July 4th 2005

Our 4th of July weekend this year was VERY special....Michael's son who is also named Michael called us and told us he was coming to visit!!!  We were sooooo excited as I had never met either of Michael's sons and Michael hadn't seen either of his sons in over 4 years.  Charlie, the youngest wasn't able to make it this trip.  Hopefully he will get to come see us real soon.  Michael said that they would try to come up for Christmas!!  :-)

Michael's friend dropped him off....

The two Michael's sat in the backyard under the big ole' tree and talked and talked and talked....

I had to leave for school and when I got back, they were still out there talking....:-)

What a very handsome young man!!!   ;-)

This is Michael's Army ring....very impressive!!! 

Michael also hit it off with Bosco...they became instant "buds"!!

When Michael told us he was leaving for the night, but would be back the next day around 3pm,

 we scrambled to plan a backyard cookout....and pulled it off pretty well if I do say so myself!

  We got as many family members here as we could on such short notice.... ;-)

This is Joe, one of Michael's four brothers.

Chana and Michael serving up the food!!

My mother on the left...Michael's mom beside her and my stepmother, Sherilyn on the right....

Bruce, another of Michael's four brothers is in the background.

Everyone swarming the food table...:-)

My father and stepmother and Bruce again in the background.

From the left: my mother Faye, my sister's childhood friend Judy,

 my sister Karyla, my stepmother Sherilyn and Michael.

Michael's mom and my mom.....Judy on the right

Michael and Joe....and on the right is our neighbor Faith and her granddaughter, Sarah.....

Faith brought over the World's Greatest Brownies...(just the general consensus by all attendees!!)  lol

Michael, Bruce and my father, Russell

This was after we had all eaten and Michael promptly picked up his chair and walked over and plopped it down right in front of Michael and they sat like that and talked until Michael had to leave.

Bruce's wife Cindy in the foreground.

Joe and my friend Chana

Everyone had a grand time...it was a very warm afternoon, but our big ole' tree shaded

the backyard perfectly and made it tolerable.... ;-)

My nephew Wesley and his wife Beth dropped of Baby Eli for MawMaw to babysit

He's such a little doll!!!   ;-)

Below are pictures that Michael brought up with him of his family in Florida.

...just love these happy smiling faces.... ;-)