New Yorkers Have Arrived Family Reunion 2010

Melbourne, Florida April 18th 2010...... a day to remember!

The Upstate New Yorkers have arrived! This is my family from Upstate NY, I have three nieces, three great nieces, three great nephews and all their significant others, and the kids, my nieces mom, Mom and Grandmom, Theresa Colenzo. They decided to take their vacation here in Florida.
(Also in the picture my two sons, Chad and Curt Iffert, husband Nemo Lamascolo, and my brother from Dania Beach Fl., John Colenzo.)

My first born niece Alicia, her son Ryan and Alicia's significant other Bill. Niece number two, Mary came ( she hated being the middle child) with her three children, Vanessa, Dominic and Adriana her significant other John and his son John. My youngest niece Pamela and her husband Bruce with their two children, Vinny and Samantha.

Can you imagine, this clan of 14 people bought this bus with the New York Yankees emblem on it and drove 19 hours straight. Actually the bus is quite roomy, and even had an LCD TV in, quite a luxury bus. I have been so excited knowing this trip was planned for weeks now, and couldn't believe it was finally here. I'd been preparing all kinds of foods,

Roast Leg of Lamb, Baked Spiral Cut Ham, Chicken Parmigiana, Pasta with Traditional Sunday Sauce, Meatballs and Sausage. Then there were several desserts, cookies, cakes, a Amaretto Strawberry Cream Tart and even a dessert I left for them to name, that one had chocolate, cream and banana's in it.... that will be in a later post, its was named by my niece Alicia, Godiva Chocolate Chunky Monkey Mousse.

What a huge surprise we all had when John popped the question to marry, Mary, in front of all of us after dinner. We are all so over joyed for the new couple's happiness, congrats to the future Mrs. John Guarascio, may you have a wonderful happy life and new exciting journey together many many many happy years ahead!..... Welcome to the family John!

John and Mary Congrats!

So many tears of joy and wonderful excitement, we broke out the Raspberry Champagne my brother John from Dania,Florida brought with him and toasted the happy couple. What perfect timing with all of us together. A reunion to remember that will last a lifetime.

It didn't seem to be quite enough only three bottles of bubbly, so out came the Pina Colada Lava flows, I had been waiting for a special occasion to make these and this was the perfect time. A Pina Colada with fresh Strawberry puree inside...We ended up with about four pitchers full. 

46 oz pineapple juice
1 can coco lopez coconut cream
1 pint half and half
Bacardi White Rum or
Coconut Rum
ice
frozen strawberries in syrup put through the food processor or fresh 2 pints pureed with sugar added to the food processor  set aside
plastic fancy cups
In a blender add the juice with 1 can of coconut cream, pulse  ad few time then adding the half and half till blended pulse again. Add about 2 cups of ice or more and pulse till desired thickness.  Pour the coconut mixture in a plastic glass, top with strawberry puree, top with a shot of desired rum marblize by stirring with a stir stick, straw or fork. Enjoy!

Adriana, (Mary's three year old daughter) and Samantha,( Pamela and Bruce's daughter) love to dance to Beyonce "Single Ladies". They are both so adorable!

They both took a little dip in the pool to relax after all that dancing.

The last time they all visited us it was a sad time. My mom had passed away. Everyone drove down that year, in 1999 (some missing in the pictures not born yet) and some couldn't make the reunion this time in the picture below. Amazing how the time passed, but we still had part of mom here through all of us, we celebrated Christmas and Easter today and I made her Cassata recipe and Honey Balls Struffoli. Grandma Victoria's Easter Bread was on the table as well. Family is so important and it is so hard to live 1900 miles apart. Although we missed out on many events in each others lives we still cling to awesome memories of years past and that old fashioned traditions. You better believe the old adage blood is thicker than water, we couldn't be any thicker than this crew! One of the most happiest times for us all is having each other and this time around, many blessings were shared, but most of all we had spent quality time together and didn't waste a precious moment today. Love all you guys. Thanks for this awesome day, mom and dad are both looking down on all of us so proud today keeping the memory alive with our children that they instilled in all of us!

My brother John Colenzo, had this cake made with a lemon cream filling surrounded by a whipped frosting and slivered almonds. This was made in a South Florida Bakery, just the perfect sweetest ending to this amazing reunion. The picture featured on this cake was taken the day mom passed on, 11 years ago, time has passed so quickly, mom your not forgotten...we all love you......and wish you were still here with us.

After full bellies, good food, the love for great conversation, making new memories, many desserts and several drinks later, it was that unfortunate time to load the bus. A full day for all. Off they went, all 14 people boarded their NY Yankee Bus, back to their vacation and headed to Orlando for the rest of their stay.

Thanks for reading our precious moments in time......... love to you all! xxxooo