HO.... HO.... HO!!!

The Holiday Season is upon us and it is such a magical time of year. 

I absolutely Love the Christmas holiday and the traditions that surround the season.

I am running a bit behind this year as a few days after Thanksgiving my Mom was hospitalized with congestive Heart failure. She has a new cardiologist and he is getting her back on track with new medications, etc. Thank God!! She was in the hospital for a week and in a weeks time she became very weak and therefore we decided she would come stay with me and the kids to recover for a week or so. She was a great house guest and I enjoyed taking care of her for once. We spent many hours and hours watching the Hallmark Channel with all of the their heartfelt Holiday movies.... you know... the ones that tug at your heartstrings.  I am longing for Dexter's new season.  I think I saw every Christmas and feel good Holiday movies ever made.  :)

Mom went home a few days before Christmas and Isaac and his mom and dad came from NY to celebrate the holidays.This was the first time Grammy and PaPa would be waking up with the kids on Christmas morning.  My nephew Aaron joined us from NY as well.

S'more Bites

Homemade Peppermint Bark

These are just a few of the Yummy's I always make around the Holiday's.  

They are favorites of everyones.  I will post recipes when I get the chance.

Nanny's Italian Mint Cookies - A MUST HAVE!!

I am pretty much an organized person or at least I tell myself that.  It sounds good.  I really didn't start any Christmas shopping until the week before the Big day.  That is totally not me.  With four kiddies, I try to start around Thanksgiving and end the week before Christmas.  I am in total reverse this year, BUT....  I got it all done, including some baking, cooking, candy making, decorating and all of those other little Holiday must-do's.  I do have to say that I am proud of myself.

Paula Deen's Recipe.  Flawless!!!

Portabella Mushroom Risotto

Shrimp Scampi

Grilled Asparagus with Parmesan

Christmas Eve was spent with Ike doing his last minute shopping spree....  A new family Blu-Ray player.  Like we needed a new one, our DVD player was just fine but boys must have new toys.  I spent most of the day with Grammy in the kitchen preparing Christmas eve dinner and Christmas dinner.  We decided to have a quiet holiday this year and lay low.  We usually fill our house with family, friends and neighbors but we needed to be low key.  We had an amazing dinner of Prime Rib, Shrimp Scampi, Portabello Risotto and veggies.  It was beyond amazing.

 We did our as usual Christmas Eve Pajama gifts as well as cookies and milk for Santa and a "Night Before Christmas" Story ....  and then shuffled everyone of to envision sugar plums.  Ike and I spend the rest of the night wrapping gifts and just spending some QT together.  It was really wonderful spending some time with my BFF without the usual disruptions.  We wrapped until 3:30 am.  (((YAWN)))  We finally called it a night knowing the little one would be hitting the floor early. 

LOVE!

Grammy & Pa Pa in their new Pj's

Aaron

Our Christmas Tree

CHRISTMAS Morning went a little like this.......  TRISTAN Slept until 8:30..... can you believe it?  Any other morning she is staring at me when the first drop of light hits the sky....  that kids amazes me.  I actually woke before her so I could Java up a little before the reality of 8 other people staring at me hit me head on......  God Forbid.  Tristan and Jaedan woke everyone else in the house with their excitement.   

Grammy & Pa Pa, the kids, Ike and I all gather in the family room with the Yule log burning on the flat screen (what is the point of that)  It is Ike's thing. We started with the stocking and I just relished at the smiles on everyone's faces.  Tristan was overjoyed as was the girls.  Matt and Aaron chuckled at the silly stuff they found - Toothpaste, toothbrush (Hint, Hint) Slim Jim, hats and gloves, Starbucks gift cards, etc.  Grammy and Pa Pa ware so happy.  The were delighted and expressed childlike happiness on their faces.  If for one thing...  seeing them Christmas morning was Priceless.

The kids had a wonderful Christmas and all enjoyed their presents.  Each one loved their "special" gifts.  Jaedan got an Ipod Touch, Taryn a Nook Color reader, Matthew an IPad and Tristan a doll house.  Overall it was an amazing day. 

UNDEROOS!

UNDEROOS!!