Everyday Italian

Last weekend, August 15th and 16th, Matt and I went up to Boston for his family reunion. I know he had a good time catching up and getting to see family he had not seen in years... Here's a few pics to let you know who everyone is (in no particular order):


This is us.... oh, you probably already knew that... ok...




This is Maria, Matt's sister - please ignore that random piece of hair on my forehead.







This little one, that's Elisa - if you've read this blog at all, you've seen her... She is Maria's daughter, and the apple of Uncle Matt's eye. But wait, could it be that cousin Ben is now just a little cooler than Uncle Matt? We'll keep you updated!









This is Nan, the beloved Matriarch of the family. I love her - everyone loves her! She's always there to bake and decorate a perfect cake or make your favorite food - anywhere from peanut butter cups to raviolis! And the little one with her? That's Derek, her great grandson, our nephew, Mark and Mary's youngest.






This is Paula, Matt's mother, and Mark, Matt's brother... I know, I know, I should have had them turn around and pose, but they were serious at this grill. You will see more of them in the slideshow below. Mark even took a special order for me and delivered up a nice, burnt hot dog!








This is our niece, Miss Samantha, she also belongs to Mark and Mary... and yes, everyone has kids except me and Matt.... And yes, we're good with that for now, so don't ask.









This is the Mary I have been speaking of - Mark's wife, our sister in law. The family reunion was held in her and Mark's backyard, which used to be Nan's backyard... keepin' that family tradition!








And here is Uncle Pat, Nan's brother. Not only was it the family reunion, but it was Uncle Pat's 95th birthday! Yes, I am very glad to know that Matt has such good genes in his family! And you'll see the cake Nan made for him below...





I think that just about covers the key players here... so enjoy the highlights from our weekend below!

oh really?

From the door on the Subway in Douglas, Ga:
"We no longer accept checks no more."

So you do accept checks?

Don't add water!

I just have to share this.....

This is our dog, Dixie. Not only is she the world's greatest, smartest, cutest dog, but she can fly!

This is my mother's dog, Coco. She has a mohawk...

Does she remind you of anything?

This little corner...

Growing up is weird when you think about it.... I mean really. What happen to those days when you talked about what you want to be "when I grow up"? They just kinda slip right on past you and you don't even realize that you've past that "when" phase and you're already there! And then BAM it hits you that not only are you already even past that phase, but even your little sister is past that phase. What? She's not old enough to have a job where she has to dress up every day!

You may be wondering where all of this came from... well, you know I'm gonna tell ya.

I grew up in an amazing little church - "this little corner we call Pinedale" - and they had their 60th Anniversary Homecoming this past weekend. Funny how I didn't realize how amazing it really was at the time. We don't go to church there anymore, but it's almost like you'd never know. It's home. I can't tell you how many necks were hugged on Sunday and how many "do you remember when..." stories were told.

At one point, I just stopped and looked around me.... I saw the other "kids" my age that I grew up with having kids of their own. People who had fallen away from everything they used to believe finally coming back "home". People who would do anything and everything they could just to help you through the tough times and celebrate with you in the good times. Women who were your mama, even though they weren't your mama. People who used to go to all the high school football games just so they could yell "Heeey Hope!" as I conducted the band. Men who were my baseball buddies even when other people thought I was crazy. It's amazing those small things that can lead to big things... I think, if they hadn't encouraged my knowledge of baseball, I might not have grown to love it so much, I might not have changed my major so I could have a job in baseball, I might not have ever met the man of my dreams. These are the people who helped make me who I am today... and they make me smile...

Floats, Fire, and Flea Fun!

I just wanted to put this pic up cause I like it! Matt and I were finally able to have a weekend to ourselves last weekend where he did not have any games and I didn't have any work to do... it was a miracle! We had so much fun just enjoying being together! We went to the water park, the Louisville Fire arena league football game (which was just straight comedy as Matt would say). And of course, we can't forget Matt's favorite even of the weekend - the Flea Market! He has so much fun walking up and down aisle after aisle after aisle with me... he's such a good husband!

Dust and Dog Hair

You know, I've never been a big fan of cleaning. Mother, stop laughing... There just always seemed to be not even better things to do, but more important things to do. When it comes down to it, there's just got to be more important things in life than vacuuming! But I have recently (meaning tonight) have a new found respect for the act of cleaning.

I've been pretty stressed lately. I love my husband, I love the industry he is in - it's what brought us together! I love my job. They've been amazing to me, allowing me to keep my job and work from home all the way up here in Louisville. But things have been just a little hectic lately. It seems like I'm never done with my work day until at least 6:30 - and that's normally a good day. My hours, my travels, and Matt's 17 hour work days at the stadium just haven't really been jiving lately. (Is jiving a word?) I will admit however, it's just bringing us closer and allowing us to truly, truly appreciate and take advantage of every minute we do have together. Anyway - totally sidetracked there... point is... I'm stressed!!


Yesterday was Sunday. I worked all day to hopefully get caught up and prepared for a big trip I have this week. And today, well, it's a good thing I worked on Sunday, because I ended up giving myself a goal of being done with work by 8pm. And I did... 7:56! I know, what a goal... there's not much joy in completing that one. Especially since I still have to pack and oh my gosh, the dog walker is coming tomorrow and if my Mama ever drilled anything into my head it was that the house must look good, no matter who's coming. (I used to try to pull the ol - but their house isn't clean, why should ours be spotless?! But it never did any good.) So of course, the last thing I wanted to do after a stressful day of work was clean a house that I was about to LEAVE for three days!


But I got to work - I folded the towels I washed about 4 days ago. I cleaned off our kitchen table (the table that had to be just the right one that Matt and I searched and searched for that's now our "whatever's in your hands when you walk in the door" dumping station), straightened up our coffee table (that serves as our kitchen table/magazine rack), put the dishes in the dishwasher, and even vacuumed (I swear there was more dog hair in the vacuum than currently on Dixie) for crying out loud. I was focused. I was on a roll! And the next thing I know, I'm enjoying myself! What? I'm not thinking about work, I'm thinking about taking care of what God's blessed us with... and all the sudden... the stress is gone. What happens this week with work happens. At the end of the week, I am coming home to my husband... and a clean, welcoming, relaxing home.


So, I have made a pact with myself (that I'm hoping lasts longer than just tonight) that the next time I feel like I can't take the stress anymore, that I'm just gonna get to cleaning.... And thank Jesus for the dust and dog hair that will always be here... in the home I share with my husband.

Eye didn't do it...

Remember all those games Matt and Elisa played and all those toys they won? Somehow Fish only has one eye now...