Jonathan has a sweet 4th of July party every year. It comes complete with great pork roast and fireworks with beautiful country views all around. It wasn't hot, and the kids enjoyed running around and riding bikes. Here is James with his cousin Alice.
Jer's niece Tempi is the cutest with her watermelon.
I think he is really handsome in red.
We went to Hyde Park NY where we visited a Vanderbilt mansion, the Roosevelt estate, and the Culinary Institute of America. Pictures are from the Vanderbilt gardens. I didn't manage to get pictures inside because I was too busy trying to manage the meltdowns of my children and not disrupt the tour for any other guests. This was the country cottage of Frederick Vanderbuilt, a railroad tycoon. The house behind us is one of the out buildings on the property. The exterior of the mansion was covered with scaffolding.
Next we went to NYC. Here we are dragging our suitcases down the streets of Soho to our hotel.
Jer got us a fancy suite with a view. Tommy loved to point out the new world trade center tower. He could pick it out in pictures of the skyline and got really excited about it. We went up to the observation deck.
After NYC we drove to Avalon New Jersey for a weekend with Becca and Jeff. She likes to dress me up and do my hair and makeup:)
We played a lot of paddleball.
Some of us napped.
Uncle Tommy looking pensive.
We played a lot of washers.
I had to make the couples pose by the lifeguard boats. Tommy and Jean, and Becca and Jeff.
This past weekend I went to Mechanicsburg for Emily's bridal shower. It was so much fun. The bridesmaids and mothers of the bride and groom all went bowling after the shower. The highest score of the group was 78 so you can see what sort of bowlers we are!
Then the next day we went up to State College PA for my Nana and Papa's 90th birthdays and 70th wedding anniversary. Those events all happen in the same week!
http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/article90220942.html
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Charlie and Tommy had a few stare downs over the weekend.
Here is Emily with her namesake.
Also Emily with her groom, also named Jeff just to keep things confusing.
And here we are at the reception for Nana and Papa. They drew a big crowd of awesome people. Everyone was so nice, smart, and interesting. Nana and Papa are so loved in their community which makes us all so proud and happy. We took family pictures at the Lion. Because my Papa is a Penn State man through and through.
