Ilana mid high school

We'll end Ilana week with some shots from mid high school.

Ilana decided to take a trip on her own in the summer using her saved money.  I suggested the east coast relatives.  That girl's so plucky, she called up these relatives she had nevervisited and asked if she could come.  Now, I think she's closer to Mary Ann and Aunt Elgie.  But, at that time, there was no way we could afford to go on airplane trips.

In the first shot, she's at the top of East Rock in New Haven, looking down into the neighborhood where her grandmother grew up.  Many thanks to my cousin Mary Ann for showing her the sights and then, I think, driving her to Boston.  Always many many thanks to Mary Ann (the brains of the operation).

In the second shot, Ilana is running in an event. I think that's the half marathon that she ran around Thanksgiving time.  And she made it!  This was the beginning?  the end?  Half marathon, I'm impressed.

Ilana - wedding action shot

#6 in the series for Ilana week.  She wanted to be featured on the blog for a while week for her birthday

Here's Ilana at her wedding a year ago in June.

Hmmm, does it look like it's going downhill a bit?  Oh well, meant to be, evens out the heights a bit.  During the actual ceremony with the officiant who turned out to be the girlfriend of an ex-neighbor, who knew?

It's an action shot, some advice or vows or something.  Ilana was a bit emotionally overwhelmed, a little sobby.  And, like all newlyweds, they were happy for it to be over.  You can kind of see the Delia lace that's hanging on the back of he dress (150 years old!  been on just about every wedding dress).  One little miscue, she has a beautiful flower in her hair.  But it's facing the wrong direction.  If that's our only problem....

So happy anniversary Ilana and Matt, a little late.

And now we are into another wedding.  3 in 4 years, just lucky I guess.

Ilana as a very young person

Ilana was born with a sister 19 months older and a brother 4 years older.  So not too many baby pictures.  She wanted new ones but when I went through the 1987 box, the one I used last year was still my favorite.  The one with the boxes.  We were moving (haven't moved since!) so we had lots of boxes around.  Kids love to play with boxes.

I have no idea how I got through that move; it was just crazy.  I really didn't have too much help, well the usual but we did it ourselves because, we had to.

But another picture with Ilana about a year old with Susanna and my father who's reading to them from the photo book.  They always liked that best anyway.

Ilana around 12 years old

Today's the day!  Ilana is 29 years old today.  I went into the big boxes of pictures.  I kind of wanted a picture of her celebrating her birthday.  Seems like Ilana had some star-crossed birthday parties.  That never quite worked out as planned.

But I found these two.  Dates are approximate, maybe she can date these more accurately.  I figure 1998, maybe 12 years old.  The first on Alki beach, probably during a visit by my parents.  My mother loved going to the beach and having fisn and chips.  Ilana was taking a yoga class (I was too!) and she loved the whole other worldliness idea.  She always was the different drummer, in another dimension,' ponyland' we called it.  You never knew what worlds Ilana was exploring in her imagination.

Plus she looked pretty cute in the straw hat.  Though the bangs are a bit long.  At her other grandparent's house?  Just not sure.

Happy Birthday Ilana!

Ilana - before the beginning 1986

A rare picture of me being pregnant. Things were just way too nuts for me to think about taking pictures of myself.

And who's in that baby bump?  Ilana!  Pregnancy was really a mystery to me.  I never expected it, pretty much denied it most of the time.  I didn't have any time to savor the miracle, etc etc.  Susanna was a year old and Danny was four.  I was just trying to survive!

Where are we?  Somewhere wooded?  From the clothes the kids are wearing, it's summer.  Makes sense as Ilana was born in August.  So I'm pretty well along in this shot.

Notice the firm hold I have over the strap of Susanna's sunsuit.  Because she is going to take off FOR SURE.

Now, there are more acceptable options in maternity clothes, lots more choices.  Then you had to drape everything over.

It's always a miracle when a healthy baby is born.  Amazing it happens as often as it does.  But Ilana was born August 10, a week before the calculated due date.  Under 5 pounds.

Again, any wonder that I wasn't in the labor force full time?

Ilana with sibs at party 1995

Day 2 of Ilana birthday week version 2

This shot dates from the 50th anniversary party of her grandparents Jim and Lanaya Barnes.  Lanaya was already showing signs of dementia and could not be too much involved in the planning.  If she had all her wits about her, she would have put it on in fine style.  It was Jim who wanted it, helped with it and funded it.  Lanaya did make sure that all of the kids had new shoes.

Ilana, third of four poses with her siblings.  9 years old.  Her sister Susanna behind her is only 19 months older.  Susanna had just about gotten her full height though we didn't know it.  She's even taller than Danny who is 13.  I think that Ilana was at a girl scout weekend at Camp River Ranch.  She could not bear to miss it so I think one of the leaders brought her back special earlier on Sunday afternoon so she could attend.  She was very sad to leave girl scout camp.  Looks to me like I actually had everybody reasonably clean and dressed up.  It was an afternoon party at the Shoreline Museum in the old school building which no longer stands.  They were the only grandchildren.

Jim and Lanaya had never had a wedding.  Jim's mother put Lanaya on a bus, age 18, to San Francisco where Jim was stationed and they were married at the courthouse.  Lanaya left a note for her father.  How's that for wartime love?  They never really missed it but we had a wedding cake, etc at this party.

Those kids are 6, 9, 11, 13 in this shot.  Or close to it.  No wonder I never really re-entered the labor force.  Danny is holding his (as he put it) little tiny baby sister for the pose.  He really did try to take care of his little sister empire.

Happy Birthday Ilana who turns 29 this week.

Ilana Week Part 2!

For Ilana's 29th birthday, she has asked for it to be Ilana Week on the blog.  I did it last year and she asked me to do it again.  She wanted this to be entirely new to the blog pictures.  I can't quite promise that but we can get going all the same.


For today, I will feature a picture from her wedding day a year ago June.  During the epic hair and makeup session in the cute artist's cottage.  The hair is done, working on the make-up.  The bride has to done with a little bit more drama.

But she's looking like a VERY beautiful bride.  Which she was!

Happy birthday Ilana next Monday.