Claremont's First Grade Class Trip to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Check out this video of Claremont's First Grade class as they visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Easter Egg Hunt at the Cherry House

On Saturday, April 3, 2010, the Garden Place kids and a few friends and family gathered at the Cherry House for an Easter Egg Hunt...check it out!

Do You Remember the Time?

The Shakir Sisters Back in the Day

(left to right - Ameenah, Khadijah, Sarah, and Ajeenah (center))

Emmanuel's 4th Birthday Bash - Vrrrrmmmm

The Indy 500 has nothing on Emmanuel's 4th birthday party. This Cars themed party celebrated with family and friends was truly the checkered flag event of 2010. Everyone had a great time getting on the mini train, jumping in the "Car's Jumper", and feasting on car shaped sandwiches. And as you can see in the pic above, the highway better watch out cause Emmanuel is ready to rip the road.

Birthday Shout Out to George Thomas

She's Having Another Bundle of Joy

Congratulations Francis and Khadijah on the Forthcoming Newest Addition

Happy B-Day AJ - Don't Be Tardy for the Party!!!

Happy Birthday Malleri

The Baileys of Somerset, Bermuda

While vacationing in Bermuda in 2005, LaFonda and Quincy discovered a piece of our family history. We had the pleasure of speaking with Ann Bailey, Marita Bailey Thompson and Edward P. Bailey, who turned out to be our relatives living on the Bermuda island in the village of Somerset, a northwest region located in Sandys Parish. They shared the story of how the family once lived in Antigua. However, some of the Bailey brothers left there and moved to Bermuda, while others settled on the eastern shore of Virginia. When they referred to the specific region of Virgina, I knew there was a connection between us. Besides, they exhibited that laugh out loud Bailey quality. During our meeting in 2005, Marita Bailey Thompson was the Bermuda Postmaster General and absolutely does not do e-mail. Today, Edward Bailey is a Judge in the Bermuda courts, as well as an attorney with Edward P. Bailey & Associates in Hamilton, Bermuda. I look forward to the day that we can all come together for a family gathering.

"In every conceivable manner, the family is the link to our past, and the bridge to our future."-- Alex Haley

Happy Birthday Adoniah

The Bailey Family's Newest Addition

Sister Act - Parts 1 & 2

Future Chief Justice Malleri

This year, after participating in the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) Summer Institute at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, I moved to Lexington, Virginia where I am currently attending Washington and Lee School of Law. As one would expect, it was a very challenging first semester, but I was able to learn a lot about myself and make many wonderful friends. Recently, this California girl had the opportunity to shovel her car from under two feet of snow for the first time and discovered it's a wonderful workout.

Happy Birthday Ameera

Ameera just celeberated her Sweet 16th Birthday in Killen, Texas, where she is a soccer-playing 10th grader on the honor roll.

Wendi and Syd

Wendi and Sydni are doing great! Sydni is a first grader at Claremont Spanish Immersion School in Arlington, Virginia. She enjoys liturgical dance at church and roller and ice skating.
Wendi is still working for the GRAMMYs but hates she hasen't gotten any free trips to Los Angeles in a while. Gilby is recovering nicely from his laser back surgery in Florida in mid-December.

Sarah and Jamal Get a New Crib

Sarah and Jamal live in L.A. where Jamal is a vibrant, intelligent 7 year old who enjoys skateboarding, running, playing baseball and cars. He attends Frederick Douglass Academy Elementary School where his favorite subject is math.

Sarah is a new Registered Nurse working at the Veteran's Affairs hospital. She is currently buying her first house and is excited about that!

The Freemans

Ameenah lives in L.A. and is raising her two wonderful children, Adoniah, 4 and Emanuel, 3. Adoniah is in her first year of school at CLAS (Culture and Language Academy of Success) in which she is in the K4 class. She is learning everyday and loves to play with her classmates. Emanuel will be attending school next year. He is a very active boy who loves to play with trucks and cars. These two children love each other very much and are inseparable. When asked what they want for Christmas, Adoniah replied with, "I want anything princess and two Zhu Zhu pets" As for what Emanuel, he replied with, " I want Transformers! I want Bumble Bee and Optimus Primus!" The two children are very special and our family can't wait to see how these two grow up!

As for Ameenah, she is currently working on her Masters degree from National University. She will be finished with this degree in February 2010. After this she is thinking about pursuing an Administration credential. As you can see Ameenah is doing what it takes to reach all her educational goals.

Welcome 2010

New Year's Eve in Maryland

Well the family spent early New Year's Eve at Todd's spot in P.G. County, Maryland and enjoyed good company, a spaghetti dinner, and Wendi's specially prepared sangria. We reflected on some great memories, laughed at life's quirks, discussed events of 2009 (e.g., Tiger Woods and MJ), and fawned over pics of G.T. and Wanda's new pit bull pups.

A.J. (Ajeenah) in the City!

Ajeenah currently resides in Washington, DC working as an Administrative Assistant for JBG Rosenfeld Retail- a Retail Real Estate Firm in Chevy Chase, MD in the D.C. Metro area. It has been almost 3.5 years since I have relocated from California to the East Coast. I could have not survived without the support of my Family. Sounds cliché, but my two most memorable times of 2009 occurred while being surrounded by family members from both coasts. The first happened during the inauguration weekend of President Barak Obama in which my mother Katherine Shakir traveled from Los Angeles to join my birthday celebration of 25 years on January 17th in addition to sitting with cousin Wendy and I on the National Mall to view the historical inauguration of the First Black President. The second occurred during the graduation weekend of Todd Bailey from Grad School in May in which both of my parents, one of my sisters Sarah, and three of four (one which was unborn at the time) niece and nephews visited DC to celebrate.