Happy Birthday, Sean

And many more,
 with lots of love
 from Grandma

PS. Check back this evening for more pictures.

Do you remember touching the Barred Owl at Brukner? You were three.

You were happy to see Uncle David at Christmas in 1989.

Do you remember Clifford, the Big Red Dog, that you took to bed with you when you were very young? I bet your mom and dad do.

Birthday number six. Chocolate cake with chocolate icing was your choice.

You became a master with the hula hoop.

This is one of those undated photos.

I talked you and Ted into being a model for a drawing I wanted to do for a book I was illustrating for Mrs. Beaver. I was happy I had willing grandsons. I think this was about 2001. It is another undated photo but I just reread my journal for 2001 and I know I was working on those drawings that year.

I hope I get back to Rue Dumaine before too long so I can eat one of your special dishes. As your mom says, it's nice to have a chef in the family.

I hope this is an interesting, eventful year for you with lots of good experiences.

Gretchen and Ray's Art Deco Wedding

Everything was Art Deco and Trains...

from the invitation with its railroad-like logo which Gretchen and Ray designed

...to the location, The Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

...to the Departure Board where the table assignments were on baggage tickets

...to the tables decorated in silver, black, and white with ostrich feathers and a silky runner and a photograph of a classic locomotive, a different photo at each table.

...to Swingtime, a band with the big band sound of the 30s who played the romantic classics of the time.

Many of the guests wore outfits from The Drama Workshop costume collection and others wore clothing similar to the 1930s styles.

All of the couple's children were part of the wedding party. During the dinner one table of guests burst into song...a chorus of the theme from The Brady Bunch.

Gretchen's son

Gretchen's daughter

Ray's older boys

Ray's youngest son

One of their friends designed a special poster to place at the entrance to the Private Dining Rooms.

One last picture of Gretchen and Ray...