Hey Everyone

First off let me start by saying that we are very sorry we have not posted in a while, but for those of you with kids, you know how hectic it can be at times. With TNT in Kindergarten it just seems like we always have something going on and then with the sports it's like football runs right into soccer and from soccer it's on to T-ball. Of which the boys are currently playing now. Ralph and I really enjoy it, as do the boys. Last week Tyler hit his 1st ever home run and 2nd home run all in the same game. Way to go, TYLER!!! Trevor enjoys playing first base, but what he really enjoys is school and that is where he really seems to excel naturally. I guess he is going to be a smarty pants just like his Daddy. Woo Hoo, TREVOR!!! TNT are also excited about their upcoming 6th B-day on May 18th. Ethan is 15 months now going on 5. He really thinks that he can do anything his brothers can. He really keeps me on my toes and in shape I do not need a membership to the gym as I am constantly chasing after him. He is talking up a storm and is starting to have quite an extensive vocabulary. Yeah, ETHAN!!! As for Ralph and myself we are doing excellent. Ralph's business is doing great, and the Easter Bunny bought us a nice present as you can see in the pictures we purchased a boat. We have really been enjoying it, and we have gone out all weekend long, the past two weekends, fishing, swimming and all kinds of other fun stuff. What a great way to spend some good quality time together as a family. We are also getting ready for the summer. School will be out here in 3 weeks, we already have a lot planned for the summer. We will be going on two trips with the kids and two without, who hoo, RALPH AND LAURIE!!! We are really looking forward to that. TNT will be going to their grandparents house in S. Florida (my parents) for a couple of weeks. The boys have been wanting to do this for a couple of years now and I finally feel that they are old enough to stay away that long without us. They are so excited about that. We are looking forward to the reunion as well and have already booked our cottage. Can't wait to see everyone. :) Our love to all.......

Family Easter Egg Hunt

Last Saturday we had the Florida Family Easter Egg Hunt. It was a week early, but since Gramma and Aunt Robin were down visiting, we wanted to include them in the fun. The picnic was held at Sugar Sand Park in Boca Raton, and it was the perfect location. (Thanks, Cathy. Once again you did a great job organizing it!)

We do the hunt just a little bit different than the "original" family egg hunt. Since our kids (Nyssa, PJ and Becky) are all older, they hide the eggs for the adults to find. The winners are presented with themed gift baskets. (But of course, we're all winners!)

We have another tradition -- at every family picnic there's a water fight. This time, Gramma joined in.

There are lots more pictures posted on my family album, if you would like to check them out.

Spring Break Adventure

Well hello one and all - been missing everyone and enjoying seeing everything on the blog. I just got back from spring break a couple of days ago and what an adventure I had

While driving out to Southern California to Joshua Tree National park with my friend Jacob and Annie in my car and Andrew had his truck with Kevin as his passenger. We hit a hail storm and my car spun out of control about 6 times hitting a couple of bushes before coming to a rest sideways with the nose of the car barely in the fast lane. I thought for sure we had flipped but we didn't I think cause of the bushes. Thankfully My friend Jacob was driving cause I don't think I would of handled it very well. As soon as we started spinning I took a deep breath and relaxed my body as much as possible.


NO one was hurt thankfully.

Annie was in the back and just bruised her shoulder slightly which was fine a day later.

For some reason kayaking terms popped in my head and after the initial reaction of is everyone ok all I could think of was get out of the car and go upstream in case another vehicle doesn't see us and hit the car. After the cops came and the tow-truck guy loaded up the car because the car had no back tire and wasn't drivable - we waited for the tow-truck guy under a bridge to get our gear before the car was towed to the impound.

after finding a motel and and sleeping for a few hours we started making the rest of the way to the park having to make two trips we were finally at our destination

Other than having to deal with insurance stuff and the impound and mechanic on Monday - the trip was amazing. We did a bunch of rock climbing, rock scrambling, hiking and hanging out by the camp fire.

For the trip home my friends pitched in and I rented a car making it safely back to gunny for school........ NOt ready for school cause my brain is still on break.

Hope everyone is well and can't wait to see everyone in August.

Love

Mel
p.s. mom the people in the picture from left to right is

Andrew, Kevin, Annie, Me, and Jacob

Marion's Girls

I like this picture because it's such typical teenage girls -- no matter WHAT generation they are! I would love to know the story behind the picture... 

One more picture

"Herbert, Albert and Charles"

Continuing the search for Ricky...

I went through some more photos, and I found this picture. I think it's a good picture of Ricky -- he's sitting on the second row from the bottom on the far right. I also recognize Ronny (tallest in the very back), Robby (in the gold shirt next to Ronny), Renee (centered between Ronny and Ricky), and Rhonda (the adorable blond in the blue dress). I think that Kelly is sitting next to Renee, and that would make the baby in the bonnet Samantha. I have no guess which little boy is G.R. (Sorry!) If anyone knows the rest of this story, please pipe up!

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

The Search......

And the search was on for a picture of Ricky!!! I found a bunch of old pictures { got absolutely nothing else accomplished! } I narrowed it down to these. {for now!}

hi everyone

hi! we finally got our internet back up! How is everyone? I completely forgot to make our reservations for the kottages so I just finished doing that! I thought I was going to be told "to bad" but everything is taken care of! The count down, I believe,has begun! All is well here. Kevin & Mia are fixin to graduate, both with honors. They are trying to narrow down where they want to attend college. They have been accepted to every place they applied. I cant believe Phillip is turning 17! An AMAZING feat of its own! Cody just got accepted into the Air Force ROTC and is doing well. Steven just finished his 1st year of basketball and still thinks he will be the WHITE Tracey McGrady and Ford is your typical 3 year old going on 18! Sean and I are good. Remodeling the kitchen right now. Always something! Cant wait to see everyone! We went and got pictures of us! Turned out terrible{camera adds many pounds!} But thats us! See you all very soon! Love ya all!

Welcome to the Gathering, Richard!

I've gotten a notice that Ricky has joined our family blog, and I just wanted to welcome him. I couldn't find a picture of just Ricky, but I thought this early family celebration was a good one. Going around the table from the left is me (Sandi), Renee, Ricky, April, Robby, and Cathy. The picture was taken in 1968.

Ricky, we would love to hear from you. Let us know what you've been up to, and what's going on in your life. Pictures are always a good thing -- some of us haven't seen your babies in a long time!

Everyone else -- this blog has gotten quiet lately. What's everyone been up to? 

WHAT A Great Trip

Hello everyone, our first family trip was a roaring success. Traveling at night worked out better than I could of guessed, Cassie slept through most of the traveling and Danelle slept half of the time. Which made driving pretty easy for me. Our first stop was Brother Bob in Tennessee. I got to take a power nap on his cozy couch while he took Cassie and Danielle to his school where Cassie was able to run up and down this enclosed, multi story ramp. It was a good and brief visit, and I was happy to see him. Our next stop was an overnight in Macon, Georgia. My cousin Doreen, husband Orlando, and her five kids were overjoyed to see us and Cassie. I was overjoyed to see a bed I was able to use. The visit was great, telling of childhood memories, revealing tales of my parents (HaHa HaHa), and of present day joys. The next morning we slept in and had a great breakfast with the kids. Before we left, we bum-rushed Doreen at work for photos we forgot and goodbyes. At Around 12 we headed out towards Tallahassee, Florida to meet up with Ralph, Laurie, and their boys Trevor, Tyler, and little Ethan. We arrived shortly after they did from there trip to Lauries parents. The timing was tight, but well worth it. Laurie gave us the grand tour of their beautiful house, (which Ralph built) and we got settled in. Laurie and Ralph treated us to dinners, their house, and their hospitality. Cassie had the time of her life playing with boys and the lack of running boundries. We left the following night towards West Palm Beach at around 9, we took our last couple of pictures and last minute hugs and hit the road. The next morning we arrived at Sandi's shortly after she woke up at 4:30 a.m. and immediately settled in. Sandi gave us free reign of her spacious and beautiful apartment, and gave Danielle directions to local eateries and the park. Later that night we all left for a short drive to Boca to Cheyennes house for the Flordian welcome party. The drive was eventful( a story for a later post) but we made it O.K. We had dinner with Cheyenne, Amy, Sandi, Cathy, Orlando, Becca, PJ, and Nyssa. Cheyenne gave us the tour, fixed my car, and showed me his "TOYS". We had an incredible vist and realized its been way too long for this. The next day, April came over to Sandis and took us all to the Zoo, Cassie slept for most of it, But me and Danielle had a great time. When we were leaving, Cassie woke up in time to play in the huge kids fountain. What a blast. Afterwards, They took us to the mall were Becca made a Build a bear for Cassie. Danielle got to make one as well. Then Sandi treated us to dinner, and Cheyenne road up from Boca on his Harley (TOY #1) during dinner and coffee we all got to catch up and all talked about the upcoming Family reunion. Pictures and Hugs and I said goodbye to April and Cheyenne. The next day, me and Danielle took Cassie to this Lego Castle Playland. basically a huge indoor room safe for kids of all ages to run around, yes even safe for me. At lunch me and Cassie napped, and Danielle got to go to the Mall. Later we packed, took last minute pictures and had a great dinner with Sandi and the kids. We said our good byes and headed home. The next day we were at Danielle's Aunt's house in Virginia and got some much needed sleep. We had a good but breif visit and left for home. We made it to Bradley Beach New Jersey by 2 o'clock safe and sound. Our special thanks to everyone we got to see, Can't wait to see everyone else in August, and our love to ALL.