HAPPY 68TH BIRTHDAY MAURY AND 2ND BIRTHDAY ZEKE AND ZOE'

Thanks to all that made Maury's 68th birthday a special one. After a difficult year, it was good to have some "good cheer" with family, special neighboors, and good friends. Looking forward to having Ray and his family to come home soon for the holidays from Oregon.

THANKSGIVING 2008_MISSING CAREN!

After a long day of preparations, Aaron, I and seven of their NYC friends sat down to a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Executive Chef Aaron was very proud of his "first ever" smoked turkey that he served with five other courses at their annual celebration. Thanks Caren for the smoker! We have a big container of turkey for you and Aaron to enjoy this next week....Leftovers are wonderful! We all really missed Caren alot but we know that she had a great time in L.A. with her parents, brother and other friends and family on the West Coast. I really enjoyed meeting some new friends of Aaron's and Caren's...even the little four-legged variety! Sophie (Boston Terrier who is the puppy of Aaron's friend, Michael) was so well behaved and loved "kissing the cook"! Aaron and I enjoyed lots of Mother / Son bonding time even though he only had Thanksgiving Day off (in the kitchen) and he managed to leave at 1:00 p.m. on Friday to watch his favorite ECU Pirates for the last home game of the year. It was a slow-paced Brooklyn experience...no Broadway shows and no shopping...just family time! I loved it!!!! We are looking forward to Aaron and Caren coming to Raleigh for a few days at Christmas!

Dr. Maurice Simon: Honoree for 40 years of university administration, research, service and teaching. Plus 25 years as ECU Pirate Club supporter!

GO PIRATES and GO MAURY...........................!

Coach Holtz and Dr. Maury Simon lead the East Carolina Pirates to a huge victory over UTEP yesterday (day after Thanksgiving) in Greenville with a final score of 53-21!

Many thanks to Terry Holland, ECU Athletic Director, for recognizing Maury for his 25 years of faculty support through the ECU Pirate Club and for his 40 years of academic work in Massachuetts and North Carolina. Maury was honored with a standing ovation in front of over 50,000 Pirate fans and the priviledge of raising the 4th quarter "NO QUARTER" skull and crossbones flag. He was excited to be asked to be the "Faculty Guest Coach" at the last home game and during this last semester at East Carolina. He hasn't missed a home football game in 25 years! What a way to retire!!!!

Aaron and I watched on from NYC and wished we could have been there!!!!

2008 HAPPY HALLOWEEN

As soon as Bubby returned from a four day business trip to Charlotte today, off they went to the kids to have a great Chinese dinner and help to get Amelia all prepared for the big event. A PRINCESS Halloween it was as Amelia enjoyed sporting her favorite Snow White Princess outfit as she, Daddy Jason, and Mommy Meredith walked around Mordecai Street trick-or-treating. Poppie and Bubby stayed warm "manning" the door bell and passing out the candy at their house.

Let's see if I can remember, at 1 month she dressed up as an angel, year one she was a frog, year two FiFi the pink poodle, and this year a beautiful blonde princess....or do I have it mixed up???? Wonder what next year will hold? Let's enjoy year three first!

3rd Birthday With A House Full Of Princesses

Not much to report since the beach trip.....but the end of September and early October is winding up with several big Simon Birthday Celebrations.

Where did the three years go? It is amazing that our precious baby girl grand daughter is so grown up! Wearing glittery high heel glass slippers and Cinderella / Snow White princess dresses. She was the perfect birthday girl and hostess sharing her birthday, birthday goodies, and new presents with all of her friends. Even the boys at the party were having great fun playing the "Prince Charming" role with their dueling swords. Mom and Dad are to be commended in planning a great party....one that hopefully she will remember!

LAST TWO DAYS AT THE BEACH

We spent a fun and quiet afternoon after the Steeles left to return this morning to Charlotte and Mommy Meredith and Daddy Jason returned to Raleigh to go to a concert.

We promised to take Amelia to the carousel rides on our last day together of the vacation (she rode three times--zebra, pink pony, and giraffe) with Bubby and Poppy while Uncle Aaron looked on taking the photos. We then went to a great seafood dinner on the island at Captain Pete's. Of course, we had to make a return visit to Amelia's favorite ice cream store to get strawberry ice cream with chocolate sprinkles. She brought it back to the beach house, got ready for bed and finished eating her dessert with Poppie and Uncle Aaron watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

We all enjoyed our vacation together!