UVA Reunion 2015 and an early birthday!

Last weekend, we traveled to Charlottesville to enjoy our 15th (!!) college reunion at UVa! Anyone remember Reunion 2010? Sam was not quite 18 months old and I was pregnant with Brie!

But this time, we returned with 6-year-old Sam, 4-year-old Brie and almost-1-year-old Sebastian! Here we are on the Lawn! (When I think back to Tony and I walking here on our way to/from class during our college years, I can't help but puff up with pride when I see this photo. I never would have imagined that we'd be blessed with three children who we would one day visit UVa with us!)

More family photo fun!

Reunion is about the alums, right? Well, if you ask Sam and Brie, they'd tell you it was all about the kids. They enjoyed just as much good food, fun and games, and time with friends as we did!

Goofing off with Connor and Alex from South Carolina!

 

A little sibling love, too, of course!

And a visit to Mr. Jefferson!

What made Friday evening amazing for our kiddos?? An out-of-this-world balloon artist at the Class of 2000 dinner! Here's Sam with his sabers and scabbard. (Later on, the balloon guy made Sam a full Ghostbuster backpack with laser attachment that he could wear!)

And Brie with her horse! Together with other children, she rode around on her horse, fed it apples (also made from balloons) and made sure he got plenty of water. She was gleeful!!

Even though it was a college reunion, I regretted not getting a photo with friends from high school at our 2010 reunion...so I made sure to grab this one with Gordon, Christy, Berto and Dave. We all have great memories from both high school and UVa!

On Saturday morning, we woke up early and went to Bluegrass Grill and Bakery! Friends of ours in Cincinnati--who used to live in Charlottesville--recommended it. The food was delicious! Here is Brie with her "Unbirthday Pancakes!"

Sebastian thought those pancakes and my French Toast with Brie (the cheese) were good to the last bite!

After breakfast, we explored the C'ville farmers' market. It's very different from ours in Montgomery...bigger and a lot more non-food vendors. The kids enjoyed the change!

After passing the kids to Tony's folks (so we could enjoy some kid-free time!), we went to the Chi Omega reception, which was at a cafe instead of our sorority house (since it's currently undergoing renovation). Here I am with Ginny and Beth. I wish we could spend time catching up like this more often!

And then we explored Grounds...just for fun! Tony and I agreed that it sort of felt like we walked these paths countless times in another life!

The last event we attended was the Saturday night dinner. The food was delicious and you can't beat chatting with old friends for hours! Here we are with Alex and Chris.

Having worked in alumni relations for 4 years, I was really impressed by all of the little touches that UVa thought of to make our weekend more special. Like how they lit up the inside of our tent with UVa's logo...

And gave out plastic cups with our Class of 2000 logo on them...

that read, "15 years...but Hoo's counting?" Exactly!

Time with Andrew and Ginny made reunion a fantastic weekend!

There were two bands playing and both were pretty mediocre. Here we are (not dancing) with Howard, Vanessa, Alex, Ann, Karim and Kristi! Some of us have known each other since middle school...but we haven't changed a bit! (Wink. Wink.)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Nonno and Nonna reported that the little De Falco was a bit sad without his parents around. Thankfully, time with his big siblings made him much happier!

On Sunday, Granddaddy Rob and Gammy drove from Virginia Beach to celebrate an early first birthday for Sebastian!

And to see all of his new tricks!

Auntie B came, too, since she lives so close to Tony's folks!

Both kids enjoyed showing her their photos and art from the school year.

"A birthday?? For me??"

Happy (almost) 1st, little guy!

Sammy and Brie were kind enough to blow out Sebastian's candle for him.

"So this is cake, huh?"

"Pretty sure I could eat this all day, every day!"

The big kids were very proud of Sebastian's milestone.

And so was the birthday boy!

Three cheers for our wonderful weekend in Virginia, and for getting to spend time with good friends and loved ones! If only we could do it more frequently!

Can you guess who's already looking forward to the next reunion? And the next first birthday party (in two short weeks) for Sebastian? We ALL are!!