Look Who's Twenty!

My daughter Kerry celebrated her 20th birthday on Saturday!
After much deliberation on Kerry's part, she decided to continue the tradition of her birthday celebrations by going once again to Wooster Street Pizza with her best friends and family.

With her friends from high school - Parker, Mel and Kaylee

And Jojo, of course!

The night also marked the first time father and son shared a beer together!

Then back home for cake, lovingly made my Annie and Adam in the likeness of Maddie.

 As her friends eyed it, you could almost read what was going through their minds.  Are we going to have to eat that?

While it was an outstanding likeness to our cat, Maddie, it was not exactly appetizing.

 Mel was brave and bit into a paw.

The black fondant coated her teeth and that was her first and last bite.

After a call to missing friend, Taylor...

and after opening up a few gifts...

We all went to Sweet Frog for frozen yogurt, along with Adam's friends, Jordan and Andrew.

 Before leaving, we took a few pictures with the birthday girl...

 with her friends...

 and even with Adam's friends...

It was a very fun night! 
We love spending time with our children and their friends!

Kerry has been thinking of changing the tradition for her 21st birthday next year.
And I don't think it will involve frozen yogurt!

My Girls

You probably know I have two daughters, Kerry and Annie.

What you might not know is that I have a bond with MANY other girls that I spent a LOT of time with over the years.  I was the leader of two Girl Scout troops. 

This summer, the girls in the youngest troop became Seniors in high school, and I have had the honor of taking some of their Senior portraits.  We haven't really been together as a troop since the end of 6th grade, but I see them here and there and I still feel like they are "my girls", feeling a bond with them that has remained in my heart since the olden days.

So far this summer, I have taken pictures of 4 of my girls.

Annie, of course... 
Then:

 

And now:

Sarah - then:

And Sarah - now:

Gigi - then:

And Gigi - now:

And Renee - then:

And Renee - now:

As I look at them now, I can't help but remember all of the fun times we had back then.
I get nostalgic and think about how fast they have grown up.
As I aim the camera at them, the line between the little girl I once knew well and the beautiful young women they are becomes blurred.
I still can so easily see their innocent little faces free of makeup and free of cares.
This next year will not be an easy one for them.
SATs, college applications, and a year of LASTs.

I feel fortunate that I can be a part of this time of their lives in this way.
Capturing this moment in time before "the rest of their life" begins.

And I look forward to seeing more of my girls over the summer!

June 28, 1988

Twenty-four years ago today, Hali was born.

Hali is my sister Lori's daughter - her first-born.

 Hali was a precocious little girl!

She was also extremely entertaining!

 

When she wasn't talking (which was rare)

she was singing.

Her Uncle Vance loved when Hali visited!

 

As she got older, my kids loved her too!

And they also found her entertaining!

Kerry and Adam still remember when she told them that airplanes have a Butt-Hatch. When people use the bathroom on a plane, it gets dropped out of the Butt-Hatch and falls to the earth below.  Gullible as they are at such a young age,  they remember running around with buckets when a plane flew overhead hoping to catch some droppings!

That's just how Hali is.  Imaginative, creative, smart - a natural story-teller!

Hali is all grown up now - 24 years old!

But not too old to ask for a birthday blog!

So here it is, Hali!

Oh, here is a more recent picture of Hali...

She's the one on the right, above the Butt-Hatch!

Happy Birthday, Hali!

We love you!