Entries Tagged 'Friends and family' ↓

No, I’m not being annoyingly repetitive. Caleb won twice in Saturday’s fencing tournament.

He was drafted into competing in the saber competition because they needed a sixth fencer. He enjoys saber, but out of the three fencing weapons, considers it his least favorite.

So he fenced saber. And won.

Now Caleb has a ranking with the U.S. Fencing Association, an E. (USFA rankings are letters from E up to A. You earn them by beating a certain number and rank of other fencers. Beating five fencers earns you an E.)

Next up was the epee competition, in which he used his brand new Italian-grip weapon he received Wednesday in the mail. So with zero experience with his new weapon, he ended up in fifth. (He has two weeks to prepare for a big epee tournament in Michigan.)

But then the last competition was foil, his favorite weapon. Out of eight competitors, he won first place and received an E ranking in that weapon, too.

Congratulations to Caleb for doing so well in his sixth tournament!

I took the photo at 10 a.m. Sunday, when it was 1 degree Fahrenheit outside.

Click a photo to open the slideshow:

Click for a larger photo.

Born at 2:22 p.m. today at 8 pounds, 21 inches. Welcome, little niece! And congratulations Jeff and Jenn!

When you were growing up, did your family have any secret little coincidences, inside jokes that no one else would get?

We had 222.

My parents seemed to stumble upon that number in one way or another over and over again, whether on license plates or in phone numbers.

For example, years ago when Mary and I and our four young kids moved to a new apartment in Dunkirk, N.Y., I was shocked to realize the address.

222 Townsend Street. Apartment 2.

When I told my mom, there was a stunned pause. Then, “No sir.” I think she still doesn’t quite believe me.

So today, as my brother Jeff marvels at the birth of his new baby girl, he watches the doctor write the time.

Jeff asks, “Did you just write 14:22?”

Yes. 2:22 p.m.

Welcome to the family, little Nora. You certainly are a Swerens.

… to hear from my brother and sister-in-law about the birth of their baby this morning. Jenn went to the hospital last night, and we’re waiting and wondering.

Our prayers are with Jeff, Jenn and the little one.

Cute photos from Sarita’s birthday party.

This is Mary’s grandmother, Rosina Maltese Guglielmo, as a young girl.

Go to our Flickr page for more historic photos, or better yet, see them as a slideshow.