Happy Birthday Baby Boy !

Gus is 31 today -- here's a little recap of his past year.

March 2012

April 2012 

                                 

May 2012

June 2012

July 2012

August 2012

September 2012

October 2012

November 2012

December 2012

January 2013

February 2013

But of course, he will always be my baby boy.

December 1982

Happiest of birthdays, sweetest boy!

Happy Birthday, Emily !

Today is my niece Emily's birthday.  Emily was here last August when family gathered in New York for a wonderful week.  Here she is with her adorable Presley.

And here is Emily with husband Blake, Presley and Elin Grace who was born just after Christmas.  (I am 'borrowing' this picture from Emily's blog -- hope that is OK, birthday girl!)  What a beatiful family.  So many reasons to have a very happy birthday.

Mom Would Love It !!

Last October I got my hair cut for the first time in ... a lot of years.  At the time I wrote a post that included pictures of my hair through the ages.  (http://ddramblings.blogspot.com/2012/10/hair-today-gone-tomorrow.html) I noted that my Mom loved my hair short; she had a special love for the pixie cut.  I always liked my hair long and I kept it that way for most of my adult life.  Until last October when I got it cut to a length Mom would certainly have preferred, but she would have considered it only better than before. This past Friday I went in for a trim and came out with a cut Mom would love.  Here we are in 1959 when I was 6 -- with hair that made Mom happy.

I am so sorry that Mom is no longer with me to see my hair today.  Mom, this cut's for you.

        

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

I took just one picture today, as soon as we started.  We had some problems but I don't think that was the cause.  While everything was working I had a nice time with Gus and Rosie.  Rosie wanted to dance and sing.  Gus has a cold and probably didn't feel much like dancing and singing, but he did.  Because who can resist that smiling face.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Another day of Skyping with no pictures, and that's OK.  Rosie is always on the move so it's nice not having to corral her into one area.  Today she had green Play-doh -- when I asked what she was going to make she very clearly told me a 'baby'.  I think Gus and Meara enjoy the Play-doh as much as Rosie.  One of the great things about having kids is getting to play with favorite things you had when you were young.  At one point Rosie left the room -- Gus, Meara and I were talking about some books and goodies I had sent them for Valentine's Day.  Just as Rosie returned I asked how she liked the animal crackers.  Meara barely had time to say that they hadn't given them to her yet when Rosie ran off  to the kitchen.  She came back while stuffing an entire rhinoceros into her mouth.  Yum!  I am so happy to know I can spoil her long-distance.

Here are some pictures of Rosie during the holidays.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

We did indeed Skype on Sunday but I did not take any pictures.  Skype has been acting strange lately and taking pictures seems to exasperate the problem.  So I didn't even try yesterday and while reception was not great at first, it improved as we talked.  I must admit I even enjoyed the whole experience a little more because I was completely focused on Rosie and Gus and Meara.  I felt it was easier to have a conversation and of course the big thing, my screen never froze and the connection never crashed.  I really can't complain about Skype because it has made it possible for me to see my three favorite people.  I can watch Rosie grow and believe me, living 3000 miles away is always hard but Skype has given me something I could not have dreamed of when I first contemplated being long-distance-Gromma.  And it is free so I will happily continue Skyping.  Most of Rosie's accomplishments now are verbal rather than physical -- they can't be captured in a photo anyway.  I will, I think, try taking 1 or 2 pictures each week.  Just to keep a record of how exactly she looks each time I see her.

So this week I am going to post some wonderful pictures that Gus and Meara took last Fall.

I love everything about this picture.  Just because.

Pumpkin picking.  

Gus called this her serving wench costume.  

Absolutely beautiful.

 Rosie at the vineyard, learning to garden ...

... and to drive.

No idea what's going on here but it sure is cute.

Flashdance Rosie?

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Rosie is at a stage when it seems she learns something new every 5 minutes.

Where's Rosie?

PEEK-A-BOO!

Happy Rosie!

 

Dancing Rosie!

Singing Rosie -- 'When you're happy and you know it clap your hands"!

One Day in August 1972

The last batch of slides I posted on January 25th were from the summer of 1966.  Then the camera disappeared for 6 years.  It was used only one more time on a beautiful August day in 1972.  Here are the very last of the family slides -- apparently taken because Karen was visiting the Bartlett Lane house with my nephew Jonathan.  He would have been 16 months old; he is now 41 (and still adorable).

Rip, age 11.

Mom with her roses.  I have tried to grow roses like this but I've never had any success.

Mom and Dad relaxing in the sun.

And here is the very last slide.  Janet (19), Freddie (24), and Karen (29).

It is both satisfying and sad to be done with the slide conversion project.  I have so enjoyed seeing my family living such happy lives. I think we all too often remember the bad times and they  overshadow the good ones.  These slides have reminded me that my childhood was filled with wonderful people who loved nothing more than to celebrate family.  That's something I hope to never forget.