Penny, the beloved pet of the Negrette family, passed away on Saturady, January 28, 2006, due to an inoperable tumor. Although she was normal in all other ways, her quality of life was going to be compromised. She was a member of the Orzo family from the day she arrived, and was always about whenever we met at the Negrette home. She will be missed.

Uncle Mike missed being in town for Christmas, so he made up for it with a visit in January. The Negrette's graciously hosted, and Aunt Jane, cousin Jill, and cousin Amy with part of her family come out. It was all arranged at the last minute, and Mike was in competition with the Bears play-off game (they lost). Chris McIntosh generously offered to buy the fixin's if brother Paul would make a batch of guacamole, which he was happy to do. Yum.

The Negrette family hosted another Orzo RISK game. Lots of snacks, of course, and pizza. Joe Orzechowski's children, David, Amanda and Eric, and Paul's son, Peter, joined their dads, aunts, and uncles at the two boards. Alvin conquered one board world and started to engage the remaining players at the second board when the game was called because people had to get home. Alvin took the opportunity to get some family groups photos.

Krissy and her sons, Dan and Sammy, came by for a visit when Alvin was at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater to do a concert with Macaroni Soup. She even borrowed Alvin's camera and took some shots of the performance.

Cousin Jill Nichols and George Bellas got married today. It was a happy surprise, even to them. Read Jill's e-mail invitation to see what I mean. These are pictures from the church ceremony and the reception.

The Negrette home was being readied for remodeling, so Paul and his family hosted this year's Orzo Christmas. Santa didn't come, but our sister Mary and her son, our nephew Jacob, in from North Carolina, were in attendance. And so was Uncle Mike, in from New York. Mary got to experience her first Orzo White Elephant gift exchange.

Uncle Mike Orzechowski was in town from New York on this Labor Day weekend and the immediate family got together at the Johnston family home for a visit. The last picture of Uncle Mike and Aunt Mary Jane Nichols in this set was taken two days later at Aunt Jane's home in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.

When Aaron Orzechowski and Nathon Negrette graduated from grammer school, the immediate family got together to celebrate. It was also a chance to visit with Jay and Laura McWilliams, who just happened to be in town from Hawaii.

The annual St. Patrick's Day feast hosted by the Negrette family before their home was remodeled.
 

The annual gathering at the Negrette family home with an appearance by Uncle Mike Orzechowski, who was in town from New York, and Helen McIntosh, Chris's mother.
 

Jay and Laura McWilliams were in town from Hawaii, and Uncle Mike Orzechowski was in town from New York. So we all gathered at the Negrette family home to visit and celebrate Jay's upcoming birthday.