'Tis the Season...

...to be jolly!


I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

The first feel of snow...hence the really big smile! It was just a dusting a little precursor to what was to come but enough to make Luke one really happy boy!


Oh, you'd better watch out, you'd better not pout, you'd better not cry, I'm telling you why...
Santa Claus is coming to town! (And this is the REAL one! Jay was sure of it!)

This is Jay's list. It has his side and Luke's side and a middle column of things that would be nice for both of them. At the top of Jay's list is a JLX Overdrive remote control car that can go fast over any terrain...even through water! And Luke wants a BIG BOY BIKE!


I would give anything to know the exact thought Luke is having right here in this shot!


Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...how lovely are your branches!

Our tradition of placing the star on top of the tree doesn't thrill me so much as rattle my bones...for me, it is scarier than Halloween! Nick stands on top of a stool (no, not a foot stool...a BAR stool) with a boy on TOP of his shoulders and then leans WAY over so said boy can place the star on top of the tree. This year it was Luke's turn.


His arms were a tad short so, thankfully instead of Nick standing on top of a phonebook, on top of the bar stool and leaning even further over, he took over.

Nick is holding onto the star, Luke is holding on for dear life, Jay is holding on to the stool and I am holding my breath. This is a team effort.

Aaaaaahhhh.....

We wish you a Merry Christmas! We WISH you a MERRY Christmas!! We WISH you a Merry CHRISTMAS...and a Happy New Year!!!

Struffoli: A Family Tradition

There are some things everyone should know, if they don't already, about Italians. One, we love food! Love it! Two, the most important thing, other than food, is family. And three, traditions are very important! Mainly because they often involve both food and family. My grandmother, Nonnie, recently passed away. One of my fondest memories of her are the times we made Struffoli together. Her hands as she rolled out the dough will forever be ingrained in my memory. This past Thanksgiving, I watched my Dad pass on the tradition to my sons and niece. This dessert is so simple, but for me, there is nothing sweeter.

Here is the recipe:

First mix together 3.5 cups of flour, 6 eggs plus one egg yolk, and the zest of one lemon and one orange and a half teaspoon of salt.

Add a little limoncello, an Italian liquor, if you want.

The most important ingredient of any good Struffoli is family.

After the dough has rested in the refrigerator for 30 minutes it is time to roll in out into long ropes...or "snakes" as we called them. This is where little hands can be very useful.

Oh, and it always nice to have Struffoli prepared by a beautiful princess!

Luke is either making sure Macie is doing it right or he is doing it right. What he doesn't know, is there is no wrong way to roll out Struffoli.

After cutting the rope into small half inch pieces they are ready to put into canola oil for frying. They will puff up so don't put in too many.


Cook until golden.

Next, coat your Struffoli with plenty of honey. (If you can get it onto the plate)

And finally, the most crucial ingredient...SPRINKLES! Oh, and the must, must, must be the tiny little ball sprinkles. No other sprinkle will do. (Okay, I admit, that part is important to me but since tradition is all about making things your own, feel free to use any type of sprinkle you want. You may even prefer powdered sugar. I just highly recommend the tiny little ball sprinkles.)


Throw in some love from a very proud Crampa.

And enjoy...straight from the platter.

Mom's Sixtieth!

We just returned home from Colorado after celebrating my mom's sixtieth birthday! I can't believe she is 60! She doesn't look it though and if she were to take Dr. Oz's true age test I am sure it would confirm she isn't a day over 35. We, her family, decided rather than a big party, which she isn't fond of, we would rent a house in Breckenridge and take her away for a couple of days. It was so much fun! I wish I had taken my camera out more to capture all of the fun things we did. I often find myself torn between experiencing the moment and capturing it. But here are a few shots, mostly of these sweet kids, of our time there.

We did crafts...


Macie is ALL girl! I love getting my "girl fix" with my sweet niece.


I love this racoon hat. No more crafts for him, Jay is ready to play in the snow!


Snow time it is!

Whenever possible, I must get these two hugging! They are so darn cute!!!

Hot Chocolate Time!!!

I love this shot of Macie.

Story time before nap time. Kat took this one...thanks Katherine!

Mom. I love her!

Bath Time!

Now it is time for cake! Jay helped make this gluten free cake for Granny.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Three days later we all celebrated Thanksgiving together. I think it is the best one I have celebrated in a long time! I love being around all of my family!

Mom and Steve

My sister Katherine, niece Macie and brother-in-law Eric.

My brother Mark and his girlfriend Elle.

I'm late on Halloween too...

Trick-or-Treat was a blast this year! The weather was perfect and both boys really got into it. I thought having it on Saturday would be ideal. It was, except the boys were hyped up at home all day in anticipation rather than hyped up at school. But once we got those costumes on and out the door...fun, fun, FUN!

Last year, Jay was a ninja. This year Jay dressed up as a SCORPION ninja! Luke, was Max, King of all Wild Things. I thought this would be a perfect costume for him. He is the biggest Wild Thing I know. I asked him if he wanted to be Max, not thinking at the age of two he would have an opinion on it. He said, no, he wants to be Batman. Batman? Really? Thinking this was a fluke and would pass, I bought the Max PJs anyway. Afterall, Halloween is all about me, right? So, while online I showed him the picture of the Max PJs. Wouldn't you know, the Warner Brothers website would include the Batman icon on the top menu bar. Luke, not missing a thing, says, "No, I want to be that one and he points to Batman." UGH.

I don't know if it was that my heart was set on him being Max because I knew how darn cute he would look or if it was more a matter of keeping him my baby but I bought the Max costume anyway. I know from here on out I will no longer have a say. So, Max it is! For two weeks, I wondered if he would actually wear the costume of my choosing or he we would end up Trick-or-Treating as Luke, King of the Terrible Twos. I should have known that once I mentioned "candy" he would wear anything.

So, here they are...my fierce Scorpion Ninja and Max, King of the Wild Things!

That's a Wild Thing if ever I saw one!

Let the Wild Rumpus begin!

Cute? No?

Fierce, except for those gorgeous blue eyes!

Once we started on our candy mission, Jay was long gone with his friends. I stayed back with Luke and was entertained for at least two hours. Door after door, Luke would look into the windows and yell "TRICK OR TREAT!!!!" Oh, he was ALL about Halloween. There wasn't one scary doorway that would keep him from getting that candy!

I guess this is it. My baby no more. I know it won't be long before Luke is off trick-or-treating with his big brother and all of their friends and I will be left at home to pass out candy. So, I got my way this year. Next year be on the lookout for Batman and probably another ninja...and a mom, who is finding it hard to let go, in tow.

I am so late wishing my 9-year-old HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

October 10th 2009

The day started out with Jay's second to last football game. He played like a 9-year-old!


The team did an obnoxious rendition of the HAPPY BIRTHDAY song.

More football at Jay's football birthday party. Nope, he isn't having any fun!

One dad and four kids per team.

Way to block that 6-year-old, Dave!

The fans.

Pizza at Lucky 13

Luke is waiting for cake.

Happy birthday sweet boy! I can't believe you are nine!