Monday, December 31, 2012

Merry Christmas, and, Happy New Year!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and Evan and Eliana pose with the snowmen that were once the same size as them.

Christmas Morning! Evan tore through his gifts in just under 10 minutes. 

Eliana on a mountain of gifts.

Eliana very excited about her dolly.



I AM IRON MAN!

Elvis was none too pleased about the Santa outfit.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Merry Christmas!

If we sent out a Christmas cards this year, it probably would have been this photo. This was a tough moment. Evan told us when we got in line that he did not want to meet Santa. But we waited anyway in the hopes that he would change his mind by the time we got to the front of the line. Eliana was fine! She just sat right in Santa's lap and was ready for her picture. Evan started crying and wouldn't look at or talk to Santa. Santa himself was very cool about it and still asked me what Evan wanted for Christmas. A Monster Truck!





Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Believe in Santa!

"After 10 years, 7 months, 23 hours and 14 minutes, I finally found out."

I found this little gem that I wrote back in 1983. I guess someone broke the news to me about Santa.
I couldn't believe it. Worse yet, why would someone want to ruin my Christmas? As I recall, they seemed to take pleasure in the fact. I'm just glad no one burst my Santa bubble before I was 10. Believe in Santa Claus!

P.S. If my calculations were correct, it would have been Nov 9th, 1983.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Evan's Christmas Creations

Evan has been making some great Christmas decorations at school. Check it out!
This one is great. Evan's photo is priceless.

It's his hand as a Christmas Tree!

Evan took this photo of the candy cane he made. So proud!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Unthinkable.

Unthinkable. Unspeakable. Unimaginable. You quickly run out of words to describe what happened today because there are none. There have been many of these mass shootings over the years, even recently, but the news of this one rocked me to the core, and I think most of the country as well. I felt sick to my stomach all day and still do. I hate to say it, but I think it even called my faith into question.
I think that if our kids aren't safe, then we've failed as a society, something has to be done. This should have never happened and it should never happen again.

I picked up Evan today at 11:45am this morning, and I never thought anything at the time of the Police Officers who came to up their kids this morning. They must have known. I did not until about Noon. I took Evan and Eliana over to my place and we just watched cartoons and Spongebob. I didn't want them to see the news. I tried to follow what was going on from my computer and from people's Facebook updates. One of my friends from High School, Lisa Valentini, has two children that were at the school today when the incident occurred. Luckily, they are safe. I keep hugging Evan and Eliana tonight telling them how much I love them. Thinking about those poor beautiful children and their families tonight. I can't imagine what they must be feeling tonight.

Eliana's First Haircut!

 Eliana had her FIRST HAIRCUT today with Aunt Andi! And she was really, really good. No crying or anything.

She does look a little unsure here though. She had Mommy's phone to play her Toca Hair Salon game.

Eliana plays her game while Aunt Andi trims her curls.

All finished! Evan got his haircut too!



Monday, December 10, 2012

Snow on Main St USA


After "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" at Disney World, snow begins to fall on Main St USA while Christmas Music plays. The kids love dancing to the music and trying to catch 'snowflakes.'
The park was closing and it was a fitting end to a great night at Disney World.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

What Season is It???

Well I tool the kids to the local playground today, and you'd think it was April or May outside. Couldn't tell if it was Spring or Fall. Either way, it was beautiful, and the kids had fun spending a few hours on the playground on an unusually warm December afternoon. Not that I'm complaining. Makes you wonder about the weather though.



No Way is that Sand Touching My Feet!


No Way. No How.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Family Fun

Genevieve and I spent a really nice day with the kids in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia this weekend. Genevieve knew about a really neat playground and we took the kids there for some play time. There was a mural there, and somehow the photo Gods aligned and Evan and Eliana posed for this really cool picture. After that we checked out a local toy store, then spent the better part of an hour looking for the nearest Panera Bread no thanks to Apple Maps! Can't even talk about it. I want my Google Maps back!!! All in all, we had a really fun day, and it was great to feel like a complete family. We finally found a Panera and we had Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, which is always perfect on a cold winter day.


Sunday, December 2, 2012