A trip to Albany

Uncle Jeff, Denis, Karen, Joel, Ben, Jacob, Aunt Pat, Jessie+1 and Jay.

Saturday after Christmas I travel east with the Rosenberg's in a highly packed minivan (kudos to Joel for driving 244 miles in pouring rain) to visit with them and surprise my cousin Jessie and husband Jay, and my Aunt & Uncle who are visiting them from Connecticut, at dinner.

Before dinner, we go to the state capitol and witness (up close) a great Fireworks display and root for Joel and friends Heidi & her husband who are in a 5K race. The fireworks start with a bang and then a fan of 12 screamers shoot into the air causing the kids to jump off the fence scream with them. It was a great display

Sunday it's an unseasonably warm day so Karen shoos the kids outside who end up in a snowball throw, drawing kids like magnets from around the neighborhood.

Monday it was off to the casino, not to gamble but to meet Mom & Dad who drove partway to meet us and give me a ride back home. Nephew Jake was fascinated by the gambling machines - lights, sounds, buttons, tv screens -- just like Nintendo, right?