Hollywood in the D - Part II

Wooo!! I think I have finally recovered from my busy busy family week!! :) Which yes, I will admit now left me smiling through tears as I dropped Phil & Hay off at the airport last Friday! I am so blessed to have such an amazing family!! :)

The week was full of family, food and fun!!

On Monday, the family visited The Parade Company for a tour! My parents & Phil had been before, but we've made a lot of changes since their last visit! This of course was Hayley's first time to the colorful Willy Wonka like studio :)

Phil & Hay modeling Raggedy Andy & Ann papier-mache heads!

My parents in front of the Valentine's Day push float!

Motown Philly!

One of these characters is airbrushed...
the other spends his days "flipping cars" :)

The 30 year retired PO :)

No visit would be complete without making me pose behind my desk!

Tuesday we had a great visit with our Uncle Thom & Fam, played quite a few games of "Russian Accent Rummy" (is there really any other way to play rummy than with an accent?!!) and learned that brotherrr (which when said properly in my Valentina voice sounds like brAAAAAAtherrrrrr) owns MAC make-up & blows out his hair everyday... this is a blowout with no product... he may not be happy that I posted a non 'camera ready' shot :)

On Wednesday it was back to work for me! The Parade Company was producing our annual America's Thanksgiving Parade Theme Day at the Tigers game!! Luckily, my family enjoys baseball so they came down to take in the festivities & ballgame!!

The Fam with Parade Co. mascot Clownie

ATP Queen throwing out the ceremonial first pitch!

First 10,000 fans received red Clownie noses!

Wednesday night came & went with my brother's fav ribs from Zuckin's, another great visit with family (Uncle Kenny, Aunt Mary Jo & Frankie) and more Russian Rummy!! :)

Thursday arrived way too quickly :( I have learned in the past few years of my parents & Phil both living hours & thousands of miles from me, that I am quite an emotional person. I couldn't even get through breakfast without crying, knowing soon after we would be split again. Goodbye's are always hard for me, even during event time, I go through post event or vacay depression severely... sometimes I really question what is wrong me?!! I think I just have way too much love in my heart :)

After my parents left, Phil "The Best Brother in the World" helped me clean up my backyard. I am so embarrassed to admit that I let the back basketball court collect some disgust in the past years... like a broken basketball hoop (I totally blame Phil for this!!), a mildewy dog pool (I totally blame Valentina for this because she hated it!!) and a crumpled old pool cover (I can only blame myself, as I didn't want to touch it when it came off the pool last summer bc of the sliminess!!)!!

Thursday night we all headed up to the high school for some varsity football action!! Our alma mater was playing a local high school that is being followed by MTV Two A Days for being one of the worst HS FB teams in the nation... I believe their record was something like 0-48... YIKES!!

Afterward we headed to our fav Mexican restaurant Mi Pueblo and then over to the Old Shillelagh... where Phil took over as DJ and danced like a mad man!! (video here).

Friday we ventured to Royal Oak so the Hollywood kids could pick up some Detroit gear before their flight to LAX. Hayley surprised me with a fabulous glitzy turtle ring she left for me to find after I took them to the airport:) It's totally me!!

I am very blessed to have spent such an amazing week with my family :) and even more so for friends like Tequila (Monica) who after I was left all alone, went to dinner & the bar with me, when I was ready to break down again :)

It's weeks like this that will be embedded in my heart forever :)

xoxox