A Fancy Fort!

Liv was the lucky recipient of a brilliant fort kit from Nana and Papa for Christmas. This is the type of present that totally elicited the "back in my day" type of comments from Steve and I. Where many years ago, our forts were couch cushions for walls, and blankets draped over furnitre anchored down with something heavy. Like a fisher price farmhouse, which may or may not have fallen down and hit Erin's nose, moo-ing as it did so. Ah, memories. But look how cozy Liv is! I brought her a drink and snack and she was good to go.

HC for Liv

Liv's favorite winter drink is hot chocolate. However, it can get messy and you tell that totally annoys her. This is after a particularly lazy afternoon (she was still in her jammies - gasp!)

A Barbie World

Oh dear! Drama at the Barbie town house! Actually, this is a "Liv" doll, so she's not exactly a barbie. Perhaps this was the cause of her demise.

She Sure Loves The Camera...

Lately Olivia loves to ham it up for the camera. Here she is modeling her cute new outfit from Grammie and Grampie.

Cool Blue

Nana Honey and Aunt Therese gave Olivia some bath tablets for Christmas, and she is in love. It definitely makes bath time easier - I just ask what color she wants her water. Usually it's blue. I envisioned a dyed-blue booty on her but totally not. It doesn't even leave a trace when you drain the tub!

Make-Up is for Guuurrrls

Or so Olivia says. She really dug into the makeup from Aunt Therese and Nana Honey. And it looks as if she's inheirited some of Nana's skills, she did her whole face quite well. A bit on the heavy side, but she's learning.

Christmas Day

Our first stop was over to Aunt Dorothea's, where the traditional meal is homemade gnocchi, sauce, meatballs and raviolis - and that's just the first course!



Olivia loved their new dog, Stella.



Now, over to the Scarsella's - and Santa is here!!

Sheer joy on this little peanut's face.

Santa was very generous!

Olivia looks to be plotting something. Totally.

The night ended perfectly, with Papa making some cinnamon rolls with the girls. Here's Liv again, with a curious pose. What a wonderful Christmas we had!

Christmas Morning

Who is more excited that Santa came?



When opening gifts, Olivia alternated between exclaiming "sweet!" and "holy mackerel!"



Awesome! Spy glasses from Grammie and Grampie!

Santa's big present was the Barbie Dream Town House. Olivia immediately went to work, setting the table, and putting Ken in the shower.

Christmas Eve

Uncle Mike is either asking Liv to throw that out, or asking her to wipe her nose. Probably both.


Hailey came bearing gifts - princess coloring books and markers. What a treat!



Uncle Mike was kind enough to lend his phone to the girls so that they could have some tunes in the closet. Here they are, trying to find some "girl songs."




Here she comes! Madison is probably thankful for the protection of the exer-saucer.

Snacks galore!

At this point Aimee suggested the girls give Madison some space. Esme then used that phrase for the rest of the night, whenever someone wanted a hug.

The hiding place, complete with pillows and blankets.

Esme decided to run around nearly nude with the gift to the ladies - a cozy winter hat - on her head. What I like best about this picture is Steve in the corner - they really light up when they see each other. He's hoping she's headed his way for a hug.

One of my favorite Christmas Eve traditions.

The three amigos.

I asked them to "act crazy."

We went to my Parents for Christmas Eve, and celebrated with the usual suspects. Olivia, Hailey and Esme were fast friends and found the coat closet to be the perfect hiding place. It's always such a special night, with great friends and family. Olivia (and Steve) were not happy to leave!

Stir Crazy

All of this ice, cold, and perpetual sniffles have not led to a lot of time outside. Steve tried to remedy that, with a mini snowman, imported from the backyard snow.

Perspective

I came across this heartbreaking story through my friend Andrea - about a family in Downers Grove fighting Batten disease - a rare and unfathomably cruel genetic disorder.

To hear their story, visit www.noahshope.com and watch the video play on the homepage. You can lend your support by spreading the word about the disease or donating to the cause.

The Wedding!!!

Sadly, this was the only picture I captured of the rehearsal dinner. Medinah's beautiful Christmas tree.


The morning of!



Flower girls Olivia and Esme ran wild in the Mruz basement while we got ready upstairs.

Then it was time for the little ladies to get ready.

Olivia definitely loved having her hair done.

Seriously, she acted as if she has a weekly hair appointment.

The flowers were gorgeous.

Tommy, Patrick, Olivia and Esme - we're missing Reese and Julian and the junior wedding party is complete!

The head table

No Christmas decoration was safe from Liv.

The happy Mr. and Mrs. Cronin!!

There was much delight in my Dad's best man speech - it was paired with a slideshow.

Laura and her Dad.

Possibly during "Thriller"

Mr. Aurilio and Mrs. Tinnucci join my Mom for a cute pic.

Lots of enthusiastic dancing!

Most of this group spent a good amount of time on the dance floor.

Oh what a wedding! The ceremony was beautiful, the reception was one of the best I've been too. Mike and Laura were so happy. Welcome to the family Laura! We love you!