Best Life

   Nicholas, Linda, Lenora, Megan, TJ, Paul, Me, Rebecca, Thomas, Scott, Dan, Kevin, Isis, Kim, Don and Brianna front and center Fenway struggling to stay awake Another chaos Christmas complete.  A very nice night feeling blessed that not only are my kids awesome, but their people are awesome too!  Blessed that all our kids are growing up and adulting so successfully!  And blessed that a new generation has started with Lennie! And we can now officially welcome TJ to the family!  Congratulations Megan and TJ!  Good choice.   Despite the rumors, there is no child on the way! The child who is part of this match - off the wall tired after a day of running around, opening gifts and trying to be good for Santa - could not stand still long enough to be included in the photo.

 We had a simple day.  Some cleaning, prepping food for tomorrow's dinner and a bit of laundry.  Then a ride to pick up Brianna - riding in the car singing Christmas songs for almost an hour - priceless.   National Roots Day.  So appropriate since one of my goals is to finish sorting Lucille's pictures prior to our departure for Quiet Time.  Today's top pick:                                    Joseph (pépère ) Lajoie, father of Ella Adam, grandfather of Lucille Calitri. And my roots: (I do not presently have many pictures downloaded but they will be!)                                                            Peter and David Sakkinen (my dad and uncle)   Tomorrow - Calitri...

 I love this picture!  This is Ma  (maternal grandmother) sitting on Santa's (friend, Joe's) lap at our annual Christmas party in 1999.  I can only imagine what she was asking Santa to bring her for Christmas! And my photo pick of the day as I continue to delve into the tote from the late 1950s: This is Snowball!  A professionally done photo with the date of 1959 but no owner name attached.  Maybe Uncle Larry? And today is Forefather's Day.  We have visited Plymouth, Massachusetts many times.  Here we are in 2005 wandering the plantation.  (This was also the year a took a photography class at RISD and was playing with black and white film.)                                                                           Scott and Kev...

 Welcome Rangeley!  The newest (and youngest) member of the (other) Calitri family.   Super cute!  Good luck Danny! And after an extended lunch with Tina, a beautiful sunset on this winter solstice!  Finally - the days will be getting longer!   National Maine Day.  Maine has given us so many memories and so much fun.  Gorgeous in any season and always rejuvenating!  And as I continue to empty the boxes of pictures, I keep coming across the odd ones and being distracted.                                                                         When did this  practice stop?                                     ...

 Tonight we celebrated Christmas with the Sakkinens.   Layla's favorite gift - the box! The best dinner guest - Brianna's new teddy bear: The winner at cards:  Scott! (though he slept through the end!) The best behaved dogs: Fenway and Anabelle  Merry Christmas!

 Absolutely adorable in a two layered shiny purple dress, Brianna was ready to sing!  Nope - she wound up losing the top layer and singing in a sleeveless ensemble.  Still she gave her heart to the two songs her class performed to a very crowded room of enthusiastic parents.  That smile!                                                                                     Before the concert                                                       After the concert and walking in the pouring                  ...

 Tis the season.  I have no decorations to hang, no further gifts to purchase and I have minimal cooking to do.  Loving the season!                                                                                                                                    Megan, Kevin and Scott 2002                                                How super cute are they?  The dimples, the smirk and the smile! Super productive day.  We found Bri a winter...