FEBRUARY 2015 - MILESTONE #2

                                    Milestone = a Significant Event

Our Granddaughter Oksana is no longer a teen-ager!!!

Oksana's 20th Birthday Dinner and Celebration February 20th

Her location choice for celebrating her birthday was BROOK SOUTH.

It was a packed Friday evening crowd but we got seated fairly quickly.

Aunt Jacque, Brother Aric, Grandma Susan & Grandpa Mickey

Dad Marc & his friend Gayle 

Birthday girl with her friend Derick 

Not a lot of pictures of gifts because Oksana had requested the family go together and replace the broken, back left window of her car and that is what we did.  There of course were cards but I failed to get pictures of those.


Since this was a "milestone" Birthday it was now my turn to give my granddaughter a special keepsake from her Grandmother Susan.  

This note accompanied this bracelet & earring set.

HAPPY-HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY

2-20-15

Your 20th Birthday is a milestone taking

you to another decade.

I wanted to give you something of mine that

has happy memories.

I was given this

MEXICAN SILVER & ONYX BRACELET

& EARRINGS

when I was 15.

That was 62 years ago.

I trust they will become a happy memory for you

of this occasion and of me your Grandmother.

I love you and am so proud

of the beautiful young woman

you are becoming.

Grandma

Friday, February 20, 2015 

FEBRUARY 2015 - MILESTONE #1

Milestone = a Significant Event

 February 3rd - 

Grandson Aric's 16th Birthday

Our youngest grandchild and our only grandson

 In our family the Birthday honoree gets to choose the restaurant.

Aric chose OSAKA Japanese Steakhouse

Grandpa Mickey, Honoree Aric, Dad Marc & Marc's friend Gayle

 Aunt Jacque & Sister Oksana

 A $30 money gift from Aunt Jacque

 A new computer item from Dad

 Another gift

 A $40 check from Grandma & Grandpa

Since this was a "milestone" Birthday we wanted to give Aric a special "keepsake" from his Grandpa Mickey.

HAPPY-HAPPY 16^TH BIRTHDAY

2-3-15

The 16^th Birthday is one of the milestones of life.

 I wanted to give you something of mine that

holds special significance and memories.

After looking through my few items

I have selected these two beaded necklaces

 I purchased in Hawaii in

 September, 1978.

I know you probably will never desire to wear them,

but  I trust they will become a treasure of things

you will remember about me and our sharing

your 16^th.

I love you and am so very proud

of the young, principled man

you are becoming.

Grandpa

                Wednesday, February 4, 2015   

The above note accompanied the two beaded necklaces and a small special metal box that held them.  The necklaces do not show up real well in the photo.

We are very, very proud of the fine young man our Grandson Aric has become.

HAPPY, HAPPY 16TH Aric 

WORDS - Christmas/Birthday 2014

Heart felt WORDS - Spoken or written - are one of the most wonderful things in life to me.

I have always taken lots of time, and thought, in buying that Perfect Birthday card that speaks my heart.  Consequently,  as parents do, we pass our values on to our Children and Grand-Children.

The box in the bottom of our office closet, filled with Cards of WORDS from our family,  are and will be one of the heirlooms that will be left to our children and grandchildren.  Crammed full WORDS from Mickey, Suzette, Jacque, David & Marc that have spoken their heart to me.

These are my "jewels" for my 78th birthday ~~~~~~

From Daughter Jacque -

Because of you, Mom, I know what love is.

It's sharing joy and keeping faith.

And it's what makes us strong and helps us find our way.

Because of you, Mom, I know what family is.

It's laughing,

It's leaning,

It's being "real"

and being friends.

Ans it will always be there, no matter what.

Because of you, Mom, I know what's at the heart of a good life...

Love and family ~~

those things that are true and lasting.

They make a difference...

I know that because of you.  

Happy Birthday

From Son Marc -

Being "all grown up"

doesn't mean you don't need your Mom.

Even though you raised me to be strong and independent,

I still count on you for your friendship,

your insight

and, most of all

your love and care.

I'll always need that.

And you.

Love you, Mom

Happy Birthday 

--------------

Over the 18 prior years of her life, I've gotten a few Birthday cards from Granddaughter Oksana, but usually it's just been her name, along with her dads and brothers signed at the bottom.

This year I received my first "jewel" from my soon to be 20 year old Okana!!!!

Happy Birthday, Grandma

You're always the first to say how lucky you are to have wonderful grandkids.

But you've done so much to contribute to everything we've done and become.

So on your birthday,

we want to remind you that you're an amazing woman,

full of energy, generosity, and love.

And that means we're the lucky ones...

lucky to have a grandma as wonderful as you.

-------------

YES, 3 beautiful Jewels added to my box of treasure.

ARIC'S 15TH BIRTHDAY

How can it be???  The "youngest" member of our family turns 15 on February 3, 2014.

What a joy Aric has been all his life.  We love his wonderful, gentle spirit and kind heart.  He is growing up to be a fine young man like his father, Marc.

As always we celebrate with food!!  The honoree always gets to pick, and Aric's choice was Zio's Italian Restaurant.  It was also a lot of other people's choice as we waited almost an hour for our table. Aric choose to celebrate on Saturday February 1st instead of his actual birthday on Monday. 

 After dinner and opening his gifts with his chocolate birthday sundae.  You can tell Aric & Uncle Benny are having one good laugh.

 Father Marc & Aric ordering their meal.

 Uncle Benny & Aunt Jacque.

Jacque had worked all day and still had her name tag hanging around her neck!!!

 Ever present Grandma & Grandpa

The two "kids" Aric & Jacque acting up!!

A picture of Aric, taken at our home with him in the living room recliner on January 31st.   I love this picture because it shows him, with one of his MANY electronic devices, as his very relaxed and at ease self. 

Yes, this young man is a pure joy in ALL of our lives. 

Happy 15th Son, Nephew, Grandson Aric -- we love you!!!

Christmas 2013 #4 - BIRTHDAY

What a Christmas - Birthday 2013 was!!!

I have, over the years, had many people say how horrible it must be to celebrate my birthday on Christmas.  I have never found that to be true from my parents and early childhood and growing up, to my marriage, my husband and my children making it very special .  

Christmas presents have been opened and now it is time for me to open my birthday gifts.  David, the host for this grand 4 day Florida visit, wanted me to open his and Karin's gift first.  And, besides it was the BIG sack I'd been wondering what was in it.

My brand new Dell Optiplex 760, with Windows 7 Professional software, keyboard & mouse.  Look at that grin....David is as pleased & happy as I am. 

Next came the beautiful worded card from Marc, and since I always cry when reading them they HAD to get a picture of my ugly cry face!

Opening Marc's gift.  A beautiful silver bracelet with turquoise and other beads from Kairos 10.  "Kairos" means "the appointed time in the purpose of God."

The card accompanying it read "Your purchase provides a life-saving mosquito net to a family in Africa to protect them from the spread of malaria.  Each piece is handcrafted by native African women with beads from various native regions.  Through a unique partnership with these women, they receive sustainable income to provide for their families."

Photo's out of order but nothing would do but David set up my new computer!!

For me to sit down, log on and check my fb!!!

The silly birthday card from Mickey that said "You're the greatest" and then "sang", very loudly about me being a rock star, etc.!!!  We were ALL laughing hard.  Notice Marc's bracelet on my arm. 

Liz Taylor's White Diamonds Perfume, my favorite from Jacque.

 This says it all!!  I am loved by this family and they show it to me in every way possible, not just gifts and materially, but in their actions.

Silver 24" chain was my birthday gift from Mickey.

Three new Pandora charms to add to my wonderful bracelet this family gave me for my 75th birthday last year.  

Shiny ruby & crystal orb is from Mickey for Christmas. 

Blue orb with hearts is from Aric.

Sterling Silver Palm Tree is from Jessica 

(To represent this Christmas 2013 in Florida)

Yes, my 76th Birthday is "1" to remember.

Christmas 2013 - #1 Cards

We are a family who puts great importance on WORDS spoken, both verbally and written.  These two cards from our wonderful son, Marc, mean the world to Mickey & I. 

For all the things you said and did,

that made me such a lucky kid, 

the working hard, the taking care,

for being strong and being there...

For all your love, the gifts you give,

the man you are, the life you live,

For all these things and so much more,

you're the dad I'm thankful for.

                Love, Marc

You've made my heart warmer

and my life richer

in too many ways to count.

I know that so much

of the happiness I've experienced

can be traced back to your love.

So thank you, Mom...

for all your caring

and for the life I have

because of you.

Happy Birthday

Love Marc, Oksana & Aric

We thank God for our wonderful son, Marc and the great man, father, brother & son he is to this family.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Fun birthday celebration at Lone Star Steakhouse for Jacque's birthday.

 The honoree

 Dad Mickey, Mom Susan & Daughter Jacque

 Nephew Aric & Brother Marc

 Jacque reading her Birthday card with Benny listening

 Her gift from us, new very soft p'j's and bright red slippers

 5 Nutcrackers to add to her collection from dad & mom

Regular nutcracker

Elvis Presley nutcracker

Cowboy nutcracker

& 2 tiny little nutcrackers

Benny's gift to her was an X-Box.

Marc's gift was the Tiger Wood Golf Game

NOW Jacque will be able to join in with David, Marc & Mickey in playing Golf together from their individual living rooms and locations.

Jacque has played a few times on Mickey's when she's been her visiting.

What an added blessing this is going to be for all 4 of them.

The birthday girls special desert

fresh peaches with ice cream and warm sugar doughnuts

She shared with us!!

Delicious steaks and a great waitress and service.

A great, joyous, fun family time

just sad she isn't going with us tomorrow to her brother David's in Florida for Christmas.  She was unable to due to her job as a pharmacy tech at Walgreens.  Maybe another time.  

Happy Birthday Jacque!!!

You are loved very much. 

OUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER - JACQUE

Our beautiful, sensitive, lovely daughter Jacque is celebrating her birthday on Sunday the 22nd.  Since we are leaving tomorrow to spend Christmas with our son David in Florida 

 We will be taking our gifts to Lone Star Steak house tonight

 where this group - Benny - Susan - Mickey - Aric - Marc - Jacque 

will be celebrating her BIRTHDAY.

(this picture is from Mother's Day)

I thought it would be fun to show a few past pictures of Jacque

 2nd Birthday - sister Suzette's 3rd - they were only 1 year and 9 days apart in age and VERY close.

 First grade

 High school

 2007 with her daddy clowning it up in her new home she had just purchased.

 This past year and the new to her car she had just purchased and driven over to the house that night to show us

 Her birthday lunch last year for her & I and then went for manicures and pedicures

 Last Christmas (2012) with the nutcracker we bought her.

Daughter Jessica & I and all of us wearing the Santa Hats Jacque brought everyone!

 Brother Marc & Jacque 

Even though there is 14 1/2 years difference in their ages these 2 are VERY close and Marc is very supportive and helpful to Jacque

Me and my beautiful Jacque this past summer.

We are so sad that Jacque & Jessica were not able to go with us to Florida this Christmas but they will be very much in our hearts.

You are so loved Jacque!!!!!