Andrew Turns 8 [and Joe Turns 47]

We celebrated a double birthday in March—both Andrew's and Joe's. It was a busy week, and it made sense to celebrate them both on one day.

Kathleen decided to make a "test tube cake" in honor of Joe's and Andrew's mutual love of science. It came out a little wacky looking, but we sure did have fun with it!

A little excited!? 

Happy birthday, boys!

Andrew got to blow out the candles while Joe watched.

Therese is SIX

Yes, there's a cake under all that candy.

Our Valentine Girl, Miss Therese Genevieve, turned six on February 14th. Yes, she is completing kindergarten and headed full-tilt toward first grade, ambitious girl that she is.

Therese is a our clown. "Quite a character," people say. She's one of our top baby-entertainers, and helps tremendously around the house.

The world would not be nearly so sweet without Therese's smile and her joie de vivre. We love you, Therese!

Therese Genevieve - six years old!
(Sporting hand-me-down pajamas from her mother, circa 1972.)

A little birthday excitement.

Anticipation.

William Turns 11!

Another December birthday, just ten days before Christmas: Mr. William turns 11 and claims that he loves the double-whammy of excitement that comes from having a birthday and Christmas just ten days apart.

This year, our football-loving boy received a new football, a football mouth guard, football receiver gloves, and a football tee. On top of that, Therese, sticking with the theme, made him a very cool pipe cleaner football! I can't say I've ever received a pipe cleaner football. But the new Rip Stick was the highlight of the evening.

Check out the smiles on this handsome eleven year old's face. We love you, Willy!

Marguerite Turns 2!

Oh, how I love our two-year-old girl. Marguerite is our pride and joy. She keeps us smiling and brings so much life to our family. I cannot imagine life without our treasure, Miss Marguerite Jane.

Now that's a gift!

Kathleen made and decorated the beautiful Pooh cake. Marguerite was so excited!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Holy smokes; I turned 45 this year. Half-way to 90. All things considered, I am doing A-OK! 

Presenting some scenes from my happy little birthday celebration:

The lighting isn't great, but I sure do love this photo of sweet Marguerite with her ever-loving' mama.

Lucia celebrates right alongside us. Would you look at that smile?

The birthday girl with her very favorite man!

Enjoying our two Georgia peaches.

Therese loves the festivities of a good birthday party.
The poinsettia in the background is a birthday gift from my dear friend, Claudia Daniel.

Big love, all around.

Mom-and-daughter antics at the kitchen counter. Lovely, eh?

Anna Marie is 15!

The end of summer means... Anna Marie's birthday!

Happy birthday, my beautiful 15-year-old!

Birthdays make Marguerite smile! 

Anna Marie enjoys a new scarf and a new movie while Marguerite enjoys being part of the birthday mix. 

Marguerite isn't the only happy camper on birthdays.

Happy birthday, lovely Anna Marie. We all love you!

Kathleen is THIRTEEN!

Happy birthday to our brand-new teenager!  Sweet Kathleen enjoyed a birthday party with friends, followed by a family party that included a stop to get pierced ears and dinner at Hu-Hot, one of her favorite restaurants. It's good to be thirteen!

We sure do love you, Sweet Kathleen! Thank you for making us proud. You are such a good and kind young lady.

Kathleen takes a whack at her birthday pinata in the basement.

Kathleen and her girlfriends

Birthday party girls (and a couple extra little Leone girls)

Kathleen gets her ears pierced!

Yay! Pierced ears for the teenager! 

Birthday dinner (and dessert) at Hu-Hot.

Check out those pierced ears and that beautiful face! 

The birthday girl and her little sister. Such beautiful little ladies.

Kathleen, our amazing pianist, decorated our homemade cheesecake with a piano theme.

Happy birthday, Sweet Kathleen!

The Man O' Many Handfuls

And the birthdays just keep rolling in the Leone home...

Therese became a "whole handful" this year.  I wonder how many handfuls Joe became in Mid-March?

Hmmm...     Let me think...     doing the math...    complicated...

Well, the lawyer in me says we'll just say it's a lot, and leave it at that.

But he sure does look good, doesn't he?

Happy birthday to the best husband a girl could ever want!

Joe with the Munchkins Six.

Birthday boy and Marguerite.

Elizabeth presents homemade cheesecake to Happy Hubby.
(Historical footnote: Cheesecake was the first dessert Elizabeth made for Joe, back in Dating Days.) 

Like the "OLD" candle?
Said candle is courtesy of the kids, not the ever-lovin' wife.
Just sayin'.
Happy birthday, Love!

The Age of Reason

Andrew turns SEVEN! What a big guy.

According to the Baltimore Catechism, that's the "age of reason." We're expecting big things from Mr. Andrew now!

We surprised our Star Wars lover with a Star Wars "death star" cake. 

Our crazy little birthday man.
Gifts from Mom and Dad, Grandma Kate & Poppy, and Claudia and John Daniel.

Andrew requested and received goldfish for his birthday.
He had to be convinced they were real. For some reason he didn't think we'd ever buy fish.

Edible chocolate chess set from Claudia & John Daniel!

Andrew requested a seafood dinner for his birthday.
We did a Georgia Low Country Fish Boil - crab, shrimp, and mussels.

Extinguishing the increasingly hazardous death star.