A Centenarian in the Family!

Last weekend we went to Pittsburgh to celebrate
the 100th birthday of Mrs. Anne Nixon, Ken's maternal grandmother. The event, at a country club within walking distance of
her home, was attended by more than 200 guests and offered lunchas well as a wide-ranging program that included grandnieces playing "Happy Birthday" on the violin; a citation from the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives; and a film that chronicled Mrs. Nixon's earlier years. We learned that she managed a grocery store at age 14 and upon completing nurse's training during the Great Depression, she turned down three job offers to pursue a new adventure in Chicago.
Mrs. Nixon arrived at the country club in style -- on an ATV that B&L and cousin Sam had fun playing with when it was still parked in front of her house.

The affair was long, though -- too long for Bryn and Luke, who were truly on their best behavior (no meltdowns!), and too long for the guest of honor, too, who napped during some of the celebration.
Per Karlye's suggestion, we tried to take a picture of the great grandchildren holding up the number "100," but
in all of my attempts, Luke is either looking away from the camera or has his eyes shut. So much for using potty words to get
Luke to smile. :)
As always, the weekend went by too fast. It was really nice having all of Ken's family together. Bryn and Sam played really nicely together --Luke needs another couple of years under his belt.
Sunday morning we gathered at an EatnPark, famous for their smiley-face cookies, and Bryn and especially Luke let loose all of the silliness they had contained the day before at Great Nana's "adults only" party.
There was talk of possibly gathering again around Thanksgiving time in Atlanta so we can see Kristin and Paul's renovated home, and vacation planning for 2011 has already begun! In the meantime, Ken and Bryn and Luke will spend time with Nana and Papap and Karlye and Mike next week in St. Augustine.