Just be 'cuz!

Last week, my cousin, Leslie, and her husband, Peter drove up from Georgia for a short visit.

Leslie's mom was my dad's sister and she grew up with our houses almost back to back.

Of course, we girl cousins had to get together.

Of course, where girl cousins gather, there must be food!

We met at a local restaurant.

There were 8 of us including my mom.

There was much laughter...

Memories shared...

Hugs dispensed...

And most of all...

A renewed sense of family!

~sigh~

Cuzzin love!

Chicago is where you find...

Mr. K had a convention in Chicago this summer.

Since I had never been there, we decided to fly in a few days early and explore the town; then I would fly home early while he stayed for his convention.

Chicago is an interesting place..

we took the Chicago River architectural tour, which was fascinating...

well worth the price of a ticket!

I had heard so much about the Navy Pier, I couldn't wait to see it.

Turns out, it was interesting, had great food too!

 

They must have known Ron was coming.

He did not have lobster but they did provide him with a lobster bib...

We really wanted to visit the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), but they told us there was

AT LEAST a 2-1/2 hour wait to get on the elevator.

They suggested we try the Hancock tower, which is about 300 feet shorter, but at over 1,000 feet,

who's counting?  The views were spectacular!

The Willis tower has the ledges where you can walk out over the city.

 

The Hancock tower has Tilt...

 

Where you lean against the window and they tilt you out over the edge!

We did not do it, and after watching person after person back away from the window,

it was just as well!

My favorite two things were walking to the Tortise Club to hear the Mark Burnell Trio.

Mark is my cousin, we hung out a lot when we were kids.

We even had the same piano teacher!

 

I think his parents got more bang for their buck!?!

We met my Cousin Jerry and his wife, daughter and son-in-law there.

Jerry was another one of my favorites but I haven't seen him in years.  He's an attorney in Chicago.

Sunday morning, Mark picked me up at the hotel for Church.

He's the pianist at Gorham United Methodist Church and afterwards, we all headed for

 

Pegasis Restaurant for some wonderful Greek food.

 

Jerry and his wife, Cathy, met us there.

 

Of course, it was time for a photo op.  As usual, we forget and hand a camera to Ron...

who hasn't taken a clear photo in his lifetime!

 

 

 That's Jerry on the left, Mark on the right.

 

I loved Chicago (had to leave the next day)...

and I loved spending time with family even more!

 

 

Aunt Helen strikes again!

I've said it before...my dad had EIGHT sisters and three brothers. 

 

All that is left of the family are my three aunts.

 

A few weeks ago, my cousins Maria and her husband Jim,  and her brother Anthony drove my Aunt Helen, to visit with us at my cousin Susan's house.

 

Aunt Helen and family live in Maryland.

 

My mom and I went to visit,

 

arriving in style...

 

 

It was such fun to see Susan.  She and I grew up together,

our back yards almost touched!

 

 

Here's Sue with her grandson, Owen, who was such a cutie...

 

 

Sue's husband, John, is such a saint to put up with us...

 

 

Yet he lets us come back time after time!

 

Sue and  John live on the Juniata River (you look it up) and have two homes there...

 

One where they spend summers and the other is Sue's art studio.

 

Sue gave everyone the tour of her studio...

 

 

Sue's granddaughter, Sophia, presented her great aunt with a specially chosen gift...

 

 

You can barely see them here, but they were earrings,

aren't they amazing?

 

After we ate, we all lined up in our chairs...

 

 

 

We were supposed to be watching the show put  on by Sophia and Emma...

but as usual, Mom and Aunt Helen acted up...

 

 

Finally the show began...

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, some of us had to get into the act...

 

 

Before you knew it, all the old people had to try it too...

 

 

 

That's my mom in the middle... she certainly was vertically challenged in this competition!

 

 

Afterwards, Sophia and Emma served snacks...

 

 

 

 

That's when we found out they work for tips :-}

 

Sigh...what a great day!

 

I adore my Aunt Helen!! 

 

 

I hope we have many more times together.

 

A big thanks goes out to Stacy, Sue's daughter, for the photos!

 

Love you guys!

 

 

 

Miracle on Ice!

It was a big day at Robert Morris University's Island Sports Center...

 

 

 

It seems that after the Colonial youth league won the championship last week...they couldn't get enough hockey...

 

So they challenged the parents!

 

Fortunately, the powers that be declared that it wouldn't be a kid vs. game, but instead divided the talent into two teams;

 

black shirts vs. white shirts!

 

The excitement was palpable...the crowd, including the very stylish Miss M...

 

 

could not wait to view the carnage!

 

In goal for the black team was the formidable Tyler M...

 

 

 

In goal for the white team was...

 

 

THE OTHER GOALIE!

 

It seemed like an easy victory for the black team...

 

 

 

They drove the white goalie crazy...

 

He dropped to his knees...

 

 

 

 

Was he praying, or merely getting ready to surrender?

 

The white team seemed to be waiting for something, someone..

 

when suddenly the ref seemed to be waving at someone.

 

Who could he be greeting?

 

 

Could it be, or were our eyes playing tricks on us?

 

It seems to be...

 

 

 

Mighty Manfred!

 

It was! 

 

 Mighty Manfred has come out of retirement to aid the floundering white team...

 

He calmly skates out onto the ice...

 

 

Over to the bench where he assures his team mates that 'he got this!'

 

 

And he did!

 

He skates...

 

 

He waits...

 

He intimidates!

 

 

A hush falls over the crowd as he bullies those kids half his age...

 

He's a selfless player, however...and he offers to act as a human Zamboni and dusts off the ice...

 

 

 

And he leads his team mates in a fearless attempt to dominate the ice...

 

During a much needed rest between periods, he graciously greets his fans...

 

 

(AKA a little kid who hung out on the bench and offered to clean the ice off his skates)

 

And back on the ice...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quick glance down the ice...

 

There he is, the goalie for the black team!

 

 

Tyler the Terror!

 

 

Oh no!

 

 

 

Looking like the handsome little devil that he is,

but what he is not is prepared for the skilled players on the other team...

 

 

Suddenly, he realizes...his worst nightmare is coming to life...

 

 

Oh no!

 

 

The Mighty Manfred, AKA his cousin Tony, scores for the white team!

 

It ended up a tie game, which resulted in a shoot out.

 

To be honest, I don't know who won,

 

I don't know if the teams know...

 

All I know is that at the end of the game,

the fans saw, for possibly the first time ever...

the competing cousins,

 

~Manfred and Manfred~

leaving the ice!

 

 

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

it's the dynamic duo of

 Manfred and Manfred!

 

 

 

 After the ice chips settled...

 

 

 Even top notch goalies needs a little help...

What fun!