My Grandpa McNally

 This is my Grandfather, Herbert Patrick McNally. He is Thomas Michael's (that's the new baby's name!) Great-Great-Grandfather! He is about 51 years old here. 

GREAT NEWS

 It's a healthy baby boy!

|Megan is due early September and Mike and I are going to have a grandson. I am SOOO over the moon happy!

We met at Catfish Annie's today and Megan and Michael had cupcakes for everyone. We had to wait until after dinner :( but I got to take the first bite to reveal the baby's gender. Kind of like a gender reveal party (I think those are dumb) but much nicer and classier. 

Now I get to tell everyone the good news. I have been working on a baby blanket but now that I know it's a boy I can get started on more boy-specific things. It's going to be so much fun. I wish September wasn't so far off! 

Good News and Atlantic City

 

Atlantic City and GOOD NEWS

 Mike and I went to Atlantic City earlier this month with John and Noreen. It was 5x tier points for 2 days, meaning we are that much closer to being Diamonds in 2024. (Many more benefits.) We hoped to reach it this time around but just didn't hit so lucky. It's the first time in a few visits I didn't come home with money in my little safe that I bring.

I got a lot of free play and just kept pumping it back into the machines to get our points. Mike thinks we might have to go at least 2x more this year. Gee, shucks. I did have a good time, though.

Very foggy on our way across the bridge!

We had a very nice dinner (with our points!) at Gordon Ramsey's. Mike and I both had Fish and Chips that were amazing. I brought the leftovers home (there was a LOT) and reheated them in the air fryer and they were delicious.

We also had lunch at Johnny Rockets the next day, which was also very enjoyable. I have to get things I can cut up small because I am currently missing all but one of my teeth on the lower left side. That is another story.

NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS:

THE BABY IS HEALTHY!!!!!

Michael and Megan went to the doctor today and got a clean bill of health for my grandbaby. I have been praying so hard for them. They've had so much heartache and they deserve to be parents.  Megan is due in September. Updates will follow.

Melody Helps Decorate

Well, not really, but she gave my Fall Decor the pawprint of approval.

Jamie and Katherine birthdays

Jamie turned 29 years old on November 1st. Alas, he had to work (but then again, time and a half for Sunday) but we had his special 'scungilli' dinner on Saturday night. It's his favorite! I also made a delicious shrimp dish. I gave Jamie a personalized blender to make his protein shakes. He seems to be enjoying it.

Jamie is another one who is hard to 'catch' with a camera. Here he is on his first plane ride, back in 2003:

Today is actually Katherine's birthday. We've had a nice time shopping and she is coming by for "Western Hospitality Casserole" tonight. It's her favorite! Earlier today, though, we stopped at our favorite Japanese restaurant, Aki, for lunch:

Aki serves a beautiful Bento box lunch. I actually brought half mine home for Jamie!

So this is the last birthday in this house until we start again in January with mine!

My oldest is 33

We took Michael to Catfish Annie's for his 33rd birthday on Sunday. Katherine was there, too, along with Megan, John, Noreen and John Joseph. Michael really enjoyed his twin lobster dinner!

Michael showed me pictures of the costumes he and Megan wore at a recent Renaissance Fair. They looked amazing! I wish I had a copy to print here. Oh, well, here's a picture of Michael at age 2:

Beautiful Fall

Fall is my favorite season, as I've said and posted a million times. Here is one reason why:

This is the view from behind my house around twilight yesterday. I wish the photo caught the sunlight on the
tree better. The leaves are an amazing orangey-red.