Barreca Family Blog

The Great American Road Trip... By the Numbers

2011-07-16T22:44:00.002-04:00

Today concluded the Barreca Family road trip across the USA. We spent the last morning in the town of Wellsboro and after breakfast, we hit the road toward home in Bensalem. After a few hours on the winding and scenic PA route 6, we were near Wilkes-Barre, PA. By coincidence, Cecilia's friends were playing in a softball championship series in Ashley, PA (just a few miles away). We found the field and watched the last 4 innings of the game. It was a nail-biter but the Valley Blaze pulled out the win! Bensalem in da house!

After the game, we pressed on for the remaining 2 hours of our trip. Words cannot describe the many wonders we've seen. While we didn't go from sea to shining sea, the words of America the Beautiful will take on a much richer meaning now that we've made this journey. Of course, there is much more to see as we've only covered several mostly-northern states. We'll have to start planning the southern route soon.

More pics at
https://picasaweb.google.com/107911175096996155186/RoadTrip

The final tallies of northern leg of the Great American Road Trip are in:

3754.5 miles driven
68 hours of drive time
9 states in 9 days
5 nights of hotel pool swimming and spas
1 Grizzly bear
1 Meeteetsee, Wyoming Sheriff (1 warning, no ticket)
Dozens of bison
Dozens of antelope and deer
2 Squirrels (yes only 2!)
3 Chipmunks
Countless cows, goats, sheep, and horses
Thousands of dead bugs on the windshield

The unpacking is done. Night in Bensalem has arrived. Tonight we sleep in our own beds and say a prayer of thanks for the safe trip and memories to last a life time.

The journey nears its end

2011-07-15T21:23:00.001-04:00

The journey through the last few states seems to have gone very quickly. It was only Wednesday afternoon when we arrived in Chicago, Illinois. Thursday's journey through the remainder of Illinois, Indiana, and good portion of Ohio concluded with a visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Today, Friday, we travelled out of Ohio and into Pennsylvania, our final state of the 9 we traversed.

The landscape at the conclusion of our trip is reminiscent of the beginning. Like the state forests we crossed in Oregon on the way to the coast, we passed through the Allegheny Forest on our way to the scenic Route 6 in Pennsylvania. We picked up route 6 in Kane, PA and stopped at the Route 6 Diner in Smethport. The diner was small with a counter and table service. The food was quite good, albeit a bit pricey for a diner. After a satisfying meal, we continued along the winding route 6 passing a few quaint town until our arrival in Wellsboro, PA. The Sherwood Motel is our final night's rest before the remaining journey home on Saturday.

Wellsboro is an entry point to the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, a moniker that doesn't quite live up to its name. The PA Grand Canyon is quite beautiful despite its smaller size. We arrived at the East Rim of the canyon, marking the 3500th mile of the trip. The canyon featured a difficult hiking trail but the Barrecas talked the 1 mile descent to the bottom of the canyon, stopping along the way to photograph some small waterfalls. The mile journey back up the trail was taxing but we persevered, completing the trail in 1 hour and 15 minutes, well below the average 1 hour and 30 minute hike. Kelly impressed us all with her ability to handle the hike just two months after a major surgical procedure.

More pics at https://picasaweb.google.com/107911175096996155186/RoadTrip

The town of Wellsboro offered several dining options and after dinner, we took a stroll along the streets, stopping for ice cream of course. Back at the hotel, Cece went for a swim and then we settled in for the night.

On Saturday, we'll hit the road and travel another portion of the scenic PA Route 6 before turning southeast toward home.

Touchdown in Canton Ohio

2011-07-14T21:38:00.002-04:00

Today was a day in many states, three to be exact. We left Illinois early in the morning without any breakfast! (uggh) Eventually we arrived in Indiana and finally ate breakfast! Then Sal drove some more, Kelly napped some more and Cece sketched. We passed the time by playing many fun travel games. Finally we got to Ohio. We stopped at the Pro Football Hall of Fame (for Sal of course). It was surprising interesting and creepy at the same time. The creepy part was actual hall of fame part where they had models of all the heads. The interesting part was the 180 degrees rotating theatre. Also seeing the championship rings. Then we checked in at the hotel and then went to a supposedly Italian place called Palumbo's. It was ok (for faux Italian). When we came back to the hotel everyone went swimming in the hotel's indoor pool. Tomorrow we'll be in Wellsboro Pennsylvania!

2800 miles later... Chicago!

2011-07-13T22:01:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that we've traveled 2800 miles already and have covered 6 states. Today, we left Ames, Iowa with more appreciation for the middle of America, even if it's full of corn fields and smells a little too much like cows. After a few hours of Iowa countryside, we came upon the mighty Mississippi River and crossed into Illinois. The Illinois countryside looks remarkably like Iowa. But after a couple of hours, the rural landscape quickly transformed into the very urban and industrial looking city of Chicago.

The downtown area along Lake Michigan is a beautiful portion of town with walkable parks on the lake's edge and some museums as well. Our first stop was the Musuem of Contemporary Photography. Although a small exhibit, there were many photos of urban landscapes that captured the gritty side of life. We proceeded outdoors for a sunny and very windy walk in Grant Park and along Lake Michigan. Our walk led us to the Alders Planetarium where we spent some time learning about space, telescopes, light wavelengths, and more. We are very science-chic! Our city tour concluded with a walk to a restaurant that apparently does not exist despite the hotel kiosk describing its cuisine and location. So a slight change of venue for dinner followed by a stroll to the local Starbucks for some coffee, hot chocolate, and sweets.

More pics at https://picasaweb.google.com/107911175096996155186/RoadTrip

Tomorrow's journey leads us out of Illinois, through Indiana, and into Ohio with a planned visit to the Football Hall of Fame where we will pay homage to America's true favorite pasttime.

Some unexpected but appreciated downtime

2011-07-12T23:10:00.003-04:00

Today's plan called for leaving South Dakota and getting half-way through Iowa with a stop in Sioux City, IA. As we approached Sioux City, with an expected stop at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, it was painfully obvious that our planned stop was not meant to be. The exit ramp was basically a boat ramp. The Missouri river flooding had affected the Sioux river and the Interpretive Center and other buildings on the riverfront were closed due to flooding. We proceeded to the historic district, had some lunch and proceeded to Ames, IA.

Thus far, Iowa takes the prize for being the most odiferous state. Farms + Cows = Oh my! Iowa scenery is truly corn fields upon corn fields. But we cranked up some tunes provided by our good friend Jen Kline Clark and the next thing you know, we were in Ames.

Having arrived earlier than planned, we had a little downtime in the hotel before venturing out for dinner. Dinner at the Hickory Park Restaurant Company was exceptional. Smoked meats and ice cream sundaes for dessert... hard to beat that. If you're ever passing anywhere near Iowa, take a detour to Ames and go to the Hickory Park Restaurant... it's worth the extra mileage! Following dinner, we had a nice swim in the heated indoor pool and spent some time in the whirlpool spa as well. Given the weather has been rainy since yesterday's visit to Mount Rushmore, the gloomy weather made it the downtime all the more enjoyable. Apart for the rain over the last 24 hours, the weather since day one has been spectacular... sunny and 65-75 on most days!

Tomorrow's destination - Chicago... home of Mike Ditka and Da Bears.

Cecilia's Lazy Day in Iowa

2011-07-12T22:32:00.001-04:00

Today was a lazy day in Iowa. We were going to go to the Lewis and Clark interpretive Center but it got flooded by the Missouri River. So we decided to go right to lunch. We ate at the Little Chicago Bar and Grill. It was a cute little place with lots of sandwiches. I got the best Taco Salad ever! Kelly got a delectable BLT and Sal got a healthy Grilled Chicken Salad. Since the interpretive center was closed we went straight to the hotel. It was a 3 hour drive through nothing but corn fields, hills, and the smell of horse manure. When we got to the hotel I went swimming and then everyone ate dinner. Tomorrow, off to Chicago, Illinois.

Cecilia’s Riddle: Send in what you think is the answer. The first person to post the correct answer wins a panorama picture of the Grand Tetons and a high five if you live in the Bensalem-Philly area.

What did the buffalo say to his son when he moved out?!

(Answer will be posted by Cecilia on the 16^th of July.)

A day well spent in South Dakota

2011-07-12T18:44:00.000-04:00

Today was a day well spent in South Dakota! While driving to Mt. Rushmore we came across a wildlife loop that just happened to take us there. The wildlife loop was in Custer State Park. At first we got lost but finally found our way. We found a scenic overlook at which we stopped and looked around. There was a walking trail that went to a gazebo. Sal took lots and lots of pictures before we hit the road again. We drove along until we came to a dry area. There burros walked right up to the car windows! We got out to pet the burros.

We finally finished the loop and went to Big Time Pizza in Keystone, SD. After a delicious lunch, my dad and I went on the Alpine Slide. First, we took a tram up the mountain. Then they gave us the carts to go down. It was so much fun but Sal said I was going way too slow. Kelly does not like trams so she did not go on. After the alpine slide all of us went up to Mt. Rushmore. Unfortunately, it was raining but it was still nice. We went to museum below the monument to see how it was built and why. Finally we headed to Chamberlain, South Dakota.

On the way to Chamberlain, we stopped at Wall Drug - the cheesiest little tourist trap full of small stores and silly characters to take pictures with. The ride from Wall Drug to Chamberlain seemed liked forever. We were very delayed and we lost an hour because of crossing into the Central Time Zone. We had to stop at a McDonalds at ten o’clock at night because we still hadn’t eaten dinner! We eventually arrived at the hotel at 10:15. The pool was already closed so we didn’t go swimming. We settled down and went to bed. Even though we did get to the hotel very late we still had a great day!

Yellowstone Adventure

2011-07-11T02:41:00.000-04:00

Today was a great day at Yellowstone National Park! When we first arrived, we got an information kit. In the pamphlet was a paper that said, “WARNING! MANY VISITORS HAVE BEEN GORED BY BUFFALO. These animals may appear tame but are wild, unpredictable, and dangerous! DO NOT APPROACH BUFFALO!” During our drive, Sal pulled over to take some pictures. I turned my head and saw a grizzly bear walking by! All of us went ballistic! Kelly yelled, “Ahh! Where?” And Sal yelled, “Holy Shit!” It really didn’t care that it was surrounded by people taking its picture like a celebrity on the red carpet. It just continued to leisurely walk through the woods. Later, after driving through what seemed like endless hills, there finally was some action. Wandering through the fields strolled a big, fat, hairy buffalo! That wasn’t nearly as exciting as what was yet to come.

We drove through the park to get to the Old Faithful geyser. We had three minutes to spare before it erupted! Before the actual eruption there were many false alarms where it would bubble for a second then stop. When it finally blew its top, it was breathtaking! Check out the link to see Old Faithful in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2fl-lwjWtA

After Old Faithful, we went to the Fountain Paint Pot- Lower Geyser Bain. There we saw many small geysers and “The Paint Pot”. The paint pot was white mud and volcanic ash that bubbles like a volcano and looks like paint in a pot hence the name. Also there was a geyser that was surrounded by red rocks.

Another place we stopped in the park was Artist Point. There were a few balconies where you could view Upper Falls. The view was spectacular but Kelly was a nervous wreck because of the how high up we were. She made sure I didn’t lean over the edge and fall (like that would ever happen!).

Finally we stopped at Yellowstone Lake Picnic Area for lunch. After eating we took a nice walk on the river and enjoyed the breeze. Then we hit the road for Casper, Wyoming. On our way we passed through Cody and Meeteetse. Sal got pulled over for speeding, but we didn’t expect him to go this whole trip without getting a ticket anyway! While driving to Casper, the Wyoming countryside was not very exciting. Look to your left... hills and grass. Look to you right... hills and grass. We got to our hotel, ate dinner and settled down after a long day.

So far the first leg of the Great American Road trip has been amazing. Hopefully it stays that way! Wish me luck on the nights Sal has beans with dinner.

More pics at https://picasaweb.google.com/107911175096996155186/RoadTrip

We made it to the Rocky Mountains!

2011-07-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

Saturday July 9: After an overnight stay in the not so impressive town of Mountain Home, Idaho, we traveled to Twin Falls, ID to see the spectacular Shoshone Falls. The view was spectacular and the gorge through which the Snake River runs is a marvel in itself. Not far from the falls is the point where my childhood hero, Evel Knievel, attempted his jump of the Snake River Canyon.

After the falls it was onward to Wyoming. We had quite a long stretch of dry and otherwise uninteresting terrain for the remainder of southeast Idaho. The scenery took a dramatic turn for the better as we proceeded to cross the Teton Pass into the Rockies. The reward was the majestic Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, WY. After taking in the scenery and snapping several photos, it was off to the hotel and dinner. Bubba's BBQ lived up to the hype. Brisket and ribs were delish!

Cece and Kelly are spending a little downtime in the hotel's heated pool and spa. Given we packed light, I'm taking care of some laundry to get us through the next few days.

More pics at https://picasaweb.google.com/107911175096996155186/RoadTrip

On Sunday, it's off to Yellowstone for some hiking and picnicking with Boo Boo.

A great day on the Oregon Trail!

2011-07-09T01:49:00.000-04:00

What a fantastic day along the Oregon trail! The day started with a fabulous hot breakfast eaten on the hotel patio alongside the Columbia river in Hood River, Oregon. Then we took a short ride to the base of Mount Hood and snapped a few pics of the landscape. A higher elevation spot allowed for taking some panoramic shots as well.

We then journeyed toward Baker City, OR. After a brief lunch in a roadside rest area, a game of frisbee catch ensued and we enjoyed the cool sunshine of Oregon. The fun came to an abrupt end when one of Kelly's wayward frisbee tosses sailed onto a parked car, waking the resting passenger inside. We high-tailed it out of there and continued to The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. What a fantastic museum highlighting the westward journey. The museum featured covered wagons, letters of the experiences of travelers, and other exhibits. Outside, a 2 mile trail provided access to scenic overlooks as well areas still marked by the wagon ruts from those pioneers. During the walk, Kelly insisted that the trail distance was incorrectly measured and the trail most likely exceeded the stated distance by at least several miles.

After the museum, it was back on the road for dinner. We crossed into the Mountain Time Zone, leaving Oregon and entering Idaho. Sal was pleased that the speed limit was increased to 75 mph and we arrived in Boise, ID in no time at all. We dined al fresco at the Bar Genika, a lovely little establishment featuring a Basque menu. Dinner was fantatsic and very inexpensive... perfecto! After a brief stroll thru the quaint town of Boise (it's no city despite what the locals may think), it was back on the road for the night's rest in Mountain Home, Idaho. Hopefully Cecilia will post some of her experiences but for now, it is time for sleep.

The Whirlwind Tour of Oregon

2011-07-08T02:12:00.002-04:00

It's been a long first day that involved 3000 miles of flying and another 300 miles of driving around Oregon. We drove from Portland to the coast, traveling through the Tillamook State Forest and eventually reaching Tillamook, OR. From there, we straddled the Pacific Coast Byway (Rt 101) to Cannon Beach. We took in a few scenic overlooks and then put our feet into the Pacific at Cannon Beach. After a lovely dinner at the Driftwood in Cannon Beach (wild Pacific salmon was delish!), we made our way back toward Portland and rode along the Columbia River Gorge, stopping at the Vista House just in time to grab a few pics as the sun was setting. From there we reached Hood River for the first night's stay. Tomorrow... Mount Hood and then driving through Idaho with a planned stop for dinner in Boise!

See the pics at https://picasaweb.google.com/107911175096996155186/RoadTrip

Dipping toes in the chilly Pacific at Cannon Beach, Oregon

2011-07-07T22:22:00.005-04:00

In the car driving through the beautiful Oregon! Just stopped at Cannon Beach to put our feet in the Pacific Ocean! Day 1 Status: all survived, minor headaches, and beautiful scenery! Check out tomorrows post for more photos and to see how we make out in Idaho!

Road Trip Photo Gallery

2011-07-05T15:34:00.000-04:00

Apart from the photos we include in the blog posts, there may be many more photos taken along the journey. To see photos, visit our online road trip album at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/107911175096996155186/RoadTrip.

Artists featured in Sal's Road Trip Playlist

2011-06-29T22:36:00.005-04:00

I've prepared my 22 hours of programming, only slightly exceeding my allotted time - 60 hours of music at the ready! This should provide a good mix while in Shuffle mode.

My road trip playlist consists 900+ songs by the following artists: Alicia Keys, Archie Bell and the Drells, Arlo Guthrie, The Band, the Bar-Kays, Beastie Boys, Billy Joel, Black Sheep, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Bruce Springsteen, Canned Heat, Carole King, the Cars, Chic, Chick Corea, Chris Isaak, Chuck Brown, the Commodores, Dave Brubeck, David Newman, Dazz Band, Diana Ross, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Doobie Brothers, the Doors, Dr. John, Duke Ellington, Edie Brickell, Emmy Lou Harris, Galactic, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Gershwin (Manhattan Soundtrack), Indeep, J.J. Fad, the Jacksons, James Brown, James Taylor, John Caputo, John Lee Hooker, John Mellencamp, Johnny Adams, KC & the Sunshine Band, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, the Knack, Kool & the Gang, Kurtis Blow, Leon Redbone, Lightnin' Slim, Little Feat, Lou Rawls, Lyle Lovett, Madonna, Marvin Gaye, Mayer Hawthorne, Miles Davis, Moe, Montell Jordan, Mose Allison, Muddy Waters, Papa Grows Funk, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Paul Simon, Pete Seeger, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Prince & the Revolution, R.E.M., the Raconteurs, Ray Lynch, Reel Big Fish, Rick James, Rob Bass & DJ EZ Rock, Roy Orbison, S.O.S. Band, Santana, Steve Miller Band, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stevie Wonder, Sugarhill Gang, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Taj Mahal, Talking Heads, TLC, Tom Waits, Trombone Shorty, Van Halen, Vanilla Ice, Velvet Underground, Wild Cherry, Willie Nelson, Yarborough & Peoples, and Young American Primitive.

Good Times indeed!

The Great American Road Trip: Music Considerations

2011-06-29T12:13:00.009-04:00

Bob Dylan - Nashville Skyline

66 hours... that's how long we'll be in the car as we drive across the US. Cecilia has already decreed that we each get 22 hours of music programming time, where we each determine the musical selections during drive time (how very democratic of her).

I have decided that my 22 hours of programming will consist of music by American artists only (this is the great American road trip after all). Unfortunately, this leaves out many of my favorites including Elvis Costello, Van Morrison, and Led Zeppelin. I guess I'll save those for the flight out to Oregon.

Fortunately (or unfortunately for Kelly and Cecilia), my portion of the programming will consist of heavy doses of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, the Doors, and Moe, just to name a few. I'm also including some jazz favorites like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, and others. I'll mix in some late 70's R&B, some 80's old school hip-hop, and some Beastie Boys just to keep it funky.

Wondering what's in store when Cecilia has the programming wheel... hopefully not Justin Beiber. Wait... he's Canadian, right?

The Great American Road Trip: Planning Realizations

2011-06-24T20:00:00.010-04:00

The great American roadtrip is less than 2 weeks ago. We're finalizing our plans and in doing so have some eye-opening realizations:

Longest day ever: Because our flight leaves very early in the morning, we'll need to be on the road to the Philly airport by 4:00 AM. So that means we're up by 3:15 AM or so. We'll gain 3 hours due to time zone changes so we'll still be in Portland, OR by just after noon local time. We have a few spots to see in Oregon before dinner, then a 2 hour drive to our hotel for the night. We should be checking in around 10 PM - making for a 18-19 hour first day. Hopefully, the views along the Columbia Gorge (see picture) will remind us we're making this trip in the first place.
River crossings: With all the flooding throughout the country, we need to check ahead near those cities where we'll be crossing major rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi. So far, those roads are passable.
States beginning with "I": It seems that states beginning with "I" have vast stretches of nothing to see. We anticipate a lot of music listening during passage through Idaho and Iowa.

Planning continues as does the anticipation!

The Great American Road Trip: Planning Underway

2011-06-12T08:27:00.002-04:00

For years, we've been talking about seeing America the old-fashioned way... driving across the country. Now, we're close to making the trip a reality. We intend to share the experience with you by blogging along the way.

This summer, we're planning to complete the 1st leg of 3-part country tour - seeing some of the northern parts of the country. After flying to Portland, Oregon, our journey (see map) begins with a ride up the Pacific Coast to Cannon Beach, OR where we'll pick up the route taken by Lewis and Clark. Cecilia recently completed a several month study on the American pioneers and the Oregon Trail. We decided to incorporate a little field exercise to compliment that learning experience. The 3500-mile, 9-state trek winds its way through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, culminating with a scenic drive along Pennsylvania's Route 6 on the way home to Bensalem, PA.

Along the way, we'll be stopping to see some famous and not-so-famous attractions, including Haystack Rock, the Columbia Gorge, Mount Hood, Craters of the Moon National Monument, the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, Thunder Basin National Grassland, Mount Rushmore, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Lake Michigan, and the NFL Hall of Fame. We're still exploring other sites along the journey.

In the future, we hope to travel along the southern portion of the US (leg 2) and then tour the New England states (leg 3). Stay tuned for more posts about our great American road trip!

Cecilia and Sal Walk Against Hunger

2010-04-10T13:16:00.003-04:00

Cecilia and I finished the 3 mile course at today's Walk Against Hunger event. We had a chance to catch up with some friends from St. Mary's in Burlington. The morning started off cold but by mile 2, the sun was strong and keeping us warm as we walked along the river in Philly. It was a great day for a brisk walk. Thanks again to many of you who have donated to the cause. Thus far, you helped me raise nearly $1500. Even though the walk is over, it's not too late to donate. Make your online contribution at: www.active.com/donate/hungerwalk2010/salbarreca.

The Lord has risen indeed!

2010-04-10T12:28:00.007-04:00

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day for many reasons... the weather included. After Sunday services, Cecilia took some time to pose for pictures outside of Saint James Episcopal Church in Langhorne, PA. Then we trekked over to Aunt Sara's for the traditional Easter dinner.

Facebook... are you on it?

2009-01-14T00:32:00.002-05:00

Seems like this Facebook thing is really catching on. As soon as you find one friend, it seems like it takes only days to connect to anyone you ever knew in gradeschool! It's that powerful. In three days, I received 25 new friend requests! So if you're not on it, get an account. It's fun and easy... but it can be addicting! - Sal

New Year - New Home!

2009-01-10T17:52:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year to all! It's 2009, and the Barrecas have found themselves in a new home. At the end of Sept 08, we moved into our house in Bensalem, PA, after 8 years in Delran NJ. This is house #4 for Sal and Kelly, while Cecilia has lived in three different states (Virginia, New Jersey, and now Pennsylvania) in her 9 years.

We're closer to Kelly's mother, which makes it a lot easier for Kelly to help her out when needed. We're also closer to our siblings (not that we were too far while in NJ). Those with siblings know that being close has its plusses and minuses. I'm sure my sisters are counting my proximity to them in their minus column ;-) Cecilia seems to have settled into the new place quite well. She's made some new friends in the neighborhood.

So far the new neighbors have treated us well. We even live close to Jen and Patrick Clark. Jen and Sal are work buddies at BBBS. She's stopped by a few times with goodies like homemade cinnamon raisin bread!

Drop us a line some time at: salbarreca@verizon.net.

Welcome Blu - our new Daschund

2007-10-01T22:43:00.000-04:00

On Monday October 1, Blu joined our family. Blu, a male daschund, came to us from a breeder in Houston, TX. He flew in via Continental airlines from Houston to Philly (yes, Sal actually paid to fly in a dog!). He's only been with us for less than a day so there are the obvious adjustments. He seems less scared now and is still investigating his new home. He has already discovered the couch and has decided to make himself quite cozy there. If you walk by, he rolls over expecting a belly rub. Already there's competition among the males for the status of "king of the castle," however, to date, Sal has yet to receive belly rubs. Blu-1, Sal-0. Click here for larger pics of Blu.

High School Musical 2 Party

2007-09-26T20:05:00.000-04:00

You know you have kids when High School Musical 2 is the movie event of the year. To celebrate the release, we had our very own HSM 2 party, complete with themed cake and guests dressed as their favorite characters. Family and friends were invited and all 22 of us enjoyed a fun-filled evening singing our favorite tunes and even busting a move or two. (For those of us over 30, the move-busting was not a pretty site.) Click here for photos of the event.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T17:17:00.000-05:00

Best wishes for a prosperous new year!

We begin the year - a house divided - between Cowboys and Eagles fans, for both are in the playoffs. So the next weeks will bring a lot of cheering and jeering.

We're all back to school/work tomorrow (1/2) but hoping for some good snowstorms in January and February so we can make some snowmen, then come in, sit by the fire and enjoy some hot chocolate.

Cecilia is 7 years old!

2006-12-30T12:50:00.000-05:00

On December 27, Cecilia turned 7 years old. The family celebrated with a day out on the town, including a play at the People's Light & Theater, the Holiday Light show at Macy's, and dinner at Ralph's in South Philly.

Welcome to our blog!

2006-12-26T22:15:00.000-05:00

We've replaced the Barreca Family website with this new family blog! We look forward to sharing many more postings with you all!