Family Directory

So I am thinking of doing a "Family Book" to hand out at the reunion-- I wont go too much into detail but I am going to be putting family information in there- addresses phone numbers etc so that you will all be able to stay in touch after the reunion. If there is anyone who wants their information in there that has not given it to me yet, be sure to email me: drakulic_reunion@aol.com that way I can be sure to include you. I dont have a lot of email addresses for you all so be sure and get those to me as well as phone numbers. All I really have is mailing addresses.

As far as the rest of the reunion goes.. I just wanted to let you know I am still accepting pictures for the photo books so be sure and get those to me ASAP. Remember you WILL get those back if you send me actual pictures. I'm just going to be scanning them into my computer. I really need pics as so far I dont have any! I have had a few people tell me they will be sending me some, I am just anxiously awaiting them.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!!

Much Love,
Alyssa

We are family...

So many people post today and all month long what they are thankful for. People are thankful for many things as we should be. Though, I feel we should be thankful all year long and not just because it's a holiday. You know?!

I however can say I am very thankful for my family. Every single one of you. I love being part of a big family. I can't imagine being a part of a small family. I love having many cousins and aunts and uncles. I am so close with my cousins we are like siblings rather than cousins. I also love the fact that I am part Serbian. Mostly because it's different and unique and not many people know what it is when you tell them.

I hope you are all enjoying this day with your family. And may we remember those whom we have lost and wish we had with us here today.

Happy thanksgiving
Love,
Alyssa

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday with your families.

I just wanted to share that I have been getting feedback here and there from people on the reunion and it is so nice to hear. I am so happy to know that so many people are taking the time to read my blog. Or if you're not reading my blog that you are reading my posts on the reunion group on Facebook. It just makes me happy to know that this many people are as excited about this reunion as I am.

I have a feeling we are going to have a huge turn out for this reunion. And I hope we do. It will be so nice to be able to get the family all together in one location. I know my Grandma is really looking forward to it, as am I. It's going to be a lot of fun. I am looking forward to meeting each and everyone of you. And for those I already know I'm looking forward to being able to reconnect with one another.

My Grandma told me the other night that she thinks I should go into Event planning/coordinating as my profession. I've thought about it before as it is a love of mine. I'm currently taking event and wedding planning courses to get my certification. I signed up for the class as something fun to do but I really do enjoy it.

My parents surprise 25th anniversary party 2 years ago was the first event I planned and it was a great success. I had people telling me that I presented myself as if I had been doing this for years. I guess everyone sees the potential in me. I guess I just want to get some more events under my belt first before I go into anything professionally. This will be my next big event, and after this Im working on my best friends 30th birthday. It's not for 3 years but it's fun to think about. Right? She wants to do a cocktail party on the beach at one of those nice beach houses you can rent. She lives in Fl and I'm all about it! Then I've got friends getting engaged who want bachelorette parties and bridal showers and baby showers etc.. So I definitely have plenty of fun opportunities coming my way ;)

Anyways to make a long story short i do love event planning and I hope you all will have a wonderful time at the reunion.

Have a wonderful holiday!!!

It's now 1am and I'm calling it a night.

Alyssa

Family Generations

This is something I happened to find the other day when I was looking on Pinterest (as usual). I came across some family photo ideas and this one was another that seemed like such a cool idea. I wish I could figure out how to do it. I will have to give this one some thought.

Also... I am so sorry if you have emailed me and I havent returned it- I am just now realizing some of the emails got sent to the spam folder and I am just now seeing them a month later. My apologies. I am trying the best I can to get back to all of you. It means so much to me that you would be reading my blog and looking to contact me! I love hearing from you.

For those of you who do want to contact me and forgot my email address its: drakulic_reunion@aol.com feel free to send a note or any pictures or questions my way.

I look forward to hearing from you all. And safe travels this holiday if any of you will be traveling out of town.

Alyssa

Facebook group for Reunion

If any of you have Facebook I've created a family reunion group on there as well. Mostly, because I wasn't sure who all is reading this blog though I hope it's all of you! If you're interested in joining my group search: Drakulic Family Reunion and it should take you right to it. You'll just need to request to join and I can add you!

Getting Organized

In order to keep myself sane with all this reunion stuff I have to stay somewhat organized. I am not a girl who is usually organized in any way shape or form, and you'd think with being a teacher I'd be better at that. But, my friend from work, Stacy, sells Thirty One products, and I decided to try them out. I got custom bags made just for my reunion stuff, and I love it. It's really helping me to keep everything in order. I've pictured them below:

Its hard to tell but its says "Drakulic Reunion" on the bag on the left. Its perfect for fitting file folders for what I need.

You're the Inspiration

As I'm sitting here this evening all cozy on the couch watching 7th Heaven reruns I was feeling inspired, or well motivated. I love this show and all that it's about but the episode I happened to be watching was about family. So as I said, it inspired me. I ended up watching the show and browsing pinterest. And as I'm sitting there browsing I came up with an idea of something I wanted to do. I am going to be having a card box on one of the tables with some slips of paper and pens. I'd like everyone to write down a favorite family memory and place it in the box. This will be something that my Grandma can look back on later and will bring a smile to her face. I know we all have wonderful family memories to share.

Photo Opps.

I don't know if any of you guys use Pinterest, but I'm addicted to it. I find so many of my ideas for my event planning on it as well as ideas for my classroom. I have been searching around on there for some family reunion things that I wanted to incorportate into ours. One of the things I found I am going to picture below:

 

I think this is such a cute pose for a picture, I love how they are all holding the letters and its just such a cute photo all around. I'm thinking of doing something similar for the reunon, to see what I can come up with. I'll have my camera with me that day, trying to get some good photos. I'll post them on a photo sharing site, probably shutterfly, I'll make a family one for us to use. And then you guys can order photo prints and etc from it. That way everyone can be sure to get the pictures that they wanted. I am also hoping other family will have their cameras as well as pictures to share with everyone!!

 

 

I found a few other good ideas that I'd like to try to incorporate into the reunion we will see how that goes.  I'm spending today doing some more planning on it, and looking at decor for it, so we will see what I come up with. I'll post anything worth sharing.

 

Have a great rest of your weekend everyone!!

 

Love,

Alyssa

I'm thankful for...

Since it is this time of the year, and everyone is talking about what they are thankful for, I thought I'd do so as well.. granted I'm thankful for this all year round, but I just thought this was an appropriate time to share it.

I am thankful for all of them ^^^ thats right my big giant family. I love them all so much and my life wouldnt be what it is today without everyone one of those people. This picture is a few years old as it was taken at my parent's 25th surprise Anniversary Party I threw for them. But it remains one of my favorites and I thought I would share it with you. This is my Dad's side of the family and my moms.

Left to Right: Michael Mochan, Me, Jeffrey Mochan, Sharon Mochan, Michael Mochan, Daniel Mochan, Barbara Mochan, Matthew Mochan, Ericka Mochan, Helen Mochan, Alexa Mochan, Neil Penz (Mom's brother in law), Bobbi Penz (Mom's sister), Ruth Miller (Mom's Mom), Emily Penz (Moms neice) and last but certainly not least, Melanie Mochan.

We're all so very close, and do so much together, I am very thankful to have them in my life. And I am very thankful to have all you in my life as well.

May you all have a joyus and healthy Holiday season!!

~Alyssa

"We know you'd be here today, if Heaven wasn't so far away"

This title of the blog came from a quote that I found when searching on the web the other day. "We know you'd be here today, if heaven wasn't so far away". That line really spoke to me. Mostly because of the recent (and I say recent by meaning over the summer), the passing of my Great Aunt Onnie (Anne). She would have loved nothing more than to see all of her family getting together this summer for a family reunion. She had been wanting to do one of those for years my Grandma told me. And now, she will be there with us looking down upon us and sharing in our special day with us.

I am actually going to have a dedicated table set aside for some memory items I'm going to be putting out along with this quote for people to look at. Anything you'd like to contribute, please let me know. I'd love to have some great pictures from back in the day or maybe a favorite item of theirs that you wanted to display for people to look at.

I feel its important that we not only cherish the moments we have with our loved ones at the reunion, but we remember the cherished moments we had with those who have passed away and are looking down upon us from heaven.

Holiday Cheer

Can you believe Halloween is already over, and we're moving on to Thanksgiving and then my favorite time of the year.. CHRISTMAS!!! I love the holidays. But after Christmas is over, its getting us a few months closer to reunion time, and that really excites me.

Speaking of the Holidays.. I love to do a lot of online shopping, as a matter of fact its one of my favorite ways to shop. Over the last few years I've become really into Etsy.com its a great site and its all people who handmake all of their items. Being that I make and sell some of my own items, I love supporting others who do the same. Well, the other day I was browsing on the site and I came across a really creative wedding guest book someone had made. Now, since I'm not getting married, that part had no use for me, but I did message her to see if she could create that for the reunion. As it turns out, she can! I was super excited, I have it on hold for me so I can order it. After the reunion I'll be giving it to my Grandma so she can have it as a little keepsake for herself. I wont be showing it to you all, I'm keeping it a surprise until the day of the reunion. :)

I always love signing on here and seeing how many page views I'm up to, It goes up by like 10 everyday. I just wish blogspot would tell me who is viewing the page rather than how many people are. Because then I would at least know how many of you are actually getting my information!! Hopefully most of you are.

I also on Etsy.com found someone to create and design the Reunion invitations for me, which I'm really excited about. I actually had a vision in mind for them, and without discussing it with anyone found out last night that my Grandma had the same idea, so that is definitely going to be what I'm going with. Again, a total surprise for you all (you'll see those in May).

Hope you all are having a wonderful night.

Love,
Alyssa