Happy Birthday Doug!!!

Happy Birthday to you Doug!!!! Wow---can not believe that we are here again already. Today is the day you entered my life and forever changed it--for the better. I was so young when I had you. I could not envision in my head years down the road raising you. But, time waits for no one. You are 33 years old today. I just can not believe it. I just keep shaking my head. In my mind, I still see you as the little boy who would run just to run, help Grandpa Al around the house, play with Uncle Mike out in the yard, play in Baseball games after Baseball games. I see you running during your Cross Country races, getting dressed up for the prom--especially the year you took two dates! All the Halloween costumes we dressed you in, all the Christmas days we shared with Santa coming, the day of your High School Graduation. Then---one of the hardest memories ever--the day you enlisted into the US Navy right after 911. My boy, my first born---how you have grown. The things you have accomplished. I am so proud of you. I love you so much. If I could change anything, it would be where you live. I really hate that you live in California. Because of the distance, my time with you is so limited. I long for our next get together. For today, I will smile and shed happy tears for you all day. Live loudly today. Love much today. Reach high and touch the stars today. Be happy and healthy today my son. I love you!

Doug and Michael at Christmas

Doug, Joey, and Marissa at our Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Doug and Nikki at Halloween

Doug and Nikki at their apartment in California

Doug and Me when he came on his first Space X business trip to Buffalo

Happy Birthday Marissa!!

Wow, can you believe that today is my daughter's 21st Birthday??!!! I can't. It really feels like yesterday that she was born. Reliving her birth has been played over and over in my mind since I woke up. I really miss her. She is a Senior at Ohio University. She is currently on an Internship in California for her major. She is taking Script writing and Producing----so I think that California is a good place for her to be right now. It is good in some ways and others not so much. I miss the heck out of her. Wish I could be there for her Birthday. I wish I could be like Samantha Stevens from Bewitch and wiggle my nose and magically be in California with her. Ahhhhh life. I am so proud of her. She is fearless, strong, confident, organized, self driven, kind, and compassionate. I could not ask for a better daughter. I love you in bunches Marissa. Enjoy your day and stay safe. We will be with you soon my Italian/Irish Princess.xoxoxoxoxoxo

Marissa with her first car on her 16th Birthday

Marissa and our kitty Smokey

Senior Prom

Queen of the Prom

High School Graduation

High School Graduation

Orientation Day at Ohio University

Me and Marissa

Happy Birthday Michael and The Tap!

I can't believe it! My second oldest is 27 years old today. Time goes by so fast. I feel like my Mother saying those words. It is so true though. My son Michael is the second born of 5 children. Like all of my other children- I love him to bunches. My kids always tease me and say that Michael is the golden child but that is so not true. I love all my children and want to be with them always. How can anyone have a favorite of their children? I want to wish my son a very happy, healthy and prosperous Birthday. He called us with some really great news yesterday. I had to smile when he called because he has said a few times that the month of October has always been good to him. Well----you may not know this one fact about him----he is an aspiring actor living in NYC. He just received a call from his Manager.......he was just picked to Co-Star in the show "The Tap". He starts filming on the 19th of this month. The month of his birthday, the month that is always good to him!!! We are so excited and thrilled for him. My son works very hard to get to auditions and do his best. He works at a bar and a restaurant to pay his day to day bills. With fingers crossed and prayers being lifted-I pray for the highest and the best outcome with this show. Michael-I love you, I want the best for you, and I wish you much success. Happy Birthday Michael!!!xoxoxoxoxo Mom

Michael and Me at his College Graduation

Michael in the morning before coffee

Michael and Doug together in California for film festival

Dad and Michael at College Graduation