Daddy and Anthony took a trip to good old Syracuse, NY
(Daddy's home town) to visit Anthony's grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles,
paesanos, and what not. We were there from 7/19 to 7/29. The special occassion
on 7/22
was
the restating of vows between Glamma and Poppies. It was their 40th wedding
anniversary. Cousin Lenore performed the ceremony and close family and friends
were in attendance. The rest of the time was spent playing with cousins, going
to parks, museums, seeing more cousins, and just taking a break from the chaos
Anthony and I have to live back in california. It was a real pleasure seeing
everyone and having Anthony get to know the majority of his immediate family.
Here's a shout out to Aunt Shirley (finally on Facebook). Anthony loved showing
off his swimming abilities and playing with all his cousins (Kristen, Nicholas,
Johnny, Evan, Mason, Brielle and Karissa). Please note that since I forgot
which is which all references to the twins, Brielle and Karissa, will be labeled
"BrieKrissa". Daddy got some good face time with his family too.
Thanks to all for the encouragement and to know how much I've tried and done
this past
few years given circumstances that stretch back years with no end in site.
Having a big family with a lot of experience to draw from helps a lot. But
I digress, I got to take Anthony on a little jaunt around town showing him
my
old elementary
school
and places
I
used to
play.
Not much
has
changed,
but no more Jrek's Subs. Twas a sad discovery. Check out the photos and videos
below for all the fun and more info. And one last word (regarding the roundtrip
flight): Newark airport sucks! Big time. Horrible experience. Avoid passing
through Newark at all costs. It was recently voted worst airport in America.
I agree. Enjoy the pics and vids.
2012-07-20: Swimming at Aunt Erika and
Uncle Jim's house.
2012-07-20: Glamma's annoyed at someone
here. Not sure.
2012-07-20: Glamma, Erika and BrieKrissa
2012-07-20: Everywhere...lush and green.
2012-07-20
2012-07-20: Uncle Jim has some cool toys.
One is a go-cart big enough for two. It can get up to some good speed, but
I kept it civil for Anthony. Still, check the end of the video (raise your
volume) and you can hear Anthony screaming as we go over the bumps. We both
had a blast.
2012-07-20: Anthony playing car horn
2012-07-20: Uncle Jim also has an electric
roundabout old fart transport vehicle.
2012-07-20: Dr Evil chair!
2012-07-20: Getting set for Smores!!
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2012-07-21: The next day cousins Frank,
Roseanne, Nicholas and Johnny arrived. Immediately, a water fight broke out.
2012-07-21
2012-07-21: Anthony firing off a good shot
on Nicholas
2012-07-21: BrieKrissa doesn't look like
she's having fun. Anthony was so good with them the whole visit.
2012-07-21: This picture is self explainatory
with everyone showing off their tablet-toys.
2012-07-21: Exhausted
2012-07-22: This day started normal. A
little family baseball.
2012-07-22: Complete with a home run.
2012-07-22: Then things got wierd. First
some bald bowler guy escorted Glamma across the lawn.
2012-07-22: Glamma and Poppies exchanged
vows
2012-07-22: Then Glamma and Poppies wanted
to be tied up.
2012-07-22
2012-07-22: Rick read something as Lenore
kept tying.
2012-07-22: ...and tying.
2012-07-22: Then I was told to tie them.
2012-07-22: Then my cousin.
2012-07-22: Even my sister (while she was
texting).
2012-07-22: I witnessed from a grassy knoll.
2012-07-22: The tying of hands in some
cultures signifies being bound in a holy cage fight to the death. But in this
case it symbolizes love and togetherness even though there's this whole bondage
thing.
2012-07-22: The crowd looked on.
2012-07-22: Then we all got to throw
good luck rocks in the bird bath. Getting the rock to skip off the water was
frawned upon.
2012-07-22: We all took turns.
2012-07-22: Then we moved on tothe finale:
the smashing of Ron's radiation mask from his days with cancer. The doctor
gave him a clean bill of health a while ago, but the smashing of the mask was
saved for the whole family to take part. It was a real tough time in Poppies'
life.
2012-07-22: Here's some words from Ron
and the smashing.
2012-07-22
2012-07-22
2012-07-22: Everybody got to take a whack.
2012-07-22: Even some dude that was just
driving by got a turn.
2012-07-22: Aunt Erika, Poppies, Glamma
and Daddy
2012-07-22: Roseanne, Daddy, Glamma, Poppies,
Frank, Peter, Nichole, Aunt Erika, Anthony, Evan, Uncle Jim, Mason, Johnny,
Nicholas & Kristen
2012-07-22: Roseanne, Daddy, Glamma, Poppies,
Frank, Peter, Nichole, Aunt Erika, Anthony, Evan, Uncle Jim, Mason, Johnny,
Nicholas & Kristen
2012-07-22: Cousin Roseanne offered each
kid $5 if they could sit for a picture. BrieKrissa ate theirs.
2012-07-22: The cake.
2012-07-22: The cutting.
2012-07-22: The mashing.
2012-07-22: The pouring.
2012-07-22: The drinking.
2012-07-22
2012-07-23: On this day we all (and I mean
everyone) went to Thunder Island. It's a water theme park with a zip line,
go carts & mini golf. Not sure why I don't have pictures from this day besides
this here. Do a web search on the park name so you can see the rides and layout.
We had three truck loads of family and equipment. We spent a lot of time on
the BIG water slides. Anthony was approved to go by
himself on all but the Toilet Bowl. And these were some big loooong slides.
He road with me most of the time, but finally got the courage to go by himself.
He loved it. There are so many more restrictions in California that he would
never be allowed to ride rides like this. It was all safe and quite the fun.
He, John, Nicholas and Kristen also had a blast in the kiddie section that
had slides labeled for kids that california would not approve of. Go figure.
Anthony wants to go back there big time.
2012-07-23
2012-07-23: All the kiddie cousins went
over to Kristen's house to play games...
2012-07-23: ....drink sugar...
2012-07-23: ....and play more games.
2012-07-24: Back over to Aunt Erika's house
for more swimming and go-cart fun.
2012-07-24: Anthony was so gentle with
BrieKrissa.
2012-07-24
2012-07-24
2012-07-24: Priceless.
2012-07-24: Father teaching daughter how
to drive.
2012-07-25: Onondaga Lake. One of the most
polluted lakes in the country.
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2012-07-25: Syracuse at the other end of
the lake.
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2012-07-25: Doggy walkin'.
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2012-07-27: The Most - a children's hands
on museum in downtown Syracuse.
2012-07-27
2012-07-27: That...is a pretty darned good
helicopter simulator (full control).
2012-07-27: Fighter sim. All movable surfaces
on the plane are controled from the cockpit.
2012-07-27
2012-07-27: I tried to take a picture of
a lonely boy in the dead end of town. You just can't take a sad picture with
this kid.
2012-07-27
2012-07-27: Evan don't take no shit.
2012-07-27
2012-07-28: Having lunch waiting for the
Liverpool field days to open.
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2012-07-28: Ticklish babby.
2012-07-28: Liverpool Field Days in the
Village - This is the kiddie ride.
2012-07-28: But it turns out Anthony is
now big enough to go on all the big rides (except the Tilt a Whirl).
2012-07-28
2012-07-28: Anthony rode this ride 10 times.
Each ride is about 2 minutes or so half going backward while up and down. Daddy
don't do those rides.
2012-07-28: Anthony conned Kristen in to
going.
2012-07-28: After this last 10th ride I
promised to take Anthony on a ride that spins you around in a circle while
spinning around two other axis. Think of riding on the tip of a pin wheel while
spinning two other ways. Anthony loved it. Daddy got a major headache and had
to sit down a lot for the rest
of the
day.
2012-07-28: Anthony has never done any
fireworks. Sssoooo......
2012-07-28
2012-07-28: Peter was in the darkness setting
off the bottle rockets. Too bad phone cameras aren't that good in low light.
