Saturday Christmas with the Carras Cousins!

On Saturday we went to visit with the Carras cousins - AJ had SO much fun playing with them! We also go to watch our bowl game and we won 31-30 - it was an exciting close game! LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!

Christmas Day!

Christmas morning we woke up very excited to show AJ the christmas tree with all the presents under it that Santa brought for her! She looked so excited to see the whole set up! Alex and I enjoyed watching and helping her open her presents and then we exchanged with each other. It was a wonderful and exciting morning. Then we were off to the in laws for some food, wine and fun and and of course more present opening! I was so excited to find out my inlaws got me the iPod in green that I really really wanted! It has been so fun shaking to shuffle and I already have about 250 songs on it!!! AJ got to see her Uncle Peter who was in from Florida and she had a fun time playing with him - it's too bad she only got to see him 1 day and that he doesn't live closer!

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve is the best! About 30 of us get together at my mom's and there is tons of food, drinks and present swapping! It was so much fun watching AJ & Christopher open up all their presents - they had a blast and got way too many things! Since there are so many of us each generation then does a swapping cousin - the little kids (AJ's generation), the big kids (my generations) and the adults (my mom's generation). We draw from a hat sometime after Thanksgiving and then shop! It is so much fun and we all really like doing it year after year. Later on in the evening my mom gives her kids and their spouses (all 6 of us!) all their presents - always great stuff and this year she did not disappoint - thanks mom, you are the best!

31st Birthday Stuffed Artichokes!

I made Alex stuffed artichokes for his birthday! He (me too, me too!) LOVED them! I must say, they came out super delicious and were fairly easy to make! I am proud to say that I am no longer intimated by artichokes and will be making them again very soon!!!






Stuffed Artichokes-

Clean 2 artichokes by seperating leaves and rinsing under cold water, cut off the stem and the points and removed purplish leaves and the hairy choke in the middle.

Place artichokes in a pot with water (enough to come about halfway up the artichoke), some lemon slices and smashed garlic slices and steam for about 15 minutes.

Place artichokes in a pan, add some of the water you steamed them in (just enough to cover the bottom of the pan), the lemon and garlic.

Stuff them with a mixture of bread crumbs, Pecorino-Romano cheese, fresh chopped parsley, fresh chopped garlic, sea salt, ground pepper and olive oil. Stuff a bunch down the center, then put some in between each leaf.

Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes (covered lightly with foil for 30 then remove).

Serve with melted butter and lemon.

SOOO GOOD!!

AJ's First Bloody Nose!

AJ and Christopher LOVE playing with each other and are super close but we also must remember they are toddlers and we can't expect too much compliance out of them! Usually what happens is AJ gets frustrated and cries her eyes out for no reason - like Chris has her sippy cup - she has his but wants both or he has a toy she was showing zero interest in till he had it and she all of a sudden decides she is in dire need of it! Today however her crying was for good reason - I guess while in the kitchen Christopher pushed AJ into the opened fridge door and she started crying. This wasn't an ordinary AJ cry - this was a real one and Michele and I both knew it and went running for the kitchen - AJ's nose was gushing blood - from both nostrils! I managed to get it stopped quick and her crying was over and done with and Michele managed to get Christopher to apologize after a few protests! All was happy - till Christopher spilled coffee all over himself and he was crying and then AJ started (got hysterical - tears and all) because her cousin was sad! Here is a before shots of them playing nicely and one of AJ in Chris's tunnel that she loves!!!

SNOW!

So yesterday it was 70 degrees in mid/late December - tonight it's snowing!!!! AJ is LOVING THE SNOW!! I geared her all up and took her out even though it was dark and bedtime - she had a BLAST!!!

Oh Christmas Tree

On Sunday we went to the Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree (well we picked it and it was freshly cut down for us). We had a great time at this really nice place in nearby Chatham, NJ. We liked it so much that I think it is going to be the place we get out annual Christmas tree from! Now that the tree is up and the whole house is decorated I am really getting into the Christmas spirit - the only thing lacking - SNOW! Oh sometime before Christmas please let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Ouch!

Here is the reason why I couldn't take cute holiday pics of AJ yesterday - Alex (by accident and he feels horrible - I think if able to speak well she could have talked him into buying her a brand new Mercedes yesterday) took a chunk of skin out of her nose - he was trying to stop her from grabbing her hair bow out and he got her good with his nail right in the middle of her nose! She was screaming crying and bleeding and needless to say not in the mood for any kind of picture after that! We decided on using a few really cute more recent pics for the card this year!

Today I have to keep Marley from giving her kisses - I feel so bad, she cries because I think she can't figure out why his kisses hurt!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving - I know we did! There was a small group of 20 this year at my moms house - my uncle is still recovering from his stroke and the 30 we normally had would have been way to much but all in all it was still a great day! I cooked a 20 lb turkey as did my cousin Stephen, my mom did her sausage stuffing (my favorite thing - just gimmy a plate of that with gravy and it's all I need!), the potatoes, corn, broccoli and couliflouer and my aunt Margie did her creamed carrots (another favorite). Dessert was amazing - cousin Noelle did her pumpkin cheesecake (one had a chocolate icing on it - SOOOO GOOOD - just delishious), brother in law Mark did his ambrosia (always a crowd pleaser) and chocolate mouse, and there were all kinds of pies! We all over indulged and enjoyed every moment! Oh almost forgot the apple cider compliments Eddie & Mark, I always love it but for the past two years it just hasn't been the same - no more Och's Cider Mill (depressing!).

HAPPY 50th MARK!

We had the best time at your 50th birthday party and we love you tons and tons!!! Here's to 50 more!!!

What Are Little Girls Made of?

Sugar and spice, and everything nice.

It's SO much fun having a little girl to dress up all cute - what makes it even better is a Grammy that buys her all her clothing by the bulk load! Here are a few pics of AJ in some of Grammy's more recent purchases!

Last Morning In Florida

We slept in a little and then started packing for the trip home. It was such a nice vacation and we will miss everyone! Now it's time to start planning for our visit to Grandma & Grandpa in STX in February!

Fort Lauderdale Day 4

Today we woke up and hung out on the deck for a little and had some coffee and muffins. Alex & I then took AJ down to the pool again.



We then went to visit Uncle Peter's business, went to the Christmas shop store where I got some orniments and a angel, then we walked around River Walk/Las Olas and then got AJ back to nap before our big dinner at Mai Kai!





At Mai Kai you get to watch a great show with dancers and fire throwers - it was so much fun and a really great show!