Stephanie receives Masters from Towson University

Stephanie received her Masters degree from the College of Liberal Arts at Towson University at a commencement ceremony last week.

Her undergraduate ceremony was canceled due to the Covid pandemic, so "it was rewarding for her to be able to attend this ceremony in person," says her mom, Cathy. 

"Her MS degree is in Professional Writing with a concentration on writing for the non-profit sector. With this degree, along with her work and internship experience, she should be well prepared to obtain a grant-writing position."

Stephanie with brother, Chris, and mom, Cathy, before the ceremony.

Christine and Jamie preparing to move back east

After three and a half years in Los Angeles, Christine and Jamie are packing up for a move back across the country.

They are in the process of buying a house in Schenectady, N.Y., and expect to close the purchase and move in during the last week of June.

Their decision to move was spurred by their wish to own a house (prohibitively expensive in L.A.) and their desire to be closer to family. They focused their search on New York State because it's the one Eastern state where Jamie's company, Skybound Entertainment, is set up to have employees. And they zeroed in on the Capital District for its affordable suburban neighborhoods and its easy highway access to many of their relatives. They will be about 3 hours from Christine's parents, 4 hours from Jamie's mother, and only about 45 minutes from Andy and Wren's home in Middleburgh, N.Y.

The couple are no strangers to Upstate New York: They met while students at Rochester Institute of Technology. And while the area gets more winter snow than Christine's native New Jersey, it's comparable to southern New Hampshire, where Jamie grew up.

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.

Taking in the beautiful sights of springtime in Newark, NJ (Yes!)

As they've done the past few Springs, Dan and Julie visited Newark's Branch Brook Park in early April to see its cherry blossom trees in full bloom.

The 360-acre park, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, contains some 5,300 cherry trees in 18 varieties. 

On this visit, D&J also visited the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, which overlooks the park. It's a spectacular building in French Gothic style, constructed in the first half of the 20th Century. 

The cathedral covers 45,000 square feet, an area equal to that of London’s Westminster Abbey, and is longer and taller than St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, according to its website.

Although it doesn't have centuries of history like the Medieval cathedrals of Europe, it rivals them in beauty with its rose windows, statuary and woodwork. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1985 and presided over an evening prayer service. It was on that visit that he designated Sacred Heart as a basilica.

Julie greets a friendly lion across Branch Brook Lake from the cathedral.

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. 

Newest family members having First Christmas

In the run-up to their first Christmas, little Daisy was introduced to Santa Claus by big sister Lucy, while 8-month-old Oliver got the lowdown on the holiday from big brothers Charlie and Austin. 

Merry Christmas to the newest members of our family!

Dan and Julie enjoy a visit to Alaska

Following in the footsteps, more or less, of both Dan's parents and Julie's, and as a 35th Anniversary celebration, the couple treated themselves to a sea-and-land trip to Alaska in late August and early September.

They booked a Holland America Lines package that included a seven-day cruise from Vancouver, B.C., up the Alaska coast to the port of Whittier, with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. That was followed by train travel on the McKinley Explorer to Denali National Park, and finally a bus trip to Fairbanks to fly home.

In the course of the trip, and despite some spells of clouds and rain, they saw black bears, whales, sea otters, seals, eagles, at least one grizzly bear, moose, sheep and sled dogs. They saw massive glaciers and amazing landscapes all along the coast and into the mountains. And they caught clear views of Denali, the highest mountain in North America, which is shrouded in cloud about 80% of the time.

• Click here to read Dan's writeup of the trip, illustrated with some of his photos. 
• Be sure to follow the SEE MORE PHOTOS links to albums of photos, with captions, from each leg of the journey.
• Or click here to see all those photos in one album.
• Bonus for rail fans: More train photos!

Shanna, Rick, Lucy welcome baby Daisy

Shanna and Rick are happy to share that they brought their newborn daughter, Daisy, home on August 1.

Shanna writes: "After a long a complicated journey, we are now a family of four! Daisy Samantha was born on May 31st, weighing 2 pounds 14 ounces. She was born 12 weeks early due to pregnancy complications, which caused me to be in the hospital for six weeks prior to her birth.

"Daisy spent the first 62 days of her life in the NICU, and is finally home with us now. She is doing well, currently weighing nearly 7 pounds, and will be weaning off of her oxygen over the next month. Her team of doctors are very pleased with her progress, especially considering she wasn't due until late August.

"Big sister Lucy adores her new role, and we are all thrilled to finally be away from the hospital and getting used to our new normal."

Daisy just after her birth May 31

Big sister Lucy visits Daisy, July 17

Daisy 'graduates' from NICU, Aug, 1

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.