So long 2009! Hello 2010!!

Now that the holidays are behind us we say goodbye to 2009 and ring in the new year with gusto!!!Our family has had its share of losses this past year, our sister Lynn Feb. 5th 2009 our friends Mary Lou Purcell & Mischler family Dad and son, Paul Rivers (and that is all I can think of at the moment.) Let us remember them and pray for their families as well as ours.
On a lighter note the Parady-Sullivan Clan is doing well!!. We enjoyed a fun Christmas Eve at Grace & Tims, thank you and a child filled day at Dan & Heathers Christmas day. It was great to see everyone, Claire & Bridget are getting ready to go back to Hawaii!! (Safe trip, have fun!!)
I spent my birthday with Nancy and her sisters up in the Berkshires here are some photos!

Let us all rest, reflect and renew ourselves for the new year, anticipating new adventures, joys and challenges for 2010! Happy New Year to ALL!
Love, Mary

Merry Christmas 2009!!

YEs!! I am up and running again, my computer was in the shop for a month! WHew!!
Today is our dear old Dad, Harold's birthday!! and also a Happy Birthday to Kevin Parady Dec, 22nd!!Latest news in the clan is Meghan Stacey is with child! Congrats to them and Sue and Jack.!! Recently I have decided to take up the guitar, Thanks to Dan I am using Dads guitar while I take lessons. I have to admit I am struggling with the aging process, now I have osteoarthritis in my knee and have to give up skating! So I decided to take up the guitar! Look out Nancy Griffith I am getting ready for the grand ole opre"!!!
Here are the latest photos of various events. Enjoy! See you soon for Caroling and Fun at Tims!!

A Hallowed Evening!!

Greetings my friends & family.. I am trying to catch up on my blogging duties here on Walden Green. They just finished putting on all new siding on my condo, it is beautiful! WHile I am waiting for the sun to come out. I thought I would share these photos from Halloween at the Parady's!!What fun we had! Cleopatra,A witch, a Cowboy and cowgirl, Princess Bella and Snow White, Myself A Celtic Witch with my 3rd husband Frederick, (whom I happened to turn into a mouse!!)
Well in the midst of allof my tricker treating on that balmy evening, I lost me wig, my long black morticia wig!! Does this surprise you???ha!ha!! I am sure its remains are somewhere on Brimsayd Avenue!! Thanks to Heather & Dan for a fun time..

Irish Twins Party!!

Lily is now 3 and Holly is the wonderful number 2!!!!
I had the pleasure of partying with them at The Beardsley Zoo!!What a fun time on the Carousel followed by another party for Ashley!! To top it off a tornado warning sent us all into Dan's cave downstairs to brave the high winds and stormy day!!
Quite the rollercoaster ride!! It all turned out well! The tornado never hit us, all of the candles got blown out and once again the Parayd's weathered another strom together!!

Ye Ole Homestead on Twin Lakes!

I had the opportunity to go to the openhouse to see our old homestead on 168 Twin Lakes with my counterparts Nancy & Jean. It was a bit surreal, expecting to find some of our family marks in tact. I took photos, as I was perusing through the upstairs I opened a closet and low and behold was an old "CHARLIE CHIPS" cookie tin that Mom used to buy for us. My old room is now a bathroom.The boys room is split in half and is used as offices. Danny's closet off Mom & Dads room is knocked down along with Lynns room and the hallway closet. ALthough they did put in beautiful wood floors,kitchen cabinets are painted blue. They also built a 2car garage. As I was rummaging through the basement, I heard a familiar voice upstairs and it was Betsy & Kevin just as curious as we were.
They say you can never go home again but I can't help but think wouldn't it be lovely for one of us to buy it so that we could keep it in the family and pass on to the next generations, it is certainly a living history!Here are some photos!!

Sarah turns 11 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sarah Raucci had her 11th birthday! I would be remiss in not reporting on this lovely event!She was delighted all day and enjoyed her guests and presents.

Summer Highlights!

As the hot, sticky, humid August weather leaves us, and we feel a cool breeze passing through, all reminders of our changing seasons and our summers coming to an end. For us teachers, it is a time to rest, reflect and relax, gathering our resources to begin again,(with gusto!) a new school year!
We had a busy family summer with Barb & Katie, & Elias and Bea visiting. We sadly said our goodbyes to our dear sister Lynn as she took her final resting place with her mother Shirley.
We played and swam together at our favorite Linsley Lake,Staven beaches and went to see some great outdoor concerts! Here are some photos from our family summer highlights!! Enjoy!!
Best Wishes to Katie Simons going off to college!! To Claire Sullivan in her new teaching position in Hawaii!(and me, performing in an Irish play!) and everyone else starting something new this fall. Courage!!! as the lion said!! Love, Mary

Remembering Our Brother, Stephen...

I feel compelled to write about what is on everyone's mind today, remembering that somber day, when we laid our dear brother, Stephen John Sullivan to rest 4 years ago today on July 5th.
We all have had our personal stories of Stephen, the laughs we shared, his quips and quirks, and his sorrows and sufferings. Stephen always stepped up to the plate when he was needed and beneath all the layers of his skin,he was a very kind, loving soul.
I will personally never forget my experiences with him in taking care of our Dad and how much I admired him for taking this on, without him,it would have been impossible to keep Dad home. One of the many times I had dinner with him after Dad's passing he would say, " I don't think anyone knows what it takes to take care of a family member at home unless they have experienced it. The one thing that I learned from all of this was "compassion". And with that let's all remember to have compassion for each other, regardless of our circumstances we all still have each other and the
thoughts and memories of our loved ones will live in our hearts forever.

Please say a prayer today for our brother Stephen as you go about your day today
Remember the good and happy times with him!
Love to all!!
Mary

What a Surprise Party!!!

Heather patiently waiting for Dan to come home, oops she is surprised by the one and only Jerry!!false alarm. Here he comes Dan!to greet his wife \and all of his friends and family!

What a time we had!!Adults & kids galore!!Photos tell all!!
Thanks to Heather! Carl & Carol!!For making this happen!
A great time for all!!




Happy Birthday goes out to Father Mark June 2 & our brother Tim Sullivan June 8thfor the month of June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/em>em>

Happy 40th Birthday Dan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Danny boy! Yes, I remember the day like it was yesterday. Stephen answered the phone and yelled,"It's a boy!! It's a boy!" other voices chimed in and It's a boy!! message was carried all over our great big yellow house!!!Pa was there making sure we were all busy. He made me sweep the driveway about 10 times!!!Exciting it was and still is!!Our Danny boy is doing quite well with his beautiful wife Heather and the three adorable flowers Rose, Lily and Holly!!!
Hats off to Dan!!!
He's now a Man!!!
Love to you on your 40th!!!
Your sister,
Mary

Congratulations Katey Simons!!!

Oh Katie ! Beautiful Katey your the only ga ga girl that we adore!! Remembering my Dad or Gramps melodic voice singing this song about Katey!! Wow! She has graduated High School and is off to college for nursing school!! You go girl!!!!Hope you had a wonderful day!! Love and Blessings to you! Aunt Mary

Come to Long Wharf Theatre May 28th

Hi Folks,
I have been working with my students at Emmett and Central High School(Danny's school)
through a grant we are performing a readers theatre at Long Wharf tomorrow night Stage II at 7pm. Admission is free!!! I think you will enjoy it!!
There's a first time for everything and this is afirst for our small rural school!

Happy Mothers Day!

Sending out greetings to all of the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, friends and family who have mothered us in our lives! Many of us have been blessed with more than one! The role of mothers is so important in a childs life! Teaching teenagers and people of all ages has opened my eyes to the amount of people in the world who need good role models of all ages and folks who are nurturers and healers. As we know a father can be both father and mother to their children and vise versa! All of us have experienced both in our lives, and I feel that is why many of us have become teachers ourselves.
I am proud to be Holly's Godmother! Hoping that I may make a difference in her life and all of the lives of people that God chooses to send my way!

Love to all my sisters and brothers!!
Thanks for being great friends & Mothers!!
Love, Mary

Spring Forward!!

As I put away my winter clothes, I feel the warmth of the sun start to melt my winter sol. It is here, finally, Spring!!!I was visiting the Parady girls one day and Rose greeted me with a wand in her hand and a crown on her head, running through the house yelling SPRING IS HERE!!! HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!The true joy of this season has already begun in the minds and hearts of children.
Let's recall our memories of this season of rebirth and welcome spring with open arms. What are you looking forward to???I would like to hear from my readers.

(Katie on the west coast especially)

HAPPY SPRING!!


MARY:)

Easter Afternoon

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<Thanks to Tim & Grace and the girls for a great Easter family dinner!!
We had our annual Easter egg hunt for the wee ones and this year Claire organized a hunt for the not so wee-ones any more. Here are the photos...Love, Mary