'65 turns 65!

Kay, Wayne, and Peggy.
Kay had to work (booooo!) Bob and Peggy picked up Wayne to go to the birthday party in Los Altos at DJ and Raph's.

DJ, Barbara, Peggy and Estrellita: Some are already 65 and some are almost there!

The outrageously delicious birthday cake. We missed Sharon and Kay but didn't waste their cake!

Mills men of the Class of 1965: Bruce, Ralph, Wayne, Raleigh, and Bob. TODAY was Raleigh's actual 65th birthday!

Birthday near the river

[Trying to post of picture here but not having much luck. will try again later...]

Joyce took us to Scott's on the river in Sacramento to celebrate Eldon's birthday. It was a perfect day for an outdoor lunch. A delicious lunch it was. J&E are heading for Lake Tahoe on Tuesday to celebrate on the actual day.

BTW, Joyce is also a Frates great grandchild along with Bill, Dorothy, and Alice (see previous post!)

Eldon had a great birthday cake to celebrate his entrance into the septuagenarian decade: Molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on one side and pouring custard with raspberries on the other edge. Don't wait for a birthday to have this treat!

Frates Genealogy

Molly and Jerry

Bill (Jr), Alice, Peggy, Bill, Dorothy, and Cindy.

We spent the afternoon and evening poring over books and lists and charts of Frates and Lawrence ancestors. My 2nd cousin, Cindy, came from Paradise to Bill and Dorothy's in Auburn, CA. Alice, Cindy's aunt, was there from Grass Valley. Bill (Jr) was there from Seattle.
Bill, Dorothy, and Alice are Frates great grandchildren. Cindy, Bill Jr, Jerry, and I are Frates 2nd cousins. Molly is Jerry's daughter and our 2nd cousin once removed. Genealogy can be so mysterious and so much fun. We think we pieced together the relationship of those 5 Bettencourt boys who were raised by Tom and Mary Lawrence Frates. They were really Cardoza children of Mary Lawrence Frates' sister, Nellie Lawrence, and her first husband, Mr. Cardoza. Maybe you had to be there to see how the puzzle came together. We had a lot of laughs; plenty of entertaining stories; and a delicious chicken dinner that Bill Jr made and Dorothy topped off with her lemon meringue pies. Oh, such a happy day! It was terrific to meet Cindy--after several months of exchanging email. Now that Cindy has the Nellie connection figured out she's starting on Annie Lawrence. She just doesn't quit! Perseverance is an essential virtue for a genealogist!