The Rest of the Crew

Jim's cousins, Rick and Erin, along with Nicole, smile for the camera. Rick is Nicole's Godfather and Erin could be her mom because they look so much alike! We love hanging out with them whether it is out their house or on their boat! I always smile when I think of them especially when I am making my coffee!

Women in Jim's Life

Jim's mom and Aunt Hilda congratulate the Valedictorian. Both of these women are very special to us and Jim is who he is today because of them. When one of the sisters could not help, the other one was right there! We have spent a lot of good times with these ladies!

Xray Technician Graduate and Valedictorian

So after 104 weeks of blood, sweat and tears, Jim graduated from Radiographer school. He gave the class speech because he did it last year and no one in his class wanted to do it this year.

He also was the class Valedictorian! He squeaked out a 97% average and made us all proud. For his cousin, Rick, and our friend, Andy, they were both shocked he was smarter than 10 other people in this world. I of course proclaimed Jess the reason for his knowledge.

After a lovely reception at the hospital, we had a celebration here. Of course, still has to study for the Registry test on today but he starts his new job at South Nassau where he trained!

We are all proud of him!

The Ben Franklin Bridge

Nicole, Ryan and Jess are standing outside the Aquarium at the Camden Waterfront. New Jersey has done a nice job trying to revitalize the area.

The bridge in the background is the Benjamin Franklin which is one of the many which connects New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

This bridge plays a big part in my family's history. My grandpop, Grumpy - a name a gave him, used to work on the bridge. However, one day he fell off the lower portion of the bridge into the Delaware River below. He then got out of the water and walked home to his apartment in Philadelphia. I am not sure if anything was broken but he did go to work the next day.

My Grumpy was an amazing man. He survived seven heartaches in a row where they could not stabilize his heart and lived to the age of 79. He always new how to make me laugh, and his favorite express was "Down in the front peanuts" because we always blocked the tv. (Of course, it was a large color console tv which was amazing when we only had 19 inch black and white-remember I am 40!)

He had a bar in his den, and one year for Christmas I got a 7 Up Soda dispenser which my mom would never let me fill with anything. Not Grumpy, all soda was dispensed from my 7 Up machine. He and my grandmom always let us get away with these small infractions.

He passed on my one week aniversary of being married but he got to see me in my dress that day! He was very sick the month before, and he told my aunt he had to make it through my wedding. So if ever asked what my favorite gift is or was, my Grumpy being with me on my wedding day is the winner every time!

New Pets?

Grandpoppy, Ryan, Jess and Nicole are all petting bamboo and sand sharks. They enjoyed this little sharks and I think they would be easier to take care of than a dog-no shedding! They also touched stingrays and jellyfish as well.

In the Belly of the Beast

Nicole, Jess and Ryan make a very nice meal for a great white shark!

Mini Vacation and Reunion

After the first week of Jess being away, we went to visit her in Pennsylvania. First stop was to Uncle Bob's because the cousins, or namely Zack, was whining about how he never sees us. Now this mainly because Zack is an amazing athlete and is on two travel teams. It is tougher to see him than the Jonas Brothers! We spent the day hanging out in the pool and had dinner with them before heading back to PA.

On Sunday, my dad and I took Jess, Nicole and Ryan to the Camden Aquarium. I had not been to this aquarium since it opened but enjoyed it! They had hippos, seal show and numerous touch tanks. They had a scavenger hunt to participate in as well to keep little minds active.

My favorite part and Jessica's least was the shark tank. Now Jess likes sharks but she did not like them swimming over her head!

After dinner at the house it was time to head home without Jess:( but I think she grew 10 fold with her grandparents who we are truly blessed to have in our lives! :)

Camp Round Two

With a Mets game in
between, the girls headed to round two of camp. For Jess, this meant traveling down to Pennsylvania and Camp Expressions. She got to stay at my parents house and go to camp daily. At camp, she worked on social skills through a variety of activities including writing the newsletter, taking karate and her favorite, stream stomping.

Her camp had a luau, favorite color, an animal show and crazy hat day. Of course, Grandmommy could not let Jess go with any old hat. So Grandmommy and her designed a hat which of course won! Besides camp, she went horseback riding and shopping as well as scooter until her heart's content with Ryan.

Nicole got two weeks without her sister and a minimum of four hours a day with one of her best friends, Brigid. They attend an acting camp and then got to hang out afterwards. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it was pay dirt as they were together almost 12 hours!

Nicole got the part of Annie for the finale which she was very excited about. The problem, her very cool parents, got Jonas Brother tickets for the same night. The drama over what to choose!

Camp Round One

Jess and Nicole spent two weeks at camp at Hofstra University. Nicole chose soccer with her friend Emma and Jess chose Camp Adventure which is a program that physically challenges you.

Each morning at 7:45 am the girls would board the bus and would not return home until 5:30! For Jess, it was not so bad because she could relax after camp. For Nicole, it meant going to lacrosse at 7 on Tuesdays and musical theater at 6 on Wednesdays!

They were both great and made new friends as well. Jess had the added responsibility of being in charge of Nicole and Emma and texting us and Emma's mom when they were on the bus.

Both girls want to go back next year which means we finally made the right choice!

Jess and Nicole's Gift

Jess and Nicole gave me vanity license plates for my birthday which say WDW MOM on them. I immediately asked Jim if this meant we were moving to Virginia because this is the only state where everyone has vanity plates. Luckily, we are staying put.

The funny thing about this gift is that I was driving with illegal plates for about a month! This is why Jim was volunteering to take my truck because he did not want me to get the ticket from the cops!

I would have had a heart attack if that would have happened!

Party Extras

So no party in the Titus household would be complete without some fun. My sister and Aunt Mary decided I needed to wear a tiara, pink feather boa and have a magic wand to sprinkle pixie dust. I think they are taking the Disney thing too far!

There was a picture of me when I was about 4 months old and had no hair, and the party favor was my picture at about age six on a cookie. The cookies were brought all the way from Piazza's Bakery (my favorite bakery) in Pennsylvania.

Finally, a scrapbook with all my embarassing pictures was passed around the room.

The best is that I now have a year to plot Kathy's 40th and three years to plot Mary's 50th.

Revenge-priceless!

As for my Schlegel family contributions, Erin did the invitations and held my presents. Also, Rick and her arrived early to decorate and start the beer tab. As for the flowers on the table, compliments of Aunt Hilda's garden.

Truly a family effort!

Happy 40!

So I have finally joined an elite club the over 40 crowd. What a weekend I had.

On Friday, my actual birthday, I went to lunch in Jackson Heights at the Jackson Diner for Indian with my friends from work. It is my favorite place even if they did not have samosas and then we had 7 Up Cake at the office.

When I got home, we went to dinner at the St. James and then to Frozen Cup for ice cream just the four of us.

Saturday had us at the pool and then I went and cut 10 inches of hair off my head to be donated to Locks of Love.

Finally, my surprise party with my family and friends was Saturday night at a great Italian place called Piccola Bussola. I had my parents, sister Kathy and Aunt Mary from PA come up as well as my best friends, Bob and Trish from Jersey. (Trish did not believe it could take four hours from their house to ours!)

I recieved my first, second, third and fourth gifts from Tiffany's compliments of my sister and friends as well as Disney items, more jewelry, gift cards and my own Kreuig coffee machine. Jess and Nicole have drunk more hot chocolate this week then all last winter.

This was all pulled off by Jim and my cousin Erin. Great party folks!

Our Family from Holland

Our good friend Trisha's mom is from Holland. This year Oma's family came over to visit for three weeks. Since Oma has always taken care of me, it was my pleasure to play tour guide in my home city.

We visited the World Trade Center, Battery Park, the Empire State Building, Bryant Park, Chinatown and Little Italy where we had delicious pizza.

The girls, Chloe and Nicky, were most impressed with the MTV Store in Times Square.

Here is a picture of Chloe (blue tank), Alex, Nicky (behind Jess), Jess and Uncle Bektus on the Brooklyn Bridge. We did walk halfway and could see two of the Waterfalls which are a part of an exhibit.

The Whopper

Okay so here I am with the only keeper of the trip - a 23 incher baby! Of course, I really should give credit to Jim for not tangling up my line and Rick for diving under the boat to hook it.

Seriously, the credit goes to Jess who picked my bait!

By the way, it tasted delicious!

Just Fishing

We got to spend a Saturday with Brendan and Rick on the best boat, Oppa's Crew, for a day of fishing. Everyone had a lot of fun and the kids had fun just sitting on the back of the boat.

Last Day of School

Nicole poses with Mrs. Oerzen, her fourth grade teacher, and Carroll outside of school. She is dying to look inside her envelope not to see her grades (straight As) but to see who she got for next year.

The lucky teacher - Mr. D. He is the most popular 5th grade teacher and she is happy!

Graduation Party

Jessica decided to have her graduation lunch at Benihana's. Here she is with Kelsey, Nicole and Brendan. Her friend Gabby decided to have her party here too!

It was the first time to Benihana's for Grandpoppy and Grandmommy who both enjoyed the meal.

Later, the rest of the family came to our house for cupcakes and snacks.

Best Friends and Seventh Graders

Jessica and Kaitlyn pose for the first time together as seventh graders. Kaitlyn won many awards at graduation. She is a great friend and since Jess finally got her cell phone as her graduation gift the texts have been flying.

Graduation

On June 25th, Jessica graduated from Floral Park-Bellerose School. She won the award for the highest average in reading which was a great achievement.

At the ceremony, awards are given, the band and orchestra play a song and the class sings a song. This year's song was Breaking Free from High School Musical.

Afterwards, a reception follows in the gym which is still decorated from the dance.

Here Jessica is with Grandmom Lillian, Grandpoppy, Grandmommy and Aunt Hilda along with Jim and I. Nicole was still in school as siblings in school cannot attend the ceremony.

Elvis and Neil

The dance had funny cutouts to take pictures behind. Jess and Kiera decided to be Elvis and Neil Armstrong.

Also, this year the school hired a digital photography company to take pictures of the kids with their friends and teachers and then had an assortment of frames to display each.