1953 January

 We skip from November to January.

"Jan 2 - Well the holidays are all over  and the new year has begun - hope it will be a happy one and as good as 1952 for us. Most of all I hope it brings peace.

Christmas was hectic as usual but we enjoyed it. The babies are bigger this year and that made it more exciting - waiting for Santa Claus, etc. Mary Ellen was afraid of Santa Claus coming here but wanted Daddy to go see him to get her doll carriage & sled. She loved the song 'I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus' - thought it was really me that kissed him. Was all excited over all the toys. Jon Jon didn't know what was going on - just was his usual destructive self - pulling the ornaments off the tree, almost knocking himself out trying to blow out the candles on the window and generally making a nuisance of himself as far as Mary Ellen was concerned when she was trying to play with her toys. He loves dolls & pushes them in Mary Ellen's little crib with wheels.  He walks good now - runs, tries to jump & climbs on everything imaginable. He's had an infected finger and is now in the process of loosing a nail. Yesterday he fell in the yard and skinned his face above his lip (looks like a mustache), tonight he fell off the sofa & Has a lump on his forehead. Lord only knows what tomorrow may bring.

Christmas was especially hectic for me this year. Besides all the usual rush beforehand, two night before Christmas we had five men from the Gas Co tramping in & out of here from 7:30 P.M. till 1:00 AM blowing out the gas line. It was raining so they tracked in all kinds of slush & mud & I had to wash the floor & clean up the mess the day before Christmas - another added task. Besides that I got a frozen turkey that I just couldn't get thawed out. I couldn't get the gizzards out  of it to boil to use for the stuffing so I had to make the stuffing Christmas morning. What a day - between going to Mass & cooking the turkey, all the excitement of the presents & John sleeping in the morning - it was wild. 

MEM

New Year's was comparatively quiet. I had Joanie down here New Year's Eve & altho she & Jon Jon were screaming off & on (& together) all night - it was very unexciting.  New Year's Day we went to visit the Ryans & then went to the show at six oclock. Good show! Must get to bed now - 12:45 A.M.

Jan 4 - Went to see 'Cup of tea Ma'.

Jan 5 - Disastrous day for Jon Jon - Mary Ellen slammed the back door and naturally it hit him on the forehead (result - lump!), he fell off the little chair a couple of times & climaxed it all by falling down the cellar stairs. Fortunately John caught him before he hit the cellar floor. What a kid and what a climber.

Jan 7 - Mary Ellen had symptoms of a cold today so we stayed in to be on the safe side. It was another day of falls for Jon Jon. He climbed up on one of the little chairs & somersaulted into the crib (Mary Ellen's). By the time we rushed in he was flat on his back in the crib screaming.  That was the start if it. Many more falls followed. We watched them dismantle the stable in front of the church & when John got up Mary Ellen told him a policeman took away the Holy Ghost baby & Our Father. She was very interested in all the cribs during the Christmas season. She says her prayers pretty good now. In fact Sat. when we went to the library she dipped her hand into the umbrella stand & blessed herself on the way out. Jon Jon disgraced me barking in his own inimitable manner - 'wow wow' - with Mary Ellen answering him.

Hannie & I went to the play tonight to see 'Little Nellie Kelly'. It was a repeat performance with some of the same actors and it was funny to see what a change four years could make. Joe Blackburn gave us a ride home. Jon Jon is awake now to keep me up for another couple of hours. Mary Ellen sleeping like a log as usual."

This is the end of the diary - makes me wish that my mother continued her diaries throughout the years, and I wish that I had kept a diary when my kids were young! You do forget so much over all the years!!