Happy Birthday Bryan

Happy Birthday from the East Coast Bry!
follow along left to right ... a few words of wisdom and birthday wishes for each picture ...

1. so happy you came into this world on a Monday morning @ 8:02 on 8/24/88
2. you were so cute and not so tiny ... 9lbs. 9 ozs.
3. your brother was so happy to have a little bro......
4. remember your roots
5. don't be afraid to try new healthy things
6. dress for success :)
7. continue to perfect your culinary skills
8. BE GOOD ... do great things
9. no pouty faces
10. blow out all your candles
11. speak up for what you believe in
12. pursue what you like so you can like what you do

so there you go ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU SON
... have a GREAT day!

xoxo

 

This TREE!

It was a frustrating season with my pre-lit Christmas tree.  At the most inopportune times a short in the lighting would cause one of the 3 strings of lights to go out.  In most cases, it was possible to revive the lights if you said Prayers and shook the tree gently.  If you forgot the Prayer part, it would not work at all.

In a moment of frustration, I told my sister Shell I would cut the baby Kevin and Bryan bears from the tree and toss the rest into the garbage.  She talked me out of it (thank you).  After removing the temporary strings of lights that acted as a band aid through Christmas and cutting the pre-lit lights from the tree with Cutco super-strength kitchen shears, the tree was ready to be put away till next year ...

... but a conversation with my cousin Kathy changed all that when she reminded me how much she liked to look at her tree (thank you).  I LOVE the way the lights change the entire mood in the room.  It inspires me to be more creative.  I LOVE baby KEV and BRY bears with their knitted scarves by Robin.  Why should I put it away? Through February this is a VALENTINE celebratory expression tree!

... with the bears and glass hearts and bleeding heart ornaments, and six little winter song birds, and a wooden watermelon slice to remind me that summer is coming.  In March it will be a St. Patrick's Day tree and then an Easter tree and a Beach tree in the summer and anything I want it to be tree whenever I want it to be.  In December Kev and Bry are in charge of determining what our Christmas tree will be.  

Life is too short ... do good things that you want!

xoxo

didn't have to cook last night!

 LOVE when Kev and Bry cook for us!

squeezed a Watermelon Roll in, just in time!

bye summertime ...

 

Thank YOU boys!

Bryan's Graduation Gala

This way to ...

Pizza Poni out of Old Saybrook fed us the best stuffed breads, Caesar salad and Pizza!
Pizza and stuffed breads made in a wood burning stove

does anyone see the possibilities here?  With this many culinary wizards in one family and a sports management grad, I envision an Italian/Irish sports bar by the sea that also goes on the road to do private parties and sporting/tailgating events :) with extensive background in security ...

Pizza Poni's, Tom and Carmen

the master at work!

Design your own ...
think this was a BBQ chicken and bacon pizza!

Peek ...

Pretty cool set up -
PIZZA!

 

watching the chef!



Linda, Carl and Tom

U of U Grad!
(Crimson and White, the colors of the day)

Party People ... Tam, Robin, Laura, Shell and Cory!

Barbara and Erika

Delfia

Amanda and Michael

Ashley, Eric and Bry

That's MY boy!

Ashley, Ethan, Carol and Kasay

Carol and Kathy

This is the new family that Rog will be living with! :)

just part of our entertainment

watching the 'show'!

Tam and Robin driving off into the sunset ...
 

BEST TIME! Thank YOU so much to everyone who attended, and missed those who could not be there! PIZZA PONI was awesome - so YUMMY! Wished it lasted for 3 more days! I forgot to serve coffee, I still have things to say ... loved Kevin & Bryan's closing day speeches! Thanks to all who made this day possible (chefs, entrepreneurs, friends, family, kitchen witches, workers, partiers, entertainers, and pet sitters too!) … it was WAY FUN! ♥
 



(card by Hallmark from Aunti Shell and Bruce)

What I DO and DO NOT Know!

I knew Bryan was covering the Utah and San Diego game in San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 20th. I knew he'd be driving along with 5 friends from school and the Chrony in 2 cars. I knew Bryan would be one of the drivers. The trip out, went as planned and took approximately 10 hours (I knew that). Utah beat San Diego on Saturday night (YAY!) and the plan was to drive the 10 hours back on Sunday. I woke up Sunday and heard the weather report, didn't care what was happening here in CT, but the National Weather Service reported problems for travelers in the West. Heavy snow falling in the southern cascades and Sierra Nevada, white out conditions thru the Rockies, especially Interstate-15. I knew he was traveling that way, sent a little text message "travel safe - will you hit snow? xoxo", he writes back, "hope not, might, we'll see". Called him a bit later and he said he was in St. George, UT and I never heard from him again until today. I knew he had to pick up a friend at the airport in SLC at approximately 8:30 p.m. last night. He would get into SLC, head into work for a couple hours and then rush off to pick up Wendy. I knew he was busy. What I didn't know was the ride home took 16 hours. I-15 was closed due to numerous accidents, Bryan and his friends chose an alternate route. They were separated from the 2nd car which ended up turning back. Bryan never made it back to SLC until after midnight (made arrangements for a friend to pick up Wendy) and today he filled me in on all the other details that I did not know ... the accident they narrowly escaped and the impact it had even on Bryan! I was at work when most of this was happening, all wrapped up in my work stuff. Getting to bed at 1:30 this a.m. I imagined Bryan and Wendy grabbing something to eat after her flight and hoping that Bryan remembered to put clean sheets on her bed. I had NO idea! Bryan said today that he wanted to get through it and tell me about it when it was over and not make me go through it with him. I can't imagine how I would have dealt with knowing what was going on. I'm sure, like Bryan, I would have coped, but so much is totally out of my control. I know he is safe now and I know I prayed yesterday that God would keep him and his friends safe and free from harm during their travels.
I KNOW my prayers were answered!

A photo Bryan shared with me today

(after it was all over)!

... can you imagine ALL the other stuff I don't know ??? :)

xoxo

Bryan's TV Debut with The Mtn.

Check out a clip of Bryan's television debut with The Mountain West Sports Network! Go to themtn.tv and view ATM: The Crew Talks Utah. The show will televise last night at 7:30 p.m. out West. It's only the beginning! Well done Bryan!

SPJ Mark of Excellence Award

Congratulations Bryan!

... on your Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award ... now off to the Nationals!

xoxo