Happy Birthday to Jiddee!!

Today is my father-in-law's birthday!

OCTOBER 18th

He is 86 years young!

I always know how old he is because he is 70 years older than whatever Sarah is at the time. :)

She was only 6 months old at his 70th birthday party.

His name is Woodrow...

....and everybody calls him Woody.....

......except his grandkids.......

....who call him "Jiddee" which is Arabic for Grandpa.

He has 24 grandkids, six of which are mine.

He has a bunch of great-grandkids......a ball park figure might be 14, with 2 more on the way.......none of which are mine. :)

A few photos.........

Taken when Marty and his siblings were a lot younger :)

Those clothes and that hair reek of the seventies :)

Marty, Beth & Christopher in front

Woody & Marilyn, the parental figures....and Bill & David in back

And, a handful of photos from Woody's visit to Our Hearts' Haven in April 2008:

Woody & I making Tabouli for our 2008 Lebanese Feast

Woody & a young Garrett working on the Lebanese Feast Food

The 2008 Lebanese Feast

with Gavin, Kevin, Patty & Sierra on the left

Marty at the head of the table, with Woody to his left, and Anne & Terri

In the back, you can see Maddelyn, Garrett, Malachy & Sarah

Jiddee with his grand-kids at Hearts' Haven, Spring 2008

Jiddee with his granddaughters.......Maddelyn, Sarah & Anne

We miss you, Jiddee, and hope you come for a visit soon!!!

We love you, Jiddee!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS TO YOU!!

Love your family at Hearts' Haven!

PS Welcome to the Internet! :)

Happy FIRST Birthday......

..........to my adorable little friend Liam S!!!!

I have some of the most sweet pictures of this dear little boy, youngest of eight, with number nine on the way......but the mouse on my desktop, where the photos are stored, has become quite stubborn and will not do its tricks.......so, I must delay his pictures till at least this weekend.....in the meantime, little man:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

With love from your friends at Our Hearts' Haven

Happy Birthday to Aunt Beth!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Beth!

We hope & pray many blessings for you in this next year of your life!

We especially hope to see you in the next year, too....it has been too long!!

Love, your relatives at Hearts' Haven

PS..I had to "steal" your photos at facebook because my computer with pics is temporarily off-limits this week.

It's a Picture Book Day!

Got a few titles for you....an old favorite, lately rediscovered, and three new choices.....that begged to be picked off the shelf at the library!


PECOS BILL Written & Illustrated by Steven Kellogg

This book is a cute as I remember it! Pecos Bill stories are always fun...and I was able to teach Malachy what a "tall tale" is.......and now I will use this book as a jumping point for other conversations about "tall tales." The pictures are hilarious and well-drawn, with great color. Also, this book reminds me that it has been a long time since we took a stroll through Steven Kellogg's books. The last time we went through his books, I believe Malachy was a mere infant, if he was even yet born. With Malachy's sense of humor, I think he will find Kellogg's books a kick...and I am off to the library for more!!! Garrett may not even remember these stories.

If you and your kids have not yet visited a collection of Steven Kellogg's books...DO GO FOR IT! You will have a blast....and then...we will go after Bill Peet's books, too......same situation as above....and I do not want Malachy to miss out on these great, funny authors!



CATERINA: THE CLEVER FARM GIRL by Julienne Peterson & illustrated by Enzo Giannini

Oh, my, I loved this book!!! It is based on a Tuscan Folktale......and it is delightful! I love the ending......but I cannot tell you what it is......I do not want to ruin it for you! The illustrations are lovely......in fact, it was the cover that popped off the bookshelf at the library and into my hands! Caterina, a clever farm girl charms the king with her cleverness........and, well, you must go read the book to find the rest of the story. I read it to my boys....and they enjoyed it....and I am sure any girl would love it, too. Even a mom! :)

When I went to return the book to the library......my favorite librarian was just leaving.......and she willingly stopped to read this book before she left.....we are both addicted to wonderful picture books. Maybe that is why she is my favorite? :)

I hope this author has other stories......and that our library has more books from the illustrator!

I just searched the internet...only this book as far as I can see..... :(



PAPA AND THE PIONEER QUILT BY Jean Van Leeuwen & Illustrated by Rebecca Bond

Sweet story about a papa who has "wandering feet" and keeps moving his family further west....and of his daughter who wants to make a quilt.....by collecting scraps on the way to Oregon. Sweet artwork.....sweet story....and quilts! I just love quilt stories, don't you?!



THE SQUIRE'S BRIDE by P.C. Asbjornsen & Illustrated by Marcia Sewall

Funny little story based on a Norwegian tale. I do not want to give the story away....worth the read.....nice pencil drawings...or is that pen?



We had not read any pictures books lately, except about eagles & vikings...so it was nice to have a change today!

Have a blessed picture book day, everyday!!!! Or, at least several times a week! :)

Love,

Chari

Happy 21st Birthday, Anne!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ANNE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

I LOVE this photo of Anne!

It is her bio photo for "The Gazebo"

Anne, 6 weeks......with her mama.

Looks like her papa, here! Six weeks.

Our little "brown" baby

Anne, one week

Anne, first week, held by her grandpa: Georgie-Pop

On week old...

and her Grandma Marilyn Bryan, whom she has never met...

but would have loved and been loved by......

At 8 weeks......




Anne and her Papa!

Sweet girl

With her Grandma Ley at nine weeks......

Anne, at 25 months welcomes her best friend and first sibling...Matthew James

I bet Aunt beth remembers that early morning!!

Anne, at two and a half, with her Great-Aunt Sue and Uncle Tom...

.....Matthew is five months old

We miss Uncle Tom, may he rest in peace.

One of my all-time favorite pictures of Anne & Matthew!!

They are 3 years & one year, respectively.

Anne at 4 yrs, with her Great-Grandpa, Danny!

We miss you, Grandpa!

Anne, the dark child, seven months younger than her cousin Alexis, the light child.

In Eureka, CA, visiting their Great Grandparents...and YES!

They are actually eating chip crumbs off of the sidewalk.....blech!

Anne was a bumble bee in her first dance recital...
....6 years old.

Anne, 7, with the dark pig tails, and her three younger siblings

Matthew, 5

Sarah, 3

Maddelyn, 18 months

Camping at Lake Juanita

Anne, aged eight, center with siblings:

Baby Garrett 2 months

Maddelyn 2 years

Sarah 4 years

and Matthew 6 years

*****************

So, the above was a blast from the past......

.....and below, you will find photos from 2009, just a small sampling!!!

************************

Anne with her two favorite men:

her father & her brother Matthew

Taken part way up Mount Shasta, Spring 2009

The two sisters, Anne & Maddelyn

Taken same place, day...see Lake Siskiyou in the background.

Anne & one of her favorite friends, Euphemia

June 2009

Anne, and her three "sisters"

Clare, a best friend...Sarah, Anne, Maddelyn

Ages: 19, 16, 20 & 14 years

Taken at Shaver Lake, Summer 2009

Anne & Maddelyn while singing in the Barbershop Choir

Taken August 2009

Anne and her "sisters"

Sarah, Anne, Maddelyn, Clare

Taken July 2009

Anne dancing at our Summer dance party, August 2009

Anne, shares her addiction to knitting, on the deck in the Sierras
Taken June 2009

Anne & Maddelyn on the set of THE GAZEBO

Anne was the director & Maddelyn the housekeeper

May 2009

Anne & her parents

August 2009

SWEET!!!

Anne & her sister Sarah

Taken July 2009

Anne & her grandpa, Georgie-Pop

Taken August 2009

Anne graduates with her Associates Degree in English

May 2009, with her most favorite teacher, Eve

Anne, May 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***********~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are so proud of you, Anne!

We wish you many blessings on this birthday and forever!!!

We miss you!!!

We love you!!!

Love,

your family waiting for you at Our Hearts' Haven

PS....I LOVE how much living green is in these photos!!

Birthday Blessings to One of My Favorite People!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, GLORIA!!!!

We rejoice that God picked you for our friend!!!

What a gift you are!!!

You are like a sister, only better.....as we agree on practically everything!!! :)

Below, you will see Gloria holding my godson, Benedict Michael....aka her son. :)

First, at a community pool for Catherine's 10th birthday party,

and then at Castle Lake during our Catholic Homeschooling Campout, 2009.

And lastly, Gloria with her beautiful sister, Suzanne.

~~~~~~~~~~

We love you!!!

We miss you!!!

Have a blessed day!!!!

Love,

Chari

Marty

Anne

Matthew

Sarah

Maddelyn

Garrett

Malachy

Sadie

&

Strider

Happy Birthday to My Dear Friend & A Favorite Sweet Girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR WILLA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

October 3rd

From left to right........

FRONT ROW: Malachy, Maddelyn, Anne, Liam, Aidan, Patrick, Keiron, Willa

SECOND ROW: Chari, Sarah, Clare, Sean, Garrett

BACK ROW: Brendan, Matthew

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Though we live about 8 hours from each other......

7.5 hours when Willa drives.......9 hours when I drive...

(.....for some strange reason.....go figure......)

......our families are the best of friends......like sisters.....like brothers.....

This year marks ten years that we have known each other......

......at least via phone & emails....

........which is how we originally communicated (the first two years) ........

.......and still do........

but sometimes........we actually get to visit each other!

This was one of those special years.....we got a week.....TWICE!

Once in the south......and once in the north.......

This photo is possibly the last one where we get all seven of Willa's kids and all six of mine in one photo....as the older ones begin to move on.......taken minutes before we left their home in June, after a week's visit.

TRIVIA: Did you know that our families have the same last name, practically???

Our name just has one extra letter in front! :)

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS, MY FRIEND!!!!

We miss you all!

Love, Chari & the gang at Hearts' Haven!

AND.........since it is birthday season.......

We wish a very happy birthday to our friend Sierra, who is turning 17 years old today!

She is well-loved in this family, like a sister to my girls.

I have SO many wonderful pictures of Sierra from the past year......I will have to limit myself, or I will be here all night. She is actually sitting in my living room right now as I write this....visiting with my girls........

.......a handful, or two, of random photos of the last five months......

Sierra played the female lead opposite Matthew in "THE GAZEBO" last May

Matthew & Sierra walked the streets in their costumes.....

...everyone thinks this is a photo taken in the 1950's. :)

This was the press release photo of "THE GAZEBO"

Matthew as Elliott Nash & Sierra as his wife Nell

A scene from "THE GAZEBO"

Sierra's Bio photo

Sierra is the eldset of eight children with #9 on the way! She is an amazing big sister. She has six younger brothers, and one little sister. She is taking her turn at the pool watching Benjamin.

Sarah & Sierra are great friends......

......God gave them to each other just when they needed each other........

Matthew & Sierra dancing at our Summer outdoor dance party in August.

Sierra, Maddelyn & Anne while we took a firld trip to the Lava Beds National Monument in early septemper this year.

This photo is so sweet!

This is Sierra & her next youngest brother Kyle.

They are great friends.

HAPPY & BLESSED BIRTHDAY to you, Sierra!!!

Love, Chari & family.....

PS See you tonight!!!