Hanging Out with Tito and Tita

I have to say that I think one of our favorite

parts of the holiday was getting to spend

so much quality time with my brother Joel (Tito) and

sister-in-law Richelle (Tita).

The girls couldn't get enough of them either.

Quiet Christmas Dinner

Between Christmas parties, candle-light Christmas caroling at our house, and two large extended-family get-togethers, we had a very busy holiday.

Christmas Day, however, was pretty quiet, with just my side of the family.

We feasted upon my mom's wonderful turkey and stuffing dinner -- my absolute favorite meal, I think. Thanks, Mom (and Dad) for all you did to make Christmas special!!

Christmas Morn

A tradition in my house growing up was, while Mom slept in, we got to open the stocking stuffers.

Of course, I had to carry this tradition on!! :)

Eric snapped these photos of the girls opening the stockings. Priceless!

Oh, next year, remind Mommy not to get a whole bunch of

noise-making stocking stuffers. :)

What was I thinking? Not so priceless.

Christmas Eve

We had a really warm and cozy

Christmas Eve at Papa and Grammy B's.

Mom made her traditional clam chowder and garlic bread,

and we toasted with Martinelli's sparkling apple cider. Yummy.

With Tito and Tita

With Papa and Grammy

The Fam

Surrounded by Gifts

Love the expressions on the girls' faces.

This present-opening experience was the best one over the holidays. They thoroughly enjoyed every gift (and there were many), and they were so thankful to everyone for them.

By Christmas morning, they had begun to get a little jaded with all the presents.

This was before any jading had set in. :)

Overall, a wonderful evening.

Thanks, Dad and Mom, for all your hard work!

Little Miss Priss

Christmas Duds

Here the girls are decked out in their Christmas duds, ready for church.

Playing Peek-A-Boo

Can't take credit for these photos. My mom took them.

Didn't she do a great job?

I see a lot of Eric in the one of Esther above. The one below of Abby too.

It's a conspiracy!! :)

All of us on Christmas Sunday...December 21st.

If it looks like Abby's being held hostage, it's just because she was being held hostage. :) J/K

Reading to Pink Bear

Gotta love candid moments like this:

The girls read Pink Bear a book.

Snow the Day After

Beautiful blue skies over blankets of the purest white snow...so invigorating!

Another Cat in the Hat Comes Back Photo

Winter Wonderland

View from the End of Our Cul-De-Sac

Making Snow Angels

This one is just to prove I was here. :)

Eric is enjoying the two extra days he got off for Christmas vacation.

Essentially, Christmas break started yesterday, at the start of the snowfall, and he doesn't go back until January 5th. Cool, huh? We think so!

Our snowman is melting!

Knee-deep in Snow

Snowball Fight (slightly one-sided)

View from the Backyard

(isn't it beautiful?)