we are family

Friday, March 27, 2009
my yiayia's (grandmother in greek) 84th birthday was wednesday and when she was asked what she wanted to do to celebrate she said five simple words.

"i want to see lebron"


ask and you shall receive yiayia.


conveniently there was a home cavs game wednesday night on the exact day of her birthday. do you know who else's birthday was on wednesday? my sissy's, and being the wonderful granddaughter that she is decided to fly in from nyc for a mere 20 hours to surprise my yiayia for all the festivities.

my family normally always does something special to celebrate my yiayia and my sissy's birthdays (nyc, vegas, etc) - and the birthday meal always involves lobster. and just because we were having dinner at my little apartment downtown didn't mean that we couldn't still have our traditional meal.

enter my mother, super woman in the kitchen and helper of well, me. we served two trays of gigantic lobster tails, macaroni supreme (four cheeses and heavy whipping cream noodle deliciousness), fresh green beans, and caeser salad courtesy of my thea eros made the right way.

for dessert we had cupcakes from a cookie and a cupcake in tremont and they are now hands down my favorite cupcakes EVER. my sissy who's a nyc cupcake connoisseur said that they are the best she has ever had, and i'll agree. trust me, if you live in cleveland you must check this place out.

after all was said and done i couldn't get over how weirdly nervous i was about ten members of my immediate family coming over for dinner. thankfully everything was delicious and hella fun.

the fam in my living room. my cousin anthony, uncle nick, thea eros, yiayia, sissy, c-rossi, mommy, and my cousins jason, dina, and mara.

after dinner we all hopped in a cab and watched the cavs (in really good seats) beat the nets in a franchise record breaking win at the Q.


LBJ in action - notice how his right foot is turned - weird!

so when we asked my yiayia what she wants to do next year for her 85th birthday?

"we're going to see oprah"

oprah it is yiayia, oprah it is.

36 comments:

cavy said...

your grandma is AWESOME. that is all i have to say.

Mandy said...

You're grandma sounds like she is so much fun! Obviously awesomeness runs in your family....

LBluca77 said...

Your grandma is so cute, well your entire family is. Now I want to call my grandma yiayia. She might smack me with her Irish fist but that's ok.

Just Playing Pretend said...

yiayia has got mighty fine tastes. Lebron is the only way to celebrate a birthday.

andrea said...

That's so cute... it makes me miss my gramma.

Susan said...

That is so fun. Your apartment is cute, from what I could see.

Deutlich said...

SO so SO adorable.

Shannon said...

Happy Birthday Yiayia!

Maxie said...

I love that you guys look alike. I could be hanging out with my family members and you'd never know we were related.

Angela said...

That's one cool grandma! I don't know many (meaning ANY) who want to go watch BASKETBALL on their birthdays!

SoMi's Nilsa said...

I want your grandmother's coolness factor NOW, let alone when I'm 85!

Bethie said...

Your whole fam seems awesome!

Anonymous said...

main street cupcakes in hudson has way better cupcakes, you should try them! the frosting is sooo yummy.

alexa - cleveland's a plum said...

anonymous - you are right, main street cupcakes in hudson are good. but ironically a few months ago the exact same family group got together and i brought cupcakes from main street.

and we all agreed that we liked the a cookie and a cupcakes way better.

so moist.

and i hate that word, but when you are talking about cupcakes, moist is a good thing. ha.

Cara said...

That's so awesome. My Gram (I called her Sarge Marge) doesn't watch basketball but she's in super-duper-luuuuuurve with Mark Harmon from NCIS et al.

Fizzgig said...

I knew it! Lebron is a robot! You could probably make a few grand selling that story and photo to the tabloids. Or better yet say he is an alien. It would make the front page!!

Great, now I want mac and cheese. Homemade mac and cheese. Who's gonna make it for me? Thanks!

Mermanda said...

OMG. Can I come to see Oprah with you and granny? :D

Jamie said...

Your grandma is so cool.

I would really like some mac and cheese, please!

phampants said...

I haven't heard the word yiayia used in ages. It's nice to know that there are other Greeks out there still using it. =)

Anonymous said...

mara is the hotness

Liebchen said...

Lobster is my absolute favorite! My birthday's in June, just fyi. :-)

(Also, I'm not Greek, but I kind of want my grandkids to call me yiayia - just because I like it so much.)

surviving myself said...

Your grandmother is hipper than me.

Marie said...

Your grandma is just so adorable!

That dinner just sounds delish...am very hungry now...

EP said...

I don't even know your family, but y'all always sound like you have such a fantastic time when you're together. I cannot imagine going to an NBA game with my grandmother!

notyourplainjane said...

Your grandma sounds killer! And OPRAH!!! How fun!

Singlegrrrl said...

Lebron! Your grams is the greatest! I love your blog so much. I hail from Youngstown but lived in Coventry for awhile and I miss Cleveland so much now that I live somewhere that is 157 degrees and sunny ALL the time. Your blog is like a daily slice of home.

Katelin said...

okay that is one hell of a birthday celebration, i love it.

and yay lebron!

Paula said...

Macaroni Supreme sounds AMAZING! I am drooling.

LiLu said...

I'm stealing your yiayia. I'll take her to GREECE and she'll be mine forever!

Maris said...

Your yiayia sounds like more fun than me

Sissy! said...

Also as a side note during the entire game yiayia was pointing out the players and calling them out by name. also cheering with the crowd when everyone would yell "Z!"

She's pretty rockin!

Always a Bridesmaid said...

Wow, I had something really witty to say but then I saw your comment using the word "moist" and I totally lost my train of thought. That word does weird things to my psyche.

Alice said...

dude, your yiayia sounds AWS. i can't wait to be the grandma who makes her fam take her to giants stadium when i'm 84 :-)

Bayjb said...

Your grandma is so awesome. Like, I would buy her a shot of whiskey and talk about the good old days. So awesome. Lebron is lucky.

The Modern Gal said...

Sounds like a lot of fun, and awesome that the Cavs obliged.

freefun0616 said...
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