off to early family Christmas

The family got to Harrisburg in plenty of time for the Delta flight to Detroit to catch the plane to Moline, Iowa, where Ryan's family will gather.  Leah's second Christmas, but the first one she can walk around for.

back in time

Saturday, Ryan and I enjoyed a half day at the Renaissance Faire. Part re-creation of 16th century Europe, part costuming extravaganza, part freak show, part acrobatics and sword swallowing, part jousting, part education--there's more than enough for a day. The Renaissance can be pegged at about 1550, with a century or two at each end. Some of the previous era, the Middle Ages, over-lapped. Hence the jousting and the battle axe throwing.

Ryan's birthday party

Ryan turned 28 and proved he still has the puff to take care of the candles at the party we threw for him Saturday.

Besides our sixsome (Sarah, Ryan, Joel, Steph, Dorcas and me) we had guests--Milton and Lois, and cousin Chris from Oregon public radio. Steph, with her new apple laptop, pulled up Chris's recent story which went national.

Last and least were the two hounds, Simon and Brutus, who I noticed did not help to sing "Happy Birthday" and didn't get any of the food. They did regale us with some antics. (pics by Joel)

Ryan's birthday

Come the middle of October, son-in-law Ryan Schrock celebrates a birthday. This summer he demonstrated his newly-purchased Bianchi bike. So I guess he won't get a bike for his birthday. I'm sure I can think of something else. If you ever have a son-in-law, this is the one you want.

the grad

Just minutes after the morning ceremony, where Bill Cosby spoke, here's Sarah and Ryan looking at some of the first picutres.

Two of Cosby's tidbits of humorous wisdom. 1. Don't go forward; you don't know which way is forward. 2. Don't follow your dreams; for four years you haven't been sleeping right so your dreams don't exist. Or, something like that.