Happy Birthday Ilana

 Tomorrow is Ilana's special birthday.  We celebrated it when she and her family were here in June.  We went to a Mexican restaurant near the university on the Ship Canal.  Her request!  My son in law made the cake.  We were also celebrating Danny's birthday.  He asked for their request.  Ilana said jam.  Danny said angel food cake.  So there it is.

We gathered at a small park area right on the ship canal and had the cake.  One of my many parties I gave at that time.

And above is an institutional picture marking a big award she got this year from ALA.  One of her many crazy haircuts.

Happy Birthday Ilana and Congratulations on your special award.

Cake at the anniversary party

 Here was the cake for our 50th anniversary party.  It's a duplicate of our original wedding cake.  Many thanks to Naomi and Steven who sponsored it.  From the same Everett bakery that they used for their wedding just over a year or so.  Looking at it now, the only thing differed was the part with the lacy part, the background was white.  Who cares?  It's a beautiful cake.  We also had flowers for the topper.

So pretty.  And tasted good too!

Snapshot of Anniversary Party

 We had a 50th anniversary party last month.  Over 50 people at a waterfront restaurant.  A brunch.  Here's a snapshot of the party in progress.  The buffet.  The water is to the right.  We didn't need any decorations because the site was so spectacular.  Everybody agreed that it was a great party.  To me, it was a blur.  Don't know if I talked to everybody.

I gave a little program about our own wedding and also about the ceremonial plates that I made.  About my great great grandparent's 50th anniversary in 1902 and the plate that they made.  The cousins were talking about that plate 120 years later.  So I'm hoping that that happns.

Melina's graduation

The group photo from Melina's graduation from North Seattle College in June.  The event was held at Hec Ed, the basketball arena at UW, we are in front of the entrance to the football stadium.

Melina's mom, her aunt and her family came (great!) and we took this group picture of both families.  Naomi, Stephen, Matt, Simon, Megan not there because of work/nap constraints.  But everybody else came, for which I was grateful.

So glad we took the picture BEFORE, after everybody just wanted to get out of there.  We had a party at our house afterwards.

Melina enjoyed the whole thing, the speakers, sitting with the other graduates, walking across the stage, the whole deal.  So glad she decided to do it. 

Special anniversary gift

I hope to have a better image.  This was a very special gift given to me by my daughter Naomi's mother in law Merry in honor of our 50th anniversary.  I know that Naomi worked on it too.  They love to craft together.  It's based on some special lace which was on my great grandmother's wedding dress.  I still have it and it's been involved in almost every wedding.

Then she puts pictures of all of our family at the bottom.  Yes, that's the dog Bowen at the end.  Also pictures of us, my sister and brother as well as some Dennis' family members.

It catches us now in 2026, a moment in time.  I need to write who everybody is on the back.  I know now, but like my place, decades from now, they won't know.

 

50th Anniversary party - big group

 The big family group at our 50th anniversary party last month.  Behind us is the water of the Sailish Sea.  I'm in the navy dress; Dennis in the tie.  Our four children with their spouses and their children.  My 4 grandchildren.  My oldest granddaughter is at the very left in the sea green dress.  Also including my brother and sister.

It's a group all right.  I was feeding many of these people most all the week.  There was hardly any room in the garbage can because of all the paper plates.

Having a large family means that you can generate a big picture like this.  Certainly I am grateful.

The S family

 Here is my daughter's family.  Taken during their recent trip here.  They went on a separate trip to the Olympic peninsula.  Taken in Sequim maybe.  They had a very good time and saw a lot of things.

Three grandchildren!

Just coming off of approx two weeks of visiting and parties.  Crazy number of parties I participated in, hosted bunches of them.  I wondered if *I* could get through it.  But I did.  So I'll share some pictures.  This shows three of my 4 grandchildren.  Frank, Simon and Scout.  The cousins love to see each other.  They're playing in Suzie and Megan's yard that has everything in it.  Shortly after this, they all had popsicles because, of course, we all have popsicles.  Frankie and Simon stayed with use along with their parents Ilana and Matt for, I don't know, 12 days?  And we all made it!!!

 

Frank graduates!

 Frank graduated from preschool yesterday.  He's planning to attend kindergarten in August.  All signed up and everything.  On the Friday before he participated in a fund-raising event for the local homeless shelter.  He and Ilana camped outside in a tent in solidarity.  Frank made it all night.  He and Ilana raised $1400.  He had his own event and worked; he raised a lot of that himself.  Takes after his mom Ilana who really likes to raise money.