July 2000, Family Reunion

Spring 2000

My two handsome guys. Despite the solemn occasion, my great uncle John's funeral, I insisted on a photo. Vito being dressed up is a rare thing indeed as his usual outfit was jeans and a T-shirt. We arrived to the funeral in the nick of time and not many seats were left. There wasn't room for the three of us to sit together so Vito had to sit a couple isles ahead us to the right. The minister gave an incredibly touching eulogy with many lovely, personal anecdotes about our uncle John. At one point he spoke about how God loves us all despite our faults and sins. I looked over at Vito and there were tears in his eyes.

Same outfit but a different occasion. My graduation from LPN school. I never could have done it without the help and support of Scott and Vito. They both sacrificed so much to get me thru those grueling 10 months of classes, studying and endless hours of homework. I am forever in their debt.

March, 2000

Scott and Vito posing with my beautiful blooming Amaryllis in Scott's newly updated shop. The Amaryllis was promptly returned to Vito's room where he accidentally bumped into it. The stem broke in half and Vito thought for sure I'd be furious. I bit my tongue and smiled and, despite the hopeless looking situation, told him we could fix it. We got some wet paper towel and some tape, straightened out the stem and put a makeshift splint on it. It looked ridiculous but the other 2 buds actually opened and the plant thrived for a few more weeks.

A Christmas smile, 1999

That face says it all, Christmas is his favorite holiday. He passed out all the gifts that morning with joy. Why the wet knee? Turns out our tree stand had a slow leak and we didn't know it.

Young man

October, every year we'd pick out and carve pumpkins for Halloween, Vito's is on the first one on the left.

This is Vito in November, 1999. He is so grown up and handsome. He wont let me cut his hair anymore and instead does it himself. The sides are shaved and the top is left long. He puts it in a pony tail and then throws a hat on. He's never liked the color of his hair but to me it's gorgeous, a deep copper with auburn and sometimes maroon looking highlights. He loves computers and video games and would spend hours playing with them if I let him. He doesn't like school but enjoys the friends he's made there and always seems to have an endearing nickname for each one.

16th Birthday

We had a small family party for Vito's sixteenth birthday. Here he is posing with his cousins.

Celebrating with his grand parents, great grandmother and cousins.

With his cousins and favorite drink, giving me a nice smile.

With his Uncle.

In this picture Vito is holding an old camera I let him have. I don't think he took any pictures with it but he had a great time firing the flash at his guests that day.

Alex Bay trip, July, 1999

The boys, ready to face the day


Vito on the seaway cruise


A nice view of Boldt Castle.



Vito and Scott in front of the castle.

Vito and his Mom ready to go to dinner.

My handsome guys!

Vito watching his Banana Flambe being prepared at Jacques restaurant in the Riveredge Hotel

A quick Go-Kart race on the way to Clayton.

Vito in the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton.

A Hydroplane on display in the Museum.

A look back at things Vito made

Scott and Vito posing in the newly painted dining room, Summer 1999.



Vito helping his friend Mike take on some frustration on Mike's soon to be junked car, Summer 1999.



Vito certainly enjoyed a little destruction but he also like to create. Below are some things he made.

5th grade


1st grade


as a teen


3rd grade

Kindergarten

Vito at 15

I didn't take many pictures around this time which is too bad because Vito is growing and changing so fast. High school is a challenge with tougher subjects to study and more homework to do. The high school is only several blocks from our house so Vito can walk. Scott and I leave for work around 6:30 in the morning with the expectation that he'll get to school on time. Unfortunately tardiness becomes an issue. We work on that and some other minor incidents that got him into trouble at school but all in all he's a good kid and I'm proud of him. We have a lot of work to do on the house and he enjoys pitching in. He tells us electrical wiring tips that he's learned from his Grampa.


Vito and Scott's Dad, Christmas Eve 1998



April, 1999 Vito with a turtle he found in the yard.

Summer 1998

Mike and Vito at our Fathers day picnic.

A shy Vito and silly Scott posing in front of Niagara Falls. A very impromptu trip we took for the 4th of July. We didn't have hotel reservations and everything was booked. We finally found a suitably clean but smelly room about 6 blocks from the Falls.

Me with Vito, he's taller than me now and becoming a young man. Posing with Mom is soooo embarrassing. We walk everywhere and my legs hurt so bad that I have to get up in the middle of the night and soak in the hotel tub to ease the pain. No wonder they hurt, look at the shoes I was wearing!

View of the Falls from the tunnel.

Up on the tower enjoying the stunning views.

View from the Tower.

Vito and Scott, adorable.

Breathtaking sight, Maid of the Mist making an entrance, bottom left.

Happy Mothers Day

We had just bought an older home and moved in shortly before this picture was taken in 1997. Vito is growing up so fast and our lives are pretty chaotic with all the new changes. Vito has found a new trick when his picture is taken so it's been censored. Below are a couple Mothers Day cards from Vito, no censoring required.



This one is so sweet, I think he was 6 or 7 years old.

Home made and he's a bit older.

"The Wedding!"

When Scott and I were planning our wedding it took over our lives so much that Vito started calling it (with sarcasm) "The Wedding". Below are some pictures of him at the blessed event.


Helping? Dad with the video cam


Doing his usher duty escorting our Aunt



In the procession with my Sister


Escorting his Grandmother

The jacket comes off with sweet relief that it's over

The jacket goes back on for a pic with most of our family

Getting a dancing lesson from my sister

Misbehaving?

Dancing with Mom and smiling