Monday, November 2, 2009

The Lost Shirt


I have been looking for this shirt for a year and a half. Suzy and Chuck gave it to me when I visited them in Florida in March 2008. I swore I left it down with them. Believe it or not, it has been in with my other tops all this time. Funny thing is I usually store them by color. That's what happens when you get lazy. Suzy and Chuckie, please accept my apology!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Alex at the Cape




I had a great time practicing cutting out an image with this picture of Alex. I'm improving little by little. Alex and the group had a wonderful time together at the Cape. Looking forward to it next year.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Will You Dance With Me?

This is posted on my grandmothers' of internationally adopted children Yahoo group. Elva shares many words of wisdom. I had to share this with all of you. It hit home with me.
Will You Dance With Me? READ THIS VERY SLOWLY.... IT'S PRETTY PROFOUND.
Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.
I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible..
How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?
How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?
I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour? She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, it looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.
Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!
We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet.... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.
Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer.. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'
When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord...
My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.
Now....go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say?
And why are you waiting? Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you. Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift.....Thrown away........ Life is not a race, Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

To those I have sent this to..... I cherish our friendship and appreciate all you do. 'Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!'

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Samanthat is on her way


Samantha has her own wheels, now a nice new Madza 3 out in Ca. so there is no holdering her back. She moves into her new apartment on Sept 1 and starts a new phase in her life. I can't believe that both her and Adam are on their own, life goes too fast. Skipp and I can't wait to go back out for a visit both the see her new digs and to spend time with Scott and Kiki.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Some Practice


This post is to commemorate Kara's very special day, her First Communion. It is also something I did to practice cutting an image from a picture. I can see mistakes, but I am improving. I hope you all enjoy it.


Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Savannah's Graduation







Our grand daughter Savannah graduated from Saratoga High on June 25. The time is going by so fast, now we have 2 grand children out in the work force and 1 on her way to college. Watching them grow into fine young adults has been fun.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Zack is ten (and Darby too)!



My boy is ten! I cannot believe that Zack is in double digits (happy belated birthday to Darby as well). Zack didn't want a kid party this year and instead requested a trip to NYC for the weekend (I'm thinking a party would have been cheaper;) We went a couple of weekends ago and had an absolutely wonderful time. The boys had a ball and Zack had birthday wishes scrolling across the marque at ESPN Zone, which completely thrilled him. We did have cake before we left and here is a shot of the kids, as well as Zachary celebrating with his sister. It is a blessing that our families have found each other, and I look forward to their relationship evolving as years pass. The Ryan's are such a big family already, what's four more right?

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Kara's First Communion


Kara had a beautiful day for her First Communion. The ceremony was beautiful. Then it was on to the Brunswick Community Center, a great place to have a party. The young cousins all played outside and all the Film family and friends had a great time catching up on things. It was great to see everybody.


Tuesday, June 9, 2009

This is legal notice . . .

that the first party, Susan Ryan, is filing a law suit against the second party, Timothy T. Ryan, whereas the first party received an injury when falling on the property of the second party, etc.

See picture below:

Friday, June 5, 2009

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Kara's First Communion

I posted a slideshow of Kara's First Communion on my grandchildren's blog. The link is listed on the right side of this blog. Click over and take a look.

By the way, Timmy, Ginny, Kenny and I just arrived in Dearfield. Please pray we all stay healthy. That would be a first!!!!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Cameron's First Visit to Uncle Eric

Here are some Pics from Cameron's first visit to Uncle Eric







Tuesday, May 12, 2009

I've Finally Made It

Hi Everyone,

It's Aunt Sue and I've finally made it onto this blog(I hope). I enjoy reading everyone's messages and pictures and hopefully, will be posting some of my own very soon.

Monday, May 11, 2009

What Do You Think?


I have to print this out and hang it in my kitchen. And, to boot, I even had a new kitchen put in. When we sell the house, I can advertise it with "Kitchen like new!"

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Our Mom



Here is a layout I did of Mom. It came out pretty good. I had to do a lot of work on the picture. I hope you all enjoy it. I know your thoughts were with her, as were mine. We were so blessed to have her for our Mom.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Spring Has Sprung



Spring has arrived in Speigletown, New York. The grass is green. The hyacinth, daffadils, forsythia and weeping cherry tree are all in bloom. You can see buds on all the trees, shrubs and the lilac bush. This is my favorite time of year. I even enjoy the chirping of the birds waking me up. These are all signs the best is yet to come.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Pictures of My Grandchildren

Shelley has a new post on her family blog. There are great pictures of the boys. I have also added a slideshow of Easter to my grandchildren's blog. Check them out when you get a chance.

All you family members, please share pictures of your kids. We love to see them. Hope everyone had a great Easter.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Samantha's Spring Break with Grampa and Gramma







This year for her spring break Samantha visited us in Fl. We had a great time with her and I'm sure she did the same. We are looking forward to going out to Ca in May for her graduation.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Update on the Valiquette kids

Michael and Allison are doing well at Shenendehowa and Siena. Along with Michael winning the Karigon logo his name is going to be on a book cover, I'll explain. Several years ago there was a lady that was in an abusive relationship and her husband eventually beat her to death. Although that is very sad the best friend of the lady wrote a book about it. She conducted a national search for the book cover and Michael submitted a photo that won. So the short of it is that his picture will be the book cover. He gets to go to Minnesota for the book signing and he is very excited about that. His track coach told him he will most likely get a division 1 scholarship for track so we are hoping the combination of track & field and his knack for graphic design will get him into a good college. Allison is doing very well at Siena. So far this semester she has straight A's. Hopefully that will get her into Notre Dame for law school with no problems. She moved into a dorm room and that took some time getting used to. To summarize, both kids are very smart and doing well. Thank god they don't take after their father.
Love to all
Joe Val

Saturday, March 21, 2009

A song Kara learned at school

Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a heater, accidentally turned it on and burnt his little weiner!! Sang by my 8 year old, with bright mischevious eyes at bed time. Perfect time of day to mention that singing about weiners at school is not super duper appropriate. Just thought I'd share......
Love, Kristen

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Our Trip Down Memory Lane










Forty-one years ago this coming September, Ken and I were married and spent our honey moon in Miami, Florida. We stayed at the Sherry Frontenac Hotel for a week. While here in Deerfield, we decided to visit Miami and see what the Sherry Frontenac looked like now. Seeing the building was disappointing, but going into the lobby brought back lots of wonderful memories. The pool area didn't look the same to me, but Ken said it did to him. It was fun reminiscing. The Sherry Frontenac is not a place I would stay at now, but seeing it again was well worth the trip.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Ryan Family Vacation

The best part of our trip to Florida had to be seeing everyone - we never saw that many Ryan's when we were in NY! Thanks to everyone that got together at Uncle Chucky's and Aunt Susie's on such short notice! Although it was a short visit it was great to see everyone and yes, both kids were fast asleep before we got to the hotel and stayed asleep until morning even after that can of soda! Of course as you've seen we also had a great time watching Ryan, Kaitlyn and Carrick enjoy a day at Disney World - it's a good thing all the kids like the Haunted Mansion. Enjoy the pictures and thanks again to everyone for making the trip even more worthwhile.

Shawn, Jen, Kaitlyn and Carrick