On Saturday afternoon, November 24, 2012, Michael and Rachel Lassman brought Henry, 6 and Dillon 4, to Willow Valley for a visit. They had come to Nancy and Gary’s last Wednesday from Scotch Plains, NJ for Thanksgiving and planned to return Sunday afternoon. With brothers Jaime and Geoff they had a great time being together, and Jack and the boys made a energetic trio of fun.

One of the highlights of the visit was a walk to our train room. They had been to the Strasburg Railroad on Friday, and were intrigued with the display.

Henry was especially interested in how things worked.

Mr. Bill was very patient in explaining all about the display.

Back in our apartment, Henry and Dillon sang for us. It is so good to spend time with each of the grandchildren’s famiies here.

Thanks to Facebook, we were able to see a Staggert Thanksgiving at Jill and Dave’s house in Penfield NY.

Matt Best posted photos of his Mexican Thanksgiving with friends Adrian and Katherine at a relatives home in Yorkville, Upper East Side, and then tailgating at the Penn State game on Saturday.

It looks like everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We certainly did!

The afternoon started with football, but Henry and Jack had their own ideas of fun.

Reed Samuel Lassman was a center of attention on his first family Thanksgiving Day.

The warm sunshine was a invitation to a little ball game with Grandpa Strutt, while Gary and Nancy put the finishing touches to the feast.

Everyone contributed to the bounty, and enjoyed the great food and each others company.

Jack, Henry, and Dillon played while we waited to serve dessert until  Geoff and Amanda arrived from Kreidersville, where they enjoyed Thanksgiving with her family.

We are so thankful that we could enjoy another fabulous holiday with four generations at the same table. We missed Elly, who was in London hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for Georgetown Law classmates, but we know she was having a good time carrying on family traditions there.

Can anything be better than meeting your tenth great-grandchild for the first time?

Al and I had that pleasure today when Jaime and Amy Lassman brought Jack, five, and Reed, three months old, to see us at Willow Valley.

It was even better that Reed was hungry and I got the chance to feed him until he fell asleep.

They had come from Lexington, KY, to celebrate Thanksgiving at Nancy and Gary Bennet’s home, and to visit relatives in Wilmington, DE. Jack is in Kindergarten this year, and is so proud to show off his new brother. Jaime is still delighted with his job in technology and curriculum at The Lexington School, and Amy is doing well after her recent surgery for a hernia. They were on their way to the North Museum in Lancaster, and we will get a chance to see them again on Thursday for the BIG DAY.

Another of my pleasures is taking photos from Facebook that members of the family have posted there. Jill Staggert added this one of Ben and Jacob making sausage for their Polish-German Thanksgiving dinner for Dave’s family.

Here are two that Matt posted of David and Janet Best in New York City last weekend at his Roosevelt Island project and the Columbus Museum.

We count our blessings every day.

On Friday, November 16, 2012, David and Janet Best stopped in to visit with us for several hours on their way to New York City to stay with Matt this weekend.

We learned many of the details of Matt’s experiences during Hurricane Sandy, and had an update on Jill and her family.  Al asked David to help restore his baptismal certificate and make a frame for it.

Earlier in the week Anna Himeshad sent us many photos of her family’s fun-filled summer and fall. Here are a sample:

They spent a week in Michigan, and had lots of swimming at Charleroix and the Platte River.

Ryan showed an interest in computer programming when they were in State College, so Uncle Dan and Aunt Becky sent him a book to get started. He is in fifth grade this year.

Molly started first grade on August 27th.

Leela enjoyed their visit to North Museum in Lancaster. She is four years old and will be in pre-school this year.

Amy Lassman posted recent photos of her family on Facebook. We look forward to seeing all of them this coming week at Thanksgiving.

Al and I have been watching the progress at Providence Park on our daily walks. Framing has started on villas on the 300 to 317 cul de sac, and now we can watch from our balcony now that most of the leaves of off our tree.

Better late than never! After several postponements, Anna and Mike Himes brought Ryan, Molly, and Leela from Macungie on Sunday, November 4, 2012, to Willow Valley for a belated celebration of Al’s 93rd birthday, which occurred on September 20, 2012.

They had the usual chance after dinner to chat with us, catch up on the photo album, and play.

Swimming, of course, followed, complete with a cannon attack.

The children helped to make the birthday cakes, and proudly served them.

Anna sent photos of Halloween, which was postponed this year for Hurricane Sandy. I copied photos from Facebook of Henry and Dillon Lassman and Jacob Staggert.

This week Becky Himes sent me many photos of Evy’s summer. Here is a sample:

All in all, it was a very satisfying week.