First Day of School 2015

Here we go again! Back to school!!  Back to routines, back to schedules, back to reality. Everyone is super excited. Well, I am...

Only two for me to photograph this year. Stefanie is a junior and Rachel is a fresh(wo)man. No more little kids around here, just high school girls and suspiciously enough, high school boys...

Stefanie & Rachel

Junior! 

Fresh(wo)man!

AJ also started school today and was kind enough to send me a photo, first day of freshman year of college at BGSU.

College Freshman

Dominic started school a week ago and was gently coerced into also sending a photo! He is a Yearling at West Point, sophomore to us non-military people.

Cadet Corporal DelRosso

To celebrate I made some studious owls for us to enjoy. I think these might last a little longer than when the boys are around!

The Falcon Has Left the Nest!

Today was the day. AJ is off to great places, he's off and away. (to borrow just a bit from Dr. Seuss). He's been ready to go for awhile since he had to pack back in June before we left Germany.

Packing

Just two giant suitcases, not too bad.

He moved into Founders Hall at Bowling Green State University. Since he's in the Honors Community he was able to move in a day early which meant less lines and less traffic for us. Woohooo!

715am - on our way to BGSU

The day went very smoothly, no traffic, I didn't get lost and had to wait maybe five minutes to park the car. Unloading the car was easy since AJ really doesn't have that much. I wonder if it will be different by his senior year?

I liked that the rental agency gave me a minivan but we really didn't need it!

Plus they have these great carts that you put all your stuff in and volunteers who help wheel them to the elevators and then your room. By the time I had moved the car to longterm parking and walked back AJ was in his room unpacking.

We unpacked and organized, he was kind enough to let me help and then we celebrated with lunch at AJ's favorite place - Buffalo Wild Wings. Afterwards, we did the required run to Walmart for what we forgot. Not too bad; a lightbulb because neither one of us noticed the lamp didn't have one, a volleyball because somehow he had a football and basketball but not a volleyball, poster stick tape and a calculator because oops, his is in Germany.

We did one more loop around campus, had some pinkberry and then that was it, AJ was off to college!

Golden Anniversary!

Most of my extended family from my mom's side

I was lucky enough to sneak away to Chicago for a weekend to celebrate my Aunt Theresa and Uncle John's 50th Anniversary. This was a true gift of family and time to me. Steve took the reins in the Ithaca for the last weekend in the US while I jetted away for a responsibility free weekend!

The gorgeous, happy couple!

My cousin Stacey's cute kids provided the welcome at the airport, even carrying my ridiculously heavy suitcase!

Nathan, Gwyneth & Jack

The next day we headed off to Chicago all dressed up for the boat cruise in Lake Michigan celebrating the happy couple!

In the backseat with the cool kids!

We were a little early which just gave us time to visit with more people and enjoy the awesome weather on Navy Pier.

Mom & Daughters on Navy Pier
Mom, Missy, Mel

What a fun, fun day for all of us. The weather was perfect, the boat was fabulous but the absolute BEST part was the company. Nearly all my cousins were there and catching up with them and hearing about their lives and their families was absolutely terrific.  Of course a 2 hour cruise was not enough time so we just all stayed at Navy Pier afterwards for dinner and the fireworks. Such a fun time enjoying each other's company! I can't wait to do it again!

Watkins Glen Italian Festival

Grandma, Dominic
Stefanie, Brian, AJ & Rachel

Steve and the kids went to the Watkins Glen Italian Festival today. By all accounts they had a wonderfully fun time with Grandma and their cousin Brian.

Watkins Glen is the town where Steve's parents were raised. We also used to take the kids to this parade when they were little and we lived in Ithaca.

Now instead of face-painting the girls get Henna drawings!

Dinner with the Donahues

Steve, Missy, Jen, Jed, Jacob & Jordan

What a fun, fun treat last night! Jen, Jed, Jacob & Jordan drove down from NJ to have dinner with us. We're so glad we were able to hang out with them at one of our favorite places in Old New Castle. It was so fun to see them and of course their boys totally entertained our girls! Future ladykillers!

Rachel, Jacob, Jordan & Stefanie

Jessop's Tavern makes me feel like I'm eating in an inn in early America, except that the food is totally 21st century!

Windians!

AJ, Rachel & Stefanie

One of our favorite Ohio things to do is watch the Indians play with Granny & Grandpa Teddy. This year we got lucky and they won too! We are Indians fans, we don't take this for granted.

Mike Golic & AJ

During the first inning we heard the typical vendor shouts of "who wants a hot dog". Of course we look over because I always want a hot dog at a game, but there is something different happening. The vendor is surrounded by people and there are TV cameras. So I asked the woman in front of us and it turned out it was Mike Golic (Cleveland native) from ESPN's Mike & Mike show.

Mike & AJ - check out his "Wild Thing" glasses

It took AJ about 2 seconds to get over there. He of course got a selfie and free hotdogs for him and the girls too!

Steve & Missy

Grandpa Teddy & Granny

It was a beautiful evening for baseball! Go Tribe!

Fourth of July Fun!

Almost all of the cousins...Dominic was at Cadet Field Training
Brian, Victor, Adam, AJ, Phillip, Mark, Ken
Rachel, Laura, Stefanie, Bethany, Kayleigh & Katie

We had a fun 4th of July weekend with the DelRosso family in Ithaca.  This annual tradition is a favorite time of year for the whole family.  A time to relax, reconnect and have fun together. Great-niece/Great-granddaughter Kayleigh is everyone's favorite entertainer.

Kayleigh & Stefanie

Katie, Kayleigh & Rachel

We are always very busy doing nothing and a little of something.  The girls continued the 4th of July Tshirt tradition this year with their "Keep Calm and 'Murica On" tanks.

Stefanie, Laura, Kayleigh, Rachel, Katie

We of course had the annual washers tournament. This really takes up the whole day on the 4th of July, with two games constantly taking place. Teams are drawn randomly except for the prior year winners. They can stay together.  Last year's winners, Rick & Mike, couldn't hang on and the ultimate winners were Steve and his nephew Mark. We take this very seriously, complete with "engraved" trophy.

Mark & Steve

Meanwhile, I think Dominic having some fun at Camp Buckner!

Dominic is third from the right, back row

We even managed to get a photo of the siblings and their mom together!

Motty, Vicki, Rita, Grandma/Mom, Tina, Steve

Steve continued his tradition of a fabulous fireworks show at the end of the day. Every year it gets better and better!