Pictures of Christmas past

This is way back when with my sisters, Joan and Debbie and Brother, Rob.

Santa holding me and Joan in front of grandma M.

I'm in front of Carol M. My mom is holding Joan. Grandma M and then my dad.

All my kids with Santa

The year was 1972 when Cindi and Susan sat on Santa's lap.

This year when Cindi was 5, she wanted to be the last one to open her presents. We were at grandma and grandpa L. with all the family.

Tom at 3 1/2 years old

Jen at 6 1/ Cindi at 9

Susan at 11 1/2

Grandma G. was always Mrs. Claus at her church. This was taken in 1980.

Tom in an angel outfit that I made for him for a church program at Christmas. He was 6 years old.

Things I'm Thankful for

Last night I was trying to get to sleep and couldn't so I thought of maybe counting sheep, but that sounded boring so I thought maybe I could think of things that I was thankful for.

I'm thankful for..having 4 beautiful and healthy children.
I'm thankful for..the 5 beautiful and healthy grandchildren I was given.
I'm thankful for..the 16 years I knew and loved my mom.
I'm thankful for..all my friends near and far. Some knowing as long as 53 years!
I'm thankful for..meeting and marrying Herb.
I'm thankful for..being able to help Herb with his health issues.
I'm thankful for..being 60 years old and in good health.
I'm thankful for..having my kids near me when I decided to leave San Antonio.
I'm thankful for..being able to live on my own for the first time in my life in 2001.
I'm thankful for.. my wonderful kitties. They love me no matter what I do.
I'm thankful for..all the love Herb has for me.
I'm thankful for..Jen and Mark working things out.
I'm thankful for..my daughter in law and 3 sons in law. I love them all.
I'm thankful for..my 2 sisters and brother.
I'm thankful for..the love my grandchildren have for each other.
I'm thankful for..Matthew being able to start college next year.
I'm thankful for..all of us being safe during hurricane Ike and having somewhere safe to go.
I'm thankful for..having a job that I enjoy going to every day.
I'm thankful for..my kids all getting along with each other so well.
I'm thankful for..being able to go on a family vacation each year.
I'm thankful for..getting to know 2 of my half sisters.
I'm thankful for..having 2 wonderful grandma's.
I'm thankful for..the happy years I spent with Tom sr.
I'm thankful for..knowing how it was to live in a time that was safe to take walks and not
having to worry.
I'm thankful for..being able to spend holidays with my family.
I'm thankful for..Rob finally able to do dialysis at home.
I'm thankful for..being able to know my mother and father in law Smith.
I'm thankful for..being in touch with my dad for a little while before he died.
I'm thankful for..all the good memories I have of living in Durand, Illinois on the farm.
I'm thankful for..being able to afford things that we like.
I'm thankful for..Cat and CJ both living to the age of 18. I miss them and Cita a lot. They gave
me a lot of joy and happiness.
I'm thankful for..my 2 nephews that I wish I was able to get to know better.
I'm thankful for..my kids being such good parents. I hope they learned a little of that from me.
I'm thankful for..my 3 Godchildren-Trina Laube, Lauren and Neil Lindsay.
I'm thankful for..my Aunt Carol and Uncle Tom for giving Rob a home after our mom died.
I'm thankful for..all the memories I have of mom. I wish Debbie had more.
I'm thankful for..the education my kids have. They are all doing so well.
I'm thankful for..being able to do crafts.
I'm thankful for..my grandma and grandpa G. giving me a home after I graduated from high
school.
I'm thankful for..someday being able to see all my loved ones in Heaven.

Cindyshelle

Even a year later in 1st grade her curls haven't come back! Isn't she a pretty little girl!!

When Cindi was about 5 she got her 1st haircut from her Aunt Joan. Her hair was always very curly until this day when it went pretty straight. It is still curly now but it's funny how it changed

On Cindi's 2nd birthday she got a HUGE box from her uncle Robbie filled with toys wrapped up in newspaper. She had more fun opening up each one and we all had fun watching. Uncle Rob always had fun shopping for the kids. He told us people watched as he played with the toys in the isles of the stores. If you knew Rob you knew it could get a little embarrassing if you were with him!

Sue was a little mother even at this age. She loved taking care of her little sister if she wasn't playing with her dolls.

When Cindi was a few years old, she couldn't say her whole name which was Cynthia Michelle. She would say Cindyshelle. To this day, she sometimes signs cards to me --Love, Cindishelle. This picture was taken in Durand, Illinois in our driveway. There weren't too many cars going by but the kids knew not to go into the road. The driveway was pretty long with a small hill to go down. Cindi's hair was pretty curly at this age.

How did I forget that we lived in Chicago?

Yes, I forgot that after we moved from Addison, Illinois, we moved to Chicago. At the time Tom went to University of Illinois at Chicago Circle and I worked there in the financial aid department. We lived in a very small apartment a few blocks from the school. Tom's brother and his family lived upstairs from us. Our apartment had 2 very small bedrooms. Cindi and Sue's was big enough for a twin bed and a crib almost next to each other. The small dresser was at the end of the beds. Our room was a little larger. The living room was small but ok except if the curtains were open you looked into the next apartment building apartment and saw their living room. The same with the kitchen. The kitchen had a few cupboards above the sink that was very low. It also had a built-in china cabinet like thing that was nice. There was a small closet that I can't remember what I kept in it. The bathroom was off the kitchen that had a sink that never worked so we brushed our teeth in the kitchen. On the only Christmas that we spent there we were told that we couldn't have a tree. With 2 little girls we had to do something so we got a tiny artificial tree that was about a foot tall and I made foil balls to hang on it. Santa found us so it worked! At one time my sister, Debbie took the train and then a cab to come and visit. I guess I forgot to tell her that the entrance to the apartment was on the side and she couldn't find how to get in so she went next door and found some men, that I think were mobsters, and called me from their meeting room or whatever it was. I then went out and met a sister in tears! Since I wouldn't drive in Chicago I did most of my shopping at a small mom/pop grocery store that delivered. I would call them and a young boy would deliver everything for me. I used to see a Good Humor truck on my way home from work and would stop sometimes to get Sue an ice cream treat. She always looked forward to that. There was a hospital right across the street that Cindi spent a few days in. She fell down a flight of steps at our apartment. She had a snowsuit on so had a lot of protection, but she was acting strange after. I took her to the doctor and he wanted to observe her in the hospital. She ended up having bronchitis and nothing from the fall.

Moving to the country!!

When Cindi was just a few years old, we moved to Durand, Illinois. It was an old farmhouse about a hundred years old. Tom and his family lived there years before when he was younger. It was old but huge. There were 2 stairways to go upstairs-one on each side of the house. The things that I did not like is that there were only 2 closets-one upstairs and one down and the kitchen was very tiny. Shortly after we moved there we started meeting neighbors. One of them had a few of the close neighbor ladies come to her house for a breakfast to meet me Sue and Cindi. Everyone was so nice. That's where we met Mary Jo and her 1 year old daughter, Heather, who was just starting to walk. Mary Jo's husband, Neil, was a farmer so when Mary Jo and I decided to have a garden together at our place he came over with his tractor to plow it and plant our sweet corn. We also had green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, squash and peas. The kids helped when they were older picking the corn and taking the ends off the beans. Everything tasted so good in the winter. I would can lots of tomatoes and freeze lots of beans. Everytime someone came over and we had vegetables in the garden we would fill their trunks. The kids played a lot outside and liked to play school or with their dolls. The winters were cold but the snow was fun to play in. I remember one time during the winter when Sue was waiting for the school bus on the front porch she decided to put her tongue on the iced up window and it got stuck!! We have lots of good memories of living there. Lots of family holidays when the house was filled with people. The country is a great place to raise kids. If any of you kids have any special good memories please write them here-I'd love to hear some. I might not remember them but will if I hear them.

Here's baby #2!!

Sue is holding Cynthia Michelle the day she came home from the hospital. We were living in Addison, Illinois. My sister, Joan, was staying with us at the time so she took me to the hospital before Cindi was born and Tom met us there. When we came home Toms Aunty Ann stayed with us for a few days to help me. Cindi was the smallest of all my babies.

Here is Cindi the day of her baptism. We had quite a few people attend. I don't remember what we did afterwards.

I always loved being a mom to my kids.

Sue was always a 2nd mom it seems. She helped out all the time.

The doctor always thought I was having a boy but it took a few times! Sonograms were not around yet to see if it was going to be a girl or boy so you had to be prepared for both.

My kids never had much hair until they were about a year old so you would never guess how curly Cindi's would eventually become!

My first borns first few years...

The seat Sue is sitting in is what I used as a car seat!! I would put her on the front seat passenger floor in it while I drove. Remember we did not have car seat laws 40 years ago!!

Sue loved cats at an early age. The siamese here was related to Cat, our first cat that lived to be 18 years old.

I love this picture. All ready for bed in her pj's. Grandma G. is sitting behind her.

A few picture machine pictures. I think Sue looks a lot like my grand daughter, Bristol in these 2 pictures.

Along comes baby #1

On May 6, 1968, little Susie Lucek was born. I was at the hospital for 20 minutes when she made her entrance! I didn't have labor pains so I didn't realize I was in labor. A week or so before I did go to the hospital I had false labor and went to the doctor. We lived quite a ways from the hospital so your dad said that if this wasn't the true thing I would stay with grandma Lucek until you came since they lived closer. We didn't have a name picked out since you were supposed to be a boy. Your dad said how about Susan and I just agreed.

2 months old. When you were born we had no idea how to take care of a baby! I was always reading Dr. Spock. I guess I did ok since you just turned 40!!

5 months old and you were bald!! You didn't get hair until you were almost a year old.

Notice the table! It's the same one that I use now! Also your high chair in the background. We used that for Matthew and Lauren when you came to see me.We were playing cards with Rob at this time and it was getting late but you didn't want to go to bed so I let you stay up and help me play my hand. I've been told a few times that you were a little stinker at this age and we let you get away with it but look at how you turned out!!

This was taken at Susan's 1st birthday party. We invited a lot of relatives and most of them came. The picture above is of Sue's mom & dad, her paternal grandparents and paternal great-grandparents. The picture below is of all her grandmothers living at the time-great-grandma Stella Lucek, grandma Madge Lucek, great-grandma Anna Munson and great-grandma Hazel Gulgren. You were the first grandchild and great grandchild on both sides.

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Happily Ever After Failed...

My friend, Marilyn, and I went to the McDonald's (it was the local hangout) in Crystal lake, Il. one night and that was the first time that I saw your dad. I told Marilyn that I would like to go out with him. I felt something the very first time that I saw him. Our first date was on my 18th birthday. Your dad turned 17 11 days later. These 2 pictures are from when we first started to date. I never went out with anyone else after that. I was your dads first date and first girlfriend. We went to the Crystal Lake drive in and saw Mary Poppins. I remember him trying to hold a cigarette and match in one hand trying to light the cigarette. I don't know why since he didn't smoke.

Another picture from the picture machine from when we first started dating.

We went to your dad's senior prom the spring of 1967. Our song was Cherish and the theme of the prom ended up being called Cherish. We didn't go to a restaurant for dinner before - we went to McDonalds! The prom was held at Lake Lawn Lodge, which was a beautiful place.

This was the best day of my life when we got married. I loved your dad very much. The wedding was at St. Thomas Catholic church in Crystal Lake with Father Vlaz performing the ceremony. The reception was held at a place called carpenters union. My uncle and aunt worked there so they got it for us. I borrowed my aunt Carol Dingle's dress. It fit perfect!

My aunt Carol's topper was on top of the cake. The top of the cake stayed in my aunt Janet's freezer until our first anniversary. We went to a very nice restaurant for that.

Until we went to our first home on our wedding night, I never saw where we would live. We had no idea where we would go after our honeymoon! My aunt Janet came to the rescue again when she found a nice place. Your dad went and saw it and took it. He even carried me over the thresh hold! I was little then! It was a winter home for us. The owners lived there during the summer because it was right next to the lake. We moved out after the winter and moved in with aunt Rita and her then husband, Bob. When the summer was over we moved back into our house. By then we had Sue. The first time we lived there the rent was $50 and then it went up to $75. The owners remodeled it. They made the 2 bedrooms into 1. It was a really cute place.

High School Days

I went to high school in McHenry, Il. from 1962 until 1966, when I graduated. My first day at high school didn't start out very well. I guess my mom and I got the time wrong for what time I should be there. She dropped me off and for some reason school didn't start for a few hours. I didn't know what to do since I didn't see anyone else so I found some steps inside the school and just sat there until other kids started to show up. We had to have 16 credits in order to graduate and take 4 years of gym. I still remember our gym uniform. It was a dark blue one piece short set. We had to have our last name sewn on the back. Mom did that and I can still see how nice of a job she did. Every time I cross stitched something, I thought of my name on the back of my gym uniform! The girls had to wear dresses or skirts that were long enought so that if you kneeled on your knees it would touch the floor. No pants or shorts for us! On one of the first days of school, I met a girl named Marilyn Cima. She became my best friend all through high school. Every day before school we would meet at the same place outside our Latin class. She taught me to knit so I was able to make a pink sweater for my home ec class. I got an A on it! I didn't like school too well. I didn't get very good grades but I made it to graduation! I never went to many places with friends especially when we went to live with my aunt Eloise. We were allowed to go to only one place a week. I usually went to a dance with Marilyn held on Sunday night from 7-10 at the roller rink. Sometimes I walked to another friends house not too far from us. We would usually listen to her record albums. My sisters and I always had to clean the house at Eloises on Saturday. I remember cleaning and cleaning and Eloise would come home and would say that it was not good enough. We would also have to do all the cooking, laundry and babysitting. I did date a few boys during my high school years. After I graduated I wanted to become a stewardess on an airplane or a veternarian. I had no idea how I could even do that so I never did either. The day after I graduated from high school I went to live with my grandma and grandpa. I worked at an office supply store called SOS (suburban office supply).

I remember...

I remember catching lightening bugs. nightcrawlers and polywogs.

I remember going on my very first date with a boy. His name was Jim Pitts. We went to a dance at a lodge with a lot of old men!

I remember going up north with my Aunt Hazel, Uncle Carl, little grandma, little Carol, cousins and my family.

I remember watching The Wizard of Oz for the first time with my dad while we were eating steak.

I remember lieing on the grass and looking at the clouds figuring out what they looked like.

I remember watching my cat having kittens and I was very scared.

I remember walking to school while in elementary school.

I remember while in elementary school going with my friend Judy to buy our moms mother's day presents. I bought a cookbook (which I still have) and a flower.

I remember getting my mom a jewelry box (which I also have still) for a special occasion.

I remember mom giving us sugar mixed into butter to stop us from coughing,

I remember for a bedtime snack having a slice of white bread with milk poured on top and sugar sprinkled on top of that.

I remember all the pick carnations in the front of our house.

I remember when I was about 4/5 and sitting with my cousin, Bruce, scribbling on paper and insisting that I was really writing something.

I remember skating down a hill trying to get to my cat before she ran away (she was an indoor/outdoor cat) and falling. I still have the scar from that.

I remember watching my neighbor friends eating a whole raw onion and thinking that it looked good. I went home and got one. It was awful.

I remember my other neighbors family liked raw potatoes so I tried them too. They were also awful.

I remember my very first present from a boy. Jim Pitts gave me a necklace watch for my graduation. (yes, I still have that too)

I remember getting cologne from another boyfriend. It was called Prophecy by Prince Matchibely (sp) Bob Hammerstone was the boyfriend.

I remember taking square dance lessons at school. My favorite one was called the Virginia Reel.

I remember my dad bring some type of smoked fish home and having some with him. I can still taste it. It was really good.

I remember having to go through all of our pictures and having to take out any with my dad and giving them to my mom.

I remember when in elementary school having to say out loud that I did not have a dad and I did not know what kind of job he had. The teacher was asking everyone. There was only one other person without one besides me. I was very embarassed.

I remember getting my first transister radio for Christmas. I stayed up most of Christmas night waiting for music to start to play. (Yes, I still have it)

I remember having my very first banana split. I was a junior in high school. Another boyfriend named Billy Joe bought it for me.

I remember going to a real restaurant with my family and having pizza. That was the only restaurant I remember going to with my mom and brother and sisters.

I remember standing on the front steps of the house with the record player playing an Elvis song and showing Debbie and Joan how to dance. (like I knew myself how to)

I remember the first 45 record I ever got. It was called Let's Dance. (You guessed it-I still have it)

I remember catching snow on my tongue.

I remember seeing my mom in her casket.

I remember holding Debbie's hand at the funeral home because she was crying.

I remember not being able to live with my brother after my mom died.

I remember liking to watch Lawrence Welk on tv and seeing the Lennon sisters.

After mom died...

This is one of the last pictures taken of my mom. My brother, Rob, my Aunt Janet and I am also in the picture. It is taken in the living room that we would be living in, in a few months.

This is my Aunt Eloise, Uncle Jack, cousins and us 3 girls. All but my 2 older cousins, Bruce and George lived in the house.

There were 3 bedrooms. Ours is in the front, right of the house. My 2 cousins had a room and my aunt and uncle had the other.

We didn't do too many fun activities while living there. We did get to take baton lessons and walk in the Wonder Lake parade. I have no idea where we are in this group of girls!! The day after I graduated from high school, I moved out and in with my grandparents. Eventually Eloise dropped Joan and Debbie off at my grandparents. Joan stayed with grandma and grandpa. Debbie went to live with my Aunt Janet and Uncle Gene. Rob was staying with another aunt and uncle all this time-my dads sister, Carol and her husband Tom.

School pictures

These are most of my school pictures. I don't know if I have them in the right order and I have no idea why there are 2 of the 1959-1960!! At one time I was in a class with 2 grades in it so maybe I had a picture for the class with my right grade and one with the 2 grades. I never noticed it until now.