Last visit

We went down to have lunch in Brooklyn for the last time last weekend. John and Cassie brought us to an authentic polish restaurant. It was so great to see them...it had been much too long! Yummy food with 3 of my favorite people. Love that!
Hello NYC

Pierogies, potato pancakes...a plate of deliciousness

Roasted chicken

Kielbasa

Brooklyn Ice Cream for dessert

Paint Job

Jim undertook the painting of our living room and family room 2 weeks ago. He took a week off from work, but it turned into a 2 week project. Our dull stained woodwork is now a creamy white and the dull builders grade gray walls are now "herbal green" and "havana cream". Great job Jim!

So pretty.

Random

Zach is home. Per his request, there is lots of healthy food in our cabinets again. Lean meats, fruit, whole grains...we have it all. Good for him, good for us. Jim has FINALLY conformed to eating whole wheat/grain bread. We eat good when Zach is away, we really try, but he takes us to a whole new level when he is home. We are anxiously waiting for his final grades because it looks like he did even better this semester.
I haven't really posted anything about my promotion at work. There is a reason for that, and when I figure out why I don't want to speak/write about it, I will let you know. I will say that now in addition to being the billing manager, I am now the supervisor of non-clinical staff. I am supervising people that have had no supervision at all for years. No rules, no boundaries. I am in uncharted waters. All I can say is that I am doing the best job that I can.
Kate is winding down her semester at NVCC. She has saved a good amount of $ and will begin shopping for a car in a few weeks. Paying for it all by herself, coming off of our car insurance and getting her own policy.
It's finally Saturday and I woke up to sunny skies, cool temps, and a gentle breeze. Jim and I will be driving down to visit John and Cassie for lunch in Brooklyn today. It will be our last time to visit them there. They will be leaving their apartment at the end of this month. Cassie will move in with her parents in Mass. and try and secure a new job. John will move in with his buddy Roger on Long Island and continue working for CPC until Cassie has everything settled in Mass. Then he will leave the big city for good.
Jim is well. Starting new projects at work. Still working from home 99% of the time.
That's the update. Hope that you are all enjoying the weekend!

Famous

Zach was interviewed the other day by NBC news for a story on condo's converted to dorms for UNH students. Click on this link and than click on the little picture that says "watch".

Click Here

Another

This will be my last Mother's Day post. A friend sent this to me yesterday and I just totally related to it. click

Mother's Day 2010

Mother's Day was pretty low key this year, which honestly is just the way that I like it. Only one of my chicks was at home, and she had to work from 12-7. We decided to go out for breakfast at Dottie's Diner to celebrate the day. It was so much fun to spend the morning with Kate. Perfect.

Instant replay

I posted this last year. I still love it. Happy Mother's Day!

Click

Quick Visit

The Vanhorne family is all gathering at Regan airport today to welcome home Dave, Erin, Hannah and Ava. It was our good fortune that Al and Danny and Alex needed a place to meet up so they could drive down together. It worked out that they could meet at our place, so we got to spend yesterday with Dan, Tara and Alex. We were looking forward to being together...even Zach came home.
Jim found out about a "Farm Day" at the Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury. Fun for Alex and fun for us to watch Alex having fun! We ate lunch at the Charcoal Chef, a restaurant in Woodbury that time forgot. Really old fashioned and simple home style meals. It was a great day of just being together and catching up. Love them!

Starting out on our farm day.

Baby Goats. Alex was very interested and excited to see the animals. Very inquisitive and very brave.

Silly boys!

Pony ride

Pooped out after a long day...

Big week

Erin and Dave have been in Ethiopia this week to meet and bring home their daughter Ava. We are so happy for them! Stole a picture from their blog, I could not help myself, and after all...she is my great-niece (is that correct?). Welcome to our family Ava! XO

Happy family of 4!!!

Winner

Kate was the big winner this year! She won both contests that are part of our Spring traditions. She spotted the first robin and she also found the most eggs in our annual Easter egg hunt. Yay Kate!

Thursday

Right now it is so cold outside, you would not think that it was spring. Brrr! I am wearing my flannel PJ's and I'm still cold. Anyway, it may be cold but the tree that the kids gave to Jim for his 50th birthday is in full beautiful bloom.

So cold and windy outside.

Good Saturday

Kate and I attended a Beth Moore simulcast "So long Insecurity" in Trumbull on Saturday. I was pretty pumped when Kate told me that she wanted to go. Imagine if my daughter were able to shed her insecurities at her age and not hold on to them as long as I have. It would be pretty amazing! Also, any day that Kate and I spend together is pretty great. We laugh alot! I love being with her. She is just the right mix of sweet and spice.
At the close of the program (heard by 300,000. women across North American) the two of us joined hands while we looked into each others eyes. Just holding her hands and looking into her beautiful eyes started my tears. I took a deep breath and we repeated these words to each other. Kate was overwhelmed as well and in the middle of speaking...and well, she could no longer speak. She managed to choke out "I am saying these words to you on the inside". It was the sweetest moment. Here are the words...

My Dear Sister(I said daughter),
If Christ is Your Savior...you are the dwelling place of his own Spirit. You have it IN YOU to be secure. Every day of your life..you have a choice to make.You can live in your old defeat, or you can turn from your unbelief and choose life. Make up your mind to put off the old you and put on the new you. Never, ever, ever forget that the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. He will take care of you to your very last breath. Now, leave this place and go out into the world and act like a person who knows she’s dearly loved. You were born to be exceptional. So, Girlfriend (daughter), go forth and walk worthy of your calling.You are clothed in strength and dignity! Now unto Him who can keep you from falling, be glory and majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever more. Amen. So Long, Insecurity!!

Saturday Party

Our friends Bob and Karen will be celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary on May 10. Their daughters and son-in laws gave them a lovely surprise party yesterday afternoon. We were all treated to an afternoon at "Hot Tamales" in Seymour. While enjoying the yummy Mexican food we got to stroll down memory lane with the Donovan family. They had miniature replica made of their wedding cake, had them play a "test your knowledge" about each other game, and put together a power point presentation of their years together that started with their dating years and brought us right up to the present. They even danced to the music of their first wedding dance...so sweet. Their kids did a great job pulling it all together and made it possible for all of us to rejoice over this marriage that has lasted and prospered. It was the best kind of day.



Surprise



Kelley

Bekka

and Rachel starting the party off right with a few words and the blessing

The Debeau's even came all the way from North Carolina. Notice anything new about Jim?

Love these folks!

Debeau kids and grandkids

Baby David making Mary Butkus smile

Happy boy

Dancing to their wedding song

The groom feeds the bride...

Mother daughter moment

2 of my very favorite people. Love them! Congratulations on 35 years!