Thanksgiving2007: Brown Bear, Brown Bear...

What do you see?

Sammy's cousins Andrew, Celine, and Dominic read Sammy a number of books, all of which he completely enjoyed. Below is a photo of them reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" (written by Billy Martin and illustrated by Eric Carle). Some things are timeless...such as a classic book (which is 40 years old) or relatives reading to each other. Sammy really lights up when he's around his cousins. It's a shame he can't be around them more often.

Sammy, Sammy, What do you See?
I see three cousins caring for me.

Thanksgiving2007: Father & Son Breakfast

You won't find too many photos of Paul on the blog, but here's an exception. While in Austin for Thanksgiving, Sammy and his father ate breakfast together while Michele had the camera.

Guess who had a good night's sleep...and who did not...

Sammy practices "the look"...

What's Sammy smiling about?

Sammy remarking on his father's morning appearance...

Sammy digesting his breakfast...

Thanksgiving2007: Diane the Whirlwind...

While we were in Austin for Thanksgiving, Diane led us as we did some odd jobs around Paul's parents' house. Here are some photos of Diane replacing the ceiling vents which she had cleaned, sanded, and nicely repainted.

Diane installs the newly painted ceiling vent...

One down, several more to go...

Thanksgiving2007: Sammy the Hug Man...

We flew down to Austin, Tx for Thanksgiving this year to spend it with Paul's family. Sammy was excited to see his cousins. So much so he literally turned into a hugging machine...he was going around hugging them all on his own.

Sammy hugs Dominic...

Sammy hugs Celine...

Sammy hugs Andrew...

Conversations with Sammy...

Another real conversation with Sammy....

SAMMY: Eat?
MICHELE: Sure. What would you like to eat?
SAMMY: Food!

There's a New Sheriff in Town...

After spending a week in Texas at Paul's parents for the Thanksgiving holiday, we headed back yesterday. At the Austin airport we bought Sammy a cowboy hat which he loves to wear. We switched planes in Minneapolis, so for a short while Sammy played in a children's area there.

Sammy the sheriff...

Sammy in control...who's watching the RADAR scope?

Sammy the astronaut...
...he's figured out what NASA and all its rocket scientists could not...
...how to send a man to the moon for only 75 cents...

Sammy explains the Bernoulli effect...
...pulling in some esoteric humor based on the St. Petersburg paradox...

Fading Memory...

As Paul continues to move several suitcases of photos, he came across this photo of him in in either first or second grade. The church his school belonged to was celebrating its 75th anniversary, so each class was photographed as a whole (instead of the usual individual photos).

Note that Paul's hair is disheveled...
...his collar is off...
...his tie is crooked...
...how did he ever convince Michele to marry him?

From left to right (using best guesses from memory)...

Front Row: Alan Paz, David Bartlotti, Esther Walters, No Idea, Colleen Lubeck, No Idea, Lisa Bloom, Jimmy Parisee, No Idea

Second Row: No Idea, Paul (our hero), Jill Karpinski, Bill Richards, Pamela Stanwix, Jimmy Edwards, Dana D'Amore, Not Idea, Patrice DeFina

Third Row: Christine Something, No Idea, Joey Britten, Paul Muldoon(?), Susan Kobito, No Idea, Mark Swire

Fourth Row: Jesus

A long time ago...

This week Paul continues to scan old photos. Here are some we like of his parents...when they were young (and in some pregnant with his sister Anne.--some 50+ years ago!)...

We zoomed in on the calendar and were able to determine...
...that this was from November 1955, before they were married....
...just before they became engaged at Christmas time...
...further investigation found that this was the Saturday after Thanksgiving...
...for cousin Sarah's wedding in which Paul's dad was a driver...
...hence the corsage...

This picture is after they were married...
...as Paul's mother is pregnant with Anne...
...so this has to be from 1956...
...taken in Havre de Grace, Maryland...
...when Paul's dad was in the Army....

Again, Paul's mother is pregnant...
...so this also is from 1956....
...taken at Aberdeen...

Flashback: April 1984

Paul's maternal grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April 1984. Paul scanned this picture yesterday (taken on or about that anniversary). They were good, decent, nurturing, and loving people. We miss them both dearly. The world could use more people like them.