These are a few of my Favorite Things...

On the morning of my 33rd Bday I woke up to this scene on our table...Vinny had gathered some of my favorite things to start my day off right! I love the "smut" magazines, fruit, and he had written me a wonderful letter. Thanks honey!

First thing in the morning Marissa called and sang me happy birthday...loved that! She also gave that fun tray and napkins that just lift my spirits looking at them! Later in the day the pitcher and bowls were delivered from my aunt and uncle! What a great surprise...everyone knows just the kind of things I love.

Right before dinner, Kimmie brought me a bag filled with my favorite things: Smartfood!, cute coffee cup (can't get enough of the cute ones!), a sweet book with quotes-i love inspiring thoughts, AND a COZY, SOFT, COMFY Russell sweatshirt- I am forever on a quest for comfy sweatshirts (kim too)..and I had to put it on right away!

Lucky me-Vinny made this delicious dinner! Shrimp over linguine with Parm Cheese, green beans and garlic bread. (shrimp and green beans are our fave!)

The kids had the idea to "CHEERS"!

Wish I had a pic of the cake-Vinny had my favorite-Angel Food Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream. They turned off all the lights, lit the candles and sang me happy bday at the top of their lungs! Their faces glowing in the candlelight were priceless.

Tulips and lilies-could there be anything more perfect? Thanks Mom.

Dom made this card for me at school-my heart thumps fast when I look at it! He forgoed going to Centers (he loves centers) to make this card for me!

Can you believe the neatness of his handwriting? WOW! and I love the "Dominic R." as if there is any other Dominic:)

Thank you all for filling my bday with my favorite things and knowing me so well!

Dominic read us the bedtime story last night...

Dominic read us the whole Biscuit book to us last night before bedtime. We were so proud of him.

YEAH Dom!

The Easter Bunny Came!

Yes the Easter Bunny came even tho we forgot to leave out any carrots for him! (Dominic had told Grandpa the night before that he thought they needed to leave out carrots for the Easter bunny-kind of like the treats for Santa!)

Gianna got a little digital camera in her basket, and it was so funny to listen to her take pictures-she was saying all the things that I say when I am taking pictures ("Ok, you guys get together," "Smile," "You move over here") She was really organizing everyone for her pictures!

We were lucky enough to join my parent's best friends at the Olympia Country Club for Easter lunch. The food was delicious and no one had to prepare anything!

My parents best friends, Tom and Diana. They have known our family since I was born. We all lived at Summit Lake in the early years.

So happy to spend Easter with the family. We got to spend some time with Dan and Jody at church too!

Gianna loves to play with Grandpa!

The "Brammas" and Gianna!

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Hello God...It's Me, Gianna

The other day Kinzley had lost her cup in the house somewhere. I had helped her look, but then I told the her and Gianna that they needed to go look together when I had to get lunch ready.

Off they went to look, and quickly came back, saying they just couldn't find it. I kept doing the lunch prep, and then I looked over and saw Gianna "pretend dialing" a phone on the wall.

She then said, "Heyo God? We can't find da cup. Where is it?"

I asked her- Are you calling God?

Gianna said: "Yes Mom, He knows everything."


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At church on Sunday Gianna was sitting on my dad's lap, when the lights dimmed, and we heard a lone voice start to sing. From where we were sitting we could not see who was singing, but there was one spotlight coming down onto the stage.

Gianna whipped her head around to my dad, wide eyes and asked: "Brampa, is that God?"

Girl's Night Out...kind of!

All the girls went out for my birthday celebration early! It was such a great time! We met at the Waterstreet and had dinner...drank some cucumber martinis, and were off! Of course, since they know my LOVE of DANCING we headed to a dancing spot in town! Now you know your friends are TRUE when they will dance the night away with you, even when dancing at a club for 20-somethings would not be their 1st or 2nd choice! Lucky me!

Love these girls!

How can you NOT love this???!!!

Two of our hubbies...

Getting ready to leave- sweaty, tipsy and loving the fun!

Grandma June is TOOOOOO SWEET!

When the kids got back from the egg hunt and Grandma June found out they had not found the "golden egg" which contained money, she brought out $5 for each of them! They were so EXCITED!

Grandma June and G got along great and had such fun together this holiday weekend!

Summit Lake Easter Egg Hunt

Getting ready for the Easter Egg Hunt at Summit Lake Community Club. Vinny had the kids scoping out the "golden egg" thru the windows...he was sooooo intense (can you imagine?:)) The kids got all hyped up and were wild with the thought of finding the golden egg-which contained money!

This is one of my fave pics!

Don't let this picture fool you- it was SNOWING about 30 minutes prior to this hunt, and then it was DOWNPOURING RAIN...mind you, I am not used to this weather-I love the "no rain" rule in Sequim that we enjoy!

This girl was an egg hunting maniac this year! I could hardly get a picture of her, because she was constantly in motion, grabbing up all the eggs! What a diff from last year-she only wanted ONE egg, a pink one, because it was "pretty." Not this year! I think I detect some of her daddy's competitive spirit in her!

Vinny had Dom so concerned about locating the golden egg, he would walk right past the other eggs in search of the gold! Needless to say, he ended up with not so many eggs!

Vinny heard 2 little boys walking after the hunt and one said to the other- "Can you BELIEVE a GIRL found the golden egg?!" we were cracking up!

Look at this excited face! How easy it is to please her...at times!

Two happy hunters

Thanks Grandma for taking us to the Summit Lake Easter Egg Hunt! It was perfect...divided into age groups, small, not overwhelming, and community-minded!

(Nick was too old to participate, but he helped Dom!)

Seriously?

When we arrived at my parent's house we saw this from my mom...she is so cute and so welcoming! If you are in my mom's presence, you feel loved and un-judged...not everyone can make you feel that way! In the background of the picture you see wetness-it was SNOW!!!

Telling Stories with Grandpa

Gianna could sit and tell stories FOREVER! She loves making up stories and our bedtimes can last a LONG time with her storytelling! So when she got an active listener audience in Grandpa she was thrilled. After coloring Easter eggs at Auntie Jenni's we got to Grandma and Grandpa's where she climbed up and sat with Grandpa...each of them taking turns telling stories!

Grandpa finds such joy in his grandkids!

G and Dom LOVE being at grandma and grandpa's house!

Easter Egg Decorating

As soon as we got to Olympia we went to my best friend Jenni's house and decorated eggs with her kids and Marissa's kids, my other best friend. We had a blast dipping, dunking, spilling...and drinking some delicious martinis!

Daddy was a great help.

Dom and Samantha

Our two soul sistas!!

Some of the finished masterpieces!