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 :)

New York Trip

My daughter and I got back from our short little jaunt up to New York. We actually got back, well raced is more like it, yesterday so we could pick our copies of Breaking Dawn and start reading them. I finished last night and love, love, love this book. It is my favorite out of the series. The book signing/concert with Stephenie Meyer and the lead singer of Blue October, Justin Furstenfeld totally rocked!!!!!! Christina and I had so much fun at the event and just getting to spend time together was the best. I am including some pictures I took during the concert/chatting part of the evening. No pictures were allowed during autographing, which is completely understandable considering there were 2,000 people there to get signatures. To sum it up in one word - incredible!!!!!! Stephenie Meyer's is awesome. Her books are wonderful and she seems to have an incredibly warm and happy spirit about her.

New York Bound

My daughter and I are New York City bound tomorrow. We are going to the Nokia Theatre for the Stephenie Meyer book signing. Then when we come home on Saturday I am picking up my copy of her new book Breaking Down and I am going to be oblivious to the world until I finish it!!!!

Wedding Day

No, not my wedding day. A good friend of mine Amy got married today. The man she married is a wonderful guy. They actually knew each other in High School and reconnected about two years ago. They were married in the Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown at 10am today. It was the same church her mother and grandmother got married in. The ceremony was wonderful and my friend and her husband looked very happy. I am so happy for my friend and wish her a wonderful happy long marriage.

S.B.

So my title does not stand for Susan Barbini it now officially stands for "Slacker Blogger" I have had different things going on that have taken my time and attention away from blogging. One of those things has been school. I have one more class to test out of, which I will be taking the test before the end of August, and then I will be done with my Bachelors Degree! YIPEE!! I am excited to be done and excited to finally have some more time to do the things I have been neglecting.

Just to catch up on some things. Summer started with Girls Camp! I love girls camp now. I did not when I was a Young Women but now I think it is awesome. I am glad that I have been able to go as an adult leader and watch these wonderful girls form friendships, become leaders and grow closer to their Heavenly Father. My daughter really loves camp and I am just so glad I have been able to share this experience with her the last two years. As you can see from the below picture, after having shaved ice with blue flavoring, camp brings out the best in us :)


After coming home from girls camp it was time to celebrate my wonderful 36th birthday. That is all I will say about that : )


Then came the 4th of July. Family was in town and it was fun. Three of my cousins were visiting and two of them had their significant others, one is a girlfriend and the other a Fiance, and they are tons of fun to have around. My Daughter loves her cousins dearly and always loves when they come to visit. My other two cousins and their spouses were not able to make it and as always I missed them dearly.


While the family was here we celebrated my one nephew's 4th birthday. The theme was "Transformers" and the cake from dairy queen was decorated with the transformer Bumble Bee on it. My Nephew was super excited when he saw the cake and even more excited for the presents. I will include some pictures of the cake and my nephew with his transformer mask :)

That is about all for now. I hope in the future I will not be such an S.B. I do have one more picture to include and that is of some flowers my Daughter picked the other day. She picked some roses from our rose garden and mixed in some rosemary from our herb garden. It turned out really pretty and it smells really good. The combination of the rose and the rosemary smell is quite fragrant. My daughter is so awesome !!!!!!