My time while V and the kids were in Arizona

So I wanted to document my time alone while the kids were away.  Because we were in constant touch with texting and calling, I would take a photo every few hours to send.  A lot of them were of Bijou, the sibling left behind.  Here she is looking out the window for Mia and Luca. 

Here she is sitting in the snow waiting for Mia and Luca. 

Here she is when I called and called and couldn't find her at all.  Sitting on Mia's bed.  Waiting for Mia. 

I took this on a morning walk alone.  It was blissful and quiet.  Cold and snowy.  I texted it to V and wrote, "I miss the chaos but can't explain how the silence feels medicinal." 

Erin was alone for the weekend too and we hung out and made dinner together!  Here she is with her third son, Cody. 

And I got to squeeze in some time with this sweet gal, Melanie. 

Arizona with Dad

The kids and V took off for a few days to AZ. to visit his family and enjoy the sun.  The very first thing that must be done upon arriving from the airport?  Pastina and meatballs from Nonna of course.  They were THRILLED. 

Here is Uncle Mike with a Panatone for his birthday (an Italian sweet cake), Nonna, and cousin Miriam home from boarding school for a visit. 

Nonna's club has a basketball hoop.  Luca was in heaven.  Her cooking.  Check.  A place to engage in some kind of sport.  Check.  Sun.  Check.  The kid might want to move there. 

A hike at the Desert Museum. 

Mia texted me the whole time AND took this photo to show me. 

This is a terrible photo but such a sweet moment.  V's brother, Mike, is such a gentle soul.  The kids adore him, and for some reason call him Uncle George.  They LOVED this game, Connect Four, and here they are playing with him. 

Wrapping Up December

I've been neglecting this sweet blog.  Just some photos from the end of the year that I love.  Here is Luca, wearing his Broncos shirt, proudly showing the gingerbread house he created.  The kid is a sports fanatic.  And a true Denverite....loves the Broncos. 

A dear old friend visited from Virginia with two of her three kiddos.  So fun to see the next generation creating relationships. 

Love this beauty so much.  This is HER spot on the couch and she loves it on quiet afternoons when the sun beams down and warms the cushions.  Can't say I blame her. 

Another year of caroling the week of Christmas.  SO FUN!

Welcome 2015.  We are happy to usher you in.  Always sad to see a year go but happy to be alive to experience a new one. 

Bring.  It.  On. 

Christmas Eve and Christmas

The kids are allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve and this is what I directed them to.  After church, Luca changed immediately into his favorite play pants, all of which have giant holes on the left knee that I have patched.  Regardless of what they are wearing, this checkers set was a huge hit.  We all love to play. 

The kids asked if we had any cookies for Santa.  Oops.  While I did a great job being organized this year, I had no cookies or milk on hand.  I told them to be creative.  This is what they came up with.  Pretty cute!

V did a great job answering the questions and eating some of the candy after they went to bed. 



I loved the letter they wrote together. 

 

Christmas Eve is actually my favorite part of the whole holiday season.  There is so much anticipation in the air that you can't help but feel excited.  They couldn't wait until the next day, Christmas morning, but I could tell they didn't want this feeling to end either. 

Christmas afternoon, after the madness of opening gifts and eating.  Mia is wearing her new dance top and Luca is sporting his new Nuggets tee. 

I call this "A Christmas Portrait" and feel it deserves to be honored once a year.  For the amount of work this holiday demands, and the fact that I did it all while still managing to be sane AND relatively happy, I am medaling myself.  After 8 years in the business of preparing Christmas for children, I'd like to say I'm getting pretty good. 

Christmas dinner at my mom's house was great.  We were all together minus the Boston Paddens.  As per usual, we ended up hanging out in my mom's room on her bed. 

The kids and I made our first Buche de Noel and it was a big hit.  Mia said, "Mom, it's kind of like a giant ding dong."  Precisely, but with a much fancier name. 

Sisters at Christmas