May 14

May 14, 2013

 Stephanie turned '29' (again) and we were able to slip over for Ice Cream cake at the tail end of her party (Tuesday night Cub Scouts again).

There were 'so many candles' on the cake that all the kids had to gather around and help her blow them out - of course, in their home this is a tradition, regardless of whether it's 2 or 29.  But this one didn't even have 29 ...yet it was a community blow out, and they got them all!

Stephanie's brother and sister with family came, as well as the neighbors and Leo and Edna.   Happy Birthday, to you, Stephanie.     I seem to always catch your brother making faces.

Stephanie's little niece, Jayden (sorry if I didn't spell that right) went fishing with her class earlier in the day and was so proud of the fish she caught that she brought it along with her to show it off.   In spite of the bag, you can still see her big grin.

 Karsyn got an owie.  Grandpa had a bandage and even though she has access to delightful ones with cute cartoon characters, Grandpa's bandages appear to have a magic touch.

Ashlyn before her pink boot.   That story's still coming.

 It was a happy  party for everyone - except Ashlyn wasn't sure she wanted to be held by Grandpa Leo right at that moment.
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Earlier in the day, I was here:

and though most of these pictures don't mean a thing to most of you who follow my blog, for me they mean ever so much.  For every one of the pictures contains photos of my extended family, people I grew up with, cousins, aunts, uncles.  Though the occasion was a sad one, with the passing of my father's younger brother Gordon, it was a time of reunion and celebration and gratitude for having a life filled with good people like Uncle Gordon. 

Me with my siblings who were at the funeral.  L-R  Ron, Susie, Me, Arnie

I love my family.   I feel so much gratitude for having been blessed with such wonderful people in my life.   Uncle Gordon lived a good life, was a good man, and always seemed pleased to see me anytime our paths happened to cross, which was simply never often enough.  He had a way of making everyone who knew him feel like they were important to him, without prejudice, unconditionally.   My heart goes out to Aunt Alice and his children, my sweet cousins, as they move forward without him in this life.  His legacy lies in each of them, who are all terrific people making the world a better place as well.