So I took Liam to hockey practice tonight, and Liam's coach handed me a flier exclaiming that the Belmont has been selected as one of the exclusive rinks that Sidney Crosby, the Penguins, and Dicks Sporting Goods has targeted for the "Little Penguins" Youth Hockey Program.
What this means is that I pay for Liam's ice time for this workshop, and Sidney dresses Liam "Head to Toe" as the website makes mention of. Liam gets about $500 worth of hockey equipment FOR FREE.
We are still hoping Sidney is on hand the night Liam gets fitted at Dicks Sporting Goods. I hope so, because Liam wants to thank Sid for such a wonderful gesture. You can see a picture of all the goodies Liam will be getting from this program.
Thanks Sid!!! You are a true class act off the ice for youth hockey.
Every year the girls get dressed up and become very cosmopoliton as they enjoy "high tea" at the Westin William Penn Hotel. This is a fun tradition where the girls get to sample scones, and sweet snacks chased down by various holiday blends of the Queen's finest.
Here are some shots from this past season's outing.
Liam's 2nd grade class put on a Christmas Play. It was a really cool puppet show. Liam being a good reader, was chose by the teacher to play the part of Santa Claus. He was very excited and did a fantastic job reading his lines. We think the teacher cast him just right. Here are some of his Thespian photos.
Shortly after we were treated to a holiday concert where Liam sang a variety of Christmas songs. Later in the week, Gillian would play the flute in her first instrumental concert for the school band. Unfortunately I had to work, and did not get any of her pictures on the blog, but I wanted to let everyone know she was very proud of herself, and I'm told she performed very well.
It is that time of year again, where old friends are taken out of boxes and placed on the Christmas tree. We put on holiday carols and let the kids reminisce over holiday ornaments from the Christmases gone by.
Samantha has her own coordinated tree, which the kids helped her decorate as well. These are some of the pictures that were taken from that evening.
Tristan pounded the keys, while Gram shows that she still has the ability to use her old vaudeville improv piano skills in this film clip. A gem to be sure.
Even while I was busy planning a massive surprise "40" party sneak-attack, Samantha one night turned to me on the couch and said, "I DO NOT want any kind of surprise party for my 40th." Needless to say, I couldn't let this special number pass unnoticed.
As many of her family has kids, we had to pick a venue in which entertainment (and space) would keep everyone happy. Many thought my idea of bowling was a bit odd, but once everyone arrived and strapped on those funky shoes, the fun began.
The reason I picked Bon Aire, is because they only charged us for the use of their lanes. It is a BYOB place, and they allow you to bring and serve your own food. I got a giant sheet cake from Giant Eagle, and some folks brought snack food type stuff.
The kids had bumper lanes, and simply had a ball. Everyone kept saying they had a great time, and I'm thinking about doing it again next year for my 40th.
November always has us going to birthday celebrations. Earlier in the month it was Erin & Gram McEntee. Then last Sunday, we all got together for a Chicken dinner at Oakwood Square.
Thanks for the delightful meal Dad. Also thanks to those who sent me cards, gifts, & well wishes. It was very thoughtful and much appreciated. Here are some pictures from both of those evenings.
Before December arrives, I best get a picture up from our annual Pumpkin carving family tradition. I guess I forgot to post this, so better late then never I guess. This year we grew our own pumpkins in the garden, and since we had 2 that were worthy we made a cyclops pumpkin experiment.
I'll try and get pics of the kids in their costumes off of Jana. I don't seem to have any on hand.
When first told of Aunt Sal’s passing, my 5 year old son, replied simply to my wife:
“She was my friend.”
Few folks that I’ve come across have had as much to offer as Sarah Farraher.Sarah, or Sally, as the folks at work would grant her that nickname, would later grow to become our own “Aunt Sal” as to most of the neighborhood, extended family & friends would come to know her.Or as my mother used to say, she was everybody’s Aunt Sal and for good reason.
Sal grew up through some rough times, especially during the depression years.Urged by her Mother into a local business school, Sarah would enter the workforce at an early age.After several clerk positions in various placements, she ended up logging 37 years of her life working for Blaw-Knox in their payroll department.,Sarah used to always joke that “The workers used to love to see me coming, because they knew I would be the one delivering them their paychecks.”
While her co-workers might sing her praises, Sarah herself had a true fondness for music.For many years, she used to sing in the Alto section located here in St. Kieran’s Choir loft.She was known to enjoy an occasional ‘highball” every now and then while down in the game room at my old house on Negley Ave. As a kid I would listen from atop the steps late on a Friday night, and hear her sing out to old tunes like “Shine on Harvest Moon” with her sisters Marie and Ann while Rita Farrell would tickle the ivory, along with the whole extended family singing into the wee hours of the evening.
How very fortunate we - who were younger have been - to have grown up as children inside the Farragher household.Aunt Sal epitomized that generous unselfish spirit, often sacrificing for those less fortunate in the family, as if they were children of her very own.Her hard-earned money - always seemed to find its way for the most noblest of causes; be it a new pair of shoes for school, art lessons for young Phil, investing in Mariann’s first new piano, assisting where able with various college tuitions, helping the family to finance the purchase Tara cottage.For myself, she helped me afford my first car, & secure a down payment for my house.And when I would feel overwhelmed by such acts of kindness her oft reply to me was always the same reassuring: “You’ll pay me back when and how you are able, there’s no rush.”And I always did.No one in my living life ever gave so much as to aid another family member as did Aunt Sal.She was the true Matriarch of selflessness and sacrifice.Sarah was that family Icon of what my sister Erin & I would later come to proclaim as true Farraher “unconditional love.”
Sara was always on the go, known as the family chauffer, having owned various Oldsmobile-like jitneys used to cart the men in her family off to work each day.She would often vacation across the country, enjoying the Grand Canyon, the South West, or visiting overseas to such far off places as Cuba, Ireland, and Rome.It was important for her to know that we were afforded opportunities and chances to travel the world, as it was she who helped me during my first trip to Ireland.Perhaps one of her most prolific travel stories would be the night she dreamt of ‘shoes’, causing her Mom to look up the numbers-book as if to predict a lucky Irish lightning strike…As providence would have it, THIS WORKED!!! By playing those very numbers on the lottery, Sarah’s premonition won it big!With her newfound cash windfall, Sarah made good on a promise to take her Mother by ship back to Ireland after having been away from her homeland for over 60 years. Sarah then used this journey to reconnect with the Irish cousins who we still communicate with to this day.Aunt Sal’s winning lottery ticket is still paying our family dividends.
Another admirable trait of Sally was her sacrifice for posterity.At almost every family event or function, she could usually be found hiding behind the other side of a camera lens or bulky film projector.Hours and yards of old films taken, long gone Christmas mornings, forgotten Birthday parties, and 1000’s of precious photographs later proved to be a true labor of love.She used technology to capture the images of our childhoods, or helped preserve views of her predecessor’s generations (such as her parents) for my children’s children to observe.These treasures will continue to be passed down through future generations, so that Sal’s sacrifice of lugging 40 lbs of lighting equipment on her back will have never have been wasted in vain.
Finally, I leave you with the hallmark of Aunt Sal, and for me it was her enduring smile.Her eyes could light up a room.Her voice was always full of encouragement, with comments like “You are such a good artist, or I think that one day you might grow up to be an architect, or a doctor or a musician.”Education was everything to this enlightened woman, as if were a vehicle to provide a means or hope for a better life than was maybe afforded to Sarah’s own life-path experiences.
Sal may not have had any children of her own, but she never suffered a lack of being surrounded by kids that would grow to love her.As I would so often tell my friends while growing up, the Farragher sisters were sort of like having “Bonus Grandmothers”. I shall never forget our trips to Islay’s for chocolate ice-cream, or rides through the Cemetery to feed the Squirrels, fun trips to Aspinwall to see the boats and the choo-choo trains.Many of us have our own Sal memories and stories, perhaps too many to tell, or too little time to recall them in such plethora.
Sarah Farragher, thank you for making our lives just a little bit easier.Thank you for helping each of us to realize our potential in all of life’s avenues and domains.You have lived a good long happy life, affirmed by this surrounding of family and friends gathered here with us on this day.And while we may seem to mourn your internment within the all too familiar blackened walls of Allegheny Cemetery’s neighboring cerement, we are instead assembled here together as loved ones who wish to celebrate a wonderful and happy life such as your own; that is a true testament to others as to how we might and should live out the rest of our days while here on this earth.
After walking on the wall across from Meme's house I showed the kids my Uncle Jim's initial he chiseled on the top of the wall way back in 1928. He only got as far as the J before the watchman caught him!
Go no further than the Allegheny Cemetary to see the leaves in October. Joey and Grammy Farrell gave us lots of stale bread to feed the geese and ducks. We even saw a turtle and baby deer.
We have been doing Sunday bike rides this month, and are squeezing what is left of the good weather. So today, after biking at Moraine State park on their new bike trail, we though we'd stop on the way home at a playground in Butler. These are some of the shots I took while the kids were enjoying the fun.
Gillian being the oldest of 3 has to wait her turn, but it finally came. She got all sorts of nice presents and cards from everyone. Lots of costume jewelry, books, and of course a new web-kin from her brother. She made Orange-dreamsicle cake out of a magazine, which was quite good. Then we feasted on her favorite dinner meal, Mac & Cheese. (birthday kids get to call the menu on their special day)
The real treat came this past Saturday, when she got to invite 10 friends over to our house and we hosted the "American Girl" mystery party. Everyone dressed up looking their parts and played their roles in the mystery (Clue) like game. The Yauger family came up to spend the day with us, and we all had Pizza after the party was over. Gillian said she really enjoyed her birthday partys.
The night before bed, when I kissed her good night I said, "Well Bean, this is the last time you'll ever get to be an age where you aren't in double digits." ... There was a pause, and then she replied, "Well Dad, not if I plan on living to 100."
September is "Birthday Season" for our family, and Tristan has waited patiently these past few days. Per our family tradition, Tristy helped decorate his cake with cars, and red/white icing. Some of the gifts he got comprised of Transformers, Pokemon figures, dinosaur tracks/shoes, cards & cash, and of course his favorite... A webkin. Now he can go online with his siblings and take care of his virtual pet. Nevermind the fact he still has Little Ranger, who just showed up from the cottage the other day.
Thanks to all who sent cards, gifts, money, etc. It was very thoughtful, and Tristan is enjoying these gifts. Here are a few pictures from Tristan's special day.
On the trip back home, we swung south and hit Midway Park. For those who have never been there, Midway is one of the oldest amusement parks in Western New York. It dates back to 1898, and is one of the most family oriented venues in America. Our kids haven't been to Midway much and we decided on the last day of our summer to hit a few rides, and drink in a few more memories before it's closed up again.
It was a family owned park until as recent as 2006, when the State of NY took it over. Since then, there's been a few changes we don't approve of, but the magic is still there if you look hard enough. I'll post a few shots of the kids making the rides. Pretty soon the kids will grow out of this "kiddie park" but not for now.
Liam got more presents from the family while up the lake. Here he poses with his "Sea Scope" given to him by Uncle Phil & Aunt Vee. Gram McEntee gave Liam a Toys-R-Us gift card. Liam can't wait to visit the toy store. Liam also got "singing cards" with cash in the mail from the Farrell homestead. Thanks to all the family for making Liam's birthday very special this year.
After dinner, the anual tradition at Tara cottage on our last night at the lake is to measure the children. Gillian grew 2 inches over the past year, while Liam and Tristy seem to have grown only 1&1/2 respectively.
After measuring, we then get the anual picture on the swing with the kids. Of course, I can take 30 pictures and usually none of them seem to turn out right, but this one is as good as it gets. Can't believe the summer is almost over, whew, that went fast.
The trick here, is not to win it. If you win, you are in charge of hosting the following year. So every Labor Day, we buy store bought sauce and and boil the taste out of the ribs before grilling them.
On the other hand, this is a great way to end the summer, where most on the block bring a cover dish, sit down with friends and have one last dinner with each other before heading back for the winter. Overall its a great tradition and it's been going on now for over 10 years. (we think)
Before heading to the lake for Labor day weekend, I had the kids picking tomatoes in the garden, when they found an adult Owl who had parked itself under a nearby blueberry bush. The kids knew something was up and alerted Mom & Dad. We didn't want to get too close, but I snapped a few pics of him. He's a Horned Owl I believe, and he looked hurt.
After calling the Game Comission (which never did come) and asking the opinion of our neighbor who is Mr. Outdoors, he approached it after a half hour and it struggled to it's feet. Flapping its wings he soared up across the yard and flew into the pines.
So I took Liam to hockey practice tonight, and Liam's coach handed me a flier exclaiming that the Belmont has been selected as one of the exclusive rinks that Sidney Crosby, the Penguins, and Dicks Sporting Goods has targeted for the "Little Penguins" Youth Hockey Program.
