Merry Christmas

I love Christmas, as you may know. And this year was just a fun as always, if not a little different. The eve of Christmas was the food and family fest it usually is, this year with 4 wee little ones. The Fashionista was the queen of the roost at 3 and 3/4 while little bro Wammy and cousins G, & E happily were snuggled and cooed over in between plates of baccala salad, cured meats and cheeses, penne vodka and cavatelli with broccoli.

The biggest twist to my holiday was not sleeping at my parents. Santa was going to be bringing gifts to the Big Sister's house, so Grandma, Grandpa, me and the hubby had our visions of sugarplums in the new house. But in the morning, The Fashionista came grumbling out of bed and we all gathered under the tree to see what Santa though of our behavior for the year.

IMG_2322.JPG, originally uploaded by gfiorillo.

Well, we all must have been very good cause the presents were piled high. A trampoline, kitchen and tons of books for the Fashionista, lots of Buffy and Clapton for me, the hubby will be anti-social for days with his new DVD collection, a new phone for grandma, and indoor garden for grandpa, and even some toys for fuzzy ones that were waiting at home for us.

IMG_2408.JPG, originally uploaded by gfiorillo.

And the best part, staying in my jammies all day, even driving home in them and then spending the rest of the day with all our new toys!

Christmas Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends.

I heart Christmas. (And not just cause it is the second holy day in GiJaKiKa - our month long celebration of birthdays, anniversaries and holidays).

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper, I love wrapping presents and using ribbons to make them all pretty

2. Real or fake tree? Real, and the Her-chick's and I cut it down every year!

3. When do you put up the tree? About a week or two before my party.

4. When do you take the tree down? When the needles have all fallen off and J finally yells at me to get rid of it.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, and one day I will actually make it myself.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? So many...I do remember a book about teddy bears that went everywhere with me for a while

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but one day I will inheret my mom's lenox set.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Mom, sometimes J.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Dad - he likes lots of stuff

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? hmmmm - none I'm willing to say in publis

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail, and usually late.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Ref - is that wrong.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? About 2 weeks before.

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Does work grab bag present count?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies... chocolate chip ones made by my wife.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Digging "Papa Noel" this year, but will always love "have yourself a merry little christmas"

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? usually home, but now with the hubby we may have to make a trip to MA one of these year.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both - eve with the exteneded family, morning with parents/sister.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? no snow

23. What I love most about Christmas? Really enjoying my family, the food, the friends and hopefully some nice cold snow.