Reindeer and...Rudolph?

Right before we went out to feed Santa's reindeer, Ken ran out to the woods in the back of the house with a red flashlight and EVERYONE in the family ran to the windows saying "Boys..Boys..look Rudolph must be in the back yard"..

Blink- Blink - the red flashlight goes on/off.

"Hurry boys, Santa is here..we have to go put out the reindeer food so he knows to stay here" Nothing like filling your kids with a sense of rush and anxiety right before Xmas...

Blink- Blink red flashlight. Then the household went crazy. Phones being dialed, everyone making the scene of calling to tell all their friends that Santa just landed out in the back woods.

Let me just say Nicolas and Christian RAN to the yard to start sprinkling their food to make sure Rudolph wouldn't leave.

It was one of the funniest things I saw. The boys eyes were as wide as saucers seeing Rudolph's red nose out back in the woods and also I couldn't get out of my head the visual that daddy had a few beers and was way out in the back woods (this property is huge and the woods are way out) with a red flash light in the cold, Ken not knowing if we saw him or not. I just kept laughing and couldn't focus because Ken's sisters were saying.."How long do you think he will stay out there and do that"? Eventually, one of the phone calls was to Ken that we did see Rudolph and to HURRY back. Another yearly tradition. Oh and our creepy Elf On The Shelf, "Chuckles" also somehow made it to NY where we moved him room to room each night.

Christmas Eve

Can we just freeze Christmas at this age?

The boys were so blessed because they were surrounded by so much family and love and essentially they had 3 Christmas's. It was crazy!! Both Ken and I decided not to do a big Xmas this year because this trip was our Xmas but it turned into a big one because we both have huge families on both sides, so the boys celebrated the traditional Christmas Eve with some of his family (which was like a GIGANTIC XMAS for the boys), Christmas Day (Santa) and then when we got home, Santa had visited here..(well.. the Santa from my side of the family). I loved the excitement in their eyes and seeing the smiles, not only from them but all the joy the family got watching! I am just bummed Grandma Judy and Grandma Karen couldn't be with us. I am going to be blogging this week mainly on our vacation because there is so much and I want to be sure the boys have this memory when they are older of this trip! Of course, this year was a "sporty" Christmas as well as "SUPER HERO" .....So different then last year when I wrapped individual ping pong balls and they were excited for that...this year was a tad bit harder because they knew EXACTLY what they wanted. Last year, they could careless, they just liked it was a present. Boys newest cousin ~ "Giavanni" who is just a sweetest little man and peaceful soul. Santa's coming soon...right before boys went to bed. They were so pumped! Grandpa above having a great laugh, just sitting and watching boys

Christian so excited he got his newest "Hess" truck to add to his collection, thanks to "Ro-Ro", as you can see he pummeled her with the biggest hug after he opened it. She gave the boys a new one last year, and this will most likely be a annual gift. She actually goes and waits in line for these as she has given them to the boy's cousins since they were babies (the are now almost 30) and she still gives them each a truck. Aunt Deb in the background, finally sitting down and enjoying a cocktail after cooking up a good 'ol Italian feast.

Not sure who is having more fun with the boys new gift that Uncle Mike gave them? Uncle Mike, Aaron, Rich or the boys? Big boys driving it around room from room...hummmm Mommy having alittle fun after several cocktails once the boys were asleep...let's just say we all had some cocktails that night...celebrating..I think the party went on till 3:00 am (12:30 for me).... Ken's Dad and sisters who spoiled us and gave Ken the Wii, me a awesome Fire Kindle Touch and basically a sleigh of presents for the boys.

Nicolas loving every moment of it!!

Christian just getting started...with his Lion hat.

Christmas Concert

We wish everyone a great Christmas! This is the first year we didn't do xmas cards so I wanted to say an "Official Merry Xmas" to everyone. Unfortunately, we didn't get any cute photos of Christian from the Christmas school concert because he is sick (which we all now have gotten-blah) but hoping the worse will be over with before you leave for our winter vacation to NY Thursday. The kids did the "Reindeer Hokey-Pokey" which was so cute!

Nicolas didn't want to go to school without Christian and Christian didn't want to stay home without Nicolas. When Nicolas got home from school it was like a reunion of seperated long lost brothers and they couldn't stop hugging each other.

Christmas Weekend !

Grandma and Bampa arranged a awesome surprise for the boys that was very cool (Thanks Gram too so I could get out and get my nails done.....loved it)! Anyways, grandma has been doing these cute activities with the boys. Last weekend, she took them out to a giant gingerbread house and lunch. This weekend she arranged a Horse and Buggy ride in our neighborhood Saturday night! Plus, Grammy baby sat for us so Ken and I could go out to a party last weekend and this weekend. Just wanted to say THANKS GRAM!!

Here are a few photo's of them walking over to the ride and going on it!

TIZ THE SEASON TO BE MERRY- loving it! Christian wondering "Where is it"? Here is comes!

It still is weird for me this whole Christmas thing in the heat of Florida...come on cold weather PLEASE COME!!

Gingerbread "Men"

The boys and I decided to surprise Daddy and make a Gingerbread House. This is their very first house they made. They did love decorating it, most got eaten along the way and then it turned into a game.

The game: Take the little beads, throw them at the house whatever doesn't stick has to make it into the goalie's net (a.k.a. bowl on the other side) and they win a point. Yes, they thought of this themselves and attempted to make goals (a.k.a - beaded candy all over kitchen floor while dog hunts to eat) while mommy was trying to clean up the frosting.

It turned out good. When Ken got home he was VERY IMPRESSED because he thought I put the "house foundation" and possibly thought I baked the gingerbread?? I just looked at him with my usual domesticated goddess smile and said "Oh Yes...I baked it and put it all together"... One word...PUBLIX.

Once we broke into it to eat or should I say we didn't know if it was edible (I wouldn't recommend the Gingerbread "Men" built it with bricks) the boys wanted to see all the "Gingerbread Men" living inside. They were sad to see it was empty, sad that it was like a brick but happy to eat the pure sugar Christmas trees!!! All in All - a great Xmas activity, a great tradition to start but next year I think I will bake myself!

The Starting Kit

Boys Working Hard

YUMMY! The Game Instructions- Game BeginsFinal Product

Hugs N Love!

Long day today...I needed a good laugh today, so I went to some of these photos from our vacation at Xmas (yes, I am still posting about it because there are so many funny photos) and some of these photos just make me laugh. Contagious smiles, laughs and pure happiness of our family. Great thing about twins- you get double hugs and love.

This one just makes me laugh because of what my husband and brother in law are wearing to go sledding. My husband looks like a huge marshmellow with this puffy silver coat- we dared him to wear . My brother in law, is so proud of those straps on his pants!

Aunt Diana laughing hysterically that we are sprinkling reindeer food for Santa's reindeer in 20 degree weather!Aunt Sammy loving on Nicolas's stinking toes.Uncle Mike just can't get enough of the boys hugs!Same for Aunt Deb

ARE YOU SMILING YET? ISN'T IT CONTAGIOUS!

Aunt Diana cracking up over something Christian said while he was wearing his shades, thinking he is the coolest.Going for a plane ride with Chris!Ro- Ro just can't get enough hugs!This last one, just makes me laugh because I remember how happy Nicolas was to get this present as you can see from his face. (HE IS IN THE BACK).