Betty and Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple!
This is Betty Kinchen, a long time neighbor of mine.  When she was 9 yrs old, she ordered this  Shirley Temple doll from a magazine.  She still has the box it came in and the doll is in perfect condition.  Thanks, Betty, for letting me take pix of you and Shirley! (My Mom absolutely loves this doll and hopes that she inherits it!) believe me, she hints to Betty all the time!

Party time!

Kurt and Susan making sweet music!
Celeste, Deb and Deb's sister, Diane

Debbie Beach and Rose Meaders!

I had the pleasure of being the photographer at a party this summer over at Debbie's neighborhood pool.  We celebrated Kurt's 20th birthday - lots of his and Debbie's friends were there and it was great fellowship!  Food, music and lots of fun :)

Pickled Watermelon Rhine

I got this wild hair....and made watermelon rhine pickles tonight.  My Dad brought 2 huge watermelons to me and, well,  there was a lot of it around.   Visions of my Mom in the kitchen whipping up preserves, canning vegetables, etc...well it looks easier than it is!

So the pickles are done, the lids NEVER seal for me so I guess I'll put all 6 (large) jars of pickles in my tiny little refrigerator until I can pawn them off on someone to try!  Oh yeah, and did I mention that I missed one BIG step while reading the instructions?  I forgot to trim the outside rhine off the melon before cooking - darn - it's rather chewey, I suggest you just bit the pickle just up to the edge!

Does anyone know this lady?

My friend, Pam, you can tell she's from Atlanta...she has that big city look about her, and wow, what a 1940's -look - a bathing beauty!

We had such fun at the MS Walk this year in St Augustine Beach - stayed right on the beach and soaked up every bit of that sweet salty air that we could.  I always laugh so hard when I'm with Pam, especially when the rest of the "Supreme's" come with her (Susan, Mary and Peggy).

It's a ball!  

Dinner in St Louis

It was such fun visiting Brett last year in St. Louis - I'm going to go back again soon.  After an extremely hot day at the Cardinals game, we had dinner down town.  My son knows so much about wine! where he learned that, I don't know, but I'm glad he did....the wine was fantastic.  And our food was so amazing, I have photos of our plates of food, but I won't bore you with all the details.

So in this picture is Brett's best friend, Justin, and his parents, Kathy and Don.   Brett met Justin playing baseball for Lindenwood University and they've been like family ever since.  In fact, Kathy and I think they are twins but don't tell them!

Girls on the beach

I just got this pix from Kay - Erica was at the beach with some fellow school teachers last week - looks like fun :)

Joey Roig

I first met Joey when he was about 3 yrs old, at the baseball field, of course!  We watched him grow up, literally ON the ball field...always had a ball in his hand!  So, now he 's playing for Buccholz (sorry GHS, they got him!) and had the pleasure of watching one of his games last night.

Here are a few pics......way to go Joey, nice game!

Brett and Lauren

Lauren and Brett at Brett's Dad's lake place in Dallas! Hold on Lauren!
Looks like fun fun fun!
I'm missing my Brett - waiting on a visit home :)

Lizzie swimming!

it's an itsy bitsy teeny weeny red polka dot bikini!

Some of our special guests at Dad's 80th party!

Amy with Elizabeth
Connie and Josie Smith

Dad's 80th Birthday

My Dad turned 80 June 9th and we had a huge surprise party for him (on Brett's 23rd birthday, the 7th).  We pulled it off - he and Mom knew nothing about it and we couldn't believe the great turn out....I think there were at least 60 guests that came to share the special occasion with us.  We missed the out of towners, 

Brett and Tiffany, but know they were there in spirit.

Speaking of Brett, he and Amy just went on a 5 day cruise from Canada down to Boston....sounds like they had a wonderful time - waiting on pictures (hint hint) which I'm sure are going to be fantastic!   I hope to head up that way one day with camera in hand, of course.  

Father's Day

Father's Day this year, a quiet one, since we had just celebrated my Father's 80th birthday, we had a quiet day - met Ed, Kay, and Tiffany at Outback for lunch - here's to you, Edward!  Great pix of you and Tiff :)

To my Dad, an awsome Father who has always been there for me, no matter what, I love you so much!

Congrat's Carsen Stefanelli!

Hat's off to Carsen, graduating from Newberry High School in June (with honors I might add) -

it was great to be a part of his celebration - way to go, Carsen!

I still think he needs his own personal photographer to go on the Senior trip to Hawaii ;)

in process of posting some pix....

So I'm starting a blog!  I know, everyone is doing a blog, but it's fun, and it's a way to post stuff to share!  And of course, the latest joy to share in our immediately family is Elizabeth Johnson - what a sweetie!  I've uploaded what seems like thousands of pix of her and she's only 4 months old!  O boy...we have lots of years to go.

Amy and Brett are at this moment 'cruising' from Montreal to Boston on  a huge luxury ship and having quite the time of their lives, it sounds like.   Can't wait to see some pix - and to know they are eating lobster almost every day - I'm totally jealous!