What Christmas has become today....
What Christmas really is............
May you find the true meaning of Christmas this year!
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Wedding Bells Rang
On Saturday, November 8th, 2014 at 11am, Jaclyn married Blake Laberee. The ceremony was held at First Baptist Church in East Longmeadow, MA and was officiated by her grandfather James Gangwer. The reception was held at the Wawel Hall in Enfield, CT.
After the reception, the newly married couple headed off to their new home in OR by way of a week's long cross-country honeymoon. In OR, Jaclyn has a new job as an RN, and Blake will continue his job as youth pastor at his church.
***New pictures and several video have been added as of 11-29-14***
I have posted what pictures I could scrounge up from others as I was not able to take pictures. Also, if you have an Instagram account, you can go to #labereewedding to see pictures posted by others.
After the reception, the newly married couple headed off to their new home in OR by way of a week's long cross-country honeymoon. In OR, Jaclyn has a new job as an RN, and Blake will continue his job as youth pastor at his church.
***New pictures and several video have been added as of 11-29-14***
I have posted what pictures I could scrounge up from others as I was not able to take pictures. Also, if you have an Instagram account, you can go to #labereewedding to see pictures posted by others.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Dinner and a Show
Friday night, October 17th, Tammy and I went into Hartford for dinner at Peppercorn Grill and a show at the Bushnell Theater.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Two Old Places
On Saturday, September 6th, Tammy and I visited Old Wethersfield here in CT. We took a two hour guided tour of the Ancient Burying Grounds in town. ( Yup, two hours -- and it was very informative.) We then toured the following three houses:
-- the Joseph Webb House which served as George Washington’s headquarters in May 1781 and is where the Continental General met with French commander the Comte de Rochambeau to plan the joint military campaign that led to the victory at Yorktown and the end of the American Revolution.
-- the Silas Deane House whose owner helped plan and finance the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in May of 1775 and by June of 1776, was in Paris secretly securing French military supplies for the patriot cause.
-- and the Isaac Stevens House whose period interiors on the first floor reflect the taste of a middle class family in the 1820s and 30s with many original family possessions on display.
On Friday, September 19th, after work, we headed to Old Orchard Beach in Maine for the weekend making a three hour trip into four hours thanks to I-495 traffic. We stayed right on the beach where you could hear the waves even with the windows shut. On a cold and windy Saturday, we walked up the beach in one direction then down the other direction. We also walked through town stopping at all the shops and stores that were open. On Sunday, we awoke to rain which dampened our plans for a visit to Portland. So we headed home early, making it back to CT in time to spend several hours walking around the Big E in West Springfield.
-- the Joseph Webb House which served as George Washington’s headquarters in May 1781 and is where the Continental General met with French commander the Comte de Rochambeau to plan the joint military campaign that led to the victory at Yorktown and the end of the American Revolution.
-- the Silas Deane House whose owner helped plan and finance the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in May of 1775 and by June of 1776, was in Paris secretly securing French military supplies for the patriot cause.
-- and the Isaac Stevens House whose period interiors on the first floor reflect the taste of a middle class family in the 1820s and 30s with many original family possessions on display.
On Friday, September 19th, after work, we headed to Old Orchard Beach in Maine for the weekend making a three hour trip into four hours thanks to I-495 traffic. We stayed right on the beach where you could hear the waves even with the windows shut. On a cold and windy Saturday, we walked up the beach in one direction then down the other direction. We also walked through town stopping at all the shops and stores that were open. On Sunday, we awoke to rain which dampened our plans for a visit to Portland. So we headed home early, making it back to CT in time to spend several hours walking around the Big E in West Springfield.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
A Summer Shower
On Saturday, August 23rd, we had Jaclyn's wedding shower. Lizzy, her maid of honor, and Chelsea, a bridesmaid, were the hosts. It was themed "Oh the Places She Will Go" around the couples honeymoon travels from CT to OR by way of the east coast states along the southern states then back up the west coast states.
Pictures of the festivities are posted to the right.
Pictures of the festivities are posted to the right.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
A Fifth Season?
The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that to every thing there is a season. Unfortunately, here at our house many things seem to have come to an end of their season.
01) Lawn mower end of last fall
02) Livingroom HDTV end of winter
03) Computer end of winter
04) Dehumidifier start of spring
05) Chimneys repointed during spring
06) Central A/C had a leak when installed
07) Dishwasher start of July
08) Digital camera got washed while on vacation end of July
09) Grass Trimmer start of August
10) Dryer middle of August
01) Lawn mower end of last fall
02) Livingroom HDTV end of winter
03) Computer end of winter
04) Dehumidifier start of spring
05) Chimneys repointed during spring
06) Central A/C had a leak when installed
07) Dishwasher start of July
08) Digital camera got washed while on vacation end of July
09) Grass Trimmer start of August
10) Dryer middle of August
Saturday, August 2, 2014
A Golden Anniversary
On Monday, July 21, all my immediate family met in Warrenton, VA to stay in a vacation rental for a week long celebration of our parent's 50th wedding anniversary. Every member of the James and Peggy Gangwer clan were in attendance. There was -- in chronological order -- of course my parents from VT (2), us - the CT Gangwers (4), Robin's family - the NC Mitchells (5), Rachelle's family - the VT Beauchemins (6), Randi's family - the IN Raffas (6), and Rick's family - the NY Gangwers (5) for a grand total of 28 in the clan.
We spent the week eating, playing, swimming, laughing, cleaning, picture taking, talking, reminiscing, staying up late, and listening to devotionals. In my book, there is no better way of celebrating 50 years of a couples marriage than seeing and spending time with it's most important legacy - the family it produced.
We spent the week eating, playing, swimming, laughing, cleaning, picture taking, talking, reminiscing, staying up late, and listening to devotionals. In my book, there is no better way of celebrating 50 years of a couples marriage than seeing and spending time with it's most important legacy - the family it produced.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Busy, Busy, Busy!
Those three word sum up the reason for no posts in awhile. What is keeping everyone so busy?
Tammy finished studying and then passed her CCRN exam mid-June.
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We had a three day visit from Jaclyn, her fiance Blake, and his sister July 5-7. Overlapping was a visit by AJ and Lizzy's old college roommate/AJ's girlfriend from July 7-9. To make all the visits more memorable, our dishwasher died July 5 meaning research and shopping for a new one.
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Before, during, and after these visits, most of our time has been taken up with planning a bridal shower, a wedding, and its reception. We have also been getting ready for our immediate Gangwer family reunion/parent's 50th wedding anniversary celebration in VA for a week.
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Busy, busy, busyl
Tammy finished studying and then passed her CCRN exam mid-June.
+
We had a three day visit from Jaclyn, her fiance Blake, and his sister July 5-7. Overlapping was a visit by AJ and Lizzy's old college roommate/AJ's girlfriend from July 7-9. To make all the visits more memorable, our dishwasher died July 5 meaning research and shopping for a new one.
+
Before, during, and after these visits, most of our time has been taken up with planning a bridal shower, a wedding, and its reception. We have also been getting ready for our immediate Gangwer family reunion/parent's 50th wedding anniversary celebration in VA for a week.
=
Busy, busy, busyl
Sunday, May 25, 2014
News Of and For the Family
Elizabeth - Finished her junior year at PCC. Working her summer job at Once Upon a Child. Reading books for her senior research project and her own enjoyment. Hanging out with friends.
Jaclyn - Picking up as many hours as available at the hospital. Traveling between VT and home to plan a fall wedding (church and reception venue is booked and the bride's dress is purchased so far). Hoping to get into an ACLS class to further her career.
Tammy - Studying for her CCRN test this Wedesday, May 28. Helping to plan a fall wedding and summer bridal shower.
Ron - Nothing out of the ordinary.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Vegas Baby
Apparently what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas for this is what Tammy and I did during our Las Vegas trip for our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary which we celebrated in December.
We left cool, damp Hartford Saturday afternoon, April 26 and arrived in warm, dry Las Vegas Saturday evening. After our shuttle bus ride to the Excalibur, we checked it and the Luxor out before retiring for the night.
Sunday morning, we walked through the New York, New York, the MGM, and the Tropicana. At 10 am, we took the Big Bus Tour of the Strip and downtown Las Vegas. We made one stop that day on the tour at the Miracle Mile and ended up walking through the following casinos -- Planet Hollywood, Paris, Caesar's Palace, the Bellagio and its Fountain show and the Flamingo. That night at seven we took the Big Bus Night Tour of the Strip stopping to see the Mirage's Volcano show and the Fremont Experience.
On Monday, we used the Big Bus as our taxi to get us to the Silver and Gold Pawn Store. From there, we walked the street of the wedding chapels, visited the Mob Museum, continued our walk to the Neon Boneyard Museum, then back to the Mob Museum for a ride back to Bally's and dinner at Battista's
Hole in the Wall.
On Tuesday, we walked the entire strip from the Excalibur down to the Encore and back home again - going in to every casino along the way and taking in three more Fountain shows. That evening, we saw the Blue Man Group from the front row in what they call the "poncho seats".
On Wednesday, we went to the Grand Canyon's South Rim. We took a tour out of Las Vegas with a five and half hour drive time there with a stop along historic Route 66 in Williams, AZ for lunch. We spent about three hours at three stops in the South Rim before heading back to Las Vegas with a quick stop at the Hoover Dam.
On Thursday, we had breakfast in Boulder City, NV at the Coffee Cup that was in the show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. While there, we took a quick driving tour of the city then headed to the Hoover Dam for an in-depth tour of it from the top down. That evening, we took in the Tournament of the Kings dinner show.
On Friday, we got up for a 6:30 am hike in Red Rock Canyon that lies just twenty minutes outside of Las Vegas. We arrived back in town at 10 am, walked one point five miles off the Strip to the National Atomic Museum, walked back the one point five miles to the Strip, visited a few shops, had dinner at the Mon Ami Gabi. We capped the day off by going to see the Jersey Boys -- a musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
On Saturday. we checked out of our room at 11 o'clock, awaited our noon shuttle back to the airport for our 4:50 flight back home getting in at 2 am.
We left cool, damp Hartford Saturday afternoon, April 26 and arrived in warm, dry Las Vegas Saturday evening. After our shuttle bus ride to the Excalibur, we checked it and the Luxor out before retiring for the night.
Sunday morning, we walked through the New York, New York, the MGM, and the Tropicana. At 10 am, we took the Big Bus Tour of the Strip and downtown Las Vegas. We made one stop that day on the tour at the Miracle Mile and ended up walking through the following casinos -- Planet Hollywood, Paris, Caesar's Palace, the Bellagio and its Fountain show and the Flamingo. That night at seven we took the Big Bus Night Tour of the Strip stopping to see the Mirage's Volcano show and the Fremont Experience.
On Monday, we used the Big Bus as our taxi to get us to the Silver and Gold Pawn Store. From there, we walked the street of the wedding chapels, visited the Mob Museum, continued our walk to the Neon Boneyard Museum, then back to the Mob Museum for a ride back to Bally's and dinner at Battista's
Hole in the Wall.
On Tuesday, we walked the entire strip from the Excalibur down to the Encore and back home again - going in to every casino along the way and taking in three more Fountain shows. That evening, we saw the Blue Man Group from the front row in what they call the "poncho seats".
On Wednesday, we went to the Grand Canyon's South Rim. We took a tour out of Las Vegas with a five and half hour drive time there with a stop along historic Route 66 in Williams, AZ for lunch. We spent about three hours at three stops in the South Rim before heading back to Las Vegas with a quick stop at the Hoover Dam.
On Thursday, we had breakfast in Boulder City, NV at the Coffee Cup that was in the show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. While there, we took a quick driving tour of the city then headed to the Hoover Dam for an in-depth tour of it from the top down. That evening, we took in the Tournament of the Kings dinner show.
On Friday, we got up for a 6:30 am hike in Red Rock Canyon that lies just twenty minutes outside of Las Vegas. We arrived back in town at 10 am, walked one point five miles off the Strip to the National Atomic Museum, walked back the one point five miles to the Strip, visited a few shops, had dinner at the Mon Ami Gabi. We capped the day off by going to see the Jersey Boys -- a musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
On Saturday. we checked out of our room at 11 o'clock, awaited our noon shuttle back to the airport for our 4:50 flight back home getting in at 2 am.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Reading Season
Spring has officially begun though you would never know it by our temperatures, and with its arrival comes the end of what has become known for me as 'the reading season'. Below is the list of books that during this winter filled up the hours that are spent during the other seasons enjoying the outdoors.
Great Bridge - The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
The Most Powerful Idea in the World - A Story of Steam, Industry, and Inventors
The Dawn of Innovation - The First American Industrial Revolution
American Canopy - Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation
The Exchange Artists - America's First Banking Collapse
Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims
Great Bridge - The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
The Most Powerful Idea in the World - A Story of Steam, Industry, and Inventors
The Dawn of Innovation - The First American Industrial Revolution
American Canopy - Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation
The Exchange Artists - America's First Banking Collapse
Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims
Monday, March 10, 2014
It Was Providence....
On Friday, March 7 after work, Tammy and I headed to Providence, RI for the weekend. We stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites in the Financial District. After checking in, we headed to the Federal Hill section where we walked up and down Atwells Street. We ate dinner at Siena Restaurant and had dessert at Pastiche Fine Desserts.
On Saturday, we had reserved a 2 hour walking tour of the city. We were the only ones on the tour which centered on the early American history of the city but also included a bit of everything. Brown University was also kicking off their 250th celebration which allowed us access to many buildings otherwise not open. After the tour (which really ended up being 3 hours), we headed to Thayer Street. We walked up and down that street and had dinner at Andreas.
On Sunday, we attended the First Baptist Church (which really is the first First Baptist Church in America). After the service, we had a tour of the church building. We then went to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, had lunch at Harry's Bar and Burgers, and then drove the two hours back home.
On Saturday, we had reserved a 2 hour walking tour of the city. We were the only ones on the tour which centered on the early American history of the city but also included a bit of everything. Brown University was also kicking off their 250th celebration which allowed us access to many buildings otherwise not open. After the tour (which really ended up being 3 hours), we headed to Thayer Street. We walked up and down that street and had dinner at Andreas.
On Sunday, we attended the First Baptist Church (which really is the first First Baptist Church in America). After the service, we had a tour of the church building. We then went to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, had lunch at Harry's Bar and Burgers, and then drove the two hours back home.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Snow Day Analysis: Then and Now
Then:
Sleep in because school is canceled
Bundle up for some sledding
Build a snow fort
Have a snowball fight
Change wet clothes from the snow
Drink hot chocolate
Watch the local news hoping for another snow day
Go to bed early because exhausted from the day's activities
Now:
Get up an hour or two early for work
Unearth car from a mountain of snow to get to work
Pray you don't wipe out, get wiped out, or get caught in a traffic jam caused by someone who wiped out on commute to work
Unearth car from mountain of snow to go home
Bundle up for shoveling off the driveway
Change wet clothes from the sweat of shoveling
Want nothing to do with a hot drink because of the sweating
Watch the local news and hope there's no more snow in the forcecast
Go to bed early because exhausted from the day's activities
Sleep in because school is canceled
Bundle up for some sledding
Build a snow fort
Have a snowball fight
Change wet clothes from the snow
Drink hot chocolate
Watch the local news hoping for another snow day
Go to bed early because exhausted from the day's activities
Now:
Get up an hour or two early for work
Unearth car from a mountain of snow to get to work
Pray you don't wipe out, get wiped out, or get caught in a traffic jam caused by someone who wiped out on commute to work
Unearth car from mountain of snow to go home
Bundle up for shoveling off the driveway
Change wet clothes from the sweat of shoveling
Want nothing to do with a hot drink because of the sweating
Watch the local news and hope there's no more snow in the forcecast
Go to bed early because exhausted from the day's activities
Thursday, January 23, 2014
DVR 2.0
Back in March 2011, I posted a blog of the shows that are DVR-ed in our home. I thought it would be good to update the three year old list.
Ron's DVR-ed Shows -
CBS Sunday Morning News Hour
60 Minutes
American Pickers
Mythbusters
This Old House Hour
CSI
Last Man Standing
Tammy's DVR-ed Shows -
Project Runway
Ron and Tammy's DVR-ed Shows -
History Detectives
The Middle
Shark Tank
Person of Interest
Beachfront Bargain Hunt
Channels Will Surf -
A&E
Discovery
DYI
HGTV
NFL
TLC
TV Land (Tammy)
WGN (Tammy)
INSP (Tammy)
Ron's DVR-ed Shows -
CBS Sunday Morning News Hour
60 Minutes
American Pickers
Mythbusters
This Old House Hour
CSI
Last Man Standing
Tammy's DVR-ed Shows -
Project Runway
Ron and Tammy's DVR-ed Shows -
History Detectives
The Middle
Shark Tank
Person of Interest
Beachfront Bargain Hunt
Channels Will Surf -
A&E
Discovery
DYI
HGTV
NFL
TLC
TV Land (Tammy)
WGN (Tammy)
INSP (Tammy)
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
A Patriarch's Three Score and Tenth Birthday
Tammy, Lizzy, and I traveled to VT after work on Friday, January 10 to celebrate Pop-Pop's 70th birthday. Upon arrival, we attended a chili cook-off between some members of Pop's church. The ballots were counted after the dining, and Pop won with his chili recipe that contained some ingredients that Jaclyn said she couldn't believe would be put in chili.
The NY Gangwers came over for breakfast and the birthday celebration the next day. Before the big event though, they, we, and the B's went bowling. When we returned, we had dinner and the birthday cake. All five of us children and some of the grandchildren gave Pop gift cards to be used toward the purchase of a fishing kayak.
Pictures of the weekend are posted to the right.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
An Old Post in a New Year
2014 has begun, but 2013 needs a wrap-up.
Tammy and I volunteered to help at our church's Festival of Giving Trees on Saturday, December 14. I was in charge of the punch table and Tammy the coffee. She obviously knew what I did not -- people drink punch like crazy. As soon as I had I filled one punch bowl the other one was empty. I mention this so others might think twice if they ever are asked to do this.
Lizzy and Stas were to arrive home this Saturday, but the weather dictated otherwise. We had the first big snowstorm of the season stranding them in Baltimore for the night. They arrived home the next evening leaving the next morning with Tammy for a Vermont visit of several days. December 17 was our 25th wedding anniversary.
Jaclyn came down Saturday, December 21 for a Christmas visit. We decorated the tree as a family on Monday. We opened stockings the afternoon of Christmas Eve and watched Calvary Baptist's Candlelight service on-line that evening. Presents were opened Christmas afternoon as both Tammy and I worked. No sooner had we finished then the VT Grandparents arrived with Sam for a short visit. They drove Jaclyn back to VT the next day.
Since both Tammy and I worked New Year's Day, we were well asleep by midnight bringing in 2014 with lots of Z's
Tammy and I volunteered to help at our church's Festival of Giving Trees on Saturday, December 14. I was in charge of the punch table and Tammy the coffee. She obviously knew what I did not -- people drink punch like crazy. As soon as I had I filled one punch bowl the other one was empty. I mention this so others might think twice if they ever are asked to do this.
Lizzy and Stas were to arrive home this Saturday, but the weather dictated otherwise. We had the first big snowstorm of the season stranding them in Baltimore for the night. They arrived home the next evening leaving the next morning with Tammy for a Vermont visit of several days. December 17 was our 25th wedding anniversary.
Jaclyn came down Saturday, December 21 for a Christmas visit. We decorated the tree as a family on Monday. We opened stockings the afternoon of Christmas Eve and watched Calvary Baptist's Candlelight service on-line that evening. Presents were opened Christmas afternoon as both Tammy and I worked. No sooner had we finished then the VT Grandparents arrived with Sam for a short visit. They drove Jaclyn back to VT the next day.
Since both Tammy and I worked New Year's Day, we were well asleep by midnight bringing in 2014 with lots of Z's
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