't supposed to bury their children. Perhaps that is why it is such a tragic and traumatic event.

But it is a very common event.

If you're interested check out this blog

http://namesinthesand.blogspot.com/

If you go to this blog take the time to watch the video interview with Carly Marie Dudley.

It will help you understand what she is trying to accomplish with her blog.

I hope this hasn't been a traumatic read for you...it's been therapeutic for me.

And soon...July 10th...I feel another "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" blog coming on....stay tuned.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO BRANDI

2009-06-17T21:34:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to YOU...Happy Birthday to YOU...Happy Birthday dear Brandi...Happy Birthday to you.

Brandi is the good looking one on the left...the guy is our fourth son Josh...her husband.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - JUSTIN CHARLES

2009-06-17T19:25:00.001-06:00

This is our second son...Justin Charles Mooney on the day he was born.
I would apologize for the quality of that photo...but I didn't take it.

This is a better look at him on the day he was born...

even better...here is the new Mr. Mooney with his eyes open.

This is Justin in his personally knit green sleeper that Judy took to the hospital to bring him home in...of course it was a gender neutral colour.

Here he is when we got home. Looks mighty content doesn'g he?

This is a typical picture of Justin...sleeping on the couch.

Oh...Oh...taboo!! Justin sleeping on his front...we were so naive..but then Judy and I were only kids ourselves.

Here's Justin's first real posed photo by a professional photographer...(the first picture in this blog was obvioulsy not done by a professional). I expect the gash between his eyes was a battle wound inflicted by his big brother.

This little boy was a smiler...still is...and so are his kids...wonder where he got that big smile?

Looks like Justin's first Christmas.

Maybe his big smile came from the hot mama bringing him his first birthday cake...ya think?

Justin had big brown eyes...we always said they looked like two pee holes in a snowbank...and a little button nose...

Oops...we let our boys play with dolls...but we tried to offset that with building blocks

This is Jusin at two years old with his brother James who is 11 months older than him.

Here's the second birthday cake...you can see that we cut someone out of the picture.

The boys were only 11 months apart and we usually took the easy way out by having them celebrate together. Never really thought much about it but we sure heard about it as the boys got older...and we still do...sorry boys...

Our neighbour worked at Eaton's and quite often brought home treats for the boys. She did this on the bus...neighbours were, and are special people. Justin just ran out of gas here...and again...Justin sleeping on the couch. Notice the heavy duty shoes on his feet...wouldn't catch kids these days wearing ankle high leather shoes like that...would ya?

This looks like birthday number 3.

Poor kids couldn't even get their picture taken by themselves...but that will soon change with the start of annual school pictures...

This was our little family in about 1977.

This is Justin's fourth birthday. For those of you who know them the little girl is Jennie Cox and the little boy beside her is her brother Brian Cox.

This is the way I remember Justin...

He always had a glint of mischief in his eyes...

Aaahhhhh...the start of school pictures...parents love 'em...

This would be ECS at St. Margaret's School in Calgary.

Christmas was always a fun time around our house. Notice the size of the boys stockings hung by the chimney with care. They still want to use them.

Justin in grade 1 at Collingwood Elementary in Calgary.

He was such a dresser...you saw a sequel to this photo on Josh's birthday blog....

Here's Justin in his first year in hockey with the Triwood Tykes. We had no intention of putting our kids in hockey but this coach talked us into it...the guy giving Justin his first hockey trophy is none other than our long time friend Wayne Holmgren.

Justin is second from the left on the front row. His brother James is just behind him at the end of the back row. Jeffrey Holmgren, a life long friend of the boys is in the centre of the back row right behind the goaltender.

Somehow I found the time to coach Justin in baseball. I actually think it was T-ball but it's so long ago that I really can't remember.

I'm the funny looking guy with the blue shirt. Looks like I didn't shave much back then.

The other coach lived up our back lane and our kids played together. His name, if my memory serves me correctly, was Eric Courtney.

Here's grade two at Collingwood Elementary. Justin seems to be missing a tooth or two.

Judy was always talented at sewing. She made these costumes for the boys to wear out on Halloween. James was a clown...and I think Justin was a mouse.

This is Justin's second and last year playing with the Triwood Hockey team.

Gotta love those big glasses...and that big smile!

This is Justin in grade 3 at Elsie Dorsey school in Regina. We moved there so I could go back to finish my education at the U of R. Justin now lives within a block of his old elementary school in Regina.

Justin played one year of Novice hockey in Regina with the Canadians.

Another Christmas...this time in Regina...I used to call Justin by many nicknames...one of them was "Bones". He was such a skinny kid....my how times have changed.

Justin played one year of Atom hockey in Regina with the Sabres. He is the goaltender on the right end of the front row. He was a pretty good goaltender...even won a trophy...still has it on his dresser in his bedroom.

Grade 4 in Regina.

Justin was always active in sports...

Here's Justin at the Laverne Tetreau farm. We were at the farm for Horse Creek Bible School and Laverne had his horses in a fenced pasture close to the farm yard. Justin would take some long stems of grass and go out to the pasture to try to catch a horse. Laverne told him that if he could catch a horse he would let him ride it. Needless to say no one expected the horse to be dumb enough to let a kid catch it. But he did...he worked and he worked...perseverence paid off and he did get to ride the horse...ten gallon hat and all.

Grade 5 in Estevan.

Grade 6 in Estevan

Grade 7 in Estevan at Estevan Junior High.

Grade 8 in Estevan at Estevan Junior High. Coincidentally this is the time when Justin met his future wife...how can you blame her for chasing him down...I mean...just look at that smile!!!

This should be grade 9 back in Calgary at David Thompson Jr. High.

And then she caught him...or at least it seemed like it was that quick.

After they were married Justin spent about 10 years growing up...

At least that's what his wife would have you believe....I think he spent about 10 years goofing around...

And then came our first grandchild...Caden John...

Christmas as a family...

Here's Justin Charles with my first grandson Caden John on his second birthday. Justin looks about as excited about the sparklers as Caden...

And then...BAM...Dylan Michael....Evan Timothy....Liam David...TRIPLETS...my second, third and fourth grandsons...

This is Justin proving to the nurse in the hospital nursery that he is in fact their father...this is only about an hour after they were born.

Here's my son, in his STAMPEDER jersey...(GO STAMPS GO) with his four sons...three in the crib...all wearing STAMPEDER shirts...on Grey Cup Sunday...2008.

And here he is now...Mr. Mom...I have never seen a man who takes such pride and displays such love and patience for his children...well done my son. Yo' mama and yo' papa are incredibly proud of you.

Have an incredible birthday.

Oh crap...I forgot the picture of Justin in his birthday suit....

....next year...ya'll come back now...ya' hear!

Stay Tuned

2009-06-15T07:40:00.000-06:00

I feel a blog brewing. There's a couple of birthdays coming up in our family in just two more sleeps...and one of them is HUGE!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - JACQUIE

2009-06-05T20:51:00.001-06:00

OK...OK...the family has just gone home from the party and now we can have a look at those birthday pictures I promised you.

It's June 5th and that means its our baby girl's birthday. Well, I suppose I should clarify. Jacqueline Michelle Mooney was born on this day in a previous century...actually in a previous millenium. She was our last child, and our only daughter, so she will always be daddy's little girl...gotta grab a hanky and catch that tear...gimme a minute...

This is Jacqueline on the day we brought her home from the hospital.

Notice the dresses.

This is the first time Judy took a dress to the hospital to bring a baby home.

You may wonder why that is significant. In the old days we didn't get weekly ultra sounds and we had no idea going in to the hospital if we would be bringing a boy or a girl out of the delivery room with us. We had gone in to the hospital four times, prepared each time with a new colourful hand knit sleeper. Each time we came home with a new son. This time was different. Judy was aching for a daughter and she was determined to bring this baby home in a dress. Not only did the baby have a new dress to come home in. Judy had made a matching dress for herself to come home in.

I still have this little doll in my top dresser drawer.

Our little girl grew up quickly with three big brothers to try to keep up with.

She didn't have much hair though.

Here's Jacqueline's first birthday cake. What a lovely combination of green and pink.

This is Jacqueline, Joshua (sucking his thumb) and their cousin Matthew Stanley Tucker.

I had to throw in this picture just to show you the tongue. Jacqueline had more tongue than an RCMP boot when she was a baby. She could barely get the whole thing in her mouth.

She was always a sweet child. But never more sweet than when she powered out and fell asleep.

This is Jacqueline on her second birthday.

She always loved pink and frills...didn't she?

Here's Jacquie and Josh feeding the geese in Wascana Park in Regina.

Later that fall I came home from goose hunting and Josh and Jacquie were really upset. When we finally got to the bottom of their trauma Josh explained through his tears that he had fed that goose...

Jacquie was a whirlwind of activity. She went hard and fast all day long...but when she powered out she just tucked in and went to sleep.

This is Jacquie sleeping on the mat just inside the front door...and it's winter...in Saskatchewan and not a very warm place to sleep. I like to tell people she loved her dad so much that she was just waiting at the door for Daddy to come home...but I took the picture...so the truth is she just ran out of gas and crashed.

This is the four kids on Jacquie's fourth birthday. Don't you just love those huge glasses...and party hats?

Here's a better look at the princess.

Outa gas again.

This looks like number six.

Here's one of Jacquie's school pictures. Every kid loves their school pictures...don't they?

Maybe there was a spider on the ground.

This is without a doubt my all time favourite picture of my little girl.

She was a flower girl for her cousin Bradley's wedding.

Oh, he was a lot older than she was...

Another school picture...with her teeth grown back in.

I think this is about nine years old.

This is Josh and Jacquie on our deck in Calgary. She sure looks serious....like she is just about ready to punch somebody out...

Good thing schools take pictures...

...cause parents just love to drag those pictures out...

...and show them to people...

...to embarass their kids....

...and get a little revenge....

...for all of the grey hair....or no hair that they have caused them over the years!

I know this look well...

I don't know...looks like Judy conned Jacquie into something...maybe Judy is going after a little revenge of her own.

High School graduation.

Gotta say I was proud of the way this girl stepped up in High School.

Student body president.

It took a wheelbarrow to haul her awards home at the end of the year.

Brains...and an athlete too!

Oh...I couldn't resist the 23rd birthday picture!

University of Calgary Graduation...with a degree...

And today on her birthday, just before she went off to work...saving lives.

Happy Birthday darli'n. Your dad is very proud of you.

One More Sleep

2009-06-04T06:33:00.000-06:00

It's June 4th. Yesterday was Justin and Jennifer's 14th anniversary. It was also big sister Sheila's big birthday...can't give a number cause that would be revealing a secret that all women want to keep...but next year it will be a really big number....retirement range number if you get my drift.

And tomorrow...after one more sleep...it will be baby daughter Jacqueline Michelle's birthday. I feel a photo frenzy coming on....stay tuned...

Limited Edition

2009-05-29T23:05:00.000-06:00

Well...all that work and only 4 readers....and I see all of them almost every week...I guess I've failed as a blogger...woe is me...hey there's a cloud hovering around my head...

2009-05-19T20:00:00.000-06:00

Here we are again...finally...sorry...I'm a terrible blogger.

We have had a fairly quiet winter... but spring is in the air.

We took the opportunity to make the trek to Saskatchewan for the Victoria Day weekend. Here are a few photos that we took of our four grandsons.

This is Liam David.

If you know our family...or more accurately, if you know me, you know that I have a tendancy to give my children, and now my grandchildren nicknames.

The nicknames change over time as the children and the situations change.

So for now the nickname that appears to fit Li'l Liam is "Bugsy".

Bugsy had a cold on the weekend. His eyes were watering...as was his nose.

But as tough as he was feeling he still had the most precious smile that just melts your heart when it takes over his beautiful little face...what a doll.

This is Evan Timothy.

I have no idea where these big blue eyes came from.

But they are beautiful.

As is his smile.

This picture really leads to Evan's current nickname...

"Bubba"

Yeah, you heard me right Evan, you look like a good o'l boy....

"Bubba fits...for now.

This is Dylan Michael.

As you can see they do not look a lot alike...

...so you can know for sure that "they are NOT identical!

I just told Dylan a little joke...I guess he thought it was a little lame.

But I think he was really laughing on the inside.

Maybe not.

Dylan's current nickname is the same as it has been since birth, for me at least.

I call him "Mini Me"

Poor kid...hope he grows out of it.

This is Caden John

Caden fits the phrase "The apple didn't fall far from the tree".

Hence, I call him Junior....Justin Junior.

Already glued to the computer...or the television...

And don't try to break his concentration...at least not while either the TV or the computer has captured his attention.

It was a great trip. We had a wonderful time with the grandsons...oh, it was great to see their parents as well...but grandchildren seem to have a way of capturing the hearts of grandma and grandpa.

It was sad to have to leave the grandsons, and of course their parents, to head home on Monday. But every cloud has a silver lining....we have our two little grandaughters, Maggie and Lyla back in Calgary. So we are sad...but excited...

Oh, if you would please...leave a brief comment so I know that someome is actually logging in to this blog. If you do, maybe I'll get motivated to do a better job of blogging.

What's next? Let's see...June 5 is Jacqueline's birthday...stay tuned...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - JOSH

2009-04-21T21:50:00.000-06:00

This is our fourth son, Joshua Dean on his birth day, April 21, 1981.

As usual we were expecting a girl but Judy knit a "coming home" sleeper that was gender neutral just in case we got another son...and we did...and we were elated, again.

Home in his own bed.

Here's big brother James with the "hey I feel something wet on my leg" look and big brother Justin with the "ha ha ha...suck it up big boy, you wanted to hold him" look.
Josh has the "oops, did I do that" look.

This is our Josh on his first birthday. This little boy had a perpetual smile on his face...just like his mama.

Josh's second birthday.

OK...where's my breakfast?

Wow, a carrot cake...for me?

Josh on number 3.

Well, we will skip a few years, here is Josh on his seventh birthday

For any of you who can't remember ever seeing Josh with hair...voila!

And again.

Josh was, and is a lover of the game. Here he is...and as always, that infectious smile.

Until today. Hey Josh, how does it feel to be a year older?

(Don't you just hate it when someone asks that lame question?)

This is Josh, now 28, with his lovely wife Brandi.

Yeah, you see the proof...Josh ate all those ribs.

Happy Birthday Josh. We're proud of you son.

Well...It's about time!

2009-04-16T21:51:00.000-06:00

I mean, it's about time for a new post on this blog. And what better reason than to share photos of the newest member of the Mooney family, born this afternoon.

Here's Grandma, mama, big sister Maggie O and new baby sister, daughter and granddaughter...???(not sure what to call her yet)

Here's a closer look at her.

She looks a lot like big sister Maggie. She is beautiful isn't she?

Wow, wow, wow...what an amazing gift grandchildren are!

Grandma was definately thinking "pink". She was absolutely certain that this grandchild was going to be a sister for Maggie.

The details will be up to mama and papa to share.
I made a few suggestions for names...like Matilda Lou...didn't seem to get much interest...maybe Martha Belle...again not warmly received...so I guess I should just leave it up to James and Nic to name their little darl'in.

Stay tuned. This might just get this blog back on track. Seems like it takes something significant to get some blogging to happen. And this truly is significant.

Congratulations James and Nicola.

Cancun +30C to Calgary -30C

2008-12-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

There is something wonderful about the Christmas season no matter where you are. Here Judy is standing beside the Christmas tree in our resort in Cancun.

I guess the song "Six White Boomers" forgot to mention that one of the boomers stopped off in Mexico to give birth. Here she is disguised as Santa...and the Joey in her pouch is disguised as the Lone Ranger...or since this is Mexico maybe it's disguised as Zorro.

I couldn't help myself. We were walking along the sidewalk one evening and saw this hockey game on the TV outside OutBack Jack's Steak House. I had to capture the moment...Tampa Bay 3 at Montreal 1....there wasn't anyone watching though...it really doesn't take much to entertain a Canadian.

Here we are at Margaritaville...."it's five o'clock somewhere"....

The night before we left to come home, and every night while we were in Cancun for that matter, we spent an enjoyable time soaking up the heat of the outdoor hot pool. This is truly an accomplishment if you remember Judy's fear of water.

We are getting ready to head back to Calgary. We just had to get a picture from our rooftop pool and lounge area with the beautiful blue of the Caribean in the background.

Judy and I were sunning ourselves beside the pool before we left to catch our plane home. It was obvious that there was a wedding pending so Judy couldn't leave until she saw the bride. Here she comes, as the music plays...

Not a large crowd...but a beautiful bride in a beautiful setting overlooking the white sand beach with the blue Caribean as a back drop...30 degrees...light warm breeze...

And a few hours later this welcomed us back to Calgary...blue sky...white snow banks...-30 degrees with a cold north breeze...wind chill factor once again a factor....bbbbbrrrrrrrr.

And we're home. Wonderful holiday...but "there's no place like home" I say as I click my red sunburnt heels together. Now we look forward to having our children (and especially our grandchildren) at our home for Christmas.

Ola! Here we are, stuck in Mexico!

2008-12-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are stuck in Mexico...James drove us to the Calgary airport at 10:00 AM on Saturday. We flew WestJet and arrived in Cancun around 6:30 PM. The first thing we did when we got to the hotel was try to find something to eat...voila!...la buffet.

Of course there is no snow in Cancun so we just had to eat outside...

..and then we had to look around the facilities...and what do we find but a bunch of king sized beds surrounding one of the many pools...gonna have to try this out for suntanning in the daylight...beats the tanning booths for sure!

And so after a fun evening and a great sleep we have sunrise over the Caribbean from our rooftop deck and pool area...I just had to wake up everyone to see sunrise over the ocean...it was spectacular.

We went for a walk on Sunday morning and found Bubba Gump Shrimp!

A few doors down we came upon Jimmy Buffet's MargaritaVille.

Kenny kinda looks like a Mexican

Back at the resort...and we found those king sized beds in the daylight...

...and spent a little time tanning...

We went out to Pericos for Mexican food in the evening...this little devil snuck up behind Jacquie and scared the bejeebers out'a her when she turned her head..

Mama felt like a giant when she got to dance with this little fellow...he finally moved to the stage so he could stand on it and not feel so short beside her...

Here she is with a pot on her head..about to take a shooter of papilla juice...it was a challenge keeping her under control...you know how wild and crazy she gets when she gets a few shots of fruit juice in her.

See what I mean?

And so that was a day in Mexico...and moonrise over the Caribbean...beautiful...warm, no snow...no ice...except in your glass...I'm just say'in...it's rough being stuck here in Mexico....

Grey Cup Sunday - aaahhhh Stamps...well done!!!

2008-11-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

It's Grey Cup Sunday in Regina...and Caden John is a true blue...er...red Stampeders fan.

So is Dad...he couldn't put the ball down...not even to feed his babies. There was a lot of red in the Mooney house this day.

Liam is going to give Caden a run for his money in being the most dramatic Stampeders fan in the Mooney clan.

This is Liam, Evan and Dylan all decked out in their Stampeders gear.

Liam and Evan are looking to Dylan for some leadership in their cheering section.

Dylan thinks it's funny...probably because mama is aghast at their Stampeder gear and their obvious enthusiasm.

Evan wants to follow Dylan's lead so he's giving his own "Go Stamps Go" cheer.

The boys love their team...and their soothers...except Evan...he get's enough comfort from the bright red Jersey that he doesn't need a soother...and really...aren't soothers for Riders fans anyway?

This puts things into perspective. Kind'a like Gulliver's Travels...these little darlin's are so beautiful...and so small...wow...four grandsons...wow!!!

Caden is trying to get the guys going with some moves to go with their "Go Stamps Go" cheers.

And here's the architect of their committment to the mighty Red and White...old double naught...Justin Charles....well done Mr. Mooney...proud of you!!!

Happy Birthday - Quincy

2008-11-24T20:32:00.001-07:00

Quincy was born on November 20, 2006 at Expressway Kennels in Regina, SK. We met and adopted Quincy on January 16, 2007. This is a picture of Quincy and two of his brothers when we met to choose which puppy would come to live at our house. Quincy is the one on the left with the dark tail...trying to push his brothers away.

We chose this little darl'in. Brought him home and he is now part of our family.

Quincy liked his new mama right from the start. But she wasn't so sure about him. She was a little apprehensive when I broke the news that I wanted to get a new hunting partner...with four legs...and a tail.

He misses those brothers now. Maybe he shouldn't have pushed them away...

Quincy grew fast...learned fast...and won mama's heart fast.

You've heard about the tail wagging the dog...Quincy is living proof of it. Here you can see his tail as a blur...and it really creates havoc with the grandchildren every time he walks past them they get a swat.

Quincy loves to run in our back yard. He spends most of his time in the house but loves to lay in the sun in the summer and run in the snow in the winter.

Here he is this past summer. He's full grown now and weighs about 48 pounds...oops...sorry metric police...22 Kgs.

Quincy is a rapidly developing hunting dog. We get out every chance we can from mid September to the end of November. This is a photo from the first weekend of pheasant season. We went hunting with a group of friends from Medicine Hat. Quincy was amazing.

And here he is on his second birthday...November 20, 2008. So...sing along...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you....HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you...HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Quincy....HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you.

Remembrance Day

2008-11-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

Today is our Remembrance Day. Yeah, I know that the official Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day for our American family, is a couple of days hence. But today, November 9 is Judy and my Remembrance Day.
On this day in 1979 we were in Rochester, Minnesota. Our third son, Jeremy John Mooney was in emergency surgery at the Mayo Clinic in an attempt to correct a serious congenital heart defect. The surgery was long and very complicated. It was only the third such surgery attempted at the famed Mayo Clinic. The previous two had not ended well. The challenge was exacerbated by the tiny size of Jeremy's heart. Jeremy was only four months old and weighed just a little over his birth weight of slightly under 7 pounds.
The surgery was successful. They were bringing Jeremy from the operating room to the intensive care recovery area. We were waiting...and waiting. Finally the door burst open at the end of the hall and a stretcher rushed by with an entire crew of medical people running along, surrounding it. Our thankfulness and excitement were at a peak. Jeremy was alive. He had survived surgery. We waited...and waited...and waited. Our excitement began to be overshadowed by anxiety. Finally a very solemn looking doctor entered our room.
Although the surgery had been successful and they were able to restart Jeremy's tiny heart after surgery his heart had stopped during the transfer to recovery. They had been successful at a second restart in the intensive care recovery area but his heart was just too weak and it stopped again. This time they couldn't get it to restart.
So today we remember. Everyday we remember. But today we remember in earnest. We have some incredibly painful memories but we don't dwell on the darkness of that time. We remember that because it happened and is part of us. Thankfully the pain of that agony has faded.
We prefer to focus our memory on the beauty of our little son. We remember the excitement of his arrival. His delicate features. His incredible personality. His bright eyes and amazing smile. We remember the love and support we were showered with by our family, church and friends. We have incredibly warm and touching memories. They are never far from the surface. But today they are there.
Sorry for the digression from the excitement of the new grandchildren. We have been so blessed in our family. We will get back to more happy stuff....but today is Remembrance Day.

If this works we'll have photos!

2008-11-06T21:39:00.000-07:00

This little gaffer is Liam David Mooney

born November 3, 2008.

And this is Evan Timothy Mooney
born November 3, 2008.

This is Dylan Michael Mooney
born November 3, 2008.

And this babe holding the babes is Grandma Judy

born earlier, in a previous century.

Hows that? We now have text and photos. This could get interesting...and maybe a little dangerous. We'll see.

How's this thing s'posed to work?

2008-11-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, that looks pretty weak...noth'n on the blog. I guess I better figure out how to use this blog thing so I can be as technically savvy as my children...or...better yet..I'll get Judy to figure out how to do this...yeah..that's the ticket!!!

We just got back from our whirlwind trip to Saskatchewan to be on hand at the arrival of the triplets. Wow...they're absolutely adorable...yeah, I know...that's supposed to be grandma's line not grandpa's...but they are what they are and it doesn't matter who says it. I'd post some pictures if I could figure out how to do it....must have a couple hundred of them...I mean they are two days old already.

We're pretty excited. Our grandchildren numbers have gone from 2 to 5 with another on the way. You should be able to check out the grandchildren by selecting one of the links on the side of this page. And don't forget about our adopted grandchild "Wooderson - (Woody) for short". He bears little or no resemblance to his adoptive parents but is part of the family none the less.

I'll see if I can figure out how to add pictures and when I do I'll post some that I hope will be of interest.