The Alamo & Mariachi Band

Here is a picture of Joe and I at the Alamo on the 4th of July. We spent the day walking around San Antonio. We went to the El Mercado (the Mexican market) and then the Riverwalk. Joe and Annie had the best gordita I have ever had in my life at the market. The Riverwalk was actually just full of shops and restaurants, but it was fun to walk and see everything. It was really neat until we got rained on!!! We were lucky because this was at the end of our day. However, Annie really wanted to run in the rain,but it was that super hard rain that hurts.



We had a blast at the wedding. Here is a picture of me with the mariachi band. Do you think we can fly them to South Bend for our wedding? :)

Isn't my grandma the cutest?

Isn't my grandma the cutest?
Originally uploaded by carisse kristen

Sent from my iPhone

My Cutie Patooties

My Cutie Patooties
Originally uploaded by carisse kristen

Sent from my iPhone

Uncle Shane & Elijah @ the Pool

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carisse/756647170/
Originally uploaded by carisse kristen

Sent from my iPhone

Uncle Joe's the Best

Uncle Joe's the Best
Originally uploaded by carisse kristen

Sent from my iPhone

Did I tell you...?

My baby brother Shaners was MVP of his baseball team! They were also City Champions...woohoo! Way to go, Shane the Brain! You are going to be awesome next year playing high school ball.

ROSALYN

Thanks to everyone that has helped! Rosalyn has raised $2025, but still needs over $1500! She only has a week...but I know that she'll get it. People love her...and why wouldn't they. Plus, this is such a great cause. Just click the link to the right and donate...

Mother's Day @ the Park

Ok. I know I haven't posted any Italy pictures, but that project is a little overwhelming. We have 651 pictures! However, yesterday was a beautiful day at the park for Mother's Day. Joey and I got our families together and let all the kiddies run. The day started a little cool, but it ended up being beautiful. Happy Mother's Day to all the great mommies out there!

Joey's nieces Sophia and Maria on the "Tater Tot"


Sophia and her mommy


My niece Savannah wanting to swing higher


Joey's nephews Rudy and Andrew


Joey's nephew Ross


Nonna and the girls


Joey


My dad walking my grandma to her minivan. Joe and I made her a new CD with a mix of songs and she loved it!


My nephew Elijah


The crew makin' bubbles (Sophia was dipping her Fried Chicken in the bubbles!)


Cousins Isabella and Anna

Thinking about my cousin Roula

I was thinking about my cousin Roula today. I saw her a few weeks ago when she came to see Jacqueline in the hospital, but I really didn't get to see her for too long. It was St. Patrick's Day weekend, which is always a big deal at the bar. Here is a cute picture of her with my grandma. She is just the cutest. She is studying in Greece next year and Joe and I definitely want to go see her! Wouldn't that be a blast? Italy in 11 days!

Easter Photos

Here are some photos from Easter. We have Elijah, Savannah and Panagiotis with my Godfather Jim.

**SUPER FRUSTRATING**

Okay, a couple weeks ago, I mentioned to my few blog readers that Jacqueline received a good recommendation from her doctor and would not be following through with chemo...well, she received a second opinion and he said she should...so she went for a third opinion and he said she shouldn't, but should get a 4th opinion! What is a patient suppose to do if every doctor says something different. How do you know who to listen to or what is the right thing? Especially when you are so young. Anyway, I am frustrated and I will never know how this makes Jacqueline feel. All I have got to say is that I know she will do what she thinks is best for her and right now her opinion is probably the best out of everyone's.

Also, we are starting a "Help Pay Jaco's Speeding Ticket" fund. On the way to Indianapolis from Bloomington she got a $150 ticket. What a bad day?!?

This picture is this weekend at the bar...that is Trraaavis...Jaco's lovely boyfriend.

Jacqueline Update

I just realized I haven't given an update about my cousin...AND the two people that read my blog...your prayers worked! Thank you so much. We didn't hear the best news possible, but close. At this point, we don't think she needs further treatment, but the tumor was borderline malignant. Meaning it was more than low potential malignant, but not quite malignant. Needless to say, she is getting a second opinion this week and then I think we will all be able to relax. I do know that she is in good spirits and tonight all she could talk about was missing her boyfriend. Being 22 is so much fun and I know she will make the best of whatever life brings her. I took this fun picture of her on her front step.



Tonight we had cake and ice cream for my great-great Uncle Floyd and my godfather Jim's birthdays. Below is a picture of my Uncle Jim with his daughters, Rosalyn and Jaco at the bar last year. The other one was of my family tonight. Yesterday, Joey's aunt was telling me how she has never met most of her cousins, and they all live in Australia. As crazy and crabby as my family is sometimes, I am so lucky to be so close to them. Enough of being sappy...I am going to have ONE drink at the bar and then come upstairs for bed.

Savannah Turned 2

It was my niece's second birthday a few weeks ago. We had a party at Chuckie Cheese. Here is a picture of Savannah with Elijah driving this huge truck. She was so happy!

I have had lots of new visitors to the blog in the past few days. How exciting? It is probably just exciting to me. Anyway, Joey still hasn't checked out my blog. He doesn't want everyone to know about our lives. I completely agree with him that somethings are private, but somethings are just so wonderful I want to share. Like this fun picture of my little cousin! He is so cute.


After work, my team is heading to my favorite little bar.







I am starting to get a head cold, so I probably shouldn't go. However, a couple of brewskies will help me go to bed early and get a good night sleep. Tomorrow is a catch up day at work!

It's Dancing Season!

This is my cousin, Kalina. She changed from a red to a pink dress at the last minute, but red or pink...she looked GORGEOUS!



I love the length of her dress. It isn't too short, but it isn't super long. It is so perfect! Did I say yet that she was just gorgeous?



Here is my family after Kal and her date left. Do we look intimidating? We tried. Nothing like a bunch of brothers, cousins, parents, aunts, uncles and a grandma watching you pick up your hot date. :) I was practicing with the self-timer. The first picture didn't turn out so hot...second try worked great.

Last weekend, my cousin Abby went to her first dance with her boyfriend Michael. She asked me to take pictures and we really had a blast. I am not a photographer, but I did enjoy pretending. We took pictures of the dress on the hanger, her shoes, Abby with her parents, Abby with her friends; you name it, I took a picture of it. Pictures are such a great way to reserve memories and you never get sick of them.

Anyway! Here is Abby all dolled up. Doesn't she look beautiful?


Here is my cousin Tommy (Abby's brother)with his date, Tess. I think it was Tess. Whatever it was, she was super cool. Tom is super goofy. He has been since he was born.


After last week's photo shoot, I was commissioned for my cousin Kalina's dance this weekend. I would be rich if I charged...but then I would be a mean mean cousin.

Aunt Carol

This weekend I was in Indianapolis. It was bittersweet because we were there for my Aunt Carol's funeral, but I was able to see my cousins, aunts and uncles that I haven't seen in years! Aunt Carol was so much fun and LOVED our family. It was no surprise that she brought so many of us together this weekend. I know that she was looking down on all of us loving that we were all celebrating and reminiscing at her home.

While driving home by myself on Sunday, all I kept thinking about was how blessed I am to have such a great family. It is so important for me to stay in touch with them. Aunt Carol was great at preserving history. Of all her wonderful traits, if there are any that I have inherited, I hope it is her wonderful knack of documenting the past. Everything from her "hand-me down" furniture and photos to her grandchildren's memories are priceless. I am lucky to have had such a wonderful aunt to keep everything in such great shape.

I have so much family that I can talk and tell you about, but my cousin Jani is AWESOME. She is my mom's first cousin and even though I don't see her very often, I know that I could tell her absolutely anything and everything. If I called her right now crying, she would make me feel better. If I told her I needed to get away for a week, I could go stay with her and she would take care of me...never mind the fact that I am 27 and should just take care of myself! Anyway, she has the most beautiful family. Maricarol, Marcia, Matt and Maggie are just stunning. I can't forget to mention the help Jani had creating them with her husband John. Here is a picture of their family below that we took in front of my Aunt Carol's house. I know all of us wish we had more time with Aunt Carol, but she is exactly where she wants to be...with my Uncle Kenny (otherwise known as Papa.)