Adalyn Joy Croce

I am a proud aunt of my niece Adalyn Joy Croce!!
Born December 27th, 2010
Time: 5:46 PM
Weight: 7 lbs 11 oz
Height: 19 3/4 inches

Jason with his baby girl, Adalyn Joy!

In this picture I can see my mother in her! She has her mouth and chin!!!

Jason's chunker!

Jason already being a protective Daddy!

Adalyn is our little angel. She will bring so much Joy to our lives! We love her so much already. Her mother will not let us be part of her life right now but soon she'll be in our lives and we will show her what love really is.

I pray that my Mom will watch over her until we can be part of her life.

We love you Adalyn Joy!!

"A baby is a miracle sent from heaven above"

Christmas Eve before Grandpa Butch's house

Some pictures of the kids before Christmas Eve at my Dad's house!! The kids are so excited to go to Grandpa Butch's house and for Santa to come!

This picture is my favorite!! Breckin and Maraya love each other so much!

Before having Christmas we will be visiting Mom's grave and share special memories we had with Mom! We love and miss Mom everyday! She is still giving us signs to let us know she's ok!!!

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you all enjoy time with your family and making new memories!

Letter to Santa

Breckin just wrote his 1st letter to Santa and this is what he wrote:

Santa,

I want air hockey, cars and baby toys for Maraya!

Love, Breckin.

Maraya wouldn't sit with Santa Saturday so Breckin thinks Santa won't bring her anything---he had to write toys for her, too! He wrote the whole letter himself. I, of course, spelled the letters out for him. He is such a loving and thoughtful child!

Santa & Snowmen

Every year we head down to Toronto to see Santa. Ever since I was little I remember going to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus -Cavey :) Santa Cavey looks like the real Santa. I love knowing my kids get to see them too. They are both so caring and loving. Breckin on the way down asked if Santa was going to be in a Van again this year! He remembers last year seeing him get out of a van!

Maraya wanted nothing to do with Santa. We did get her to talk to Mrs. Claus.

Raya excited to get her present from Santa!!

Breckin loved Santa this year and didn't cry! He told Santa he wanted big cars and trucks.

Breckin, Mr and Mrs. ClausBreylee telling Santa her list!
Breylee and Santa
Ethan and Santa

Ethan making his snowman
Ethan's finished snowman
Breylee and Breckin with their snowman

Maraya with her snowmanMaraya, Breylee, Ethan & Breckin

The kids with the finished snowman!

Maraya Lynn
Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!!



The kids worked so hard on their snowmen. They made 3 total. Last night after Ethan and Breylee went home we went to get groceries and came back and noticed our snowmen were knocked down. :( The kids were so upset. It's sad that someone has to ruin something that the kids worked so hard at.

Mom and Dad's Stone

FINALLY Mom and Dad's stone is finished! Who would have known it would take a few months just to get the design approved!!! The first issue we had was trying to figure out which side to put Mom and Dad's name on. We had no idea which plot mom was buried in. We called the person in charge of the cemetery and the funeral home. Neither one knew where she was buried. The cemetery didn't even have Mom's name down where she's buried on the plot sheet. The funeral home doesn't keep records of where people are buried. The funeral home worker said he could contact the grave digger. Finally, we had the monument place come out to probe out to see where Mom is buried. Sad huh? After all that work we did find out where mom is.

The traditional way to do things, it is the way they are at the altar when they get married and the woman is always on the man's left arm. I had no idea that there's a traditional way to bury a wife/husband. I found this info out from the funeral home director after one of my many emails to him!

Dad picked out the style of stone. He got this stone because it was perfect to put the Saying "The Circle of our Family is Forever." When Mom was in the hospital Mom, Dad and all us kids help make funeral arrangements. One of Mom's request was to have a flower on the front of the stone and the saying "The Circle of Our Family is Forever." We did just that. In the photos you'll see. On the front of the stone we put a rainbow because that is our sign from Mom! Under the rainbow is the flower Mom wanted and the word Family. Mom was all about family so it fits well to be our her stone! Dad wanted to have the wedding rings with their wedding date on the front. On the back we put WE ARE FAMILY. Mom loved that song and it fits well with our whole family!!! The words you see on the back is words from the Rocks we got from my good friend Joni! Dad and Mom have the rock "Spirit" that is the rock that we put in Mom's hands. When we are down and need a little boost we can look at our rocks and know Mom is right there with us! On the base it has all of our names on it! I think the stone turned out great and is everything Mom would have wanted!!! It's PERFECT!!!!!

Dad got a phone call tonight saying the stone was done. After work I drove down to T-Town picked up Dad and we drove to Dewitt to look at the stone! Dad loved it!!! Tomorrow they will be putting it on Mom's Grave!!! Hanson Monument in Dewitt were great!! (oh and the wording on the back are put in letters of lettering Mom picked out for Amy and my Believe rock she bought for us when she was sick!) This stone has meaning all over it!!

Life without a Mother

Wow 1 year already since Mom's passing. There are days where it seems forever that Mom has been gone or it seems like yesterday I was sitting next to her enjoying her smile and sense of humor! I miss my Mom every day and my one wish is to have her with us again. I am sad that I can't talk with her whenever I want, go down to her house to visit her, go shopping or sneak the casino and not let Dad know where we went!!! The biggest reason I am sad without my mother is for my kids. They love and miss their Grandma Judy. It's amazing how Breckin still remembers her clear as day. He was so excited to start preschool and one of the first things he was going to do was make grandma a rainbow or an angel.

One of the last photo's of Mom at Mom and Dad's 40th Anniversary.

The last summer with Mom. We have great Memories together at Niabi Zoo!

Rainbows EVERYWHERE!!

I love this prism and it is one of the BEST gifts I could receive. This prism shines beautiful rainbows throughout my car. Breckin and Maraya are always saying "Grandma Judy!" Every time they see a rainbow (on TV or in a book) they scream out Grandma Judy with a big smile on their face. I am so glad they both remember Mom!



This rock has helped me through my tough days of missing Mom. Every time I am down I look at the rock and breathe. I am so thankful of my great friends for giving me such special gifts to remember Mom by!


back to life without a mother.....

This last year was hard and people keep telling me it will get easier. I keep asking myself...What will get easier? Each day without my mother is another day without seeing her face, hearing her voice, feeling the love she shared or sharing my life with her. Each birthday, holiday or special occasion that passed by were hard. Mom was the life of every gathering. We didn't have her goofy self to help get through the quiet dull moments! Losing my mother was the hardest thing that has happened to me... everything happens for a reason. God gave us a guardian angel that will love and protect us forever!


Some things I miss......

I miss my phone calls to her. We either talked for 30 seconds or hours at a time! She always gave me the advice I needed.

I miss her voice... her voice always brightened my day!

I miss her smile... when she smiled everyone smiled.

I miss her love... she had so much love for everyone!

I miss our casino adventures. She was the luckiest woman at the casino!! She would always walk out a winner!! Seeing the joy on her face was priceless when she won her winnings were priceless.

I miss our shopping sprees. Mom LOVED christmas shopping. We always had a great time finding gifts for the boys. Anything Iowa Hawkeyes was the perfect gift for them.

I miss our walks.... I remember I was pregnant with Breckin and Mom was always a fast walker. One of our walks we walked by my uncle Jan and Aunt Deb's house and then onto the paved road to Massolin. I know I was a quarter a mile behind her. She was proud that she walked faster than me! I kept yelling at her to slow down and I hoped no one saw how far ahead she was than I... I felt like a waddling baby duck following the Mama Duck!! We had plenty of laughs about this walk!

I miss her playing with my kids... She was a wonderful grandma to her grandchildren. She was so proud when she became a grandmother! My kids were the luckiest kids to have her as their grandma!

I just miss having a mother!

I treasure every memory I had with Mom. They are memories that never can be taken away.

Thanks to everyone who helped me get through this year. I wouldn't have made it without my family and friends! Mom we miss you and love you dearly and LOVE the signs you have given us throughout this year to let us know you are still here right beside us. Your love still shines through everyday!

"A Circle of our Family is Forever"

Breckin's first day of Preschool

I wanted to share some pictures of Breckin's first day of preschool. The last few weeks we have been counting down till the day Breckin started Preschool. He was so excited last night and this morning. I was nervous to leave him all by himself and to have him ride the big bus to his babysitters. I knew everything would be fine but Moms always have to worry! He came home excited to tell us about his first day. He loved riding the bus. He said he had to ride bus 11 and bus 4. He said Bus 11 was crazy. I asked him why the bus was crazy and he said because it was really bumpy! Bus 4 wasn't bumpy Mom! I asked him about his day and he said he hopped like a frog, went to the library, ran in the gym and the guy teacher said, "Great Job Breckin!" He even got to go to the park! He was so excited that the park wasn't far from his school!! (cute he thinks the playground is the park) I can't believe my baby boy is this big already. Soon he will be graduating high school. What will I do without him here?? I know I have many years until that day but it will be here before I know it.

My goofy Breckin excited for his first day of Preschool

Another picture of Breckin waiting to go to school.

Breckin with his sister Maraya

At this point he was done with all the pictures!!!

Raya and Breckin - I'm not sure who is teaching Raya her baby habit!

I took Miss Raya to the babysitters after dropping Breckin off this morning. She cried and didn't want to go to the babysitters. She hasn't ever done that. She missed her big brother Breckin. I love the Brother/Sister love they have for each other!

Ya Maka My Weekend

Just wanted to share random pictures of Ya Maka My Weekend! August 14th, 2010

I thought this was a good picture with Amy and Scott!

Kevin (Bobbi's Husband) Scott (Amy's Husband) Corey, my brothers Jason and Jeff
Some of the boys... we are missing Anthony, Justin, Dad, Joey and Travis

Bobbi, Amy and I watching one of the Jamaican bands playing.

Amy and Justin with Dad in the background.

Jason and I having fun!

Anthony, Jason and I

Dad came out too! I'm not sure if he had fun watching his "crazy" kids!

Bobbi and Amy

Kevin, Joey and I at one of the run down bars in the district. We had a lot of fun here!