Last Sunday morning I got a call from my sister-in-law, Barbara. She and her sisters and her cousins were in Scottsdale. We spent the day together. In addition to being my sister in law, we went to high school at the same time (she was 2 years ahead of me) and her sister, Lorraine, and I were friends (she was a year behind me). This pictures were taken at Uncle Ray's restaurant in Phoenix. The hats are ones he uses when he does tea parties for little girls. It was a great day of laughing and catching up. Below is a picture of Barbara and her sisters, Suzanne and Lorraine. Just a bunch of Jersey girls hangin' out!

It was so much fun and a really great surprise!

on to Boy Scouts

Christopher is a Boy Scout now. Look how big that shirt is. It has to last him until he's 18. He's already started working on his badges for Eagle Scout. He got his swimming badge. He swam for several hours doing life saving and emergency stuff. He was so exhausted when he got home, but he passed off everything. Not bad for a little guy.

Christopher's 11th Birthday

Yesterday Christopher turned 11. The other picture is from his 4th birthday...his first with us. We were living in a townhouse waiting for our home to be built. He's still smiling and excited about everything.

This is a big birthday for him because now he is a Boy Scout. He was going to advance at the last Pack Meeting but I was out of town, so the ceremony will take place in June, but he will start attending the Boy Scout meetings right away. There is a camping trip in June and he is so excited!

Christopher is so easy going...unless he's losing at a video game. He is helpful and loving. He is also very funny. He was so happy yesterday that he got to be in Valerie's car when it ran out of gas. He wonders about everything and always says "I can't believe that....." or "Whoa, that's so cool!" He takes nothing for granted and acts likes everyday is the first day of his life. He is still as excited today about seeing a police car or fire truck as he was when he was 3. He is a great big brother to Gabe and they really are best friends and he loves his sisters, even though girls can seem unlovable sometimes. He is very compassionate and tells me that he loves me several times a day. He loves to tease his dad until he wrestles with him and the rougher they wrestle the better he likes it. He says he's the fastest kid in the 5th grade and loves to run (I see a bright future in track).

Yesterday, Valerie took him out of school and took him to lunch. On their way home, about a block from the house, she ran out of gas so he got to spend the afternoon swimming and hanging out with his big sister. That was a fun surprise for his birthday.

Our birthday tradition is that you get to pick what dinner will be. Christopher picked hot dogs, cucumber salad, french fries and white cake with chocolate frosting for his cake.

HMMMMMMM.......

from our garden

enough said.

another generation....

Chris and his brother took the boys out shooting this weekend. They are finally getting old enough to have some interest, which makes Chris very happy. Gabe was finally able to shoot without being afraid of the noise and they are getting big enough to handle the handguns. Of course, there are serious safety lessons that go along with the shooting. Afterward, Chris showed them how to break down the guns and clean them before putting them back in the gun safe. He was a happy man after a testosterone filled day with his brother, nephew and sons.