Home for the Holidays

A lot has been going on in my life since October and a lot to be thankful for.

We sold our home and moved to Anthem in the 55+ community, yes, I got my husband in, lol. It's beautiful and quiet up here on the mountain. And 10 degrees colder in the winter!

We are happy to announce that we are expecting our second grandchild come late April.

We spent a wonderful Thanksgiving in Lake Havasu, AZ with our good friends Rob and Sandi and their family. Our kids enjoyed their holiday in Prescott this year.

A trip to Glendale, AZ for the annual Slattery Holiday Party (our good neighbors we miss so much) and stayed with our brother and sister in law to create a little belated Thanksgiving "Italian" dinner for our daughter Jordan to enjoy. And we met her boyfriend Zack.

Jordan will be celebrating the New Year with a visit next weekend (can't wait, miss her every day).

This year for Christmas dinner we will be celebrating with our good friend Kelli. A steak dinner at "Hank's" Green Valley Ranch. Our kids are going back to Prescott for their well deserved Christmas vacation leaving today. They both work so hard all year.

So on Sunday, 'Hanny' (what my granddaughter Adelina calls herself) helped me decorate a Christmas "funfetti" cake. She helped frost and put on all the "frinkles". Hanny and Nee Nee don't have much of a sweet tooth like Bappo, but we still took a little taste.

We are so blessed to have a roof over our heads, food on our table, clothes on our back, healthy children, wonderful friends and good family.  I wish great things for everyone in the coming year.  Life passes us by so quickly.

I hope you all enjoy your holiday.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Norine
xxooxx

"We seem to have reached the age where life stops giving us things and starts taking them away." Use your time wisely.  Be kind.  Be thoughtful.  Free speech doesn't mean you need to "say" it.

Outside Our Dor...Happy 60th Birthday!!

For my sister in law, Dorothy (as close as a sister), her wonderful husband gave her a beautiful gift of a week on the beach in sunny Newport Beach, CA...close to the Balboa Pier.  We started the week off with an old favorite "The Crab Cooker" (I hadn't been there in over 30 years.)  Great shrimp cocktails and a bottled coke!

Dor arrived at the house to find a gorgeous flower arrangement from her son and daughter in law, Jim and Patty Jo in Iowa.

Saturday, October, 12th the morning of her birthday her sister in law Lisa made her Queen for a day with a tiara and swag!

Wonderful husband Gary and Dorothy.

Dorothy's parents in law, Ike and Bette...Hi Bette!  Miss you!

We had Dorothy pick out a cake at our old stomping grounds "Lucci's Italian Deli" in Huntington Beach (I used to ride my bike there to buy my Mom bread...it's hasn't changed in 44 years.)

It was an Italian Rum cake...or should I say "hum" cake.  Dorothy and I had a slice each night of the week and with each bite Dor would hum, "yum".

Sunday we had another get together with Dorothy's daughter Debbie and son in law Randy and her grand daughters, Michelle and Marlene and her great, grandchildren, Malia and Mason.  

Dorothy and her grand daughter Marlene.

Michelle and Mason.

Each morning with the October dew on the chairs we sat outside with our "Pumpkin Spice" coffee.  The scent of the beach air and the coffee made it so relaxing.

Ruby's at the end of Balboa Pier.

We played "Mexican Train" dominos most every night.

We had a wonderful dinner Thursday night before having to leave that next day at my sister in law Kelie and brother Ron's home in Huntington Beach. They are almost finished putting on the final touches of their new backyard and pool.

My brother Ron and Sam.

My niece Stephanie and my great nephew Maddix.
Thank you Stephanie!  If you hadn't walked into your Dad's shop that day we may have never heard about James and found this spot on the beach.

And thank you James!  Your home was the perfect setting for Dorothy's day (week).

If anyone is interested in renting a home on the beach and I mean "right on the beach", please contact James at BALBOABEACHFRONT.COM/800.561.8100

We stayed in the "Avalon" Unit.

The Message in the Message

Today marks 1 year since my Mother's passing. 
1 year...amazing.  

I still catch myself thinking she is still here physically and that I can just call her and tell her what's going on in my life. 

I would call her and say "Hello Mother" and she would reply "Hello daughter".   I still her hear her voice in my head. 

She called me her "darling daughter" from time to time.   So yesterday when I came across a story of a Mother and daughter's conversation about getting older I felt it was a message she was sending to me.
 
The last passage caught my attention:

"I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter." 

Thank you Mom for reminding me of how you loved me.  I love you and miss you so much.

One of my Mom's favorite flowers Lily of the Valley-"return to happiness".  They grew wild in our front yard in NY when I was a child.

From A Distance...

 

From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
And it's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves

Adelina Starts Primary School...at 2

Our Adelina's first day of Primary School yesterday...she is already so smart at 2 years old.  Her Mommy is a teacher at a Montessori school giving Adelina a jump start on her education.

Here she is with her Daddy while Mommy takes their photo.  She's such a big girl already.  xxoo

Yeah, that's what she's talkin' about!

dough·nut
[doh-nuht, -nuht]

noun

1. a small cake of sweetened or, sometimes, unsweetened dough fried in deep fat, typically shaped like a ring or, when prepared with a filling, a ball.

2. anything shaped like a thick ring; an annular object; toroid.

Also, donut.

Origin:
1795–1805; dough + nut

That's Adelina's favorite word "dee nut"!  Especially when "Nee Nee Bapo" bring her one.  xxoo

Our Silly Goose

 Mommy Christine had a haircut appt, so Nee Nee picked up Adelina from school to meet her.

 

She is too precious not to share her.  She thinks most everything is "frunny".  xxoo

2013 Moose (Musso) Invitational Golf Tournament and a Hole Lot More...

                                                                
    June 24th marked the annual "Moose" Invitational Golf tournament held at Mile Square Golf Course in Fountain Valley, CA (where Sam and I grew up).  Alumni's from different years at FVHS joined in to raise money for their football program.

 

This year Sam and I teamed up with my classmates Rob and Barry.  We did very well this year shooting a 72 which is par for the course.

My brother Ron teamed up with son Cody and good friend Jay and his son Jared.  Boy can Jared hit the ball!

 

Warren photographed here (of course) with 2 women.  Diane and myself.

 

We started at  hole 17 and look who joined us.

 

My BFF Karen had too much on her plate this year but did join us for the banquet.  I was exhausted...hmm, could it have been all that Honey Jack and gingerale?  Nah. ;o).

 

On Friday we drove out to Riverside, CA to stay with our great friends, Rob and Sandi.  Sam and I (mostly Sam as Sandi and I returned home to the pool with a grandson) helped Adrienne and Phil's event planning company "Lasting Memories" on Saturday with the bbq for the dedication of a new memorial park in downtown Riverside.  Hot dogs and hamburgers for 1200 people!

 

 

Sunday was spent all day in the family pool.  Sandi and Rob's children and grandchildren.  The nicest bunch of kids we know!

 

Sam and his cigar.  This one is Cuban so he savors it.

 

Matthew Joseph and his beautiful green eyes.

 

Our hosts Rob and Sandi.

 

 

Phil always cooking!

 

 

Devan and chips.

 

Dillon the pallet furniture creator.  He's always thinking.

 

The girls, myself, Riley, Sandi and Brielle.

 

We had a wonderful trip to CA.  Beach bike riding.  Meeting our new great nephews.  Dinner with my brother Ron and wife Kelie.  Motorcross races.  Dinner with friends Vince and Shari.  And even a movie.

 

Information on 'LASTING MEMORIES' Event Planning & Catering:
Please call for you Free Consultation
951.205.4346
Adrienne Bardos
Owner, Executive Event Coordinator