Hey everyone, it's been a while since I said that I would post my skydiving video, but I've finally got it up. Thanks to Joe for helping me get it on here and a special thanks to my Dad for doing a great job editing it. Let's not forget the guys from Blue Sky Adventures either! Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and can't wait to see you guys at Christmas.



P.S. - I'll plead the fifth on whether or not I actually forgot my name...

Hi Family! Just thought I'd send the link to the latest greatest Baby Gilliland info... not as exciting as Nora yet, (or skydiving for that matter) but we're getting there... 40 more days!!

http://baby.bethgilliland.com

Baby Gilliland Website

Love,

Beth & Dave & Baby!

Hey Everybody, Michael here, just in case you didn't know, I happened to go skydiving yesterday :D It was a heck of a lot of fun (and money...but it was worth it!) I would SO do it again, too - just as long as there is someone else who has gone on over 1500 jumps with me again! Anyway, here is a still photo of my dive and (hopefully) I'll be able to eventually upload the video to the family site...until then, check it out :D

Steve,

Looks beautiful. I will have to dream up a project for you !
Hmmmmmm........

Hey everybody - I just thought that I would share some of Steve's artwork with you guys. Steve had to do a project for a class last year for which he designed three postcards. Everyone who has seen them has absolutely loved them and no fewer than three people have asked for them (Me / his Professor / MCC). I'm pretty pumped because I went with Steve to get them framed the other day and it should be done pretty soon. I've attached a mockup of what it should look like below (also made by Steve). I'm sure you'll love it - and make sure to give him work to do, lol :D

Hi Family,

By now you've been told (or heard) that a sweet Baby Gilliland is on the way and due in late September!

As you can imagine, Bill and I are thrilled to be Grandparents-In-Waiting and very excited for Beth and Dave! We found out on February 10th when we visited Beth and Dave in Ann Arbor and opened our very first Valentine's Day card from our very first grandchild.

Most of you know that Bill is an exceptional stick-figure maker, and in lieu of a real photo, he submits this first picture of the brand new family. (below and attached)

So far, the only thing better than being parents is becoming grandparents. Life doesn't get much better than this.

Looking forward to doing the "Dance of Joy" in the fall with all of you!

Love and Hugs,

Bill and DeDe

Rnews Video Link

This website was kinda thrown together in bits and parts so I haven't really spent the time to whip it into shape... I'll try to clean it up a little and make it easier to use.

I just wanted to make everyone aware that they can post comments. Just click the title of the article and it will take you to a page where you can leave a comment. I'll try to make that a little more visible and usable.

Oh, and a big thanks to you guys as well =)

You are, of course, most exceptionally deserving of the honor! You are truly a Star!!

And Michael - congratulations on your nomination - let us know what happens in January.

You Guys Are AWESOME!

I am very pleased and excited to tell you that the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology has named Joe as Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar for this year. Congratulations son! I wish I could take some credit for your achievement, but we all know that honor goes to your mother :)

As a proud papa I have to let everyone know that both Mike and Joe were nominated for their respective college at R.I.T. as Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar. Just being nominated for this honor is impressive. The maximum number of eligible students is 1 percent of full time enrollment in each college. Academic standards are high, and each candidate must go through a rigorous selection process by a committee of five faculty including the dean of the college and one invited member selected from outside the college.

From the committee:

One of the traditional concerns of colleges and universities is with the definition and recognition of excellence. The award for outstanding undergraduate scholarship has been established to recognize excellence in academic achievement by students. Those selected to receive the award are designated RIT Scholars and the achievement is recognized through an especially designed award emblematic of high academic attainment. The awards are presented at a special convocation held prior to the end of each academic year.

Each college will select and announce the recipient as the process continues. Mike’s college of engineering plans to announce in January, 2008. We anxiously await that announcement and hope that Mike is selected. I’ll keep you posted on that.

Hi Cousins,
I just ordered Drew's gifts and had them sent to Pat's house. Could someone help out by wrapping them and getting them to the Pec's house?
Thanks,
Kim

Hi Cousins,
I have posted a few ideas for our gift to Drew this Christmas. I would buy, wrap and bring the gifts but I think he might get suspicious when he sees them in the minivan....
Does anyone want to step forward as the buyer for this year?
Smooches and hugs,
Kim

Dear Gentle Readers,

Just a note to nudge those remiss in listing their wishes for Christmas. One must consider time constraints upon your Secret Santa. The Christmas season is long on things to do and short on time.Please move this item to the top of your list of things to do today! For the McDonald 5 lists go to www.bogojoker.com/family/xmas.php site. The cousins should go to the elfster location to post their list. Only three more weeks remain until Christmas!

Many thanks!

All the cousins were provided with a survey to fill out for the Christmas and the results are in! Secret Santa it is. You can view the results of the entire survey right here.

You should have gotten a few emails from Elfster (if not then check or junk folder or contact either Joe or Beth). Elfster is the new website (for the Cousin's) to store your Christmas wish lists, view other lists, ask questions anonymously and other real cool stuff! The emails you have gotten should link you directly to the "2007 Rochester Cousins Christmas" Exchange. You can view information about what the dollar limit is and other information. When you're ready to add to your own wishlist or view other's you will have to create an account which is really a 20 second process of making a username and password. Also you can see who your secret santa is (choosen automatically) from the main page, this is what the second email was about.

Any questions at all feel free to email/chat with me. Elfster looks really awesome! For future reference (once you have created your account) this link will take you directly to this years Cousin's Christmas Page

* Really Really sorry about the multiple emails, I was testing something and forgot to turn them off. Sorry!! - Joey

Hi Family!

November's been here a week already! The Christmas 2007 page is up and ready for your Christmas list! Hopefully you have remembered the name of your "Santee" as no list exists for who picked whom! As usual, your Christmas lists would be desired by Thanksgiving especially by those who are early shoppers and hunters. This year the family has been split in half. The McDonald 5 generation and the Cousins generation.

The McDonald 5 group will be shopping for Nadia and the Cousins group buying for Drew.
So let the listings and emails flurry!

Hi Family! It was so good to see everyone in Rochester over Labor Day at Tom & Barb's shindig! But after that, I think we're done traveling for awhile. Really. So in the meantime, enjoy these pictures because we're not going anywhere for a long time. Really. :)

Love to all!
Beth & Dave

Click Here to See the Pics

Its true, Declan is now a black belt descendant of the Original Master Miyagi! Declan earned his black belt in Goju-Ryu Shobukan Karate and a brown belt in Kobudo (weapons) achieving the rank of Sho Dan Ho.

In six months, he will receive his permanent black belt directly from Okinawa with his name written in gold Japanese script!! That sounds awesome! The gold script belt can be seen on Sensei Porta below.

You can click throw the pictures below or check out the full screen versions available right here.

Hello everyone... Just wanted to let you all know that Peter and I have gotten engaged! I know you are all very surprised, this came out of left field. haha Peter took me to Niagara Falls for the weekend and proposed there. So needless to say you should all be on the lookout for more details soon....

Love you all!

Megan and Pete

Hi y'all...just posting the pictures I have of Tom and Barbara's wedding so everyone can view! Love to all...

Link

Although talking to Mary, Peter, and Declan would be the best way to find out how things went with the move, you can always scout around for another source! The New Jersey Central Passaic posted a nice newspaper article with a picture and numerous quotes from Mary and Peter.

I hope everything went well and I'll update this article as soon as I get more information!

Of course, Happy Mother's Day as well!