First Christmas

It was fun to spend our first Christmas together even though we didn't have any kids around. Debora was in Italy and the boys were in Arkansas. We spent some time walking around the Plaza, which is beautiful at Christmas and we shared with each other our holiday traditions: I cooked Beef Wellington on Christmas Eve and Gianni cooked a seafood meal on Christmas day.

Dad's 70th Birthday

Our family drove back to New York for Thanksgiving and to surprise Dad for his 70th birthday. Kym and her husband Mark flew in from California and Heather flew over from Budapest to celebrate this epic event. (Unfortunately Nate had to work and couldn't make it.) It's hard to believe that dad is really that old!

We had a large turnout for Dad's party. Somehow he hasn't managed to drive away all of his friends even during his "golden years". During the party Gianni was able to meet several of Dawn's old friends from her youth. He easily got their stamp of approval and fit in well with her family.

Joan, Dawn and Ellie

Dad and Gianni

Gianni, Sari and Ellie

While we were in New York, we went to Manhattan to take in some of our favorite sights including Rockefeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Time Square. Of course our visit to NYC would be incomplete without a trip to Teuchers Chocolate for Champagne truffles. There really is no other city in the world like New York, especially during the holidays.

Stephen and Hayden have made many trips to NYC. Hayden really enjoys seeing all the attractions, but Stevie is happy if he gets a hotdog and pretzel from a street vendor. He's a pretty easy kid to please.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Saks 5th Ave

Gianni loved seeing things he had only seen in the movies or on tv. He kept thinking of how much Debora would love New York City and we can't wait to take her there.

In addition to experiencing New York City, Gianni also had his first Thanksgiving. He really loved the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. Thanksgiving is not a big holiday in Italy -actually most European countries don't celebrate Thanksgiving.

Our Wedding

After nearly 3000 email exchanged, Gianni moved from Italy to the United States and married Dawn on October 6, 2006.

Dawn wore her mother's dress (after the tailor had super-sized it) and Gianni and the boys wore their Mafia outfits.

New York City

Dad, Staci Light, Molly and Gianni in Central Park

When Dawn and Gianni left Italy, they flew to New York for Gianni to meet his prospective father-in-law. Gianni didn't want to have jet lag when he had such a short window of time to make a good impression, so Dawn gave him little something to help him sleep on the plane. Well, Italians might be able to hold their pasta, but they aren't so great at tolerating medicine. The medicine knocked Gianni out. Towards the end of the flight, he stumbled to the bathroom and then never came back. Dawn finally went to look for Gianni and found him sleeping on the toilet. He was really nervous about meeting Dad when he was so doped up on sleeping medicine. Fortunately it wore off just before we landed and things went fine.

Dawn and Gianni in Central Park

Gianni in front of Trumps Palace

Italy

Gianni and Dawn's official engagement just after arriving in Taranto, Italy

Making food for the festa. Dawn's sister Heather came from Budapest.

Dawn, Gianni and Debora (15)

Dawn and Heather in the Ionian Gulf

Gianni and Debora (15)

Dawn and Gianni at the festa

Dawn, Mamma and Gianni

Debora and Gianni

Dawn, Debora and Gianni

Heather, Dawn and Gianni

Debora (15)

The family

Heather and Gianni at the airport

3000 year-old columns in Taranto, Italy

Taranto, Italy