Mom & Dad,
I'd like to wish you both the best. I have fond memories of childhood and am in hopes that the good memories will continue forward as friends. We will need each other now more than ever in trying times. I hope that you have a good anniversary as you remember the past 35 years.
Love,
Kristine
Friday, August 31, 2007
Happy Anniversary!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
A Letter from Brandt and Sandy
Dear John and Linda,
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
First and foremost Sandy and I would like to WISH you both the BEST on your 35th wedding anniversary! We pray you are both well and happily looking forward to at the very least, another 35 blissful years together an then some, God willing!
I can still remember your reception and the anticipation Bob, Carl and I felt when we heard there was no BAND but a couple of strolling minstrels that Uncle Carl liked and I believe recommended for the occasion. Remember back then, every wedding had a band. DJ's for weddings were unheard of back in those days and besides , who ever heard of a couple of strolling minstrels entertaining a wedding party. Boy were we wrong! To this day, when the subject of "best weddings we have ever attended" comes up, I can honestly say, yours has always been at the top of our list, at least from what I remember of it (that of course was until our daughter and Jose wedding last year). As I remember it also gave our parents a lot to talk about for years to come. My mom, even to this day, chuckles when she talks about how Carl couldn't find the car for your dad after the reception. Yep, that was a very good party!
You know how important family is to us. I have always cherished the time we spent together as cousins at Holidays and special occasions. My only regrets are we couldn't have continued that custom after we were all married with families of our own. The few times we have gotten together brings back some memorable moments. There was the time we stayed at your first home in Michigan but you didn't tell us about your cat. Sandy had the surprise of her life when it pounced up on her in the middle of the night and then proceeded to play with her hair and swat her head until the sun came up.
On another stop by your place, Kristine was playing at the neighbors and you called her home to meet us. Your little china doll, all decked out in a pretty sun dress, had been playing in a dirt pile. It lookedl ike she had enjoyed every minute of her play time as she was covered with dirt from head to toe. I'm not sure who was more surprised, you or us. I think you said something to the effect, as any proud mom would, with a smile on your face, "this is our little girl, Kristine". That precious picture is etched into my mind today as if it happened yesterday.
You folks have moved around several times and if my memory serves me correctly you are now in your 6th home, not counting any apartments you may have started out in. We have only had the opportunity to visit with you a couple of times in your Michigan homes. You both have always been such gracious hosts. We can't thank you enough for the times you have opened your doors to us. You know you are always welcome in our home should you ever be looking for a place to hang your hat around the Chicago area.
Hope you are enjoying your special day together reminiscing over the last 35 years and the wonderful children you have raised.
May God's Love and Blessings continue to bless your marraige!
All our Love,
Brandt and Sandy Leischner
A Note from Carl and Barb
The memories of John and Linda that are most dear, revolve around holiday celebrations. The Schleede visits usually came during Summer vacation or Christmas. Most of the time the Schleede's stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Krack. However, with passing years, the family would stay at our home, giving us more time to share memories, stories, laughter and sometimes even tears. We wish you a Happy Anniversary and many more years of good health and joy.
Love Barbara and Carl
Late Night Chaperone
On the many occasions that I spent the night over at the Schleede house when I was young, I remember one in particular. We decided to watch Old Yeller that evening. For a young dog lover, that was a little too much to handle. John had to help me gather up my over night things and walk me home. It was only 3 houses and a street away, but it seemed forever that night. John and Linda have been second parents to Emily and I ever since I can remember. We have come along ways since then, but thank you for the influence that you have had on me and the others in my life. Marie and I love you both.
Lunch at the Schleedes'
I can remember that we never got to have Koolaid at home as kids, Emily and I, so we used to go down to John and Linda's for red Koolaid. It got even better when we had Macaroni and Cheese with hotdogs mixed in, and yes, for color and flavor, some red Koolaid too.
I think that our tastes have changed a bit since then, but I won't ever forget that combination.
A Letter from Terrie Kaiser
I very clearly remember meeting Linda and baby Kristine about 27 and a half years ago. It was in the spring time before Marty turned one year old. I had Marty out with me in the front yard while I was working in the flower garden between our house and Mrs. Clare's. I saw a young woman pushing her daughter in her stroller. She stopped to visit and guess who that was? Linda!
She stopped to visit and told me where she lived - only one block away. The next day I took Marty for a stroller ride past Linda's house. I was sure hoping to find that "stay at home" mom again. So, as I walked by the house, I sang Marty's name out loud, hoping she would hear me and come out with Kristine. It worked. I believe she was equally happy to find another mom in the neighborhood. And what a bonus to find that Marty and Kristine were only three months difference in age! It was the beginning of a long and fruitful friendship.
I also met Grandpa Krack that first Summer. I was outside again, and he walked by with a toddler in a stroller. I spoke to him.
Over the next couple of years we got to know each other and we even started to job. Both John and Nolan were running though not together. We continued until Linda announced that she was pregnant. We quit jogging at that point. Guess we weren't very smart about the need to exercise during pregnancy. Any way, six weeks later, so was I. There were actually three of us that were pregnant together, Linda, myself and Patty Reitzel.
Remember the old Drano test? We modern moms wanted to know the sex of our second children. So we located some old Drano to make the determination. We each used the first urine of the day and mixed it with the Drano. The resultant color I don't remember what they were other that Linda and Patty matched, and I didn't. We were not very sure what color was for what sex as well. As it turned out, Julia Reitzel was born on March 9 and Matthew Schleede was born on March 10. I had to wait another six weeks to find out whether I would have Emily or Stephen.
Since we didn't have much family in town, we bother. Birthdays, Easter, Memorial Day, Christmas, you name it, we were together. We even vacationed together a few times - going out West. The kids liked that best. Mart and Em thought they would not survive when the Schleede's went to see Jack and Edna in New York. "What will we do for 2 weeks?" I felt the same way with Linda gone.
During this time we were looking around for a church that would fit our family. John and Linda once said in passing, "What about Immanuel?" We hadn't considered it at that time, but attended while they were on vacation. Again, twenty years later we are still attending.
From swimming lessons, to soccer to tee-ball, to Barbies, the kids were together so much of the time. Sometimes we split the kids so the older ones were together and the younger ones were together. Other day,s you get the boys and I get the girls or vice versa.
Mart and Em liked to eat at your house since they could have Kool-ade with their macaroni and cheese. I do remember one particular day when the kids wanted to go to our McDonald's for lunch, but we didn't have the money. Instead, after driving around doing errands, we said we would take them to Terrie's Restaurant. They were quite excited until we pulled into the driveway. What a disappointment to learn where that restaurant was!
Over the years so many memories - from Sesame Street shirts, to woolen mittens, to moving away and then returning and then leaving again, it has been a wonderful ride. You guys are an important part of our family. Now the stakes are higher. We are talking about weddings and babies and illness. But as a family we will get through all of this. You are precious friends. We will hang on together.
Quote of the day
One man by himself is nothing. Two people who belong together make a world.
- Hans Margolius
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Miscellaneous
Well now I couldn't have a page about our life without a picture of Duke. This post is a tribute to all of the Schleede family animals - countless fish, countless gerbils and hamsters (Uncle Henry I & II come to mind), Squeaky the guinea pig, Henrietta the guinea pig, cats: Kiki, Sammy and Rascal, and the siamese my parents had their first years of marriage, dog: Tobi and Duke and of course the current loves of our lives: Zeus, Sassy and Max.
Below is a picture of Duke with his first litter of puppies. He was not a good father as he got too jealous of the attention we paid to the puppies!
John's early years
Dad as a baby with Jack and Edna Schleede
John with brother Carl and sister Susan
Dad started to run in 1979 and hasn't stopped since. After countless marathons and races he has slowed down a bit, but he is still trucking. Matt and I run now.
Family Photos
The Schleede Family - somtime in the 80's
The Schleede family - in Oregon sometime early 90's
The Schleede family - sometime early 2000's
The Schleede family -2002
The Schleede family - 2006 Oregon
Memories from Matt and Laura's wedding
The Schleede Family
Linda, Grandpa Krack and Barb and Carol
Mom and Dad and the bride and groom
The new Schleede family of 5
Linda and John dancing
Dad and Grandma Schleede
John and Kristine - I remember specifically getting turned down the first time I asked Dad to dance and then finally we danced at end. I'm still baffled by that somewhat....
Schleede Family photos
Grandma Schleede and John, Susan and Carl
The Schleede women
The Schleede men
The whole family
Holidays
For any holiday or big event, my parents made sure that my brother and I were the center of attention. They made things fun and we were certainly spoiled!
Birthdays
A typical birthday would start out with present opening in the morning. Usually Mom made sure we got whatever we wanted for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After school in the evenings would be the special requested dinner and cakes. I remember when we were young, Mom would drive to a baking store and we would be able to pick out a cake pan and a theme for our birthdays that year. Then Mom would bake the cake and decorate it -- not sure how she was able to do all of that. Each year we would have a birthday party.
This was my first birthday cake that I don't remember, but I specifically remember a red gumball machine and a She-ra cake at some point in my life.
A perfect example of skills - Matt's G.I Joe cake with Em looking on.
I specifically remember when we were old enough for sleep overs and Dad coming down and yelling at my friends and I to 'BE QUIET'. Well that was no fun! I also remember a birthday where I got my red bike, my first 2 wheel bike with training wheels. Dad's cousins in New York owned a bike shop and had sent it partially put together, or they were supposed to. But when it arrived it wasn't right and Dad had to spend time putting it together. Needless to say there were interesting choices of words on the patio as my father tried to figure out how to get the bike put together right. In the end he did and he slowly taught me to ride without training wheels, after countless falls and looking back to make sure he was right there, I am now a bike rider.
Easter
Easter was always celebrated with the Kaisers. I have specific memories of Easter egg hunts at the Kaiser house and usually they hosted dinner as well. Our Easter baskets were always full and we always had at least 1 large chocolate bunny and 1 Cadbury egg. To this day Mom still makes sure that Matt and I receive an Easter basket, even if it is through the mail.
July 4th
On the 4th I remember a lot of trips to Bay City, MI to see the fireworks. In later years we stayed in town as Mt. Pleasant started their own fireworks, but I remember traffic delays, late nights, glow-in-the-dark bracelets and a lot of fun.
Halloween
Each year Halloween was also a big ordeal. Mom is big into sewing and besides dressing us up in cute clothes she made, she would make us new Halloween costumes every year. I remember some good ones: princess, 80's rock-star, Central cheer leader and pumpkin. After dressing up there was trick-or-treating. Nolan always handed out full Butterfingers. After trick-or-treating we had to go through our bags and review the candy together as a family. And then my brother and I got to the trading of the candy and eating it :)
Me dressed as a pumpkin
Same year - Matt as a bat
Thanksgiving
Thanksgivings were the one holiday that I have more memories with family rather than the Kaisers. When we did spend Thanksgiving in Mt. Pleasant, the Kaisers were usually involved. Most Thanksgivings were spent driving to Indiana to spend time with Susan, Jim and Jason. I can remember snowy days in and Jason refusing to play with me because I was a girl and Jim entertaining me. The day after Thanksgiving we always went shopping. Since most years were spent in Indiana, I don't have a lot of specific memories at home.
Christmas
Ah, Christmas was our favorite holiday time of the year - great food, family/friends and at least 2 weeks off of school! Each year we would spend Christmas with the Kaisers in Mt. Pleasant (with the exception of two in Oregon - these two years I desperately missed the Kaisers and couldn't wait to return to them).
The holiday would begin with Aunt Jean (Nolan's sister) and Aunt Lil (Grandpa Krack's sister) traveling into town. Mom and Dad would always take us on a trip to a tree farm to pick out a real tree. We would get it mid-December and spend the evening decking it out. Each year my brother and I got a new ornament and usually they were 'Mom-made'.
Christmas Eve was the largest part of the holiday for us, each year the kids would be sent to the movies to get out of the house while Mom prepared for the big dinner. The Kaiser kids accompanied the Schleede kids. As time passed, the Christmas Even dinner included close family friends - Denise and the girls, the Magnels, the Kruskas, and Mrs. Clare. We all dressed up in our Christmas best, Mom prepared the ham and gathered round for a fun evening. When we were younger presents were involved between the families. Mrs. Clare and her sweatshirts with interesting prints on the front. After dinner we passed onto church for the late evening service which always ended in candles and singing 'Silent Night'.
And then the anticipation of the morning. Santa always came to visit, I remember when we were young one year, Mom had put snow boot prints from the fireplace to the tree, it baffled me for years. The cookies and milk were always gone and the tree was loaded with packages. What fun we had! One specific year Nintendo had come out with their first game box and it was THE present to have that season. Matt and I wanted it so bad! We opened every gift and Dad asked if we had gotten all that we wanted and we said yes in unison and looked at each other - no Nintendo. Then Dad said, what is that behind the couch, Matt and I looked at each other and scrambled over to find a gift behind the couch - THE NINTENDO! Needless to say that made the gift that year and we played Mario Brothers and Duck Hunter and fought over who was going to play what and when.
After gift opening, we always had a big breakfast of scrambled eggs and whatever else was desired. Dad made the food, Mom dressed the table up in China.
Christmas Day evening was always spent at the Kaisers. During the day there were phone calls and exchanges of exciting news of gifts. In the evening we went and drank Terrie's homemade egg nog and shared stories and played in the basement.
The day after Christmas the ladies had a tradition of shopping the specials for the next year. I wasn't involved until later one but I will remember one year it was just Em, Terrie, Mom and I at Agnes' for breakfast and Hallmark downtown afterwards.
I couldn't of asked for more special memories that those that I shared and certainly am happy to say that my family and the Kaisers were and still are a special part of my life.
Not sure where Em is but below is Matt, Mart, Claire, Holly Jen and I during a Christmas Eve gathering
Mom and Grandma Krack - Christmas in Mt. Pleasant
Dad and I picking out a tree
Quote of the day
There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company that a good marraige.
Martin Luther
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Vacation memories
Something that I will always remember is the time that Mom and Dad took to show us around the US. We were lucky that for awhile both had a flexible work schedule with ample time off in the Summers. It is due to them that I have the travel bug - we have traveled through 40+ states together.
Some of my best travel memories with Mom and Dad:
Camping
- We had a little pop-up camper that took us to Oregon and back twice. I always liked the fact that we had a camper instead of a tent. One time driving back to Michigan from Oregon the tire blew on the camper (this was the 2nd or 3rd time). My father got out of the car in a furry and we heard all sorts of things come out of his mouth when he changed the tire.
- We used to have these great trips to the Lake Michigan coast-line in Michigan. I think a lot of these trips were related to church activities.
Picture of the family during an Oregon trip
Matt, John and Linda in Yellowstone
The Kaisers
- I could write a book about traveling with the Kaiser family. All I would like to say is that it was nice that my parents found a connection with Terrie and Nolan, as the families really fit together growing up. I couldn't imagine childhood without them.
- We camped West with the Kaisers. I have a memory of Mom driving the van through the Rockies. It was the ladies in one van and the men (and dog) in the other. Em and I were playing with barbies in the back. We were at a part of the road were it was narrow and the side had a huge drop -off. Mom said 'I don't know how you can trust me with the road like this.' Terrie said something like 'Well of course I trust you, if we go off on the side of the road, then there is nothing we can do about it.'
- Chicago - We traveled many times together to Chicago to see our Aunt Lil. One time I remember in particular was our visit to the Museum of Science and Industry. Another time was a few years ago for Dad's 60th birthday. We surprised him with a homemade chocolate cake (Marty helped) and tickets to the Lion King.
Annual family trips
- Each year we took turns visiting grandparents. One year to Oregon and the next to either New York or Florida.
- Oregon - We had some great times in Oregon, I remember spending at least 2 Christmas' there. One trip I got sick with walking pnemonia and I remember Mom and Grandma taking me to the doctor. When we returned home, they doted on me and helped me feel better...
- New York - When we were younger, all of Dad's family was in the Kingston, NY area. I have memories of getting in trouble at Grandma and Grandpa's house for eating another vitamin with my brother. Another time we vacationed to Vermont with Grandma and Grandpa.
- Florida - It was probably really hard on Mom's nerves, but Matt and I traveled to Florida several times alone. On one trip where we didn't, Mom and Dad took us to Disney World - it was my first time and a wonderful experience! It was so cold that they had to buy us sweatshirts.
- I have never seen my family more relaxed in my life. One afternoon it decided to rain and the kids (Marty, Em, Matt, Laura and I) went to see a movie. When we returned our parents were already at happy hour (and had been for awhile!). Neither Mom nor Dad were ever big drinkers, but I must say I am pretty sure they were both buzzed and I know Terrie was!
A note from Edna Schleede
My remembrance is of the first time your father brought your mother home to Kingston. Your mother was a sorority sister of Aunt Sue's and one weekend her brother John came for a visit to Valpo. Sue got Linda to be his date and he fell Hard. He had not been a big ladies man up to that date, but was bound and determined to win her heart.
After resisting she finally gave in. She was a little frightened to meet us (she told me later) but with Grandpa and me it was love at first sight. She was pretty, polite and best of all a MISSOURI SYNOD LUTHERAN!
Pictures from cousin Pam
Linda and Auntie Ann at Nathan and Fran's wedding in August 2000
Krack, Leischener and Mueller cousins on March 20, 1953
Linda and Carl sometime between 1952 and 1953
Linda and cousin Pam around 1954
Linda and cousin Pam in the 1970's
A note from the Nelson's
Uncle John and Aunt Linda,
Congratulations! Happy 35th! Remember this? Rewind the clock back 10 years to July 1997 to our wedding in Sunriver. Wow how time flies! We hope you create many more special memories during your next 35 years of marriage! Looking forward to seeing the finished website project!
Love Jen, Jeff, Kellen and Sahalie
(P.S. Our twins have a web site too at http://bogobabies.blogspot.com)
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