Our families became friends, and during the day while my husband Jerry was at work I started babysitting several neighborhood children. Eventually this included watching Patrick. Our youngest son Matthew who wasn’t in school yet really enjoyed helping with Patrick. He used to wait on the sidewalk for Jill to bring him from across the street. In May of 1985 Jerry and I bought our first house. Shortly after the Bennets moved into a bigger home within walking distance of our house. They welcomed their second son Alex a few years after Patrick was born, much like our family.

It was during this time that our 2 families starting getting together during the holidays and summers. Halloween was always fun, trading costumes or carving pumpkins. Summers at the nearby Lake Mission Viejo were a fun outing. Thanksgiving dinner became a tradition, as did taking a photo with both families seated at the dinner table. As always, time marches on. As the kids grew up the parents counted their birthdays with more celebrating. We began adding Christmas, Easter, and birthdays in addition to other special events in our lives as a great excuse to get together.

Our son Jason moved out of our home, (this photo shows a mock sword fight between our two boys) during Christmas break. Matt graduated from high school and then ventured on to UCI in Irvine, a college where Jill had graduated from.

While Matthew ventured into photography, Jason continued to live up north enjoying the great outdoors. Jerry made buds with a local srub jay whom he named Jay. Patrick and then Alex attended UCI, both in medical majors. The parents were proud.

Our families continued to spend time together, marking anniversaries as they passed, enjoying the 4th of July fireworks at Lake Mission Viejo. During the summer we house sat for each other during our vacations. (Patrick and Alex shown in this photo in Hawaii.)

June of 2005 our youngest son Matt graduated from UCI with a major in Digital Arts. We are of course very proud of this accomplishment. Naturally the Bennet family attended and celebrated. More was to come of course.

Left to right, Steve Bennet, Patrick, Matthew and his father Jerry.

In 2006 Patrick followed in his mother Jill and friend Matthews footsteps when he graduated from UCI with a degree in Biological Science. At the ceremony I reflected on my memories of Patrick. The first time I met him I was surprised at what a big baby he was, all 11 plus pounds! With a mothers heart I remembered watching a video of him reading a speech when he was in kindergarten. How could that little boy be the same person as this grown young man?

In 2010 Patricks younger brother Alex also graduated from UCI with a degree in Biological Science. Although not as tall as his brother Patrick, Alex stood proudly both over his parents and my husband Jerry and I. I felt my heart swell as if I were Alex and Patricks mother watching both boys graduate. To have witnessed their rise to adulthood and to remain close friends is a great honor for me.

And still the years pass, even swifter now. All 4 boys have become men. Being friends with the Bennets throughout all these years is a truly wonderful feeling. A lifetime of joy.

I have become a mother of 5. How awesome is that?

Handed a ticket to this event I over time became unsure if I could attend. A decision which made my heart sink with sadness. Thankfully at the end wonderful friends of Patricks offered me a ride to the Pasadena Auditorium with them. A huge thank you go out to Piper and Gerard! You rock!

The staff of the Asclepius (had to look that one up!) was lit on the wall in the auditorium, never letting us forget for a moment that at the end of this ceremony we would be exiting with a lot of doctors!

The 2011 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine graduates had their fair share of speakers. I enjoyed several of them, although I think I liked the class Vision Statement the most. “I will always be an advocate for my patients and treat them with compassion” is just one part of that statement that I’ve felt time and time again when I walk out of several doctor’s office’s.

As Patrick walked across the stage I thought “It’s almost official. I’ll have to start my calling my friend a doctor in a few minutes!”

Can you see the pride in Steve and Jill’s faces? Congratulations Dr. Bennet!

With all the activity outside the auditorium following the graduation it seemed almost overwhelming at times. Once Patrick arrived though our purpose was clear. Let’s congratulate the doctor!

Have you noticed how Patrick already looks different? It may be that he’s practicing his patience smile what with all the cameras around. Two very handsome young men standing side by side.

I was sorry to learn that the graduates did not get to keep their sashes’s. I felt they earned them with all their hard work over the last few years. I later heard comments that they were always sliding off their shoulders.

Patrick had quite a few graduating friends coming by to get their picture taken with him. His good friend Lauren here is taking just one of many.

At last it is my turn, friend to friend, Dr. Bennet and friend. Who know’s someday maybe Dr. Bennet and patient?

You never know what might happen right!

My most awesome husband Jerry and I used to take our kids to the lake several times a week during the summer. On the weekends Lake Mission Viejo would be wall to wall kids and their parents, all looking for a few hours of fun. We would stake out our little piece of sand, sit back in our collapsable chairs and set the boys free!

Jason loved the water, his boogie board, and most of all making sand castles. He would spend hours playing at the lake, leaving me with wonderful memories of watching him so deep in his creative world.

Matt loved both the water and his sand creations, I think most of all though he loved being in the water with his boogie board. I’ll always remember his joyfullness while playing there.

Jill, her husband Steve, and their 2 boys Patrick & Alex used to join us at the Lake. They’ve all grown up to be such handsome guys and this photo is one that brings all those youthfull times back as if were yesterday.

Now the crying kids at the beach aren’t ours. The sand throwing, the screams, the laughter, even the kids rolling down the grassy hill are all distant memories for Jill and I. Instead we try to tune that out, and when that doesn’t work, we just move further down the beach, where there are no small footprints in the sand and our thoughts can linger for just a while longer on relaxation. ahhhh…….

L to R -Lauren (Greg and Doreen’s youngest daughter), Doreen (Greg’s kind and funny wife!), Sylvia (John’s super sweet wife), Aunt Lou (smart and big of heart), me (looking chunky and older than I’d like), and Amy (John and Sylvia’s daughter).

Following an awesome feast and visit with my family in San Diego, Jerry, Matt, and I headed back to Mission Viejo, where Matt collected Ms Yuki who been waiting patiently for our return, and headed back to his place. Once Matt and Ms Yuki were on their way home Jerry and I headed over to our long time friends Steve and Jill. A delicious dinner was enjoyed at their house, followed by a small celebration for their youngest son Alex’s 22nd birthday!

It’s hard to believe Alex is 22 years old. Jill, Steve, Jerry and I have been celebrating our children’s birthday’s together since Alex and Patrick were wee little folk! Up next for a birthday celebration? Matt in June, who will turn 28! Yikes!

I hate to admit it yet I will. I play FarmVille on Facebook. I am slightly addicted to it. Some might say I’m hugely addicted to it. I would disagree by saying I used to be, hugely addicted to it. Lately I’m losing interest in it due to the fact Zynga hasn’t introduced anything new to the game in some time and it has become stale. I still play but only because I AM NO QUITTER! I started playing FarmVille because it is an escape for me. I can relax with my laptop, visit with the friends I have made while playing the game and not think about things. Several of my friends play this game, 1 from high school, several who live in other states, even my sister. I’ve also made new friends, friends of friends, who as it has turned out have some of the same health conditions that I do. This has made the game a little more special because we end up chatting about our lives while we plow each other fields, or share our collections of farm tools. So in honor of all that is FarmVille I made this card and bought 2 little wind up toys at Michaels Crafts Store. Fun and silly. Yup, kind of sums up part of what is me.

Karen’s husband Terry also joined in the festivities, shown in a more subdued un Disney-like moment! (jk).

Patrick, being his usual fun self, decided to keep the party lively by shooting off straw papers. Pat sent some flying herself, but thankfully that wasn’t documented by the family photographer, Pat and Jerry’s son Matt.

Jill’s other half/husband Steve and their youngest son Alex were also at the table, as was Pat’s husband Jerry, although he managed to stay outside the cameras range.

The most excellent waitress who served our table caught wind of the birthday festivities and brought a chocolate cake to Pat and Patrick. Matt being the ever great son and photographer snapped off a nice pic of his mom. Thanks son!

Back at the house another cake was lit to the point of fire while Matt took more mandatory photos for the albums!

Again Patrick being the comedian, kept us laughing while Matt kept snapping. sweet

And yes Yuki was front and center whether she liked it or not, while everyone gathered round while presents were opened.

I’d like to send out a big thank you to my most awesome family, my husband who’s always there for me, through ups and downs no questions asked always supporting me, and my son Matt, who is a 1 in a million son. My friends are awesome too, thank you everyone for a wonderful bd that stretched beyond 1 day, and meant a lot to me. Patrick, I loved sharing it with you. We might have started a tradition. Next year we could celebrate ours on your day! (thus putting off getting another year older for a few more weeks!)

As always my visit’s with good friends Steve and Beth are full of love and laughter. This time was no exception. As I grow older I appreciate so much of what my friends have to offer me in the way of companionship, wisdom and grace. Or not! ha! Looking back to a time when Beth and I were in our 30′s or even late 40′s and our families were still young we seemed to have endless energy to run errands or garden till we dropped. Now adays it’s more about quality time together and thinking about doing these things. It isn’t that we don’t try it’s just that there is a lot more grunts and groans and yes even humor at our klutzyness as we try. Steve, Beth’s other and sometimes better half is an equal partner and becoming very close to my heart. We enjoy the same TV shows, have the same sense of humor and love of all things tools. I always enjoy visiting with their children, they youngest son Luke shown here with Tinkerbell loving Diana beside him. It has been a long friendship, one that I treasure with each passing year. One that grows and grows and never seems to stop showing me what true love of family is like.

This Master Geneaologist and Acting Assistant Library Administrator has a green thumb both in and out of the books. Wow! Her favorite type of flower is geraniums, the brighter the better. I”m not sure who is the luckier one, her family, her garden or I!