Leaving on a jet plane.....

I will be leaving tomorrow, May 20, to fly to Tampa to help Dad and Karen drive to Michigan. He has an appointment with a specialist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit in mid-June. Karen has a doctor's appointment in early June.

We are looking forward to a quick visit with Aunt Ruth Ann and Uncle Cliff as we come through WV. Maybe even a visit with Arthur Dean and Patti too!

When I asked Russ what he will be doing without me again this week he said he would be working and trying to catch up!

Megan is in Florida for a wedding - with the flu. Sydney is here - with the flu. Karsten is here - maybe getting the flu!! Oh please do not let Grandma get the flu!!!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Some EXCITING News!!

Michelle and Mark gave us some exciting news on Mother's Day - can you guess what it is???

Our newest angel is due in early December!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!

Where does the time go??? It seems like just yesterday we were carrying you - and now you are the mom carrying your baby!

We love you and wish you the best birthday ever!

Happy Birthday Russ!

Remember when you thought anyone over 30 was old??? And then the age of "oldness" grew older - then they were old if they were over 45. And now old must mean at least 90!!!

Russ is 58 today! We celebrated his birthday with the family this past Sunday and tonight I hope to take him out for dinner.

I used to tease him about being older than me - but he had a great come-back that shut me up pretty good! He said that he was not worrying about being older than me - I could just work a couple of years after he was retired and enjoying social security! (I guess the joke is on both us now though - no one is counting on social security and I sure cannot imagine him retiring!)

Happy Birthday Russ - I love you!

Karla

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!!

Thought for the day...

If you sometimes get the sudden urge to run around naked - Drink some Windex. It will keep you from streaking!!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Happy Birthday Karsten - also March 13!

Karsten, our third grandchild but first grandson!

Karsten shares a birthday with Uncle Mark!! But Karsten had his birthday celebrated first this year!

We gathered today at Chaamp's to celebrate the one and only First Birthday of Karsten! Mommy found him a great birthday hat and bib for our Little Prince! He was enjoying eating some puffed fruit and veggies before he dug into his cake! As you can tell he takes after his Grandma - yum, cake!!!

Karsten has amazed us this entire year - rolling over by 2 months, sitting, crawling, walking around furniture so early. We thought for sure he would be walking alone by 9 months - but that was not in his plan! I finally said that he would not walk by his first birthday - Karsten heard that and decided to show Grandma differently. On his 364th day he decided to walk!

We sure enjoy receiving all the kisses he gives! He loves to watch Go Diego Go - and enjoys dancing too with his one foot tapping!

He is a delightful, good natured baby - and is all boy!! A very much loved little boy!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Happy Birthday Mark - March 13!

After working all day, Mark came home to a not only a great meal but Sydney-friendly (that means non-dairy and no eggs) cupcakes too. The cupcakes were all finished except for the frosting and Sydney was waiting for some "Daddy help" with that. After a few tastes of the product they were all finished!

Mark has had a busy year! He continues to watch Sydney on most days for a few hours before Michelle gets home from work. He has completed the basement finishing project - a great job too! He has found time to play hockey and go snowmobiling a few times. He went on the annual snowmobile jaunt across the U.P. Mark also went to Florida for a week this past May - not for fun but to watch Sydney while Michelle was there on business. Lots of work for Daddy when Mommy was working from early morning til late at night - a job not many Daddy's would take on!

We can't say enough nice things about Mark - we love him and are proud that he is a member of our family!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Happy Birthday Michelle!

This is a picture of Michelle and Mark with Sydney on September 12, 2005 - when Sydney was about 12 hours old.









32 years ago today we were blessed with out second daughter, Michelle! She was born the smallest of all our babies (7 lb. 12 oz.) and the tallest of all our babies (21 1/2 in). She was also the only one born in the evening hours!

As a 4 year old Michelle was quite upset that Kim got to go to school all day and carry a lunch box. (No lunch service at Southfield Christian School at that time). So, we got Michelle a lunch box and each day I would pack her lunch when I packed Kim's. Michelle was so proud to get out her own lunch box and serve herself. She also didn't think it was very nice that Kim would have spelling words to memorize - so Michelle took it on herself to learn all of Kim's spelling words too. One that I remember her learning was encyclopedia - she could spell it outloud and write it also. I thought that was a big spelling word for 1st grader Kim - and a really big one for 4 year old Michelle!

Now she is a loving mom to Sydney and a devoted wife to Mark, a wonderful sister to Kim, Steve & Kari - and a great daughter for us to love.

So, Happy Birthday Michelle, we love you!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Do You Know Your Hymns???

Thought you would enjoying checking your knowledge of hymns!

Dentist Hymn..........................Crown Him with Many Crowns

Weatherman's Hymn..............There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn..................The Church's One Foundation
Tailor's Hymn...........................Holy, Holy, Holy
Golfer's Hymn..........................There's a Green Hill Far Away
Politician's Hymn.....................Standing on the Promises
Optometrist's Hymn...............Open My Eyes That I Might See
IRS Agent's Hymn...................I Surrender All
Electrician's Hymn...................Send the Light
Shopper's Hymn.......................Sweet Bye and Bye
Realtor's Hymn.........................I've Got a Mansion, Just Over the Hilltop
Massage Therapist's Hymn....He Touched Me
Doctor's Hymn..........................The Great Physician

AND for those who speed on the highway:

45 mph...God will Take Care of You
65 mph...Nearer My God to Thee
85 mph...This World Is Not My Home
95 mph...Lord, I'm Coming Home
100 mph...Precious Moments

Enjoy Life!

Russ and Karla

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hard to believe that 2006 is coming to a close and 2007 is about to begin!

We wish each of you a very Blessed New Year!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Christmas Day 2006

Kim, Dave and Karsten



Michelle, Mark and Sydney (Sydney is following in mommy's footsteps - she wants to take the pictures!)



Steve and Noelle



Kari, Rich and Megan




Melanie and Aaron joined us too!








The best Christmas gift we could ask for - being surrounded by our children, their spouses (whom we claim as our children also), our grandchildren and of course good friends!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

2006 Christmas Eve

We had our Annual Christmas Eve gathering on Sunday evening. We put out a general "come on over" invitation on the back of our Christmas cards - some years we have a few and some years we have a few more - we had 21 for Christmas Eve 2006. Some people come to church, some people come to the fellowship and some people come for both. A very informal evening - just lots of goodies to eat and fun fellowship! Hope you can join us next year!



Getting ready for the chocolate fountain!



Dave and Elaine Robinson



Uncle Joe and Aunt Retha Ponticelli



The Cleveland Family Doug, Kathy, Amanda, Mel, Bill and son Adrian



Jeannie Teague, Tom Teague and Sally Skaggs



Karla with Cousins Sally and Jeannie



Sally Skaggs and Jeannie Teague



Jeannie and Mark Teague



Kathy and Darrell Hagar with Andy Hagar, Dennis Thomas and Helen Thomas







We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Christmas is right around the corner!

As you can see, Megan, Sydney and Karsten are ready for the big day!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

We Give Thanks....

Megan Elizabeth Barch




Sydney Marie Garon




Karsten David Vaughn




Kim, Dave & Karsten




Michelle, Mark & Sydney





Steve & Noelle




Kari, Richard & Megan



The Whole Family!!

We had a Great Thanksgiving Day - complete with way too much food and surrounded by the ones that we love! Had lots of phone conversations with Florida, Alabama and New York to our extended family - who we miss so much!

Enjoy Life!

Russ and Karla

Halloween - Finally!

Thought you would like to see pictures of Megan, our ladybug, Sydney, our pumpkin, and Karsten, our monkey. They dressed up here for their "formal" Halloween pictures - haha - and then dressed again to visit all their grandparents on Halloween.

TIGERS WIN!!!

Tigers sweep the series against the Oakland A's and now will go to the World Series! First time since 1984! Two outs, tied game at the bottom of the 9th inning and Magglio Ordonez hits a 3 run homer!! Hooray!!!

How exciting for the Tigers and the City of Detroit! Mark & Richard Garon were excited to be at this game!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Sydney gets ear tubes!

Sydney has had a very long day! This morning she got ear tubes - we are praying that this will mark the end of many, many double ear infections!

This afternoon she got to go back to the hospital because she fell and hit her eye causing it to bleed. Dr. Dubina wanted her to go to the ER to be sure there was not other eye damage. All is well though, no stitches and just some antibiotic cream to help the tear to heal.

Tonight she will get to use her new weighted blanket - and her weighted long haired white monkey too. The weighted blanket should help her to sleep and the monkey's long hair might give her mommy's hair a little rest too.

Doesn't Sydney look cute in her little hospital gown - of course she does but we sure don't want to see her in another one! ;-)

Enjoy life!

Karla and Russ

Happy Birthday Dee!

Can't believe how the time flies - I remember the day my sister, Dee - Denise - was born! I was just 3 years and 3 1/2 months old - but remember it clearly! Dad was downtown working so a neighbor took mom to the hospital - I was taking my nap so the neighbor's wife was listening for me. When I woke she took me down the street to where Grandma BeeBee was living with Uncle David, Linda, Buzzy and Dickie (who now go by the names of Ralph and Richard). I sat out on the side walk and didn't move the rest of the afternoon until dad came to get me - I had wet my pants and if I moved then someone would know! Anyway, dad came to get me to let me know that I had a baby sister!

And now she is a little older :-) and I am still excited and honored to have her as my sister!

Love you Dee, don't work so hard, but mostly....

...Enjoy Life!

Karla and Russ

Happy Birthday Sydney!

These are Sydney's 1 year pictures. What a beautiful girl - and so very loved! Wonderful things do happen on September 11!

Enjoy life!

Russ & Karla

Sydney is almost 1!

While Sydney will not be officially 1 until September 11, she was honored today with a birthday celebration! She had all of her cousins (Daniel, Alison, Megan & Karsten) in attendance along with all her aunts and uncles (Uncle Rich & Aunt Jen, Aunt Kim & Uncle Dave, Uncle Steve & Aunt Noelle, Aunt Kari & Uncle Rich) - and of course Grandma & Grandpa Garon and Grandma & Grandpa Patterson.

Aunt Noelle made Sydney a special cake with no dairy products so she could enjoy cake on her special day!

Sydney has some beautiful 1 year pictures - will post them on her birthday!

Russ and I are truly blessed with wonderful children (all "8" of them!) and now with 3 absolutely beautiful grandchildren, Megan, Sydney and Karsten. Our love for our great family grows more each day!

Enjoy life!

Russ & Karla

Happy 50th Anniversary!

Joe & Rita Ponticelli


1956 - 2006 = 50 very fast moving years!

Pam & Mark and Kevin & Mari, along with Michele, Jessica, Derek, Tyler & Trevor, planned a beautiful 50th anniversary for Aunt Rita and Uncle Joe.

The festivities included a video slide show - fun to see all the "very much young-er" photos of Aunt Retha and Uncle Joe along with many of the family and friends too. The slide show was followed by a poem read by the family explaining how things were in 1956.

We were served a delicious dinner followed by cake and ice cream. We were all honored to be able to celebrate this great occasion.

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla

Megan One Year Pictures!

What a cutie!

Enjoy life!

Russ & Karla

Happy Birthday Megan!!

Where has the year gone?? Seems like just yesterday we received the call from Richard saying Megan has arrived - and heard her crying in the background! She is a precious baby - always smiling and laughing. She loves Elmo anything and everything! She has never taken a pacifier - unless she is at Grandma's and then she takes them out of Sydney or Karsten's mouth and enjoys them too!

Will update asap with her 1 year pictures!

Enjoy life!

Russ and Karla