New Year’s Eve Family Pajama Party

We both grew up in the same small suburban neighborhood and even went to the same schools. Tony is the third child of eight children from a family of four boys and four girls. Jen is one of two children and has an older brother. Our families are extremely close and family events are always large, energetic and fun.

Our Family Loves Watching and Playing Baseball

Jen's parents and brother live within a few miles of us. Her brother has been dating a lovely woman who has three boys. Since Jen and her brother have not had children, her children have added a welcomed dimension to our family events, particularly this past Christmas. This past Christmas, Jen's brother, his new family, and us all went to my parents' house for Christmas morning. It was very rewarding giving the kids gifts and seeing their enthusiasm. After breakfast, Tony and the boys played football out front. The youngest boy told Tony that it was the best Christmas they ever had.

Tony's parents and six of his seven siblings live within a few miles of us as well. His two youngest sisters, who are twins, live at home with his parents while working and attending college. His two grandmothers also live with his parents. Two of Tony's siblings are married and one is now engaged. Most of our aunts, uncles and their families also live close by. We often get together for fun-filled birthday parties, holidays, barbeques and pool parties.

Our sister-in-law and brother-in-law's families also live close by and we frequently enjoy having all the families together like we did this past Thanksgiving when we decided to invite both sides of the family and their families. We ended up with about thirty people and everyone brought a dish. Although there were a lot of people, the evening had an intimate ambience.

Our Garden Grows Beautiful Lilies

All throughout the year, we enjoy taking walks around our hilly neighborhood and we often run into several dog-walkers. We take the time to talk with the neighbors and learn the names of their dogs. Sometimes we remember the names of the dogs, but forget the owner's names!

Our Pet Birds Sunshine, Moonlight and Comet

Our home is situated at the top of a valley in the suburbs of Pennsylvania. At the bottom of the neighborhood there is a large creek. We recently bought a canoe so we can explore the creek throughout the spring, summer and fall. There are many creatures along the creek edges including turtles, ducks, blue herons and beavers. Jen takes her camera to capture photos of the wildlife, while Tony takes his fishing gear, catching and releasing the fish. Usually we dock at one of the many creek-side parks and have lunch. It is such an interesting, leisurely way to enjoy an unusual perspective of the neighborhood.

In the fall our neighborhood has a huge annual yard sale. We live on the corner and have a prime location. We invite friends and family, spreading out blankets and tables on our front lawn under our large shady trees. We take turns selling and walking around the neighborhood looking for small treasures. It is the perfect time to spend the day mingling with the neighbors. During the year, we set aside boxes of unwanted things for the next yard sale, which is a constant motivation to keep clutter down around the house. Anything we don't sell at the yard sale, we donate to Good Will. Our favorite purchase a few years ago was a lamp in the shape of a turtle, which we use every night as a night-light for our pet birds, Sunshine, Moonlight and Comet.