Donny's birthday party

On Saturday, we all celebrated Donny's 21st birthday party. Tyler and Aiden had a great time searching Donny's room for things to play with and running around into all the different rooms. Then they decided to take a little nap in the comfort of Donny's bed. After their "nap", they (I think mostly Tyler's idea) decided that they needed a bath, so they had "Auntie Kaffy" put them in the bathtub. While she thought they were just pretending, they decided to turn the water on. Just a few wet feet and pants... Uncle Eric even taught Tyler how to pump the keg to get a glass of beer. I'm sure he will need that skill later in life.

Christmas 2008

Christmas Eve was held, as usual, at Ron & Colleen's with a delicious dinner, Christmas music (ala accordians), loud singing (thank God), and the annual visit from Santa. There were gifts galore and then off the Mass at 10:00 p.m.
Christmas Day dawned very cold, rainy and windy. We spent the day setting up for 21 people arriving for dinner around 5:00. Since Chris, Becky and the kids, and Matt, Sarah, and Cheyenne were not with us Christmas Eve, we tried to have our own family Christmas before the others arrived - you know what they say about best laid plans. With 21 people in my front room, we had gifts and wrapping paper all over the place. It is a wonder nothing got lost or went home to the wrong house - at least I haven't heard about anything yet. All the babies were so good on both days. I don't think we ever heard any one of them crying or fussing. Tyler (wearing the table decorations) and Uncle Matt enjoy their dessert at the dining room table.

Haylee lounging while we all ate dinner.

Cheyenne seems to be saying "Are you looking at me?".

We set up a second table in the front room just before dinner - although it doubled as a Pedro table before and after dinner.

Bob put a sheet of plywood on the dining room table to add a few more seats.

The best Christmas present we could have gotten!!

Christmas 2008

Happy Anniversary, Bob & Steve

Confused? Read on...

It was 2 years ago yesterday that Bob and Steve Silvestrini retired. We celebrated last year by going out to dinner and decided to make it a tradition this year also. Last night we went to a new Brazilian restaurant in San Mateo. Bob, Steve, and Heidi had been to the one located in S.F., so they new it was good. If you like meat, you are in luck. You sit down and waiters with 3 ft skewers come to your table and cut pieces of grilled beef, pork, lamb, chicken, shrimp, livers, ribs, pineapple... you name it, they have it. They will keep coming over to your table until you cry "uncle", (or switch the little sign on the table to "stop"). There is also a salad bar if you are interested in 20 different kinds of salads and fixins'. And then dessert - cheese cake, creme brulee, to name a few. No one leaves without a full tummy. The main topic of conversation for the night - GRANDCHILDREN!! Good food and great company....

Tyler & Haylee

Tyler seems to be very musically inclined as seen in these picture of him playing the drums at Auntie Bobbi's house. He is accompanying the Rock Band on the TV. It all started with that liitle set of drums bought by Nono Bob before he was born and now look how the talent has grown/

He is also at home throwing leaves all over his head at home. How many different talents does he possess.

Haylee just thinks the Rock Band is rather funny...

Visiting Cheyenne

Today was to be my day of baking, but I was complaining at breakfast that it had been 2 weeks since we had seen Cheyenne (and Matt & Sarah). So, on the spur of the moment, we called Matt to make sure thay were not busy and we left to go up to Vacaville. We got there at 12:30, held the baby, changed the dirty diaper, fed her, held her some more. Then we went to TGIF for lunch, held her some more and left at 3:00 to come home. Quick trip, but well worth it. You ask why there are no pictures? We left so fast, we forgot the camera at home. Guess the baking isn't getting done today...

Chris' birthday and Christmas decorations

On Wednesday, 12/10, we celebrated Chris' birthday. All he wanted was gnocchi with pesto for dinner. I guess Tyler is his father's son because he ate 8-10 gnocchi and some green beans. Then he had to go to Nono's "special place" to get an ice cream sandwich (he ate half) and he also had some birthday cake.

Haylee just sat and watched us while we ate.

Tyler said he was going to sing a song to Haylee, so I tried to hide as I grabbed the camera. But he told me, "You don't take a picture of me." This is the best I could get.

And of course, what would Chris' birthday be without a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

I used to wait until after Chris' birthday to decorate, but now I just need to get it done when I have time. We decorated the house the weekend before and it looks like I will need a bigger mantle for all the Santas. My favorite is the "little old winemaker" we bought in New Orleans 4 months before Hurrican Katrina.

Thanksgiving 2008

This year we had lots of little ones to be thankful for, and I do mean "lots". We had a wonderful meal at Rick & Renee's house with about 30 people and 7 - count 'em 7 - babies.

On the couch - Kamdyn, Haylee, Andrew, and Cheyenne.
On the floor, only interested in eating goldfish are Peyton, Aiden, and Tyler.

Match the baby with the correct mother??


Can't - not all the players are in the picture-
me holding Cheyenne, Becky holding Andrew, Sarah holding Haylee, and Auntie Kathy holding Kamdyn.

Haylee getting very cozy with Kamdyn - someone forgot to hold Haylee upright.

The 10 grandchildren.

The Daddys and their babies.

Tumbling Tigris

On Sunday night, as we were getting ready to go home from Chris and Becky's house, Nono Al stepped up on the landing of their steps, got his jacket, looked at the picture on the wall, and then backed up - not remembering that there was a step. Suddenly he was going down backwards. I yelled and Chris turned and very quickly slid face first and caught Nono's head on his arms so he did not hit the floor full force with his head. Nono was a little sore the next day and Chris' arm was swollen, but none the worse for wear. Tyler kept asking "Nono Al, are you okay?"

Fast forward to Monday night - as they are putting Tyler to bed, Chris takes Haylee and starts down the stairs - steps on one of the cats, falls down the stairs, while Haylee goes flying through the air. It happened so fast, Chris thinks he caught her before she dropped, but she must have hit something in her short flight. They took her to emergency and everything checked out okay. They had to wake her every hour that night, and they took her to her own doctor on Tuesday morning. She has a few bumps on her head and a small bruise on her cheek, but otherwise seems normal.

Bob said he is going to bring "Caution" tape over to their house to block off that staircase. We don't need any more of this circus act.

Fun at the S.F. Aquarium

Tyler got to go to the new and improved S.F. Aquarium in S.F. today with Mommy and Daddy. Haylee stayed home with Grandma Donna. He loved seeing all the different fish, penguins, butterflies, and life-sized stuffed animals, but his favorite was the albino alligator. He had to go back and see him several times.

Looks like he had lots of fun crawling around in this kid's section.

Needles to say, the minute they got on the road to go home, he was out like a light. (Pictures courtesy of Mommy.)

Fun with Tyler

This morning, Chris and Tyler came over to remodel their wine racks. With Daddy and Nono making too much noise with the machines in the garage, Tyler and I went for a visit with Lala Elsa & Uncle Al, came back and had lunch, and then watched a few videos (trying to make him get sleepy). I now know everything about "Bob the Builder's" village, and am up to date on all the dinosaurs in "The Land Before Time". Before lunch, we took Tyler to our neighbor's house. He is building an airplane in his garage - yes, a full size airplane. He was getting ready to paint this afternoon but took time to let Tyler get in and take some pictures. As soon as he gets the seats in, he told Tyler to come back and "fly" the plane.

More babies on Sunday

On Sunday, the whole family was invited for Sunday night dinner at Aiden and Andrew's house. It was the first time for a lot of us to meet Andrew, who is 2 weeks old today. He seemed to have a wonderful time - he never complained about being passed around to everyone.

The 2 grandfathers look very serious as they hold the 2 youngest.

Haylee and Andrew get to know each other.

A weekend of babies

On Friday, Matt & Sarah & Cheyenne took a ride down to visit and have dinner. While the 2 girls were being passed around inside the house, Tyler was outside riding his 3-wheeler and playing with the hose and the tire seing that Bob hung up.

While we all ate dinner, the 2 girls just sat and looked around/slept and never made a peep.

On Saturday, Bob & I took a ride up to Vacaville to help celebrate Madison's 4th birthday. Matt had a fun time trying out some new additions to Cheyenne's ensemble. The hat and the sandals ended up falling off - still a little too big. We had a great pizza dinner - Madison's choice, and some delicious ice cream and cake - decorated by Johnathan.

Busy weekend

Our weekend began as everyone arrived at the Hyatt Hotel in Indian Wells for Jeff & Kim's wedding. We had a great Friday afternoon and Saturday morning lounging by the pool in the shadows of the beautiful mountains in the background. As Northern California was drowning in the rain, we enjoyed 90-96 degree weather. Then on Saturday, we went to the Vintage Country Club for the wedding. It was a most elegant wedding, perfect in every way. The flowers were gorgeous, the food was excellent, the setting was spectacular, and if you didn't have a good time, it was your own fault. Gino and Giorgio were the dancing duo of the night and kept the dance floor full.

The beautiful centerpieces and table settings...

The proud grandparents..

Jeff and Kim cutting a beautiful cake...

The 6 cousins together again...

Jeff & Kim leaving under a halo of sparklers....

All in all, a most enjoyable weekend.

The newest cousin

On Monday, 10/27/08, Andrew Oliver Perry arrived at 11:48 a.m. by C-section. He weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz and measured 20 1/2 inches. Chris & Becky went to the hospital and took a few pictures last night. They said Andrew has a very light complextion, big hands, and long feet. In just 2 1/2 years this generation has grown to 7. It took our generation 7 years to get 7 grandchildren.