Cohen family yearly recap, 2009

Holiday Letter 2009




Dear Family and Friends,

Well, the year has again flown by. We at the Cohen household have had a great year.

Our Gray family trip in February took all of us to Florida. We went to Disney and other attractions while trying to keep up with all the kids. There are a total of seven children ranging from 3 to 13 years of age. Amazingly, they all get along very well.






(Deb with Rebecca and Amanda; Grandma and Grandpa with all 7 "Gray" grandkids this summer)


In April, Brian and I headed to Las Vegas without Amanda and Rebecca. We were joined by our good friends Matt and Allyson. We had a blast, Brian and Matt loved the Pinball Hall of Fame (basically a collection of old pinball machines that they played for hours………or so they lead us to believe…), while Allyson and I enjoyed the spa at Canyon Ranch at the Venetian hotel.

In July, after Rebecca fractured her arm and had a cast for a month, we headed up to Boston with my sister Lauren and her family. All the girls saw the Jonas Brothers in concert. Thank goodness for Lauren who took all the kids to the concert. We loved Boston and hope to visit there again soon.




(Amanda now towers over Grandma Sue, and Rebecca is not far behind)



The summer was filled with camp for the girls and a restful summer for me. In August, Susan (my other sister) invited us to join her by the Jersey shore for a couple of days. Brian was unable to go, however, that didn’t stop the girls and myself from going. We had a great time, and much to my surprise I really liked it and would go back again. On a sad note, Amanda’s dear friend Rachel moved to Switzerland for five years. Amanda and a few of her friends sent Rachel off with a surprise party, and we just had a chance to see her with Rachel’s family coming back recently for a quick visit back to the US.

Then school started… It meant no more lounging around for me but back to work. Rebecca started 5th grade while Amanda started 8th. Rebecca still takes piano at home, flute in school, and is in two dance classes. Amanda continues to take tennis on Saturday's, and was an Oompa Loompa in the school play of Willie Wonka last year.

One big change in our lives was that Brian was transferred out of the Huntington Fidelity office to the Flatiron District office in NYC. Luckily, Brian is really a city boy at heart. However, it has changed my life. He was so helpful when he was in Huntington, picking and dropping off the kids, and rearranging his schedule at times to adjust to my work schedule demands. That’s all changed now. He is gone now in the morning as he gives the kids a quick "good morning" before the kids officially get up and usually gets home around 7pm. I know that a lot of people deal with situation everyday. However, I liked having Brian around, so I guess I just miss him. WOW, I can’t believe I just wrote that, but it is true…even after 16 years of marriage!









Thanksgiving was spent in Connecticut at Susan and Tony’s new house, which is beautiful and lots of fun. She not only built the house but has plenty of property including an old chicken coop and a barn. There is always something to do. Christmas was spent at Lauren and Brian’s house in Connecticut, and a great time had by all, including a visit by the police...let's just say that when you have phones for little kids that look like play phones, 911 is not too difficult for someone to call by accident.

We wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and Wonderful New Year.

Love,
Debbie (plus Brian, Amanda and Rebecca)

Cohen family yearly recap for 2008

Rebecca and Amanda at Sophia Fahs camp







The Gray/Cohen/Farmer/Dassatti clan in Charleston

Deb and Rebecca at their first Jet game (Amanda and Brian on the other side of the camera), and Brian, Rebecca and Amanda ready to cut their Christmas tree

Dear Family and Friends, December 2008

It seems like just yesterday I emailed everyone the Holiday letter for 2007. However, it’s 2008. How time really does fly. We started off 2008 with a cruise in February which left from Charleston, S.C. to Mexico, Grand Cayman and Key West, with all seventeen of us (Gray’s, Cohen’s, Farmer’s, Dassatti’s, and Brian C. and Brian D.’s moms. We (except for me) took a train from Penn Station to Charleston. I flew down (because I had to work) and stayed the night with our friends the Fairchild’s (Judy Drew Fairchild, Reggie and their three great kids Emily, Katie and Ted). We all met up the next morning and then headed out to sea. Like always, a “Gray” family trip is an adventure. Upon our return we all enjoyed a lovely lunch hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Drew (Judy’s parents) and the Fairchild’s. It was great catching up with everyone.

In April, we headed to Florida to take the kids to Disney. We started out in Palm Beach and were joined by our good friends from home, the Barish’s. We also got the opportunity to see my Aunt Dottie and Uncle Wes and enjoyed a lovely dinner at their home. It was nice to catch up with them and to find out what was happening in all my cousin’s lives. We also had an opportunity to see Brian’s friend David Garoogian and his family. We then headed up to Orlando, where I did one day at Disney and flew home (again to work) and Brian and the girls stayed down there for a few more days. They had a great time and we are looking forward to going back in February 2009 (this time with the entire Gray family).

I am pleased to announce that at the end of the school year, I received tenure from Hauppauge School district as a speech therapist. I am thrilled to be working there with terrific colleagues. The summer was spent relaxing, and the kids attended camp and again we all went away to Shelter Island for the week. In August, Brian and I celebrated our 15^th Wedding Anniversary. Who would have thought the tall LI blond and the short dark haired boy from Brooklyn would still be incredibly happy after all these years? Brian planned an unbelievable trip to NYC. We stayed at the Waldorf (which is one of the most elegant hotels I have ever been to), ate at delicious restaurants and saw Broadway shows. It was wonderful to get away close by, and just enjoy ourselves. He is a master of planning surprises.

The fall was spent going back to school. Amanda is in the 7^th grade, and she continues to be involved with Girl Scouts, plays tennis, and is currently an oompa loompa in the upcoming school musical “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. Rebecca is in the 4^th grade and has an unbelievable teacher this year, Mr. Mecurio. She also is in Girl Scouts, dances and continues to play the piano and now has taken up the flute. Brian is still at Fidelity in Huntington, dealing with the Wall Street mess and trying to calm customers fears.

October was a busy month for us. All the Gray grandchildren, minus the 3 youngest, went to the Museum of Natural History with their respective dads and actually spent “A Night at the Museum” - they slept under the GREAT BLUE WHALE!! How cool is that?!? It was a gift to all of them from Grandma and Grandpa Gray. Next my dear friend Allyson got remarried to a wonderful man, Matt Barish. A lot of parties and festivities took place before the wedding. It was a fun yet tiring month.

Christmas was spent will everyone coming to our home and the laughter never stopped!! The next day we all went to Bethpage Page Restoration Village to do a candlelight tour. It was a beautiful evening, not too cold and it was wonderful to see the old town lit by candlelight, and we actually sang Christmas songs in the old church. My dear friend Valerie flew in from MN and spent the weekend with us. It was relaxing and fun to catch up on old times and make new memories with her. Well, tonight is New Year’s Eve. We are off to attend another party (with the kids). I wanted to finish this letter in 2008, and just barely did it! However, the editing part will be in 2009. We wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!!!!

Love,
Debbie, her editor Brian, along with Amanda and Rebecca.