Cemetary Day

It's that time of year.......when we put wreaths on the graves and then go to lunch.

We had beautiful weather! Doug, Pop and Chris and I (the photographer).

A prayer, Doug drinks a beer, we anchor the wreaths and Chris's pointsettia's and it's off to lunch.

That man has speed! He outdistanced all of us and He will be 90 in March! I guess he was hungry.

Same restaurant, new name. It used to be the Store in Basking Ridge. I had a simply delicious chicken pot pie and a hot fudge sundae.

See, I was there. I had to ask Doug to take my picture so that we would remember that I was there :)

Pop and I  had a happy ending, He had ice cream with chocolate syrup mine was hot fudge.
Traditions!

Beauty all around us!

even in the Target parking lot. I needed some alone time so I ran out to do errands. But as I got out of my car at Target, I had to try to capture the beauty of the sunset on this unusally mild day in November.

Thanksgiving 2011

Who knew? My mother is turning over in her grave! Do you know how many hours we spent over the years to steam and roast the chestnuts (never mind peel them) for Chestnut stuffing and now they come prepackaged, precooked and prepeeled!

The turkey was cooked on our grill in Middlesex, carved and then brought to Tim and Robyn's in Pa.

When we arrived, Kellen was napping so we had to  keep our voices down. But that didn't stop the chatter.

Finally the boy woke up, stared at all the new faces and then played with Aunt Carrie.

Then it was time to eat turkey at Kellen's first Thanksgiving. His shirt said, I'm Stuffed!

Two tables were set up in the Rex dining room to accomodate almost the entire family. (Emilie, Samantha and Matthew celebrated with his parents this year). Doug Rex, Chris and Charlie O'neill, Richard Gordon, Kyle O'neill, Corey O'neill- next table, Kamryn Rex.

Kamryn Rex, Tim Rex, Jewel Fiedler, Jeanne  and Warren Haase.

And a close-up of Richard Wheeler Gordon enjoying his dinner. ( He cleaned his plate).

Oh, look my dinner came in jars.....Turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots and dessert.

Great Aunt Chris, holding Kellen on his first Thanksgiving.

Everyone wanted to hold the sweet baby and rub their chin in his peach fuzz! Sweet Smiles!

By the way, I also attended this feast and Caroline graciously took a picture of me with my adorable and talented granddaughter Kamryn Alexis!
I am very thankful for my wonderful family!

New Tradition

There have always been homemade Christmas Cookies but...this was the First Annual Family Gathering to Make Christmas Cookies Together day! I had very little preconceived expectations for the event and I was determined not to be disappointed in the day. I was quite looking forward to this start of a new tradition and just knew that everyone was as excited as I.
Up early, I cleaned kitchen counters, put away scrapbook stuff, took out garbage and recycling, put up two big tables. I gathered candles, lit them and enjoyed the pleasant aroma and searched for just the right Christmas music ( not overpowering, as it was still before Thanksgiving) to set the mood.
Everyone started arriving around 11:30, by 12 everyone was starving so we ordered two pizzas from Lucas and ate lunch.
Then the real fun began. Let's make cookies! Samantha, Kamryn and I whipped up a batch of Cookie Monster Dough and put that into the refrigerator. Then we took four containers of David's Play Cookie Dough, in four delicious colors -red all over, mellow mood yellow, jelly bean green and too blue 4 you, and we let the fun begin!

Years ago, Paperkins were all the rage, so the girls and I made our own Baking Betty's paperkins.

The other three grownups said "it's all about the kids" so they did not fully engage with the pure joy that I also enjoyed.

The Mom's and Aunt Carrie helped the girls flour and roll and cutout the dough.

And then the REAL FUN began. Sprinkles!

Make sure you push the sprinkles into the dough or they will just fall off.

Kellen really wanted to be involved.

Time to Bake the cookies!

Mess? What mess? Clean it up?

We are so done! We had a great time! Thanks, Grandma!
You are welcome sweet peas', I love you more!

We are SOoooooo done!

Friends that wine!

Yesterday, Saturday, November 5, 2011 -It was sooooo cold. I did not dress in enough layers. The temperature never got above 50. It was sooooo cold!
The Adventure began at 9am, when I arrived at Barbara Base's and met Rudy, their rescued German Shepard. He is beautiful to look at but don't touch.....just yet! Got to Angela's, switched to her car and off we went to a day outdoors at Great Adventure. Arrived about 10:30, 1/2 hour early for our Safari and Wine tasting with the Giraffes. Checked in and boarded our Safari Van.

Great Adventure is closed to the public for this special event - Ticket holders only. We saw a variety of animals on our way out to the Giraffe area.

Had a great time honing my photography skills.

The day was clear, beautiful and cold - a great autumn day.

We each got a chance to feed the giraffe's.......carrots! Who knew?

This baby lion cub had it's eye on a herd of zebras on the other side of his cage. Lunch?

How many sips make up an entire bottle? How many sips constitute too much?

 Angela, Barbara and I considered this adventure GROUP THERAPY! (can we claim it?)

Although I do not really drink, I had fun tasting all of the different flavors and pretending that I was a connoisseur.

Found this little giraffe at one of the vendor booths, He enjoyed playing let's get tipsy with us.

Lots of things to do with wine bottles after you have drained the contents.

All in all an almost perfect day. I will dress much warmer in the future. Took two hot chocolates in between sips of wine to keep from shivering to death.

Her's lookin' at ya!

Halloween VIP's

This Halloween we were fortunate to visit these great people and to trick and treat them!

Richard Wheeler Gordon with his three Great-Grandchildren.

Samantha Tomaro, Kellen Rex, Kamryn Rex

Mrs. Anne Ceccato (on right)

Samantha Tomaro, Pat Rex (Grandma), Kellen Rex, Kamryn Rex

Grandma with her Boo Crew!

Visiting Mrs.Gary's house.

Cinderella and the Pirate.

Shopping with Dad

He has been the most flexible parent that I have ever seen. He managed to survive three days at our house ( contending with all Three Great-Grandchildren, Halloween, Chase the Poodle, Caroline's bedroom etc.)
Wednesday morning we got up and went back to Pop's house where electricity had been restored. I threw out everything from his freezer and his refrigerator and made a list for his insurance. Then, off we went to ShopRite.

" Need those Olives, way up there!" (want help?) "no, I can get it."

 Thank goodness ShopRite was not too crowded. 

" I don't see the cheese filled coffee cake."

" Ah! The mainstay of my diet! Stouffer's! (really Pat you should try them, they are great!)"

" I lost four when my electricity went out, so now I need nine!"

This is probably a month's worth of food for Pop.

I want to be just like Pop when I grow up! (minus the Stouffer's)