From Us To You...

Christmas Day

Christmas Morning was our funnest yet! Chris and I decided we are now considered 'old ' because we beat our kids up! We enjoyed our coffee and some Christmas music before the kids were awake and ready to come downstairs to see if Santa came! Of course he came in abundance and we had the best time watching the kids open their presents.

We didn't get to see the Calagnas on Christmas Eve because Uncle Nick got the yucky cold. Thankfully he was well enough to come over for Christmas day. We opened more presents, I made Whiskey Chicken and we enjoyed our family time. I have the best husband and family ever! Now on to the New Year!!

Christmas Eve

We had a perfect Christmas Eve (well, besides Isabella still being sick)!!! We headed to Gram and Pop's in the late morning to help with anything that Grammy needed to get ready for the festivities. The kids enjoyed watching the train with Pop and driving in the new car he bought them. Bella said she was practicing for when she gets bigger (yikes)! After we ate yummy Italian food...Santa came for a visit, we read the Story of Christmas, sang Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus (with our Snowman cake) and then opened presents!

We headed home and the kids fell asleep while Santa had a little workshop. Pictures coming up ...

Birthday Cake for Baby Jesus!

This afternoon while Vincent was napping, Bella and I put on our matching aprons to bake our birthday cake for Baby Jesus for tomorrow evening! This year I found a really cute Snowman poem relating to God. I searched online for how to make a snowman cake...and this was the cutest I found. The cupcakes are hills, the trees are iced ice-cream cones, rolos for buttons, gummy worms for the scarf, chocolate graham crackers iced for the hat, pretzel arms and jelly beans for the rest!

Bella and I think it turned out rather cute!

Here is the poem:

The Meaning of the Snowman

The white snow represents God's forgivness of our sins.

The circular snowballs show the everlasting life God promises us.

The carrot nose shows us that God has given us the Earth and all living things.

The black coal mouth reminds us to give God praise.

The scarf keeps us warm, just as God's love does.

The top hat reminds us to hoor God above all things.

The twig arms are open to hold us the way God does when we need him.

Merry Christmas my dear friends & family!

A Day Like Today...

Today we had a sick little girl who had a rough night of coughing and congestion. We needed to stay in and rest...So, we watched ABC family Christmas movies ALL day, took naps, stayed in PJs (kids, not me), drank hot chocolate, read, colored and slow-cooked beef stew. Basically we laid low. How wonderful it was! I decided after the Holidays when all gets back to normal, I need to make a point of having days like these (minus the sickness, of course).

Cold, Cold...Go Away!

This morning, Miss Isabella was watching a movie in her bed while I was downstairs with Vincent. Well, I went upstairs to check on her and I found her sitting on her floor coloring with the Kleenex box and the trash can right next to her. I don't know why it struck me as so funny, but I guess because it was pretty smart. That way she didn't have to keep getting up! I hope her cold and cough go away before our big Christmas weekend!

Party Hearty!

Friday afternoon kicked off our weekend o' parties. We had Isabella's Kindergarten party where the kids turned small milk cartons into gingerbread houses. After the party we headed to Grammy and Pop's for our Friday night dinner.



Saturday morning, my ladies came over for the Holiday Baking Party. We had so much fun chatting, baking and catching up while the kids played and crafted.




We then headed to Grammy Alice and Papa Joe's for their Christmas party. We had yummy lasagna and did a fun gift exchange. We spent the night and woke up to the table set and a fab breakfast made for us by Papa Joe! The kids played in the rain for a bit (Vincent thought that pinwheel was an umbrella), we ran to the store, and the guys watched football.
We are now home for the evening. I started laundry, the dish washer, and swept the floors. I plan on doing as little as possible this week before Christmas. We will see how that goes, right?!

9 days until Christmas!

Last night we relaxed, drank hot chocolate and read Christmas books. It was the perfect night before our busy weekend.

Isabella filled out and decorated this letter to Santa. I don't know why she changed her mind to a DS, but I have been telling her that she probably won't get it. She also put, Barbie Clothes, American girl Doll clothes, Strawberry pen and new notebook, and a Mrs. Potato head. I guess Santa might be going back for a few little things...

Sunday, Funday

Yesterday we had a fun day! During the morning we went for football at the Calagnas' and Isabella made her beautiful gingerbread house with Papa Joe (thanks Grammy Nancy and Popi Guy) before and after us girls went to Victoria Gardens and to lunch!





































Then we had Aunt Amy and Uncle Soner's party in the evening. It was super fun to see some old friends of Amy's, spend time with my B-Fab and Alan, and have some yummy food and vino! I obviously didn't take as many pictures as I thought!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

We had a fun family outing this afternoon...went to lunch and then to pick out our Christmas Tree. We got super lucky, and decided on the first tree we picked up (I don't battle with it anymore because no tree will be perfect but it always looks beautiful once it is up and decorated).  I love it and Christmas is now complete in our household!

Christmas Lights

Daddy had a Christmas party to attend tonight, so the kids and I are on our own. We had a fun play date at the park this afternoon w/ our neighbors and since I finished up some work I needed to do while Vincent was napping, we decided it would be a perfect night to make our first Christmas-light outing.

Here we are heading out...pajamas and dirty faces!

It was so fun to hear the kids "ooh and ahh" over all of the lights we found in our neighborhoods. Vincent would say, "OH, PRETTY!" and Bella would say "SWEET!!".

 

We have also been continuing our Christmas book a day! Here is Bella deciding what to pick. Now, all is quiet... Vincent is asleep, Isabella is watching the "Upside Down Show", I have my cup of Tea while making Reindeer Munch (aka Monster Munch) for two parties this weekend and we are waiting for Daddy to get home! A fab weekend to all...

I Believe

I got this email from my Aunt Deeds. It is so beautiful, so I wanted to share it with you all. It had some gorgeous pictures in between each "I Believe"...but just use your imagination. Love to all!

Our Birth Certificate shows that we were born. Our Death Certificate shows that we died. Pictures show that we lived!


Have a seat. Relax ... And read this slowly.

I Believe...

That just because two people argue,

It doesn't mean they don't love each other.

And just because they don't argue,

It doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...

That we don't have to change friends if

We understand that friends change.

I Believe....

That no matter how good a friend is,

they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...

That true friendship continues to grow,

even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...

That you can do something in an instant

That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe....

That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...

That you should always leave loved ones with Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe....

That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe....

That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...

That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...

That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe....

That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe....

That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe....

That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry. BUT, that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe....
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself!

I Believe...

That no matter how bad your heart is broken

the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....

That our background and circumstances

may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...

That you shouldn't be so eager to find

Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe....

Two people can look at the exact same

Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...

That your life can be changed in a matter of

hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe.....

That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you -

you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...

That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...

That the people you care about most in life

are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...

That you should share this with all of the people that you believe in, I just did.


'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything they have.

Crafting Time!

Since Miss Bella Rose loves crafting so much, I purchased a bunch of Christmas related crafts for her at Michael's (how they make crafts for 99cents/e is beyond me). She is allowed to do one each day while Vincent is taking a nap. Here she is making a Reindeer/Present necklace. She said, "Mom, did you realize I made a pattern?"

Pajama Tree Triming

On Saturday night we had a family pajama tree trimming party at Grammy and Popi's house. We wanted to take some of the stress out of decorating for my Mom. Plus any opportunity we have to make some memories and be together, we take. It made for wonderful start to the Holiday season!

Monster Bash!

Last night we had our small Monster party for Vincent. He had the best time with his cake and presents! Thank you family and friends for making his 2nd birthday so special. We love you lots!

Naughty or Nice?

We went to see Santa Clause on Vincent's birthday. It was the sweetest thing because Santa took so much time to talk to Isabella. He even showed Isabella and 'the Boys' (our neighbors) some magic with naughty and nice coins. Vincent isn't smiling, but he did like Santa. He gave him a high five and knuckles and said 'Thank You'. I must say he was the perfect Santa. I told him so (when the kids weren't listening) and he said, "Well of course. Because I am Santa!". Love him!