June 10th, 2012 --- our last day in Kansas City

We saw Skip on Tues. and Wed.  Visited with the Sisters on Wed. as well.  Thurs. to KC and to catch up on family goings on.  Friday was a fantastic wedding with Alex and Toni.  Sat. was Mass and a birthday dinner for my sister Julie, and my mom Karen.  It is now Sunday, and alas, we must head back to Guerneville, CA, but not before having lunch with my sister Brenda, niece Meredith, and my dad, Bob at the cheesecake factory.  Michael and I then had another lunch with our nephew Jacob, who just graduated from high-school,  and will be attending film school in Florida, along with his mother Jenny.

Brenda, Meredith and dad, Bob in front of this yummy restaurant!

Inside the Cheesecake factory.

Michael and I lived in the far right townhouse from 1989-1992.  

A view of downtown KC from Quality Hill.

Michael, Jacob our nephew and Uncle Vincent.

My sister in law Jenny, and her super son Jacob!

Thank you to each and every one of you for making our trip to KC special.  We packed up not only our suitcases when we left, but a bushel full of great memories as well.  Love to you all, and best wishes to Alex and Toni!

          ------ Vincent & Michael

June 9th, 2012 the day after the wedding....

After the wedding, we all went back to the hotel, except for Toni and Alex.  Our very large family  chatted until 1am.  We were all up at 9am for breakfast and to continue catching up with each other.

Our wonderful hotel.

Downtown KC WWI war memorial.

Crown center hotel.

Kansas City train station.

Inside the KC train station.

Inside the KC train station.

Yes, Amtrak is still running here.  Yeah!

Under the big clock in KC.

My wonderful parents, Bob and Karen.

One of downtown Kansas City's beautiful fountains.

The beautiful Catholic church we all went to on Sat. evening.  1000 people were at this packed service!

My sister Julie, and my mom Karen, with their birthday cake.

Aunt Debbie and Vincent.

June 8th, 2012 --- Alex and Toni's Wedding Day!

Today is the big day, Alex and Toni are getting married!  Yeah!

My three gorgeous nieces!  Elizabeth, Rebecca, Abigail and proud Uncle Vincent.

Toni, getting ready to go to get married.  

Another house we want to buy and move to Guerneville, CA

Uncle Vincent & Uncle Michael

Benjamin looking quite adorable!

Elizabeth, Rebecca, Abigail, maid of honor, Toni, minister, Alex, Jeff (the proud dad of Alex) Nicholas, my eldest nephew, young Timothy, Ryan, and Toni's brother Adam, who is Toni's younger brother.

My beautiful mother Karen, my nephew Alex, who just got married, and my terrific dad, Bob.

This was posted in front of the church.

my Aunt Sue, Michael and my Uncle Jerry.

Jeff (the proud dad) Nicholas my eldest nephew, Toni, the blushing bride, Alex her husband, Adam, Toni's brother.

Front row, Benjamin who is tired, and his brother Timothy.

The reception was held at a beautiful golf house country club.

Julie, my sister, and my dad, talking with two friends of Toni's.

The very yummy wedding cake!

Notice two polar bears on top of the cake.

Benjamin, Abigail, Adam, Alex, Toni, Rebecca, Ryan, Elizabeth, and Nicholas.

Brenda, Marcia, Julie with their brother Vincent

June 7th, 2012

We said goodbye last night to Skip, and then today drove to Kansas City.  My nephew Alex was getting married the next day.  30 of our immediate family members were there to see Alex and Toni get married.  First stop in Kansas City, was a great hookah bar!  Next stop to the hotel to meet up with family.

Just the other side is the hookah bar in downtown Kansas City.

Downtown buildings in KC.

Michael with triple apple shishaw with apple juice in the bottom, all found at:

www.alhookahhafla.com

This place is GREAT!

My mom, Karen, my 3 beautiful nieces!

Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Abigail.

My baby sister Brenda, Vincent and my beautiful niece Meredith.

Rebecca, Brenda, Vincent, Meredith, Elizabeth,and Timothy in front and center.

My beautiful eldest sister Julie, with my youngest nephew Benjamin to the right.

My terrific dad, Vincent and my nephew Benjamin.

Andy, my niece Meredith and Pong our teddy Bears.

Vincent with his niece Meredith and Vincent's portable hookah.

June 6th, 2012

We were over to Skips at 11am and arrived to Clyde, MO to see our good friends at the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, in their beautiful newly remodeled monastery.  We arrived at 11:45am and got to listen to the Sisters chant the noon prayers which were beautiful.  Our hosts for the day were Sr. Pat and Sr. Sean who spent 4 hours showing us around.  What fun we had!

           One of many wind windmills on the Clyde property.  The tips of the blades reach 200 mph!

The front of the new and improved monastery.

A chapel in the retirement building for the retired sisters.

This is all hand stitched!  

Vincent / Michael and Skip in front of the Clyde water tower.

Our hosts, Sr. Sean and Sr. Pat.  Thank you for a GREAT time!

The Karr farm house.  (Michael's mother was born here, as well as his grandfather, great aunt and uncle!)

Skip and Michael at the farm house.

Another shot of the back of the farmhouse.

Skip and Michael inside a two seater outhouse on the farm.

Vincent and Michael in the two seater outhouse on the farm.

Tombstone of Michael's mother Twila.

View from the cemetery.  It is on top of a hill.

Church Michael's great Aunt Una attended.

Missouri wheat.  This design is what is put on every pie Michael's family has ever made since coming over from Ireland over 100 years ago.

An automatic pancake machine for our nephew Christopher.