Saturday, January 26, 2013

75th Birthday Celebration for my Mom

We celebrated my Mom's upcoming 75th birthday
today with a lovely surprise party.

We had it at Bruno's Pizzeria




 

 
Here is my Mom Lori when she first arrived.
I guess you can see she was surprised. hah




 

 
She finally realized it was a party for her.

 
My hubby Gary, me and Aunt Rose

 
My sister Linda and her husband Billy

 
My nephew Michael and his girlfriend Sarah

 
My great-niece Kailyn ~ she is just precious

 
Kailyn and I had a nice chat
Love her pigtails

 
My cousin Tanya and her boyfriend Scott

 
My cousin Danny and his lovely wife Nora
and daughter Emily

 
Aunt Rose was enjoying the celebration with
Kristin and Lucas

 
My brother Bob and cousin Tanya having a good laugh.
 


 

 

Gary, Mom and I

 
Brother Bob trying to cut in to our photo hah
 

 
Mom with all her children
 
Linda, Bob, Karen & me

 
Aunt Rose and Mom (sisters)

 
Tanya, Mom and Scott

 
Mom and the Thornley's -
my sister's husband's family

 
Mom with all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Michael and Robert ~ ~ Lucas and Kailyn

 
The food was delicious

 
Everyone had a wonderful time




 

 A lot of laughs and good times.

 
The birthday girl's cake

 
Mom still has it, blowing out her candles

 
 
We thought Lucas wanted to blow out the candles
but he had other ideas hah
Ah what's a taste among family ?
 
 
 
 
Birthday girl cutting the cake

 
A sweet hug from great-grandson Lucas

 
Mom and Kristen. She is my nephews wife and
Lucas and Kailyn's mom. She is a lovely sweet girl
and a great Mom.  She planned the entire party.
 
 
She made a sweet photo book for my Mom of the
great grandchildren. She teared up looking at the
memories.



 

 
Here is a group shot.
Where was my hubby?
 . . . .mens room . . .hah



 
Abundant Blessings,
Maryellen

 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Movie Ministry at Church

Today was our Movie Ministry at church.
Today's movie was The Encounter

Great movie !

Bruce Marchiano plays Jesus.
I love his portrayal of Jesus.
He makes Him so gentle and kind.
But not odd and ghost like.





After the movie we went to our local diner
New Monmouth Diner in Middletown



This is Manny Konistantinidis he is the owner.
He is such a nice man. They have great food.
Huge portions for reasonable prices.



I had volcano chicken. Oh my goodness so good.
It was grilled chicken, roasted red peppers,
mushrooms over garlic mashed potatoes with
crunchy onion rings on the top.

Then tonight Downton Abbey ! 

What a great day !

Blessed



Abundant Blessings,
Maryellen



Thursday, January 10, 2013

I've Been Abroad

For the past 4 days I have been in England.
Well, maybe not physically but mentally. hah

I just got interested in Downton Abbey and
have been glued to Hulu to "catch-up"

Oh I love the clothes, the drama, the
emotions, the whole thing.

The series is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, a Yorkshire country house, the seat of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants during the reign of King George V.



Robert is, so far anyway a man of
integrity and kindness.
Cora is a bit odd. Haven't figured
her out just yet. hah

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
American heiress wife



I love the sister relationships.
My heart breaks for sweet Edith.
How she longs for recognition.
At first I disliked Mary but as she matured
I understood her more.

Lady Sybil Branson (née Crawley)
Lady Mary Crawley
Lady Edith Crawley

 
Oh Matthew love him. So handsome
and charming. We'll see . . .

 Matthew Crawley



Now this gal just cracks me up.
She has the greatest lines.
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Lord Grantham's mother



I truly like Isobel. She is a kind
sincere women.

Isobel Crawley
Matthew's Mother



Carson - who could be more
loyal ?
Charles "Charlie" Carson
Butler




Hard exterior but soft hearted inside.

Elsie Hughes
Housekeeper



Jury still out on him.
He seems to be very soft spoken, a man of
integrity who has been to hell and back yet
seems like he is hiding something.

John Bates
Valet



Anna is my favorite.
So so kind. So caring.
Such a hard worker.
Never a bad word.

Anna Bates (née Smith)
Lady's maid



Nervous Nellie this gal hah
Beryl Patmore
Cook



Poor sweet Daisy.

Daisy Mason (née Robinson)
Kitchen Maid



Oh wow what is a show without a
villian. I love to hate this guy.
Thomas Barrow
Footman



Another villian. I'd like
to knock her out hah

Sarah O'Brien
Lady's maid



Can't wait each Sunday night to see
what is going to happen with these folks.

Abundant Blessings,
Maryellen


Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year 2013

It's New Years Day 2013
I'm still nursing my painful back
but am almost on the mend.
Since I am home bound I thought
I'd think back on 2012 and post a
few of my favorite memories

January

My first time at the NYC Ballet



Meeting Harry Conick Jr.



February

Celebrating valentines day at one of my favorite
restaurants - Kefi in NYC




March

Beth Moore's Esther bible study with my ladies and
a Purim Party at the end.






April

Vacation to St Simons Island GA



Trip with church friends to Lancaster PA
Stayed in these neat train hotel rooms.



May

Purchase of my new car !



Seeing Angela Landsbury on broadway



June

Fun day out with my Aunt.
Down at the Jersey Shore.
We had no idea in a few months
hurricane sandy would destroy this
beautiful location.




Annual Armenian picnic at my mother-in-laws church.
Here she is doing some dancing (87 years old)



July

My first time at Coney Island




My hubbys Aunt Rose's 80th birthday bash



Marriage Conference with Kirk Cameron



August

Annual trip to Lancaster to catch up with dear friends



Funny party for cousin Kaylin's number one birthday.
Crazy family - my Mom and Aunt - loving sisters hah



NJ State Fair in Sussex County with good friends



September

A month of birthdays

Had a visit from these two sweet little cousins
A birthday boy.



A Super Hero birthday boy



A handsome Yankee birthday boy



Hubby and I at our annual trip to Byers Choice
Aren't we the Dickens HAH



Wonderful ladies tea with my church family.
These dear folks were so good.



Annual Walk for Life



October

Anniversary trip to Sugar Loaf




Weekend trip to Baltimore - visit with dear friends



NYC Food Festival



November

Made my first pumpkin pie for our families Thanksgiving



Went to see Scandalous and had a dream come true
meeting Kathie Lee Gifford.
I've been a fan of hers for years.





Got to eat at Neely's in NYC



December

Went to Christmas concert and
saw Sue Dodge.



I got my "Craft" on !









Baked these for our Ladies Christmas Party at church





Blessings Jar for 2013




And best of all another year with my
sweet hubby - Gary !




Thankful for all the blessings
of 2012 !
Abundant Blessings,
Maryellen