2020 Year in Review

 Our year in a few photos. Here's to a better 2021 for all!

Merry Christmas Grandpa Jack

It's been a while since I posted anything here, so here goes. With this COVID-109 pandemic, we're not going to be able to visit "Grandpa Jack" this Christmas so we made him a cool little video card that I purchased from Amazon (see photo). When he receives it, all he needs to do is open the card and the video automatically plays (at least, I hope so - if he has any troubles, hopefully one of the staff at the home will help him out).

Here is a copy of the video that we included with the video card. 

 

Grand Cayman - Spring Break 2019

It's been a while (again) since I posted something to the family blog; but here we go. We just returned from Spring Break on Grand Cayman island and we had a wonderful time making new memories together. This vacation was extra-special since it was the first real vacation we've been able to take (since Spring Break last year) because of Abby's brain-bleeding and brain-surgery last summer (but thankfully, she made a miraculous recovery, and we are so thankful for that). This vacation was also extra-special since we don't see Andrew as much any more since he's so busy with college, work and activities (and his new girlfriend); and because Abby will soon be moving to NYC for a new job opportunity at a men's fashion apparel company. So who knows when we'll be able to take our next full-family vacation together again! In any case, here are a few photo and video highlights from Grand Cayman. In the past, I've normally done one highlight reel per day; but I just don't have the patience for it any more, so this one is all-inclusive of our 5-night, 6-day trip.

Copy of 7/4/18 post by Abby (taken from her Instagram and Facebook pages):

... For those of you wondering, or for those who may have heard by now I recently suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke caused by an unexplained brain hemorrhage after the burst of a cerebral cavernous malformation (blood vessel/vein tangle) on my brain...it’s not a great way to spend the holiday but after weeks in neuro ICU & The Cleveland Clinic, laying 20 hours a day alone in bed, a lot of praying, and several very emotionally tough days in a rehabilitation center relearning how to walk, function, and use my left hand again (and learning BIG TIME to appreciate the importance of the non-dominant hand), and A LOT of emotional support from friends and family...I’m finally home! Apologies in advance for the long rant about to come on APPRECIATING YOUR HEALTH!! Never in a million years did I think that at 22 I would have to deal with a medical condition, let alone a stroke, so severe and mentally-tiring that it would make me appreciate SO much having the ability to walk, talk, SMILE, go to work (and to anyone hating going to work lately I can confirm that laying in bed all day everyday watching Netflix/TV and sleeping is much, much worse no matter how appealing it may sound after a long day or week - but hey, I also love my job 🤷🏼‍♀️@rsboutique) ,and other normal everyday activities like going to the bathroom, showering, and putting on makeup.... and also... PSA please take all of your head pain/headaches, body imbalance, facial weakness, and other symptoms of a stroke seriously... no matter WHAT AGE YOU ARE. I’m proof you don’t have to be 80+ years old. Also major s/o to everyone who has visited the hospital/rehab/my house, checked in on me, listened to me complain nonstop, or cheered me up/made me smile during a time when it is literally physically hard to do so (especially my amazing parents who have been by my side everyday)! and thank you to everyone who sent or brought flowers and other goodies (mostly satisfying my never ending pizza, peanut butter smoothie, and weird milkshake combination cravings)!!! I appreciate it and you all. OK Take good care of your brain people!

Post Update. Here is a video that Abby's good friend and roommate made for her for her post-surgery recovery:

Abby Graduates College

This weekend Abby officially earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Arts at Kent State University, majoring in Fashion Merchandising. Hurray!

Charleston, South Carolina

Not very good at posting recaps or videos lately. In any case, the Frederick Four took our annual Spring Vacation this year. To keep things a bit low-key, we decided to drive down to Charleston, SC for the week (stopped in Charlotte, NC on the way down). Unfortunately, the weather was not as warm as we would have liked, although the last two days did get above 70 degrees finally. Overall, it was very much an eating and drinking sort of vacation, with lots of great restaurants. For entertainment, we saw the play, Avenue Q, we visited a haunted jail, we did a mystery dinner show, we visiting a plantation and garden, we visited a tea plantation, hung out the beach, and watched a local Hollywood musical. Despite the weather, always fun to spend time as a family. Now looking forward to our next (hopefully warmer) vacation together.

New York, New York

For my 50th birthday (and sort of for her birthday too), Karen took me to New York City last weekend for a short, kid-free get-a-way. We stayed in Manhattan for three nights at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square. Some of our activities included: drinks and apps at Bar SixtyFive on top of the Rockefeller building; NBC Studios backstage tour (got to see the sets of SNL and Tonight Show); a long stroll through Central Park; a live Jim Gaffagan show; a Yankees game (professional baseball stadium #73 for me); a Sinatra Saturday "tribute" show at the Carnegie cigar club; a little bit of shopping; and lots of great food and drink!