Ruggiero Family Dinner

My grandparents (on my dad’s side) are snow birds.  I really wanted to see them before they headed back to California.  So I may have sent my dad a text my dad and suggest he pick a date to invite us all over to his house.  He was kind enough to take the obvious hint (with no complaining) and find a date that worked for everyone and had Alyse,  Jill, Joe, Aunt Carol, Andrew, the kids and I over.  Brad was busy in the field so he couldn't make it.  

Andrew giving my kids gifts while my dad rolls out the dough.

Nanno talking to Vincent.

Before we went to my dad’s though we stopped at Jill and Joe’s new house for a quick tour.  It was really easy to find.  It is really cute and pretty much all decorated.  I was impressed.  The kids, including Joel, made themselves right at home and had a lot of fun checking out Uncle Joel and Aunt Jill’s house. 

Nanno loving on Vincent

My dad  making the kid pizza

After the tour we went to my dad’s house.   We had a fun night of making homemade pizza.  My dad makes the best pizza dough!  There was music, visiting, joking around and just a really great stress free night.  The kids loved seeing their aunts, uncle, cousin, Nanno and great grandparents (G.G. and Nanno Nick).  Joel was very social, talked to people, gave hugs (unsolicited) and was great.  They were all very surprised by how well he did.  Normally he just steals my phone and ignores everyone.  Jill even commented that he is like a new kid!  It is so nice when other people notice the progress he is making.

The adult pizza before it was cooked.

Nanno, Joel and Vincent with the pepperoni pizza

While we were there Andrew and I were talking to my grandma about something.  She was telling us a story about someone that said something that offended her.  The story started with "Oh so and so, God rest her soul" and ended with "And then she got sick and died! (followed by laughter)."  Andrew and I were practically rolling on the floor.  Who ends a story like that, who says that and then laughs.  It was hilarious!   I don't think we were supposed to find it funny but we did.  Later my grandma was talking about not wanting a big birthday party and said "You know what happened after my dad had a big birthday party?....he got sick and died!"  Again Andrew and I lost it.  It wasn't funny, our great grandfather dying is not funny, but the way my grandma said it in such a matter of fact way and the tone in her voice just made us laugh.  My grandma has a lot of great phrases she says, but this one is quickly moving up my list as a favorite.  My current favorite is "uh huh, ok fine."  It means do or believe what you want, I think you are wrong and I am to polite to tell you so, so I will continue to do it my way.

Nanno, Joel, Cecilia, me and Vincent.

We also got to see a video that my Nanno, with the help of my uncle, had converted to DVD.  It is of my aunt’s baptism 50 years ago!  There is footage of my great grandparents and even my great great grandmother.  To see my great grandparents joking around and to see everyone’s mannerisms and movements was amazing.  It was such a blessing to be able to see that!  I only wish there was more than one video.  Here is the link to the YouTube video of the baptism.

Aunt Carol and Nanno

Everyone watching the movie.

The night ended with Alyse and Joe taking turns wrestling my children before I loaded them up in the car in their pjs for the drive home.  It was so much fun seeing my grandparents!  I am hoping I can get away some weekend this winter and go visit them.

Cecilia, Me and Grandma!

Alyse's Birthday Dinner

After our day at Heifer Hay Day Grandma Pat, Papa, my mom, Jill, Joe, Brad, the kids, Alyse and I all met for dinner for Alyse’s birthday.  It was a very nice restaurant about an hour away and we were there for awhile but the kids did a really great job!  Having an iphone loaded with games and movies may have helped a little bit.

Joel loves my phone.  He calls it his phone.

Grandma Dawn and Joel.

Alyse and my mom were staying at a hotel near the restaurant and invited me to stay with them.  At first I said I couldn’t because we had church the next day, but they convinced me to just leave in time for church.  They claimed I would get a good night’s sleep and more sleep than I usually got, but it was just a ploy to get me to come stay with them!  We had a fun evening of walking around the resort and chatting and chatting some more.  Most of the chatting involved us quizzing Alyse about her boyfriend, she didn't seem to mind.  We are all very excited to meet him!

Kelli, Cecilia, Vincent, Alyse, Papa, Dawn, Grandma Pat, Joel, Brad, Jill, Joe

When I got home I was informed that the children didn’t take well to the idea that I wasn’t going home with them.  Vincent was upset and cried most of the way home and kept saying “I want my Mommy!”  I am told Joel would chime in a little bit too.  Cecilia would wait until the boys stopped crying and then she would start yelling “I want my mommy too!”  That would get the boys started again.  The scene repeated itself several times on the way home I am told.  I was feeling bad for Grandma and Papa who were riding home with Brad and the kids.  I figured the kids would all just fall asleep in the car, but I guess I was wrong!  They were all very happy and slept great all night long.  They were probably tired from crying all the way home.  Brad was bragging that they slept so well when he put them to bed, better than when I put them to bed.  I am completely ok with him always doing bed time so he better not brag too much.

Jill, Joe, Papa and the photographers....

Vincent showing Aunt Alyse his game.

Jill and Joe's Reception!

After the ceremony we did a few pictures in the church and then the bridal party loaded into the limo, all 20 of us, and headed to a forest preserve to take pictures.  It went really fast and really smooth!  Then it was on to the reception.  We got there in time to enjoy a few minutes of the cocktail hour.  Brad and Candy (Brandon’s mom who watched Joel and Cecilia for us) brought all three kids to the cocktail hour for a little while.  Then the twins went back to the hotel with Candy to get some food and wait for the dancing.  Dinner didn’t start until after 7:30 and finished around 9:30.  It was so declious and totally worth the wait!  Unfortunately the twins were sound asleep by then and missed out on the dancing.

The wedding cake.

Cute card box.

The guest book/picture

The head table.

Wow!

Beautiful table!

Table assignments

Very pretty table decorations.

The reception hall was gorgeous with big chandeliers, beautiful tables for the bridal party and really pretty table decorations.  Each person also got a small container of limencello with their name and table number on it.  I like limencello, best on the rocks, but by the end of the evening Brad and I were drinking it warm and not really caring.

*This series of pictures makes me laugh.  My dad, his cousins, my grandparents and aunts all jetting in and out of the pictures.  Everyone's facial expressions make me laugh!

Uncle Joe, Uncle Rock, Uncle Tony, Dad, Eddy, Jimmy, Nanno

Protesting getting photographed.

My dad decides to humor me and pose.

The finally agree to be photographed!  Such a great picture.

The Janet, Aunt Kathy and Aunt Carol join the picture.

Grandma joins in on the fun!

Well 1/2 are looking at the camera.

They are over taking pictures....

After the cocktail hour was over and everyone was seated my Uncle Rock announced the wedding party.  Vincent and the flower girls walked in just before one of the groomsman and I did.  They had heard us all planning out how we were going to walk in and Vincent said he wanted to do something.  I told him he could do the spin he did earlier at Nanno’s house, where he spun and then pointed his fingers, and he said ok.  Unfortunately from where I was standing I could barely see the spin he did , but I heard it was great!  He looked so handsome in his tuxedo he could have anything and looked adorable!

Mr. and Mrs. Gaza!

All the boys lined up!

Lovely Ladies!

Annie and Aunt Laurie

Mr. and Mrs. Gaza dancing

There were several great speeches that night.  My dad had a great speech, maybe a tad long, but it was good.  Alyse’s maid of honor speech was fantastic!  Perfect mix of humor and being sentimental.  Joe’s family had great toasts as well.

My dad and Jill dancing.

Dave and his brothers (Terry and Ken)

Jan and Grandpa Summers

Jill and Aunt Cindy

Grandma, Jimmy, and Nanno

My cousins and Uncle dancing!

Uncle Terry, Aunt Angie, Aunt Laurie and Uncle Ken

Bryan, Gianna, Jack, Jordyn, and Brad

We spent most of the night dancing!  It wasn’t like at some weddings were the bridal party and just a few people are on the dance floor all night.  Almost everyone was on the dance floor at some point and it was always a full dance floor!  Vincent had fun dancing with his new friends, the flower girls Rocky and Lucy.  He thought they were great.  All the excitement wore Vincent out and he fell asleep in my arms as we were dancing.  He spent the rest of the night curled up on a bed made out of chairs with a table cloth as a blanket.  It was clean and one of the waitresses gave it to me to use.

Sleeping Vincent Craig

Dancing

more dancing

Papa and Jill dancing

And more dancing!

Brad and I had a blast dancing with my cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents during the night.  I am blessed with such a fun, loving family.  I had a great with all of them.  Besides the dancing there was a photo booth which was a blast too.  I think I only ended up in there 3 or 4 times.  My mom was in there a lot more!  Vincent and I went by ourselves once and he thought it was so cool.

Aunt Ricky and Grandma Pat

My cousin Matt!

Uncle Skip and Auntie Donna

Uncle Bob, Aunt Judy and the photobomber

Aunt Marlene and Uncle Jerry...and Matt!

The big surprise of the day was getting to see my cousin Angela.  She has been teaching in South Korea since January or February and my grandma bought her a plane ticket last minute to come home for Jill’s wedding.  My grandma said it was her birthday gift to herself and she knew my aunt Carol would love it and so would Jill.  She was right, we all loved it!

Angela and me!

Angela and Jill

It was a great night!  Congratulations Jillian and Joseph Gaza!

  

My aunts, cousins and me!

Bryan, Gianna, Jack and Jordyn

Grandma, Me and Nanno!!