Sunday Dinner

Every Sunday my family gets together for dinner at my Aunt Berta's house. They started this tradition after I left for college (go figure). I always try to go whenever I'm home, since it is a great way to see a lot of people in one spot. That, and the food is always very yummy.

Here are some cute pictures of Jenna and Olivia:

I really like this one of my mom and Izzie playing on the blanket. You might need to click on it to see the true expression on mom's face:

This one captures how Izzie bullied Olivia while we were home. Izzie was a little too "New York" for Olivia. Now, you have to remember Izzie is 5 months younger than Olivia, but about the same size! After a few days, Olivia had enough and started fighting back, so whenever they were together someone had to be nearby to ref. They really did like each though! They would get all excited when the other would come into a room. And they invented the "Let's See Who Can Scream Louder In High Pitch" Game. That was REALLY fun!

Nana and her grandchildren...all girls:

Olivia decided she wants a kitchen from Santa this year:

Here is Jenna with my cousin Abriel:

Uncle Wolf chops wood for the fire:

Abriel was a good model:

She calls me "Frina" and was very excited for us to come visit so she could play with Olivia. And since she was a "little person," Olivia loved playing with her!

This is titled "Uncle Gary's Paint Cans." And I had to explain that it was art and that was why I was taking so many pictures of the darn paint cans...

I love Izzie and all of her famous faces:

This Sunday was also Aunt Berta's birthday! Happy Birthday!

Too much for one little baby, love the way she is sleeping here:

Fun at Aunt Paula's

In addition to meeting her cousin Izzie for the first time, Olivia also met Uncle Jeremy while she was in NY. Olivia and Uncle Jeremy hit it off well. He even had a stuffed monkey for her when we met him at the airport. Olivia loved playing with Uncle Jeremy, and he even watched Sesame Street with her. On the day that Uncle Jeremy flew in, we all went to Aunt Paula's house for dinner. There was lots of fun to be had there. Between playing with Hannah and Miranda, swimming in the pool, and jumping on the trampoline, Olivia was plum tired by the time we left. Take a look at the fun we had!
Here is Uncle Jeremy being squirted by Miranda, and Mike laughing in the background:

Good dive Hannah:

Miranda does a cannon ball:

Olivia just likes to float:

Daddy likes to float too:

Grandma and Olivia resting for a minute:

Daddy makes big splashes:

Aunt Dandy trains to be a super model:

Daddy and Miranda splash each other:

And Daddy likes to float some more:

Nana likes the sun:

Olivia likes to throw toys into the pool for others to swim and get:

Olivia likes to play soccer with cousin Hannah. She kicks the ball well. Maybe she'll grow up to be a soccer player?

She really likes the ball:

Daddy and Aunt Dandy like to jump. Note: Right after this shot, Mike came down and bounced Aunt Dandy right off of the trampoline. Don't worry, she was fine.

She just got up and jumped some more:

And Olivia did too:

See? I told you it was a fun day!

The Clark Museum: Dove/O'Keeffe

One particular Friday, we decided to The Clark Museum in Massachusetts. In doing so, we managed to reach the Rendezvous' capacity: 3 laughing sisters, 2 babies complete with carseats, 1 Jenna, and two strollers stuffed here and there. Take a look at how we all crammed into the car:

Jenna got the way back...with a stroller sitting next to her. Note: When all seats are up in the Rendezvous, it doesn't really have "trunk space."

So Anyway, The Clark is a pretty nice museum not too far from Albany. Part of their permanent collection includes Degas, Monet, and Renoir. And many others too. This summer they had an exhibit featuring Georgia O'Keeffe (the oversized flowers lady) along with Dove, another artist and inspiration to O'Keeffe. I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the Dove/O'Keeffe collection, since it wasn't a part of their permanent collection. Actually, we weren't really allowed to do much. I don't think the museum people were too thrilled to have all of us there, pushing two loud babies around...And I got yelled at once for "leaning" on a table...but I wasn't leaning, I was just turning in a certain way so I could get a nice picture. The museum guards had no sense of humor. Oh well. We had fun regardless!

Olivia and Aunt Dandy coming down looking at all the paintings:

Betsy taking a break and taking in a painting:

My favorite- The Dancing Lesson:

Another Favorite- The Little Dancer:

I'm pretending to be the little dancer:

Jenna's favorite - Tiger:

Outside, the grounds of The Clark are beautiful. So I used it as an opportunity to more pictures, of course!
Dandy on the fence:

Lily pad pond:

She had Olivia duty:

I Like these family shots- My sister and my two nieces:

Mommy and Olivia's turn:

Somebody taught her to say "cheese"...

This is what happens when she has had enough of the pictures:

My cutie:

Miss Sweet Face:

She liked this pose:

Some artsy shots:

Aunt Dandy is copying the copy-cat:

Click on this picture to see the Blue Herring. Quick before he flies away!

We'll end with Mommy and Me: