Happy New Year!

Tom and I got a wonderful invitation to the Cestari New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Festivities. The family greeted us with open arms and the fun began!

Tom, Felix Dad, and Manny were ready to get the party going with warmth and cheer!

Rosie Mom, Rosie, Brittannie, and baby Yrene were looking forward to ringing in the New Year!

We got there about 9 pm, and little did we know that the rehearsals had already taken place and the performances were to come! Everyone did a fabulous job on their parts: the playing of the instruments, the singing, the translations, the solos, and the laughter! Traditional songs were kept alive with jovial spirits and great harmonies! Encores were also requested and fulfilled!

An amazing dinner of lamb stew, pork roast, and all the trimmings (YUM!) and fabulous desserts were served before midnight. Then, we all donned our party hats in anticipation. Each of us was given a cup with twelve grapes. On the last twelve seconds of the year, as it was counted down, you had to pop a grape into your mouth, make a wish, and do it again... I could only do six grapes (that choking thing) but gave it a good try.

In the morning, we had a light breakfast of eggs, onions, and peppers, toast, and juice... light only as defined by the hosts! It was delicious!

Right after breakfast - - RIGHT AFTER - - preparations were made for the fantastic lunch! The dedication to the process was a show in itself! Everyone had a part in it - - yes, I did, too!

I watched and took pictures!

Felix, Tati, and Yrene were the cutie patootie family of the day! Notice that everyone was in the kitchen!

This is serious business!

About that dedication part - - -the men, the cooks and the audience, were trying to keep warm with temperatures hovering around freezing.


I could be a bit off, but I think that the men were outside for about 45 minutes! The dance of the hands adding the ingredients was quites a sight to behold. The choreography could not have been matched!




One word: Divine!

Thank you for the unforgettable time with those you love! It was greatly appreciated and enjoyed!

Oh, and the Bucks won!

Married a Week Already!!!

The wedding was wonderful!


The marriage is underway!


God's blessings on your adventure together!


We love you both morethanyouknow!

CHRISTmas Knitting and NO COLD FEET!!

We are busy around these parts getting ready for Miss Brittannie and Manny's wedding! This is the only cold foot you will see on the BooBabie! We were at Martha's Vineyard when this picture was taken. Preparations are going well, kept on track by the Bride! So wonderful to be told what to do rather than having to plan it!!! All three girls have been THE BEST at working out all the details, and I sure have appreciated that! Seeing all that goes into it makes me want to thank Heather and Ashley AGAIN for all they did!! Thank you, Heather and Ashley!!!

One more thing... speak up now if you don't want handknits for CHRISTmas!!! Some are already wrapped and under the tree... you will get those anyway!!

Or, if you have a special request - - speak NOW!!! I am stash busting, reasonable requests only - -so no Aran King Size Blankets!!! ; )

Cute story -

Thanksgiving Day, Hannah wanted us to buy things at her "store." She kept saying, "What do you want to buy?"

I asked for a lamb.

She said, "I have some of those, and sheep, too! Let me go get one." She came running back in the room, threw me an imaginary sheep, "Here you go!"

I asked her how much I owed her, and she said, "Seven dollars."

Thought that was a pretty good deal...


anyone have a fence for my sheep?









I think she is ready for The Little Prince by Saint Exupery... what do you think?

I can see, can you?

Today I got my right eye "tweaked." I can now see all the way up the street to the mailbox with the flag up!!! Whoo hooo,... so exciting, that I don't even care if I end the sentence in a preposition! Now, that is exciting!!!

So, here's the scoop... the left eye was left the way it is - -at a -1.4 so I could see close without reading glasses, and the other brought right back to perfect. I can see the time from across the room again! (I couldn't believe that the original surgery was 7 years ago - - came up to perfect from -6.5!!)

Now, if I could just get rid of all those pesky wrinkles I got while squinting for the past couple of years!

; )

Busy October Around These Parts!

Heather threw a SURPRISE wedding shower for Brittannie... and can you believe it? No one told!!! There were a few slips, but luckily Brittannie was so busy this last couple of months that she didn't figure it out! Whew! Much to Heather's relief, loss of sleep, upset stomach, and all the other stresses of a surprise. Heather, you did a great job!

We really were missing only one thing... Rosie mom was home sick. We were really sad because we all know how much she loves Brittannie, and how much she would have loved to be there!



Grandpa Reel was able to be with Britt at the shower through a gift from the heart! He sent a coin counter through grandma... as you can tell by Britt's expression, it was a well-received gift! Tradition, childhood memories, and lots of love in that one! There were more precious moments of the afternoon, too numerous to mention here!

Talk to Britt!



The kids stopped by right before Trunk or Treat at church! Now how cute are they?

Hannah was so giddy to get going, that mommy and I had a hard time getting a good picture! While this was going on, Mason just kept buzzing by!


And...

Ashley called with news that their black clown fish are proud parents... had about 2,000 eggs a couple of nights ago! She left a cute message on the phone, then hoped that we didn't think that they were pregnant! Whoo hooo! Check out their blog for the pics of the fish.

How exciting! What more?

The first nine weeks is over!!! Woot!

Brittannie and Manny's Civil Ceremony

Saturday, September 19th, Brittannie and Manny held their civil ceremony - -renamed a family get together since their papers were pre-signed.

The cutie-pie couple are standing in front of the delicious pale pink and blue cake for the occasion.

The Cestari family threw an "un-toppable" party with GREAT PEOPLE, great food, and great times! Brittannie could not ask for a more wonderful family to bring into ours! Love was really in the air... and I think a little bit lingered on Jimmy... oh, wait, that was Marilyn! ; )

Felix dad was busy with preparations, helping Felix with the grilling and anything else that needed doing - -but always had time to pop in a picture or two! His love and care for his family showed in every touch of his hand!

Rosie mom and Rosie were exquisite hostesses - -Rosie mom worked very hard to coordinate the party, prepare food, and decorate! I am sure that there was a ton of behind-the-scenes preparations that are too numerous to share. Her special love for Brittannie makes her one of my "favoritest" people on earth!

Rosie made fragrance hearts for everyone's tea light warmers with special personalized touches for the day! (Marvel Products!) Tatianna is in the middle - -we are all very thankful that Felix, Tati, and Yrene are here now after such a long ordeal!

The girls are watching Britt and Manny cut their cake.

Laura and Greg came up for the party, too! And I bet they are glad that they did! Yes, that is Greg in OHIO for the second time this year! Can we hear a 3??? Yup! December 19th!!!

Watching the cake cutting, too!

The men were all helping the master chef, Felix, with the grill. His perfect pyramids of hot coals were the magic behind the wonderful flavors of the steaks, the sausage, the chicken, and the lamb.

If you went away hungry it was your own fault!!! ; )

Mason buddy got to play with the other kids, but at this moment he got to rest and to tell Mammie, "Cheese!"

Daddy let him try a piece, and he was not really that thrilled with it!

Hannah had a great friend, too! (Maybe Britt will tell me how he spells his name, and I will add it here!) Sorry, I took French!

Rosie mom, Gram Reel, and Jimmy's Marilyn got to visit and had a good time, too!


At the condo with grandparents and Lori - this is after the tour!

And one more note - - Please keep Brenna and Kyle in your prayers. He gets shipped out to Iraq this week. Please pray for his safety as he helps protect our freedoms, and for Brenna as she waits state-side for his return.

It was sweet of them to keep his coming to the party a secret to surprise Manny!




Thank you, Cestari family, for all you did for Brittannie and Manny - - and all of us!

Words can't express our gratitude!

We love you all so much!

Hannah Made Me a C-A-K-E

When we were driving home, I asked Heather and Matt if H-a-n-n-a-h, if she was g-o-o-d, could make me a c-a-k-e before she goes to b-e-d. Hannah said, "'Before bed, I can make a cake!"

Okay, so who taught this 3 year old to read???

So, Mason was given a bowl, measuring cups, and a wooden spoon, and Hannah picked out the cake and got started. She decided chocolate cake and chocolate icing and sprinkles would be the cake of choice!

It is hard to look at Mammie and make a cake at the same time!

She wanted to get out the eggs all by herself, and I let her.

Mason is tasting his cake in the background!

The insides of this egg landed on the counter, but the shell...

made it into the bowl!

The water was added... click on the picture to see how much actually made it into the bowl!





Then the oil.

She was really concentrating; the last time she used the mixer, she only lasted a few seconds. This time she was able to do it all herself!

Still working hard to keep the mixer level!

You and I both know that the chef licks the beaters. Pooh pooh to the raw egg rules!


Well, Hannah absolutely did not want to lick the beaters, since it usually ends up on your nose when you do!

After the cake cooled, Hannah put the sprinkles on it!

"Is that enough, Mammie?"

click on the picture and look in her mouth!

A very Happy Birthday to me!