kids on a bridge

1954.  Here we are standing on a bridge...all five of us.  Those sailor hats my brothers are wearing are certainly keeping their heads protected on this very sunny day.  Even my sister and I are wearing hats.  It's just a very hat-ty day.  below: no hat, although a nice wide brimmed chapeau might lessen the glare bouncing of of my broad forehead.  my goodness.

mmmmm

If this tastes as good as it looks, well.....I'm a happy, happy girl!!  I have no idea where I am or how I came upon this ridiculously yummy cup of coffee (complete with whipped cream) but it sure looks like I'm enjoying the moment.  Oh, wait, maybe it's hot chocolate.  hummmmm   Either way, it's heavenly.  I am a happy girl!

grandma and the grandkids

What a gaggle of goofy guys and gals!!  And, we are cousins, too.  Ok, from the B. Brudevold clan there's Duane, Keith, Jean, Steven and Susan.  From the O. Brudevold branch of the family there is Nancy, David and John.  The Beattie bunch includes Robert, Keith, Carol and Lois.  The only M's on the family tree are the Mathre boys--Jimmy, Jerry and John.  (Joel wasn't born, yet.)  And then there's Grandma in the middle surrounded by all of her giggley grandchildren.  (except Joel)  Aren't we a jolly group!  I believe this picture was taken about 1960.  Woof!

summertime picnic

I believe this picture was taken in 1954.  We are having a picnic somewhere and I see my sister and two of my brothers seated at the table.  I am behind my younger brother who is wearing a sailor hat.  I see my other brother is wearing his sailor hat, too.  Sailor hats were popular headgear for boys.  Anyway, it looks like a very nice day for a picnic.  I'm sure the food was great!  Below: me and my big forehead, again.

lotsa Brudevolds

1952.  Oh boy, here's a lot of relatives packed in tight on somebody's back steps.  Let's see, as far as the kids go, in the front row there is Duane, Susan, Robert, Jean and Nancy.  Keith B. is behind Duane and Steven is next to him.  Someone is next to Steven and it could be either David or the other Keith B.  Carol is being held by her father Don and Grandma is in the center.  Doris and Oscar B. are standing next to her.  In the very back row we have Bennett, Oscar G., Ruth and Grandpa.  Oh, my word!!  And...the steps didn't even give in.  Great craftsmanship.  They don't build them like that these days.  Wowsers!  Here's to us.  All of us.  side note: Can you see where I get my big forehead?  Heredity!  Wax them to a fine shine and you could send sun reflected morse code messages off of them.  Yes sir-e-e-e.
-

Parisian wedding

This very nice picture of my sister and me was taken on June 21, 2013 in Paris.  We were sailing on the Seine River while attending the wedding of my youngest son, Jeremy, to his beautiful wife, Jan.  What a wonderful day it turned out to be.  The weather was perfect and the mood was light.  We had our hair done in the morning, dressed for the day, assisted the bride and took a taxi ride through crazy traffic to the boat landing in time for the wedding and a two hour leisurely cruise on the Seine.  We sailed by the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.  There were people on the street who witnessed the ceremony and clapped for the new couple as we did.  As we sailed along and passed under the bridges people would clap and wave to the wedding party.  It was a great day all around.  The picture below was taken in my son's house (today) in front of the framed poster that advertised the music festival that occurs every June 21st in Paris.  This poster, of course, was from the 2013 festival and is a special remembrance for the happy couple of that very happy day...then, now and always.

a fine bunch of kids

Here we are on a sightseeing adventure while taking one of our summer road trips.  I think this picture was taken in about 1955 while we were on a camping trip through the mid-Atlantic states and the Appalachian Mountain area of Tennessee and Kentucky.  I think I am about seven years old at this time.  Always a group shot...and a nice one at that.  This is me today.  10 x 7 years old.  p.s.  What is that giraffe face doing behind my head?  Nothing.  Just smiling.  It's the top part of a child's height measurement chart posted on the wall of my granddaughter's room.  That's all.  (Can my forehead get any bigger? My goodness!!)