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.