Well, it's no secret and probably one of my favorite things about my family and Christmas time...we're ITALIAN through and through, LOUD, PROUD, lovers of food, fun and family....every Christmas Eve we have a GINORMOUS pan of homemade lasagna, eat until we bust and then cuss and discuss as Italians will do....well, you can imagine my chagrin when I was told that this year we were having a Feliz Navidad...una fiesta grande...meaning instead of that precious lasagna we were going to take our hand at homemade tamales and enchiladas...everything homemade right down to the sauces and salsas...although I do delight in Mexican food....my heart was aching and crying out for Grandma's lasagna....(Insert weeping and wailing).....Whatever, I went along with it without too much stink because I was exhausted and in this terrible pregnant hormonal funk, that had transformed me into a slug.....
Well, it all came together, was absolutely delicious, and true to my family's tradition was a loud, proud, and fun evening full of duets and caroling, the excited chatter of little ones, present giving, game playing, good eating, pure exhaustion and joy!!!
My sister Brook and Nephew Parker practiced duets and performed quite well!
My brother in law Randall bringing in an old tradition from his family, a bag of gag gifts that Santa leaves on the porch to add to the evening fun! The children waited in eager patience!
Santa knew Great Grandpa DePiazza (the giver of the Italian genes in the family!) Needed some new glasses....I swear, this fella gets funnier and funnier the older he gets...he wore them proudly through the evening (either that or he's so old, he just forgot they were on!)
Santa knew Owen had recently discovered a love for trains!!!
After a very late bedtime, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse....and Santa came sneaking right in to Nana's house....
He drank all of the milk, ate a cookie real quick, filled stockings with goodies, left presents... then SPLIT!!!
Oooogling with mommy, while waiting for Owen to wake up!
Owen could have cared less about opening presents...he ALWAYS wakes up SUPER hungry, so all he wanted to do was eat....and after his foil and chocolate snack, he remained angry through opening presents until we could have breakfast!
I think next year I'm not even going to buy my children presents...all of the Nana's and Papa's are always so generous....and know just what we need and want....THANK YOU!!!
Such a good Daddy to play princess barbies!
Well don't you fear, I did get my lasagna after all...Christmas day we went over to my Grandma's house and visited, ate delicious food, and played games!
Carter took a moment to try on Great Grandma D's reading glasses....quite the look I'd say!
Owen LOVES Great Grandpa D, they laughed and played a lot together!!!
Owen taking a turn, sitting on the stool to sing the "ABC's"...he can't really sing it all, but there's a few utterances that sound just right, and he does get pretty close to the tune!
My favorite moment of the day....my kids getting to enjoy the soft cuddly lap of Great Grandma D, while watching cartoons....I wish I was still small enough to fit on her lap without breaking her! I did get some good hugs, but man I sure do miss those days when I was younger...Grandma's just make everything better!
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