Happy New Year - 2012!

2012 - you can't come fast enough - I need you here right now!!!!

Thank you!

Enjoy everyone, don't drink and drive, assign a designated driver, have fun and know that 2012 is going to be so much better.......

It doesn't get easier sometimes....

R.I.P.
Mr. Ted Estwan

You will be missed.

The holidays...

I got through Christmas....

That doesn't sound like fun does it.  I didn't enjoy it, I didn't participate in it, but I got through it.  I figured I had to get through the first two major holidays without my dad and once I did that, it would be better.  And it is.

Thanksgiving was extremely tough.  Christmas was easier.  I just tried not to think about it and kept my mind on other things.  Keeping busy seems to work.

So, two holidays down and one to go (Easter).  It is getting easier, but it will never be easy.

I'm already thinking about how to make next year's holidays better - I think they have to be different to be better.  Not the same old, same old.  I love traditions, but I need to change it up......

Maybe somewhere different, maybe something different to eat, maybe new people....

I don't know.  I'll figure it out!

So, I guess I just needed to get this out.

Christmas Cappelletti

We have soup for Christmas Day dinner (before the roast).  The soup is called Cappelletti (little hats).  I believe it is native to the province of Marche in Italy, from which we can trace our roots.  In our family, although one or two people can probably make enough Cappelletti for 37 people, it takes a village (the whole famiglia) to do some part of the process.....Instead of Wednesday night supper, we had Wednesday night "Cappelletti night"!

 My three helping with the pasta.

 Two of the trips and Damian helping out.

Sam, Mary and Analisa

We made over 500.  Damian made the filling, Chris made the pasta, Rick and Andrea put the pasta through the machine, I cut the pasta, everyone else filled them and sealed them.  Analisa counted......We assume 15 per person and then extra for later on.  Because I only get these once a year, I usually have three bowls of soup and that is my Christmas dinner.  I can have roast or ham any other day of the year!

Photo credit

This is what it will look like on Christmas day.  I can't wait!!!!!

  

Where have I been?....and a Funny!

So, this week has been crazy busy for me as I am sure it has been for everyone else out there in blogville.  I got all my baking done, I got all my shopping done and now all I have to do is wrap.  I have been to multiple parties with another one tonight!

So all is good in my little world!  I'll be back to blogging and hopefully with some pictures tomorrow.

Anyway, just a quick note.  As you know, here in the household, we are Steelers/Eagles/Cowboys/Dolphins fans - we are an eclectic bunch!  But my daughter got me on the Tim Tebow fan bus about six weeks ago.....We watch him almost faithfully!  (if they are on TV here on the East Coast).  I know they lost yesterday! Oh well....But here is a funny that I got from my friend Jaqui over the weekend (who is another TT fan:

Tim, Tom, And GOD

Tom Brady, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven, God

was showing him around. They came to a modest little house with a faded

Patriots flag in the window. "This house is yours for eternity Tom, said

God. "This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here." Tom felt

special, indeed, and walked up to his house.

On his way up the porch, he noticed another house just around the

corner. It was a huge 3-story mansion with Orange and Blue sidewalks and

drive ways, a 50 foot tall flagpole with an enormous Broncos logo flag

waving, a swimming pool in shape of a horse, a Broncos logo in every

window, and a Tim Tebow jersey on the front door.

Tom looked at God and said "God, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but I

have a question. I was an all-pro QB, I won 3 Super Bowls, and I even

went to the Hall of Fame."

God said "So what's your point Tom?"

"Well, why does Tim Tebow get a better house than me?"

God chuckled, and said "Tom, that's not Tim's house, it's mine."

(Go Steelers - MNF)

The 100th Birthday Party

What a party!!!

Nonni turned 100 on Thursday - we had the party last night at the local Italian hall and it was wonderful.  We had a four piece band, about 90 people, all of her children, grandchildren and all but one great grandchild who was away at college.....People came from as far as Indiana.

 Susie, a granddaughter putting on the corsage.

 Nonni and her two daughters.

 One Beautiful Lady!!!

 The family before the guests started to arrive!

 All of her great grandchildren!!

 The entire family...

 With her two daughters and Uncle Louie.

 Aunt Jenny's side of the family!

 With her children and grandchildren only.

 Inez side of the family!

 Our family with Nonni!

 Thomas and I with Nonni!

 Nonni with her god daughter Diana. 

 Nonni about to cut the cake!

 Cutting the cake!

 Dancing at her 100th!!

 Everyone dancing with her!!!

Everyone enjoyed her dancing.  She got up three times to dance, when she liked the music!!!!  It was a great party!!!  So much food and good times.....

I thought about it a little.  How many times in a person's life to they get to attend a 100th birthday party grand celebration?  Not many.   We are all very lucky!!!

I'm heading over there now to see her and to eat some leftovers!!

Disney

We had a great mini vacation....We saw a lot of Florida - we flew into Ft. Lauderdale, drove to Naples, stayed there for one night and then drove up to Orlando for three days.....The best weather I have ever had in December!!

I'm a proud mama today

The team my daughter coaches came in second place in National Competition in Florida.  2nd in the nation out of 11 teams.  But they beat quite a few teams to get down there in the first place.....

She also got into Campbell University (in NC) before we left for vacation and now she just got into Duquesne University (in PA).  Woot-Woot!!

Those are the farthest two colleges that she applied to - both about 7-1/2 hours away driving distance.....in totally different directions!

It's a good week, so far!

Disney bound

On the highway right now, headed to Disney. MICKEY HERE WE COME (:

Freebies

I've been signing up for a lot of things:

OB Tampons
Playtex Tampons
Dr. Lewinn Dermal wrinkle filler
Dr. Lewinn Anti-wrinkle night cream
Escada perfume sample
Playtex Sport Tampons
Aveeno Shampoo and Conditioner

It's the Trips Birthday!!

Today, the little darlings are Four Years Old!  Time flies!  I'll post pictures of the party tonight after it is over.  But for now, here they are....