Mothers Day

It is hard to believe I have been a Mom for 14 years. It really does seem like yesterday that Christina was born. It is funny how your appreciation of Mothers increases ten fold when you in fact become a Mother. Although it is the hardest job in the World it is also the most rewarding.

This morning my wonderful daughter made me delicious Blueberry Muffins. They were my Noni's recipe and my favorite. Here are some pictures of the yummy muffins.

And here is the recipe as written by Noni, my Italian Grandmother. Enjoy!

1 cup berries

2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

3 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

1 egg well beaten

1 cup milk

1/4 cup melted shortening ( which really means butter)

Wash and drain the berries. Mix and sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and set aside. Combine egg, milk and melted shortening. Add all at once to the flour mixture. Stir till liquid is absorbed. Gently fold in berries. Fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full. Heat oven to 400 F. and bake for 20 minutes or until brown.

I hope all my wonderful friends have a fabulous Mothers Day!

Christina's first Church Dance!

Christina turned 14 back in March and this is the "magical age" that the youth are allowed to start going to dances. She was really excited to go and apparently was having a good time before the dance even started. She got asked to dance by one boy and that was good enough for her. Her secret crush was not there so she was slightly bummed. When I peaked in the last couple of minutes, because as a parent I just can't help myself, she was skipping around the gym without a care in the world. She did not stop and think, people are looking at me I should act "normal". She just kept skipping and twirling and having a great time. I love that she has not lost the ability to just have fun and be herself. I hope that she keeps that for a long time. I hope her spirits are never crushed by someone making fun of her because she is having a good time and maybe not dancing "cool" like everyone else. Sometimes our children teach us valuable lessons. As I was watching her I thought why do we let what other people might think from holding us back from skipping when we want to. She reminded me that being ourselves is a great thing. So thank you Christina for having the strength and courage to be yourself.

Cherry Blossoms

Every year in early spring my daugher, my Dad and I go to the tidal basin in Washington D.C. to see the Cherry Trees in full bloom. If you live in the Washington Metropolitan area and have never been I highly recommend going. We go very early Sunday Morning, we leave Leesburg at 6am, so we can beat the crowds and get into D.C. around 6:45. By the time we park, which does not take that long because my Dad works for the F.A.A. and can park at their building which is only about 5 blocks from the tidal basin, we are usually at the basin by 7:15 a.m. It is wonderful that we can take our time walking around because there is hardly anyone there. It is peaceful, beautiful and a great way to spend time with the family. We always visit the Jefferson Memorial and walk up the steps to read the words written so long ago and need to be remembered more often. This is my absolute favorite thing to do in the Spring. To me it represents the start of Spring a new Season where we can come out of our Winter doldrums and start anew.

New Year

Well it is the New Year and I was thinking it was time for a new name for my blog. I think the other name was too stuffy and did not fit well. So I have changed the name to one of my favorite songs and have given my blog a "face lift."

Oh Christmas Tree

Every year we have a tradition of getting a live Christmas tree. Christina has picked out the tree the last couple of years and always does an excellent job. This year she did another great job. When we were in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving we, Christina, Barry, Lee and I, went to the tree farm we have gone to the last couple of years and walked around for about 30 minute before Christina found our tree. Barry sawed down the tree and then Christina and Lee carried it over to the tree bailing machine. So I did not get any pictures of us picking out the tree. But I do have pictures of the "finished product". I also have some pictures of my favorite ornaments, with a short explanation underneath. Plus the bow at the top that my awesome Sister in Law made for us.

The finished product

Loudoun County Court House

Christina's "1st year" ornament

A cute little Italian ornament

White House Ornaments

The bow my sister in law made for us

As you can see my Family's tree is a mish mosh of ornaments that we have collected over the years. Each ornament was given as a gift or picked out by one of us for a reason. When it is lit there are white lights and the big colored lights. The colored light strand is the same one my parents bought when they were first married, so not so energy efficient but very sentimental. Each year the tree is different but the ornaments that mean so much to us are the same, with the exception of ones that are added that have been given as gifts by friends, which are the best, and that is why I love how our family decorates our tree.

Thanksgiving fun!

Just got back last night from Pennsylvania. The whole family spends Thanksgiving there. Our Thanksgiving is Italian style which means we eat way more than everyone else. Our first big meal is at noon and that is homemade ravioli with homemade sauce. Then at around 5pm we eat the regular thanksgiving meal of turkey and all the trimmings. Lots of food and napping going on that day.

The next day we hung out then Saturday morning my Dad, daughter, nephew and I went to a cut your own tree farm and picked out our tree. Why do you ask do we get the tree in Pennsylvania and haul it back to Virginia, because it is only $25.00 in Pennsylvania and in Northern Virginia the same tree at a tree farm would be $60.00. Well my daughter picked out the tree, that is her job every year and she did an excellent job as usual. Then it was back to my Aunts house for my cousin Steven's fiancee’s bridal shower. Mandy got great presents and there was even more food.

And finally while the bridal shower was going on my daughter snuck out to hang with the boy cousins who were shooting a potato gun. Which my daughter of course had her turn and her potato went the furthest. It went all the way across my Aunts Yard which is about 200 yards then across the street into the woods somewhere

I almost forgot my Uncle Charlie revealed his Car that he built from a kit. It is a Cobra and it is awesome. My Dad and Uncle Charlie were airline mechanics together at TWA at Kennedy Airport for like 20 years together so they both know their way around a garage. I am going to post some of the pictures. They don't really do the car justice but you get the idea.

I am really thankful for all of the blessings I have in my life. I have a wonderful supportive family and friends that are the best. Thank you to all who have been there for me. Even if I don't express it all the time I am so grateful for my friends.

I did it!

Well I finally did it! I completed all of my credits for my Bachelors Degree! I am beyond excited. It has been a long hard road but feels great to be done. I am so grateful to my really supportive family, especially my daughter, who have been really patient and encouraging me every step of the way! Now what to do with my spare time????? The possibilities are endless :)