Posts Tagged ‘family’

Twenty-seven

Posted on January 23rd, 2012 by Tonia 5 Comments

My family visited this weekend to celebrate my 27th birthday, which is today.

They cooked the most amazing meal: antipasti on fresh bread, chicken risotto {the original recipe of Nonna Tonia- my dad’s grandmother and my namesake}, salad, a browned-butter-hazelnut-pear cake with an orange-cranberry filling, and espresso poured over vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate shavings on top. Holy-moly it was all so good!

Cake, candles, and singing…because we’re never too old for that.

Games, laughter, winners and losers…

Birthday kisses from my favorite little peanut…

And the next morning, a big breakfast made by my handsome husband…how does he get the pancakes so perfect like that?

Thanks for the great birthday, family! I am so blessed!!…And my belly is very full and happy. ♥

Christmas Come Early

Posted on December 20th, 2011 by Tonia 5 Comments

Our Christmas weekend with Mike’s family was wonderful and relaxing, complete with delicious food, good conversation, an adorable baby niece to entertain us, and huge cozy chairs to doze in.

We made our niece a rocking horse and gave it to her on “Christmas morning” with a red ribbon tied around its neck. She loved it, and wanted to sit on it to open her other presents.

Uncle Mike read her a story…

…Giving Mom a nice break.

Besides a disappointing Packers game {13-1}, it was a perfect weekend. But who can be upset about football when there is this much cuteness happening? Amelia rocking on her horsey {with her blanket, “Keekoo”}:

Now we’re off to my family’s house to do Christmas again. Gosh I love this time of year.

Cider Again

Posted on October 27th, 2011 by Tonia 4 Comments


We couldn’t help ourselves…we made cider again. The tree in our yard with beautiful yellow translucent apples finally reached prime ripeness, and obviously we needed to taste what kind of cider they made.

My family came to join in the fun.

This batch will probably end up as hard cider, fermenting in our basement this winter. So it wasn’t completely off-base for me to choose the Punch Brothers’ song “Rye Whiskey” as the tune for this little video:

Pesto Eater

Posted on August 30th, 2011 by Tonia 3 Comments

Look who loves pasta covered in homemade pesto!

While I was away at a friend’s wedding this past weekend, Mike was here at home babysitting our niece. He said he couldn’t believe how much pasta she put away at dinner. This little girl already knows the two secrets of a happy life: Lots of naps, and Italian food.

I wonder how Mike’s first experience with changing diapers went……