As Time Goes On......

Well, you may have noticed that until April, I had not posted anything in a long time.  A really long time, like a year and a half.  I'm not feeling compelled to continue pseudonyms now that Sasha is over 18, and Brok is almost a teenager.

Many things that have changed since I was last posted on a regular basis.  Highlights:

1. Sadly Uncle Dick passed away in November, 2013.  We attended his memorial service in January, 2014 at the retirement community where Aunt Ginny lives near Rosemont.  Over the summer, we also joined the Rivers family for a commemoration at Lake Ganoga.  He was a special person, and supported Alex's interest in fishing and Robby's interest in board games.  I and more recently Steve, had many pleasant visits with him and Aunt Ginny at their beautiful lake home (complete with humming birds and bears).
2. We moved in January 2014!  To our very own almost-perfect-for-us house, in the same school district, less than 10 minutes from our place on Sharpe Street.  Alex is thrilled to have a room all to himself.  After a short time downstairs, his electric guitar was moved into his room as well.  Robby seems to love his room too, complete with Steve's very comfortable mattress brought from Cherry Street. Robby is frequently joined while sleeping or reading by his favorite companion Tiger.  
3. Steve and Jean Luc are now living with us.  In fact, Steve moved in before we did (immediately after we bought the house) in December 2013.  Tiger moved in about a week ahead of us, so he would have a little adjustment time with Jean Luc.
4. Tiger has successfully transitioned to sharing space with a kitty "pal".  Most of the time Tiger would rather not be bothered by his "pal", although they do occasionally run around together.  There is some growling and hissing, especially when Jean Luc is bored and picks on Tiger.  On the whole, this stress is balanced out by the extra attention and petting Tiger gets from Steve.  Since a a bird feeder was set up by the kitchen window last fall, Jean Luc has found the birds to be absolutely wonderful.  And he's interested in squirrels too, but it seems he pays little attention to our backyard rabbits.
5. Alex got his driver's permit in February, 2014.  We went out driving on-and-off, including country driving and eventually some snowy / icy days during the winter of 2014-15.  Alex, you were a good drive from the beginning, but not terribly interested in practicing for a long time (!)
6. In March 2014, Alex interviewed and was hired to work at Fox Hill Country Club as a dishwasher.  It paid minimum wage, and was generally a good maturity-inducing and money-making experience.  Over the summer, Alex got to work the snack bar, which was lovely in comparison to washing dishes.  After summer's end, Alex returned to the dishroom through the end of the year.  After a 3-month winter break, it was back to the dishroom again in March, 2015.  But then in late May, a nice surprise..... a raise!!  And a promotion to working the salad & sandwich bar! 
7. Another watershed event - Alex started to see Taylor Schechter.  It all started at the May, 2014 Cherry Blossom Festival, at the riverfront in West Pittston.  You have been fast friends, and a cute couple ever since.  There have been movies watched at the theatre and at home, walks in the woods, pizza dinners, and numerous fishing treks especially in the spring of 2015.  You recently celebrated your 1 year anniversary - and a huge event, went to the Senior Prom at the Woodlands together!  Renting a tux and buying prom flowers were a "first" for Alex and me.
8. Robby came to live at Montgomery Ave full -time on May 31, 2014.  The months that followed were sad, but over this time you did start making good friends with Rob Tryzenski.  Robby spent some time at day camp at Good Shepherd school in Kingston, and spent many afternoons with Aunt Pam. We tried to make the best of the new situation, and, Robby, I was and still am VERY GLAD and thankful that you're in a stable home.  
9. Last summer, we all went to Mt. Desert Island, Maine and stayed in Southwest Harbor.  Grammie and Grandad, along with Aunt Di, Uncle Lawrence, Kyra and Lucy joined us.  The highlight was whale watching expedition, similar to the one on our previous 2011 trip to celebrate Grammie and Grandad's 50th wedding anniversary in Maine.
10. In late August Alex started his senior year, while Robby started 6th grade.  Robby began to spend a couple days per week at the West Pittston Child Development Center (CDC) after-school program, along with afternoons at Aunt Pam's.  He also enjoyed the Walking Dead discussion group at the Wyoming Library on many Monday afternoons during the fall.  He started piano lessons with Aunt Pam this month and continued them into March.  
11. In September, we had Robby's 12th birthday party at the Luzerne County Paintball.  Robby and several friends played laser tag, and had a wonderful time.  That was followed by pizza & cake, as well as a fire in the fire pit, here in our very own back yard.  About this time, Alex began working in earnest on his senior project.  This included job shadowing a ranger at Frances Slocum Park and volunteering at the St. Vicent DePaul soup kitchen in Wilkes-Barre.  Both were good experiences, and Alex did a fabulous job on all the stages of his project.  
12. Steve and I "officially" got engaged in October, 2015, over a weekend visit to Atlantic City, NJ.  We have been planning this for some time, and by then had already made several arrangements including booking the East Mountain Inn for the wedding ceremony & reception.  And we already had our wedding bands too! 
13. Also in October, Alex took his SATs for the first time.  They were a success!  His senior pictures were taken at Golden Photo across from Montgomery Ave Elementary School.  
14. Alex's senior pictures turned out wonderfully!  I shared with proofs with various people and ordered a set of pictures.  We spent Thanksgiving in Philadelphia, shortly after Grammie had a hip replacement.  We celebrated the holiday at Church of Our Savior, where Grandad was an interim priest several years ago.
15. In December, Robby got to ride in the Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming/Forty-Fort Santa Parades on a float with the Jeanne Zano Band (named for his friend Adam's mother, who is the lead vocalist).  He also performed in Aunt Pam's recital and did a fantastic job (no sign of nerves)!!!  He performed his favorite "Ode to Joy" and a duet with Aunt Pam.  
16. It was our first Christmas at the new house!  We had fun decorating, including lights draping the bushes & curtain lights on the front porch. This year's Christmas cards included Alex's senior picture along with Robby's 6th grade school photo (also taken by Golden Photo, so I was able to get additional wallet size pictures).  Christmas was at home, followed by our annual Grotto Party and a couple days including New Year's Eve at Lake Jean (Alex left early to spend New Year's with Gage).  The "huge" Christmas gift of this year was a Play Station 4 that Dad gave to you boys.  That was a big surprise, and absolutely the best gift of all.
17. In the new year, Robby began to have weekend get-togethers with his friends. It started with playing Monopoly at our house, and graduated to taking turns with fun times at at other boys' houses too....  in Exeter and West Wyoming.  Meanwhile, he is still best friends with 2 particular pals Adam and Kyle.  (There are 2 close friends named "Adam", so Steve has taken to calling all Robby's friends "Adam" and claims they all look alike i.e., blonde).  Over this time, Robby also began cultivating a new hair do - the classic mullet.  Eeeekk!  But, he really likes it and Kim from the "A Little Off the Top" salon on Montgomery Ave. has helped to make Robby's dream come true.  
18. In March, Alex's driver's permit was renewed.  He began to drive more regularly, trying make progress on completing his 60 hours of driver training.  He filed his first tax returns and got a refund of @ $270 :-)  
19. In the second marking period, Alex made the honor role  !!!!!  Hokie Smokes!!  He focused his efforts and worked hard.  See the fabulous results below, following Taylor's shinning example.

20.  In April, Alex's favorite time of year arrived - fishing season!  After a visit to Harvey's Creek to fish for trout, he settled down with fishing the Susquehanna River in Exeter - for catfish.  The favorite bait was chicken livers purchased at Gerrity's and left in the sun for a couple days to get seriously stinky.  Also in April and continuing into May, Alex began driving lessons with Rich Boyer of "A Plus Driver Education" in Wyoming.  It ain't easy to schedule the driving test, with the end result that I got up at 4 am one Wednesday, when blocks of appointments open up for scheduling.  Alex's test was scheduled on May 30th  :-)  He practiced with Rich several days before at the course in Hanover Township (including parallel parking), and passed with flying colors!!  Also in May, Alex had his final presentations for his senior class project - we got to enjoy several practice speeches at home.....  Alex, you have become a great public speaker !!
21.  After enjoying his "favorite Field Day of all" on May 20th, Robby's class trip was to Camp Orchard Hill was June 1.  You said it was the best school day of the entire year, in spite of some rain!  Besides that, you got to spend the evening with his friend Kyle and overnight with Aunt Pam (while Steve and I were on business trips).  By then, Robby was already registered for 7 weeks of summer camp there, since several of his friends went to Camp Orchard Hill last year - and he liked our visit during the Camp's open house in early May.  Robby's last day of school is June 18th, and last day at CDC is June 19th.  Looking back on it, 6th grade and senior year flew right by!