The 12 Days of Christmas

Okay...so it wasn't really 12 but close. As you saw in an earlier post, Christmas started on the 20th for us at Granny and Pa's with the Bolone Family. A few days later on the 23rd, we celebrated with Uncle Brian, Aunt Kristie, Blake and Brooke at Granny and Pa's again. We were treated to an awesome dinner of filet, crab legs, shrimp, etc. - our annual treat. We usually spend the night but Griffin didn't cooperate this year so instead of fighting him to go to sleep, we just headed out because we didn't want to head into Christmas Eve already tired.

We had a great time!


Griffin, Blake, Brooke, and Carson




Blake and Carson




I think that we hear Santa....

Carson loved Santa!

Griffin wasn't too sure.....

Carson loved his presents...

On Christmas Eve, we moved on the annual Facciolla Christmas Eve event with a twist. This year, Joe and Wendy hosted and it was great. It started earlier and we wore pajamas - two more pluses. We had a great time....great food and the kids were well behaved. It was the first time that we ever made it through the event with Carson. It was wonderful!

Emily and Caitlin

Sophia with Santa

Nonna and Wendy (the hostess)

Aunt Amiee, Nonna, Aunt Niki, and Em

Cousin Alli with Carson

The kids waiting for Santa gifts

Emily made tutus for Ava and Maria. They loved them.

Griffin and Papa Tom

Uncle Ron, Aunt Niki, Fin and I

Fin and his Uncles Ron and Tommy

Em with her cousins Audrey and Rachel

We then moved on to Christmas morning!

Our tree....Santa came!

Carson got roller skates!

Griffin loved his musical instruments....

They were very interested in each other's gifts....

Christmas night, we headed to Nonna and Papa Tom's for another delicious dinner and some great family time.....chicken, twice baked potatoes, asparagus, etc. - all delicious!

Aunt Amiee and Fin

Luca modeling Eden's tutu...he'll hate us one day for this but I LOVE this pic!

Papa loved his "Girls Next Door" calendar....

Emily made Nonna and Papa Tom a calendar from the boys again and they loved it.

By the end of the night, the kids were beat....

Carson fell asleep before we were even done with presents so we had to take some home for him to open the next morning. He loved them...

He wears his frog boots everywhere....

Overall, we had a very Merry Christmas. I'd have to say this was our best Christmas since the boys have been born. It sounds weird, I know...with the state of the economy, losing jobs, making less money, etc. but everyone is in the same boat...we all toned down the gifts a little this year (still not enough...but better.) The gatherings weren't filled with hours of gift opening but instead filled with laughter and fun time visiting with family. I really felt that we were a little closer to celebrating the true meaning of Christmas this year and I loved it.

The best part of this Christmas was the fact that our Carson is getting better. He was so excited and understood everything that was going on. He is pure joy! Griffin is the easiest and funniest child ever. We are truly blessed with our boys...hopefully by next Christmas, we'll have a third to add to our happy little family.

It's been so nice having this week to chill out and just hang at home without all of the hustle and bustle of running around everyday. I actually think Griffin might be starting to like me!

Hopefully, you all had a wonderful Christmas too! Thanks for reading!

L&L Christmas Party - 2008

I don't have much time to write as it is Christmas Eve but we got this fun pic in the mail last night.
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Every three years the company that Jay works for has a huge Christmas party. It is black tie optional and everything is done top notch. This year also celebrates the company's 50th anniversary.

We have so much fun getting dressed up and going to this event. Since Jay is HR he has to work part of it but over the years I have gotten to know so many of his colleagues that it is a great night for me to catch up and visit with them. (Also, most of Jay's family works for the company so, I am never totally alone).

Below is our formal portrait. We always laugh at this as it makes us feel like we are at prom but it is a nice touch as most of the regular camera pics were not too hot.

I will post more pics of the party when I have more time and also fill you in a bit more on the whole event. This was a few weeks ago, and as you can tell I am pretty behind.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Love you - Em

Snow Day!

Christmas post below this one. Two posts in one day. Gotta get them out before the rest of the celebrations begin!

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This past Thursday night we got hit with a big snowstorm. Since most of you live near us you already know this. (I added that for the very small chance we have a reader that lives somewhere else).

Carson woke me up yelling - "Snow Day". All this meant was that he did not have school which was perfectly okay with him. Jay has the next 17 days off of work and this is how we started our holiday fun.

Carson and his sled. We have not hit any of the big hills yet but we do have a small baby hill right next to our house so, we started out with that one. He loved it and everyone had a good laugh at me as I accidentally fell and slid on my bum down the hill.



Fin did not like the snow at all!



Carson making a snow angle. Me looking like a male school crossing guard. (I swear you could spot that jacket a mile away.)


Fin and I - me still looking like a man but it was too cold to worry about beauty!



Jay and his boys!


My new favorite pic of Jay and Fin (those lips - I could eat them. On both of them actually!)

He is smiling here because he has yet to touch the snow or get cold.

With all the snow they chose to play on the porch. I have no idea why that was fun to them.

We really did have fun but as for most kids, it took longer to get them ready than they played outside. I don't blame them. It was VERY cold.

I was suppose to have a work meeting earlier in the day and tried to go. I got my car about two houses down and got stuck. Jay came and saved the day. We had a good laugh about it. I am sure I looked like an idiot trying to walk back to my house in a foot of show with jeans and heels on. I am not what you would call a practical dresser!

We hope you enjoyed the snow too and from the looks of things tonight, we will be having a white Christmas.

Love you - E

Merry CHRISTmas!

This past Saturday we had the first and second of many wonderful Christmas gatherings. It started with the Bolone Christmas. We celebrated early this year as the Walkers headed south to celebrate in the warm weather of Marco Island.



Enjoy the pics:

Our nephew Blake (he is three weeks older than Carson)



Our niece Brooke (She is two months younger than Fin)



Granny, Aunt Carol and Uncle John (three of the seven siblings)



Brian (Jay's brother-in-law), Kristie (Jay's sister) and Brooke



Family eating the wonderful homemade ravioli (Gigi, Gino's girlfriend, Gino, Josh, Johnny, Paul, Andrea and Uncle Fred)



Jay and his Mom



Carson looking handsome and enjoying some presents.



Dan (Jay's cousin) and I



Aunt Carol, Granny, Brooke and Kristie



Me, Gigi and Johnny (yes, eat, DRINK and be merry)



Blake and Fin (Fin is obsessed with Blake)


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After the Bolone party we headed over to Margie and Marty's house for a fun night with friends. We had a wonderful time.The kids played Wii and made themselves busy. Margie and Marty have two dogs (a golden and a lab). They are the BEST. My boys were totally entertained by them all night. Thank you both very much!





Fin, Carson and Jack (Lisa and Eric's son)




Samantha and Fin (Lisa and Eric's daughter)




Margie, Amy and Heather (Jay's good friends from school. They are now good friends of mine too)




Marty and Drew (Little cutie born in Aug.)




Blurry pic - I said they were busy (Jack, Carson, Sam and Fin)





Amy and Chris



This looks cute but what starts out cute usually ends up in a fight.




Brooke




Eric and Bella (Lisa and Eric's fourth child. I did not get a good pic of Kyle their oldest but he is just as beautiful as the whole family)



Jack (Lisa and Eric's third child) - mostly referred to as Jack-Jack




Tomorrow starts three straight days of Christmas celebrations. I have a few gifts to wrap up and things to get ready. We are so very blessed to have such wonderful families and friends.


We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Love you - Em