~ CHRISTMAS EVE & DAY 2009 ~

Christmas Eve:

Mia sets up "cookies" and milk for Santa early on ~

My little helper ~ preparing for company~

Anthony fixed his hair up real nice & said "Merry Christmas Mom!"

we've been having hair style "issues" lately ~

The kids are all excited for their cousins to come~

Mia's 3rd Christmas home with us!

Amazing~

The kids with cousins Frankie & Joey~

Happy guys!

Uncle Frank with Mia

Gma's birthday was supposed to be celebrated the day

of the blizzard... so we sang for her today ~

Our family 2009~

My brother celebrated a very special Christmas with his family this year ~

he is healthy after having a kidney removed due to cancer .

We are all so greatful for his health today!

Ummm, Anthony with a tutu on his head~

the Christmas-crazys hit :

dancin with daddy~

Eddie loves his cousin, Joey~

I asked for daddy & Mia to pose by the tree...

next time I'll be more specific :)

Mia always has a good time with her daddy~

The other day Mia pointed to daddy and said,

"Dat MY daddy!" ~ yup, he melted!

Christmas Day:

Anthony always wakes up first - he still cannot control his happiness & excitment - I hope he always keeps this special quality about him. Eddie woke up next - he is always a bit more low key - but so excited to see what Santa left. I love this photo of the boys looking down on the tree and their gifts - waiting for little sister to wake :)

They couldn't wait anymore and we let them wake Mia ~

the excitement begins!

For some reason Ant loves flamingos - he really

wanted slippers at Old N*vy, but I couldn't do it ~

Santa put this one in his stocking instead :)

Mia asked Santa for a green dress ~ she likes it!

Happy man!

She's into B*rbie's this year :)

Penny thrilled with her present

My Eddie just loves cats (and so does mommy), but daddy really, really doesn't...

He really wanted this kitty - it is awesome and SO real - and he just adores it :)

*It was so funny, as Eddie came down the stairs, he heard a cat meowing

(it's been meowing in the attic for a month now!) - his face just lit up :)

We love this kitty, who was named after one of my

childhood cats, Ginger :)

When all the presents are unwrapped we always take

a "wrapping paper - picture", not sure why we just started

doing it when Anthony was little and kept it up ~

R*ckband II was a huge hit!

So was the B*rbie house...

One of my gifts was this plush, soft, comfy throw ~

we are all enjoying it :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!