Happy Birthday Ann. I hope you have a wonderful day.

I posted these on my blog but thought I'd share them here too.

Chesty's watching for Chris.
Chris & Becky arrive and we break out the champagne.
My cookie platter (homemade from scratch - all of them!)
Our Christmas Eve picnic.
Looking at family photos after dinner.
A father/son moment.
We really missed Adam but he called us on his way home from work.

Boy that snow looks pretty but I'm so cold here I wouldn't want to be out in that snow, but I hope you enjoy it.

Mom

Thanks Adam

Love you too, Have a good Christmas don't work too hard

Grandmom

happy birthday to you Grandma 

Thank you Chris and Becky.

We've had some flurries this month but this is our first measurable snowfall and it's still coming down!

Happy Thanksgiving to you also Mary and Keith. and Debbie and Don.

We all had a nice time here.

Mom

We got home tonight from visiting the boys in GA. We won't be able to celebrate any of the holidays with Adam but it was nice to have this time with him and to see Chris and Becky.


I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Kara, Samantha, Jeremy and I wanted to send birthday hugs and kisses to Fiona!

Happy Birthday Fiona!! We love you and miss you!

You'd think it would be easy math for me since I just have to add 30 years to my age...I first had 78 and for some reason, changed it to 76 not 77.

Mary you are making me a year younger. I'm going to be 77

We're celebrating Mom's 77th and Pat's 50th birthdays on December 13th. The agenda is below. I've sent out emails but everyone who's planning to attend needs to RSVP to me.

1100-1200 Everyone Meets at Marcie's
1215-1415 Celebration Lunch at Lenny's Restaurant
> 23418 Three Notch Rd.
> California, MD 20619-6019
1414-1445 Travel to New House
1445-1545 Exploring New House & Lot
1545-1615 Everyone Goes Back to Marcie's
1615-? Snacks & Drinks - Hang out/visit

We're having a last little bit of warm weather before winter and went for a bike ride yesterday.

So far, we haven't had a single Trick or Treater but we didn't get home until after 7PM so maybe we missed them?

Happy Birthday Samantha.

Fiona is just too cute - thanks for posting photos!

Fiona had a great time tonight. She was a little tired but she did enjoy herself!

Hope you're having a terrific day. We love you!

We're all getting together at Pat's in December!

We'll be visiting with Ann too but on Saturday, December 13th we're all going to head to Southern Maryland and celebrate both Mom and Pat's birthdays.

We should probably RSVP (to me) so that we won't overwhelm Marcie. Right now, I have Mom, Mary, Deb, Ann (her family??), and Kevin (his family??) all coming.

Maureen is still trying to get off work and I think Ann invited Stephen but I'm not sure if they're going to make it.

Thanks for sharing the photos Mary.

Looks wonderful Pat! Looks so much like my property did in Deltaville. Makes me homesick! I know you will love it there. Can't wait to see it in person in December!

Pat had some photos of the house in progress and surrounding land to send me so I thought I'd share them here. We had a chance to visit in September and they have a really lovely location.

Since I'm sharing photos - these are some of the ones I took while we were in Denmark last week.

Way to go Adam, I'm so proud of you!

Thoes are some very beautiful pictures Mary.

Mom

I'm giving all my blogs a facelift today - now if you guys would just use this one more!

I didn't mention that Adam had gotten promoted again - he's now a Cook 1 and then next level up will be a Sous Chef. He was also nominated for the Employee award again (his second nomination) but didn't win. This is a huge thing considering the high service standards that the Ritz Carlton has for their employees.


We're looking forward to visiting again this year - we'll spend 3 nights and leave the day before Thanksgiving. I really love creating new traditions and a visit to the Ritz to see Adam right before the Thanksgiving is turning into a lovely one.

You can see some photos from our visit last year at this link.

November 2007 photos

And a link for those of you unfamiliar with where Adam works. Take a minute and watch the slideshow on the home page below - it's such a beautiful resort - I love it. Can you believe that November will mark his 3rd anniversary working there (and living on his own!)??!

Ritz Carlton - Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee

We're lucky that Chris and Becky are able to join us for dinner and this year Chris will take off for the day and join us in our canoeing/kayaking adventure.

Kara says Thank you all for the birthday wishes and we all send out Happy Birthday's to Brian and Chris! We love you all!

Happy birthday to Brian" again" and Happy birthday to Chris and Kara I love you all

Hard to believe you are 13, WOW! Have a wonderful birthday sweetheart!

I missed Brian's birthday on Saturday but wanted to wish both boys a Happy 25th Birthday! Hard to believe they've grown up so fast!

I believed Jamie when he wrote that was a race weekend....he had me all worried that we'd need to change the date.

Hope he had a good laugh at my expense!

You know Jamie can't resist the chance to mess with you--not to worry though--- there is nothing he enjoys more than spending time with all my brothers and sisters together.

I checked those dates with Kevin - it's Mother's Day weekend -- don't tell me you're going to be at a race then!!!

It's seems real funny that the family reunion is at Kevin's when Kevin, Jamie and Ben will be at Richmond International Raceway for the whole weekend.

Just a thought.....

Jamie

I have a couple important dates for you to save!

December 13th, 2008 (Saturday)

We'll be celebrating Mom's and Pat's (his 50th) birthdays together in Maryland.

May 9th, 2009 (Saturday)

We're holding our 2nd McLaughlin Family Reunion at Kevin's

Well hope that you guys had a good time on your 4th of July Trip. I know that we had a blast in Alaska. We had great weather just about everyday, and had plenty to do! Between doing the Live "Love and Marriage Show", and Trivia, and Sightseeing there was much else that we could have done. Here a few pictures enjoy!

Here we are for the formal dinner!

We spent a lot of the time on the Deck the day that we were at Hubbard Glacier. It was really cool that we were able to get so close.

Here is a picture of the Glacier falling off, and that was really cool to be able to see that!

Hope everyone is having a great summer. We have a new email address-
weathejt@verizon.net.
Ann

They're so sweet looking Heather - Does Kiera like her new brother??

Here are some pictures we got taken this weekend of the kids.

Mary it looks like you are all having fun with Chris. thanks for sending the pictures, they are all beautiful

We've been biking and walking (and eating and drinking) since he got here yesterday.

I can't believe how big Fiona is getting! Thanks for posting the photos Janet.

I finally remembered my password. Everyone is doing well. Fiona is growing so fast and big. It is hard to believe that she is only 18 months old. I just finished a grade class and school will be done in a few weeks. Kevin and Brian Ihope you guys are feeling better. Glad to hear Mary and Debbie had fun. Heather, congratulations.Here are some recent pictures of Fiona.

I had a great time in Virginia visiting Mom for Mother's day and seeing everyone (but Debbie!). I hope Kevin and Brian are feeling a little better now - both had some surgery right before I got there. (Poor Lisa!)

Pat and Marcy came too with the boys and we planned a visit to see them September 6th. Keith and I will be in DC that weekend and Ann, Mom, Maureen, and Lisa are all planning to go with us for a visit.

After leaving Newport News, I headed to Kansas to attend a big quilt show with Debbie. Here she is getting ready to go shopping - there were lots of vendors at this show.

And here she is with the quilt she entered which won 2nd place in the Theme category. She designed and quilted it for her guild's raffle - it was pieced by her guild members.

Heather I guess you won't see this for a while but I'm thinking ofyou and wish you the best of luck.

It is 4 ish in the wee hours of the morning. Kurt and I have to be at the hospital by 6am to start our (really my) induction. So hopefully by this afternoon or so...there will be a new member of the family! Pray that my delivery is quick and on the painless side!

I'm sure Mom and Dad will pass the word when "he" (shhh! Kurt doesn't know the baby's sex still) arrives!

That's Chesty at the kennel - we're in San Diego until Sunday and then I have to head home and unpack more boxes.

and Chesty is hiding under the bed. I had them pack our bedroom up first so I could let him out of his crate but he's very unsettled by the activity and disarray.