IT'S TIME FOR A LITTLE HUMOR!

One of the things that Mom is known for is her Sense of Humor! Mom has never been very good at telling jokes - she usually gets to the punch line and either gets it backwards or just forgets it entirely. But - she loves to tell little stories that make the people around her smile or laugh! And from the memories that have been shared - her family and friends enjoy hearing them.

Here are a few fun things that have happened in the last few days:

Mom has been giving us Lots of Lists (you KNOW she's a listmaker!) of things we need to do. She asked us last Monday what the date was and when we told her, Sept 21 - she said that it was Tierney's (a grand daughter) birthday and we needed to be sure to call her right away to say 'Happy Birthday'. She has given us lists of bills to pay, reminded us to call someone about the paper products she had in her car trunk for the Folsom Quilt Guild and been happy that Dad reports that he is keeping his bed made.

A couple of days ago when she was giving us some instructions, she told us that we'd need to teach Dad to use the washing machine. As much as Dad is a wonderful help around the house and a Master in the garden - he really doesn't have much (any?) experience with a lot of the day to day household chores. I told her that we'd make sure Dad knew how to do the laundry and since he knew how to use a rototiller I was sure he could use a washing machine. Mom shook her head a little bit and wasn't quite sure. She has taken such good care of Dad for 54? years that there will be lots of things for Dad to find and figure out. Of course we know that Dad is wonderfully capable and might spend some time on a few 'treasure hunts' trying to find things - but he'll catch on to the domestic chores quickly!

Oh - I just realized that Mom & Dad's Anniversary was last week when all this was beginning....HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD! - thank you for an example of love, commitment, support, friendship, genuine admiration, service, encouragement in your relationship....the list could go on and on!

Another thing that Mom told us last week was that Dad needs help cutting his toenails! Since having hip replacement surgery years ago, it's difficult for Dad to reach his toes. She told us that he needs to take a shower first so they're softer and easier to trim. Mom said that if Dad doesn't keep his toenails trimmed, he gets holes in his socks. Dad said he could just buy new socks. I told her that we could also cut the toes off the end of his shoes so the toenails could just grow out. She rolled her eyes at our ridiculous suggestions and shook her head...those suggestions were just NOT acceptable!

Dr. Cen was the Hematologist that gave us Mom's diagnosis and helped our family understand her situation. Mom really liked him!...and so do we. She told him that know she knew about what he does in his work and that he should come to her home and see what she does - she'd like him to see that. You know how much Mom LOVES people to see her home! I think he was taken aback by her invitation - I don't know how often he gets invited to his patient's homes - but I believe he was also pleased.

Mom was telling Dr. Cen that she was just amazed at what was going on. How quickly she had become ill and with the diagnosis. She said 'it all started with a bloody nose'. Then she told Dr. Cen how her Dad taught her to take care of a bloody nose:

"You take a small piece of tissue and fold it up flat. Not as wide as your mustache (Dr Cen has a mustache) but wider than Hitler's mustache (those are Mom's words!). Then you get it a little wet, squeeze out the water and place it under your top lip in front of your gums - right under your nose." Dr. Cen didn't really know what to make of Mom's little story, but it sure made Heather & Dad & I laugh!

We had a wonderful day together yesterday (Saturday) as a family. The youngest kids spent hours in Opa's garden catching butterflies (actually cabbage moths), having them tickle their hands and putting them in a jar to watch them flutter. The rest of us visited, shared silly stories, spent time loving and taking care of Mom, visiting with guests...and eating! Of course, the chocolate is flowing freely in the Allebes home right now! Mom doesn't really have any appetite, but she's eaten half a container of chocolate ice cream by herself in the last couple of days and Dad loves the opportunity to feed her.

Mom told us a couple of days ago that she was concerned about what would happen with 'all my beautiful clothes'. She said they could NOT just go to DI (Deseret Industries). We promised her we wouldn't do that! We shared a couple of ideas with her and decided that we would have the 'gals' in her immediate family get first choice of keeping anything they wanted of Mom's clothes, shoes and hats. Tierney picked Mom's 'Taxi Cab' outfit and Sloane pick Mom's 'Pearly' outfit to keep - those are probably the 2 best 'known' Wearable Art garments that Mom has made. They will be loved by those 2 granddaughters always. The rest of us found different things we would enjoy having - to wear or to just remember the wonderful, creativity of Mom/Oma.

Of course, Mom also has a fabulous collection of hats and shoes that coordinate with many of her outfits...they also need good homes! The girls had fun playing 'dress up' in the back room - putting on different hats, primping and being silly. The 'twenty-something' girls were often surprised and thrilled to see how 'totally cool' and 'vintage chic' some of Mom's clothes, hats and shoes are. It was great to hear their laughter and see them having so much fun. Although Mom was resting, I know she's delighted that they were having a blast playing in her closet! And when they were the things they've chosen - they'll have sweet memories of Oma....

Tyler - Reaka's oldest son - even picked out a couple of Mom's brightly colored linen blazers to wear to school on game days. His High School basketball team is expected to dress up on the days they have games - he'll be 'styling' and flashy in his purple, orange or chartreuse linen blazers. We know Mom will be watching over our family - and she'll think that's 'a hoot'! You know she has never minded standing out in a crowd - she'll love it that the kids at school will see Tyler coming from the other end of the hall!

Last night the granddaughters and I raided Mom's buttons jars and made Button Bracelets. We went to Tayo's Fabrics during the day to buy the bracelet blanks and glue and the girls enjoyed looking around and remembering being there many times with their Oma. We said 'hi' to the chickens in Fair Oaks Village, got lunch for the entire family at the Sunflower Restaurant (LOVE those Nut Burgers!) and after wonderful pies for dessert (Thank You Fair Oaks Ward friends for all the wonderful food!), the girls and I sat down in the evening at Mom's dining room table and played with her buttons. They now each have their own button bracelet to wear and remind them of their Oma when they leave to go home later today.

After all that had gone on during the day - Mom's black and white checkerboard kitchen floor was quite a sight! If it was at my own home, I would have just 'saved it for tomorrow'...but Mom would Never do that! So I got out the broom and swept the floor and Dad showed me how they use their mop (quite an effective little trick with a damp rag) and the floor was quickly clean like Mom would have it before going to bed.

Another Wonderful, Tender Day.....