1413I QUOTE 8 AIM FOR THE STARS ...

"Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back."   Babe Ruth

A streak of home runs was enjoyed by
Everyone in our family, throughout
Ravi's first birthday-party weekend!
Let's start with planes landing, on Friday:
By the time I arrived home from the airport with David
Will was off to pick up Barry, Marie, Tony, and Ray

Just before Tony (5) and Ray (4) bounded into our house
Steven and Ravi had arrived, feeling every bit as eager to
Take up where we'd all left off in August when
We, desert dwellers, had left the burning rays of summer to
Frolic, all together, within salty ocean waves, and
Once our initial, heartfelt excitement at
Being together, again, felt well fed
We assuaged our tummies hunger with ... Pizza, of course!

As Celina and Steven had much to do to ready their house
For Ravi's first birthday gala, on Saturday
Our little munchkin enjoyed a sleepover at our house on
Friday, along with everyone who'd just flown in, and
As bedtime neared, we all, large and small, donned
Star Wars PJ's in our respective sizes, creating
A party-like atmosphere while Barry inflated
A pair of Jr. sized aero beds, which we covered in
Star War linen to the delight of the boys ... And when
Ravi crawl into the guest bedroom, garbed in her Darth Vader onesie
Everyone laughed with such high spirited glee that
Our sweet natured cherub sat up, clapped her hands
And laughed aloud, as well

Saturday morning saw us hot tubbing, after which
Barry and the boys climbed the mountain behind
Our house, followed by lunch and naps, so that
All three small fry (and I) would feel
Bright eyed and bushy tailed by the time we
Headed over to Ravi's house, where
The birthday girl was readied to welcome her guests at three

As the next five hours of this warm, sunny day
Zipped by, we all had a ball, and
Upon arriving home at eight ...
Guess who accompanied her cousins to
Gramma and Grampa's for a sleep over, again!
Yup!  None other than the tuckered out b/d girl, herself

During the ten minute drive from Steven's house to ours
Guess who fell fast asleep?
Though we all thought Ravi would be out till
Sunlight, there was no way that
Our little cutie pie was going to miss
Precious time spent with Tony and Ray, who
Could not have have doted on
Their sweet natured little 'Me Too', more ...
Then, once we'd all dropped off to sleep ...
Nary a sound was heard except for Zzzzz's until
Sunday at 9AM, when the aroma of chocolate chip pancakes
Sizzling in butter wafed through the house while
Ravi crawled after 'her boys', who were seeking
The hiding place of the elf on the shelf, who'd miraculously found
Its way from the coast to the desert, and during the night
This mischievous, magical creature had turned all of
The framed photos in our family room upside down!

After another hike up the mountain (while Ravi and I
Splashed around in the hot tub before taking naps, much
Needed by both), we all donned our official
NFL jerseys, and once Ravi had been fetched by her
Nani (gramma) Lupe, the rest of us piled into
Two SUVs in plenty of time to pick up Steven and
Drive across town to tailgate with dear friends before
All of us attended Tony and Ray's very first NFL game, ever!

That night, after hugging, kissing and
Tucking two tuckered out star troopers into their aero beds
We all fell into a sound sleep, and upon awakening on
Monday, no one could believe how quickly
Our fun-fillef weekend had sped by
And though in no way were our hearts ready to say goodbye
Reality dictated that two little boys had need to
Dry their tears while we, who love and miss them as
Much as they miss us, offered reassurances that
Countless good times, enjoyed by all, will certainly
Follow this weekend's festivities, which
Has become yet another treasured memory, shared by all

As our weekend offered each one of us every blessing that
We've longed to experience with little ones
My gratitude and love for our family feels ten times
Greater than I can find words to express ...

And now, with Thanksgiving two days away
My body has begged to do nothing other than rest
So, as Will is intent upon carrying forth
Ravi's great-great-grandmother's tradition, passed
Down from generation to generation, of
Making potato knishes, which is a two day project ...
He chose to peel, boil, salt, pepper, butter and mash
Five pounds of potatoes before
Frying up and mixing in a ton of chopped onions while
Ravi (who came over with her daddy, who came to
Help his father) and I (lying on the floor)
Busied ourselves by stacking up colorful blocks

Today, our plan (if I can coax my body to move)
Is to see The Hunger Games part 4 before everyone
Arrives at 4PM to roll out the dough in which
The potatoes, prepared, yesterday, will be
Stuffed and fried ... Because no matter how much
Our bodies tire, our spirits never tire so much as to
Retire beloved family traditions, like three generations
Gathering round our kitchen island, rolling dough and
Stuffing and frying knishes on the Tuesday before
Thanksgiving, year in and year out ...
And being that this is Ravi's very first day to roll dough
We're all eager to snap photos of
Our little munchkin, who is certain to have as much fun
With her grampa's marble rolling pin as we enjoy playing with her!