Christmas Round-Ups

We had such a great Xmas Eve and Xmas Day....but we were missing 1 thing....LUCY!  It was Lucy's 1st Xmas and we couldn't wait to celebrate with her (and with Aunt Julie and Uncle Joe of course).  So the morning after Xmas, we headed down to Aunt Julie and Uncle Joe's house for Lucy's 1st Xmas!  She looked adorable, and seemed to be very excited about all her gifts!  I mean, what 3 month old doesn't ask for furniture for Xmas?  (We got her a book shelf).

The girls were so excited to see "Baby Lucy"!  They were even more excited to see Aunt Julie and Uncle Joe!

Here is a look at our morning:

Lucy was a BIG helper helping her uncle open up his book on 1001 uses of duct tape!  (the final man gift)

She is so adorable...and looking so big!  While I'm thinking of it, I wanted to thank Joe's sister and brother-in-law.  They sent us a beautiful book full of pictures of Lucy.  It was so thoughtful of them and we really cherish the book!  Thank you so much Jill and Jake for thinking of us!

Our bug looking so cute!

Now...time for presents!  The girls were so spoiled this Xmas by their aunt and uncle!

They got this really cool game that Abigail is obsessed with!  (We got lots of games for Xmas and want to thank everyone for them.  We LOVE games...I especially love them because it requires us to actually sit down and spend time together.  Thank you all for adding to our family game night selection!)

Caitlin got an electric guitar...it's perfect for her because she's our lil musician!  She also got a bubble mower, which is perfect because we had one for Abigail but it doesn't work anymore..so now Caitlin gets her own!  I can see lots of hours this summer playing with it!

Abigail got an adorable heart rain jacket with heart tights.  Then, Abigail got the coolest gift ever!  She got a real Cinderella castle straight from Disney World.  It's amazing in the box, but even better once we opened it at home.  It has all the princesses and princes and tons of other features, like a clock tower that places music and lights all over the castle that can be turned on.  Abigail loves it and has been playing with it non-stop (more pics to come below):

While Caitlin loves all her toys, she really loved Uncle Joe's Tequila bottle from Daddy's Man Gift to Uncle Joe!

In true "Beth" fashion, I only have pics of the kids again!  Ugh!

Thank you Julie and Joe for all the gifts...you guys really did too much, but we are very grateful!

On Tuesday night, Uncle B and Auntie MoMo came over for what I think is our last Xmas celebration. 

Thank you guys for coming over, especially with your "issue" at home with the sewer.  The girls were once again SPOILED by their aunt and uncle! 

I was so excited for Abigail's gift....I think it's the first "non-girly" gift she has really received..and we are loving it!!!!

A Basketball Hoop!  Uncle B is a huge basketball fan and plays basketball, so it was such a perfect gift from him (he picked it all out himself).  The girls love it!

Caitlin was spoiled by his godfather of course!  She got a walk n ride toy which she has been playing with tons.  She also got a twilight turtle, puzzle with sounds, and alphabet blocks!  Thank you so much Auntie MoMo and Uncle B for all the generous gifts! 

If she stays at tall as she is right now (99% height, 1% weight), I can see her dunking in high school!

Caitlin has MAD b-ball skills!  Maybe she'll take after her mommy and play basketball!

This picture is hilarious!  This is a game Abigail invented.  I think it's called "I'll sit on my bike and dunk hoops while my sister gets me the ball."  Caitlin is apparently a great ball girl!

And finally, a couple pics from my cell phone I captured while the girls played upstairs one day:

Her castle all set up in her room! 

Once I posed Caitlin on her Pooh for a picture, so now she thinks it's a chair!

Castle from the outside.  Pretty impressive with all the details.  In 2 or so more years, we'll be seeing the real thing up close!  :)

Pics from inside.  Again, the details are amazing!

Well...that's Xmas for us!  Finished just in time to get up pics from New Years Eve!  We are headed out this afternoon to Wilderness Resort to take the kids swimming to celebrate Abigail's Bday (all she wanted for her bday was to go swimming). Then tomorrow, we are headed to the Janik cabin (Auntie Nay Nay's cabin) for sledding, swimming (in the Dells), cutting down trees (that's the daddys), and a great New Year's Eve celebration.  Those who know the Janik's know they make their own Polish vodka....lord help us!  Here's to a rough start Saturday morning!  Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful New Year's Eve!!!!

Christmas Day (Part 3 of 4)

After a great morning of opening presents from Santa and Mommy and Daddy, we headed down to Nana and Papa's for breakfast and more presents!  Nana had made 2 delicious breakfast casseroles, and there were plenty of mimosas and bloody mary's for all!  Now that's a great way to start Xmas morning!  And the added bonus was Uncle Al and Auntie Gam were with us to celebrate Xmas!  It was so nice having everyone together!!!!!

Before breakfast, the girls got to open their big present:

Look how cute their new toy chests are!  And they are so perfect.  They are really strong and steady, can be sat on, and have something so they can't get their fingers jammed or get stuck it them!  They are absolutely perfect.  And they were full of presents!  The girls got too many to name them all, but some of the favorites were:  New dolls (Abigail got Cinderella, Caitlin got a dolly), matching fleeces, new winter jackets, Dr. Set for Abigail, toy car for Caitlin, and musical instruments for Caitlin!

And let's not forget mommy and daddy!  We were also spoiled.  We got a new coffee table and matching side table, which we desperately needed since our coffee table was purchased 8 years ago from Target.  We also got a new light fixture for over our kitchen table!  Plus work out clothes for Beth and Blackhawks shirt for Rob.  Oh yeah, and new doorbells!  ;)

We were so excited to give Auntie Gam and Uncle Al their gifts.  We found flamingo stockings for their new home in Florida....and got them the fishing game/attachment for Wii.  Rob got new grilling tools and Beth got a beautiful bracelet with my birthstones!!!!

We got nana and papa a new coffee pot. Nana also got a Pandora bracelet with a few special charms.  Papa got a Sonic toothbrush and the new Blackhawks book (which hasn't been delivered yet, long story!)

From Auntie Gam and Uncle Al, the girls got new bathing suits so they are ready for a Florida visit (hint, hint

Daddy).  They also got toys...Caitlin's teddy bear is a big hit!

It was such a great, and very generous, Xmas morning!!!!!

We finished presents around 12:30 and it was time to head home and take a quick nap before heading to Nana and Papa's house!!!!! We did learn our lesson to take all the new toys out of the girls' rooms before nap...little naps were had!

After naps, we headed to Great Nani and Great Papa's for the Marcuccilli Xmas Dinner.  As always, the food was amazing...and the company even better!  The girls, again, were spoiled with many gifts including games, clothes (adorable sweater dresses and valentine's day outfits), toys, and the big hit of the night, a little bug!  Auntie Stina got Abigail this little bug that everyone enjoyed playing with...and the excitement about it continues at home!

Here are some pics of the great Xmas night!

Abigail and Caitlin with Great Papa!!!!  We are so happy that he is doing better since having his pace maker in.

Caitlin with some of her 2nd cousins!

Chelsey and Great Papa

A view from the table..I like to call this Italian "discussion"!

Singing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus (with Jesus on top!)

Now this is a Xmas miracle...Caitlin let Auntie Gam hold her!  For some reason, she always always always goes to Uncle Al.

Uncle Tom has always had a calming way with our girls.  I remember Abigail's 1st Easter, she screamed every second until Uncle Tom started singing to her.  Now here is Caitlin cuddling with Uncle Tom.  So cute!

Great pic with the girls and Great Papa!!

Abigail with our hostess.  Thank you so much Great Nani for the great night, great presents, and mostly great memories!!!!

And thank you everyone for all your generous gifts.  We are so grateful to everyone!!!!!!

Christmas Morning (Part 2 of 4)

After a great Xmas Eve, we headed home, left cookies and a shot for Santa, read The Night Before Xmas, and headed to bed, while visions of sugarplums danced in our heads.

Abigail woke us up bright and early Xmas morning!  She wanted to go downstairs, but we said she had to  lay in bed with us until Caitlin woke up.  Every 2 minutes, she'd say "I hear my sister!"  We finally got Caitlin up around 7am and headed downstairs!  I forgot to take a picture of all the gifts under the tree (but there were a lot).  Santa left the girls new Rose Petal Cottage unwrapped...they were so excited to get playing right away!!!!

Santa left them some great gifts! 

Caitlin got a car seat for her baby doll (she loves to put her baby doll in her car seat) and Abigail got her Ariel Barbie!  Abigail also got a new bed for her doll and a Belle dress from Santa.  Caitlin also got a Fisher Price CD player and Fisher Price Farm from Santa.  The girls got Uno Moo from Santa to share.  (Santa had one more gift that was hidden....)

The girls then opened all their gifts from Mommy and Daddy.  There were lots, but some of the favorites were a Princess Tiana dress, Beauty and Beast and Tinkerbell movies, My Little Pony playdough set, and this village for Caitlin's Peek-A-Boo blocks which she loves.  They also got lots of little things they loved like new placemats, cups, combs, bows, etc. 

Opening Uno Moo

When all the gifts were opened, we asked Abigail if she got everything she wanted.  She sweetly said Yes.  Then....we saw one last box that Santa accidently left up high on our china cabinet.  We gave it to Abigail and she opened it....

Her Jumpy Dolly!!!!!  All she really wanted!!!!!! 

We had some cinnamon rolls, opened stockings, and then got ready to head to Nana and Papa's for part 3 of our Xmas!

We just love having Xmas morning at our house with our family!!!!  It's such a special time for us!

Here are a few more pics: 

 

Abigail trying her Belle Dress (with puzzle and pony playdough too)

Kramer opening his bone!

Merry Xmas!

Trying my new sippy

And 2 cute pics taken with my phone so I could send them: 

What a wonderful Xmas morning!!!!

Next up...Nana and Papa's house!

(And if you missed Xmas Eve, read below)

Christmas Eve 2010

We spent months getting ready for Xmas...shopping, decorating, baking....and it flew by in a flash!

We had such a wonderful Xmas this year!  Every year Christmas just seems to get more fun as the girls get older!  This year was by far our most fun Xmas yet!  Abigail really got the idea of Xmas and loved everything Xmas!  She loved Santa, Christmas movies, Christmas decorations, and especially Christmas lights!  Elfer (Elf on a Shelf) was a fun new tradition that added to the anticipation of Xmas morning!

We are so blessed to have so many wonderful family members and friends to share Xmas with that I had to break down Xmas into 4 posts, starting with Xmas Eve!

Xmas Eve is my FAVORITE day of the year!!!!!  To me it really embraces the meaning of Xmas.  We began our Xmas Eve with a trip to Central Dupage Hospital...but for a good visit!  We brought presents to the babies in the NICU.  I know I've told this story 100 times, but when Abigail was in the NICU, I was so moved when we came down Xmas morning to Abigail's little incubator, and it was covered in presents and decorations.  I couldn't believe how many people had thought of our little girl on Xmas!  So we have tried to repay that by bringing presents to the kids so they know someone is thinking of them...and we hope to give them some glimpse of hope when they see such a healthy, happy girl who only a few years ago was right where their baby is now.  When we dropped off the gifts, we saw my favorite nurse....she couldn't believe how big Abigail was...and I was telling Rob how we are 3 years past the NICU, but she continues to go there, even on holidays, to make a difference in so many families lives.  TRUE ANGELS!

Next, the girls and I headed to Xmas Eve mass.  To me, Xmas begins with mass. It always has growing up and I hope it will for my girls too.  Since we couldn't go to the children's mass at our usual church, we went to a family mass at Abigail's preschool church.  It was a small gathering, but was so cute because they had a bday cake for baby Jesus and all the kids go to to up and sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles and have some cake.  I can't think of a better way to begin Xmas.

It was home for lunch, naps, and then it was time to head to my parent's house for Xmas Eve!  Xmas Eve has always been a big deal to our family...and I love that I am able to spend Xmas Eve with my parents every year!  We missed Jules, Joe, and Lucy this year, but got to celebrate with them later (Post #4).  There were the traditional foods:  Oyster shooters, Crab Legs (new tradition), Perch, and Pierogies.  A Polish Xmas Eve meal!  It's always so nice to just sit around the table and talk, laugh, and enjoy the holidays together.

Then came...PRESENTS!  Every year I am more amazed at the number of presents...and the adults have begun a Secret Santa so we don't even buy for each other (although there is a "man" gift and a "girl's" gift that is always a highlight.  This year my dad gave something to clean the inside of the car, Rob gave something to remove scratches from cars and shots of 3 wise men, and Joe gave duct tape and a book about Duct Tape Uses....all such fun gifts.  My mom gave Banana Republic sweaters, I have a towel for your head after a shower, Kate gave a cami, and Jules gave a gift certificate for a pedicure).  The girls are so blessed and lucky to have such wonderful family!  They had so many presents to open, I don't even know where to begin.

Some of the highlights were:

Abigail:  Scooter, Chest with Dress up Clothes, HUGE Minnie Mouse, toy you sit and jump on, matching vests, puzzle, Cinderella ornament, games, tie-dyed dress.

Caitlin:  Piano that connects to TV, Wizard of Oz snowglobe, clothes, HUGE Winnie the Pooh, Leapfrog Book, matching vests, Bathtub toys, Wizard of Oz ornament, games, cutest outfit with skinny jeans.

Beth:  Kate was my secret santa and got me a BAG of clothes...tons and tons of clothes from some of my favorite stores...it was great!  I also got a gc to go shopping for myself and tickets to the movies!

Rob:  My dad was Rob's secret santa and got him the Ipod player he has been wanting for literally 2 years now!  He also got a gc to go shopping and tickets to the movies!

We were beyond blessed (and spoiled) this year at Xmas.  Thank you Mom, Dad, and Katie for such wonderful Xmas Eve memories! 

And without further ado....pictures!  (However, I realize how I only take pics of the kids now....I didn't ever even take one of rob, myself, or my parents.  My new years resolution (other than couponing) is to get better with taking pictures!!!!

Getting read to leave for church.

Caitlin and her godmother

YEAH...XMAS!

This is so much fun!

Great Grandma with Kramer

This picture is like a fake scene in the background!

Princess Scooter!  (And Abigail is wearing this dress again right now as I type)

Caitlin with her piano.  She absolutely LOVES it and has played with it for over an hour today already!

Up Next:  Christmas Morning at our House!