A big birthday deserves two celebrations!

Dolores' three children, two children-in-law and three of her grandchildren, along with her husband, gathered in Riderwood Aug. 18 for a celebration of Dolores' recent big-round-number birthday.

Blowing out the candles

It was a rare chance for them all to get together. Cathy and Stephanie came in from Ohio and were joined by Christopher. (Stephanie moved in that weekend to her dorm room at Towson University.) Doug and Lisa came from Denver, where Doug is currently working, and their daughter Lizzie came down from New York, where she's working and studying for her masters degree. Julie and Dan drove down from New Jersey at the start of Dan's annual vacation.

Doug and Lisa presented Dolores with a set of framed photographs Doug had taken of flowers at the Denver Botanic Gardens, including tulips frosted with morning snow.

Julie and Cathy presented a quilt made from T-shirts with images and sayings representing significant places and events for Dolores - a "This Is Your Life" quilt, as Julie called it.

Stephanie arrives at Towson University

College freshman Stephanie moved into her dorm room at Towson State University last week, bringing along just a few items from home.


Stephanie immediately started practicing with the TSU marching band, in which she will, of course, play clarinet. Here she is with her roommate, a member of the color guard. Stephanie plans to study English and music at Towson, her mother's alma mater and part of the University System of Maryland.

Celebrating a big birthday with Dolores

Dolores celebrated a milestone birthday on July 11. Daughter Julie, son-in-law Dan, grandchildren Christine and Andy and Andy's girlfriend, Shannon, visited Dolores and Hugh at the Oakcrest community in Maryland to celebrate the occasion.

And a few days later, daughter Cathy and grandchildren Christopher and Stephanie paid a visit as well.

Dolores and Hugh then took off for Rehoboth, while Cathy and Stephanie attended freshman orientation at Towson State University, where Stephanie starts in mid-August.