Scanned Photos from Long Ago
While we were at Bill and Lorna's wedding, we were able to check out their superawesome guest book, which was a Shutterfly photo album with embeded pics, many of which I'd never seen before. I lurv looking at pictures. Old pics, new pics. I love love love it! So, Gail and I were talking to Kathy about how cool it was, and how cool it was to see Uncle Bernie, who died probably 20 or 21 years ago this month, I believe. I know we have different pictures at our house that his kids probably haven't seen or at least haven't seen in a long time, so I scanned some when I got home. Forgive the poor quality, friends, but some were very very tiny 1x1 inch photos!

Mike and John and Rich, perhaps from some past New Year's Eve.

My mom, with party hat and balloons and party face.

My pop, with a gigantic beard!

Uncle Gene (?) but you can see Uncle Bernie and Vin in the background.

Uncle Bernie and Aunt Jean, Kim and Laurie (at one of my bday parties)

By the size of those drinks, I'd say they're at the Woodshed!

At Bear Camp Pond

Meaghers and Cooks at the top of a mountain. My favorite times every summer were when we went on trips together!

Sweet.

Family picture!

You can see Billy behind me, happy to dig.

Uncle Bernie, Kathy, Vin, Ben, Billy and me!
I'll keep scanning for sure!
But it will have to be next week!
I've got a craft fair to prepare for!

Knots were tied!
This weekend, in New Hope, PA-right ON the Delaware River, Bill Cook and his now wife! Lorna Gifis got married! It was a little drizzly, but beautiful nonetheless!

I did not get any sweet and awesome pictures, as my camera has been a little sad as of late, but I had a great time!

The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome, and there were lots of fun peeps to talk ( and dance) with!



(maybe one of my fave pics of all time)

Melissa and Mike!

Mother and Son!

Ben makes a toast! (Jeremy also made a toast - both really funny! But my pics came out too dark...)



Anyways, it was super great! The new couple is off to a great start!

Favorite Kids Books...Part I

I feel justified to say Part I because I read a lot of books and am bound to forget some that I really like.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Sweet and awesome book about what could happen if we encouraged nature to take over...

The Man Who Didn't Wash His Dishes by Phyllis Krasilovsky, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
If you didn't wash your dishes, eventually there would be a consequence. I super love the 50s illustrations by Barbara Cooney. It's totally red and black and white like an old school Italian restaurant.

The Birthday Fish by Dan Yaccarino
Cynthia wants a pony, and gets a fish instead. What to do, what to do...

Franny B. Kranny, There's a Bird in Your Hair! by Harriet Lerner and Susan Goldhor, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
I'm pretty sure the title says it all. But Franny B. Kranny marches to her own beat, which I always dig.

Squids will be Squids by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Why is this book so funny? I'm not sure. But it is an easy way to tell new parents that there is still an awful lot of funny things that they can laugh at with their kids.

The Sheep Fairy: When Wishes Have Wings byRuth Louise Symes, illustrated by David Sim
Wendy is just your average sheep--but a good deed makes some crazy stuff happen...and she saves the day! What could be better?

So this is just a few. If I haven't gotten these for your kids, and you want 'em, I'll be sure to add those titles to your holiday stuff.

Very Briefly
The sum-up:
I had a birthday party! It was a pool party at Gail's and everybody came! My friend Carlita was in town from LA and Burnsie and her beau came up from Jersey and it was super fun.





Then, we went to DISNEY! In Florida!
But I don't have any stinking pictures because my little camera broke and then I lent the card to Katie to make the picture CDs of everybody's pictures...
This weekend, Cass & Rich & Carter & Tristan came for a visit for Richie's 20 year HS reunion! They stayed at Gail's and everybody had a great time!

We had a tea party (of which I took very fuzzy pictures) and we watched a movie.
Carter to Joe: "Perfect timing, Joey! We haven't started the Dora movie yet!"
Joe to Carter: "Wow. Great." But Uncle Joe sat next to her and watched the whole thing!

T and Steph came with their parents and baby brother in tow for a playdate!

Paulie, getting more teeth!
I wanted to take the following pic on the steps, like going to the prom!

Grandpa pours the tea:

We toast:

Carter at the party:

Tristan at the tea party:

One of my faves:

And James is learning to drink:

which he's not really cranky about even though he looks it in this picture.
And in closing, I'll leave you with this:

Grandpa, with Tristan. Look at her hand--it is twisty-turny holding onto Grandpa's ties, which Grandpa said was a comment on her father's workwear---ba dum bum! He gets another zinger in...though we didn't hear about BabyRichie headbutting him in church for the whole weekend...