My Mom is making this for my Golden Birthday Month. Aubrie and I are enjoying it. Every Day I get the pages to a year in my life.
Early on a beautiful Tuesday morning May 30, 1978 it was time to go to Memorial Hospital of Taylor County in Medford, WI. We waited until 6:31 AM Wednesday May 31,1978 for your arrival. We were both so very proud of our baby girl. We named you Carrie Lynn Shufelt. You weighed in at 8# 4 ½ ounces and 21 inches long. You had a beautiful head of dark hair. Your first visitors were Grandma and Grandpa Thorgerson. You were grandchild number 6 for them, but just as special as number 1. You were grandchild number 15 for Grandma Hinkel and just as special to her. We brought you home on June 5th, our 3rd wedding anniversary. It was a very special anniversary for us.
Your first year went by, so very quickly as do each year after.
May 1978 - May 1979
The first year of your life was a very exciting time for Dad and me. We had to find a babysitter. Grandpa Jake said, “Why don’t you ask Ada Webster?” I knew Ada was a nice lady who had lost her husband and had a daughter Geraldine at home. I thought Ada was probably about my mom’s age which would have been about 53 years old. Grandma Ada was 63. Ada did agree to watch you. She came to our house so I didn’t have to take you out. This was so nice. She would do the baby laundry, start supper, and feed Dad a great lunch, but the most important part was she took special care of you. The fun thing about Grandma Ada was she would ride her snowmobile to our house in the winter. Dad would always laugh because he could hear her coming before she rounded the corner. Grandma Ada started us on a couple of family favorite recipes. Porcupine meatballs and Broukas (a German dish she made at Christmas time. ) We still enjoy both. The summer you were a baby Grandma and Grandpa remodeled their house. You and I spend a lot of our days up there. We enjoyed every minute we had with them. Both of your Great Grandma’s were able to meet you. You had a boat ride with Grandma Jo. Grandma Jo was a sweet lady she was Grandpa’s mom. Grandma Couillard was Grandma Hinkel’s mom and was always glad to visit with her Great Grandchildren. We did get to visit her a few times. The first three years of your life we lived at Bedward’s and farmed. This was Grandma Thorgerson (White’s) Uncle Willie and Aunt Norma. You never got to know Uncle Willie, but he would have enjoyed you greatly. Aunt Norma always loved your visits and would watch you for a short time if I needed to help Dad. Glenn lived with his mom and dad you always calleAbout d him guy. Glenn and you were always best buds. He would pull you around in the wagon, swing you in the swing or pull you in the sled in the winter. Glenn helped in the barn and always looked out for you.
May 1979 – May 1980
When you were one the second year of your life was just as interesting and fun. You learned to walk and talked a lot. Grandma Ada and Geraldine took good care of you while I worked. You went to their house more this year. You enjoyed their dog Rorsa. You got to help them with the cooking, baking, laundry and all the things you liked to do. We spend a lot of time with Grandma and Grandpa Thorgerson. We went camping some in the summer with them. All your cousins thought you were fun to play with too. We had a lot of great parties with Uncle Ted, Aunt Marge, Jed, Uncle Joe, Aunt Mary, Tammy, Jody, Jamie and Teri. We always had big gatherings with Dad’s family too.
May 1980 -1981
The year you were two was another interesting year for all of us. This was a year of sadness and great joy. We enjoyed our time with Grandpa Jake until Sept. The rest of the year was very exciting because we were going to add a new member to our family. Also Uncle Ted and Aunt Marge were giving you a new cousin. One of the fun parts (or I should say scary parts) of the summer of 1980 was when Dad was trying and trying to get the cows in the barn. They just wouldn’t move. He was back in the barnyard yelling and slapping them to go in. Finally they went in and he got in the barn door to see you just standing in the middle of the walkway without a concern. After that we made sure we knew where you were when cows were going in the barn. On a beautiful Saturday morning May 9, 1981 you got your baby brother. You were the proud big sister.