Celebrate with Katherine today as she turns 19!

I promised a second “Why We’re Awesome” post featuring the other side of the family and the fabulous cousins there.  As Lindsay and I were already mentioned, you can check the last “Why We’re Awesome” post.

Joe has his Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music and is currently preparing to apply to graduate schools.  He is an accomplished pianist who is currently playing accompaniment in China.

Katherine just finished high school this past June and is now attending Mannes.  This year she won a competition and debuted at Carnegie Hall, playing a violin solo.

Thomas turned fourteen this year and started high school.

Robert turned twelve this year and is now in seventh grade.

Daniel and Nicholas turned nine this year and are in the fourth grade.

First picture of the week of the year stems from New Year’s Eve, when Katherine was trying to get a goof picture of me, mom and Lin and I was, apparantely, growing frustrated with the process!

Pictures from New Year’s Eve are now in the photo gallery!  Enjoy looking at the makings of a new family tradition - getting dressed up, cooking our own lobsters, having lots of champagne and other appetizers and playing a Murder Mystery game (even if we DID play it wrong!).

Click here for the photos.

As usual, the entire photo gallery can be accessed by using the links on either sidebar.

Happy 2010 to all!  Here’s just a preview of what we did New Year’s Eve!  More photos to come soon:

In trying to keep up with the family website before the new year arrives in just twelve hours, I thought I would take the time to get the photo gallery updated, and ready for the 2010 pictures (when the events begin pouring in, that is!).  In any case, pictures from Christmas Eve and Fake Christmas can now be found in the photo gallery:

For Fake Christmas, click here.

For Christmas Eve, click here.

As always, the full photo gallery can be accessed by using the links on the left or right sidebars.  Enjoy!

While most of the world is busy celebrating New Year’s Eve, in the Roberts family we have even more reason to celebrate!  Today is Popops’ birthday!  So while you’re getting your New Year’s Eve plans together, take the time to with him a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

As has become customary, I like to take a moment on the last day of the year to post the year in review.  Here’s what happened to the Russell/Roberts/Liccardo/Green/DeLano/Armbruster Clan this year:

In January, Kevin and Lori celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary, but it wasn’t until February that we all gathered to celebrate.  Also in February, Katherine turned 18.

March brought a rare but exciting Brooklyn event - a snow day!  School was cancelled for the first time in many years, and we had a substantial amount of snow!  Also, Kelly turned 28, Jordan turned 24, and James celebrated a birthday!

In April, Robert turned 12, and Kelly’s costumes made their second stage debut with the school production of Little Shop of Horrors.  In May, we saw the beginning of the Family Graduation Marathon.  Kara went first, receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from Binghamton University.  She was followed shortly by Lindsay, who received a Bachelor’s Degree from Brooklyn College.  We also had multiple birthdays, namely Joe (turning 25), Chris and Ami.

June turned out to be one of the family’s biggest months.  We started off with a celebration of Lindsay’s graduation, which brought family from far and wide.  The next day, Katherine debuted at Carnegie Hall, playing a violin solo to much acclaim.  Also, Emily and Katherine joined the ranks of the family’s high school graduates!

July became a whirlwind of activity as well, starting off with the big Roberts Cousins Road Trip to Florida, where we visited Disney World for a few days and then stopped off to stay with Grandma and Popops on the way back.  While we were gone, Wendy was participating in the MetroStar Talent Competition, where she made the quarter finals!  Jack turned 8, and Grandma A. celebrated a birthday.  Kelly made her television debut on QVC where she went to help The Firm with a segment!

In August, Jordan graduated from the New York Film Academy, receiving his Master’s Degree.  Lindsay turned 25, while Laura turned 22, and Mom, Carol, and Ted all celebrated their birthdays as well!

September did not bring very much activity, save for Daniel and Nicholas celebrating their 9th birthday and Grandma G. celebrating a birthday as well.  Also, various cousins started back up at school and work, and others wound down their summers (including Lori, who started in her new position as Assistant Principal!).  October brought Emily’s 18th birthday and Thomas’ 14th birthday.  Kara got her first nursing job at a hospital in Westchester.  Kelly visited Washington D.C. with a group of friends, and then immediately headed to Columbia, S.C. for her 3rd FIRM Believer’s Trip.  Shortly after she returned, Cindy arrived from California for a visit!

November and December were uneventful, save for celebrating the birthdays of Willa and Paul (November) and Kara (22), Dad, Kathi and Popops (December)  Otherwise, we wound down the year and got together to celebrate yet another holiday season!

With all this activity, what will 2010 bring?  Only time will tell!

Yes.  Dad’s birthday was two days ago.  I knew that!  I called to wish him a Happy Birthday, but then left the house for the day and updating the website went by the wayside!  So here’s the birthday message, two days late!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Popops tries out one of Jack’s Christmas presents at this year’s Fake Christmas: