....since I last posted on my blog and I will try to offer an update of the past month that won't cause you to doze off whilst reading!
We were able to spend some time on the weekends at the end of February and early March with Matt, Kendra, Mira and Noah before they went on their trip to North Carolina. Poor little Noah ended up with a terrible cold/stomach virus that was a doozie. He rallied a bit and seemed better when he and his sister went to their pediatrician before their departure. The doctor cleared Noah for travel and gave the babies their next dosage of their flu shots. Matt and Kendra loaded up the family truckster for the ten hour drive to North Carolina. Daddy Matt drove through torrential rain storms while Noah vomited, Mira had it coming out the other end and both cried, non-stop, from the state line of North Carolina to Kendra's parents' house in Cary.
Unfortunately, everyone who came in contact with the babies (who Kendra's Dad affectionately nicknamed the 'Typhoid Twins') came down with the virus. Mira and Noah, Kendra and Matt, Kendra's parents, Tim and I and some of Matt's friends were all ill and couldn't shake our colds, congestion and other nastiness for almost two weeks.
Matt had asked for time off from work to go on tour with his band 'Goes Cube.' After getting Kendra and the babies ensconced at MiMi and PaPa's house, he and his bandmates did a mini-road trip, playing several 'gigs' on their way to the SouthbySouthwest Music Festival, in Austin, Texas. It's a BIG deal to be invited to perform there. Admittedly, their music isn't quite my style but I am fiercely proud and supportive of their talents and ambitions. Check out this review: http://thenewreview.net/reviews/goes-cube-in-tides-and-drifts
While the younger set of Tysons was on the road, I planned a trip to our home in California from March 10-19. Tim had planned to spend about five days there, as well, but some work commitments got in the way so, I shortened my trip and was there only five days. Sadly, that allowed my virus to really take hold and left me feeling miserably for the entire time I was away. I cancelled most of my plans and rested at our Newport Beach home....which is not a bad spot for some relaxation and recuperation.
I had made plans to get together with my friend Pat for lunch and a tour of the Orange County Philharmonic Design house and wasn't going to miss that! We chose a newer restaurant in Newport Beach called the 'True Food Kitchen.' It's is part of a small and exclusive chain of restaurants opened by Dr. Andrew Weil. The concept of the menu is based on his anti-inflammatory Food Pyramid. Perfect, I thought, and ordered a natural juice called 'Medicine Man,' the 'Anti-inflammatory Soup' and an herbal tea. The Home Tour was wonderful and I enjoyed catching up with Pat.
Our niece, Rebekkah, and her husband, Eddie Brown, welcomed their beautiful daughter, Emma Belle Brown, on March 21st. Mom, Dad and baby are healthy and well. Grandma Susie, (Tim's oldest sister) was there for Emma's birth and the week after, which was nice for all of them.
At the end of March, we drove to Ithaca to visit with Tim's Mom and Dad, his sister, Natalie, and her family for Tim's Dad's 85th birthday. It was great to see them and to be able to celebrate Dad Tyson's milestone birthday. Our niece, Emily, had made some killer desserts for the occasion! We also visited my Mom, who resides at Crouse Community Care. It was wonderful to get together for lunch, after, with my sister, Cindy, and her husband, Tom and (newlyweds from last summer) my sister, Penny and her husband, Jay. Mom's husband, Bud, has been ill of late and all of us paid him a visit after lunch. We also met my high school chum and our long-time, dear friend, Janet Lang, to celebrate the first leg of our '60th birthday party tour.' Janet's sister, Joan, and her husband, Dan, joined us and it was great to get caught up with all of them. We visited Joe and Mary Basile, who are like second parents to us, on Sunday morning before returning to Connecticut.
April has started off with some sad news. My Dad's oldest sister, Jean Westbrook Dedrick, who had been ill for some time, passed away in Sacramento, CA on April 1st. She was a sweet and wonderful lady and we all feel so fortunate that we could spend time with her at Penny and Jay's wedding last summer. She will be remembered at a memorial service, at the end of April, and interred near her parents, in Brooktondale, NY. My Mom's next oldest brother, Robert Bradshaw Ball, died at Groton Community Healthcare Center, on Monday, April 4th. He and his wife, Audrey, had moved to Florida in the late 1980's and Uncle Bob moved back to upstate NY after Aunt Audrey passed away. My three sisters were able to spend some time with him before he passed away and I know that he was comforted by their presence. He will be buried next to his wife, in Trumansburg, NY. Rest in peace, Aunt Jean and Uncle Bob.
The bright spot in an otherwise sad weekend was an overnight visit from Kendra, Matt, Mira and Noah. The babies turned 8 months old on April 4th and are so much fun! They giggle and squeal and are such a delight. They truly bring a ray of sunshine to our lives!
Here's hoping all of you are well and that you are enjoying the rebirth that springtime brings!
In late May into early June, Tim and I took a trip to France to further celebrate my milestone birthday. On our first day in Paris, we walked all over the city and went to the Rodin Museum for a few hours in the afternoon. Pictured above: the Eiffel Tower; Rodin's 'The Thinker;' and the Rodin Museum.
The gardens at our home in Connecticut are really taking shape. Springtime in New England is very special with flowering trees, shrubs and flowers ablaze with color. After the bountiful winter snow and spring rains, our senses were aroused with the beauty of the season. 
Mira and Noah had their first official dinner at a restaurant for a Mother's Day Brunch. They did really well and enjoyed people watching and sitting at the 'grown-ups' table. Above, Noah 'talking it over with Grammy.' Top: Grandpa Tim, Kendra and Mira.
What fun it was to celebrate my birthday AND Mother's Day with Matt, Kendra, Mira, Noah and Tim. Above, Mira celebrates her Mommy's first Mother's Day.
The above photo was taken at our son and daughter-in-law's New York City apartment. Tim is opening a special birthday gift as Kendra and Mira look on.
