'This Little Light of Mine'...blew a little fuse

Adelina's Montessori School's Holiday Around the World Program, December 18, 2012

 

The programs are handed out at the door.  The stage is set.  Mommy and Daddy's cameras are in focus.

 

 

 

The stage door opens.  One by one the children take their places.

And then it happens...

a cry and then a 'chain reaction' of toddlers crying.

 

 

 

 

And then she sees Mommy and Daddy's faces in the crowd and we are all better.

 

 

 

Now she can play peek a boo with her Noni and Papo...

 

 

All is well with her world.

Love and peace to all of my friends and family.
We are all so blessed to live what little life we have in this world.  Make yours count.

Merry Christmas...
Norine

 

 

Giving Thanks...

A lot of sad has been going on in my life for the past few months...and a lot of happy whenever I look into my beautiful little Granddaughter Adelina's face. 

I am thankful for hearing my Mom's voice in my head every time I think of her.  I miss her everyday. We had a nice Memorial, November 4th near her home in Chino Valley, AZ.  My brother Ron gave a beautiful eulogy.  My Mom was a wonderful, strong, caring woman.

Sam and I recently traveled to Colorado Springs, Co to visit our daughter Jordan, whom I also miss everyday.  I am thankful that she is doing well on her own so far away from home.

I am thankful to be married to a wonderful man and Father and now Grandfather...love love love him!

We then drove on to Gilbertsville, Kentucky for this years deer hunting with his older brother Michael.  I spent a wonderful 9 days with my sister in law Debbie.  I am thankful she took the time to teach me a little tole painting and primitive wool rug hooking.  Can't wait to share what I've learned with our little "crafty" group next month.

I am thankful to have a wonderful daughter in law, Christine, who shares her life with our son Alec raising our Granddaughter, coming here tomorrow to cook our Thanksgiving meal for us this year.  What a blessing to sit back and just enjoy.

And I am thankful to have great family and friends and even family and friends I'm no longer in contact with.  I hope you all have as much or more than I do to be thankful for this year and for the years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving and love to you all.  xxoo

Patricia Ann...Amazing Mother and My Bestest Friend...

 

My beautiful Mama left our family last Thursday early in the morning...she fought hard all her life...and even more near the end of it.
Thank you to The Marley House/Hospice.  The wonderful nurses, chaplin and the beautiful Prescott surroundings made her last days peaceful.
We were able to open up the french doors in her room to the fall breeze after being in a hospital for almost 3 weeks.
We asked that she watch over us all and to finally rest, a well deserved retirement.
I love you Mama and will carry you with me forever.
Patrica Ann 1932-2012

Yeah b*tchez...it's out there...

Zen asserts that enlightenment can be attained through meditation, self-contemplation, and intuition rather than through faith and devotion.
Or through a Crown and Gingerale. Either way it's all good.
Guess I have alot on my mind.

NHL...

Just sayin'.
Our prayers are with you, for you.
I love you Mom.

2012 Centofante Family Reunion

The weekend of August 4th, Sam and I hosted the 2nd reunion here at our home in Henderson.

I can't believe it had already been 2 years since our first reunion in Gilbertsville, KY.

It was an overcast weather weekend for the most part which didn't affect too many of our guests.



Uncle Freddie entertained us with his piano playing. Wonderful to hear that piano being played so well! Even if it needs tuning.



Debbie and Michael celebrating their 9th wedding anniversary...Happy Anniversary!



"Great" Aunt Dorothy and baby Adelina.



The 4 Amigos...Michael, David, Sam and Anthony. Yeah, that's right...that "was" my bottle of Crown Royal!



Our Great Niece, Charisma.



Charisma loved Great Uncle Sam's peanut butter cookies!



Our daughter Jordan and our son Alec.



Jordan and Sam.



Anthony and son Austin.



My nephew Austin was my kitchen company. He stood with me in the kitchen for at least 72 hours, lol. (It was nice to look UP and see his beautiful smile.)

Sam and I want to thank all of you for making the trek to Henderson to share in our reunion weekend. We had a great visit.
And I hear on the wind that our next reunion will be in sunny So California! Woohoo!!

xxoo

(Those of you whom aren't in my photos, I'm sorry. I wasn't behind my camera too often. And if you have any photos to share please email them to me at sncento@yahoo.com and I will add them to my blog for all of us to share.)

A Moment at the Aria

A quick moment to share a quick moment spent with my bff girlfriend from high school, Karen, who called me on Wednesday of last week and asked if we could spend an evening together like the "old days".

She booked a room for us at the ARIA on the strip for Friday night. And what a beautiful choice!







First stop once unpacked was a "sweet" from the sweet shop 'JEAN PHILIPPE'.











And after viewing the gorgeous layout of goodies we respectfully chose the lemon meringue mini pie.



Then it was two cosmo's heading to the Cosmo-politan after a delicious dinner at Mastro's Ocean Club for Karen to view "the" chandelier.



Thank you Karen for thinking of me...next visit will be a room at the Cosmopolitan.

Mahalo Hilo...Mahal kita! Part I

I had a wonderful time with Kel and the boyz in Hilo, Hawaii.
I went with Kelli for her 25th class reunion from Pahoa High School and to check on her Hilo house she has been building.



I enjoyed the company of all her welcoming classmates and family for the entire week.



Kelz close classmates met us for dinner Thursday before the reunion. Iwa and Raylyn were wonderful and Iwa's stories are a crack up.

The Friday night before the reunion we met everyone down at Kalapana Beach, their ol' high school stomping ground. Part of the beach has been overtaken by the lava flow. The night's sky was full of incredible stars.



Nothing like being hugged and kissed on the cheek by attractive Hawaiian men every time we said hello or good bye, just sayin'.



The food was amazing on our trip. Part II of my trip I will tell you all about her cousin Heather's amazing salmon.



1 lb Laulau with 2 scoops of rice...an island favorite. Too much for me.



But a 10 oz ribeye will do me just fine!



Each morning my breakfast included 1/2 a papaya with fresh squeezed lemon, not just any papaya, but a huge Hawaiian papaya (you can't get it like this on the mainland). I will never have papaya again without lemon, amazing (thank you Kel Kel!).



A walk through a lava tube with Kel and Brad. A view of the puffing smoke activity of one of the big island's volcano. What a view.



(Above photo of the Kilauea caldera and the emissions from the Halema'uma vent.)









It was great to walk everyday in a light rain along the bay. So much green! And the scent of the ocean...ya can't beat that!









When the boyz joined me we would stop for coffee along the way. No, not Starbucks (thank goodness). Kona coffee in Hilo at Jama's Coffee.

To be continued...