Jeanine's Birthday - March 4'th

Jeanine's Birthday - March 4

Jeanine's Engagement Ring

Jeanine's Engagement Ring

So Pretty!

Jennifer's June 14'th Birthday

Jennifer's June 14'th Birthday

Part of our Father's Day celebration was dedicated to celebrating Jennifer's Birthday.

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!

This is our daughter who most favors her cousins in Ohio, especially Deb Gariety Wirrig and Marissa Wirrig who live in Bradford, Ohio.

Jeanine purchased something for Jennifer from Amazon.com.

I forgot to ask what but Jenn seems thrilled.

Barney's Chauffeur Got New Wheels

Barney's Chauffeur Got New Wheels

Barney is now riding in style and is the envy of the other labs at the dog park.

Jeanine drove out sans Barney to show us her new Hyundai Sonata in deep blue.The coast guard guys in the van pool to Buzzards Point in D.C. say they now need to give her a new nickname. They used to call her Bumble because she drove a yellow 2003 Mazda. Maybe now they will call her Blue Velvet though Jeanine says don't stop calling me Bumble. I like Bumble. (Short for Bumble Bee.)

Here's Jeanine doing a Vanna White pose by the car.

After three flat tires with the Mazda this spring Jeanine knew it was time to trade it in to get a safe car for all the coast guard trips she is making this spring to off site locations like Baltimore, MD; Chapel Hill, NC; and Charlottesvile, VA.

She likes how it drives and how it looks.

She let her father take it out for a spin and he liked how it drove too.

My Madcap 67'th Birthday

My Madcap 67'th Birthday Party

Jeanine arrived with her black lab Barney who was ready for action.

Jennifer and Terry arrived with lunch for everyone from the Olive Garden and a birthday cake from Wegmans.

And my Jack was the man who kept the madcap party rolling.

When Grandma couldn't blow out all the candles with one breath little Jack insisted that we light all the candles again so that he could try. Sure enough he did blow out all the candles at once even if Grandma couldn't help worrying that if Jack's lips got any closer to the candle flames his mouth would be singed. But he did it. He blew out all the candles with one breath so that Grandma's birthday wish would come true.

And then there was the bang bang of a plate hitting the floor. Did little Jack just do that? Grandma yelled to Jack to quick run to the garage to get the broom and dustpan. Little Jack thought Grandma meant him so he made a mad dash to the garage. And who was it who broke the plate? Little Jack was an innocent bystander. It was Aunt Jeanine who knocked the plate against the back of the dining room chair in the breakfast room.

Then there was Barney who kept trying to figure out if he could get all four of his paws in this plastic bucket so he could go swimming like labs like to do. And then there was the moment went he dropped his tennis balls in the water to retrieve them and they got very wet. Sign of more trouble coming down the road. Barney later brought a wet tennis ball into the family room and the tennis ball started leaking black gooey water on the light carpet. So then we had three rug cleaners on hands and knees: Jack, Jeanine and Jennifer!
And when Grandma and little Jack played a game of pulling out the tissues from the gift bags dear Barney decided he would like to eat the paper. This led to Terry rescuing Barney from the tissue paper.
And who was chasing who around the coffee table is yet to be decided. Notice that Jack is sans his summer shorts. My Jack had to dry his shorts and socks in the dryer after he got them very wet refilling Barney's water bowl at least a dozen times.

Needless to say it was a madcap party. When everyone left Grandma said she needed to take a quick nap before she went off to bed. LOL!

Memorial Day Service For Bryan Rearick

Memorial Day Service For Bryan Rearick

Last Sunday the Veterans Hospital in Washington D.C. held a memorial service for all servicemen who have died in the last year. Veterans who served in the following wars: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, the two Gulf Wars and Afghanistan were honored and their names listed in the program. My husband Jack and daughter Jeanine drove in and met up with Bryan Rearick's family for the memorial service. Jeanine's late fiance, Bryan Rearick, was one of the deceased servicemen being honored.

In this photo Scott Rearick (Brian's older brother) with his oldest daughter Juliet, Jeanine, Lee and Kathy Rearick and Edwin Knepshield, Kathy Rearick's brother.
The presentation of the colors was done by members of the army, navy, marines, air force and coast guard.

Each guest was given a flag and memorial program. The photo below was taken by Jack before the ceremony started. At one point in the service each service branch asked its former members to stand to be recognized. My Jack, Scott Rearick and Lee Rearick stood for the army. Kathy's brother, Edwin Knepshield, stood for the navy. This memorial day weekend take time out from your celebrations to remember the true reason for having the memorial day holiday.

I Got A Fruit Bouquet For Mother's Day From Jeanine

I Got A Fruit Bouquet For Mother's Day From Jeanine!

Thank you, Jeanine

Yum, yum!

Last Sunday's Pics Taken By Daughter Jeanine

Last Sunday's Pics Taken By Daughter Jeanine

Last Sunday daughter Jeanne came home for a visit and I handed her my little Sony camera and asked her to some pics of what was in bloom in my flower gardens. Here's what she saw and shot.

In Your Easter Bonnet

In Your Easter Bonnet

Jennifer and Jeanine

1982

Happy Birthday Jeanine!

Happy Happy Birthday, Jeanine!

You Will Always Be Our Little Darling!

Patriot Center At George Mason University

Patriot Center At George Mason University

Our daughter Jeanine got us tickets to a February men's basketball game between two colonial athletic conference members: James Madison University and George Mason University. Even though Jack and I were under the weather with a cold and the flu we pounced at the chance to see a game at the Patriot Center and we sure had a great time with Jeanine even though her James Madison Bulldogs lost the game.

In this photo you can see the George Mason pep band playing before the game which was a sold out event that Saturday afternoon.

We enjoyed watching this Hard Times Cafe mini blimp being navigated around the arena with lights flashing. It reminded me of our grandson Jack maneuvering his little helicopter around the family room. Too cute.

There he goes!

Smile for the camera Jack and Jeanine.

We came away from the game with the distinct impression that George Mason will win a bid to this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament. Selection Sunday will be March 13 and one of the sites for the first round games will be the University of Dayton's basketball arena.

Grandpa's Birthday Last Saturday

Grandpa's Birthday Last Saturday

Little Jack helped Grandpa open his cards and presents. In the picture above Grandpa is looking at the birthday card Little Jack made for him.

Jennifer took pictures of Little Jack and Grandpa opening the presents.

Jeanine watched the action while keeping Barney the black lab on a leash so he wouldn't eat the presents. LOL! Grandma stayed in the background recording all this with her little camera. Meanwhile son-in-law Terry was basking in the Miami Beach sunshine on a work related trip.

Then after a birthday brunch at Mimi's Cafe the birthday party moved on to Jennifer's home for some road racing time between the two Jacks.

The party concluded with Jennifer showing how her first quilt project is coming along. Now you cut strips 7 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide and you sew them together to make long strips and then you sew the long strips together etc. etc. etc. Merlin, Jenn's cat wasn't too interested in the details but liked stepping on the quilt.

Festive Family Christmas Trees

Daughter Jennifer's Tree in Her Library

Daughter Jeanine's Christmas Tree in Her Living Room

Girls In The Hood With Boy Hidden In Hat Plus Big Black Dog

Girls In The Hood With Boy Hidden In Hat Plus Big Black Dog

Equals

Halloween Mayhem Silliness

And Boy Hidden In Hat Is Drinking Apple Cider From A Sippy Cup!

What Does Grandma Shipley Think?

Halloween Is Getting Near

Because The Spookies and Sillies Are Here!