14 Years...and counting...

Hard to believe it's been 14 yrs since I married the best thing that ever happened to me! We often reminice about that 'chance' mtg...and how we have two wonderful friends that if it weren't for their persistance to inviting Jim to a limo bd party for Staci, we'd probably never be together now...those are the ones you are forever grateful to!! Now, 14 years later, 2 amazing little girls have blessed our lives, making our family complete! As I like to say...life is good when you are surrounded by good people...and that I am!

Sista Luv

Patty's shortest visit yet...a whopping 2 day visit...but we'll take what we can get. It was short but sweet...we made sure to take advantage of it by visiting a slew of Aunt's and Uncle's that have a hard time getting around...gotta make those visits count...so, after 3 stops to visit different family, we had a quick lunch at Mexican Post, followed by Grotto's, followed by Harry's...always a fun time when I'm with my sister's!!!

Scared of Santa...

I have to chuckle when I see this pic of Ashlee wanting NO parts of sitting on or near SANTA...this was in 2006 when she was 14 mos old @ Tutor Time. At first I thought to myself, why torture this poor child...why force her to get a pic with someone she clearly wants nothing to do with? She was traumatized for the next couple yrs but thankfully fell out of the phase as she would watch her cousins and her sister all sit happily on Santa's lap and tell of her Christmas wishes.

DANCE

The girl's get ready for a dance session...did their own hair and all...

Ashlee, Haylee and Ryleigh ready to DANCE!

Riverfront Skate

Girls had a blast ice skating along the Wilmington Riverfront Saturday with their cousin, Collin and Aunt Sarah!

Holiday Date Night

A fun night with the gang...dinner at Hibachi, then drinks and desserts back at my house!

Frank's FIRST time ever at Hibachi

My girls!!

Haylee told us to make funny faces...lol

COUPLES DATE NIGHT (Nov 22, 2014)

A very impromtu gathering of besties in Rehoboth (Dos Locos)...dinner, drinks, shots....karaoke (more shots)...and it was good night MAUREEN....when will I learn that me and shots do NOT mix...esp the hard core ones (Grand Marnier).

Chris and Jim (with his HUGE big girl margarhita)



Rob & Jody




Staci & Chris



Karen & Frank

(More) Thanksgiving

Some pics of the actual Thanksgiving DAY...:)

Bella and Ashlee



Haylee, Tommy, Collin




Chris, Kelsey, Mary, Sarah, Aunt Eileen




mom, Loretta, Jim, Aunt Mary, Sarah, Kev, Mike



Thanksgiving 2014

This year me and Jim hosted Thanksgiving...I love hosting parties like this...I plan well ahead of the day, prep as much as I can...love the smell of the house with the turkey and all the goodies. It went perfectly...Then Friday it was off to Uncle Dan's for the tradional prayer service and Santa visit...Saturday was off to Fran's for Kelly and Kristine's birthday's...by Sunday, I was wiped OUT...I'd eaten too much and felt like crap...I pretty much rested by the fire most of Sunday, with spurts of cleaning in between....anyway, here's a few pics of the weekend! One tradition the guys always do the day AFTER Thanksgiving (Friday) is go to Grotto's to drink and eat...sometimes us gals would meet up, but this time we wanted to go somewhere more 'our style'....so Firebird's it was...love that place...sat by the fire, had wine...chit chatted with my sibs...then off to Uncle Dan's for more fun! Gotta love family!!!!


Guy's @ Grotto's



Girls @ Firebirds

'selfie' shot @ Uncle Dan's with some cousin's