I drove them in the back of the truck with Colia and Nica included.  

What an incredible privilege to be the mom of such a precious young woman.  Tradition is that the birthday person has to stay in bed until the entire family comes to the room with a birthday song.  Then the celebrated one can walk into the "Big Room" for a special BD breakfast celebration.  The night before, when almost everyone is in bed the breakfast table is magically decorated in a festive way.  The BD person gets to open the family gift at this point and of course gets to eat breakfast out of the special red plate.  The red plate is known to have shown up for a lost tooth, a sick day at home, an anniversary, a very bad day that needed a "lift me up" or best of all a birthday.  It even shows up for a special celebration at a restaurant.  Birthdays are so much fun.  Sara, I am so glad you were born.

10th anniversary of Cristina.  We are celebrating her life.  Come sono felice che sei potuta essere con noi Mamma.  Ti ricordi le nostre colazioni?

Che dono immenso di averti come Mamma.  Quanto sarebbe bello di averti un pochino piu` vicina.

Ragazzi, che cognato favoloso e belloccio.  Sono felice che fai parte della nostra famiglia.

What a wonderful time at Sunset with the whole family. A rare event indeed.  Sweet little Cristina had some difficult moments....some terrifying moments to be exact.