Graduation and Fun

Help! We have a graduate in the house!

What a wonderful and exciting week it has been at the Bona home! It has been such a delight having Pino here with us. The kids have had so much fun with him, especially Brian. They may not be able to communicate with words, but they make themselves understood and they sure laugh a lot. We have taught him how to play DDR on the XBox 360 and also Guitar Hero. We have had a good laugh at his expense, poor guy!

This past Monday we went to Boondocks up in SLC. It is a fun park with laser tag, video games (we loved Deal or No Deal), there were the Go Karts and Mini Golf. Pino got a hole in one and thought that was great. We tried to teach him how to hold the golf club the right way, but to no avail!


On Tuesday it was the "Celebration of Excellence" for invited seniors at PHS. It was a fun night to go and applaud the seniors who recieved awards that ranged from most improved to Sterling Scholars and everything in between. Basically it was to honor those who recieved some type of scholarship, etc. Congrats to PHS seniors, overall they recieved almost $3 million in scholarships! How outstanding is that!

Thursday Brian came home with a WOW Award from school. (Westridge Outstanding Wildcat), for being a great frien and setting a good example for his classmates! He was so excited! And Zio Pino gave him $20 for doing so well at school. That made him even happier! He used his money to buy a game for his gamecube, and then we bought him one for the XBox! Great job Brian for a super year! He also had field day at school and so we took Pino and he got to meet Kache and Talon! Brian was thrilled!

On Thursday evening we celebrated Robert's graduation with a family dinner at Gloria's Little Italy in Provo.

It was a fun night. Dave, Cindra, Cassandra and Ryan came. Grandpa and Grandma, and Aunt Peggy (dad's sister). There we all of us including Pino and a friend of ours Natalia and her grand-daughter Lexi, and Robert's "friend" Ashley.

We had a fun time together, and Robert was even serenaded by our waiter who sang him some Italian song about victory! Then the big day came on Friday! I have to admit that I kept my emotions under check pretty good. On Thursday night at dinner I got choked up for a few minutes and a few tears came. I was so proud of Robert and I was watching all of our family there together and it was so nice. The only person missing was my mother, Grandma #1 or Grandma Martha. (Brian calls her both!). She loved a good party and would have enjoyed the evening with family and friends. Though I know that she was there in spirit and I know that she is so proud of Robert and what he has accomplished!

At the ceremony it was emotional watching all 400+ kids walk out and take their seats! The speakers did a great job and the music was beautiful! Then time for the diploma! Wow!! That was great! But I still don't know where the past 18 1/2 years and 13 years of school went. My baby can't possibly be all grown up!





As I look back on his school years and all that he has done in and outside of school I am so proud of him. I only hope that as parents Giovanni and I have taught him all the things that he needs to know (I don't think so...he is still learning to do his own laundry!). I often think of the Prophet Joseph Smith and what he said once about the saints. A reporter asked him how it was that the saints were so obedient and faithful followers. His response was; "I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves."

I hope that we have done that with Robert. I know that there is so much more that we should have said or done, but most of all I hope that he knows how much we love him and how proud we are of him. Also I hope he knows that his Heavenly Father loves him and is with him every step of the way. We tease Robert telling him that he is going out into the "dark and dreary world", but that isn't true.

He has so many opportunities and possibilities. The world is at his doorstep and he can make of his life what he wants! I know that he'll go far. Now we are off to a wonderful week in Florida! Robert, Gio, Brian and Pino left this afternoon, and I'll be following on Sunday evening (taking advantage of a free pass with Jet Blue! How nice to work for the airlines!)

Lastly, thank you to all of you who have sent well wishes to Robert for his graduation! We appreciate your kindness and friendship. Most of all thank you for your support to Robert. It is true what they say, "It takes a village to raise a child". One down and one to go!!!

Happy Family!

It has been such an amazing week with so many fun things going on!

We worked all week to get the house ready for Pino's arrival from Italy. We washed walls and did some painting, we cleaned up the backyard (what there is of it), cleaned the kitchen, bathrooms, windows, blinds, and had the carpet cleaned. The house looks almost like new again! We always clean the house and keep it looking nice, but this time it was one of those deep cleanings and WOW! it looks great! Thanks to Giovanni who did so much of it! He is my hero!!!

We picked Pino up from the airport on Wednesday evening. His plane got in about 10 PM. How nice it is to have hime here. I haven't seen Giovanni this happy for a long time. It has been 4 years since we have seen Pino, and 7 since he last came here!


We had him try out the trampoline in the backyard and it was the funniest thing that I've ever seen! We all laughed so hard!

Robert had a National Honor Society Award night a few nights back. He got his second year certificate. It is a great program and really is a good way for kids to do service for other people and to think about the type of life that they live and/or want to live and the different ways that they can serve. I am proud of him for being part of NHS for two years. It is something that I hope he will look back on and remember. This coming week we have a Senior Scholarship and Award Ceremony to go to. We recieved a notice in the mail that Robert will be recognized for something so I guess we will go and find out what! He is really tired or all this stuff. He isn't one to like being in the spot light, unless it is with his friends. Getting a picture of him is really difficult too!
This is him with his two friends Lauren and Aubrey


Also this week (Friday the 22nd), I finished my training with Jet Blue University (as they call it). I am now an Official Crewmemeber! YAY!!! I got my official badge, I met my supervisor for just a few minutes, and we were also explained some about how flying with our passes works, etc. We had a potluck during the day, got our certificates, took some pictures, then went on the phones for a while. I will work up in SLC for the next three weeks, my regular shift (Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday), then around the 20th of June I'll start working from home. That is when the real fun will begin!!!
Our intructors Mary and Claudia

And our class....we had so much fun together!



We are now looking forward to Memorial weekend and a great week with Robert graduating from high shcool!

Provero' di scrivere in Italiano per familglia ed amici in Italia.
Questa settimana e stato davero divertente! Pino e' arrivato dal'Italia Mercoledi sera, e siamo contenti di averlo qui con noi per un mese! Sono 4 anni che non ci vediamo e 7 anni che non e' venuto qui!
Per Robert, c'e' stato una sera di riconoscimento per tutti coloro che fanno parte della National Honor Society (societa' per coloro che fanno tipo di benificenza per altre persone).
E Judi ha finito il training per suo nouvo lavoro a Jet Blue. Adesso e' ufficiale. Comincera' di lavorare da casa fra 3 settimane...
Un baccione a tutti!
Vi Vogliamo Bene!!!

What A Week!

What a week it has been, and I am not sorry to say that I'm glad it is over. I'm really looking forward to the weekend even if it means cleaning the house, washing windows and blinds, cleaning the fridge out and doing some painting....it will be a great way to release all the stress and tension that I have felt this week.

(The views that I'm about to share are mine alone and not that of Jet Blue Airways).
As you all know I started with JetBlue Airways a couple of weeks ago. I really love the job and feel really lucky to work for such a great company. However...this past week has been stressful. There are two assessment tests that you have to take and between the two you need to have a score of 80%, and they also monitor a call (staged) and you have to get 80% on that as well. If you don't pass the two tests basically you are out. I can agree with it, because think about it 80% is a B- for a grade.

Last week I did well on the test. Between the written and the scenario's I missed one and got 95%. Take into consideration that I studied about 1 1/2 hours. This past week (Thursday) we had our second test. Well...American Idol was the night before and I just had to watch it to know who was going to be in the final, and so I didn't really study more that about 30 minutes total. I woke up I don't know how many times during the night and was so stressed. It was awful. Well, the test was much harder and we had 3 scenarios instead of two and the same amount of time. Can I just say that I did GREAT!!! I missed 1 answer on the written and none on the scenarios and my average for both tests was 96.5%!!! Way to go, Me! Then today I did the monitored call and I got 98% on that! I am so proud of myself, but still terrified for Monday when I'll start taking real calls!!! I'm sure that I'll do fine, but the first few times will rattle my brain, I'm sure! I am just looking forward to the middle of June when I'll be working from home and won't have to drive to SLC everyday!!!

As for news at Giovanni's work. It seems that the layoff of one supervisor that was to come won't happen. On of the other supervisors actually accepted another job offer and today was his last day at work, so Giovanni is safe! It has been a stressful month or so at Convergy's not knowing what would happen. We both felt like he would stay, but at the same time the fear is still there. Especially the way the economy is!

We are getting ready for Pino's arrival. He will be here Wednesday evening and we are all so excited. It has been 4 years since we've seen him. I know that Giovanni is really looking forward to it! It will be a fun month to have him here.

Plans are also in the works for Robert's graduation! We are so proud of him and all the he has accomplished over the past 4 years in high school, but actually all of his school years. He has done an amazing job! It is sad to see him grow up, yet exciting to see this new chapter in his life begin. I may get upset at him at times, but I really am glad that he will be living at home for a while. I am just not ready to let him go yet! I guess I'm a typical mother!



Brian broke his arm a few weeks ago on a wave skate board (the kind that have 2 wheels and you have to move your whole body to ride it). He broke it in 2 places above his wrist. He has been a real trooper about it and we are proud of how he has handled it.



I hope that you all are having a great week and enjoying the end of spring and the start of summer! The next few weeks we will be doing lots of fun things and I'm already looking forward to the posts and the pictures!

Have a good one!!!!

MOTHERS

Cari familiari ed amici...come potete vedere Judi e' stata bravissima a menzionare tutto cio' che le nostre mamme fanno! Non ci sono parole che possono essere scritte per descrivere l'amore e la graditudine che io ho per tutto cio' che mia madre ha fatto per me. Ricordo il passato con tenerezza ma guardo al futuro ed al giorno in cui portro' rincontrare mia madre e mio padre!
Per finire voglio menzionare un altra mamma: mia moglie Judi! Tu sei una mamma molto brava e ti siamo tutti riconoscenti per tutto cio' che fai per noi in famiglia! I love ya!


Before I was a Mom, I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.
Before I was a Mom, I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.
brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom, I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies.
Before I was a Mom, I didn't worry whether my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers.
Before I was a Mom, I had complete control of my mind, my thought and my mind.
I slept all night long.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't
want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never know the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment, or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Mother's Day is a special time of year because it gives us the chance to think about our mother's and all that they have done for us over the years. For me it also gives me the chance to reflect on my time as a mother, and how thankful and I am to be a Mother. I don't think that there is anything as important or special as being a mother. I love my boys so much and they mean the world to me. I now understand my own mother better, because I am a Mom!

I know that Giovanni misses his mother, Nonna Rosaria, very much. She was a very important part of his life. She raised him on her own (with the help of Pino-Gio's brother), from the time he was six years old. She did all she could for him and most of all she supported him and loved him and helped him to believe in himself and that he could accomplish any thing. I can tell you as a wife, that his mother did an amazing job. Gio is a great man and I know that he has his mother to thank for it!



My mother, Martha, died 5 years ago this coming August. I have many fond memories of her. I feel so blessed to call her mother. I suppose that being adopted makes me feel even more special, because I wasn't just a baby that came along..she really wanted me! If she really didn't want me, she wouldn't have adopted me. I know that my mother loved me and that she would have and did do everything that she could for me.





We are also lucky to have grandma Lorraine in our lives as well. Her and dad were married just about 3 years ago and she has been a wonderful addition to our family.
When her and dad got married Brian was thrilled because he was going to have a grandma again! We are grateful to her for the void that she has filled.




Happy Mother's Day to all mother's every where!!!

A Fun Week and Great Memories

This past week has been a fun and exciting week for us.

Last week Robert was in a dance concert at Provo High. His friend Kourtney is in dance company and asked him to be her partner for one of the dances. Each couple got to choose their costume and Kourtney and Robert dressed up as nerds. They were cute and it was fun to watch, but now I know why Robert isn't a dancer. He can dance, but just not this kind of dancing! (Sorry no pics for this one-problems with the camera!)

Gio is still at Convergy's, and hopefully that will continue. There are going to be some changes coming and hopefully he won't be affected by it. All we can do is pray that everything goes okay. It is terrible to sit and wait, when you know that something is coming, but not know when.

Like I wrote previously Brian and the "Golden Eagles" had a great season! Gio had a great time being their coach. Two of Brian's best friends, Kache and Talon were on the team...they are also in his class at school, so that made it even better for Brian. They call themselves "Los Tres Amigos".

They are cute kids and have a lot of fun together!



I love Jet Blue! Right now I'm studying airport codes. How fun can that be? I've even made myself flash cards. Out of 50+ I only need to learn about 10 more. Thank goodness! And thanks to Gio for helping me study.

Pino will be here in about 2 1/2 weeks so we are doing some last minute cleaning just to make the house look good when he gets here. It is going to be a fun month to have him here. We have some exciting things planned. Gio especially is looking forward to the visit.

We ended the week with Prom last night for Robert. He went with his new "friend" Ashely. She is a really nice girl and they looked so cute together.

There was a group of about 6-7 couples and they seemed to have a fun time. They had their "day date" on Friday evening because of a track meet that some of them had on Saturday. They went to play laser tag, out to eat, then watched a movie. Then on Saturday they went to dinner, the dance, and a movie and hung out until 2 AM. I can't remember the last time I stayed out until 2 AM. Oh to be young again. (I shouldn't add this in, but it is too funny not to ~ Robert called me about 10:45 PM to let me know that he was dancing and split his pants all the way up the back side! His jacket was long enough to cove the rip, so he didn't tell anyone and just kept on dancing! How much do tux pants cost? I don't think I want to know!)



And of course, Robert was with his "homeboy" Anthony!

What a fun week and great memories.