Michael & Carolyn
Hopewell, NJ

Victoria Kafka

Tyler Jefferis-Bender

Elisabeth Peters

Katharine Bender

Family Near & Far


Lauren Bender
NY, NY& Paris, France


David & Courtney Bender
Richmond, VA


Lola Shea


Noah Hudson


Ruth Bender
San Francisco, CA


Martin & Rogie Rome
Princeton, NJ


Stephen Bender & Phyllis Davison
Princeton, NJ

Favorite Links

Caliente Restaurant in Richmond, VA

New Jersey Scuba Diving Website and Forum

 Mike's Dive Log

Hopewell Elementary School PTO forum

Chestnut Hill College

Hopewell Valley Soccer Association

Hopewell Valley Softball and Baseball Association

 

  

Breaking News

September 1, 2008
Summer rolls to an End

With the return of Victoria to Chestnut Hill college August 24th, the impending return to school for Elisabeth and Tyler, and Katharine's excitement for the start of kindergarten the summer is officially over for the Bender kids.

Victoria spent the summer working 48 hours a week between the Nassau Inn and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office in their Juvenile Section; Tyler spent a month at Camp Cayuga and a week in Ocean City; Elisabeth spent a week camping and two weeks in the Outer Banks with her dad; and Kitty stayed local with a week of vacation bible school at St. James.

Bedtimes for the younger two are back to 7:30PM and the backpacks are full of supplies for the coming year.

Mike and Carolyn are holding on to their hats until things settle down around Christmas time.

August 16, 2008
Katharine Turns 5!
 On August 16 Katharine and many of her kindergarten friends celebrated her fifth birthday in style with a Candy Land theme and Marco the Magician.
It was all hands on deck as forty Hopewell kindergarteners made their way through the ten Candy Land destinations and then sat for a little magic.
The afternoon ended with all of the kids enjoying the candy table at the end of the path.


August 10, 2008  Virginia Meets NJ
Up for the nuptials, Dave, Courtney, Lola and Hudson enjoyed an afternoon full of fun with Kat, Ty and Tori as the kids had a chance to hang out and play.

August 9, 2008
Stephen & Phyllis Get Married!
After over 20 years of bliss, Stephen and Phyllis tied the knot courtesy of Deputy Mayor Bernie Miller in front of family and friends.  The marriage was honored by a celebration at Chambers Walk restaurant.
On Sunday, Dr. & Mrs. Bender continued the celebration as they hosted an open house for friends and family to wish them well.


July 30, 2008 - New Chicks at the Bender House
With the departure of a long-time neighbor, the Bender family inherited a Ritz-Carlton chicken coop along with six hens.
It was only a matter of days before two chicks appeared courtesy of another family who found them after they had been abandoned in the local cemetery.

June 18, 2008
School ends for Hopewell.  Tyler finishes his first year at high school, Lizzie finishes 3rd grade, and Kat is gearing up for Kindergarten.  Victoria finished her freshman year at Chestnut Hill College, and is working two jobs during her summer vacation.


June 15, 2008
The Benders Celebrate Father's Day
It was a great day as Kat, Tori, and Tyler celebrated Father's Day with Michael.  They made him king for the day and presented him with a selection of all of his favorite things.


May 28, 2008
Katharine graduates from St. James Nursery School
On Wednesday, May 28th at 10AM, Katharine will participate in her school's final concert of the year, then take part in the 4 year old graduation ceremony.
Immediately following, there will be a small reception held by Mike and Carolyn at the family home.  All are welcome.


May 25, 2008 - Memorial Day in Wildwood Crest
It was a beautiful weekend as the family hit the beach and boardwalk for a little sun and relaxation before the beginning of summer.
 

May 15, 2007
Victoria completes her freshman year at Chestnut Hill
On May 15, with her last exam behind her, Mike and Carolyn packed up Victoria and brought her home for the summer.  This summer Victoria will return to working at Talbot's Petites part-time while working for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Officer as an intern in the Sex Crimes Unit.

April 11, 2008
Stephen and Phyllis Set Day for Wedding
Phyllis announced this week that their wedding will be held on August 9th with a full open house to celebrate August 10th.  It looks like the Bender kids will be coming in from all points to celebrate this long-awaited event!

March 7, 2008
Mike, Carolyn and Victoria Join The Hopewell Fire Department - Hopewell, NJ.
 Mike joins as a driver and pump operator, while Charlie and Victoria join the social committee.  Tyler is still a year too young to join as a cadet.
 

March 5, 2008
Mike Tackles Tech Diving Course This Spring to Prepare for the '08 Scuba Diving Season - Hopewell, NJ
Mike has registered for the Technical Diving course offered by the Scuba Connection of Hillsborough, NJ.  Mike, an accomplished Divemaster and frequent east coast and Caribbean wreck detective, is looking forward to this three day course to expand his knowledge.  Reluctantly his wife shook her head when he discussed this class with the understanding this class was NOT a precursor to advanced tech diving which would allow him to dive wrecks that have claimed many lives in the past (like the Andrea Doria).  We wish him well on his dive adventures and his ability to bring home the seafood!

March 5, 2008
Elisabeth registers to play AA Softball and Division II Soccer this Spring - Hopewell NJ - Liz will be playing softball for the second consecutive year and soccer for the fourth consecutive year starting this April.  Check the website links and come see her play!

March 3, 2008
Courtney, David and Lola Welcome Noah Hudson Bender-
Richmond, VA - Dave and Courtney Bender along with big sister, Lola Shea, welcomed Noah Hudson Bender at 9:14PM on Monday night at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond.  Noah came into the world at a whopping 8lbs. 15 ozs. and 21-1/4 inches long!  Mommy and baby are all doing well and came home Wednesday morning to settle in for many sleepless nights. 

February 26, 2008
Mike Makes Acting Sergeant
Princeton, NJ - On Tuesday, Det. Mike Bender was assigned to the patrol division as an Acting Sergeant.

  

 

August 31 - Lola Bender's Birthday

September 20th - Martin & Rogie's 16th Anniversary

September 25 - Tyler 15th Birthday

November 13 - Linda Ryan's Birthday

November 29 - Ruth's 42nd Birthday

November 30 - Mike & Carolyn's 6th Anniversary

December 20 - Courtney's Birthday

2009

January 4 - Victoria's Birthday

January 17 - Steve's Birthday

February 21 - Rogie's Birthday

March 14 - Florence's 89th Birthday

March 20 - Elisabeth's Birthday

April 11 - Mike's 44th Birthday

April 12 - Watson Czerwinski's 88th Birthday

May 24 - Lauren Bender's Birthday

June 19 - Jennifer Jefferis' Birthday

June 20 - Martin's  Birthday

August 5 - Dave's Birthday

August 9 - Steve and Phyllis' wedding

August 15 - Katharine's Birthday

August 25 - Victoria's Move-In Day at college

August 28 - Carolyn's Birthday

August 31 - Florence & Watson's 68th Wedding anniversary

 

 

 

 

Website designed by Mike and Carolyn Bender.  All rights reserved. 2008.

March 1, 2008
Steve and Phyllis Getting Married
Princeton, NJ - After 22 years of living of sin, Phyllis Davison and Stephen Bender announced that they were planning on getting married sometime this summer when they could gather all of their respective children.  We are all awaiting further information from the betrothed couple.