Happy Birthday Andy!

Happy Birthday Andy! Hope you had a great day. When I look at this picture of you it reminds me of our fishing trip to Warm Lake where I met Uncle Joe. Good thing I had you boys to take fishing or my life may not have ever included Uncle Joe......and I can't imagine a life without him.

The Holidays are upon us and we have been very busy just like everyone else preparing for them. I have taken more time for myself this season and it agrees with me. We are anxiously awaiting Mackie's arrival, we haven't seen her in six months since she was in Chicago for most of the summer. She just got a new job at school as the Program Manager of the Making Music program in the Community Service Center. She is very excited about it and looking forward to a very busy spring semester.

James and Elise are great. Elise just got a new job at the Record Exchange. Miles their pup continues to grow an grow.

This is another picture of one of our empty nesters children....From our house to yours have a Peaceful Holiday.

Merry Christmas!

Well this last week-end was a flurry of activity to kick off the Holiday Season. No I did not participate in shopping, but Joe did. I spent time with friends taking in the parade, a little basque lunch, a movie Enchanted, and open house at Edwards Greenhouse where James and Elise work. It was wonderful to put chores on hold and just be with friends! The only thing I miss dearly is my Mac. I think once she graduates no matter where she lands her first job, I am going there the first two weeks of December so we can have our own bonding time at Christmas for Mom and daughter. Love and Miss you Mac. But wait! She will be home the 20th and we will have four days of blitz for shopping, cooking and movies. I am the mom known for double or triple features. Proud of that reputation!

James and Elise appear to be enjoying this kick off of the Holidays. They helped to seed all of these pointsettas and took part in the parade. Bless Elise she practically ran the entire route in these little elve boots making all the children happy with candy.

Please have a peaceful, joyful, holiday season!

Happy Belated Birthday Zeke!

Zeke I know I will get to see you at your Aunt Sara's wedding....watch out for me I like hugs! Hope you had a great birthday! Love Great Aunt Deb

Happy Birthday Gracie! Wow Five!

Little Gracie...where has the time gone! I haven't seen you except in pictures since this picture was taken.....we must get together soon. Maybe I will get to see you a Sara's wedding, I hope so because I need a hug from you.

Happy Belated Birthday Michele!

Happy Birthday Michele! Hope you had a wonderful day.....sorry I am late with this but with you cruising and all I hope you will accept my apologies. Hope this finds you and your family well and preparing for a wonderful Holiday Season. Love Aunt Deb

Happy Birthday Michelle!

My sister has me on a project of scanning old photos so she can have the originals.....I have decided that I am going to post an old photo of our family members on their birthdays! Lucky Michelle she is the first. Michele in Denver you are next....bet you can't wait to see what I come up with.

I want to take this time to thank my niece Michelle for getting me started with posting. I love this way of sharing information about the "haps" in our lives. I hope you Michelle have a wonderful birthday, take some time for yourself that day. What has saved me over the years are bubble baths, with a candle or two burning and a warming beverage of choice, mine just happens to be a glass of wine. Soak and think about all the blessings in your life that are on the other side of the door, usually saying...Mom are you done yet? Make it a practice not to answer them.....there should be another adult on the other side that can tend to them while you basked in your private time. Then say a prayer to God thanking him for your special day and the special people in your life.

Yes, Cathy I am working on the project....can't wait until your birthday.....remember the striped long john pajamas! Until next week.......Aunt Deb

"Glorius Fall!" September 2007

How did I let September fly by? We had another family member Mary Jean Tarlteon from Joe's side of the family pass on. This is the family we purchased the McCall cabin from. We made a trip to Seattle for our good friend Jerry's BIG 60! I was able to attend the BSU/Huskies game and even though my team lost I couldn't help but be impressed by the kind people of Seattle and their empathy for our loss, but elation for their win that they very much needed for team inspiration. It is good that I don't take sports too seriously. But speaking of sports....how about those Rockies! Go team Go...another team that deserves a break! I love Seattle and we had such a good time there.

We got to McCall twice in September and this last week-end saw our first snow. James and Elise were able to enjoy the cabin also once in September. They were more energetic than Joe and I and they carried the canoe and kayaks to the lake.....strong kids. Elise is back at BSU, and Mac is starting her junior year at BU. She is in an on campus apartment this year and finding out that quite a few household items are needed to run the house smoothly, thus some online shopping. James is still working at The Pie and enjoying his pup Miles. I was able to get to the outdoor Shakespeare Theatre and saw the Little Shop of Horrors. Great performance, good music but don't think I will buy a Venus Fly Trap anytime soon. Read a wonderful book that Mac gave me for my birthday called the namesake. Wonderful book on relationships and what a name really means to us.

Review
Ashima and Ashoke Ganguli are recent immigrants to Boston from India in 1968 when they give birth to their first child, a son. Their son ends up with the pet name of Gogul, when his "good name" never arrives from India. Gogul despises his name and grows up as American as he can while his parents cling to their Bengali past while living what appears to be a typical American suburban lifestyle. Jhumpa Lahiri (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Interpreter of Maladies) has written a novel about immigrant lives, families, and bonds that can never be broken. The Namesake has received high praise from most reviewers. Michiko Kakutani begins her review for the New York Times, "Jhumpa Lahiri's quietly dazzling new novel, The Namesake, is that rare thing: an intimate, closely observed family portrait that effortlessly and discreetly unfolds to disclose a capacious social vision."

No recent pics of the kids....since we are "Empty Nester's" but will leave you with some new members of our McCall family!