Laurie Kathryn's 6th Annual Butterfly Dance

It's that time of year again! The girls can not wait to strut around with

their butterfly wings again at

 

Sunday September 9, 2012



1-6pm at Patch Park in Charlestown, NH

There will be food, music, 3 bounce houses,

activities and more!

Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.

All proceeds go to children's charities in the community.

The event is rain or shine.

 

(if you need directions google "Charlestown NH Ambulance" ,

the park is out behind their building or "Fort Number 4" which is

267 Springfield Rd, Charlestown, NH is next to the park...

either way, you can't miss it)

 

The following I snagged from Dee's facebook page:

 

"For those of you who are wondering what this event is all about-Laurie was mine and Stacy's daughter. Shortly after she turned 3, she acquired a virus that turned into a nasty strain of pneumonia. The illness only lasted a few days, but she passed away from it.
In memory of Laurie, we have a Butterfly Dance. She loved butterflies and dancing. Here, we raise money and turn it around and donate it to local charities that benefit children. Some of the charities include the Headstart programs, Christmas Fund, Toddler Program at the Charlestown Library, clothing a toddler who's house burned, summer pool passes, and more!
It is just a fun day for kids. The bounce houses keep them well entertained. We also have activity tables, music and dancing, food and raffles. Please come and join the fun! Your child will look forward to it all year:) "

 

Check out the event and invite friends on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/events/154563748000910/

Happy Easter

Happy Birthday Jolene!

Ha ha!

Guess who

After looking at some pics the other day and having a total ball when people guessed wrong....I'm sharing some pics with others......Can you figure out who is who?


Me




















Jeremy















Julie (ha ha that was a trick photo)



















Taylor














Ashtyn













Ashtyn

Update on Eric Warner Case

I'm still really confused how to feel about this situation......... but here's what was in the paper

Eagle Times write up: (Click on the pics to enlarge them)

Finally some good news

Fosters.com

No jail time in Alton road death: Judge relents to wishes of victim's family

By Gail Ober
gober@citizen.com
Thursday, November 5, 2009


LACONIA — The Alton man who killed one of his passengers in a drunken driving crash in September 2008 will not serve any time behind bars, despite his guilty plea, a Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday afternoon.

Ryan Sell, 27, of 33 School St., wept as he apologized to the family of Robert H. Richey of Florida who died when the sport utility vehicle he was driving missed a poorly marked corner and ran into a culvert on Avery Hill Road.

"To sentence Ryan to jail will cause more grief and tragedy," said Megan Quinn who spoke for the entire Richey family, many of whom were in court for the sentencing hearing in Belknap County Superior Court.

"We, the family deserve, to have something positive come from this. We need something positive," she said as she pleaded with Judge Kathleen McGuire to allow Sell to continue with community service, but not to put him in jail. "We can't bear to see another life lost to the shuffle of the system."

Belknap County Attorney James Carroll had asked for Sell to serve 12 months for the vehicular homicide and had agreed to suspend a two- to four-year prison sentence for aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Sell's attorney, Mark Sisti, told McGuire Sell takes complete responsibility for what he had done and has "from the day it happened."

"I don't think taking a chance on Ryan Sell is taking a chance," continued Sisti, who said Sell does not have a drinking problem and has never used drugs or gotten even a traffic ticket.

After silently reviewing her notes for a few minutes, McGuire told those in the courtroom she could not remember a time in her 20 years on the bench when she did not impose prison on someone convicted of negligent homicide — until this time — a statement that brought tears and hugs from both Sell's friends and family as well as Richey's.

McGuire said she was "most persuaded" by Sell's intent that night, which was clearly not to drive.

According to testimony, Sell had gotten a ride to one area club with his mother-in-law and had walked to a neighboring club to meet his wife. His intent was to walk home.

Instead, Sell's uncle, Brian Eagles of Alton, asked Sell to drive him and three of his friends home, one of whom was Richey.

"His judgment was impaired but when he drank, he did not intend to drive," said McGuire who also agreed to let both sides stipulate that Sell did not drink between the time he left the club and the accident.

McGuire said she also considered the rainy, foggy evening, testimony stating the sign at the intersection was misleading and that Sell was familiar with neither the road nor the car.

"The wishes of both families is also critical," she continued. "And, by all accounts, he has been a positive hard-working member of the community."

McGuire sentenced Sell to 12 months in jail, but suspended that portion of the sentence on condition of good behavior. She also sentenced him to two to four years on the aggravated drunken driving, all suspended. He will be on probation for two years and will have to undergo an alcohol evaluation at his own expense. Sell must further perform 200 hours of community service.

The Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Sell's license for four years. However, he can reapply for it in two years.

When asked if he was satisfied with the sentencing, Carroll said the judge imparts the sentence and he respects the sentence.

"There was no way I wasn't going to ask (for jail time) because I think deterrence is important," Carroll said. "It's my job, and I will continue to do it."

Lucy (Martineau) Proulx Memorial

Lucy's memorial is set for Saturday 10/31 at the Silver Fern (formerly Hullabaloo's) on Pleasant St in Claremont starting at noon.

For anyone wondering about Ryan.....

FYI, anyone who doesn't know the whole story, and no I'm not sharing it, Ryan is my brother-in-law. I'm just sharing what is available online. This situation sucks and Ryan is probably the last person in the world who deserves this. He was being the good guy and is getting screwed because of it. Ryan and Julie, we're all praying for you.

From fosters.com

Man charged in fatal wants blood alcohol data barred

By BEA LEWIS
bwheel@metrocast.net


Thursday, August 27, 2009
The lawyer for an Alton man charged with killing a passenger in a 2008 drunken driving crash is attempting to have blood evidence barred from court.

Ryan J. Sell, 27, of 33 School St., Alton, has been charged with negligent homicide, Driving While Intoxicated and two counts of aggravated DWI in connection with the Sept. 26, 2008, single-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of Robert H. Richie.

Sell was allegedly driving a 1982 Suburban on Avery Hill Road shortly before 11:30 p.m. when he missed the Y-shaped turn onto Alton Mountain Road in heavy fog and drove headlong into a culvert.

Alton fire rescue personnel performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation on Richie at the scene but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced death at Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro a short time later.

Sell's attorney, Mark Sisti, has argued that Alton police did not have probable cause to arrest his client or to take his blood.

Sell sustained a head injury in the crash and police noted an egg-sized bump on his left forehead but still asked him to perform sobriety tests. Those tests, which Sell reportedly failed, resulted in police asking him to take a portable breath test, the results of which they used to arrest him.

Sisti argued in court documents that the preliminary breath test should be inadmissible because it amounted to unreasonable search and seizure. Sisti further claims police arrested Sell before they had probable cause and that the preliminary results of field sobriety tests must be thrown out since Sell was suffering from a head injury when police administered a horizontal gaze nystagmus test and a one-legged stand test.

Police testified that his eyes were jumpy consistent with someone who was intoxicated and that he lost his balance, raised his arms and put his foot down three times during the one-legged stand test.

Belknap County Attorney Jim Carroll has argued that the blood was taken properly under exigent circumstances and should be admissible in court.

A final pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 9. Jury selection is scheduled for Sept. 28. Sell remains free on $75,000 personal recognizance bail on the condition he not drive. He was also ordered to sign a waiver of extradition, which would allow him to be brought back to Laconia without further court hearing if he were to flee to avoid prosecution.

Chaotic as always

I have been so busy lately I feel like I don't have the time to breathe. Between trying to get my house up for sale, dealing with my high school reunion stuff, taking care of 8 kids, my own family stuff, birthday parties, Ashtyn's school fundraising stuff, class meetings, jeep meetings, loading-driving-unloading-carrying dowstairs-and stacking 4 tons of pellets so we don't freeze to death this winter, child care workshops, random charity things I'm working on and my fundraiser for Shriners Hospital..... I'm pooped. So for all of you who are disappointed I haven't put up any birthday pictures yet, here's a small glimpse of it and the rest of last week.

Our last "almost warm" day..... Taylor and Ashtyn decided that mud in your hair is "fun".......oh yeah, it tastes good too???


We went out to eat (Jeremy the girls and myself) as a family!!!!! And had dinner at Athen's (our favorite local pizza place) for Taylor's birthday. On our way home Jeremy stopped at his parents to say hi only to find out the cake I smelt cooking earlier was made special for Taylor, so we all went in for some monster cherry chocolate cake. Taylor liked the cherries more than anything and I think she was a bit disappointed that there were no cherries on the cake I made for her.


Auntie Julie, Ashtyn, Taylor and me before the party


I think this balloon, from Zane and "Uncle" Travis, was Taylor's favorite present... she still won't leave it alone.


Taylor half way through the party.....she was so tired she laid down to eat her birthday cake


Taylor and Ashtyn have been fighting to see who can spend the most time on the hobby horse "Grammy and Grampa" picked up for the girls.....and me(....I'm the one that wanted it....but obviously for them to have fun on)

Notice my stupid window is STILL broken.....as if my to-do list wasn't long enough, there's something else I forgot about.

And last but not least.... Ashtyn "allowed" me to take a picture of her...... She found out that food coloring doesn't taste as cool as it looks..... and its not the food coloring that makes frosting sweet....

.....and I've got a new cousin too

Frank Joseph Bissette......I know that much.... but my awesome cousins are so busy I have to find this stuff on myspace! WTF?

I'm an Auntie!

Brooklyn Ann Faw was born this morning at 4:10 am, weighing 5 pounds 8 ounces, 17 inches. Congrats Crystal and Jason.

Its that time of year again

The first Saturday of August is the day of my family reunion every year (on the Lemieux and St. Sauveur side)....it is also the peak of our Old Homes Days celebration.....So every year on this Saturday we go to our reunion location and hang with the family. We get to see our relatives we don't know, the ones we do but don't see except for on this day every year, and of course the ones we see all the time. Its usually a blast....minus those few awkward teenage years when its not "cool". The kids and I had a blast, Jeremy was stuck at work, and around 5 my more immediate family departed to go back to my place for the Old Homes Days fireworks display.

Today Julie, Jeremy and I took the girls to the Cheshire Fair. It was a good time even with the sprinkles.... Taylor's having a total cow right now though so I'll have to share the stories later...I just wanted to get the pics up before people start calling to ask where they are

Busy, busy, busy....As always

Last Wednesday we went to the petting zoo again and went blueberry picking since the strawberries are done. Jessi and her kids joined us as did Amie and her son. As usual, the kids ate more berries than they picked. But they all had a blast with the animals again. This time they all managed to find peacock feathers on the ground so they got some souvenirs. We had a little PB&J picnic there too which was nice. Thursday morning I drove out to Springfield to pick up the new-to-us brush hog Sue bought for the tractor. I wish I took before pics of it..... bright red, a hint of surface rust, but in all around good shape. Saturday the thing kicked my butt. I grinded and sanded and painted and now my arms feel like they're going to fall off. It now has not even a speck of rust and is Kubota orange (to match the tractor...and the backhoe)...who says you can't be a hick and fashionable at the same time. Then on Sunday....Jeremy, the kids and I made the 2 1/2 hour trek up to Winnipesaukee and surprised my Mom, Dave, Ryan and Julie for Julie's birthday. We surprised everyone else that showed up too. The last time we were up there was 387 days ago...(July 4, 2008)...this was Taylor's first trip to Alton. We all had a great time. Ashtyn had a tea party with Grand Ma Ma and Papa...which no one else was allowed to join in.... And both kids just loved every ounce of never ending attention. The ride home they weren't so happy about but...that's expected. Tomorrow, its going to be almost 90 degrees out and SUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!! So we are planning a swimming adventure. Scary stuff right there.....my white bum in a bathing suit....and in public. Yikes.

The quarter century mark

Happy Birthday to my "baby" sister...... We love you Julie!!!

Gary Martineau obit

Courtesy of yourclaremontpress.com

Gary Leo Martineau, 53 of Hudson, NH, died suddenly on Monday, July 13, 2009 at his home of heart failure.

He was born on July 31, 1956 in Claremont, NH to the late Rudolph and Rita (St. Sauveur) Martineau.

Gary began his career with the Army where he very proudly earned the distinction of SP/5 and a good conduct medal, serving his country twice including a tour in Germany. After serving in the military, Gary's career continued to flourish in companies in Southern, NH including Lockheed Sanders and BAE Systems, installing and maintaining radar and other systems that facilitates the national security that we all enjoy and keeps us all safe.

Gary loved and spent every minute he could outdoors. He spent most of his life kayaking, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. He was an avid whitewater kayaker. He belonged to and was active in many organizations to protect our rivers and streams.

He is survived by his only daughter Anna Martineau of Surprise, AZ; his sister and brother-in-law Diane (Martineau) and Roger Bruce of Enfield, NH; his sister and brother-in-law Lucille (Martineau) and David Proulx of San Jose, CA. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside service will be held Saturday July 25th at eleven O’clock in St. Mary Cemetery with Rev. Donna Leslie pastor of the First Congregational Church of Croydon Flat, officiating.

In his memory, we ask that you take the time to help someone out and live your life to the fullest. Donations can be made to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203, USA.

More info and request for stories and tributes for Gary Martineau's funeral service

Hello Dear Family and Friends,

The Minister officiating at Gary's Memorial Serive has requested that we send her any stories and or tributes we'd like to tell, good, positive, and funny ones, I hope. Even if you cannot attend, if there is a memory of Gary you'd like to share, please send it along to the address below. If you know of persons who will not be in attendance (especially our more elderly relatives or those who live far away) but would like to share a memory, if you would please gather and send the information for them, I'd greatly appreciate it.

The Minister is:
the Reverend Leslie, Pastor
The First Congregational Church of Croydon
email address is: Rdrleslie@aol.com
phone number is (Email me for it)

Also, if you have photos you'd like to bring along to share, we will have a place to put those for everyone to see.

Yesterday, as we sat with Anna, Gary's daughter, it seemed like the more we talked about funny, silly things we'd done as kids, the more memories came up--some of them I'm surprised that our parents didn't spank our bottoms off for doing; but then, we were just kids back then. Nearly all the memories I have of Gary have one or more of you in them: the visits to Canada, Merrimack, Nashua, Manchester, the big family dinners at Memere & Pepere's house or at your mom and dads' houses, and the wonderful days spend at the beach with a BBQ and picnic. I can still see him loading up his "Stingray" bike with fishing basket and pole and heading up to Red Water Brook in hopes of landing a nice Trout, or scooting around in Uncle Normand's driveway with Alan on Alan's little dirt bike, or making a snow fort in the back yard. Ah . . . a life taken too soon, for sure.

The Reception/Gathering after the Memorial Service will be held at Ramuntos, 71 Broad St., Claremont, following the service. The web site is: http://www.ramuntos.com/restaurant-2.php. You and your family are cordially invited to join us there. If you have not already done so, please RSVP to me (olucycricket@gmail.com) if you plan to attend.

Warmly,
Cousin Lucy (Martineu) Proulx

Gary Martineau funeral service

I got this email from my cousin Lucy..... I thought I should share it......



Hello family and friends,

I wanted you to know that there will be a graveside Memorial Service for my brother, your cousin/friend Gary Martineau this coming Saturday, July 25, at 11 am, at our mother's gravesite in St. Mary's Cemetery in Claremont, NH. I would greatly appreciate it if you could let your remaining parents and our elder relatives who do not have email know what's going on so that they may attend if they'd like to, especially Aunt Giselle, Aunt Claire, Aunt Rena and Uncle Roland, Uncle Normand, Aunt Irene and Uncle Leon. I'll get hold of our step-family. Also, if any of you know how to get hold of some of his high school/Claremont buddies like the Fluette and Rousseau boys I'd appreciate it if you'd pass the information along.

I would like to invite all of you and your family to an informal luncheon reception to follow the Memorial Service. I will be sending out another announcement as to where we will be holding that or have that information for you at the service, as I don't know where we will be holding the reception at the moment. I am working with Gary's daughter Anna and some of our Claremont cousins to work out those details.

If you think you will be able to attend the reception, could you please RSVP to me either by email or phone (***** email me for her phone number****) so that we can get a "head count" for the facility?

I believe the Obituary has been placed in the "Manchester Union Leader" and the "Valley News" and is probably posted today. He died at his home in Hudson, NH, last Monday of heart failure. The Obit that's in the newspapers is probably very short because of newspaper requirements--if you'd like more information as to who's where, let me know and I'll try my best to provide that to you.

If you would like to send a card or condolensces to Gary's daughter, she is:

Ms. Anna Martineau
13914 W. Mauna Loa Lane
Surprize, AZ 85379
cell: (*****email for this too)

Also, if you would like to make a donation in his memory or honor, please call The Nature Conservancy Member Care team at (800) 628-6860. Please be prepared to provide the names and addresses for anyone you'd like to be notified about your gift, as well as the name of the person being honored. Or, you can donate on-line at: http://www.nature.org/joinanddonate/donate/?src=l2


Thank you.
Love,
Cousin Lucy (Martineau) Proulx

So the last 10 days flew right by......

Friday the 10th, was the beginning of it all..... I got the go-ahead from all my kids' parents to take the kiddo's strawberry picking and to the petting zoo (both are conveniently located at the same place). Jessi, Maebel and Charlie were originally going to be joining us but at the last minute Jessi got an invite to the ocean, so we got ditched..... I do not blame her one bit.... I would have ditched to go to the ocean too. Especially since her "invitor" was doing all the driving......So I packed up the 5 kids and myself and off we went for a day of animals and berries. I have never seen these kids have so much fun as they did that day at Wellwood. Oodles of fun, oodles of poop on shoes ( thank goodness I asked the parents for 2 sets of shoes) and oodles of berries in their tummies. A full day of fun for about 6 bucks for the 7 of us. You almost can't beat that.

Once 5:15 pm came around and my last "borrowed" child went home, Jeremy and I along with Ashtyn and Taylor made our 2 1/2 hour trek up to Brownington for 9 days of just us and nature. (and a little bit of tv thanks to the generator). We got there around 9-9:30 (we had to stop for gas and pee breaks etc), unpacked and went to bed. The next day was the annual pig roast (which turned out to be not a pig roast this year....we had beef instead.... I pigged out on the chili I made and the huge fruit salad someone else had brought) over at the Glodgett's. As usual the food was awesome and the fireworks were great. Ashtyn and Taylor both had a blast. Ashtyn fell in love with a little boy named Thomas and Taylor was infatuated with Joe and Rita's little girl.... I forgot her name again....sorry...... And everyone there was awesome. They are all really great at involving the kids in practically everything. The fireworks ended around 10 and at that point it was definitely time for the kiddos to be in bed so we went back to camp. Jeremy and the other guys decided it wasn't their bed times yet so they went out with the ATVs or whatever they had to ride on. I went to bed with the girls and woke up around 4am to : "just so you know when you get up, my atv's done for the summer" WTF? He is ok and all is fine, but his atv.......definitely out of commission for at least most of the remainder of 2009. Apparently he stood it up on a crazy steep hill and instead of it finishing its ascent up the hill, it decided to fall on its face and roll down the hill. Lucky for my death defying mad man of a husband he is really (sadly) good at ditching the crash and so he ditched and only has a little bruise on him (a big one on his ego) and a huge one on the atv. That day the kids and I went to the park and let Jeremy sleep off his anger about crashing. The rest of the week was less exciting. A lot of clearing "our" land (hopefully it will be ours) and burning brush. We did see tons of wild life, which is the norm up there, but it was better than usual this time. We saw 2 moose, together, just 2 fields down from our cow path (road), a ton of Mommy dears and babies, huge wild rabbits, and tons of random enormous birds that were enjoying something very near by the camp.... there was a sad animal story on the adventure home Sunday morning.... someone was driving south, like us, an apparently their hatch opened up on their car which spilled out a bunch of clothing.... and the family dog.....right onto 91. Needless to say the dog didn't survive the tuck and roll............ Thursday night Ron and Sue showed up. I swear they came up only to scare the life out of me and have a good laugh about it. Ron got this huge GIGANTIC black spider that was at his work and stuck in in the shower. Everyone had a good ha raw about it.....except for Ashtyn. I had to pet the thing to prove to her it was fake. Friday we dubbed around Newport and Derby. Saturday we went to the circus at IROC..... and we decided to not bother once we got there. Instead Ashtyn got a pony ride, cotton candy and some bouncy house action. Then we peeked around inside IROC and then went to the GoKart place down the road for a 3 generation race between Grandpa, Daddy and Ashtyn. Then some lunch and fun at the huge play area at McDonald's. After a full day of running around we went back to camp for our last night of no-extra-kids and packed our stuff. Then unfortunately today arrived and we had to depart. So we drove home, unpacked, made my phone calls, checked my 254 emails!!!!!! and now here I am.

.....oh yeah....and it rained......a lot. and hailed and rained and tsunami and blah. Mother nature doesn't like me. Its only when I have plans in July it rains.

And we're home again

It is amazing how fast time is flying these days. The short story of the week is: I had 5 kids all day every day, with the exception of Friday.....Thursday night at the last possible second we decided to go to camp for the long weekend. Jeremy cleared a bunch of our "spot" and we're going back to hopefully get a lot closer to "finished" on Friday of this week. The weather was decent, beautiful Friday, on and off sun and sprinkles on Saturday and then crazy beautiful Sunday. The bulk of that evil rain garbage was only around at night....and there was a lot of it. But we're home now, safe and sound, to do it all again this week.....I'll be back for more story telling adventures once I get some food into our bellies.


To view the millions of pics I took click here

One project down, five thousand to go

Jeremy and Ron finished our wall of shakes!!!! Finally, after 3 years of looking at tyvek and/or clapboard, its done...... with the exception of stain. Julie and ryan came down for weekend and the 6 of us had a cookout with my dad and Linda and went to Terry's to go fishing for the afternoon. If was nice, and then rainy, and then nice, and then sweltering hot and finished off nice again.
Mother nature is a crazy one!



Jeremy, Julie and Ryan finally got to see Dad's new tree house he built "for the kids" which is code for himself. I have dubbed it the "New Cabin". For those who don't know.....when we lived across the road from his current location (he'll never leave the general location of where he is...EVER) he built this awesome little cabin just in the tree line on the corner of our driving range. And when he moved I thought for sure he'd have found some way to lift it and drag it across the road to his new house. Sadly he left it, and so this is his replacement for it.


The tree goes through it, it has 2 floors, a tons of windows and doors, a rope and bucket pulley system, a fireman's pole and you can enter via rope or stairs, which flip up to keep others out, if your feeling antisocial. It is so awesome! I don't think my dad will ever hear the end of it.....my sister and I are totally mad at him for not building us something like it when we were little. Don't get me wrong, Julie ahd her cute little Alice in Wonderland house, but what did I want with that thing? I was 9 when he built it. I had to crouch down to get in the door. I didn't want a little girl house, I wanted a tree house!