Summer’s Over

I apologize for taking so long to write another blog, but summer is such a busy time.  Not only are we trying to cram in social gatherings, but we’re up to our eyeballs in expenses for all of these activities. However, I still managed to create a couple of cooking videos for Nanny’s Italian Kitchen.  Hope you had a chance to view them.

The summer started with our usual Fourth of July get together with friends (all the Paterras)  and family.  The kids had a blast.  If you look closely you can see my grandsons dyed their hair red and blue to match the flag.  By the end of the summer, one had turned to green hair and the other yellow.   My grandkids are growing so quickly.  Sonny is going to be 13 in a couple of weeks and I cannot believe it. Nico just turned 10 and Luke will be 5 in a couple of months.  Isabella, who is such a sweet little angel..is seven months (she’s sitting in Jamie’s lap).

Great shot of the fireworks down at the dock with the kids cheering on.

The Taranto family had a reunion at Big T’s house in southern New Jersey.  My ex-husband’s father was Anthony, so like all good Italian boys his sons named their sons after the father.  To differentiate one was Big T (Paulie’s) and the other was Little T (Joey’s).  Big T has a summer home on the shore and he invited anyone who wanted to come to stay over.  Nicki, Mauro, Sonny and Nico went, but we couldn’t make it because Isabella had just had her lip surgery so it was kinda difficult with all the post-op prep.  Everyone had a good time and Big T has already set a date for next summer to do it again.  Hopefully everyone will make it next year.

Nicki and her family took a separate vacation from us this year, the first ever.  I wasn’t thrilled but her family had a good time in Mexico.  Funds were low, so the rest of us went to a local place in the Catskills where we had a great time, especially Luke.  They had activities going on day and night.  Luke loved the rides, monster trucks, the army tank ride, the train, the shuttles, and so on.  Each night  at 7:00 pm outside on the lawn there were signs listing which ride you could wait for on line, they usually had three or four each night. Friday night was the best night because all the rides were up and running. There was also a bbq, live band, life size puppet show, ice cream stands, and a huge fireworks display.  Everyone had fun and Luke put on a show dancing in front of the life size dog show.  It was hilarious.

All of us are kind of sad now that summer and vacations are over and we have to get back to reality.  All the kids started a new school year, with the exception of Isabella of course.  It seems like it was Spring one minute and now we’re approaching Fall. Kids are back in school and Luke started kindergarten.  Where does the time go? Before you know it Halloween will be here.

I’m trying to figure out what video/recipe to make next for Nanny’s Italian Kitchen.  Hopefully I will have the time to write more blogs.  Nanny’s Italian Kitchen is getting more hits…my meatball video has close to 15,000 views.  Thanks to all my supporters and don’t forget to spread the word.

Until next time….