Wednesday, June 2, 2010

'Said Good-bye To May...

...and I'm always kind of sad to see it go. I love the month of May, I've loved it ever since I was a little girl and my Mom told me that May was the month of Mary. We have lots to celebrate in May with birthdays and Mother's Day, and Ray & I were married in May, and our son Erik & daughter-in-law Lori share the same Anniversary! It's also usually a very pretty month here where we live too, flowers and trees blooming, sunny days, blue skies, and lots of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors before the heat and humidity of Summer sets in.
Although there is always a sadness too at the end of May with Memorial Day, I really do have mixed emotions, it's usually a nice time where we get together with friends and family, someone always has a barbecue and/or a pool party, and there are parades, and we're usually celebrating a birthday or two that weekend. But it's sad when you think of fallen heroes. So there is lots of joy tinged with sadness. But I guess that's life in general.

Here's how we ended the month:

Ray finished my shelves in the back room. I'm very happy!


And he opened the pool...


...and of course Jayden was the first (and only) one in the pool despite the cold water temperature!



After a week the water warmed up a little and a few more brave souls took the plunge!



Jayden is getting braver and taking his life jacket off more often now.


And we had a barbecue over Memorial weekend...

Our niece Erin and her boyfriend George...


...and the delicious cupcakes she made!



Our nephew Mikael relaxing on the floor...


...and one of his many tattoos (ouch!), this is one of his more colorful ones!



Ray's brother Donald and his sister Susie...



...and we also sang 'Happy Birthday' to Donald!

Make a wish...





...now smear your name for luck!




And the next day we attended the parade in our town, it was just a few blocks from our home and the weather was beautiful so we all walked there.



Jayden and Mia waited patiently for the parade to pass by (it was late getting started).




Mayor Bloomberg (in the pink shirt) took the lead (I have a feeling he was the reason for the late start).




Jayden and Mia loved the balloons, and they also loved that the company that supplied the balloons threw little beach balls to all the children along the parade route!
(I can't believe they allowed cars to park on the parade route this year!)




My brother John is a veteran of the Viet Nam war, he marches each year and he always carries the POW/MIA flag.


There were drummers and marching bands, but my favorite is the bagpipers.




The parade always ends with antique cars, and this year these tiny foreign cars joined the parade. I see them all over now, I guess they are easy on the wallet, but I think they are so comical looking.


May was a busy month, it was a beautiful month, and I was sad to see it end.

But June has lots of good things in store!
Best of all we'll be having a Family Picnic/Reunion on Saturday and family & friends near and far will be coming!
My youngest brother Joey, his wife Judy, and their youngest son Jake are flying here from Florida for the weekend. My nephew Thomas and his two sons Tommy and Eamon will be driving up from South Carolina. My oldest brother Tom will be driving up from Maryland, and my sister Marybeth will make the trip from Pennsylvania. I'm really looking forward to it!

There will be Birthdays to celebrate, and there is Father's Day, and Jayden 'graduates' from Pre-K this month, and Ray's office is having a race to benefit the Central Park Conservation and Jayden & I will join him in Central Park afterwards for a picnic, and there will be pool parties and barbecues on the weekends, so there are many good things to look forward to!

'Hope you all enjoy a wonderful June too!

15 comments:

  1. Hi Smiley!! May was a good month for you, huh??? I'm kind of celebrating it being over this year (my birthday is in May) because it is a much needed end to all of the Dr. stuff!!
    Still can't believe we are have way into the year, though!

    Looks like you had a lot of family fun and I hope your reunion is a blast! We love ours, and the next one is in 2011!

    Treasure your bloggy friendship, Eileen! You are such a bright spot in my days!!
    Love n hugs,
    Becky

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  2. Hi Eileen, I don't know if I told you but I really like your background too. I always have mixed emotions about Memorial Day too. I don't understand it when people say happy Memorial Day. I have always thought of it as a sad day but like you I love getting together with family and friends. I love your pool! It's so pretty and I know how much the kids must enjoy it. We had one for years while our boys were growing up but then we took it out. Every summer I say I wish I still had it :>) Thanks for stopping by and for all of your kind comments
    Love, Carol

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  3. Eileen- What wonderful pictures and so many great memories you are making, dear friend! You are not going to believe it but I have the same blanket you do- the blue with the roses on it! And I use it as a tablecloth, too!!! Yes, it's in my kitchen right now! I love mine and I know you do, too. We are kindred spirits but I knew that already.:) Lori

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  4. Hello, dear Eileen!! What a beautiful family you have!! So much love, joy and fun together! I love it!! And what a fabulous Memorial Day parade! Happy memories! You bring so many smiles to me every time I visit with you...your blog is just like a hug! Love you so much, Janine XO

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  5. Your May sounds wonderful, I loved reading about you, your family and friends and all that you did.....I know you will have a wonderful family reunion Eileen, it is just so nice for everyone to be together, just enjoy it.
    Hugs to Jayden and Mia......:-) Hugs

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  6. Our May was a beautiful month too Eileen until the very end when it got hot but it was nice. I want to be in your family! They always look like they are having so much fun! Jayden is a brave soul for jumping in the cold water, I'm like you, I'd rather wait till it warms up a bit!
    Ray did a wonderful job on your shelves, they look really good!
    It was so nice that you were able to attend the parade, you know me I love parades. We don't have a Memorial Day one. I guess it's to small of a town.
    Oh and before I forget I love your header and background. Is the background Mayapples? I thought I saw them on Wanda's blog but not to sure about the name? Either way it's very beautiful! And you were right in one of your comments, Jayden and Sarah have really matured!
    Love you, Di ♥

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  7. Memorial Day is a bittersweet time...it rings in summer and picnics, but brings the sadness of our missing family members. Today was my dad's birthday and my parents' anniversary, tomorrow the 4th is the 3rd year aniversary of my mother's passing and my DIL Cindy's birthday, then the 6th is Alivia's birthday and my sister's is the 7th and Andrew's the 19th. Joyous and sad time for us too.

    Loved seeing Jayden and Mia's smiling faces and waving their flags! I always enjoy your family get togethers!

    The Mayapple looks nice as your background Eileen, thanks for the recognition! :)
    ♥...Wanda

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  8. I never heard of smear the name for luck on the birthday cake after you blow out the candles. I wish I had known that so many years ago!

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  9. Just here to wish you a wonderful weekend, dear Eileen! Love you, Janine XO

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  10. Hello, my sweet friend!

    I always look forward to seeing what is going on in your world, and there is lots going on! Loved seeing all of your pictures and hearing about your plans for summer. I can't believe that Jayden graduates from pre-K! Where has the time gone? And Mia and Jayden are both so cute in the pool and with their little flags. Loved seeing your brother carrying the POW/MIA flag and seeing your DH's brother blowing out his candles with that big smile on his face. And smearing your name? I'll have to remember that! Love that one!

    Can't wait to hear all about your family reunion. I hope you all have a wonderful time being together. All good wishes for a happy, happy family time...

    XO,

    Sheila

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  11. Hello, dear Eileen...just wanted to thank you for being such a treasured friend. I love you, Janine XO

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  12. The parade in your neighborhood looks like a scene from Norman Rockwell! And seeing your pool open up again makes me realize you and I now have history....because I remember when you opened it up last year!

    Looking forward to pictures from you picnic and reunion!!

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  13. Hello Eileen! I wish we had a Memorial Day parade here. But, we do always have a great Christmas one :) It sounds as if you have been staying very busy too...
    I tried to leave a comment the other night..but, my computer kicked me off :(
    I've been missing you terribly :(:(
    Love and big hugs....Jerelene

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  14. Hello, dear Eileen...just stopping by for a mid-week cuppa with you...and to send you all my love! ~Janine XO

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  15. May was good to you! It looks like you had a wonderful time in May. Your grand children are looking so beautiful! Yep the pool looks so refreshing too! We opened ours as well! June is Bustin Out All Over! and it will be a good month! I can feel it! Love you...thank you for your sweet comments too!

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