Personal History

There are a few things I don't remember doing when I was little, but that my siblings insist that I did, so I'll mention them. I guess one time when Ginger, Adam, and I were playing cops & robbers, I stood on the chair and said "let's pretend I'm Jesus" while raising my hands in the air!

I stuck plasticine worms up my nose and my Mom had to get it out with tweezers.

I tried to convince Adam and Ginger that while they were at school I took Karate lessons. So of course Adam asked me to show him something and apparently I did some funny kind of kick that Adam still to this day mocks me for.

My sister told me once that she over heard me playing in the bathtub, and I said "Mother, get you clothes on!" Its so fun to have some of these funny little stories about things you did when you were little. I'll have to try harder to remember the things my kids say and do and record them, cause I know one day they'll love to hear about them.

Personal History

I started grade one at R.I. Baker (in Coaldale), and Mrs Poach was my teacher. I was so excited to learn how to read. The first day Adam took me because my Mom had to work. I remember feeling so scared and nervous and trying so hard not to cry. i don't really remember all that much about the first part of grade one. I remember being happy that Adam was at the same school. I felt safe at recess knowing he was there. We rode our bikes to and from school together too. I do remember one random incident when we were learning how to write Z's. I thought it was neat that the Z was a 7 first and was showing my neighbor...I did my whole row of Z's as 7's first and then was going back over them and adding the last part when my teacher walked by me. She said I was doing them wrong and wrote so in my book. Oh the things we remember when we're young! Some other random memories I have of living in Coaldale: every Sunday night getting excited to watch "The Wonderful World of Disney", playing baseball in the basement with my siblings (Ginger accidentally hit me in the head with the bat once), riding bikes tons, and playing in the the canal by our house. I use to ride my sister's big bike when she was at school. I literally couldn't sit on the seat and peddle at the same time. I probably looked so funny riding it. One more thing: I had my first experience with April Fools day. I remember my sister and I being so excited because it was Saturday (treat day!) so we could pick a treat from our Halloween stash (yes we still had Halloween candy in April!). My Mom told us Dad had eaten it all. We were like "what!". So disappointing for a child who only gets treats once a week. Then she said "April Fool's day!". I thought it was so awesome that there was a day we could make up lies and not get into trouble! I probably did a lot of tricking that day but the one I remember is telling my neighbor friend that I got a new puppy. We ran to my backyard and I shouted "April Fools day!"... It was fun, but I don't think its a tradition I'll pass on to my kids.

26/04/09

Personal History

After Kindergarten we moved into the house my Auntie Lynn had just built. It was a really nice house but it only had 3 bedrooms upstairs and an unfinished basement. So my sister was back sharing a room with me! We even had to share a bed. My cousins left their water beds behind so we slept in them. I think we weren't planning on being there for a long time cause I don't really remember having all our furniture there. There was a hot tub in the house though. The very best part. We had fun playing in the hot tub. The backyard was just dirt with a couple big dirt hills. A child's dream! We had so much fun plying on those hills. I had a couple of friends who lived in the neighborhood so I spent a lot of time playing with them. I had my first experience that I remember with feeling the Holy Ghost. I had just gotten new Sunday shoes and they were so fun to walk in because they made that neat clip clopping sound. I was only allowed to wear them to church but I really wanted to wear them to my friends house. My mom wasn't looking so I put on my church shoes and headed to my friends. I got halfway down my block when I just really felt like I needed to go change shoes...after walking a little further I just felt worse and worse so I turned around and switched my shoes. My Mom never knew that I had made the right decision that day. I remember feeling proud of myself and really wanting to do what was right because it felt so good.

20/03/09

Personal History

I loved kindergarten and had lots of friends. I was a good kid and never really got into trouble. I remember the purple carpet that we use to sit on for singing and story time. One little boy always wanted to sit by me and would always try and kiss my cheek. Its amazing how young you can start becoming attracted to the opposite sex. I just remember him smelling like pee all the time. My mom started working so I would go to Robison's after kindergarten. Thats where Cody and I were babysat. There was another girl there around my age so we had fun together. There are only a few things that stand out in my mind about kindergarten. I remember I loved it when my mom came to help out for my snack day. Sometimes she'd have to bring Cody and he would entertain all the kids. They loved him and thought he was so funny. The Halloween party really stands out too. My mom came to help that day. I dressed up as a genie. I remember going into the bathroom in the dark with the teacher and putting our hands in a container with different foods, and the teacher telling us they were worms and brains and stuff like that. I remember thinking it was fun. Then we carved pumpkins and Mom and my pumpkin won the prize for best carved. I was so excited! Another memory I have of kindergarten was when one of the kids pooped on the carpet and wouldn't admit that they did it. The teachers got the principle to come in and made us line up and they were going to check each of our bums to see who did it. I remember feeling so scared. Another little girl cried. I realize now that they were just trying to scare the person into admitting to the crime. They took him in the bathroom first cause they suspected him and he fessed up. But how scary for the rest of us little kids who didn't understand this. I vaguely remember my graduation but my mom said I cried when I had to say goodbye to my teachers and left, so I must have really loved my kindergarten. We got to go on lots of fun field trips and I remember loving show and tell! Especially when I brought my Mom's omnicord, it was a big hit! Kindergarten is a child's first experience with school so you hope its going to be a good one.

12/02/09

Personal History!

I remember moving to the big two-story house in the cul-de-sac. I think I was 4 and it was still in Coaldale. We had so much fun playing in the cul-de-sac with all the neighbor kids! Again I knew everyone who lived there and had my few that I would visit with all the time. I also had a couple of friends that I played with. It was still a 3 bedroom so me and my sister still had to share a room, and my parents were still renting. After awhile though my mom moved my sister into the very tiny office (it was like a closet) while she was at school. I don't think I ever saw her more happy and excited! I didn't know sharing a room with me was so bad! Though I didn't care, I had a great big room all to myself! I remember getting into trouble often because I would climb from the balcony onto the roof. I was a little monkey and loved to climb. I learned how to ride a 2 wheeler in the cul-de-sac. Ginger and her best friend taught me and another neighbor boy. I loved my little blue, sparkly, rainbow brite bike. I use to ride my bike all over the place. I remember getting into trouble once for riding my bike to Coladale's main street which was like 15-20 blocks from my house. You could also find me riding my sister's bike occasionally while she was at school. It was way too big for me. I couldn't pedal and sit on the seat at the same time. We never had to wear helmets back then. I don't think I've ever worn a helmet bike riding. Now that is unheard of. I started kindergarten and went to St. Joseph's school. My teacher's were Mrs. Marten and Mrs. Deezer. I like them a lot. I remember being very nervous my first day and crying a bit. I've always gotten really nervous about new things. My mom always thought I would give myself an ulcer cause I would make myself sick with worry. I remember having to stay over at my Grandma and Grandpa Malacko's once and my Grandma knit me a beautiful blue sweater and I picked out little lamb buttons. I wore it to their church and because I was so nervous about being there I threw up all over it. I never got to wear the sweater again.

03/01/09

Personal History

The first house I remember living in was in Coaldale. It was a 3 bedroom house with an unfinished basement. It was the first house my parents owned, but was eventually taken away cause they couldn't afford it. Can you imagine not owning a house until after 9 years of marriage and four kids! It seems that most people now have to own houses before or when they first get married or shortly after! Ryan and I are still renting but I'm more then okay with that. We want to be completely out of debt and ready before we own a house. The time will come soon, and it will be worth the wait. I honestly don't have too many memories of my Dad back then. I think it was because he worked a lot, and then was too tired to do anything when he got home. He was also in hockey, baseball, and karate so he wasn't home very much. I do remember looking underneath my parents bed one Christmas and seeing all of our christmas presents. I felt so guilty I told my Dad and he just spanked me and that was that. He spanked us quite a bit when we were really young. I don't think they really knew how to discipline back then. He just did what his father did. Spanking is not very acceptable anymore. I don't ever remember feeling unloved when I got spanked but it is definately not something I have chosen to do with my children. We have slipped up a couple of times but I don't want to discipline my children out of anger or frustration. I don't think it really teaches anything. I did have a healthy fear of my Dad though (if there is such a thing). My mom spanked sometimes too. Mostly when she had to take us out of church. I remember crying not because it really hurt physically but more emotionally. My mom always cuddled and talked to us after. I think it hurt her to do it too. The last time I was spanked was probably when I was 5 or 6. I don't ever remember feeling poor but my mom told me we were and we struggled for many years to get by. I guess you don't think about those things when your little. At 3 I was a very adventurous and friendly  little girl . I knew everyone in the neighborhood. There were a couple of elderly people that i visited with everyday. I also remember a few times trying to follow Ginger and Adam to school and Ginger having to drag me home. I guess I didn't like being in the house. I remember me and my sister sleeping in the same double bed together for awhile. I'm sure she absolutely hated it but I didn't mind. It was a very exciting day when we got bunk beds though. I  was prob 3 or 4. Of course I slept on the bottom, but I remember playing on the top when Ginger was at school. She was very protective of her pillow...lol! I remember Cody being a chubby baby. everyone said I malled him but it was only because I loved him so much! (hhmmm maybe thats how Nate felt about Ty!)

18/12/08

Personal History

I think one of the earliest memories I have is visiting my mom in the hospital when Cody was born. I don't really remember much about it, just that my mom was in a hospital bed holding a little baby whom we were all calling Dylan. His name was changed to Cody by the time they brought him home. I don't really remember a time when Cody wasn't a part of the family, so I guess my childhood begins for me when I was three. I guess my life wasn't that important with out Cody in it! I believe I had a good childhood. I have a lot of happy memories. I remember feeling safe and loved, and thats what a child should feel. My brothers and sister and I all played fairly well together and got along for the most part...more then a lot of siblings do. We spent a lot of time with our extended family and are very close to them because of that. Family became very important to me at a young age and continues to be now.

11/12/08

Personal History!

Well if there is one thing I have been good at doing, its writing in my journal. It hasn't always been consistent but I've done pretty well. Looking back at my entry's now is almost painful though. I know I wrote my thoughts and feelings, but its not always something I'd ever want people to read. So I thought I would go back and sort of rewrite it adding my thoughts and perspectives that I have now. It wasn't that long ago so I think I will be able to remember it pretty well. Although my brain doesn't work as well after having a few kids...lol! I would like other's to be able to read what my childhood and teenage years were like without being embarrassed, especially my own kids. I guess it's sort of like writing my personal history (like our grandparents eventually do) only I'm starting younger, which might be better since my mind is a little fresher..lol! After my mom passed I've read her journals over and over. It makes me feel closer to her. I wish she had stuff written about her childhood and teenage years, so she kind of inspired me to do mine. I have a written copy at home and then I'll be posting entry's on my blog so I have it recorded in another place as well.

26/11/08