It's The Season...

Victoria, Laughing at the American Girl Store in Boston

Well, here we are, right around the corner from the holidays. The holidays, by definition, are hectic. So I'm trying to think about preparation now, in all respects. The Boston kids, Sunni, Kevin and Baby Victoria, will be arriving soon. Their room needs to be ready, our calendars need to be cleared and all the preparations for a memorable Thanksgiving dinner need to be in place. The more I can do now, the less stress at the time. Organization is always the key!

What a difference a year makes. My mother passed away, Dad was diagnosed with cancer (surgery and chemo complete), Little Victoria was born with an initial blood disorder scare that eventually disappeared. I accepted a job doing community outreach for a free medical clinic. All major changes in our lives with the stress that change brings.

The family is healthy and we're all working hard to maintain our respective life styles. Maintaining health is paramount; all other concerns disappear in light of that. Several of our friends did not make it to see Thanksgiving this year.

So, with that perspective in hand, let the holidays commence! And the true meaning of Family supercedes even the best of tablesettings on Thanksgiving.

Holiday Time is Here!

Well, somehow the summer and fall escaped us and here we are in Holday Season, 2007. They say the older you get, the quicker time flies, and that is certainly true for David and me! We're looking forward to an exciting 2008, with Kevin and Sunni's wedding in May. A trip to Boston in January is scheduled for Sunni's shower. I'll be traveling up with Lisa, which will be fun! Wish me luck with all the cold weather!

My Birthday Camera

Yes, another birthday is rolling around next week. My loving husband gave me my gift early - a new Nikon D40 camera! Today was my first official 'shoot' with two Harbor Hills friends, both accomplished photographers.

Here is a link to more of my shots from the local park. Special thanks to my friend Neil Toulch for sharing his expertise, time and creativity.

They're Here!!

Boston-based Sunni & Kevin arrived yesterday for the holiday!! We're having fun, starting with an evening of hibachi. Of course, any visit to Sumter Landing includes David's favorite venue, Baskin Robbins Ice Cream!!

Thanksgiving & the Girls

The picture above shows the girls in 1979. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving, 2006 is here. The best part is having our family around the table again. Sunni will be with us in Florida (the one with the big smile on the left) for a week, getting relaxed and rejuvinated. Lisa (the one with the big smile on the right) and Danny will be here for as long as Lisa's hectic schedule will allow. But one thing's for sure - we are truly thankful for the blessings our family has enjoyed all year long. From our home to yours, a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Boo!

Our first Halloween party at Harbor Hills was so much fun! The costumes were creative and funny - and some quite beautiful. David and I donned our "Bonnie & Clyde" attire. Once David gets that white tie, hat and machine gun going, he's "in character" for the rest of the evening. Everyone got into the fun with prizes for costumes and Halloween games. Click here for more Halloween pics! Now, what shall we dress as next year? ..

Mother's Day at Harbor Hills

Here's the fam enjoying a beautiful Mother's Day luncheon at the Harbor Hills Country Club.

Our Grandson aka Spiderman!

Danny celebrated his tenth birthday on Saturday at Gainesville's Rock Climbing Gym. Along with his friends, Danny climbed the rock wall easily and to our amazement! Mom Lisa, our daughter, "spotted" as Danny and friends climbed walls of different difficulty levels. Pizza and birthday cake finished the day of exercise and fun! Click for a closer view.

St. Paddys & the River Green

St. Paddy's Day weekend was a Grandparent's delight! Our day started off with the "Shaggy Dog" movie at the Rialto Theatre in The Villages. Then we walked around the quaint streets of Spanish Springs. All the fountains were spouting green water in celebration of St. Paddy's day! We ended the day at Paulie's for a delicious slice of pizza. A beautiful day from start to finish. Click for a closer view of that green water!

January, Our Birthday Month!

January is our birthday month. This year, amidst our boxes in the rental garage, and "interim" status, we managed to have a blast! David had dinner in his favorite restaurant, Isabella's. I chose an activity for the two of us on my special day: a pottery creation at Amazing Glaze, with dinner at the Japanese Steakhouse to follow. We are pictured above with our original creations. The dishes will be given a "glaze bath" and then fired in a kiln. They should be ready for pick up next week.

Welcoming the New Year

We enjoyed New Year's Eve dinner at a local Summerfield restaurant called Isabella's. The Mediteranean fare was incredibly delicious. A vocalist was hired for the festivities. As we quickly found out (in this friendly town) the owners are neighbors of ours in Harbor Hills! A great time was had by all. 2006 is off to an exciting (and delicious!) start! Happy New Year, Friends!

A Great Time Was Had by All!

We attended a very special celebration for Steve Montanino's birthday, hosted by Marga and family. Some old friends were there, and several new ones as well. The food was delicious and the company even better. Happy happy birthday, Steve!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We couldn't have imagined a more joyful Thanksgiving, than having our two daughters with us at Harbor Hills. We showed off the progress of our new home, and had a delicious dinner at the clubhouse. Lisa, Sunni, Kevin and Little Danny all spent the holiday with us this year. Pictured above is Lisa on the left, and Sunni, against the beautiful backdrop of our new Tenth Fairway. Click for a closer view.