Christmas Eve~

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas from our home to yours...

We are so excited around here for Christmas, to celebrate the birth of Jesus and give gifts to our loved ones.  Each year since my boys were born we started the tradition to go to my parents house( Nana and grampi-papa.)  We start our celebration with my Auntie Jan and her beautiful family coming over for my mom's Italian family Christmas Eve dinner of Spaghetti and Tallia....

Then the gift exchange which this year with eight grand kids and cousins may become a little crazy...

(pictures to come)

The grand kids get their first of many presents from Nana and grampi-papa~
Christmas pj's... 
Then its off to get Santa his milk and cookies in order and of course the Reindeer their carrots!

Morning cant come soon enough...With sounds of reindeer on the roof and Santa's bells ringing in the sky we wake to the most magical Christmas morning I could ever imagine...

 Oliver's first Christmas project at church ~ Jesus' manger

~The Boys Christmas List~

Dylan's List:

Football and Basketball stuff

  I -Tunes cards, clothes now that he's getting older .

Charlie's List:

electric scooter and Hip-Hop dance class!  

(He says he's got dance moves from the streets:).

Oliver's list:

Buzz Light Year

Blue Bike - but Santa's Elves only made Red ones:)

Cookie anyone??

Oliver and I made cookies the other day at Nana's house.... 

We had so much fun making treats for Dylan and Charlie's teachers.  A couple years ago I decided to start making the teacher's their gifts. As all of you know, something handmade is sooo much better then something store bought! 

Reindeer Food for Dylan's class party (in each bag Rudolph red nose shined bright ), Glass jars of Meringues for each teacher, and Mocha Drops for Grampi and Uncle Michael.

Christmas is coming....

I am so sorry ,  we have been gone for so long..  As Christmas day approaches I find myself having no time to sit down....

Let me take a few minutes and tell you a little bit of what fun we have been having during this holiday season.  My Nana suprised us by taking us to the Disney on Ice ...

This year was Toy Story and I loved it~

As Im writing this blog Oliver is taking another look at our pictures from our night and he sees Jesse, and says in his cute little voice ,"My see Jesse mom, I love Jesse mom!"

~Oliver~

~Ava~

~Madison and our cousin Alyiah~

Last week the big kids had their Christmas concerts at school ...

Charlie and Madison were first!

Madison had her first speaking part this year and did great...

~Charlie~

Next Dylan and Marshall's class ..

~Dylan~

And as for me I've just been trying to be a good boy, just waiting for Santa to come!

Sweet Ava

Today I turned TWO!!!!

 

Just a little banner Oliver and I made...

Oh boy look at that cute smile~

Nana made our favorite crazy cake cupcakes!

 Im not sure who is more excited about the candles... I think Ava just wants a little bite...

My favorite Auntie Cel bought me this... http://www.jcrew.com/kids-clothing.jsp

Oh Nana its a puppy!

The Final Ride

Oh wait...........  Now its over!
Happy Birthday my Sweet Ava

Touchdown!!!

This weekend was extremely busy, like most of my weekends are with five kids ages ranging from 11 to 3.  But this weekend was a little bitter sweet.  This year my oldest son Dylan 10 wanted and begged enough to play Pop Warner Football (full tackle) I know they start so young.   The season went great and they came out 6 and 2. 

 We celebrated our achievement at the roller skating rink.  The boys had a blast....

 Pizza is always a big hit with 25 growing boys!

 Each boy was awarded a football plaque and praised for their achievements and growth during the football season.  Dylans so proud!

Oh and there is my Oliver and yes those are roller skates on his little feet.  He stayed on the carpet mostly, he's pretty smart.

 As the season came to a end we found ourselves sad to say goodbye to each other.  Since August 1 we have been like family, on the five nights a week of practises and the weekend games.  But the saddest part was saying goodbye to Coach Rick , Coach Rick and his family had to say goodbye half way through the season to move to Texas do to his job.
As we enter the Thanksgiving Holiday we are so thankful to have been able to be part of such an amazing team....  To Coach Rick we say goodbye and good luck on the future and we will always remember the 2011 RAIDERS TEAM!