2008 Kalachki production

Annual output at the Felice family Kalachki factory is meeting this year's production goals. There has been a slight problem with finished product disappearing. Management is working on the problem.

Gracie does the Nutcracker (again)

Despite the mayhem of the last practice and the dress rehersal Grace was still in and did a terrific job. Here's some cool pics the Nikon caught. Way to go goose!!

Kristin gets the big surprise for her 40th

Clockwork.

It was just right.

She was a little let down that we did not do something for her...then wham...the limo...the siblings....lots of laughs and then lunch.

Watch for the movie...here's a few pics.

the fake birthday party.....

the shock and awe in the limo that we could pull this off.

then a lovely lunch at the statler hotel on the cornell campus...at the banfi grill...fabulous.

Happy 40th Kristin.

The famous Myers family washboard

Just looking over photos from last years Christmas party and the topic of conversation in the pics became immediately obvious - even 10 months later.....

Kitchen work

Primary ignition of jimmy's new disha-washer

Friends and Family camping 2

We trekked down to Jones Pond again this past weekend. Kristin and Carolyn joined us for a fun [ somewhat rainy] weekend. The patchy weather did not manage to stop the fun. Cathy and i remarked that we are very good at entertaining each other. I know not everyone can appreciate such a Vintage of Humor - but you can see that we really can make each other laugh.

a kitchen tradition

After 10 years of a nasty kitchen it was time...the big rip down tear out dust everywhere new everthing kitchen renovation.

Here's the crew on the last day after some pretty long hours/ Work looks good...just have to finish it now.

Thanks to Mot, Pop and Joe.

the whole gang

Tis a lovely thing to do get together with your family...especially the hard to find ones.

So here's some pics to commemorate our 2008 reunion...thanks to Carolyn's post to remind me to post something.

Family Reunion Guest Blog

Our first write up for the reunion with today's guest blogger - Carolyn

THE FAMILY REUNION WEEK SCHEDULE .
Thursday, July 11th : After an hour and a half we make it to Clifford Pennsylvania, where we’ll be staying in the Mountain View Motel. After at least an hour at the motel, we decided to go on a historical trolley ride to see the iron furnaces.










It’s our first day in Pennsylvania, and we’re on a historic trolley ride that goes about two miles.










From there we go to Aunt Catherine’s to throw her a surprise party.











Here we are at Uncle Gerard’s house, we’re just about to take a hike to the apple orchard, dump, and the huckleberry patch.











YIKES!!! Grace and I are standing right next to a stuffed bear, we should watch out for any “Snapping teeth”. This is at the house where the Myers cousins are staying.










Is she not so cute! Keira is in the middle of Anna and I having fun with the video tape we’re letting her use for a toy.












Finally the reunion has come! We’re at McDonnell’s grove for the party! Right now everyone is just checking in.











CHEESE!! Time to make a funny face! We are just getting ready to swim. - Carolyn

Breakfast at Belgard

Weekends with Dad usually mean something fun for breakfast, Lately its been the well reviewed (PopPop Press) Everything Bagel with butter, turkey and Helluva Good Cheddar well toasted.

Well last weekend was no exception. We hit the Bagel place after church to get the real fresh stuff...they make them extra stinky...but they are good.

A guy passed out in line in front of us at the bagel place. I put my stuff down told the cashier to call 911 and got on the floor and sat him up...he was conscious and doing ok...I asked if he was a diabetic he said no...he said he was having an anxiety attack (waiting for everything bagels can do that to ya). So me and another patron helped him up... we sat him in a chair...I got back in line then he passed out again...finally one of the owners came out to help and they finally called 911. He was well attended, ambulance was a couple minutes away so...we checked out our smelly bagels.

So we get home and I toast them just so...and enjoy, enjoy we did....the best things in life are sometimes the yummiest. Don't believe me? Perhaps a few pics will help convince you.

Dancing Queen

Lots of dancing, lots of costumes and rehersals and lots of driving. I think this is her 5th or 6th year at Denise's Dance Connection. It shows. She dances with amazing poise and confidence. She really is a natural leader and it's amazing looking back at all the work.

She did a great job and it was fun to watch.

Here's what the Nikon saw....You go Goosey!!!

The Jack Rabbit

Ahh yes...the end of the year trip to Seabreeze with the entire school and half the schools in the county.

Grace has decided to make the solemn and exciting rite of passage known as the "Jack Rabbit". The Jack Rabbit is a Rochester icon. A 80' high, 50 year old wooden roller coaster that everyone that lives here must ride as part of growing up.

This was my first time as well.

So we are in line and Grace is prety brave...but the line was 20 minutes so by the time we got there she was not doing to well... hence the post...the poor kid is shaking...just look at the pic!!

I tell her she will be fine. She believes me and barey makes it through...at one point during the ride she is puffing her cheecks in and out... I was sure she was going to blow chow on me...

But we survived and here we forever immortalize that triumphant first Jack Rabbit ride.

Way to go Grace.

I cant keep up with all the crazy end of year stuff...receitals , dress rehersals, soccer, plays, events....all that stuff. So here is something...

The talent show...Grace rocked...she sang a tough Vanessa Hudgeons song and did a great job....she will be getting some professional coaching I think...

She also sang a duet with her buddy CeCe...again ....nailed it...Wow. It was one of the High School Musical tunes so everyone knew it....talk about no fear.






I have the video of this so someday I will upload. Still to come : Fun at Seabreeze, Dance and more dance. Benefits and fun pics.

Loud Family Camping

The fleet made it's summer debut this past weekend as we trekked down to Jones Pond campground for a family camping weekend. The campground was sponsoring their "Friends and Family" weekend and the Rochester based Prato and Myers clan came down to Angelica for a summer camping kickoff. Cathy and Joe spent considerable time trying to get their van all refurbished in time for the weekend, while I tried in vain to finish grading and landscaping our seasonal site in preparation for the weekend. Suffice to say, neither of us quite made it, but we did not let it get in the way of a good time. Jim, Grace, Joe and Thomas met up with us Saturday afternoon just in time for pot luck dinner. Cathy and I whipped out the dutch ovens and cranked out some awesome baked beans and BluCherry cobbler. Earlier that morning, Cathy, in our regular experimentalcampcooking mode, pulled off some perfect corn bread in the dutch oven for breakfast as well. I think she was atoning for a 1974 incident where she poisoned the whole family with Corn bread she made in 7th grade HomeEc.

[ i did not eat corn bread for 20+ years after that.. ]

We hit the ice cream social on saturday afternoon as well and enjoyed many beverages waiting out the rain sun rain sun rain sun rain sun. Jimmy arrived with his new tent that attached to his Honda. While it was not quite a westy, Jim can easily brag about the countless hours he has NOT spent underneath his vehicle, unlike the Pratos and myself. We all gathered around to help set up the new tent. While I supervised GrandaPa Myers style










A great weekend - hopefully we can get the entire clan here in september.












The end of the weekend saw a small lesson in "How to flatten your tent for roll up"

The nieces tried first to my disappointment







A few more shots of the weekend

Tis' Spring it tis

Just in case your allergies did not remind you that spring is here....

at least the grand kids can read

Grace and some of her classmates are in a voluntary reading program at school. They read books and take tests on the computer afterwards. There are 8 levels and Grace made it through al of them. I think she is the 2nd second grader to do it since they began the program.

They had quite the competition...it was , infact, a little unnerving how they all wanted to be the first one to master level.

Slainte Grace...MomMom would have a big smile, hug and kiss for you. In fact she would probably have a little bit of a cry and then tell me something like "oh she's a beaut' James"

Maybe heaven is really in cyberspace and MomMom is loving these blog things.