Spotlight on Bryan!

It's hard to believe that Bryan is 21 1/2 years old! Time has flown by and many of you have known Bryan before he made entrance into this world at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virgina! :-) Bryan is currently working full-time at the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as a Co-Op student in Human Resources. He has held this position for the past two years; working full time during the summer months/school breaks and part-time during the academic year. He is also an intern this summer at a local accounting firm, JMM and Associates, gathering a first hand experience into the professional world of Accounting. He is also the pitching coach for the Colchester Junior Cannons baseball team and also playing on the South Burlington Expos baseball team - part of the Green Mountain baseball league. Bryan is entering his senior year at the University of Vermont and will graduate in May of 2011.

Birthdays in Baltimore Maryland!

Over the long weekend of June 3rd, 2010, we joined our friends for a trip to Baltimore MD to see the Red Sox play at Camden Yards. We watched two games, had a lovely time sightseeing, enjoyed a lovely birthday meal at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and witnessed two great Red Sox wins! Ed and our dear friends Mark and Ann Marie were all celebrating birthdays that weekend too! We stayed at the Rennassaince - Marriott in the Inner Harbor where all of the Red Sox players were staying! What a weekend with many "celebrity sightings" everywhere: in the lobby, in the elevators, on our floor, wow!!! It was a very fun weekend with very dear friends. I think we just make this an annual event. :-)




Two "brothers" celebrating their special days at Camden Yards. Happy birthday Ed and Mark!



We were so lucky that Bryan decided to join us all for the weekend! Can't keep that child away from baseball!!! :-)


The whole group at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse just before the game. Celebrating Ed/Mark/Ann Marie's birthdays! Happy birthday!!

Summer Dinner with Friends - Grand Isle, Vermont

Nothing like a summer dinner at the Marchand/Sonack family camp. Lake Champlain is their front yard and we are so lucky that they share their piece of heaven with all of us each summer. The sunsets are incredible, the company is fabulous and the food (and mojitos!!) are scrumptious!

Vermont summer evening. Boating on Lake Champlain

Helen at the helm!

Paula enjoying the view.

A Vermont sunset over the wake of the boat. Gorgeous.

Can't you just feel it?

Lovely evening!

There is nothing like summer in Vermont. The weather this past week was absolutely gorgeous and I was fortunate enough to find myself with two great friends, on Helen's boat, in the middle of Lake Champlain. We drove to Plattsburgh for dinner and then enjoyed the sunset as we came home to Malletts Bay. A lovely summer evening boating in Vermont.

Ahhhhh......heaven on earth!

Tanglewood - July 4, 2010

What a wonderful evening of music with James Taylor and Carole King. An amazing show with two icons in the music industry. It was a magical evening.

Carole and James rocking Tanglewood - July 4, 2010

A lovely way to spend July 4, 2010. A fabulous picnic on the grounds of Tanglewood in Lenox MA with great friends Deb and Don, great food, great wine and magical music!! What a fabulous night!

Bryan's Birthday Celebration #21!!

Our lovely ship, Freedom of the Seas, as seen from Coco Cay, Bahamas. We were tendered to the island for a day of gorgeous beaches, cushioned chaise loung chairs, tropical drinks and warm sun! What a relaxing day.


Bryan and Joe celebrating their 21st year! Brothers at heart..... They're enjoying the balcony in our room!


Bryan and Joe enjoying the sun at the pool....one of our "days at sea".


All of us at dinner! Great food, fabulous company!! It was a specatular week....



We all really enjoyed the cruise for Bryan's 21st birthday and anticipated it the entire six months after we booked with the trip with our travel agent. We did not want the week to end. It was a glorious week of relaxation, sun, aqua blue water and an abundance of family fun and activities. Having Bryan's good friend Joe Ruggles with us was an added plus! We set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on June 27 and we sailed to Coco Cay Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maartan aboard Royal Caribbeans Freedom of the Seas. It is the second largest cruise ship in the world and on our particular cruise, it accommodated 4300 passengers! A lovely ship that sported not only three large swimming pools, but a sports court, a mini golf course, a boxing ring, an ice skating rink, over 7 lovely restaurants and dining rooms, a world class spa, .... I can go on and on and on! We were never wanting for a thing to do!!!! It was a fabulous trip - one that we will always remember! We're ALL looking forward to our next cruise! Next time it will involve a longer journey to the Mediterranean.....let the countdown begin!! :-)