HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING! It's been so long since I posted anything - not because I did not have anything to post - quite the contrary, but because it's been a busy time for us.
Al's birthday was on Sunday, 26th, and we had Will and Dana, and the grandchildren over. We also had some unexpected guests for his birthday as well, which made it a lovely party (but we still missed our sons Sean, Christian and the "girls" =)
The picture isn't too clear, but I had to take it quickly as it was an ice cream cake and it was melting fast.. We all had such a lovely relaxed time outside where we ate dinner, and then came inside for dessert, and opening his gifts.
Dana and Will moved house last weekend, and so I had the three small ones at different times which was so much fun, but very BUSY. (That's why there are no more pictures - sorry!)
Well, on Saturday, the day before Al's birthday, after we all made the cake together (what a blast that was!), I took the grands shopping because they wanted to buy Grandad gifts - it was so cute! Owen said that he had $30 and wanted to buy Grandad a gift. Well, I was so moved because I know how long it took him to save that much money and how many chores he would have had to do to earn it - months, I'm sure! So I decided to take them to the dollar store, where everything in the store is $1.00 and gave them each a dollar bill.
Megan knew exactly what she wanted to get her "sweetie Grandad", and that was one of her favorite things, a balloon. Not just an ordinary balloon, like the one she was "struggling" (juggling=) with earlier, but one that said "Happy Birthday" on it. She picked it out right away.
Owen was a different story! He searched the entire store for the perfect gift - "one that Grandad would LOVE", he said. We spent so long, with me holding Mary Kate on one hip, and trying to keep everyone together. We were entertaining the entire store, I'm sure. Finally, we prayed with Owen, and he asked God to show him what Grandad would like or "needed", and PRONTO ! we were at the flashlights. One thing Grandad never could find is a flashlight (I think his work van eats them). Owen was delighted - he's such a little gift-giver, but not as delighted as Grandad was to receive it, AND his Happy Birthday balloon =)
You deserve to be blessed Al - We all think you're the GREATEST!

FAMILY PORTRAIT - 7-27-07

I finally was able to get this picture of all of us on the blog. (Christian had to make it smaller for me to be able to post it). Thanks so much Christian & Holly for this picture. They sure knew what they were doing, and worked so well together - and so fast. Before we knew it, it was over.
That's great when you have a large crowd, and especially because the kids were hungry and cranky (or was it the adults =) Well, in no time at all we were having dinner on our lawn, laughing and having fun, and we have a wonderful family portrait to remember our week all together.
What good photographers they are! Unfortunately they are in OK, but if they got enough people wanting them to take their photographs here in PA, I'm sure they'd come back soon. You can check out their website at printscharmingphotography.com - it's great! Thanks so much guys!

THE SANGREE FAMILY - (click on picture up to two times to enlarge)

From left to right, kneeling at the back is Will with Dana, our daughter in front of him holding their youngest, Mary Kate (1). Andrew (soon to be 9)is on her right, with Megan (4) behind him leaning on her daddy's knee. Then there's Owen (7) on Wills left, with Timothy, their eldest standing next to him. That's Will and Dana's not-so-little family.
I'm standing in the middle (don't know how I got that position, except that Holly said Al was too tall =), and Allen, my husband is in front of me on one knee holding our youngest grandchild, Astoria (Storie is 6months). Her daddy is on their left, with his wife Holly next to him holding their eldest Adelaide (2 1/2). Behind them, and on my left is our youngest son Sean.
Wow! Our family sure is growing, and we love each one dearly.
What a blessing and gift from God!

Lake Heron with all our children and Grandchildren

When Sean, and Christian & Holly and their family were up last week we spent a couple of days at the lake and the children had such a wonderful time - in fact we all did! It began to sprinkle the second day and they were calling for rain, so Timothy, our eldest grandson, and I prayed together that it would not. Within 5 mins. it cleared up and we all had a wonderful time together. (Thanks for praying and believing Tim.)
Here are some pics below of that day. We were so blessed to have the entire place to ourselves. There's little Miss Addie in pink, watching all the action.
We brought our kayaks, and the grandsons were able to go out by themselves for the first time - they were naturals!

Sean on the left, and Will on the right.
"I think I'm going in too"

A little cold at first, but it's too much fun not to get in =)
I bought these "floaties" at Walmart for next to nothing, and I'm so glad I did. The children had a blast with them.

There is one of our grandsons coming in now with a kayak. They sure caught on fast!
I guess it was Andrew, and here he is with Megan. Great job Andrew!

I love the reflections. Such serenity, at least for this moment.
Christian with the children. It was a very relaxing time for the adults.

I have a great video, but I can't seem to download it. It says it's too large. Any easy solutions anyone? I'd love to be able to include videos - short ones, I promise!
Well, thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to drop us a comment. (Even my sister, Joanne from Trinidad is commenting now...come on Gillian, you can do it! =)

CAMPFIRE with the Aguilars

Lake Heron was a wonderful place for our family to get together. Al and I stayed there in the RV at nights, while the rest of the family went back to Will and Dana's half an hour away to sleep, as it's hard on the little ones sleeping in too many different places.
Our good friends the Aguilars came for dinner and S'mores, and what fun we all had together!
Below is a picture of the 10 acre lake with Al doing a little fishing from the kayak. We had the place all to ourselves, which was so lovely.

We've been really good friends with the Aguilar family now for probably more than 16 years. What a sweet family they are, and it's been so wonderful watching our children grow up together, and now the grandchildren.

Above is Will (on the left, standing) with Dana (on his left), and Holly (almost hidden on his right).

There's one little girl that will need a good shower. (I'm not sure if it's S'mores or mud =)

With Megan it's probably both.! I was walking with her hand in hand earlier, when all of a sudden she falls to the ground, and with her little hand cupped, clamps down with lightening speed over something. Then with both hands together, as pleased as punch, announces she "got it!". (A FROG!)

Funny, I run in the opposite direction, she runs to it. Can you tell she has three big brothers? She is quite the gal - afraid of very little!

Here is one of the twins in the foreground. We've known them since they were babies.

(We sure missed Erin and Michelle, as well as Elizabeth and Ashleigh. Whenever they would go out with our daughter Dana, people thought they were sisters)

There's Bruce with his S'more stick and Vicki on his left. (Yes, that's the Vicki who faithfully comments on our blogs). In front of her is the youngest of their 11 children, Lindsay ALLISON =) holding Storie (our youngest granddaughter), with Addie in the stroller.
I had forgotten to take pictures as we were having such a good time, and then saw my camera and snapped a few. I'm glad I did, to remember such a blessed time together.

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse around our campfire that night. For those of us that were there, it reminds us of that special evening.

Truly the best things in life are free, like the love of family and good friends.

We're so glad you came Sean, Christian, Holly, Addie, Storie,Will, Dana, Tim, Andrew, Owen, Megan, Mary Kate, and all the Aguilars. We love you guys!