Two blog posts in as many months!?! I can't believe it myself! Don't get used to this, I'm sure it's a fluke. Anyway, here's our Christmas...
The Sunday before Christmas our pastor, Scott, told the story of the birth of Jesus to all the children. I had no idea we had that many!
For breakfast one morning I made snowman pancakes with bacon scarves and whipped cream snow.
The girls enjoyed watching the Christmas concert from our home church.
For most Italian families food is a big part of celebrations. It is no different in my family. I started making my sauce two days before from fresh tomatoes!
Then the meatballs were made.
And the braciole. If you don't know what that is, I'm sorry. Really. I am. It's delicious. We had a traditional Christmas meal of macaroni, sauce, meatballs & braciole for Christmas with cannolis and zeppoli for dessert.
For Christmas Eve most Italians eat fish. They actually call it the feast of the seven fishes. We only had three.
Charis' favorite food is crab legs.
After dinner the girls opened one Christmas present.
We always give them new pajamas. Not creative, I know, nor really all that fun, but they seemed to like them.
They also opened their stockings from Grandma.
Papa also got a new pair of pajamas!
Grandma gave the girls finger lasers!
On Christmas morning we started very late. Emma slept in until almost 9am! Then we had breakfast, read the Christmas story then opened presents.
The girls each got a squishy from my mom.
We gave Papa a book called, "How to Babysit A Grandpa." I highly suggest purchasing it, if you like to cry.
Charis even got a special rainbow loom bracelet from a sweet friend.
Mimi got an Origami Owl locket with all her granddaughters birthstones inside.
Daddy was given a sling shot from Charis. I didn't get pictures of him later in the day stalking the pigeons in our backyard and shooting them.
My sister gave my parents a calendar with their pictures in it.
Emma was very happy to receive a Razor scooter so she can ride with Charis outside!
My gift to my dad.
Charis received a rainbow loom which has yet to be put away!
My handsome husband!
The next night we went to Organ Stop for some ice cream and fun music.
At least fun for most of us.
Another day we went to Wildlife World Zoo. I love this place! It's far superior to any other zoo I've ever been to.
The last day my parents were here they took Charis & Emma to Enchanted Island to celebrate Emma's birthday.
My parents gave us this puzzle for Christmas. It's not as easy as it looks. We guessed that it took about 25 hours to complete.
The next group of pictures are off my parents phones so they're a little out of order.
One night my parents took all of us out to P.F. Changs for dinner. Yum!
Both Emma and Charis received an American Girl doll for Christmas. Emma got Emily and Charis got a look-a-like doll that she named Grace. (Charis means Grace in Greek.)
Papa reading to Emma.
This was the other puzzle we finished. It was so hard! I will never do another Thomas Kincade puzzle again. (But I think I said that after the last one I did too.)
Heading out to P.F. Changs.
On the way to Enchanted Island.
One of our many times cooking!
There's that impossibly hard puzzle that I never thought we would finish!
Charis made an activity book for Emma for Christmas.
Easy Bake from Aunt Dottie!
They love their squishies!
On a walk with Mimi.
There's never enough hugs!
