Our daughter Suzy helped me celebrate my 87th birthday on January 18, 2013, by having dinner with Al and I here at Willow Valley and staying over night.

She was between meetings for Travel Engineers in Hershey on Friday and Professional Engineers in Harrisburg on Saturday. She filled us in on details of Meghan Talarowski’s two week trip to Zimbabwe beginning on February 1 as part of her last semester at Penn. Andy is completing his work for Casualty Actuarial Associate status this spring.

Matt Best arrived about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon and we learned all about his experiences during Hurricane Sandy in New York City.

Suzy returned about 4 PM and she and Matt  figured out on their iPhones how to get to Reflections Restaurant by 5 PM for dinner, while Al did it the old fashioned way.

Nancy and Gary Bennett joined us there, and we had a wonderful evening of good food, good conversation, and good memories.

By the time Al and I got back home afterwards and I checked my e-mail before bedtime I found this photo that Suzy sent on Facebook:

I played again the video e-mail I had gotten from Henry and Dillon of them singing Happy Birthday, and was so thankful for all the many expressions of love and best wishes I had enjoyed last weekend and during this Birthday Weekend.

Barby and Paul Ruskin arrived at Willow Valley from State College about 2 PM on Saturday, January 12, 2013. They had colds at Christmas time and missed our December 27 family dinner they had planned to attend. We opened presents and spent the afternoon catching up on their lives.

Barby is fully recovered from her summer back surgery, and is enjoying getting back to her counted cross stitch projects. Her latest is a large sampler for Anna.

Paul is communications director for the Office of Physical Plant at Penn State, and recently wrote articles informing residents of State College about the change from coal to natural gas throughout the University. He is still passionate about the environment, and has new groups to work with on sustainability.

Anna and Mike Himes brought Ryan, Molly, and Leela here for dinner about 4:45 PM after an afternoon at the North Museum at F and M College. They have a subscription to their regular shows, and we are delighted that they join us afterwards.

Ryan elected to sit with his grandparents at dinner and filled them in on all the things he had been doing at school and in scouts. I sat with Molly and Leela, and heard all about the things they enjoy.

The kids had helped to decorate cup cakes which they brought to celebrate my 87th birthday on January 18. There is nothing I enjoy better than hearing great grandchildren sing Happy Birthday!

Afterwards the Ruskins and Himes families discussed their February trip to Disney World, which was a surprise Christmas present to the  kids.

The Himes returned to Macungie about 8 PM, but Barby and Paul stayed with us overnight and had Sunday dinner with us.

It was a great combination Christmas/birthday weekend, and we are so thankful that we have family close enough to be a part of their lives.

Elly Bennett returned from her semester in London on Saturday, January 5, 2013, and came to Willow Valley the following Tuesday in time for lunch.

Al and I were delighted to see her for the first time since last August, and to hear all about the interesting things she had enjoyed in Europe. She got an opportunity to catch up on what had gone on with the family during that time by reviewing my binder of family photos and e-mails sent to me.

She will return to Washington, DC on Saturday to complete her last semester at Georgetown Law Center, graduating in May. In July she will take her Bar Exam in Albany, NY. In August she starts a year of a clerkship with Judge Charles F. Lettow at the US Court of Federal Claims. Cleary will keep her offer open until Fall 2014 if she wants.

David posted their Christmas photos on his web site,

http://www.frontiernet.net/~david.janet.best/

Here is a sample:

This was Christmas Eve brunch. Jill posted this photo on Facebook of Ben and Jacob on Christmas morning.

Rochester had a foot of snow on December 26, so this is what David did instead of coming to our December 27 family dinner. We look forward to seeing David and Janet sometime in January.

Becky, Dan , and Evy Shirer arrived at our apartment about 9:30 PM on Wednesday evening, December 26, 2012, after a long, snowy drive from Albany NY.  Evy mentioned swimming almost immediately, so after breakfast Thursday morning she and Becky swam in the North pool.

A resident mentioned that the train room at the culture center was opening at 10 AM today, so I called Michael Lassman, who met us there with his family. Henry is as much a fan of trains as Evy, so they had a marvelous time there before lunch.

Michael, Henry, and Dillon swam in the big pool for several hours while Evy took a nap in our apartment. Suzy and Fran Talarowski arrived from Philadelphia and we spent the afternoon updating recent events, especially Becky’s trip to Papua New Guinea for The Nature Conservancy. Evy had a chance to play with Uncle Fran.

At 5 PM the family gathered at The Stock Yard Inn for conversation, great food, and another chance for our grandchildren to get to know each other well as adults.

The great grandchildren were kept busy until their food was served first.

Ryan Himes missed his pals Ben and Jacob Staggert, who had to stay in Rochester because there was 15 inches of snow forecast for Wednesday.

Geoff and Amanda are busy planning their wedding for September, and had an opportunity to enjoy sharing their joy

For many years we have tried to see our family eat together at one table at least once a year, and 2012 was a most satisfying addition to those memories.

I watched the kids invent their little games in the adjoining room until it was time for dessert.

Al and I left shortly after dessert, exhausted and so very thankful for another Christmas with our wonderful family.

Al and I arrived at Nancy and Gary Bennett’s home around noon on Christmas Day.

Michael and Rachel Lassman had arrived the night before around       11 PM from Baltimore after spending several days with her parents. Geoff and Amanda arrived this morning from Kreidersville after Christmas Eve with her folks.

Dillon sang the alphabet song for us while playing his new guitar.

We gathered in the sunny dining room for conversation.

Later, Henry and Dillon enjoyed a chat with Jack and Jaime Lassman in Lexington, KY over the iPhone.

Around 2 PM we had a fabulous Christmas dinner.

After dessert we had the traditional English treat of crackers, which produced crowns for each of us.

Also missing were Elly and John in Paris, France, enjoying the end of their next to last semester of Georgetown Law School. She sent us these photos of Christmas Eve.

Elly had her crown, too.

We had another wonderful Christmas Day of food, conversation, fun, and love with four generations of our family, and look forward to seeing soon the ones who were missing today.