A big Thank You to Pat & Steve for hosting a party at their home.  We're quite a large bunch to accomodate. Pat, I hope you sat down and enjoyed your company. Steve, you'll be sad to know I couldn't upload the video of you as Marvin the Martian and other incriminateing videos.

Cake #2 courtesy of Deb.  The first one never made it to Maryland.  Deb was generously kind enough to order another & bring it to Fries' Christmas Party.

Sarah

and

Steve

were

there.

Steve, Jack, Deb
& Steven
holding the
island down.

Mike, Pat and David Fries (Steve's brother)

Merry Christmas!

Matt got a guitar. Mike got something on his finger. Alli got olives. Nick doesn't get it.

Maggie got a squeaky toy and Night Vision eyes.

Off from work until Wednesday after Christmas! Pat & Steve invited the family to their home on Saturday 12/26 for a Christmas Extravaganza!!! There will be flame eaters, elephants, astronauts, sea monsters...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

We left Reading, PA Friday evening to avoid driving in the snow. Good thing, Maryland received approximately 2 feet of snow, give or take a snow drift. It was beautiful. The snow started around 9pm Friday evening and continued straight through Saturday into Sunday.  Sadly the Connaire and Fries families could not get through. Philly and South Jersey got hammered.

What was better, the electricity went out for about 9 hours. Good thing there were teenagers on hand to do our bidding. To flush the toilets we had to trek out through the snow to the hot tub, fill the pitchers and bring it to the throne (o_O).

 Nick Borolla, Taylor Connaire & Alli Owens are given a break to keep DHS from taking action.

Who let the dogs out?

Hope, Mick & Maggie sent outside to 'do their business'.

Getting ready to go south to Maryland this weekend.  Mike & Julie are hosting a Christmas Party for the family. Nancy & Paul are accomodating some travellers also. Just hope we do not get the predicted 6 inches of snow they're threatening!  Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post after the weekend.

Had Thanksgiving dinner with Jack, Deb & family.  Jack cooked a turkey on the grill.  Debbie and Dawn had a wonderful array of culinary delights!

For our 25th wedding anniversary I purchased tickets to see Richie Havens at the Miller Center, a 500 seat auditorium on the campus of the Reading Area Community College.  What a great night.  The sound and seats were great!  Richie still has his beautiful voice at age 68.

After the performance, Richie greeted his audience, schmoozed & signed autographs.  Vince told him we were there for our anniversary, so he sang 'Happy Anniversary' to us in the lobby.  He is a delightful, soft-spoken person who volunteers his time with the Native Americans.

(check out Vince's peace sign.)

Surprise!!!

What a great time we had. Such a short but worthwhile visit to catch up with family & friends! Thank you to all for accommodating us and adjusting your schedules to pick us up and give us a place to stay. Here are some of the photos I took while down South.

Aunt Mary Montanye & Dottie posing for the camera. Has anyone caught on to the black & white theme that was going on?

Two Nancy's for the price of one. What a baragin! I'll take two.

Maddie & Peggy. Can't believe Peg is a grandmom let alone Katie is a mom.

Dottie & Carolyn Capobianco worked together for 10 years before realizing they both know Aunt Nancy. Carolyn is the daughter of Amy Kyrus, childhood friend of Aunt Nancy.

Mike & Joanne Borolla

Mike, Dennis Me Lad & Carol catching up with one another.

Dottie, Uncle Jim & Aunt Betty. Dag! What a happy looking bunch.

Ms. Mary Jo Basile looking lovely as ever, Dottie, THE Birthday Girl, another Nancy & Kathryn.

What a wonderful job Mike & Victoria did on Aunt Nancy's cake! Watching them construct the

light house was like being on the TV show. Bravo!

Jim and I at Aunt Nancy's birthday party. He told me that I remind him of my Mom.

Maddie sure is smart for a one year old.

The happy couple. Cheers to you both.

By the end of the night I think Den has had enough of my shenanigans, without a word he conveyed his feelings, turned and closed the door. Good night Loretta!

Every morning me, Pat, Jack & Deb walked the beach for some exercise.

Playing with the friendly jellyfish and bashful sharks in the Atlantic Ocean!

Vince & Mike solving the problems of the world.

Julie reading up on what to do if someone swims out too far in the ocean.

Deb & Jack taking a break from the sun.

The kids; Fred, Mike, Matt, Eric, fresh Ryan, Steven, Alli, Nick, Katie, Jill & Carly after a game of bocci.

A quick clip of many but not all of the family and friends that were in Sea Isle. Pat, sorry I know you won't like this picture. Deb, my apologies for not introducing the only person who waved nicely but was neglected and Jill, sorry I forgot your name. It's getting worse as I age.

On the way to Cape May, oops, I mean the promenade. A trolley ride to do some night time shopping and treat purchasing.

Here's a little reminder of the shore. What a good time we had this year! Thanks to you all for making the arrangements to be together for another summer vacation. Love to all!

What a surprise! I thought just Vince & I were having dinner with Jack & Deb. One by one they arrived to celebrate my 50th birthday.

Acting like ladies while out in public is our specialty.

The crew that helped me celebrate my 50th birthday at Fogo de Chao in Philly. Thank you all! I had a wonderful time. I love my family.

It started out as a warm day in late March. As the day progressed, tornado watches were announced, then warnings, then sightings. Luckily we were on the outskirts and had no damage. Joanne & Mike Borolla, 20 miles west of us, were within a mile or two of it touching down. The high school their boys attend lost the announcing booth in their stadium.