Nolan discovers Charleston, S.C.

On the occasion of his Aunt Lizzie's graduation from Elon University, Nolan took his first airplane trip this month, flying to North Carolina with his parents, Gerrit and Angela, and his grandfather, Owen.

After the commencement ceremonies, they traveled down to the family's house in Charleston, S.C., and Nolan explored the city with his parents.

As Gerrit posted on Facebook: "Bringing my son to our house in Charleston that I've been visiting for nearly 30 years has been one of the most exciting experiences I've had as a parent so far. This city means so much to me and to see the pure excitement in his eyes every day when we step out onto the streets has been a real trip."

Lizzie graduates from Elon University

---Updated 5/29 with more photos---

Lizzie graduated May 20 from Elon University, where she majored in education. The photo above, taken as Lizzie reviewed the program before the ceremony, appeared in one of the local newspapers, the News & Record of Greensboro, N.C.


Lizzie's father, Owen; brother, Gerrit; sister-in-law, Angela, and nephew Nolan all traveled to North Carolina for the big event.

It was the 127th commencement at Elon, and according to the university, the largest ever, with nearly 1,400 degrees conferred. More than 10,000 people gathered for the ceremony.

Lizzie to spend fall semester in Ireland

We hear from Owen that his daughter, Lizzie, will be heading to Ireland this fall for a study-abroad semester.

Lizzie is currently back home on Cape Cod after completing her sophomore year at Elon University in North Carolina. Owen is making plans to visit her in Dublin at Thanksgiving time.

Happy birthday(s) to Brooklyn Rae and her Dad

It was three years ago today that Brooklyn Rae was born to Shauna-Rae and Brennan on her dad's birthday. We wish daughter and dad a wonderful birthday!

Brennan continues serving at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Base in North Carolina. He'll complete his tour of duty in the fall - or might be discharged early, possibly as soon as January.

In anticipation of that, Brennan and Shauna-Rae have bought a house in Broadalbin, N.Y., about 25 miles west of Saratoga Springs. Shauna-Rae, Brooklyn and little brother Brennan, who's four months old, have already moved, and the photos below were taken there in late October.

Brennan was able to come north to spend Thanksgiving weekend with his family. In January, he plans to begin taking online courses toward his next career. "He wants to teach high school history and coach sports," reports his mother, Mary.

Halloween fun with costumes, props & pumpkins

-- Updated Nov.2 --  

The Birch Street Web sends its spiders through the Internet and finds these images of the family's Halloween activities...

This picture of off-the-charts cuteness shows us how much Brooklyn and Brennan Alexander have grown! The daughter and son of Brennan and Shauna-Rae are now going-on-three-years old and just-three-months old.

Meanwhile, Papa Brennan's mother and sisters posed for this photo.


Yes, that's Mary in the middle, flanked by daughters Brienna (left above, right below) and Shannon as a black cat and Minnie Mouse.

 

Picking up the black-cat motif, Christine dressed to greet trick-or-treaters and also painted a pumpkin.

Speaking of pumpkins...

Xander commissioned Brian to create this elaborate carving of Stampy, a Minecraft-playing cat. (Editor's note: Don't ask for further explanation.)

Meanwhile, Marie, Brian and Xander went all-in on the Ghostbusters theme for Halloween, recreating the classic scene below.

Despite being blasted by the Ghostbusters' proton packs, Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man turned up again later that night in Baltimore, seemingly none the worse for wear and in a partying mood, as he greeted Liz and friends. Meanwhile, Stephanie (with vampire teeth) joined some friends at a spooky castle in their Ohio neighborhood.

Visiting Lizzie at Elon University

Tish sends along these photos from Elon University's Family Weekend.

Daughter Lizzie is now a sophomore at the North Carolina school.

Lizzie starts 2nd year at Elon

Owen and Tish accompanied daughter Lizzie as she returned to North Carolina for her second year at Elon University. Tish posted this photo of a "wonderful evening with Lizzie's friends and their families. May all the girls have an amazing second year at Elon!"

Brennan, Shauna-Rae welcome baby boy!

Brennan and Shauna-Rae now have a son, and Brooklyn has a baby brother!

Great-Grandmother Pat writes: "Here he is, the latest addition to the family! Brennan Alexander was born July 22, weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 22 inches long."

Shauna-Rae, Brennan and Brooklyn, who's now two-and-a-half, have been living in North Carolina for a little over two years, as Brennan is stationed at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Base.

Catching up on earlier news: 

Shauna-Rae graduated in May from Craven Community College.

Below, Shauna-Rae poses with Brennan after the ceremony on the school's New Bern, N.C., campus.

Here's a photo, also from this spring, of Brooklyn flying a kite with her dad on a sunny day at a park near their home.

Lizzie helps raise funds for cancer fight

Lizzie is on the committee of Colleges Against Cancer: Elon University Chapter, which held its major fund-raiser of the year, a Relay for Life event, on April 26-27. The event raised $50,073.28!

Tish writes: "I cannot begin to tell Lizzie and her friends how touched I am by their efforts."

One of Lizzie's friends wrote via Facebook: "Thought of you last night as we walked Ms. Tish, and as always, we're praying for your recovery! You should be so proud of Lizzie - she put so much hard work into making Relay so special."

Snow reaches us, both north and south

After missing the heavy snowfall at midweek, our Cape Cod family members got their share on Saturday. Tish reports about 10-12 inches of new snowfall, with a topping of ice. Sunday brought bright sunshine, creating views like these of the white-coated trees.

Tish and Owen's daughter, Lizzie, hasn't missed out on this snowy winter despite being down in North Carolina at Elon University. This was the scene there on Wednesday, as the South had its second big snowstorm of the winter.

Snowstorm covers the East Coast (Updated)

Tuesday brought heavy snow to much of the East Coast. At Birch Street Headquarters, where it snowed from early morning until late at night, there was around 8-10 inches of snow on the ground when Dan took these photos around 11 p.m.

The heavy afternoon snowfall pretty much paralyzed New Jersey roads, and it took Dan more than three hours to get home from work - normally about a 50-minute trip.

We've seen just a couple of other snow pictures from family members -- perhaps many of us are too tired of winter to bother snapping pictures. But here's a nice scene shared by Brian's mother, Barbara, in Trenton, N.J.

Hugh and Dolores were in Rehoboth, Del., which did not get the full force of the storm. "There may have been 6 inches here, but it looks to be closer to 4 inches," Hugh writes.

"It was enough snow to close the local schools - and to close The Rehoboth Art League, where Dolores was to teach a watercolor workshop Wednesday. She will have a make-up class on Saturday. It is cold on the day after the storm, with morning temperature 7 degrees - and since the wind always blows at the beach, the wind chill temperature is in the minus single digits."

The snow reached as far south as Elon, N.C., where Lizzie attends Elon University. The school posted scenes of its lightly-dusted campus.

Parents visit Lizzie at Elon University

Tish posted this photo from a Parents Weekend visit to daughter Lizzie at Elon University. Lizzie poses here with her cousin Phil, an Elon alum, and his fiance, Rebecca.

"We had a wonderful weekend," Tish writes. "Lizzie loves Elon, and has great friends!"

Our Roster of Scholars, Fall 2013 edition

Here's our annual back-to-school rundown of teachers and students in our extended family. Some started classes during late August, others begin in the next several days.

Please let us know of any errors or additions.

STUDENTS:

Christine - Third year at Rochester Institute of Technology in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Patrick - Third year at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Lizzie - Freshman at Elon University in Elon, N.C.

Andy - Senior at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in New Jersey.

Christopher - Junior at Hilliard Darby High School in Ohio.

Shannon - Sophomore at Catholic Central High School in Troy, N.Y.

Stephanie - In 8th grade at Hilliard Heritage Middle School in Ohio.

Xander starts 1st Grade

Xander - In first grade at Battlefield Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Va.

TEACHERS:

Kathy - Teaching science at School of the Holy Child in Rye, N.Y.

Mary - Director and head teacher at Stillwater Head Start in Stillwater, N.Y.

Shanna - Teaching at the Ann and Andy Child Care preschool in Elmsford, N.Y.

Who are we missing? Let us know!