Pictures taken during the Spring and Summer of 2004 AD/CE.
These begin with some sweet pictures of Rebecca, Chris and Benjamin (at all of about two months old) and of Cathie, your lovely cousin who lives nearby Becky and Chris with Fadi and their daughters. They are followed by some nice pictures taken by Rachel (natch!) and others at Flo's place in Brandon with the family that came to visit (Michael' first birthday and Flo's own a few weeks later). Also, John and Brooke sent a few pictures and Rachel sent me a few from when she took Justin and a seventh grade friend to
Nature's Classroom
for his birthday.
1. From Aunt Nancy's camera - some early pictures of Benjamin -- Rebecca's and Chris's bundle of joy, born on December 18, 2003: Little Benjamin in early 2004
2. From Aunt Nancy's camera - some early pictures of Benjamin -- Rebecca's and Chris's bundle of joy, born on December 18, 2003: Rebecca, Ben and Chris
3. From Aunt Nancy's camera - some early pictures of Benjamin -- Rebecca's and Chris's bundle of joy, born on December 18, 2003: Chris, Becky and Ben
4. From Aunt Nancy's camera - some early pictures of Benjamin -- Rebecca's and Chris's bundle of joy, born on December 18, 2003: Becky and her cousin, Cathie
5. From Aunt Nancy's camera - some early pictures of Benjamin -- Rebecca's and Chris's bundle of joy, born on December 18, 2003: Becky and Benjamin
6. One of the very first formal dinner's hosted at my place in Ocean Shores, Washington
7. From Rachel's camera - Michael Matthew formerly called "Moey" and Jack and Sherry's second oldest boy)
8. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Johnny and Elizabeth
9. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Jeffrey (Jim's tiger, now living with Jim in Florida)
10. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Michael Zachary with Joe and Dawn, plus Jack's boys
11. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Dawn, Michael and Joe Jr.
12. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Michael Zachary Ryan
13. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Nicky at a local playground
14. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Jim and his son, Jeffey
15. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Jeffrey James (Jim's boy) at the playground
16. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Nicky
17. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Jack and li'l Michael Christopher Ryan (I'm beginning to have to identify the grandchildren by their middlenames)
18. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Michel Christopher Ryan
19. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: Another shot of Jeffrey James
20. From Rachel's camera - Michael Zachary's first birthday on February 1st: back row: Joey, Jim, Lizzie, Jack, Michael Christopher, Sherry; front row: Johnny, Nick and Flo, Moey
21. From Rachel's camera - Johnny Ryan (Jack's son)
22. From Rachel's camera - Sherry and her little Michael Christopher at 5 months
23. From Rachel's camera - Both Michaels with Flo
24. From Rachel's camera - Michael Christopher, Flo and Michael Zachary again
25. From Rachel's camera - Jack's and Sherry's boys, plus li'l Michael from Tallahassee making interesting "camera" faces (with Flo -- the grandma with the mostest -- enjoying her grandsons)
26. From Rachel's camera - Flo with all five of the grandsons again
27. From Rachel's camera - Rachel and Elizabeth
28. From Rachel's camera - Matthew Ryan -- Jack's and Sherry's second oldest son
29. From Rachel's camera - Matthew and Nicky
30. From Rachel's camera - The boys helping Flo blow out her candles
31. From Rachel's camera - Rachel and Matthew
32. From Rachel's camera - Rachel and Nicky again
33. Rachel in the Dry Tortugas (somewhere south of Florida and North of Cuba, I believe). The Ryan girls are a comely lot, no?
34. John and Brooke take their family to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Phoenix: Aislyn and Johnny
35. John and Brooke take their family to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Phoenix: Brooke (the top of Aislyn's head was cropped at the bottom of this picture -- Johnny must have been holding the camera)
36. John and Brooke take their family to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Phoenix: Claren and Johnny (Claren is the one on the shoulders)
37. John and Brooke take their family to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Phoenix: Claren at her favorite sport -- splashing in the bathtub
Justin's birthday present from his Aunt Rachel -- a trip to
Nature's Classroom
!!
38. Rachel took Justin (Kim's son and my oldest grandson) and some friends to her "own" Nature's Classroom for Justin's twelfth birthday: Here, Justin and Rachel are "studying" a turtle (specific species unknown) -- Hmmm ... just how many 7th graders can get Nature's Classroom almost all to themselves for their birthday? Well, if Aunt Rachel is your very own "auntie," you sure can! This turtle simply crossed their path. Nature's Classroom has 365 acres filled with wildlife.
39. Rachel took Justin (Kim's son and my oldest grandson) and some friends to her "own" Nature's Classroom for Justin's twelfth birthday: Having Nature's Classroom all to themselves is every Florida 6th or 7th grader's dream come true -- but to be holding an aligator (
alligator mississippiensis
for the zoologists among you) all by yourself ... priceless! Here, Rachel is with Zoe, her young friend who is in the fourth grade, in the Interpretive Center. Zoe is from the family that adopted Sahara, Rachel's beloved dog whom she had to find a home for when she went abroad a couple of years ago.
40. Rachel took Justin (Kim's son and my oldest grandson) and some friends to her "own" Nature's Classroom for Justin's twelfth birthday: Rachel and her fourth grade, Zoe, friend enjoying a deer -- or vice versa! This deer was born in captivity and loves it when humans come around with food. They are
41. Rachel took Justin (Kim's son and my oldest grandson) and some friends to her "own" Nature's Classroom for Justin's twelfth birthday: Rachel and Zoe watching (or being watched by) a panther that is there to help to teach children the importance of taking care of our earth -- which we share with species of animals of every kind. This female panther was born in captivity and would likely perish in the wild. She doesn't recognize Zoe's scent (of course), and is showing her curiosity.
42. Rachel took Justin (Kim's son and my oldest grandson) and some friends to her "own" Nature's Classroom for Justin's twelfth birthday: Rabbits are a nice furry way to take a break at Nature's Classroom.
43. Rachel took Justin (Kim's son and my oldest grandson) and some friends to her "own" Nature's Classroom for Justin's twelfth birthday: Rachel and her friend, Zoe ... and yes, that's a ball python (nonvenimous) that Rachel has wrapped about herself. Although pythons range in size from 3 to 33 feet long and can weigh as much as 300 lbs, this one looks fairly "liftable." Interestingly, female pythons lays between 15 and 100 eggs and brood them until they hatch -- kind of like less ominous looking creatures do. Even more interesting is the fact that pythons have tiny hind limbs -- a likely vestige of their lizard ancestry . . . that's for the Evolutionists among you. I'm not sure I know what the Creation Theorists have to say about the python's hind limbs, but will likely learn via email soon. Personally, I don't much think it matters exactly
how
God created His wonderful animal kingdom. It's enough for me that He did, and it's our job to keep them safe and in existence, free from pollution and a rapidly disappearing habitat. As I recall, Jim had a python for a pet back in his Tallahassee days -- and long before wonderful little (but growing every day) Jeffrey came along to occupy his time and his life.
44. Rachel took Justin (Kim's son and my oldest grandson) and some friends to her "own" Nature's Classroom for Justin's twelfth birthday: Rachel holding a baby turtle and one of her students -- Christian, who is in the seventh grade, like Justin, holding a baby alligator.
45. Tony "races" for cancer: My nephew, Tony, is up in New York State burning the rubber on his racing bike for cancer -- and Lockheed Martin, as can be seen by the sponsor's logo/name on his shirt. His letter suggests that he'll be racing for MS next and soon - probably in July. That haircut and the uniform make him look like a world-class athlete to a proud old uncle.
46. Rebecca and Chris sent some pictures of Benjamin on Father's day: Benjamin playing with 1.5 megabytes of colorful toys.
47. Rebecca and Chris sent some pictures of Benjamin on Father's day: Benjamin's marvelous smile!
48. Rebecca and Chris sent some pictures of Benjamin on Father's day: Hey -- who you be staring down, buddy?
49. Rebecca and Chris sent some pictures of Benjamin on Father's day: Little Benjanin getting his introctination to the Triple Crown
50. And oh yes, before I forget -- I moved to Ocean Shores on 18 December 2003 and this is where life has brought me in my 70th year ... somewhere between Duck lake and the Pacific Ocean
51. Rebecca, Chris and Benjamin -- a portrait sent by Aunt Nancy
52. A photo of David's new home in Seattle: Photo #1
53. A photo of David's new home in Seattle: Photo #2
54. A photo of David's new home in Seattle: Photo #3
55. A photo of David's new home in Seattle: Photo #4
56. A photo of David's new home in Seattle: Photo #5
57. This will appear in the 2005 Ocean Shores PAWS calendar as the February "pin-up." Dangling from my arms are Rosie at ten weeks and Daniel at about six months -- uhhh ... make that "Danielle" since his having come out of the closet for his calendar debut.
That's all folks!
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