my summer birthday, my sister

For thirteen years every summer we have traveled to the U.S. mainland, usually to upstate New York to see my family, which has included my parents and my sister and her family.  Since my birthday is July 14, I have been able to spend it with these family members most summers.  And since my mom, and my sister both love to throw parties, I have been spoiled by them - by their gracious hosting, their delicious food, their creative parties, their special touch, and their love.

You get used to things.

Last summer while we were back east my sister was packing her things and trying to sell her house to move to a new place where her husband had taken a job.  Last summer we took all of our kids (six in all) to the same parks we have taken them to since they were toddlers.  Last summer the cousins played together, the baby then five and the oldest almost sixteen.  Last summer my sister left town a couple of times to go house hunting with her husband, who was already living in a new place.  Last summer I tried to add some joy to her life that was filled with obvious stress and transition.  Last summer my mom, sister and I had a day of shopping, just the girls.  Last summer we had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. 

When we left New York in July my sister was still in transition.  She now lives in a new place.  The house has sold, the kids are in a new school.  My parents are still in my home town.  It is all different.  As I looked at the photos of my birthday last summer, I realized it might be the last summer that I celebrate my birthday with my little sister for a long time.  I realized there are so many things we take for granted, like sisters being at birthdays, not to mention -- in the wake of the devastation back east -- electricity, food, safety.  I am so glad we had all of those times with my family.  Because after all, there is nothing like the love of a sister.

corner view~am i an artist?

acrylic paint on canvas, 2011

For as long as I can remember I have identified as an artist.  I was the class artist in elementary school, took many classes in high school, and majored in fine arts in college.  I then went on to get my master's degree in art therapy.   We had to do a lot of drawings as part of our study.

These days, twenty years and three kids later, I still try to find time to paint, make collages, write (I am working on a few books), take photographs, and blog.  For me, they are all artistic expressions.

I am very happy when I am painting.  Saying I am an artist gives life to a part of myself I am trying to resurrect.

summer~nyc

This summer Gary had business in New York so we went for just a couple of days.  We saw a comedy show, found a sweet quiet breakfast cafe the next morning, strolled the streets, relaxed in the outdoor garden of our hotel.  And we ate dinner out at a restaurant that served gourmet Mexican food.  Only in New York.

Wow.

Such a bold, creative, colorful place, in every way.

Good news: cultural exposure, art inspiration.
Bad news: record heat wave days the whole time.

New York is amazing, but a little too big for this small town girl.  I was happy to get back to Fairport and listen to the trains at night!

summer~rockin' fairport, ny

I love the charm of small east coast towns.

Fairport is a small town adjacent to where I grew up.  This past summer we stayed in a sweet house in a suburban neighborhood there.  We mostly ate our meals in but one evening we took the kids out for dinner in the Fairport downtown, which is located on the famous Erie Canal.

The kids also got see see a real train for the first time.  It was a tad loud, but very cool.

My kids were in silly moods that night, goofing off, sneaking mints from the restaurant we ate at, and posing on the canal.  When Shawn was about five, the leaning pose was one of his things.  He used to love me to take his picture and that was how he would stand.   

summer revisited~cousins and tinker park

They love each other, and always find ways to have fun, even on heat wave days!

summer revisited~the last hurrah in chicago

We wanted to go for an outing on our last day.  Our kids were happy to take the dog for a walk and then hang out in a park, so we went to a great park right in downtown near the zoo.  They took turns walking the dog.  There are no dogs allowed at the zoo in Chicago, for good reason (sorry Bandit).  So we just ran in there and took a quick look.  It was a perfect summer day -- warm, sunny, but not too hot.  

summer revisited~hangin' with my bros

...and their families.  We packed in a lot of fun in a few short days.  The kids are all growing up sooooooo much.  Shawn (the baby of this group) is catching up to his cousin Robert.  The kids (and dogs) played ball.  We all went to our favorite restaurant in Chicago, a Spanish tapas place.  We dragged the kids onto a boat tour during a heat wave (not their favorite thing although I loved it -- not the heat, but the buildings).  Uncle Tim and Aunt Eileen had us all over for dinner, and afterwards the kids made ice cream sundaes.  Yes Shawn's has four marshmallows and four chunks of chocolate on top of ice cream, because that's how it's done at Aunt Eileen and Uncle Tim's!