Christmas 2011

Date: Saturday, December 17

Time:

Where: 
Oaks of Wellington
10240 Hendley Road
Manassas, Virginia 20110

Miscellaneous Supplies:

Table cloths: Candy & Jeff
Coffee, creamer, sugar: Lisa & Doug
Plates (dinner & dessert: Marylee & Bob
Plates:

Cups (hot & cold): Grandma Rita

Utensils: Grandma Rita
Napkins & Papertowels: Ken & Kristy

Trash bags: Paulette & George

Decorations:

Music:
Ice:
Tables:
Crafts for the kids: Denise & Paulette
Grown-up punch: Rebecca

Salad / Side Dishes / Appetizers
Napa cabbage salad: Carolyn
Corn: Ellen & Andy
Surprise appetizer: Ellen & Andy
Surprise appetizer: Barbara & Don
Deviled eggs: Candy & Jeff
Fruit or veggie: Marylee & Bob
Fruit: Denise & Jake
Cheese & crackers: Denise & Jake
Seven layer dip: Cory & Kate
Spinach dip: Cory & Kate, Ron
Macaroni & cheese: Cory & Kate
Veggie: Ron
Brie tarts: Lisa & Doug
Mini-quiche: Carol Anderson
Veggie tray: Ken & Kristy
Green beans: Nick


Desserts
Baklava: Carolyn
Surprise dessert: Barbara & Don
Bread pudding: Ellen & Andy
Surprise dessert: Cory & Kate


Main Dishes
Polish kielbasa: Janene & Arthur
Crab cakes: Paulette & George
Ham with hash browns: Candy & Jeff
Ham: Grandma Rita
Chicken salad: Grandma Rita
Swedish meatballs: Marylee & Bob
Chicken wings: Lisa & Doug
Corn beef: Lisa & Doug

Georgia Barbara says Hi

I will bring a dessert and appetizer to the party. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.
Love Me

Summer Adventures with the Johnsons

Bob, Marylee, and Kelsey spent July 4th week in Pittsburgh playing with Annabel.  We played a lot of the card game “Fish”, went to Kennywood Amusement Park, saw fireworks, went to Carnegie Science Museum, toured the PA Steeler field, saw a Pirates baseball game (lost), played miniature golf, and had fun.  Then we visited U. Ed and A. Barbara in Latrobe.  U. Ed was his usual friendly self, though tired from his chemo treatments.  We also stopped at the site of Flight 93 in PA and then went to visit GG.  We had a very nice week!

Riding the Raging Rapids -- twice!!!

At Kennywood (Cousin Ken has his own theme park?)

I love to dress up!

Uncle Bob leads the tour of the submarine. 

Kelsey's new friend, Hal.

Kelsey & Keith out on the field.

Long-lost cousin??? A. Marylee wants to know who is scarier!?

Adventures: Summer 2011

Greetings!! I hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far. Arthur & I just returned from a tour of the American southeast where we made stops in Charleston, Savannah, Atlanta (Hi, Vermillions!) and, quite unexpectedly, Charlotte. These are all interesting places to visit with unique personalities and plenty to see. Charleston is a great city to explore over a long weekend, and the beautiful beaches on the road to Savannah are inviting destinations that leave us wanting to return. Of course, the hospitality of Aunt Barbara and Uncle Don is unparalleled. Here are some highlights:

BBQ: pulled pork, collard greens,
fried okra, and cornbread!

The birthplace of the founder of the Girl Scouts
(Juliette Gordon Low)
in Savannah -- fascinating family!

With the Vermillions in Dawsonville, GA:
Little Jackie is quite the conversationalist,
Abby likes to concentrate and play blocks,
and Baby Evan looks just like Mike!

What about you?  Where can we find you this summer?  Send me updates and photos so I can post for all to enjoy.  Wishing you cold popsicles, sandy beaches, and many adventures!

New Baby Miller

Please welcome baby Nora who was born on June 27 at 5:45 in the morning.  She weighs 6 pounds, 10.5 ounces and measures 19.5 inches. long.  Everyone is doing great.

Rita wanted to name me Twinkle Rose!

Birthday Flowers

Happy Birthday Grandma Rita!

We wish you good health, much happiness, 

and many adventures.

We love you!

Father's Day Presents

Congratulations to Mike, Erin, Jackie, and Abby!

Happy Father's Day to all the Bryant dads.

Baby Evan has arrived.

Hi guys, don't I look just like my dad?!

Gardening at Grandma Rita's

Thanks to Aunt Marylee for taking these fun photos:

That's Officer Mike to you!

Way to go, Cousin Mike!  We're proud of you!

GA Update

Hi There from GA. It is nice today and going to be sunny and mid 70's. Yesterday the Vermillion's went to Atlanta to witness Mike being sworn in as an Atlanta Police Officer. After 21 weeks of training he will graduate top of his class and receive the Top Gun award when the class graduates in July. Way to Go Son. We are awaiting the birth of grandbaby 3 in mid-June and Erin is doing well. Uncle Don has been trout fishing and turkey hunting inbetween golf outings. He has also been installing crown molding in the house on the 12 foot ceilings. What a job!! and its looking good too. my flower garden's are looking wonderful and now I must get out and start weeding. It's windy today but I hope to do some work this weekend after Jackie's soccor game Saturday.

Celebrity look alike?

Does anyone in our family have an uncanny resemblance to a celebrity?  I think Arthur could be aging into his Socrates phase.  And I swear that's U. Jeff peering at Tom Selleck.  Leave a comment . . . !

Spring has spring?

Is the weather as nice where you are as it is here in NY?  Today was really the first pleasant day we've had in a long time. What's new with all of you?  Here are some of my highlights:

My students and I used Skype to connect to another school this week.

Like my technology collection?  My students are twice my size.

Thank you, I like my skirt, too!
(Yes, that is the principal trying to sneak out the door.)

We went to a baptism for Arthur's cousin's baby, Olivia!

Arthur, our friend Bobby, Peter & Andrew

Abigail

We took a quick trip to Hawaii.

Kidding!  I wish!  This is from last summer's vacation in Martinique.

Finally saw the last of the snow melt.

Oh, the parking!

Watched some old British television: The Avengers, circa 1967.  Don't you love Mrs. Peel and Mr. Steed?

Enough about me, what's new with you?!?

Grand-mere!

At school I'm always looking for creative ways to engage my students. I have to admit that sometimes you all make guest appearances in my lessons, sometimes with very colorful accompanying stories. (They love this!) Such was the case today! Since my students in French 3 are studying the passe compose and the imparfait lately (two different past tenses), I used some recent Bryant happenings to review these two grammar points.  Voila the two newest stars of French 3 at Holy Cross High School:

"My name is Jeff.  I'm Janene's uncle.  She's my niece.  Her mother is my sister. 
Currently I live in Maryland with my wife.  I love to go fishing."

Hi!  My name is Mrs. Bryant.  My first name is Rita.  Janene is my granddaughter. 
Her mother is my daughter.  Tuesday when I was feeding the squirrels,
I slipped and fell.  (The squirrels really love when I feed them oranges!)
Unfortunately, I slipped and broke my leg.  Oh drat!

What can I do to help my grandmother?
She is so nice and I love her a lot!

My students' suggestions are likely to be very interesting.  I'll keep you posted.

Marylee and Bob in the Big Apple

How did you all make out with the snow?  Our car is still sitting twenty blocks away under a pile of the white stuff.  Oh brother.

Anyway, Aunt Marylee sent me some pictures awhile back from their whirlwind trip to NY and I thought I would share.  Marylee was super organized and she and Bob saw a ton of the sites: all of the Christmas department store windows, the Rockettes, the Lion King, dinner in the "real" Little Italy, the Bronx Botanical Garden, the Rockefeller Center tree, and probably much more!  Although they stayed near Times Square, Arthur and I were able to hang out with them twice.  If  it's been a few years since you've been in the Big Apple (er, Carolyn!), I recommend you give it another go.  See you in the spring!?!



You can't go wrong with a quick bite at China Fun!



Bob loves Macy's!

At the Bronx Botanical Garden Holiday Show

At the Bronx Botanical Garden Library where we saw an exhibit on grains? 
Rice?  Mushrooms?  Can't remember!  (Hey Bob, what's a lichen?)

Here we are picking out the suckling pig for the next Bryant Christmas party.

Arthur on "Arthur Avenue"



 

Grandma!

Dear Grandma Rita, 

We hope that you are feeling ok and that your arm heals quickly. 
Take it easy and be careful!  We love you!

p.s. Thanks to Uncle Jeff for the great photo who, ironically, may have sustained the most broken bones of any Bryant!

Roma 2010

 
<>Bongiorno!  Arthur and I were fortunate to spend Christmas week in Rome this year and I thought I would share a few photos from our trip. What a wonderful city -- we saw beautiful art and architecture, ate some tasty meals, drank a few frothy cappuccino (much too cold for gelato!), and learned (remembered!?) so much history. We stayed in a chilly apartment near the Campo di Fiori which was a perfect home base for exploring the city. If our pictures tempt you, let me know: I'm already dreaming of my next visit! 

 

Here I am taking a photo of the ceiling in the Jesuit Church called "Il Gesu." 
(I'm actually looking into a mirror, rather than craning my neck to look at the ceiling.)



One of Rome's most iconic sites, Il Coloseo, was built by the emperor Vespasian in AD 72 on the site of a marshy lake.  The Colosseum originally had seating for 55,000 and was the site of the famed gladiator games.   Much of it has been destroyed by earthquakes, neglect, and theft, but it is an interesting sight to contemplate.  Other arenas (in much better condition) can actually be seen in Nimes and Arles, France.

The pillar to Arthur's left is meant to indicate Jesus' height.  What do you think?  Is Arthur as tall as Jesus?  Taller?

Uh, definitely shorter.

What delicious food -- pasta, vino, pancetta, prosciutto, formaggio -- la dolce vita!

Do you see our ubiquitous guidebook? 
We love the Eyewitness Travel Guides!