Family & Friends...

We recently went 'home' for my niece, Devlin's, 3rd birthday. The last three years we have tried to stay several days when doing this, so I can take advantage of visiting with my 3 best girlfriends, of 2o plus years, as well as all the family I miss being around all year.
We had such a good time, we always do when staying with my sister, Mikah and Jett love playing with Devlin, and their Aunt Kristy and Uncle Jason are always so good to us!! I always love seeing my Grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins, my fondest memories of childhood are wrapped around these people, however, things are always so hectic, it never seems to be enough time to really 'visit'.
Of course, it goes without saying that I love my time with my girlfriends, there is nothing like your old high school friends... we don't see each other but maybe once or twice a year, but within 5 minutes, we find ourselves sitting Indian style, across from one another on the couch, saying, "Okay, last time we talked you were dealing with 'this or that', where ya at with all that?" Nothing like the 'realness' of life long friends. Nothing like feeling as if we at least somewhat know where each new wrinkle on our face has derived from, we have been there through most of it with one another. I wanted desperately to get pics with each of them this time, but in the midst of gorging on sushi, gossiping and giggling, Kim and I forgot, Carie and I managed to get a shot in, and my last BFF Val, our sleep over at her house was scheduled for the last night and we had to cut our trip a day short due to J boy getting strep again!! The only positive thing about that was, missing out on that time with Val and her family upset me enough to forgo the pediatrician and get him straight to the ENT the first day back and plead for immediate tonsil removal (which was granted... THANK GOODNESS!)
Much love to all of you back home!!!

The beautiful Birthday STAR herself... Aunt Kristy, Devlin and Uncle Jason... Popi, Presley and Great Grandma... Most of the GREAT grandkids with Great Grandma (I am just in there to hold the butterfly!) Aunt Patsy- my mom's sister, Aunt Mary-Unlce Vinc's wife, and Mom...
Uncle Vinc - my mom's brother (seriously, isn't he one good lookin' italian man?!) Having fun with Cousin Devlin...





Popi and two of his favorite little ladies (and he's gotta-lotta ladies in his life) Noni, Aunt Kim, Popi, Mikah and Devlin... Aunt Kim and Presley... Mommy feeding yummy stuff to the butterfly... Being silly with Aunt Kim...Have you ever seen a prettier princess?????
My favorite little pumkin... BFF Carie and I... (Did I say we have wrinkles? I think we make 40 somethin' look good!)