Grandpa Chartrand turned 75!
Sunday, July 16, 2006

Andy and I traveled to Northern New York to help celebrate the 75th birthday of my Grandpa Chartrand. Linda was gracious enough to watch Molly for the weekend. I’m glad she did because it was over 90 degrees everyday!

The party was held at “The Pond”. All of my aunts, uncles and cousins were there as well as great aunt Kate (grandpa’s sister), her husband Jack, and a few of their children & grandchildren.

It was a really hot day and it rained on and off making it really muggy! My younger cousins cooled off in the pond. There is a big rock about 20 feet from the shore that they raced to. It was neat watching them because I could remember a time not too long ago when my older cousins and I were also in hot pursuit of the same rock. History surely does repeat itself.

The guys (uncle Brian, John, Andy and Grandpa himself) cooked up steak, pork, hamburgers and hotdogs – no one went hungry! Grandma Chartrand made her famous baked beans, and the aunts brought chips, taco dip, salad, macaroni salad, croghan bologna and cheese. It was delicious!

Later in the afternoon after everyone was full of food and chatter Grandpa blew out the candles of his 75th birthday cake. He made a nice speech about how blessed he is to have his family so close. He doesn’t speak very often, but you could tell how touched he was that everyone made it out to celebrate with him.
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Erin, Frank and Andy enjoying the cookout.

Grandpa as we all sang "Happy Birthday"

Action Shot - all the Aunts, uncles and cousins.

Grandpa and Grandma Chartrand (the night before) enjoying lobsters we brought down from Maine.

Cousins Derek, Madison and Me!

The Road to the Pond (Grandpa and Grandma own acres and acres and large waterfront lake. We all get together there for family events or just to go swimming in the summer!