Happy 50th Mom!

Happy 50th Birthday to the best Mom in the world! Sorry we couldn't be there with you but I know you enjoyed your day anyway. P.S. You are rocking that tiara!!

Happy Thanksgiving...

...from a big turkey!!

Serdar, Foti and Matty doing some strange soccer pose. I didn't get it- I guess it's a boy thing.

Grammy Paula, Matty, Me and Martha-way cuter.

Matty loves his "Gam"

Serdar roasted a great bird! Martha was the sous-chef.

The guys wanted to watch football but Matt wanted to watch "In-Ked-Ibles" (AKA "The Incredibles" to those of you who do not speak half english, half greek, all toddler). Hope your Turkey day was as good as ours!

Sandcastle

While we were in Pittsburgh visiting the fam, Pap Pap Petie and LuLu took us to Sandcastle for the day. It was a beautiful sunny day (quite unusual for the 'burgh!) and we had a blast! We stayed all day until 5 pm and Matthaios was asleep before we pulled out of the parking lot! He had fun swimming, jumping around and riding the water slides. Mom worked on her tan and was rocking her 'Mom Suit!' Sorry, folks- no pictures of that.

Famiglia Mazzarese

Last weekend, Matthaios and I drove with my Dad and LouAnn to Harrisburg, PA for the Mazzarese Family Reunion. We had family in from New York , New Jersey, Michigan and surrounding Pittsburgh areas. It was such a great chance to get to see everyone!

Aunt Vivian, Angela, Nate, Aunt Judy, and LouAnn

Mike, Kristin and Tommy

Kim and her Goddaughter Molly, our newest addition!

Angela, Nate and Katie

On the Riverboat 'Pride of the Susquehana'

Cousins Pat and Rosina

Captain Matthaios

The next Generation!

Chuck, Me, Mike, Mark, Matt, Katie, Angela and Nate

Idlewild Park

Matthaios and I just returned from a weeks visit in Pittsburgh. On Tuesday, we went to Idlewild Park in Ligonier, PA with my mom. We had such a great day! Matt did not want to ride anything in Kiddie Land, so we spent time riding the train, carousel, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood Trolley and the Water Toboggan Ride.

All Aboard!

In Storybook Forest

YUM-O!

Raggedy Ann and Andy

My little man who no longer needs me to help with the water fountain. Sniff, sniff.

WEEE! We rode the carousel about 10 times, I swear. He loved it.

We rode this ride several times as well. He was yelling, "More Gammy More!!"

Summer Vacation

This past week, we spent our vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We drove (well, Fotis drove and I told him how to drive- God that man must love me) all 1,000 miles in 2 days and the boy made it through pretty well. We stayed at a beach house near Cape Hatteras with my Mom and Bruce and friends Sharon and Shep.


Matt was *so* digging this pool that Grammy bought for him.

Shep and Bruce trying to catch fish on the sound side of the island. The only thing Pap Pap Bruce caught was a ticket from the fish police for fishing without a license. Tsk, tsk Pappy! Fotis had just put the fishing rod down 2 minutes before the police showed up and narrowly missed a ticket himself!!

"This vacation business is hard work!"

Awww.....

"Grammy Paul" (notice no 'A') chilling under the beach umbrella

Weeee!!

Matt and Pappy building a fort!

Pap Pap Paul

Matthaios and I are home in Pittsburgh this week to celebrate the life of my Grandfather Paul. He passed away this week after several months of being ill. Pap- you will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved you.

Pap Pap and LuLu came to Town!

This past week, my Dad and LouAnn flew down from the 'burgh to stay with us for a week. We did so many fun things! We went to the beach, out to dinner, rode on a train, went to Lincoln Road and during the week while we were at work, Matthaios got to do so many more cool things with his Pap and Gram! He got a cool dude haircut, spent a day at Parrot Jungle, played at the park and did what every almost-2 year old is dying to do- spent a day gambling at the horse track!!

"Hey Pap Pap Petie, read me this story, then let's hit the beach since your white legs are hurting my eyes."

"Good eats Mom, corn on the cob and salad!"

"Yay! We're at the beach! Pap was flirting with some cute young girls and Grandma LuLu made sure she called him Grandpa loud enough for them to hear! Way to go, Pap- you got mad skills."

On Saturday, we drove to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum to spend the day with Thomas the Tank Engine! In case you aren't a 2 year old little boy, Thomas is the coolest thing *ever.* Someone was a little cranky at first, but he ended up having a great time.

Grandma LuLu, Pap, Daddy and Matt had a good time on the train, even if it only moved 1 mile an hour and Pap was asking the whole time where the beer was. What a great week we had- thanks for coming to visit! We love you!

"Grammy Pada"

Last week, Yia Yia Alexandra went back to Nafpaktos, Greece after being with us for almost 6 months. She was so sad to say goodbye to us and Matthaios has been looking for her in the house. A few days after she left, my mom came to visit so Matthaios got to spend some time with his Grammy PJ. He can't say "Grammy" yet, so he says "PJ" or "Pada" [Paula]. Too cute! I tried to get him to call her "Bubba", but she smacked me. :)


Grammy took him to the park to practice his soccer skills.

Those wrinkled eyebrows are *so* from his daddy.

"Can't catch me Grammy!"

"Dad- can I jump in please??"

"WEEEE!"

Uncle Glen Came to Visit

My Uncle Glen came to visit us from TexASS (family joke) 2 weeks ago. He was in town on business for a few days so he came over for dinner one evening. He hadn't seen Matt since he was 6 weeks old and couldn't believe how big he is! Matt entertained us all, as usual, with his crazy antics. I swear the kid is bound for Hollywood!



Uncle Glen was Matt's new best friend by the end of the night.

"Hey, Mom- check out my new work boots!"