The Rapps at the Lake

The Rapp family came to visit VBP again this summer. Our kids love to play together, and since they rent the Warner's cottage next door it makes for one giant play-date all week long! Many hours were spent playing on the beach with Jack & Kieran, at the playground, street hockey, and infamous sleep overs. These are the times they will remember for the rest of their lives with fondness.


Of course the parents all enjoy sitting out with a bottle of wine in the evenings after things have quieted down, and discussing a wide variety of conversational topics into the night. :-) We hope they continue to come back every year, and I'll post some pictures of the past week.

Mike Laverty visits VBP with his family

On the way back from Niagra Falls, Mike and family stopped by the lake to visit. Cynthia, Spencer and Griffin were also on hand, and met the kids for the first time. We took a few pictures on the beach and in front of the Tara sign. It was great that we had a chance to meet the cousins from California.

Now it's off to Washington DC, where their family will see the sights. We hope they can make it up again sometime in the future for a longer stay.

Maggie's 60th Birthday Party

Well another milestone for one of the Limo 7 - Maggie hit the Big 60. We tried to throw a Surprise Party for her but I don't know how much of a surprise it was...Mom kind of let Maggie know who was coming accidently of course, so when Annie called to tell me some of Maggie's friends from school were coming, I told Annie "Don't tell Mommy". We think she was surprised at least with her friends. Gloria Runco, Patty Gunning, Eileen Gavin, Bea Jones, MaryLou Sell and of course the rest of the gang. Billy Farrell was the first to arrive but didn't stay because he had a game to referee. We had fantastic food - Barb's Country Kitchen (our friend Pat who owns it) offered to cater it and Mom jumped at that. Fantastic Ribs and cake and she gave me my birthday cake ahead of time to share (which was her delicious Lasagna) I shared some of it but kept some for myself to enjoy later in the week. A special thanks to Tara who cooked rigatoni and meatballs which were scrumptious. Eileen Gavin made Lady Locks that were out of this world. Our Pat brought a sandwich ring and if I missed anyone forgive me...but it was one heavenly feast. The kids enjoyed the day in the pool and we ate...and ate...and ate..

Gloria brought her mother, Alma, who we haven't seen in a long while. We were also glad to have Ann McEntee there (healing quite nicely from her fall thank God). Mom & Uncle Jim were there but wasn't a good day for them. Mom took a weak spell outside in the heat and we got her back into the air condition (which she constantly turns off on us) and Uncle Jim was having stomach problems, but other than that....we all enjoyed the party...Hard to believe she's 60...I'll be 51 on Thursday...where does the time go...Also hard to believe this was the day PapPap passed away 17 years ago.....seems like only yesterday. Make the most of everyday...you never know when the Limo ride will end...so Enjoy Life; Go on Vacations; Read a Book; Talk to your Friends and tell them that you care; Spend time with your kids and grandkids and relatives; Keep the Faith; but most of all tell the ones you Love....just how much you Love them Always & Forever!

Mom's 93rd Birthday

On Sunday we celebrated Mom's Birthday and we finally had the pool up and running. Thanks to Mark Matasich, who lit the gas heater and got it warmed up for the crowd. Davey & Leeann and Breanna & Luke came and Tara & Sean & Finn also came. Bridget and Pat & John and Bea and Annie & Dave (who of course watched the US Open) also joined us. Debbie & Mark came over for dinner. Most of us got in the pool and enjoyed it. Luke truly got into Grandma's cake and enjoyed every sugary lick he got in, he had it all over his face on the back of the chair, but he enjoyed it and that's all that counts. We are so very blessed as Cullen said to have Grandma celebrating another birthday, especially after the year she's had. Talk about a good gene pool, we can only hope with have some of those genes floating in us. We hope she has a good visit with Uncle Jim who is coming in on Thursday and that she makes it up the Lake in July. Also I hope all the Father's in the family had a wonderful day. That day always makes me miss Daddy, but I know he's up there keeping watch over us all. I'm sure he's very proud of his son and grandsons and son-in-laws who have become wonderful Dads & PapPaps themselves. Keep up the good work and pass it on.

Father's Day at Lake Aurthur

It was such a nice day, that we wanted to go on a picnic for Father's Day. So we packed up the mini-van and took a couple of sandwiches over to Moraine State Park, which about a 45 minute drive west from where we live. Entry to the park is free, one of the few things left in Pennsylvania that is to the public. :-)




After a week of 90+ degree temps, the heat wave finally broke, and made it a very pleasant day to be outside. After lunch we took a nature walk down along the shore and saw some fantastic sights. Nobody got poison ivy, which is amazing.




We ended the trip by stopping over to the beach, and although the kids didn't have their bathing suits, that didn't stop them from wading in the water. Liam and Tristan both were working on a sand castle.




It was a fun day for the family and old Dad got dinner served to him when we got back home. Here are some other shots from the day.

Gammy Farrell's Birthday

Well, another year another blessing. The kids went down to visit Gammy Farrell and delivered her their home-made cards for her birthday. Unfortunately the weather was a bit on the rainy side, and given the status with the pool ordeal, we were unable to take a dip.

We did get a chance to talk to some of the Farrell sisters, and visit for a while. Here is a shot with Rita & the girls. The following day was the official family party, but since we were already in town for Sam's cousin's graduation party, we paid our visit a day early.

Happy 40th Birthday Gammy Farrell!!! :-)

Beating the Heat!

With the stretch of 90+ degree heat, the Farrell kids find interesting ways to keep cool! Click on the play button to watch this 30 second video.

The Pens Lost, but I'm Still Proud

The loss was a heart breaker to be sure. Being down 3-2 going into game 6 is not a bad position to be in. Lots of us thought they were going to go 0-4 and have their buts kicked on national TV and be a total laughing stock.

Every one I talk to in this area is proud of the Pens. Game 5 is being called the game of all games that made franchise history. That said, game 6 they lost, and Detroit (which was always a better team) rightly won the series.

As an avid Pens fan, we all knew that this Detroit foe was (talent wise) beyond them in terms of skill. Even these "bandwagon Steeler fans" who don't watch hockey very often were able to notice the difference/disparity in skill level between these two teams.

It was the Pen's heart that was what inspired many of us to "believe". It's why I wrote that e-mail the other day. Even though we didn't hoist the cup, I'm still VERY proud of my team, and so is the city.

Irish