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.