a very Merry Christmas

We had a very quiet and nice Christmas in the Psillos house this year.  Hannah has been in TX so it was just Charlie, Danny, Rich, Kathy and myself on Christmas morning.  We all slept in (great start) and then Charlie and I exchanged the few gifts we had for each other.  We decided not to really get much for each other because at the end of January we are moving back to San Diego (future post) so the less stuff and more money saved the better.  He did however make me something I saw on pinterest a while ago and have been bugging him about.

I just thought it was the neatest thing and he made me two of them! Very excited to have a space to put them up in as well.

After we exchanged a few gifts Charlie made us breakfast and we just hung out for a bit.  At 2 we went to dinner at his Grandma Edith's home.  Charlie's Uncle and Aunt were visiting from Florida and their son Joe and his wife and son came so it was a perfect size dinner party.

Danny was extra happy to be surrounded by family and attention. 

But whenever we would take a picture he would just stare at me..

Hoping everyone had a very merry holiday!

Merry Christmas!

Charlie's 27th Birthday

Wednesday December 17th Charlie celebrated his 27th birthday.

As expected Charlie didn't have any outlandish requests for birthday celebrations or gifts.  He told me not to get him anything and that we could just go to dinner at a Mexican restaurant we like. He was telling me all of this around the time we wen to an Islanders game and I noticed they were playing New Jersey Devils on December 15th.  Well a lightbulb went off for me and I decided that would be a good way to celebrate (we realized we did it last year too on the day we went to the game! :).  Now this was a slightly selfish idea because I have been watching the Devils play since i was a kid. Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias were household names to me because they are Czech.  The tickets for the game were more expensive then what we usually pay but I decided I wanted to make it worth it and splurged on the good seats.  We were about 12 rows away from the glass.

It was a lot of fun!  The energy at hockey games is always upbeat, high paced and captivating to me but this one was especially good.  

I was good and actually remembered to take a picture of ourselves!  My Dad texted me who I rooted for, although i was wearing my Islanders sweatshirt I kind of wanted the Devils to win..I must not have been hoping that hard though because Islanders won it in a shoot out!

On Charlie's actually birthday we had a Wingz over Farmingdale dinner with ribs and, of course, wings.  This was Charlie's request.  His Mom suggested La Parma (family italian style dinner on the pricey side) but Charlie's taste buds were elsewhere.  He of course had the typical Psillos bday with streamers hung from the window with cute pictures, gift cards, candy and NAIL CLIPPERS! Very appropriate for Charlie..

As always, Kathy did good!!

Who needs a cake when you have ice pops?

Happy birthday Charlie!  We love the great person you are. 

Thanksgiving in San Diego

I knew I probably wouldn't be going home for Christmas so I made a point to go back for Thanksgiving.  I was able to find really cheap tickets to SD for Monday-Thursday.  I flew in Monday before noon and was greeted with a sunny sky, palm trees and warm air (75+).  I spent the day catching up, eating my favorite Dad prepared meal and going through things that I have been shipping home (more info on that later).  We would have our Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday at my Dad's house and instead of doing a traditional dinner with my Mom too we decided to go to the spa instead.  I have been going to Glen Ivy Spa since was a like 4 or 5.  It is in Temecula surrounded by mountains and palm trees.  It is outdoors with different pools, mineral baths and of course a mud pool where you rub mud all over yourself to cleanse your skin.  This place is like a mecca for my Mom and I.

 I don't have any pictures inside the spa because i know better then to bring my phone around pools..

It was so fun to see all the animals again too!

These two watching me eat a burrito..

Hercules

I woke up to this, the cat is in the back, Dalilah is nuzzled in the middle and then of course Hercules. 

My Mom and I after the spa day.

Kitty did a lot of preparing for this meal.  My Dad is traditionally the cook but he wants nothing to do with the Turkey and all the work a thanksgiving meal has so he made rolls, soup and green beans while Kitty prepared a pumpkin pie, turkey, stuffing, cranberry, and mashed potatoes.  The beautiful setting can be credited to my brother Pavel.  One day he will throw some awesome dinner parties.

We started off with some appetizers a few hours before.  My Dad bought all these delicious cheese's and salalmis.  This is a traditional looking spread in my house.

Especially with soccer in the background...

Then it was time for the main course.

Dinner was so good! Naturally and expectedly we stuffed ourselves to the point of no return.  

I have been feeling more and more like my Father's daughter.   From my mannerisms, interests, music tastes and personality I notice things about myself that I see in him.  So naturally this kind of stuff happens..

As a kid he always found things to put on his eyes like this, so rather then put away the napkin rings we found a better use for them.

Honestly, no shame. :)

This was probably one of the things I miss most, not only being with my Dad but witnessing his amazing abilities.  He recently bought a new guitar and was playing a little for me.  He has recently been composing some new pieces also.

It was a holiday i was very grateful for.

My Best Friend's Wedding

Well one of them anyway :)

On June 21, 2014 (yes i realized how overdue this is) my friend Corey married his high school sweetheart Janine.  I have known and been friends with Corey since we were both awkward adolescents in band, which was 6th grade.  As far as I remember knowing Corey we were always good friends.  Since high school we have continued to be friends although not always seeing each other on a regular basis.  His now wife and him moved to TX for a few years while Charlie and I bounced around (like the nomads we are) but we did our best to do some double dates and keep in touch.  About six months before Corey's wedding I called him on my way home from work and he shared some news with me, he had asked me to be apart of his wedding, on the groomsmen's side.  How could I resist saying no?  I was really honored he wanted me to be apart of it in that way.  There were some tricks, like finding an appropriate dress color while being across the country and getting time off work to make the wedding.  I was slightly on the fence about if i was going to go before the call but now I knew i would make it there!!

So on Friday the day before the wedding I left work a little early and flew out to San Diego for the weekend.

The wedding took place at a beautiful country club maybe five minutes from my moms house.  My Brother Pavel would be my date and although I missed the rehearsal things went smoothly.

The rest of Corey's groomsmen consisted of his brother and two friends who I have also known since my freshman high school days.  It was like a reunion of some of my favorite people.

Before the ceremony we did a little photo shoot.  Had some fun with that..

Notice how well I was able to match my dress WITHOUT seeing his suit!

This picture below was not as smooth as it looked.  Since it was a bunch of dudes, they all wanted whiskey and well that meant I had whiskey too..  I did my best to not make a face as this girl was trying to get a picture of us but man oh man it was harsh.

The ceremony was a success!  Lots of sweet words exchanged, lots of hooting and hollering, and smiles.

Beautiful bride and groom. 

I loved this photo of them under the tree.

Photo session following the ceremony..

I think this one was one of my favorites..

After cocktail hour I was finally able to hang out with my date.

I was really happy he came with me.  It made the rest of the wedding much more fun and he was much more willing to dance with me then Charlie would have been :)

Our table.

The photobooth..

I did unfortunately have to leave around ten because If i didn't i never would have been able to wake up for my morning flight home.  I missed some of the sparklers but was happy I was able to be there for the most important part.

Thanks again Corey for asking me to be apart of your wedding.  I love you like a brother man.  It was a great day to celebrate the beginning of your wedded journey!

September 29, 2006

Thats right, yesterday, 8 years ago Charlie and I became apart of each others life.  If you asked me where the time has gone and I had to answer quickly I would say, "I haven't a clue!" So I started to ask myself where did it go?  What have we done?  With the passage of time it seems that we (at least Charlie & I) can overlook and take for granted some of the noteworthy things that we have done together.  We forget that it is not only our future we need to focus on but relive and praise our past as well because that is what brought us to this moment, this moment that we celebrate eight years of our friendship, laughter, memories, love and partnership together.

The question still remains, what have we done?

-Traveled to Oahu and the Big Island, exploring what it was like to live in a self-sustaining community. It was our attempt at a really hippy life, maybe we didn't stay as long as we planned but that experience and time in Hawaii i would never exchange.

-Went to Portugal (slightly on a whim) because we were offered free room and board, i.e. cheap adventure

-Several trips to Puerto Rico, a place I may love more than Hawaii.

-Camping in Mexico, Canada, and Southern California

-Trips to Texas, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

-Now, more cross country drives then I know..Going Northern and Southern route, doing half the trip in 24 hours, stopping in TX and doing the other 24 straight, while also stopping at taking our time.  With numerous adventures along the way like Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and visiting my cousin in Iowa.

-Charlie completed his Associates, while I did the same and got a BA, and now in pursuit of an MA.

-We both fell in love with a part of San Diego we never knew in Oceanside.


-We have met so many wonderful countless people from around the world that it is hard to remember them all but it somehow makes you feel more connected to society.

But most importantly what we have done is grown together as individuals and partners, while loving, learning and respecting each other along the way.

For our anniversary we kept it simple and modest.  As that tends to be how we are.  I never really want jewelry or anything crazy.  Just some flowers, good food and drink.  This year I got the most beautiful color orchid and dinner at our favorite Mexican place on the Island.  For Charlie I bought him the usual surf magazines and made him something I thought was unique and helpful (so he can't ever use the excuse that he will forget our anniversary!! :)

I bought a wood burning tool and etched in or name and date we met onto this slab of wood.  I think he was surprised that I did one of my craft projects he liked so much (ha!).

And my beautiful flower.

Happy anniversary Charlie and cheers to many more!