Merry Christmas to all our family

This Nativity scene was displayed for many years at the home of Daniel and Lorraine and their family. Brien now has it at his home and shares this photo with Merry Christmas wishes to all.

Still more signs of the season

We hope everyone's having fun, or at least not getting too stressed, preparing for Christmas.

Above, Birch Street Web headquarters looking festive. At right, the tree at Cathy, Chris and Stephanie's home.

Signs of Christmas are growing

Some of us are more ready that others for the approaching holiday!

Clearly, Xander is more than ready for Christmas to arrive in Virginia.

And from Clearwater, Fla., Rachel and Cindi share the photo below of their well-decked tree.

Brien joins jam session at Yonkers tavern

Brien has been spending some Tuesday nights taking part in a weekly jam session at one of the establishments on McLean Avenue in his Yonkers neighborhood.

"This is me wailing away (and singing!)," Brien writes. He says the jam nights at the Heritage Bar and Restaurant are "a lot of fun."

One of the organizers took this photo of Brien taking the lead. "I was singing Steppenwolf's 1970 version of 'Corina Corina,' an old blues song dating back to the 20's."

Signs of the coming season

Cathy sends along these photos of winter's arrival at Deep Creek in westernmost Maryland, where she stopped en route from Ohio to Baltimore for Thanksgiving weekend.

Looks pretty - and cold!

Meanwhile, some of us are preparing for Christmas, which is fast approaching. Shanna and her boyfriend, Rick, visited a farm in Connecticut over the weekend and picked out a tree for her family's home in Yonkers.

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.

Glimpses of a happy honeymoon

Vivien and CJ are back in New York after honeymooning at Puerto Rico's Dorado Beach and on Nevis.

There are more photos of the gorgeous scenery on their Facebook pages, but nothing can beat this photo of the happy couple!

Thanksgiving gatherings of 2014

Updated 12/3 with more photos 

We hope everyone had a fine Thanksgiving Day. Here's a look at some of our family's gatherings. Check back for updates!

In New York, Genevieve and John hosted a Thanksgiving gathering that included Vivien and CJ, just back from their honeymoon. They were joined by Genevieve and Vivien's mother, Kathy, and brother, Patrick; John's sister, Kellie, and their mother, Susie.

In Virginia, Andy, Christine, Xander, Brian, Marie and Julie (and Dan, behind camera) gathered around the table for the wonderful dinner Marie prepared. For Marie, Brian and Xander, it was their second Thanksgiving in their own house.

It's also the second year they hosted Dan, Julie, Christine and Andy for the holidays. A new tradition?

In Yonkers, Brien took this photo of Kevin, Kathy and her mom in the midst of dinner preparations.

In Maryland, Doug and Lisa hosted a crowd from both sides of the family for their traditional post-Thanksgiving feasting, game-playing and gabbing. It began Friday and finished Saturday with the above photo of the remaining participants.

Here's a selection of photos from the weekend, by Cathy and by Dan. It starts with a couple of pictures from Thursday evening, when Liz hosted her parents, Doug and Lisa; grandparents Hugh and Dolores, and her Aunt Cathy for dinner at the downtown Baltimore townhouse she shares (her roommates were away).

Services held for Tish

A funeral Mass for Tish was celebrated Saturday, Nov. 22, at St. Pius X Church in South Yarmouth, Mass.

Scores of family and friends gathered to commemorate Tish during visitation hours Friday, at the Mass on Saturday and at a reception that afternoon. The reception was held at the Borsari Gallery, where some of Tish's artwork was on display, along with a collection of family photos.

See a slideshow of vintage and recent photos.

In Tish's memory, the family requests donations be made to: Gynecologic Oncology Program, Dana Farber Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., YC 1420, Boston MA 02215-5450, Attn: Susan Berlin, D.O.

Please visit our page dedicated to Tish.

Awards conclude band season for Chris, Stephanie

Cathy writes: "Chris and Stephanie attended the annual Marching Band Awards ceremony marking the end of the season.

"As a Senior, Chris was presented with the plume he wore on Senior Night.

"Stephanie received an award for Most Improved in her clarinet section."

After four years playing saxophone in the Hilliard Darby HS Marching Band, Chris now passes the baton, so to speak, to Stephanie, who has three more marching seasons ahead.

Winter arrives in Cathy's back yard

Monday brought the first snow of the season to central Ohio. Cathy sends along these photos from her house in Hilliard, where about 3-4 inches fell and schools had a delayed opening.

It's nothing like the clobbering the Buffalo area is taking this week, but it's probably a taste of things to come for most of us in the next few months!

Congratulations newlyweds Vivien and CJ!

-- MORE PHOTOS ADDED TO ALBUM 11/19 --

Vivien and CJ were married Saturday, Nov. 15, in a beautiful ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Church in Manhattan.

Vivien's sister, Genevieve, and CJ's brother Jacques were matron of honor and best man, and Patrick, John and Shanna were among the wedding party.

The wedding was followed by a fabulous reception at the Ritz Carlton at Battery Park. A great gathering of family and friends enjoyed fine food and joyous dancing.


Here's a video of the grand finale, when just about everyone joined in singing and dancing to "Don't Stop Believing."

Here's more video Dan took of some of the party's dancing highlights (a bit slanted to his end of the family). Can you feel the happiness?


We've collected a album of photos -- some taken by Dan and others posted on Facebook by various participants. More may be added, so check back soon!


And here's one more photo, by the studio doing the wedding album.

It's a special day for this special couple!

Andy's UNH marching band season wraps up

Dan and Julie day-tripped to University of New Haven on Saturday, Nov. 8, to watch Andy perform with the UNH Chargers marching band at its last home-game halftime show of the season.

Here's a bit of video of the band's Superman-themed show, taken by Dan from the grandstand and capturing some of the drum highlights.



Bracketing the band's performance was a football game between UNH and St. Anselm. The home team led through the first half, fell behind in the second half, took the lead again on a great touchdown pass with 20 seconds left -- and then lost when the visitors ran a few quick plays and scored as the clock ran out!

November Sunset, Shelter Island

Nanette took this beautiful photo from a Shelter Island beach of the sun going down over the bays between Long Island's twin forks. Nanette shared it with Courtney, Courtney shared it on Facebook, and we thought our readers would enjoy the peaceful view.

In memory of Tish (Updated with arrangements)

The family is saddened by the passing of Tish, beloved wife of Owen and mother of Gerrit and Lizzie.

Tish died on Friday evening, Nov. 7, at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Owen, Lizzie, Gerrit and his wife Angela had been visiting with her throughout the day. Owen said Tish maintained the cheerfulness she had shown throughout her illness, and passed away very peacefully.

Gerrit writes that his mother "fought ovarian cancer with tremendous courage and determination. She will be greatly missed and the world lost an amazing woman today."

Lizzie adds that her mom "is truly an inspiration to us all. I am blessed to call her my mother and so thankful for all of our wonderful memories. Heaven gained a beautiful person tonight."



Update: Arrangements are through the Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home. Calling hours are 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the funeral home, 729 Route 134 in Dennis. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Saint Pius X, 5 Barbara Street in South Yarmouth.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Gynecologic Oncology Program, Dana Farber Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., YC 1420, Boston, MA 02215-5450, ATTN: Susan Berlin, D.O.

Please visit our page dedicated to Tish. It has been updated with the obituary published in the Cape Cod Times on Nov. 13.

Mary directs Head Start program in Troy

Mary started a new job Nov. 3 as director of Stepping Stones 1 Head Start in the Lansingburgh section of Troy, N.Y. Mary previously was director and head teacher at Head Start of Stillwater, N.Y.

"I miss my Stillwater crew, but love the new place," Mary writes, adding that she "received an amazing welcome from (the) staff."

Here's Mary in a recent photo with her daughter Shannon -- driving! Shannon is a junior at Catholic Central High School, also in Troy.

Competition season ends for 'Superior' Darby Band

--Updated 11/3 with more photos--

The Hilliard Darby Marching Band, featuring senior Christopher on sax and freshman Stephanie on clarinet, was awarded a "superior" rating Saturday at the Ohio Music Education Association State Marching Band Finals held at neighboring Hilliard Bradley High School.

The Darby Panthers band consistently picked up "superior" ratings at OMEA events this year, and "grand champion" honors at some events.

Congratulations to Chris, Steph, Cathy and the whole organization on a great season.

See if you can pick out Chris and/or Steph in each of these photos! (Hint: dark glasses)



This photo of Cathy and her band kids was taken by a friend on Oct. 24, "Senior Day" at Darby HS.