Happy 30th Birthday Baby Boy!

Today my sweet baby boy is 30 years old.  For 30 years my Gus has given me countless occasions
- to be proud beyond measure
- to laugh until I cried
- to marvel at his kindness and sensitivity
- to be thankful that he brought his beautiful and loving Meara into our family
- to see what he sees and to understand him better for that
- to make me want to be a better person because he deserves the best I can be
- to read a book I never would have found on my own
- to remember my Mom at her happiest making her 'Jussie' a grilled cheese sandwich
- to cheer his accomplishments and to respect the commitment and hard work that got him there
- to know how lucky his students are to have him as their teacher
- to be filled with joy when he calls me Momma 
- and of course, to experience the pure bliss of being Gromma to our Rosie

Happy Birthday my Sweetest Baby Boy!

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Holy Stripes!  This is what happens when Daddy dresses Rosie.

Getting ready for some exercise.

It can't be captured in still photos but Rosie moved her arm and her knees.  Almost crawling!  

Rosie sure loves her Dad (in spite of the stripes).    

Gus got a hair cut and trimmed his beard for a more responsible look as he will turn 30 in two short days.

  As his Momma I objectively thinks he looks quite handsome, and responsible.

You Just Steal My Heart Away

I have always liked Van Morrison, but mostly for his older and/or more popular songs.  Recently I've been listening to a lot more of his music (and believe me there is a lot more of his music to choose from).  I found his song "Steal My Heart Away", released in 2002 on his 'Down the Road' album.  This speaks to the romantic in me.  Who wouldn't want to be the person someone thinks of when listening to this song.  

Steal My Heart Away

Van Morrison

I can hear the sound of violins
I can hear the piper play
And every time the song begins
You just steal my heart away

The journey's longer than
I thought my love
There's lots of things
Get in the way
But every time I think of you
You just steal my heart away

Just like a morning
In May like this
See the heather on the hill
There's a place way up
The mountainside
Where the world
Keeps standing still

Just like the sunshine after rain
I'll come
To be with you will save the day
'Cos I know
When I'm with you again
You just steal my heart away

Just like a morning
In May like this
We see the heather on the hill
There's a place up on
The mountainside
Where the world is
Standing still

Just like the sunshine after rain I'll come
To be with you will save the day 'cos I know
When I'm with you again
You just steal my heart away

'Cos I know
When I m with you again
You just steal my heart away

'Cos I know
When I'm with you again
You just steal my heart away

'Cos I know
When I'm with you again
You just steal my heart away

Mom & Dad High School Graduation

I just got these from Karen - high school graduation pictures of my Mom and Dad.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie on Monday

Today was not a bad day but I needed a little dose of Rosie to lift my spirits - who wouldn't feel happy after seeing this beautiful smile.  Thanks, Rosie - just what Gromma needed.

I guess it's never too early to learn that your Mom and Dad will do a lot of things to make you look silly.

Just adorable!  

Flowers with Clas

Just a few more photos from Reel #3.  My Uncle Henry was a florist; he started with a small shop in 1955.  In February 1961 he opened his new shop on New Scotland Avenue in Albany NY.  On this day we all gathered after church for the dedication of the new store.  From then on the family gathered at the shop the day before every holiday to help get all of the orders out the door.  The moms and older girls helped put together corsages and bouquets.  The dads and older boys made deliveries.  And all of us kissin' cousins put the final touches on the children's corsages - we carefully placed the silk butterflies or bumble bees into the carnations.  Easter was the absolute best holiday because Uncle Henny always had baby chicks, ducks and bunnies in the shop.  The shop has been expanded through the years.  Uncle Henny's son, Charlie now manages it.  Charlie had not even been born when the shop opened so he's not in this picture.  

Henry F. Clas Florist - "Flowers with Clas".  

  http://www.clasflorist.com