Expansion

My mom's grandchildren through the years...

Christmas 1999 - Devin, Isaiah, Amber, Mackenzie & Danielle


Christmas 2002 - Devin, Isaiah, Amber, Mackenzie, Danielle & Joseph


Christmas 2005 - Devin, Isaiah, Amber, Mackenzie, Danielle, Joseph, Noah & Alex


Christmas 2006 - Devin, Isaiah, Amber, Mackenzie, Danielle, Joseph, Noah, Alex & Logan

Christmas 2009 will bring us the addition of Taylor (Robert's son) and we are looking forward to Christmas 2010 when Bella will be 9 months old.

I will make a trip to the ornament stand next year at this time and HOPE there is something big enough for all Nana's Grandkids...and I will also hope this is the last of the expansion!!!

More Birthday Wishes

Happy 4th Birthday to Alexander John Delemo the TURD!!! Love you babe!!!


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Birthday Wishes

Today is my baby sisters birthday!!! It is not any special number, but I feel it could possibly be one of her best birthday's ever. Her life has changed dramatically for the better over the past 2 years and deservingly so.

She is newlywed, expecting a baby and working in a pre-school which is something she loves to do. All of the pieces have fallen into place for her - and it warms my heart to see it all.

Colly - I love you and I hope you have an AWESOME day!!!

Amazing Opportunity

Lots of you know that about 6 months ago I decided to enter the world of travel as an agent. I work for Dream Makers Vacation Services, they are one of the top selling agencies in the United States. The owner, Amy, has won a very prestigious award - The STAR Award - from Sandals/Beaches Resorts. The awards will be presented at Beaches Turks and Caicos on Friday, December 4th. Amy has invited me as her guest!!! This will be an amazing experience for me - I will be somewhere I have never been with one of the most knowledgeable agents in the business and we will be treated like royalty.


As someone who has been to Sandals several different times I can say with 100% certainty that they know how to treat their guests and I am sure they will be pulling out all the stops for this party.


I am leaving tomorrow morning and will back late on Saturday. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with all of you so you can learn all about this fantastic resort.

I Am Thankful

For my husband who has not one chauvinistic bone in his body. We are truly a team in all aspects of our lives.

For my husband who is willing to work so hard around our house - he is an amazing painter, carpenter, landscaper, you name it.

For my husband who gives his free time to our children willingly and without complaints or regrets.

I have mother who runs all over Charlotte for her kids and grandkids and does so effortlessly and tirelessly.

For the pure hearts that Danielle and Joseph have. They love God and are living life in a way He would want them to.

For every minute I have with Joe, Danielle and Joseph.

For every in-law that I have. They are MY family and I love them dearly. 22 years later I can not imagine my life without them in it.

That Colleen and Robert will be blessed with a healthy little girl in March 2010 after the scare we all had early on in the pregnancy.

That a year ago I reached out to a dear friend and made peace when it needed to be made. So glad to have that family back in my life.

That at 40 I realize so, so much of the small stuff is just that - small stuff. People are what is important.

For an amazing circle of friends that are always, always there when I/we need them.

That I am seeing my family and extended family move closer to God on a daily basis.

For all of the very small things I may take for granted when life gets hectic.

That just about all of the traditions we had as kids are still with us and important to all of us.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Shopping

I am a lucky mom - my kids LOVE to shop and we always have a great time in the mall. Here are a few shots from our recent trip to the Myrtle Beach Outlets.


Trying on Hats to wear to the Michael Jackson Movie....

New Shades

Everyone Loves A Pirate

Our family could be considered HUGE Disney fans....so of course Captain Jack Sparrow is loved in our house. If I told you how long it took for me to sit down and watch the first Pirates of the Caribbean Movie you would say "really?" - I mean honestly it never appealed to me. BUT after the first one, I was hooked and immediately watched the second and went out to get the third. Today I heard there will be a 4th Pirates movie!!!

I am also very lucky to have my own personal pirate who I get to see whenever Captain Jack is not on screen....he really is cuter too.


The Original Captain Jack


His adorable competition - Captain Alex


Trying to be a mean pirate



Capturing Re-Re

He really is cuter, isn't he???

Logan's 3rd Birthday

This past Saturday my entire family gathered at my sister Pattie's house to celebrate her "baby's" 3rd Birthday. Logan had a blast - he loved being the star of the day. He loves Diego and somehow my sister talked me into making his cake - I am by no means as good as my sister-in-law Regina is - but at least the kids recognized who it was!!!

Here are some pictures of the Birthday Boy.

He looks so sweet and innocent.

He is starting to enjoy his cake.

Aunt Colleen thought it would be funny to push his face into the cake on his plate!


Logan thought it was hilarious too.


Diego - you do recognize him, right?

Lunch Date

My nephew Isaiah was Uptown today with his Dance Class at South Charlotte Middle School to see a performance at the Booth Playhouse. He called me earlier in the week to see if I wanted to meet up with him for lunch while he was up here. I was so excited that even though he is in 8th grade he would want me to come!!! He loved the performance and was so excited to talk to me about it. He is such a detailed story teller that it was like I was there with him. His friends were great too!!!

Not the best picture of me at all - but isn't he SO CUTE, oh I mean Handsome.

Lunch with Isaiah - what a perfect way to start my weekend!!!

Love You Amber

One of my favorite things to do is take pictures of my niece Amber (Colleen's Daughter) when she is moody, unmatched, dissheveled, half asleep, just woke up....you get the idea!!! Then I use them as screen savers, bookmarks or just display them. We both always laugh about it.

Here is the latest - from the moody category.



I love you babe!!!

Empire State of Mind

Most of you know that my family and Joe's family were born and raised in New York. Long Island to be exact. About 60 minutes from "The City."

I have been in Charlotte for just over 11 years and I love it here and know this is the best place to be raising my kids. However, I will always be proud to be a "New Yorker." We are Italian and lots of things NY represent our heritage. I want to bring my kids to "The City" now that they are old enough to soak it all in, but still young enough to be AMAZED by all of it!!!

I was listening to the radio this morning on my way into work and I heard the Jay Z/Alicia Keys song "Empire State of Mind" - some of the lyrics really got me thinking about New York and how blessed I was to live there for so long and how the lyrics are so representative of The City itself.

I am not going to post all the lyrics - just the chorus because that is what caught me the most.

New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York

If you have been there you will know what I mean when I say the moment you come up from Penn Station you have an automatic adrenilyn rush and an unbelievable feeling of "I can do anything." And that is basically what Alicia is saying here.

So grown up

As part of her birthday celebration Danielle and I had mother/daughter day on Sunday. The four of us are always together and it is rare we have just two of us do something, so it is a big treat. Joseph had a party and Joe - well it was Sunday and the Vikings were playing at 1:00.

Instead of a party this year Danielle decided she wanted a "new, big girl" room. Including paint, comforter, curtains etc... Well we lucked out and got a great deal an a complete set and part of our time on Sunday was set to go to Lowes and pick out paint samples. She was sooooooo cute picking out all different color cards and holding them up against her two throw pillows that we brought with us. From there we went to Concord Mills to walk around. As a treat she had her first Vanilla Latte from Starbucks!!! Again when it is the four of us it is too expensive for us to go to Starbucks. She was so excited to have a real Starbucks Cup to walk around with. I had to take her picture with my camera phone!!!

We had a great day and I look forward to many, many more mother/daughter outings.

October 21, 1999

10 years ago today Joe and I were blessed with our first child. Danielle Nicole. It is so hard for me to believe that she is 10 - I mean that is double digits!!! She has brought us so much joy over these 10 years. I have choked up several times already today as I was getting pictures ready to post here. Rather than start to ramble on about my little girl I decided to post 10 things I love about her:



1. Her pure heart - she sees good in everyone and is non-judgmental.


2. Her big eyes - she smiles with them and she doesn't even realize it.


3. Her ability to laugh at herself. She knows life is not meant to be serious all the time.


4. Her nurturing ways - all of the younger kids in our family go directly to Danielle because they know she will stop what she is doing and help them.


5. Her sense of family - from the oldest generation to the youngest generation, she loves being with family.


6. Her selfless ways - she will help her peers anytime she can and she is never boastful about it.


7. Her sense of style - she will certainly never leave the house and embarass us by what she is wearing.


8. Her beauty that comes from the inside - this goes back to her pure heart, she really doesn't have a mean bone in her body.


9. Her determination - she never gives up, she will try and try until she can do what she is trying to do.


10. Her laugh - listening to her and Joseph cracking up always reminds me how truly blessed I am.

Birth Announcement

Birth Announcement Picture - yes she is only 4 days old in this shot!!!

Her first Halloween. Our Pea in a Pod - with her friend Chase, the duck.

First Professional Picture and First Christmas

Christening Gown

Daddy's Little Cheerleader

Apparently Colleen and Amber thought she was a toy....

Do you see the theme here....

One Year Old

First Pre School Picture - 2 years old

Very first dance recital - Broadway Baby - There have been 8 more since...

Dressing up for New Year's Eve

3rd Birthday - our Belle

Gardening with Nana

My fashionista

You see what I mean

First Day of Kindergarten with Brianna

Father/Daughter Dance

First Communion

Recital

First Hip Hop Performance

First Dance Competition

Getting so grown up

Recital 2009

First Day of School August 2009 - 4th Grade

Danielle - I love you over the moon, around the sun, under the ocean and back to my heart. Mommy