What a Party!

It is not every day that the youngest member of one generation of the family turns 50, so naturally there had to be a party. Fortunately, one branch of the family takes Hallowe'en much more seriously than do the other branches, and seeing as the birthday is two days before Hallowe'en, that was the theme. All arrived in costume and spent the evening enjoying great music and food, and celebrating with one who is finally "over the hill"!

Here are two of the magnificent carved pumpkins (styrofoam so they can be preserved from year to year) created by the bride-to-be. What talent!

I have seen many Christmas villages, but never a Hallowe'en village. Here it is, complete with moving parts and scary shrieks.

I did my best to get a picture of each costume. I missed a few, but you will get the idea...

The mad scientist with the hostess (not the living hostess, the animated one).

The Hawaiian tour guide...

And his lovely assistant!

The host, again with the animated hostess...

also sharing hosting duties were the crab, and her companion, the pirate? town crier? admiral?

Miss Kitty and Matt will be getting hitched in a couple of weeks!

Oscar the Grouch, the birthday girl, her escort the nun (more revealing picture later on), and the real hostess, the "Soon to be Empty Nester". (Now that took some thought!)

The "nun" in profile!

Serious conversation - most likely about the political state of the nation!

Matt kept the youngest guest, dressed in his pumpkin sleeper, entertained while the guest dressed as a "mother" looked on. The pumpkin seemed to enjoy his first Hallowe'en celebration.

Finally the guest of honour got to blow out the candles on her witch birthday cake.

Thanks to the host and hostess for throwing this shindig. You definitely know how to throw a party. Makes us all really look forward to the wedding in a couple of weeks!

Our Precious Three Year Old

Seemed unfair that our first grandchild's cousin and sister had their own videos on our blog, and she had none. Here she is with Dad and Grandpa in the campground pool this summer. We had come for a visit to see new baby sister, and enjoyed our playtime with this one too!

Grandma was lucky enough to be able to visit overnight on her third birthday. Here she is eating birthday cake the next day. She is much too tidy!

MId October News

October is a busy month in this family. Many people celebrate birthdays. A few of us gathered recently to celebrate some of the October birthdays. Below is the person celebrating a sixth birthday, and the next picture shows the "Special" birthday girl - celebrating her 50th! (She's the one in the middle).

He wasn't at the party (his birthday is not quite in October) but he gets to be on this blog entry anyway because everything he does these days is new! He is very alert and interested in what is happening around him.

We're So Thankful!

Of the 23 people who attended Thanksgiving dinner this year, this young man was definitely the most important! He is the newest addition to the family, but didn't get much turkey because he is only 11 days old in this picture!

The four generational picture. How many babies can say that they have been in a picture with all four of their great-grandparents? (plus parents and one set of grandparents)

What is mom's cousin to the new baby? Second cousin? Great cousin? Grand cousin? No one really knows! (Note the jean overalls!)

The two great grandfathers waiting for dinner.

We were pleased to welcome a couple of new faces to our dinner this year. Here is one (along with two familiar faces).

Seeing as this was a dinner for whoever could come from both sides of the host and hostess's family, we all got a chance to visit. Here, the mother of the bride (third from left) consults the resident wedding planner (on the right) about cupcakes and cupcake tiered trays.

The two great grandmothers enjoy some baby time with the new one.

And, in the basement...the self-proclaimed "favourite" aunt, with boyfriend and roommate.

One Week and One Day Old Grandson

Here he is - already an old man! This visit, he had his eyes open for a few moments, but you still have to be quick to see them.

This Great Aunt and Great Uncle get around! They visited the girls last month, and here they are with the boy!

This young man doesn't move much yet, but here is a video of some action. Click on the arrow twice to get it going.

A Smile from a Two Month Old Girl

Someone is having a birthday!

Grandma was lucky enough to have to go to a conference close to where the birthday girl lives. Here she is with Mom, Dad, and little sister, out having a birthday dinner. Grandma was taking the picture. Baby sister was not too excited by the event.
Our three-year-old was quite surprised and pleased when the servers gathered to sing and clap for her, to take her picture, and to present her with a hat, cake with a candle, and a balloon.

When we got home, she had new p.j.s to put on before opening lots of presents Grandma had brought from everyone who wasn't lucky enough to get to make the trip!

There were puzzles, books, clothes, games, and...

a doctor kit. She loved to hear the stethoscope go "thump, thump". (Does she look a little tired? It had been a long day, going to school, then waiting for Grandma to get there).

When she woke up, little sister watched everything from the comfort of her vibrating seat. She's looking forward to when she can have cake and ice cream too. We could tell she was happy for her sister from all the smiles she gave us.

It was a happy third birthday for a special girl. She'll get to celebrate again on the weekend when some of her cousins arrive. Thanks for letting Interprovincial Grandma share in your day.