We had another beach weekend at Ocean City with the Harders. I’m pretty sure this was the July 4th weekend. We stayed at The Plaza again and watched the fireworks at Ocean City’s Northside Park. Allie and I were getting much better at building sandcastles. This one was one of our best.
I also loved to simply dig a big hole in the sand, getting down to the water level and having a place to sit and keep my feet cool. Allie had even more fun hiding in the hole.
Scenes from The Plaza condo building. It was a decent enough place to hang out, with ocean views, easy access to the beach and a pool deck for those times when you wanted to be less sandy.
Enjoying Ocean City with Maddie.
Laurie would have to confirm, but it looks like we went up to Philadelphia over the summer to help Laurie move into a new place.
We celebrated Maddie’s 3rd birthday with a backyard pool party at the Harders’ house in Baltimore.
Maddie and Allie 
Not sure who else was there 
Possibly not the same party…different table 
Three candles for Maddie 
Later in the summer, we made the trip to Nags Head, NC, to spend time at the beach with the Bowmans. To celebrate Patti’s 40th birthday, she and Lee rented the historic Kitty Hawk Lifesaving Station #7 (it has been extensively renovated since we were there). Patti and Lee were longtime fans of the Outer Banks and enjoyed renting older houses near the beach at Nags Head. Barb and I had joined them a few years earlier and found the houses they liked more rustic than what we had in mind, but the beach was nice and the company was fun. For this 40th party, we were joined by Patti’s sister Debbie and her husband Charlie, and at least one other couple whom I can’t identify.
Kitty Hawk Lifesaving Station #7 
The Bowmans 
The Duncans 
A favorite photo, taken by Debbie
We arrived on a borderline stormy day with leftover bread to feed the seagulls.
Debbie has had enough
Allie with Christine and Jimmy 
Many of the better photos from this trip were taken by Debbie who was very good with a camera. I think Charlie was a professional photographer himself, though I think he mostly had a video camera on this trip.
Mom says it’s important to have the right snacks at the beach 
Salty snacks are the best 
And it’s important to stay hydrated 
Allie with Christine and Jimmy 
On the run 
Not on the run…but a nice picture 
Collecting shells 
Kids under the house 
The birthday girl 
Getting ready for Patti’s party, with unknown child at left 
Hanging out on deck with Christine and unknown Patti friends 
Fresh summer corn is the best 
Celebrating Patti’s 40th; the cake says “Lordy, Lordy, Patti’s 40!” 
Nothing beats a girl and a beer
We all had a good time in the evenings at the local little amusement park (Dowdy’s, which had been open 40 years until it closed in 2005) with Jimmy and Christine. Allie loved to drive the bumper boats, which may help explain her later automobile driving habits.
Early car phone technology
Compromising photos in the bath, date and location undetermined.
Back at the Bowmans’ house in Gainesville, Pattie went all out with pony rides. It was for Christine’s birthday, Barb says.
The birthdays just kept coming, this time for Nathaniel (Bobo) Frank, a Thomas the Tank Engine theme party at the B&O Railroad Museum. Gloria rented a train car for lunch but I’m pretty sure it didn’t go anywhere. That didn’t make it any less fun for the passengers.
Dayva and Bobo 
Birthday boy 
Allie driving the train, or so she thinks
Betsy contributed some photos of Sara’s Girl Scout investiture ceremony.
Time for another Hekimian picnic, which meant another pony ride.
Some time at home for summer fun. Our neighbors built a cool wooden swing set that they invited Allie to use. This was before they fenced in their yard and got their rescue greyhound/whippet, Flash.
There’s nothing like a good pair of pants for a hat
Early August was Howard County Fair time; we had a fun day there with the Harders.
Driving with Maddie 
Let’s go THAT way! 
Swinging with Mom 
Ashley and Phil 
Larry and Maddie 
I think Larry should be on the inside 
Allie, Barb and Maddie 
Barb loves any ride that spins 
Not so sure about this 
Good luck! 
Riding the Dragon…a coaster fan from the get-go 
Riding the plane 
Riding a sort of motorcycle 
…or maybe it’s a jet ski 
Riding the mower…maybe not at the Fair (it looks like a hardware store), but all opportunities to ride are fun
Photos from the daycare center at Barb’s work.
Excited for daycare…or excited to be not in daycare 
Allie loved playing in the rocks. Mom, not so much 
Daycare buddies…where are they now? 
Getting ready for gymnastics class. This was a short-lived endeavor, one of many on the sports front over the years. Dance would become a much stronger focus for Allie starting in the next year, I believe.
A pool party in someone else’s backyard, probably DJ’s…maybe his birthday or just a party.
Connie and DJ 
DJ, Allie, ??, Kelsey, Kristin
Back at our house, on Saturday, October 4, everyone was getting excited for Allie’s 3rd birthday party.
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Arrival (2:20).
Sara and Kristen arrive with presents.
On our steps at Paddington 
Cheesy Sara
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Opening presents (15:29).
Sara and Kristen help Allie open her birthday presents.
Allie’s party was at the Columbia ExploraWorld center…a favorite place to have parties in those days. They had multiple kid-friendly areas to rummage around in and let imaginations fly with minimal adult supervision. This was maybe Allie’s biggest birthday party with more than 16 guests plus parents and friends. ExploraWorld was one of the few places we could imagine having that many people.
Dad, Allie, Kristin 
Please don’t put that in your mouth 
Dress up with Dayva 
Dancing girls
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Shopping (2:52).
Allie, Marla and others do some pretend grocery shopping.
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Decorating (2:59).
Allie and others do some pretend home decorating and fire truck driving. It takes a village to set up a patio.
All the guests settled in for pizza and cake…Barb will have to help me with some of the names.
Maddie and Larry 
Gloria, Leila and Phil 
Bobo and Dayva 
Bobo and Dayva 
Uncle Joe 
Krisin 
Christine 
Christine 
Patti 
Barb with Harry…or another Dad that looked just like Harry, because I don’t see Ann or Luke in any shots 
Kristin, with Stephanie hovering 
Gina and Josh(ie), an early potential beau 
Gymboree buddy Kelsey and her Mom 
Marla and Christine 
DJ 
Cake time with Sara, Jimmy and Christine 
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Pizza (3:55).
Everyone gathers for pizza. Pizza for 16+ partygoers.
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Presenting Cake (1:34).
Unveiling the birthday cake, song, candles.
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Eating Cake (3:13).
Everyone loves cake.
After two helpings of cake and ice cream, Allie was a little amped up.
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Goodbyes (4:31).
Bidding adieu to the early departures.
Allie video, October 4, 1998, Final Fun (4:19).
Time for a little bit of extra fun before calling it a day.
In another day or two, Allie had another birthday party at her daycare. Nana Leila attended and helped with the cake.
The daycare ladies with their favorite 
Special commendation for Allie from later in the year
On the same day, or at least in the same outfit, we took Allie to Sears for a 3rd birthday portrait. We have a second portrait dated October 1998 in a different outfit. Not sure how we ended up with two. Either way, such a cutie!
Not sure of date 
October 1998
I decided to throw a big shindig to celebrate Barb’s 40th birthday on October 17. We invited a select group of friends to a special steak dinner at Morton’s in Baltimore where I got a private room. The guest list included Betsy and Joe, Larry and Ashley, Leila, Tony, Nancy, Gerard and Chris and Hannah. I had thought about making it a surprise but there were too many logistics to work out. I worked with Leila to keep some of the details from Barb, though.
I’d originally thought about getting a nominal contribution from each guest to help cover costs but Leila convinced me to go big and foot the whole tab. I ended up enjoying the role of being the generous benefactor for the evening. We arranged babysitting at our house for many of the kids (Nancy’s son Michael and his girlfriend) and rented a big stretch limo to take a bunch of us downtown. A fine time was had. The evening was great and I know we took pictures…but where are they?
We have video evidence that Grandmom (and presumably Grandpop) came up to Maryland and were staying with us on October 24. Kristen and Sara (and presumably Betsy and Joe) came over one evening to our house. I don’t know what the occasion might have been.
Halloween at home, with Barb’s colleague Hannah and her daughter, before they moved to Bainbridge Island, WA. Allie was Mulan, in case you can’t tell.
Mulan! 
Miss Hannah 
Not sure who is the princess bride 
Halloween at daycare.
Making the rounds at Barb’s office 
Getting the crew organized 
A nice photo of everyone
A couple of days after Halloween, we had some time for videos. I ran Allie through every nursery rhyme song in her repertoire. Who’s the sweetest girl in the world?
Who’s the sweetest girl in the world?
Allie video, November 2, 1998, Nursery Rhymes (5:42).
Allie and Dad go through every nursery rhyme in her repertoire.
A trip with friend Kristin to someplace with dinosaurs…maybe the Rainforest Cafe in Towson?
Celebrating autumn leaves with Nancy and her kids, Michael and Ben, along with Michael’s girlfriend of the moment whose name escapes me. Michael was a steady babysitter for Allie, as was Nancy, indirectly. Allie loved jumping in a pile of leaves but our Paddington house had few trees, so Nancy obliged with her wooded lot.
Ben, girlfriend, Michael, Nancy and our hooded girl 
Ben leaning unnatually, midrake 
Our girl loved leaves
Getting into the spirit of Christmas a tad early (and/or as part of Barb’s birthday present), Barb and I foisted Allie off on a babysitter (who?) and made a November pilgrimage to New York City. We took in the Lion King, about a year after it opened on Broadway, still with many of the original cast members. It was quite a magical show; I was greatly impressed, especially by the animal puppetry and the use of Indonesian shadow play. Director Julie Taymor deserved every accolade for pulling off this stage adaptation of the animated film. We would return to NY in 2002 to see Lion King again, this time with Allie. We also saw The Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes and the living nativity with real animals. The Lion King animals were more impressive. How is it we didn’t take any pictures on the trip?
We returned to take a field trip to the North Pole to see Santa. It was a train in historic Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, just over the Mason-Dixon line. We went with Kristin and DJ.
Kristin, ?? and DJ 
Not so sure about seeing Santa 
Santa uncertainty confirmed 
A more successful visit with Santa…at a mall, where he belongs.
The official picture, but I like ours better
Miscellaneous items: Fred and Fran sent their greetings from somewhere. A random shot of me and the girl in someone else’s house. And Christmas greetings from the Embreys.
Getting excited for Christmas at home.
Note Mom’s popcorn strings and many handmade ornaments
Allie video, December 17, 1998, Christmas Bedtime (7:32).
Allie reads (‘reads”) Twas the Night Before Christmas which morphs into Up on the Housetop.
Allie was a certified cookie baker at age 3 and/or Barb employed child labor from way back.
Allie’s 1998 letter to Santa, with some assistance from Barb. Somehow we ended up with a copy.
Christmas Eve at Auntie Jessie’s.
Allie and Jessie 
Doll time with Jessie, Carleigh and ?? 
Adding Carleigh’s little brother to the game 
Did we kill him? 
No he’s fine! With Dad, Brad, and Mr. Ireland in back 
Dinner time with Martha, John, Jessie and Carleigh 
Getting ready for carols 
Play us a tune! 
Duets are fun 
Unknown lady in middle 
Now I’m confused about Carleigh and her sister 
And her little brother 
Selecting a carol
Allie video, December 25, 1998, Christmas Morning (3:04).
Coming down for presents on Christmas morning.
Restrained excitement for her first gift, a Blues Clues notebook.
Christmas dinner at our house with the Embreys and Leila.
A little bit of snow on the deck, for seasonal effect 
Roast beef aftermath with Leila 
Joe knows his picture is being taken
Photos of our Paddington house, courtesy of Betsy.
Family Room 
Kitchen and breakfast area 
The living room… 
…aka The Forbidden Room 
Our Paddington cul-de-sac 
Our house
Spending New Years Eve with the Harders.
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