Monday, October 1, 2012

Back to School

Here are the traditional first day of school pics for 2010.


Saturday, September 29, 2012

SANJL Youth Regatta

You know Fall is coming when it is time for the annual SANJL youth regatta.  The 2010 event was held in the community of Green Pond, NJ, about 40 minutes north of Mountain Lakes.  It was a very solid day for the Graf family, with David taking home the championship in the "midget" (under 13) division.

Each year the midget winner is awarded a daggerboard trophy, which he gets to keep for a year.  His name is engraved on the trophy for posterity.  Here's David after the awards ceremony:


Click here for more photos.

Summer's Over

And just as quickly as Summer began, it came to a close.  We wrapped things up with a great trip to Destin.  This one had it all . . .

Of course, a trip to the Gulfarium:


And fun in the pool:


Couldn't forget Suzy's first birthday:


But what always keeps us coming back is the white sand and crystal clear water of the Gulf:


Lots more pictures here.





Saturday, September 15, 2012

Summer's Here

Summer 2010 brought Stephen's first season on the Mountain Lakes swim team.  The Summer leagues in this part of New Jersey conduct their meets in lakes, in which competition lanes are carved out to make 25 yard or 50 meter "pools".  Despite his experience swimming for months on the MCY team, Stephen approached the Summer season with trepidation.  Concerns with wildlife and murky, cold water abounded.  However, once over his initial hesitation, he thrived.  At the conclusion of the season, Stephen was named "Most Improved Swimmer."

Here is Stephen looking on during an early season meet.


Stephen receiving the "Most Improved" award.


For more photos, click here and here.

Christina Moves On!

On a warm, muggy evening in June 2010, we proudly watched as Nina graduated from eighth grade at Briarcliff School.  Just three short months later, she would be off on a new adventure, beginning her freshman year at the Calais School.

Here we are with Nina after the ceremony.


More photos here

Bittersweet Easter

Easter 2010 arrived shortly after we learned of Cathy's diagnosis with the cancer that eventually would take her life so tragically early.  At that time, the illness had not yet begun to take the toll that it did soon thereafter.  Looking back on it now, I realize even more than I did then what a treasured weekend it was.  Cathy and her grandchildren laughed and played together, and the rest of her family and friends relished her company -- all the time with sadness and a little bit of fear not far from the surface.  Truly bittersweet.

Much of this gorgeous weekend was spent in the backyard of Christina's house, playing badminton.  The kids (and Cathy) enjoyed every minute, and the competitive juices flowed.

Christina Turns 15

I'm having fun going back now and posting stuff from two years ago.  Here is a shot of Christina on her 15th birthday opening up a prized Bakugan card -- the only thing she wanted for her birthday that year.