A New Arrival

Yesterday, Laura's Brother (Sean) and his wife (Reann) had their baby. We were very happy to hear the news, and I'm pleased to report that both mother and daughter are doing fine. I don't know what it is about our families and their pattern of having babies in August or September, but the trend continues. I guess it would be more accurate for me to say "I don't know what it is about our families and their pattern of conceiving in November and December, but the trend continues."

Lets have a run down, shall we: Niece Anna (8-21-1990), Nephew Timothy (8-21-2003), our son Brady (8-22-1993), my mom Norma (8-31-1938), our daughter Nina (9-5-2000), Niece Christine (9-15-1994), newborn Niece Ava (9-17-2007), Niece Kira (9-??-1999), my grandfather Joseph (9-16-1909), Laura's grandmother Bertha (9-25-1935), aunt Grace (9-28-1921), and uncle Gilbert (9-30-1942). There are also three family wedding anniversaries during the months of August and September.

Needless to say, trying to plan a child's party is very difficult because some of the kid's birthdays are so close that parties are sometimes booked on the same day. Here's what we started doing a couple of years ago. We have one family party where all the family attends and brings gifts for all the kids celebrating during the those two months. Then, each of us have a 2nd party so that each kid can invite their friends. (Family is invited too, but it's understood that they don't bring a gift to that party.) It's also understood if some of the family can't attend that 2nd party because they have another party to attend for one of the others celebrating a birthday. It's confusing, but it works.

Since most of the kids celebrating their birthdays are on my side of the family, my mom hosts the family party. She gets birthday presents too since her birthday is during this time period as well. If your birthday was in August or is in September - Happy Birthday To You!

June Birthdays and Anniversaries

Well it's the last day of June and I almost forgot to give a shout out to family and friends celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. Actually, there's only family this time around, and there's only one birthday this month.

Brother-in-law Louis, who celebrated his back on the 5th. Happy Birthday Louis!

As far as anniversaries, this topic is a little more sensitive. As long as I can remember, I've always told my grandmother that I was thinking about her on the day of her anniversary. Her wedding anniversary is on the 24th. Last Sunday, just like every year, I wished her a happy anniversary. And, just like every year, she was very happy that I remembered.

I've never asked a lot of questions about my grandparents. I don't know if they were legally divorced or just separated. My grandmother has always gone by her married name. What I do know is that my grandfather died many years ago, and I have few memories of him. They are fond, cherished memories, but they are few. I guess it's time to ask my mom.

Speaking of my mom, I wished her a "Happy Flag Day" back on the 14th. It was always easy for me to remember my parents' wedding anniversary because it fell on Flag Day. Well ever since my dad died back in 2000, my sisters and I have wished my mom Happy Flag Day on June 14th. By the way, my parents were happily married 42 years at the time of my dad's death, and would have celebrated their 49 anniversary this year.

So that's it. (Well, for the exception of my anniversary at work. 22 years on June 3rd. Wow.)

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

April Birthday Wishes (ammended)

Time for my monthly shout-out to all of my relatives and friends celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month. I've added to the list since the original posting.

Cousin Michael - on the 1st

Grandma - on the 2nd, but not a birthday (that's next month). My grandmother celebrates her saint's day. I don't know if this is a tradition in Mexico, but the only person I've known (or even heard about) who celebrates a saint's day is my grandmother. Now in our family we've always accepted this, and remember to acknowledge my grandmother on her saint's day. More about this topic later.

Nina Lolita (Aunt Dolores) - on the 7th

Laura's Grandpa Gil - on the 11th. Gil (& wife Bertha) are also our next-door neighbors.

Sister Donna - on the 19th

Nephew Henry - on the 20th

Diane - a regular reader / commenter of my blog - on the 28th. (It's because of her comment on this very post that I know her birth date).

Also on the 28th - Nina Lolita & Uncle Gilbert's wedding anniversary. Let me comment on this particular anniversary, which is my aunt & uncle's 45th. The actual date of their wedding is April 28, 1962, and it was the first wedding I ever attended. I, of course, don't remember a thing; I was only 3 months old. My mom has mentioned to me on numerous occasions that she can easily remember how many years her sister Dolores has been married because it's the same number of years that I am old.

I thought it would be cool to think about that date (4-28-62) and mention a few things that were current back then. So here are three things I came up with: My parents lived in Los Angeles and only had two small kids; President Kennedy was in the White House; and the Beatles were a small club band in Liverpool, England, and not yet heard of in the USA.

How times have changed!