Christmas Wrap Up

So Christmas has come and gone. The presents are all unwrapped and the dolls all unleashed from their jail like imprisonment in their packages. Man those things are impossible and I must have unpackaged at least a dozen dolls, littlest pet shop animals and one racetrack set. We had a wonderful time all getting ready on Thursday night wrapping the last of the presents and Dad and I building Lola's three-story doll house with elevator at 1 in the morning. We all smiled and laughed and enjoyed each other. Lola had a hard time falling asleep so for most of the night we crept around like mice. I worked that night at the CB East 2000 reunion and we were really slow so I got home relatively early. Anyway, we woke up at 7:15 on Friday morning and Lola was so excited and adorable. We acted like we didn't know if Santa came and surprised her with the presents under the tree. She wore her Santa hat that I got for her and she was so cute posing for pictures in front of the tree before we even started opening presents. She dug right in and was gracious and kind and thankful the whole time and made a big deal out of every present she received. I took pictures and smiled a lot. Kira of course slept through the whole thing and didn't wake up until 6 at night. But we only had Lola until 12pm that day so after we finished opening everything but Kiki'a gifts to Lola, she methodically went through each present and played with each thing for at least 20 minutes. It was amazing to watch. I sat with her a played(cut Barbies free of their jail boxes) with her and we had a wonderful time. Unfortunately she left at 12 and I took a depressed nap. Then I got up and helped Mom get ready for dinner with the Guarini's. This now being Christmas Eve which makes it my parent's 31st Wedding Anniversary and I wanted her to have as little to do as possible, which is hard when you invite people over for an elaborate meal. So the Guarini's come over and Kira woke up just in time for dinner and we have a really nice time together. Kathy got Reina and Justin little blue baby sneakers and everyone cried a little because they are so cute. And of course momentously Justin said we could FINALLY tell people about Reina's pregnancy! YAY! Reina is due on April 21st and is expecting a little boy. So thats that! I am so excited! SO we had a great dinner which I must say was the best Italian food I've had in a while and Mom and Dad opened their card and we gave them a gift certificate to Francisco's on the Water in Washington's Crossing and they are very excited to eat there soon. The Guarini's left to attend mass and the sisters exchanged gifts. I got Reina Victoria's Secret PJs and Kira rain boot. I got nothing from either of them. I never do. Then Kira left to go to Drew's (her boyfriend) and Reina and I got our presents from Mom and Dad (money) and marshmallow snowman.Then Reina, Justin and I headed home to the apartment to watch "Much To Do About Nothing" and I feel asleep before it even started. Reina and Justin cried I hear and really enjoyed it.

Christmas morning Justin left to go back to New York with his parents and Reina and I headed back to our parents house for Christmas morning breakfast which couldn't happen without me because I make the best hash browns this side of the Mississippi. (DORK!) We laughed and smiled and had a wonderful time together listening to Christmas music and smelling the scents of home cooked food. We had only a little time before Lola came home and right after she got home Melissa showed up with cupcakes and another present for Lola. We had nice time talking and then the playing began all over again and went on until it was time fore Lola to go to sleep. She loves everything she got for Christmas and has now played hard with each and every one of her toys and worn all of her clothes she received. She is smiling from ear to ear and so kind to all of us. Reina and Lola spent the night here on Christmas night and I came back on Sunday morning and the playing began again. We had a rough day yesterday with Kira, but the snow made up for some of that. Lola and Dad and I went out and shoveled the driveway and played in the snow and even went sledding a little bit before Lola got too cold. We drank Hot coco when we came inside and built a fire and sat around it and in front of the big front windows and read while we watched the snow fall. It was lovely.


Today Lola doesn't feel well and we haven't been able to go play in the snow because she has a fever. But there is always tomorrow and I look forward to pushing her down one of the many hills around our house. So all in all Christmas was a success and Lola is one spoiled but very gracious child. Her Birthday is in two weeks and she has a list of what she wants already. And you know me, I'll get everything I can on that list. I hope you CHristmas was a happy and fun as mine and I hope it was much less drama filled also. You have good days and you have bad days. The good days always make up for the bad ones. It just sucks when you stuck in the bad one and can't remember the good ones. To many more good days ahead!