Last Sunday was Daniel's birthday.  Then, on Wednesday, my dad turned 79!  Here's a picture of Daniel helping Papa open his presents...

 Oops.  Try again...

I've always been a "Daddy's Girl" and my dad has always been my superhero but as I've gotten older I've started to realize what I put the man through just because he had a soft spot for his little girl.  Did I mention that he took me and a friend all the way to Chapel Hill to see the Monkees in concert?  Yes, the Monkees.  Not only did he drive us all the way there, we sat 2nd row from the very top in the Dean Dome.  That is love.  

I grew up going to watch my dad play in tennis matches and softball tournaments.  I realize now that he could've left me at home, but he didn't.  Some of my favorite memories are of all of the NBA & college basketball games we attended together.  My dad instilled a love of sports in me.  It's a good thing that I'm a sports fan because my brother was too busy reading books and watching science fiction shows.  

Friday was Rana's birthday (Birthday #3).  I watched the kids while Kevin and Rana enjoyed a quiet dinner at Olive Garden.  

Saturday brought the Mitey Riders Spring Festival.  Mitey Riders is the horse therapy program that Laura attends.  We know that she was excited because she was getting very impatient just before time to leave. She kept saying "Horse?"  That in itself is a blessing.  We couldn't have asked for a better day; the weather was perfect.  Full sunshine is not a friend to the cameraman.  I tried to lighten the photos a little so you can see them better.  

Laura rode Cosmo.  I don't think she stopped smiling from the moment she mounted until she got home. 

The man standing beside Laura introduced her to her volunteer sidewalker.  He thought it was funny when he said "Say hi Laura" and Laura said, "Hi Laura".  She wasn't trying to be funny.....that is what she always does...repeats what you ask her to say. 

This picture was taken after she received her gold medal for the year.  Here she is checking it out: 

Proud dad Kevin  (Rana was at work):

Here's my dad, Laura & Daniel...

Proud Nana (my mom)...

 Since they were running 45 minutes behind schedule, I was in charge of entertaining this one...

He had a great time at the festival.  When we returned home it was a different story.  Daniel learned that even though your helium "Cars" balloon is not floating inside the house, when you take it outside, the wind can pick it up and carry it far away....

Oh the tears...

I am happy to say that Sunday was a day of rest for Julie.  Well, compared to keeping up with the kids.  I don't know how my mother does it day in and day out.   

September 1st

September 1st is my Grandmother's birthday.  If she were alive today, she would have been 115.  She would have said, "I don't know why I'm still here at 115".  (My relatives will get that joke!)

Anyway, here's Grandma (Dad's mom)...

And here's a random photo of Grandma, me, Mom & Grandma's beloved car...

Grandma and me in her flowers....

And finally, a picture of what I came home to yesterday.

 

Thankfully, it went to a $16.00 vaporizer that I bought last month when I was sick.  It could have been worse!  

Jason and April

My cousin Jason got married yesterday.  THIS cousin Jason.  (He's the one in the diaper!)

And this cousin Jason. 

 

Jason married a wonderfully, wacky girl named April.

The whole family loves April.  She's amazing.  I took this photo off of her Facebook page!  (This will take more than one post because there will be more pictures to follow.)  Here are some photos that my Aunt Zell sent me today.  Here is a picture of Aunt Zell, her daughter Teri & Teri's son, Daniel.  

Aunt Zell is Dad's baby sister.  (These are some of my favorite people on earth!)  Please remember Aunt Zell in your prayers.  She is having surgery tomorrow.  Here is Teri, my cousin Johnny (Jason's brother), and me! 

Here's Jason's other brother, Jeff (Johnny's twin) and Teri

Daniel and his cousin Isobel

Me and my dad (because it's Father's Day - post to come later)

OK, back to the wedding.... The bride and her sister, Jill (another one I stole from Facebook) 

Daniel & Scott:

A chicken

Kevin and Laura

OK....more family wedding photos to follow.  I'm going to go celebrate Father's Day with Dad right now. 

Better Late Than Never

On Christmas Eve 2010, my parents celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.  Scott & I just got around to taking them out to dinner on Thursday night.  We had a great time.  I realized that I had forgotten my camera so I decided to post a picture of them from their engagement party back in 1958. 

Aren't they just perfect?  This is probably obvious, but, from from left to right:  Grandma (yes, the grandma that sang to me), Dad & Mom.  Doesn't mom look like Donna Reed?  I love the pearls.  Here's to many, many more wedding anniversaries!  I love you. 

Masterpiece

When I was in the 4th grade I wrote a report on Louis Pasteur.  I also drew a portrait of Mr. Pasteur.  I got a B.  I'm surprised I scored that well. 

Retro

I was looking through my Senior Class memory book and look what I found....a picture of me and my prom date.  I bet I'm one of the few people that actually still talks to their prom date.  I LOVE her.  The back of the picture says that it was taken by our friend Deanna.  Christy & I actually rented a limo with our friend Karen and her date Robert.  We had a great time and were all in bed at my house by midnight.  YES, by midnight. 

I also found a picture frame with all of the suspects that I mentioned above:

Clockwise from top left:
Karen & her prom date Robert.
Karen & ME in our cap & gown.
Deanna and her first love, Jared.
ME
Christy
Deanna

I'm actually still in close contact with everyone in this picture frame.  Well, except for the boys. Oh and for anyone who is wondering....Class of '91.

After reading this post again...I realized that I said the word "actually" like 15 times.  Maybe I should have said, "totally".  

Happy Birthday Scott!

Yesterday was Scott's birthday.  We celebrated by going to dinner at Big Daddy's Burger Bar.  After dinner there was cake....

Check out this old picture of me and the birthday boy.  It was taken 1993-1994ish. 

Happy Birthday Scott.  Here's to many more.... 

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Today we celebrated Jesus' 2010th birthday!  Although it is hard for me, I've decided it's best not to insert any jokes here about Jesus' age.  :-)

Christmas Eve is a special day for my family because it is my parents' anniversary.  As of yesterday, they have been married for 52 years.

Mom prepared Christmas Eve lunch for all of us.  Here are some pictures of the kids....

Daniel was fascinated by Aunt Julie's camera.  Oh yea, Scott & his mom gave me a zoom lens for Christmas!  I'm looking forward to testing it out.  Hopefully I'll know how to use it by next Christmas!  Here's a picture of Laura & Rana.

Daniel got into Nana's drawer and pulled out a pair of her old glasses.  I wish I had my camera when he put them on...but this was a close 2nd.

And here's our princess doing what she always does....smiling. 

Now we move on to Christmas dinner.  This year, Scott wanted to cook Christmas dinner.  Here he is in the kitchen with dad....

It's weird seeing Dad in the kitchen....

While the menfolk were in the kitchen, the girls were playing in the den...

Wait, those are dad's feet in the picture.  Notice that Greta is sitting in her tent.  Here's a picture of Rana & Laura.

And another picture of Laura with Nana.

Daniel is playing with Greta.

I had hoped to get some pictures of everyone opening their presents but Laura kept insisting that we open presents in the dark.  I was able to get one picture before she turned the light off.

And off went the lights....

We were hoping to set up the tripod and take a couple of family photos but sadly we were missing someone very important.  My brother, Kevin, was home sick with the flu.  :-(  We missed you Kevin.  I hope you are feeling better real soon.

We had a wonderful night but soon it was time to go....

I hope that everyone had a wonderful day and that you each took some time to remember that today was really about a birthday.  Tomorrow I go back to eating sensibly....I hope.

The Best Day

This is April...

April is Jason's girlfriend.  This is my cousin Jason (in the diaper)...

We were playing "The Price is Right".  Note how Jason is knocking on the glass...he wasn't happy about our game.  OK...here is Jason...

He looks different with pants on.  Saturday, a few of my relatives that live in the area got together to meet April and to spend some time together.  Here are two of my beautiful Aunts...Aunt Faye Sara and Aunt Zell.  Sorry Aunt Sara....I had to put that after all of the fun that Teri and Aunt Zell had with that.  Teri & Aunt Zell were talking about how much my Aunt Sara looked like my Aunt Faye.  Aunt Zell said, "I didn't know I was going to get to see my sister Faye today!"

These are my cousins Teri & Johnny.  When the two of them get together there is never a dull moment.  They spend the whole time giggling and keeping the rest of us in stitches.

And...as you can see, my wonderful mom & my incredibly smart cousin, Daniel were there also. 

It was just the best day!  I love my family so much and I only wish that every one of them could have been there with us.  I can't wait to get together again!!!  (Hopefully soon!)