The REAL Meaning of the 4th....

The 4th is just fireworks and hot dogs to most. Family gatherings. An extra day off of work. Splashing by the pool... It was that to me, but this year, it has taken on more...

The boys and I have been talking about going to the Holocaust Museum for quite some time. It seems that something always came up that stopped us from doing it. Nothing intentional. It was just that life seemed to always get in the way...Well, we finally managed to get there yesterday....

You see, getting my boys there was VERY important to me. It is part of WHO WE ARE. Even though I was raised by my mom and her parents, I know that 1/2 of my roots are seeded in the Jewish ancestry of my father. So, when my boys showed the strong interest that they had in WWII, I knew that it was CRUCIAL for them to know about our family's direct connection with the Holocaust....

I did not see my dad's parents very often. However, when I did, I LISTENED. It is WHAT I DO. My family history is very important to me. I have a GREAT memory. I catalog family stories in my head very well and store them for my children and grandchildren so that they are not lost and can live on....It is IMPORTANT for us to know about our family and who/what we are all about. That means a GREAT deal to me!

So, when we walked into the museum, we were a bit quiet. It was small and nothing like the museums that we had ever been to. It was dark and dreary. Tobey kept saying that it just made him so sad. I agreed. So many things that happened to kids. That was the thing that resignated most with me. Children....Harming, Murdering, Abusing....Children....After a while, Tylor made the conclusion, "Mom, the lucky ones were killed/died before they even made it to those camps." "Yes, Tylor, you are right." It broke my heart to expose my kids to something this bad, but I knew that this was something that they needed to see. My grandmother's sister was sent to our family because her entire family perished in the Holocaust. So, our family was DIRECTLY affected. It is important. They NEEDED to know. Not to mention the fact that they are now teens and they need to know how HATE can spread like wildfire and the dammage that one man can cause with his HATE....

It was a painful, heartwrenching experience. One we were ready for, but were exhausted from after we were done. When we walked out, we all placed a stone on the memorial and agreed that the 1.5 million children that died would be remembered in our efforts to NOT let hate ever hurt anyone else. I was proud of my boys and their effort to learn about a very dark time in which none of us are very proud to speak about.....

Though photography was not allowed inside, we were allowed to take a couple outside....

In 1997, the museum got an actual rail car that was used to transport Jews to the camps. We were told that they would put up to 200 people in these cars with no food or water and the small windows that they did have were sealed shut....1/3 were usually dead by the time the cars reached their destination....







The boat here was a MUCH happier sight. This was just given to our museum 2 years ago from Denmark. These boats were used by fishermen to save the Jewish children of Denmark. In the evenings, they would put 5-6 kids in the cargo area and sail them out to Sweden. This was done every night. By doing this, they managed to save 7000 children. The boys were happy to make the connection that Brennyn and Baylee's donor is from Denmark... :)

As this day comes to a close, it also signifies the OFFICIAL time that my triplets were born!

I just CANNOT believe that I am now the mother of 3 teenagers!!!

These are the letters that I wrote to them and and taped on their doors when I went for work....

Thirteen years ago.

My life changed FOREVER

It started at 10:10 PM with you, Tobey. You came into this world with a fight that many told me you would NOT win. Doctors said that you were just too small, too broken to stay with us. Odds were against you. It was at that moment that I first saw the spirit of my oldest child. You are the bravest and strongest person that I have ever met. Though you are my smallest child in size, you are the largest in spirit, perseverance and determination. You have proven doctors, therapists and teachers wrong over and over. You have succeeded in school and taekwondo way beyond what anyone could have ever imagined. Triple Crown State champ 2008 & 2009! Through the years, my wish for you has been that you have seen that there is nothing you CANT do. I pray you see there is a world of opportunity waiting for you and that you, like anyone else, can go out there and tackle it! I have often fought hard battles to get things for you so you could see that there are things you deserve and you should stand up for those things whether or not others try to tell you otherwise. As you enter your teen years, I hope that you continue to believe in yourself and all that you can and WILL do. The possibilities for you are endless. Go show the world the Tobey Pelzer that we all know and love!





At 10:13, you, Tylor, made your entry. You came in what would later be your typical way of handling most things. You were very relaxed and laid back. You were in no rush to cry or breath on your own. You simply wanted to lie under the lights and oxihood till you had enough sleep and tanning time to handle what lie ahead. You have become a young man that I am very proud of. You are fiercely protective of your brother and younger siblings. You also have a kind and gentle side and I think that is fabulous as you will find a girl one day who will see and appreciate that. Right now, you seem to be very shy around others, but I know that will pass and you will find your place and your way. I see so much of my Poppop in you and it makes my heart smile. Your decision to enter the army is one that did scare me, but now makes me proud. Like Poppop, you show a lot of pride for our country and he would be so happy to know you and to know that one of his great-grandsons was carrying on the family tradition of military service. It is a very tough decision to make, but I know you and I know how much you have already thought about this even at your young age. I have so many dreams for you. I hope your teen years bring so much. I hope you find friendship, love, and most of all happiness with who you are. You are a great kid. You are such a wonderful brother and son. Believe in yourself and who you are and everything else will fall into place. You can reach all of your goals and dreams if you just have faith in who you really are.





At 10:15, my smallest and most anticipated, Taylar you were born. You came out kicking and screaming. You were throwing yourself around from the beginning. You were determined that you were leaving that hospital first and that you DID! Having a girl was my dream. A sweet little doll of my own to dress up and dote on. And dress up and dote on I did! You have been a willing participant all along. Always into the girlie girl things and loving to get your hair done and all dressed up! A sweet and shy little girl you were always smiling and happy. Your recent years have been very hard and I struggle with my emotions for you and what lies ahead. I worry so much. All I truly want is for you to be happy. If you could just find your place, that would be great. I know that you often feel like the world just does not understand you and I really really hate that. Please know that we are trying. We do not see or hear things the way that you do. It is very hard for us to understand what you go through when our view is so much different. There are so many people who love and care about you and we are all trying to help you be happy and successful. You just have to trust us and let us try. Always remember that Nana and Grammy are watching over and protecting you and that you are a very smart person who is capable of GREAT things!

Again, people that I thought cared have proven otherwise....

Now, I am no longer surprised. Just confirmed in my suspicions....Today is a HUGE day. I mean, how often do 3 kids turn 13 at the SAME TIME??? You would think that this would be easy. Only 1 birthday to remember instead of 3. Well, I think that it is really not a matter of remembering. Rather, more like other things are just more important....Sad for myself and my children....

I am vowing to NOT insult my Uncle Bill any longer. This year, he is THE ONLY ONE who has come through for BOTH mine and the TRIPLETS birthdays. That is more than I can say about MANY others and that is SAD!

I am just NOT able to see how people can get so "overwhelmed" with life that they can just "overlook" a birthday THIS important? Heck, ANY birthday is important. To let ANYONE (a kid is just THAT much worse) think that you just forgot their birthday is one of the lowest of lows. I have been there MANY times as a child. I KNOW how it stings. It is one of the WORST feelings in the world. It REALLY changes the way you look/see someone. I remember thinking that I must have meant very little to my Dad for him to not even be able to send a card to me on my birthday. That was a feeling that I never wanted my kids to feel....

Now, of the many people that did forget today, my SISTER was one of them! She should be ASHAMED of herself and she was one that I did NOT expect like I did of some of the others... I do not care that she is out of town. She KNEW when their birthday was and should have made arrangements. I do not care if her husband and I had a falling out. That happened BEFORE her kids' birthday yet I managed to get presents to both of them when the time came!

I guess that I need to make a list of all of these things. So, when I complain about the moments when I feel sad about not having people around and it just being myself and my kids, I can remember what having others around really brings..Just a bunch of disappointment and heartache...After all, I AM THE ONE who has to explain to the kids why it is that we give all of these people gifts and yet they give nothing to them???? Keep in mind that I am doing my best to try and teach them etiquette and just wondering how the hell I am supposed to do that when the adults around them cannot even manage to model it?

Can you tell that my kids are just a bit excited about going away?

This is what has been written on the dry erase board inside the pantry that usually has a list of what is needed from the store on it....



Too funny! I love it! It really is our FIRST big road trip as a family of 6....We shall see...

The 10 year gap.....

As we start preparing for our road trip to North Carolina, the 10 year difference in my children is alarmingly clear.....

Today, we picked up videos for the long drive...When they were laid out, the selection was interesting to say the least...








VERY different styles and choices among the 5 kids....

TGIF!

Ouch!