A Holiday Group Photo Extravaganza

Hello 2009! We hope our family and friends all enjoyed a very joyous and fulfilling holiday season. We have just returned from 2 weeks in upstate New York. With occasions both happy and sad, we feel so blessed, reflecting on the wonderful (and large!) group of people that we are able to call family. Thank you all for making our trip so meaningful. Some of our favorite photos are below!

We left for the holidays earlier than expected to attend Grandpa Leonard's funeral. He was 87 years old and led a full and beautiful life, evidenced by his 9 wonderful children who have almost 50 years' experience posing for photos together:
The silver lining of these sad occasions is being able to spend more time with family. Sarah and Siena flew in from Iowa, and beautiful, bubbly 5-month old Siena was instrumental in cheering everyone up. (Sarah isn't too bad either!)
A happier event towards the end of the week was the baby shower that Sarah hosted at Mom & Dad's house in Vestal. We had a great time, yummy good, and excellent company. Thanks to all for the beautiful gifts!

The following day, we had an exciting drive through some typical New York weather (a.k.a, white-out blizzard) to Amsterdam for Festivus, the Ilnicki family pre-Christmas get-together. Special thanks to Grandma Ilnicki, the woman whose culinary expertise is without fail worth risking our lives for!
We enjoyed a lovely, laugh-filled evening with Kim, Jane, and the Ilnicki sisters (from left, below: Anna, Emily, Andrew, and Elana).
We relaxed for few days with the Ficarettas in Saratoga Springs, exercising at the beautiful new YMCA, and of course playing plenty of Rock Band with Elise (below left, with Cleo) and Bridget (with Otis). We attended Mass on Christmas Eve, had a delicious dinner with Grandpa Tuman and cousin Jenny, and enjoyed opening presents on Christmas morning before heading back to Binghamton.
We spent the second half of Christmas day with the Engles in Vestal, opening presents, eating wonderful food, and laughing at Siena. Joe had arrived from Iowa with the dogs several days earlier, and it was great having everyone together.

The following morning we took a daring new spin on a generations-old tradition: the Engle family post-Christmas Boot tradition took place during brunch for the first time in known history. Everyone enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and delicious food; Grandpa enjoyed the pepper jelly. Pictured below are happy Boot Attendees: Engle first cousins.

Thank you [Great] Grandma and [Great] Grandpa for the Boot Magic!
A precious couple of hours at the Ale House in Vestal with Radhika, Mary, and for the first time Gary, the dashing young man who accompanied Mary from Portland, OR.
The following day, the Ilnickis ventured to the Pennsylvania border for more food at the Leonard family get-together. Thanks to Ed & Beth for providing your warm and love-filled home for the occasion, and to all who traveled to be together again. Some girl cousins below: Bride-to-be Nikki; Pregnant Teresa; Melissa; Jessie; non-Pregnant Laura!

A happy couple, little brother Bobby and the lovely Amanda, who is very much a member of our family:
And one more happy and tired couple (back in Richmond) before going out to dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary, on December 30. As our beloved Ms. Carly Hebert put it: 3 years down, eternity to go! We very much enjoyed a quiet dinner at the Hard Shell, reminiscing about all that we have to be thankful for over the last few years, and our hopes for the years to come.
Thanks to all whose efforts made our holiday travels memorable, and whose support helps us as we enter the biggest year of our lives thus far. Best wishes to each of you in 2009!