Dad Decked the Deck

Every time we pulled into the driveway of the house, Dad would say one of two things... either, "Wow! Look at that house! They have a SANTA on the roof!!" ...OR... "I decked the deck." Hahaha...

Dad decked the deck:

Dad and Dominic going into New Yorker's... daily routine...

Breakfast cuteness at New Yorker's, East Rochester

At Savoia's on Christmas Eve to pick up the cannolis...

We walked in on #19 and pulled #71. Yikes!

Group shot while hanging out at Grandma's in Buffalo:

A rare photo of all of us together!

Home for the holidays

More from my time home in Upstate New York : )

Making Christmas cookies with Mom!

You DON'T make a Christmas pretzel cookie?    : P

I got to spend two weeks with this lady  : )

Grandma made some of her family-famous Tollhouse cookies!

Looking at this photo on my camera after taking it, Grandma couldn't find herself between all of our hair! Haha. She didn't think it was the photo that we could have just taken and she had been in... 

Home  : )

family holiday get-togethers

It was really nice to go home to Upstate New York for the winter holidays! Usually I see some of my relatives when I visit each summer, but since this visit was around the winter holidays and get-togethers were already planned, I got to see pretty much everyone!

Christmas Day at the Smith's!

Hanging out at Grandma's in Buffalo for the evening

Being able to meet my college friend Erin's baby girl was great!!

So glad a visit worked out... Erin, baby Marley, and Jess stopped by my Grandma's:

Jess, me, Marley, Erin   : )

The next night, I was able to see Jess again - and another good friend from college - Heather. It was really nice to be able to have some time with them! (Heather visited me while I lived in Vietnam! We traveled with my cousins to Thailand during the Tet holiday.)

New Year's Eve at the Delforte's!

At the Pizzingrilli's for New Year's Day...

...waiting in line for the second round of Aunt Ann's gnocchi  : )

Big grins for home-cooked Italian food!

Cousin Aubrielle's first birthday party!

heading home for the holidays...

Milan is gorgeous and festive around the winter holiday time...

Gorgeous sunsets on a clear day (this one was taken at the Vigentino bus stop)...

The view of the Christmas tree of lights from my apartment:

And get-togethers with friends!

Carrie had a bunch of us over for a lovely brunch at the end of a recent three-day weekend:

I've enjoyed the past few weeks... but now am excited to head HOME for the holidays!

I haven't spent a Christmas in New York in about 7 years and am really looking forward to the time in Rochester with family and friends. My suitcase is packed... and it's mostly all gifts and little yummy things from Italy and my recent travels through Europe... I was also able to stuff some clothes in there but might end up wearing some of Mom's!

Rochester, here I coooooooome!

Mom's gorgeous gardens

My mom has beautiful gardens around the yard. ...Really beautiful.

I usually end up killing plants rather quickly... even bamboo and cacti... but she definitely has a talent for gardening!

Before flying out of Rochester, NY to head to Denver, CO two days ago, I walked around the yard and took some photos of her gorgeous flowers.

One bleeding heart left. The following 2 photos are my favorites...

HOME! Mom and Dad's in Penfield

The first week of my summer break has been great so far! I'm at my mom and dad's house in Penfield, New York. It's been really nice to be home for a bit, in the house that I grew up in... and having time with the two of them.

Mom said that I could take the sign down if I want...

...I told her that I like it and am leaving it up... and that I would worry if I came home and didn't have a sign! Ha. So cute.

So good to be with these two for a week  :D

Mmmhmmm... chocolate almond... the only flavor that counts in Upstate NY!

Mom made a deliciously fancy drink... including watermelon ice cubes!

Dad, showing me how it's done...