Technical Note: All of these pictures were taken with a Sony Digital Video Camera and then captured on a PC with a Pentium II processor as stills - not too bad, huh!
The initial big event was that Henry and Ruth bought Katie a swing and mounted it on
the old crab apple tree in the back yard in Minnesota. It looks like a fish (the
swing not the apple tree) and Katie loved it - especially with Henry pushing.
Katie also enjoyed the latest issue of National Geographic: 
Henry spent a fair amount of time teaching her to draw on her new
magnetic drawing board (parental note: keeps the magic markers and crayons off the
furniture - probably for at least a week.) 
We had a typical "Ruth Breakfast" in the morning wiht Renee, Andy and Henry, 
Chris and Ruth, 
and, of course, Katie. 
Abigale was there too - but somehow
I lost the picture.
Later that day, it was on to the Big Party at the University Club. There was a
good turnout 
with Cousin Lucia 
and most of the others. John and Mary were there 
and Monica, too. 
Katie took to Aunt Mary the Younger
while the matriarch of the
gathering, Ruth presided. 
Then it was time for the festivities. The cake was presented in full eighty
candle glory by Chris 
and the grandchildren made quick work of all those candles. 
Henry assumed his oratorial pose to thank everyone 
while Mary gave the best tribute - something about how she was the
favorite, got all the good stuff, etc. 
which was thoroughly enjoyable. 
Abby and Andy danced a celebratory Irish jig they had just learned. 
Needless to say, besides Henry, the hit of the party was the
gathering of the grandchildren: 
As they say - a good time was had by all.