Christmas Day 2007

Food, drink, gifts, Mom's sisters and their families, cookies, candies, delicious dinner, singing and cheer!

(photos above taken by Aunt Kathy)


(below are my photos!)



Mom, Don, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Will: Can you see what I see????

Happy 60th Birthday Dad ~ Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was Dad's 60th Birthday. Mom and I went to his grave and lite an eternity candle and found a poinsettia from when dad's sister Aunt Patty visited.
Christmas Eve dinner is ALL about the Italian Seven Fish Feast and it takes a lot of time and prep to cook, but SO worth it! Aunt Patty, Amanda and Uncle Denny come over every year and celebrate with us. Here are some photos from the day.

Days leading up to Christmas eve

We arrived in Pgh late Thursday evening and slept at Paulette's (Troy's mom's) then got up early to meet Jill, Stella, Silas, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Will at the Strip District in downtown Pittsburgh. We don't go to strip clubs silly! The Strip District is a place were you can get different types of food and there are little shops and cafe', bars, PA Mac Company, Primanti's, flower shops, Wholly's, etc.. Ever year, we go to the Strip before Christmas eve to buy our seven fish for the Italian Seven Fish dinner, biscotti and all the items to make anti-pasta and any other little treasures we can find. This year while Troy watched Silas, mom, Jill, Stella and I waiting to get cheese for an HOUR! Troy did a great job with Silas.

(above photos courtesy of/taken by Aunt Kathy)
(my photos below)
Wholly's Fish Market ~

Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. ~


Friday night Troy and I met out with our friends at the Sharp Edge and OH what a night... the Jen's we're together again all in black shirts with jeans like we were going to kennywood in highschool! Troy got to meet an ol' CCAC friend, Teresa and her husband Joe.

(photos above taken by Teresa)

Saturday - my mom and her sisters, my aunts Carmine, Maria and Kathy got together to make a zillion cookies that we all eat through out the holiday. This year was their BEST batch of Christmas cookies EVER! Hope they practiced for my wedding! :)

Sunday - Troy and I went to my mom and Don's house and enjoyed the day with them. We made cookie trays and prepped for Christmas eve and our dinner that night with Troy's mom and our friends Jen, Mia and Dwayne.

Purrrr

Merry Christmas Purrrrrr
from Slate and Finzel!

Birthday and Brunch

Happy 30th Birthday Mike!
This weekend the gang (Mom & Don, Amy, Joellen, Barb & Ken, Jan & Mike, Teresa & Joe) was in town to surprise Mike Pepperney on his 30th birthday. Mike's gfriend Maggie put the surprise the together. We all had a great dinner out on Saturday night at Zot's Restaurant in Philadelphia. On Sunday, before everyone headed out back to Pittsburgh, I hosted brunch. It was so fun having everyone over to see our home. Jill and Nate announced they bought a house! I think they got the phone call that the sellers accepted their offer while they were at brunch! Also, Troy is the in the process of remodeling our diningroom and the sneak peek is in the pictures but I will blog on that when it is finished. Here are some pics!

Happy Holidays!