This Christmas...

Christmas Day we started out at Kimmy's house. She planned a super fun scavenger hunt for the littles...

They loved it! And what a perfect winter day it was...

Forgot to mention that Julia lost a tooth that day too...so the Tooth Fairy AND Santa came on the SAME night! What are the odds??? See the missing tooth? That makes 8 for her.

After we came home, the kids sprinkled their reindeer food around the yard...

Meanwhile, I had a visit from one of my oldest and dearest friends. What a wonderful Christmas surprise for me.

Then it was on to making cookies for Santa...

Then the five of us snuggled up on the couch to watch the Polar Express. The kids actually couldn't wait to go to bed. They knew the faster they fell asleep the quicker the morning would come. They were beyond excited when they woke up!! Such anticipation waiting on the stairs...a tradition started by my Mom and Dad when I was a kid...it works!!! And they love wearing their bathrobes on Christmas morning, just like the boy in the Polar Express. So cute.

Think they were surprised?!?!

A new bike for Julia...

This for Nicholas...

And his second favorite present of the day...

a new street hockey helmet...

a signed Red Sox baseball...

actually one of my favorite gifts...I told Julia I think it was really meant for me...

Thank you Mom, CeCe, and Aunties for making Christmas so special this year for the kids. They love you all so much! And I do too!

And Dad, how I missed having you near this Christmas. I know how much you would have loved to see the joy on their faces as they opened their gifts and watching them on their scavenger hunt. But I know in my heart that you did. You were there. I miss you...always. We all do.

All about Gianna...

The tooth fairy visited us again! Gianna lost her second tooth! She came up to me with a piece of tissue looking for me to pull it out. Yuck! No way! Thankfully, minutes later she wiggled it out all by herself.

It snowed again!! I can't tell you how happy it makes me...and how magical it is...

Today Gianna had her Christmas program at school. They have a new music teacher and she is fabulous. It was a whole new selection of songs and was so sweet that my eyes filled with tears more than once. Afterwards, the kids made gingerbread houses.

Getting her to "dress up" this morning was quite a teary battle but we finally agreed on this pretty pink Christmas sweater...

I absolutely love her toothless grin. Let me tell you...this girl is just pure joy. She is forever smiling and just enjoys her little life. I found out today from another Mom that her son asked Gianna to be his girlfriend. She said yes but told him she wouldn't marry him. I asked her why and she said she wasn't going to get married. She said she wants to run an animal shelter and live with her two dogs.

She's a free spirit...

Today

It finally snowed!!! Even if it was just a dusting...I'll take it. NOW it feels like Christmas...














Presents are wrapped and Danny is planning on making his incredible fudge and yummy Italian cookies tonight. I love Christmas. I can't wait to see the kids faces on Christmas morning. I think they will be very, very pleased this year.