Kodak Moments

Finn & Erin on the 4th

Finn, all tuckered out

Happy 1st Birthday, Abbi!

I don't have any brothers or sisters (biologically speaking), but I do have some great girlfriends, one of whom has given me the most beautiful niece (and another on the way!!). Although Abbi lives in Tennessee with her Mommy & Daddy & their dogs, I was able to see her on Father's Day for her 1st birthday party! I can't believe last July, she was just this little itty bitty thing. I can't actually believe that we're old enough to be having babies and houses and weddings and whatnot... but I guess we are. She's proof!

Last July
This June - at her birthday party!

Kodak Moments

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July! This year didn't seem so Independence Day-like to me. Growing up, it was tradition for me to spend the day in Winthrop with some of my "family" and watch them dress like goofballs for the parade in the morning, stay on the beach and eat all day, and watch the fireworks at night. Now that I am grown up (supposedly), the Fourth is Matt's birthday. The past few years, Matt & I have only attended the parade & then headed off to do his birthday stuff. This year, we opted out of the parade & decided we'd head to Winthrop for the fireworks. I was psyched to be there for them, but it didn't feel like the 4th, being able to sleep in & hanging around the house during the day without seeing the fam dressed up in the most ridiculous costumes ever! Regardless, we had a really nice day. Matt's family came over for a little birthday cookout & it was nice to see everyone & spend time with them. Then we headed into Winthrop with my parents for what turned out to be some AMAZING fireworks.

My cousin Anthony taking a picture of the rainbow
The rainbow
I sat at the picnic table in the backyard & didn't use the zoom. This plane was surprisingly far away compared to how low they usually fly.
Sunset
Balcony view, Twisted Tea, Sunset, Harbor, Fireworks = Heaven
Sitting on the balcony, watching the explosions

Family Reunion

I have a somewhat multi-faceted family, part of whom I haven't met or in the least, haven't seen since I was 10 years old. Some of these family members live right near me and others live as far as California and beyond. A wedding of one such cousin brought many back to the Northshore, so my aunt and I organized a bit of a reunion this past weekend. When I was younger, I remember going to these reunions fairly often and meeting people who claimed I looked just like my dad and told me stories of long ago and things my father probably wouldn't have voluntarily shared. This time I was able to really meet my family members and put faces with the names I've heard so many times over the years. It was so wonderful for me to see so many generations together and see family still so close after all these years.

Generation 1: Uncle George, Nana, Gramps, & Auntie Peggy
Generation 2: Dad & his cousins
Generation 3 & 4: The Cousins's Kids & Grandkids
The Guys
The Gals
My dad, me, & our cousin Leann
The Trouble-Makers of the Fam: Leann, Dad, George, & Monica

Happy Birthday Lang!

Langley turned 27 this month, and our house became the place to be again. It's really nice having everyone together, & I'm really thankful that we were lucky enough to find a house with the space for our friends to come & visit.

New York, New York

Every year, my eighth graders go on a class trip. For at least the past four years that I've been teaching, we've gone to New York City. I am lucky enough to chaperone this trip each year. In just 3 short days, we visit the Museum of Natural History, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Madame Tousead's Wax Museum, South Street Seaport, Ground Zero, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center, NBC Studios, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Irish Hunger Memorial, the African Burial Ground Memorial, Winter Garden, Chinatown, Mars 2112, Hard Rock Cafe, and see The Lion King on Broadway. It's a busy, busy three days, & I spend most of the time running around & the rest of the time missing home. I work with a great group of people who all attended this year's trip with me & here we are at Top of the Rock.

Kodak Moments

The Simpson Wedding

Congratulations to the Simpsons! E & Z had a beautiful ceremony on the water at the Oceanview in Nahant last night. Good luck guys!

Back to School

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. Matt's back in school, going for his Associate's in Engineering, and oddly enough, I miss it. I miss school. Geesh, I never thought I'd hear myself saying that. I don't think it's the papers and the homework, but rather the working toward a goal. I've been looking at programs for a while now, and I've finally decided to go back to Salem State (again) to get [another] Master's Degree. This time, I'm thinking I'll go for a degree in Reading. It will definitely help me in my classroom teaching and in the years to come, maybe I'll opt to become a reading specialist. Who knows? Regardless, after much talk and lots of research, a 500 word essay on my goals, 3 letters of reference, and a few chats with Salem State professors, I'm heading back! I start on May 29th. For the summer, I'm going to take four classes. Nothing like diving in head first! I figure, the more classes and credits I get out of the way before the wedding, the better. Then, I'm hoping, I can start taking my required classes (to keep my licensure) in topics that I really want to learn about like World War II. I hope I can get back into the swing of things quickly and easily! Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Spikey Jon!

Spikey Jon turned 27 and moved to Boston so we threw him a little party.

We converted him to a Sox fan.

Rindge Tinge makes a guest appearance

New Additions

The Newest Member of the family: