Halen-time!!

We love our time with Halen, Cari and Adam! Halen gave me the best gift...an Eagles Pillow-pet and of course, some loving from Halen!! We also LOVE our "Finkbone Christmas" ornament!!

Thanks guys!!!!!! We love you!

Welcome baby Esther!!

Congrats to Josh and Michelle, as they welcome their first little girl, baby Esther!! Congrats to Rian and Lisa, for their new niece, Grady, for his first cousin, and to Wendy and David, the new grandparents!!
Born around 2 am on Dec 28th, 2011. We cannot wait to meet our new niece and we are SUPER excited for the new parents!!!

A visit with The Russo Crew!!

We had such fun visiting The Russo family and meeting Kate, their sweet 7 month old little girl!! Her smile lights up any room!! Thanks for the amazing visit and we have to do it again soon!!

Karson is THREE!!

My sweet nephew just turned three yesterday! I can't believe it has already been three years since I held him in the hodpital! Angie and Mike did such an amazing job raising him so far, as he is a complete angel, who hugs like he means it! The biggest love on the planet! Love you, buddy!! Happy birthday!!

Holidays rule!

Just some of my favorite pictures from the holiday season of 2011:)

A visit with Sarah, Zev and Nat!

We spent the first day of Chanukah together!! Loved spending time with you guys!!

Welcome to the world, Solveig!

Solveig (pronounced Sool-vey) Regina Brooks was born at 8:59 am on Dec. 8th.

Auntie Jax and Uncle Mike congratulate Nina and Bob on their newest addition!!! We love her already!

Dad is out of the ICU!

Charlie and his new spine are out of the ICU and on the road to recovery! We are awaiting biopsy results, but in the meantime, staying positive, as always. Love you, dad!

A fun stress-break with some friends always helps!

Soooooooooo serious, sailor!

My honey on the drums playing with CJB, The Cris Jacobs Band...his new gig! It was a great night out with amazing people! Hell of a show!! The limo ride there and back was not too shabby either:) We felt famous! LOL

Thinking of you, Dad!

The overwhelming love and support coming our way for Charlie and his upcoming surgery has been so amazing! Friday is the big day and he is as positive-spirited as ever! There is something to be admired about a person who doesn't complain and just smiles and goes with the motions of life. Dad, I am so proud of you and I love you so much! Friday will go great and you will be pain-free in no time. I can't wait until you are out of the hospital and home relaxing! One step closer to getting better!!! Let all of the love that has been sent your way guide you through the spinal surgery. Thinking of you constantly. xoxoxo

Need I say more??

Loved spending the last few days with this cat! Miss you already, Ian!

A new cousin for us!!!

Congrats Shawn and Shreya!!!!! He is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot wait to meet him in March!!

Our first Christmas as a married couple!

Mike and I had fun decorating our little tree and wrapping some presents for the holiday. We know it is early, but we love this time of year so much, we like to make it last as long as possible!!

Turkey day with the family!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone I know and love! For us, it was a fun day filled with food, family, Karson (being as cute as ever) and football! Mikey got to go to the game and meet the players!!! The food was yummy and the company was even better! Cannot believe Christmas is right around the corner!!

The Bridge comes to a close...

November 23, 2011:

It was a bitter-sweet night for us Bridge fans. Words cannot really explain the emotion coming from every angle, as a sold out, 17,000 person venue, all shouted "The Bridge" as the "final curtain" closed. I stood with close friends , who I have made through The Bridge, and stared in awe at these six men who have brought so much joy into countless lives.

Good things are in store for everyone involved with The Bridge, and I cannot wait to see where the future brings them all: Kenny moves on to Oregon, Dave is about to be a dad to a sweet little boy with Beth, Cris is getting married to the gorgeous Kat, Mark will reside in Jersey and continue to rock those keys, and Patrick moved in with his girl and is happier than I have ever seen him.
As for me, I am so grateful to know and love this family and group of friends that have become increasingly more imporatnty to me every year.

Cheers, Bridge. Thanks for all of the fun, music, memories, my husband, and for giving me this wonderful new life filled with so much happiness. I owe so much to you.

Vegas, baby!!!

Mike and I went to Vegas on a little second honeymoon! We had the BEST time. We walked around to all the fun hotels, rode the roller coaster in NY, NY, ate like royalty (and like fat kids) in several dank spots, watched the water fountain show at the Bellagio, gambled, and sooooo much more:)
Mike had never been there, so it was wonderful to see his already huge eyes light up around every corner...especially when we played with a baby lion cub, only 13 weeks old, at MGM. Awesome!! Can't wait to see where life takes us next...

Born about four months ago, look how big these little ones are getting!!

Nathaniel and Mckenzy! Happy four month bday!!

An early Thanksgiving for The Finkbone's!

Since my parents got divorced, my little brother and I have always split up the holidays. Now, that we live all over the continental USA, it is more difficult (and crazy expensive) to travel ON the major holidays, such as Thanksgiving. A few years ago, Adam and I spend a LOT of money and time stuck in airports, instead of having quality time with our family in Florida. Sooooo...we changed the rules...we decided to have our family Thanksgiving....early...every year.
I just got home from the 2011 Turkey-day and it was an awesome time!! Got to spend quality time with them and their new addition, Tazzy (the little black kitty). My parents cooked an amazing meal and invited some of our friends to join (yey, Jenna, for making the trek from Miami!!!) and it was a blast! Already can't wait for next year!

This is why I LOVE Halloween!!!

The Bundy's! HELLO!!!! Amazing work, Lisa and Brian!!!!!!!!! Winner's for best adult costumes, in my book!

A little Devil and Angel at work.

Ridley, the littlest cheerleader! Or maybe a bumble bee!

Quinn, aka spiderman, you rule!

Dinners from around the world!

So, a few years ago, the four-musketeers (soon to be five, with their little one on the way), decided to do dinners about once every month or two. Nina and I being, the creative gals we are, decided to spruce it up a bit!

Here are the details:

• The couple hosting dinner would prepare an appetizer, main course, and a drink from the country chosen by spinning a globe together (at the other couple's house before leaving).
  



• The couple visiting the "country" would bring dessert from the chosen country.




• We eat, drink, and hang with one another for hours, celebrating our friendship and learning more about the country that we "landed on."




• As the months went passed, we added more details to our dinners...lotto tickets (of which our winnings will go towards a trip to one of these countries some time in the future), dressing up like people from that culture, music and fun facts from that country, and of course knowing, where that country is located, as well as their flag.

Our dinners are so completely wonderful, not only because we get to spend time with two of our close friends, but because we get to be silly and at the same time, learn a lot...about the countries, how to cook new things, and about each other.

Here are some fun pictures of dinners of the past (these are only a few I could find in my photo library, but there are TONS!!! We have a cute little scrapbook with all the memories!!)! We are coming up on the 18th country!!! Don't mind some of the silliness...that's just us:)

Next country??? ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karson's first Halloween parade!

When did my nephew get old enough to be in a Halloween parade?! He dressed up as Thomas the Tank-Engine and was too cute!!! My father-in-law, sis-in-law, and I went to his school to be there for his first parade. It brought back a ton of memories from my youth!! Gotta love it!

My tattoo is finished!!!!

Can you believe it started as a tiny, crooked butterfly and ended up like this?!
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about it. Thank you Andrea, for transforming my lower back! VERY cool!

Happy Baby-Shower, Nina!!

Little "peanut" is almost here!! Aunt Jax and Uncle Mike are SO excited to meet you, little one! Today, mommy-to-be, Nina, looked as gorgeous as ever, as she welcomed a ton of fabulous surprises for the new baby (sex to be determined)!! Coming around Christmas, this "holiday package" will be welcomed by two loving parents, two brothers (their two puppies), and a loving (and excited) extended family of relatives and close friends!!!

Can't wait to meet you Peanut!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this doesn't get you excited for fall...

Then I don't know what would....

my cute little niece Riley, off on an adventure with mommy and daddy to the pumpkin patch!!

Love you, little one!!