And a happy day to Maddy too!!

Fun to remember all the good summer times with the Kerksieks - happy day today to Maddy!!

Happy day to Karl!!

Happy day to Karl - don't you love the smile??

Have a great year too!!

Happy, Happy Birthday!!

Happy day to one of the best brothers-in-law ever!!  Looking forward to having you back stateside once more!!

Happy Day Elder Kerksiek!!

My geography is not excellent, so the day may already be over for Elder Kerksiek, but happy birthday to Axel!!

I remember his birth - Alice came here to the States to have him - and then  a few weeks later she came to California for a visit - so we got to see him as a real newbie!!

We saw lots of Axel when the Kerksieks came for their annual summer visits - but not so much since then.  Hopefully we can see more of him when he returns - the lure of the coast and all!!

Hope it was a great day!!

Happy Day to the first Hannah!!

All the photo sorting does have its perks - you find little gems like this one - Hannah and Hester at the Embassy in 1992 - on August 7th - Hannah's 7th birthday - trying out her new roller-blades for the first time!!

Happy Birthday Hannah!!

Happy Day to Hester!!

I think it's pretty much agreed that it's not a Hester's Birthday Post unless I post this photo.

But this one is also emblematic of those "cousin" days of yore!!

Oh, those silly girls!! (This is from that long ago era when I had my very first digital camera - and took almost no photos with it. I was still resisting technology at that time - the mid-90's. I think there are about a dozen photos I took. Dad took over the camera and took "work" shots mostly.)

What is so wonderful is that the "cousin" days go on and on!!

Hester the Scholar!!

I think this is Phoebe's wedding??

Beach shots truly say "SoCal cousin days of yore!!"

You know, Alice is a great letter writer - and she always used to write me - before we resorted to email and phone calls - and she sent lots of pictures - which I have stashed in boxes and folders everywhere.

I could probably start a Kerksiek blog of my own!!

Except I might not be able to identify and offer commentary!!

But I have loved staying so connected to all of the great Kerksieks this way.

Do you love the 80's as much as I do!! It's a perfect look for cute little girls!

They grow so fast, don't they?

Hester is a wonderful young woman - and I have always loved her!! I was thinking that these two photos are representative of where Eve and Esme are at this point in time - they are midway between them in fact - and how I hope the cousin relationships in the Terrill family can be as great as they are with the Kerksieks!! (We love all our cousins - but we certainly see more of some than others - and some stay in touch better - hint, hint!!)

Hester - we hope you have a happy day and a wonderful year ahead - no one deserves it more than you!!

Happy Birthday Dale!

Talk about random!! Alice has sent me lots of Kerksiek family pictures over the years - and they are mostly in boxes - so I just sort of pulled out the first ones that caught my eye. I really should have been keeping a Kerksiek Album or something. I guess it never occurred to me that I'd have an album's worth!! It's a fun little trip down Memory Lane - especially the shots of the kids.

But I digress. This is not about the kids!! Here are Alice and Dale decked out for the Marine Ball - in 1993 I think. Alice - and Dale - have lots of opportunities to get dressed up!! Sounds fun to me. But then, Alice has always worn clothes well. (Dale looks sharp too!)

Looks like a happy anniversary shot!!

This is a nice shot of both of them - Alice has great hair too. But this is supposed to be about Dale isn't it?? (I could have a shot of Dale with his perm - but maybe he'd like to forget that!!)

On the back, this says they are in front of a hotel.

So here is the closest I could find to a "solo" shot of Dale - but it includes Albert's back!!

Dale is a great brother-in-law - and an all around wonderful guy. We are certainly grateful that he is part of our family.

Here's to you, Dale, for a happy day - and a great year ahead.