Blessings

I LOVE the week between Christmas and New Years because...

I don't have to work.

I don't really have to be anywhere.

I can hang with my kids.

I can go see a great movie and eat popcorn soaked in butter (Bohemian Rhapsody was soooo good!)

I can sit and enjoy all the pretty Christmas lights around my house and out my windows.

I can just lose track of time and not even know...or care...about what day it is.

I can just forget what I am supposed to be doing.

I can stop...really look around me...and truly count my blessings.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning started for me with sounds of the girls in the bathroom doing Christmas morning face masks...not sure what the idea was behind this but it was cute...

Then it was on to check out their Christmas stockings...

Santa showed up...

The kids got so many wonderful gifts. Santa did a good job as usual (if I do say so myself)...

Gianna got a dance floor to practice her turns and tap dancing...she's very excited about that...

Julia got a fireplace for her room as it's always freezing in there...she's a happy girl...

Nicholas made out like a bandit with all his gifts...air pods...

a new iPad...

a fun keyboard to create music on his computer...but the poor kid woke up soooo sick with a yucky cold and what we think may be conjunctivitis...



And he also got this cool microphone for his computer...

Julia got this new make up pallet by James Charles. I don't know who was more excited...Julia or Gianna!

 They love him...

Gianna loves her new Camp Rock DVDs...

A new make up mirror for Julia...

Some clothes...

Gianna got Danny a fart book...haha...

A new fancy camera for Julia...

and a big mess when it was all over...

Danny is the king of gift giving lately.  He surprised me with three fabulous gifts!! First he bought me a new fireplace to replace the one that broke...and I LOVE it!!!  

I got a gift certificate for a massage and THIS...

Tickets for me and the girls to see Derek Hough!!  Oh my goodness I can't wait!!

After we cleaned up we had our traditional Christmas breakfast of French toast (I found a new recipe a few years ago and it is soooooo good) with bacon and sausages.  Yum!!!

Then family came over for more gifts and a yummy Italian feast...

It was a wonderful Christmas!!

favorite gifts this year...

Nicholas: iPad

Julia: Necklace from Tiffany's 

Gianna: I think it was a tie between her new dance floor and the Camp Rock DVDs. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was really special this year.  We did things a little differently and we're all so glad we did.  Danny's Aunt and Uncle have been asking us for years to come over on Christmas Eve.  A lot of Danny's cousins go with all their kids. Danny's sister, niece and brother went this year too.  

Danny's sweet Uncle Connie will be 92 years young this week.  He's had some challenges recently with his health but his mind is thankfully still there.  He is just the kindest soul...full of love for everyone and full of stories.  He loves to give out wise advice and the life lessons he's learned...like family is the most important thing of all. 

With Nicholas...

and the girls...he always tells everyone how handsome and beautiful they are...he speaks from the heart...

and talking to Danny about how Danny's dad was a war hero...

He's always been my absolute favorite.

There was a fabulous Italian Christmas Eve feast with all kinds of fish, delicious chowder, lasagna, meatballs and sausage.  And just look at all the desserts!!

Me and my boy...

Then it was back home for the kids to open their gifts to each other...

and watch the Polar Express.  I love how the kids still want to watch it.  So cute.

Then Danny and I went to midnight Mass.  Next year I hope we can go back to our usual tradition of the 6:00 Mass because it was a little too late for this Mama.

Such a special night though.  I loved all of it.

December 23rd

We celebrated Christmas with CeCe on December 23rd this year...

Nicholas got this nice sweatshirt from CeCe. He loves it!

Julia picked out this fun cup on her annual shopping trip with CeCe.  You put a drink in the top and flip it over to store a snack...

Ahhh...my 17 year old boy snuggled up with his hat, hoodie and phone...

Kim and Paula made the day so much fun.  We painted Christmas ornaments and had a little contest for first place...

Julia, our little artist, won of course...

So glad Gianna has turned her attitude around about her big brother...she's the one always trying to get his attention now...for the longest time it was the other way around...

Yup...pretty much sums up my boy...

We played bingo and $10 gift cards were the prizes.  This was hysterical.  Paula made the best homemade caramel popcorn we've all ever tasted.  So CeCe was so busy eating it, she accidentally ate her bingo chip...I laughed so hard I had tears...

Not enough chips?  No problem...popcorn will do...just don't confuse them with the chips when eating it...

My siblings...

It was a really fun day!