A multi-occasion celebration in Maryland

Dolores and Hugh hosted a family dinner last weekend to celebrate multiple birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions in the middle months of the year.

It was Dolores' idea to have a July get-together to mark the month's significant dates - her birthday (7/11), Lisa's birthday (7/9), Dan and Julie's anniversary (7/8) - plus events from:

• May - Stephanie's master's degree, Lisa and Doug's anniversary, Wren's birthday
• June - Hugh and Dolores' anniversary, Christine and Jamie's move east
• August - Andy's upcoming birthday

The result was a very enjoyable dinner-for-twelve at The Fireside restaurant in H&D's senior-living community.

Grandchildren fill Kathy's summer home

All six of Kathy's grandchildren were on Eastern Long Island in July, making for some lively times in her summer home.

Liam carefully constructs, then	deconstructs, a block tower.

The gathering happened as Kathy's daughter Vivien, son-in-law CJ, and their three boys - Charlie, Austin and Oliver - were just back in the USA after more than three years in London. They would soon be settling into their new home in White Plains.

Dan and Julie visited for a few days, staying at Ye Olde Fair Play Cottage, and joined the crowd at Kathy's Place for a Friday evening pizza party. Above: D&J with Kathy, Robert, Genevieve and Vivien. (Both John and CJ were at work in NYC that day.) Photo by Beatrice. 

Below: D&J with (back row) Charlie, Liam, Genevieve, (front L to R) Bea, Kathy, Jack, Austin, Vivien. (Oliver was asleep at this point in the evening.) Photo by Robert.

All this against the backdrop of another glorious sunset over the water behind the house.

Family and friends celebrate Daisy's 1st birthday

Dozens of family members, neighbors and friends gathered to celebrate Daisy's first birthday. Her parents, Shanna and Rick, hosted the gathering at the Rockland Gaelic Athletic Association on June 8. Here, the guest of honor poses with her big sister Lucy and her parents, Shanna and Rick - plus Shanna's parents and brother, Kevin (above) and Rick's parents and sister, Stephanie (below).

Daisy, whose actual birthday was May 31, was presented with a "smash cake" - which, after a few tentative pokes and licks, she dove into wholeheartedly.

Click here to see an album with MANY more photos!

Xander graduates high school, heads to university

Xander graduated from Courtland High School in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Va., on May 17. 

Entering to "Pomp and Circumstance"

Nearly 400 graduating seniors walked across the stage during the commencement ceremony on the high school's football field. 

Xander was among the Distinguished Honor Graduates wearing gold cords over their graduation gowns, signifying that they achieved a 4.00 or higher cumulative grade-point average.  

Xander's parents, Marie and Brian, and grandparents Dan and Julie; Anne Marie and Os; and Barbara and Steve were among the crowd of family and friends that jammed the bleachers on either side of the field.

After the ceremony, Marie and Brian hosted a lunch at their home, and later a dinner at a nearby restaurant, giving the grandparents ample opportunity for conversation - and for quizzing Xander on his plans.

Xander is joining the Class of 2029 at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. He'll commute to the campus, about a 15-minute drive, and initially plans to major in philosophy.

MORE PHOTOS - CLICK HERE

Easter time touring with family in Ireland

In an amazing feat of logistics, Kathy, Robert, Kathy's three children and their spouses and children all met up in Ireland and toured much of the country this April, around Easter.

Kathy, Robert, Genevieve, John, Bea, Jack and Liam flew from New York to Dublin. Vivien, CJ, Charlie, Austin and Oliver came up from London. Patrick and Kelsey joined the group a little later.

At Cobh Heritage Centre

At EPIC Museum

The 14 toured the countryside together at times in a chartered minibus, and at other times in smaller groups. 

Among their stops were the Epic Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin and the Cobh Heritage Centre in County Cork.

Cobh was an embarkation point for many of Ireland's immigrants to America (as well as the last port of call for the Titanic). 

While in County Cork, the group also visited Blarney Castle, and some (but not all) kissed the famous stone.

In County Claire on the west coast, the group took in the sights of the Cliffs of Moher and visited O'Brien's Tower, built in 1835 atop the cliffs.

Those were just a few of the highlights of a wonderful trip and a great gathering of the clan!

Family festivities this spring in Maryland

On two occasions - Cathy's birthday and Easter Sunday - family members gathered at Oak Crest Village in Maryland to celebrate with Dolores and Hugh. This photo was taken at the birthday gathering. We failed to get a picture from Easter brunch, but the group was the same except for the absence of Stephanie's friend Abe (far left above). 

On Easter Morning, Julie and Dan brought Dolores and Hugh to their parish church, Trinity Episcopal in Towson, where they enjoyed greeting in person many of the friends they typically see only from behind as they watch the video stream of Trinity's Sunday services.

Christmas 2024 wraps up with annual family party

The annual Yonkers Christmas party brought more than two dozen family members together for an afternoon and evening of great food, fun and conversation at Kathy's home on Saturday the 28th. 

The youngest members of the family, Daisy and Oliver, seemed to have a great time meeting so many relatives. 

Kathy was joined by Robert and all of her children and grandchildren: Genevieve with her husband, John, and their children, Beatrice, Jack and Liam; Vivien and her husband, CJ, visiting from London with their children, Charlie, Austin and baby Oliver; and Patrick (whose wife, Kelsey, unfortunately wasn't able to make it). Dan and Julie were there with daughter Christine and her wife, Jamie, visiting the East Coast from California. (D&J's son Andy and daughter-in-law Wren were deterred by icy roads.) Brien arrived along with Kevin and Kathy, followed by their daughter Shanna, her husband, Rick, and their children, Lucy and baby Daisy. (K&K's son, Kevin, was kept away by a cold.) Mary also joined the party, as did her cousin Elizabeth.

Following the party, Mary set out on an overnight drive to Dayton, Ohio, to visit her daughter Shannon, son-in-law Frederick, and their 18-month-old daughter, Phoenix. Grandma Mary brought the treats!

Shannon and Frederick, who met while in the Air Force and stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, are back there after a few years at Eglin AFB in the Florida Panhandle. Both have separated from the Air Force, but Shannon is back working at Wright-Patterson as a pharmaceutical technician - this time as a civilian contractor.

Christmas visits in New Jersey and Maryland

Christine and Jamie along with Andy and Wren visited Dan and Julie for Christmas in New Jersey. 

C&J had flown east from California the previous Saturday for a week of visiting family and friends. The traveled first to Cape Cod, where Jamie's mother, Bonnie, hosted her annual big family gathering. They also visited a friend in Rhode Island before traveling to Christine's parents' home. Meanwhile, Andy and Wren drove down from upstate New York.

Christmas morning was, of course, time to open presents. One highlight was a scrapbook Christine had made of photos and keepsakes from Andy and Wren's wedding.

The six enjoyed a big brunch of bacon, eggs, waffles and fruit, an afternoon of conversation and a board game, and a fine dinner (photo at top).

The next day, Andy and Wren returned home to mind their goats and cats. Christine and Jamie joined Julie and Dan in traveling to Maryland to visit with Julie's parents, Hugh and Dolores, at their senior-living community. They had a fine dinner at one of the restaurants there and continued the visit in H&D's apartment. Following that, the foursome were invited to Doug and Lisa's home for drinks, snacks and merry conversation, joined by Christine's cousins Stephanie and Christopher. 

Oliver receives the sacrament of Baptism

Oliver Theodore, son of Vivien and CJ, was baptized on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. Brother-in-law John and CJ's sister Grace are the godparents.

Three-month-old Oliver was calm, cool and collected through the service, never crying or fussing. He remained in good spirits through the lovely reception his parents hosted at the nearby Moscato Restaurant.

Pictured here along with Vivien, CJ and Oliver are Vivien's mother, Kathy; sister Genevieve with her husband, John, and daughter Beatrice; and brother Patrick with his wife, Kelsey, holding G&J's son Liam. The gathering also included Oliver's great-grandmother Celestine, grandfather Ted, grandparents Corey and Ellen, and other aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends. 

A grand summer gathering on Long Island

Kathy's summer house has been filled with family this summer. Genevieve, John and their children - Beatrice, Jack and Liam - are spending the season at their house nearby. Vivien, CJ and theirs - Charlie, Austin and little Oliver - are visiting from London and staying at the Fair Play cottage. It's three-month-old Oliver's first trip stateside. 

For a few days in late July, Dan and Julie stayed with Kathy, enjoying her hospitality and the chance to meet Oliver and the rest of the gang. Robert was there for part of the time, but CJ was back working in Europe for that week. Also in the photo above is CJ's cousin Allie, who was staying with Vivien and helping watch the kids. 

Click here to see photos Dan took at the house, the beach, and during a walk he and Julie took on the nature trail at Jessup's Neck.

Hugh & Dolores celebrate 70 years of marriage

Surrounded by their family, Hugh and Dolores marked their 70th wedding anniversary with a dinner party in a restaurant at their residential complex in Maryland.

The couple's children - Julie, Doug and Cathy - organized the June 15 gathering, and fortunately all the grandchildren and most of the spouses and significant others were able to attend.

Julie and Dan drove down from New Jersey. Their daughter, Christine, and her wife, Jamie, flew in from Los Angeles. J&D's son, Andy, came down from Upstate New York. 

Doug and Lisa's daughter Rebecca also was visiting from NYS, along with her boyfriend, Greg. D&L; their daughter Liz; Cathy and her children, Christopher and Stephanie, all live within driving distance and came for the day. 

H&D's long-time friend and neighbor Gini Patterson also joined in the celebration.

Along with balloons and flowers, the table was decorated with cards relating bits of trivia about H&D's wedding and the date - June 12, 1954. Some examples: The ceremony was held at Christ Episcopal Church in Corning, N.Y. The officiant was Father Roger Alling. Dolores' sister, Noreen, was matron of honor. Hugh's father, Clyde, was best man, as most of Hugh's friends were serving in the Army. 

A reception was held in the church parish hall, organized by the ladies of the church, with non-alcoholic fruit punch. A second reception was held at Dolores’ parents’ house, with a keg of beer in the garage.

Other tidbits about that date: Bill Haley & His Comets released "Rock Around the Clock" and the top-grossing movie was "Three Coins in the Fountain"

"We both want to thank all of you for such a lovely weekend," Dolores wrote to the family afterwards. "The balloons and trivia were a nice touch, plus, 2  delish cakes! And all those cards too!"