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Monday, December 31, 2007

2007 Christmas Dinner at the Sweeneys





The family tradition has been to have Christmas Dinner at my sister, Maureen and brother-in-law, Carl's house in East Providence, RI. They have been doing this for over 10 years. Each year they always outdo the previous year with so much food and choices. They have always had a sit down five course meal that you enjoy tremendously. They prepared a turkey, roast beef and ham. All so delicious. They prepare everything with so much love. No diets and portion control on this day.


Sunday, December 30, 2007

Christmas Day 2007 in Lincoln, Rhode Island



Christmas Day is here and at 7:30am I rang the bells to wake Mark, John and Buddy to come see what Santa brought. We all went to John's office where the Christmas tree had been set up this year and Voila! The many gifts to open.

It was a moment of sheer delight when I opened a special gift from my grandsons in SC. It was a digital picture viewer that had 50 pictures to view that my son and daughter-in-law selected and programed for me. Tears came to my eyes and I choked up with sadness for I do wish we could have been together this Christmas, but these pictures will delight me everyday as I see Braydon and Nolan and the family. Maybe, God willing next year.

Below is a slideshow of the moments we created, beginning with the real reason for Christmas, the birth if Jesus Christ. Enjoy!


http://www.slide.com/r/wkRsRyYR0DAVXjsnJcEPzSRaipIBl10previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Friday, December 21, 2007

How sad it must have been.......






















The excitement of a first child being born is a memory that a father cherishes forever. On June 29, 1944, I was born to the Portuguese-descent parents, Mary Kathyrn Medeiros and Edmund Joseph Pacheco from East Providence, RI at Memorial Hospital. How sad it must have been for my Mom to have my Dad here for just a few days on furlough and to have him leave to return to the war and how sad for him to leave his new born daughter and wife. But fortunately he was here for my birth. My Mom sent him frequent photos of my progress with her love letters until he was discharged in 1945. He was in the 14th Armored Division "A Co". My dad was the tank driver in the Army. They were married December 6, 1941 I was told that I was conceived in Des Moines, Iowa when my mom visited my dad on leave and named, Kathleen after her best friend.
Photo1
back row -Manuel R. Pacheco (Paternal Grandfather, VooVoo), Virgina Camara Pacheco(Paternal Grandmother, Nana),her sister Mary Moniz from California, cousin from California, front row-Edmund Joseph Pacheco(my father)holding ME, My paternal auntHilda Pacheco Leitao, paternal Uncle, James Pacheco, and Uncle Joseph F.Leitao
Photo 2
Back row standing- My Paternal Aunt, Hilda Pacheco, eldest, My Father, Edmund Joseph Pacheco oldest male, sitting, Paternal Uncle, James Pacheco, and the baby, paternal Aunt, Dudater Pacheco photo at my father's First Communion-age 8)
Photo3
Manuel R. Pacheco (Paternal Grandfather, VooVoo), Virgina Camara Pacheco(Paternal Grandmother, Nana),her sister Mary Moniz from California, cousin from California, front row-Edmund Joseph Pacheco(my father)Uncle Joseph F.Leitao, paternal Uncle, James Pacheco, my mother, Mary Kathyrn Medeiros Pacheco,I am stting in front of my Uncle Joe looking at my Mommy