Another look alike

Here's my Ben at 12 (I was 13 below), note the resemblance?  Spooky, huh? We even had the same haircut. Yikes! Autumn, however, has my personality but Robert's family's features. 



Here's Tivo, Autumn, me, and Ben.

Pictures I promised

The first few pics are of Autumn's First Communion. Somehow the camera settings were wrong and we only got a few clear and usable prints. So, here she is.  

I made the veil, which promptly came apart during Mass!! I had to rig it before she went up to receive. In the following pictures, which were before Mass,  it looks like it was meant to look. 

We tied her hair in rags the night before for the curls. She looked adorable. 
She was so excited to finally be receiving Jesus.  Since then, she has been much more excited about going to Mass.
The cake she picked out.  It was actually really pretty and looked like a real stained glass window. 

Okay, so the following pics are of Andrew getting his car (our graduation present to him).  He had NO IDEA we were going to do anything like this AT ALL!  The first pic is of Andy's hand pointing out the door, at the car, while he is looking at Robert, who is inside with him, as he says, "That's for me?"

Then the look of shock, awe, surprise, and love!
A very happy and excited Andrew!
Loving his new (and his very own) ride!
Thanks Mom and Dad!
This is so awesome!
Yup! Stewie (his Drum kit) will fit!
Pics below are from our visit to Stone Mountain Park (about 40 minutes from our house).
Andrew sitting on top of Stone Mountain, no doubt listening to Radiohead's In Rainbows.  The kid is just gorgeous!


Robert and Andrew found a shirt, at one of the gift shops at Stone Mountain, which reminds us all of just who the coolest of them all is. (The shirt was made to look as if the message was written on the shirt in ripped masking tape...oh so classy!)
Ben, me, and Autumn staring intently at something on top of Stone Mountain (Georgia). Autumn's shirt says

Mary is My Homegirl. A gift from my IRL pal, Kathleen.

Recent Family Pictures

Here are a smattering of recent photos. First is a photo of Andrew when he medaled at the November tournament (he's the tall one in the middle). He got 5th place out of over 100 High School Fencers...he was actually 1st place in pools and took 5th in direct eliminations). Way to go Capitain! He is so happy and we are so proud of him. Then there are pics of the coffee I roast at home (sooooo good); and what everyone said, on Thanksgiving, was the best pecan pie they EVER had! (I will post the recipe later) . A BEAUTIFUL open faced apple tart that was so good when fresh out of the oven and a sog-fest Thanksgiving day...(drat!!). My brother, Jonathan hugging Autumn and then with Toonces on his head. Then there are the kids picking out the real tree for downstairs. (It is up now and lit but undecorated.) The lighting of the town square. The shots with me looking good are the family Christmas photo and me and Robert after the parish Christmas party. (Normally, I'm a frightful sight of exhaustion, geeky glasses and unbrushed hair.) Then there are the cookies I baked today: Chocolate Chip, Sugar (recipe in previous post) and English Jam Tarts (not pictured but oh sooo delish!...I will post the recipe for those too!)

Last, but certainly not least, are pictures of Ben sleeping in front of the the tree, Andy laughing at YouTube, and Autumn making paperchains... all of which were taken at midnight!

~Peace~