Happy Birthday Lauren

While today is Lauren's birthday, we actually had the "birthday dinner" on Tuesday night due to scheduling difficulties. Lauren's birthday dinner is always the same. Barbecued ribs (with Rick's homemade sauce), tomato and fresh mozzarella salad, baked potatoes with sour cream and absolutely no vegetables. And let us not forget the traditional Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. Also always the same. Mint chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate cake. I won't tell you how badly I was ripped off on that cake. You can see how small it is. The damn cake was $28! OK, I had to tell. I couldn't believe it. Next year I think I will try Coldstone Creamery for the cake.

I had to include this picture. Obviously, the Anderson pyromaniac gene has been passed down to Justin and Lauren. And, obviously it has rubbed off on Jeanne (whose arm is in the forefront of the photo) and Joe. No, the smoke alarm did not go off. Look how happy Justin and Lauren are!

So a great big HAPPY 19th BIRHTDAY to our Galooger!

I would also like to extend my sincere wishes for a happy and safe Thanksgiving to all. There are many things I am thankful for this holiday, far more than I could ever list. Here are just a few, not in any particular order, except for the first one.

Bobby's strong will to survive this ordeal (Bob always bragged about being the toughest of the Ubriacos. He wins. I won't ever argue that point with him again.)

My kids and the fine young people they have become

My adoring husband whom I love with all my heart and soul. I couldn't make it without him.

All of the Ubriacos and Andersons, those close and far away

My dog Ozzy and my adopted kitties Jethro and Ringo

The sun and the moon and the stars

Last, but not least, wine

The Whole Gang

It's not very often that our entire family is together in one place. It happened Sunday at Kenny's house. Being together is one thing, gathering everyone for a family photo is another. I had a difficult time convincing Joe to stay long enough to be in the picture. He is definitely camera shy. And then there's Kenny. Several pictures were taken but this is the only one that he wasn't sticking his tongue out or making rabbit ears above Mom's head. Maybe next time we can get him to put a shirt on!

Its Official

Lauren will be attending University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana beginning August 18th. That would be 144 days from now. Not that we're counting or anything. She is very excited as are we. She came home from school yesterday and told me that they were done learning for the year. She proceeded on with this long diatribe about why she wouldn't be learning anything the rest of the year. When Rick came home and I told him this, he was like, "What?" I simply pointed to Lauren and had her explain to Rick. I'm relatively sure she had this speech rehearsed since she repeated to Rick, almost verbatim, what she told me. Who cares. She's in at U. of I. and that's all we care about, now. Congratulations to the newest Illini as she joins a long list of family and friends, including Bobby, Michael, Carolyn and Debbie. LONG LIVE THE CHIEF!!