Just some treasures I found in my mom's old slides today. These images of Beaverkill just reach into my heart and pull and pull. These come from the 50's - but the place is timeless. 

The Stone Cottage 

The Hemlock Cottage

Uncle George 80 years ago.

Teddy Willich II - Between 4-6 years old I am guessing.

George, Teddy, Kathleen Willich about 1936-37

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Sylvia Suzanne Willich Ahlberg

Born February 28, 1956

Provo, Utah

I swear she is smiling in this picture at just a few hours old. 

Sylvia's first time 'sun-bathing'

With her proud daddy in the beautiful Utah mountains

Four generations of Dittmores. Grandmother Dittmore-Hardman, Suzanne Willich, Marlin Dittmore, Baby Sylvia

Just being a cute toddler.

Could this picture be cuter?

I really hope that is chocolate cake...

Already working on breaking our of boundaries and restrictions.

Early reader.

First crush - I guess - I don't know...

Continuing to be cute.

Riding her little red wagon

We are all disturbed by the crib, cage, thing....

Kathy arrives and is dominated quickly by Sylvia.

Dittmore Family Portrait 1958
FRONT ROW: Ann Benson, Barbara Jean Benson, Lewis Dittmore, Marlin Dittmore, Barbara Dittmore, Cheryl Willich (infant), Gary Dittmore, Suzanne Willich, Sylvia Willich,BACK ROW: Laura Benson, Boyd Benson, Marilyn Dittmore, Sandra Knecht, Jim Knecht, Marlene Dittmore, Kathy Willich, Ted Willich

So big!!!

Sittin on her Papa's lap, probably about 3 years old. (Albert Willich)

Sledding with family friends - Hardmans I think.

About 4 years old and in the Beaverkill river. Don't know who the other girl is.

Sylvia's fifth birthday party. Feb 28, 1961

I see tiara's and I see wands, must be a princess party.

Another Beaverkill picture. In front of the Hemlock cottage with the Murray cousins.

FRONT: Yvonne Willich, Jackie Murray, Carolyn Murray

BACK: Kathy Willich, Sylvia Willich, Patrick Murray, Cheryl Willich about 1962 or 63

I am guessing 4 or 5

Your guess at Sylvia's age is as good as mine...maybe 5 or 6?

About 3rd grade

Last in the series of frontal close-ups :-) 

These two I know Sylvia's age ♥ It is her 8th birthday 1964

Kathy - Cheryl - Sylvia and Fluffy - Yvonne  Crowley Louisiana

 The water fun below happened first, then the hot dog roast - I don't know for sure but I think it was Cheryl's birthday - but maybe just a fun summer day. Left to right: Judy Tilden, Kathy, Sylvia, Cheryl, don't know about the other two...

Above Yvonne, Judy Tilden, Cheryl, Kathy and Sylvia running the hose in the back.

Judy, Kathy, Sylvia, Cheryl and Yvonne in the front.

In New Jersey, Fifth grade - so about 10 years old I guess- still playing with Barbies anyway...

Nonsense in New jersey with Knecht cousins
Front: Cross-eyed Kathy, Yvonne, Sarah Knecht,
Back: Nona Knecht pulling her ears and Sylvia as the football hero

....and another birthday! 10? 11? can you count the candles?
Left to right front row: Yvonne Willich, Sarah Knecht, Kathy Willich, Sylvia Willich, Cheryl Willich, Teddy Wilich,
BACK: Nona Knecht, Bruce Knecht, Jim Knecht

In Utah about 1966-67 - 11 or 12 years old

I will have to bring you more images through Sylvia's life as she grew older - but folks this blog took me hours and I am tired. I have chosen to finish with this picture because it is so "Napoleon Dynamite" of her to have the reflective image profile in the background. Screaming funny, right?  Mom says this was taken while she was doing her student teaching.
Love you and miss you Syl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Helen Christine Willich Heiner!!

I am a little late with this post - sorry - Blogs are time consuming to maintain, right? I wanted to post baby/child pictures of each of the Willich siblings as their birthdays arrived. Well Helen Christine Willich Heiner was born on February 4, 1963 in Crowley, Louisiana. The 5th girl to join the Willich family.

Here she is as a new born :-)

Looking out at the world from her death trap of a baby seat. Nothing to strap into the car there folks. Somehow we all survived.

Older sister Yvonne seems pleased with the new addition. Baby Christine looks surprised and a little frightened!

Smiling for the camera. In our back yard on 419 North Avenue I in Crowley, Louisiana

Caught laughing and then caught by our dog Fluffy, below...

Probably got a good slobbery lick from him.

I'd say about 3 months old - what do you think?

I love this picture, It is one of only 3 or 4 we have of our beloved grandmother "Mami".  Christine is named for her (Helen) and she looks more like Mami than any of the rest of us do. Dawson Willich is the huge baby on the left :-) and Christine is the daintier cousin on the right. Sylvia is the happy older sister on the left and Cheryl is on the right.  Mami is smiling happily in the back. 

Dawson & Christine

Learning to walk. Crowley, Louisiana

Caged!

...but kind of liking the cage I guess - or maybe she climbed out. Who knows?

Christine and Yvonne playing happily together. 

Just cute - right?

Christmas 1963 - Cheryl chewing on her shirt as always. 

New winter hats for all as well as Barbie, Ken and wardrobes. 

Cute

Christine as a table center piece in Leonia, New Jersey.  Nona Knecht, Sylvia, Kathy, Gary, Christine, Cheryl

Ha ha - someone is mad. Back yard in Crowley, La. 

...and now someone else is mad. Little Teddy wants the hose to himself.  Cousin Bruce Knecht to the rescue in the bubble diaper. Leonia, NJ

Playground at Lake Rigabear. New Jersey about 1964-65

All the Dittmore cousins at Lake Rigabear in New Jersey 1964-65...someone responsible should pull up Christine's swimsuit.  Kathy, Sylvia, Christine, Yvonne, Sarah, Bruce, Nona, Teddy, Cheryl

On the lawn in front of the church in New Jersey,
Suzanne, Kathy, Cheryl, Yvonne, Christine, Teddy - maybe Sylvia is taking the picture?

I think this is in Beaverkill, New York. Yvonne, Christine, Teddy (It IS Beaverkill - mom just confirmed :-)

Aunt Marilyn playing in the snow with her nieces.  Kathy in front, Yvonne, Snow Man, Christine, Marilyn and Sylvia in back. Leonia, New Jersey

This is definitely Beaverkill, New York. Christine out in front of the Hemlock Cottage about 1965 (Mami made this dress for Christine)

Sylvia, Kathy, Cheryl, Yvonne, Christine, and Teddy in Beaverkill, New York about 1965

Christine, Teddy and Suzanne out in front of our first Provo, Utah home. Beautiful mountains in the background.

Christmas in Provo. Maybe 1966. Christine, Kathy, Sylvia, Teddy, BACK, Cheryl & Yvonne.  Look at those big brown eyes of Christine's.  She was always famous for them.

Our second Provo home on 500 West. There is an apartment building there now.  I think Christine has had enough of picture taking for one day. Front: Teddy, Yvonne, Christine  Back: Cheryl, Sylvia, Kathy, Suzanne 

Christine does not look happy to be dressed up as a pioneer for this primary event. I would not be either.  I support you in your displeasure Chris.  Don't know the girl in the bonnet on the left, but Chris is frowning in the white shawl, then Yvonne is wearing the large red bell-bottom sleeves (what pioneer ever wore those?) and Allison Wilde is next to Yvonne. The Wilde family were great friends of ours. 

The Willich kids pictured with the Parker family.  Grandfather Dittmore's mother is in this picture. Gray haired lady in glasses on the far right.
FRONT: Yvonne, Cheryl, Parker girl, Christine posing happily
MIDDLE: Teddy, Kathy, Cindy Parker
THIRD ROW: Marlin Dittmore, Suzanne, Don't know, Great Grandmother Dittmore Hardman,
BACK: Mr. Parker, Mrs. Lillian Hardman Parker
(They ran Parker's Drive In, in American Fork for years and years. It JUST closed down last year. I drive by it every day on my way to work in Pleasant Grove.
GreatGrandmother Dittmore Hardman had one child (Marlin) by her first husband who died. Then she married Mr. Hardman and had had three more children. Two girls Lola and Lillina and then a boy (don't have the boy's name)
SO - Lillian was our Great Aunt. They had us over for dinner from time to time. 

Let's finish off with a pic of Chris as she enters the pre-teen years. April 1972 would make her 9 years old - right? Two pink barrettes, white knee-socks, a hand-me-down dress and a big 'ol smile.  Provo, Utah (Edgemont area) Happy Birthday Christine! (50 years old this month)  We love you!