Merry Christmas -part 2

Let the presents begin!!!

The first present of Christmas!  Our girls take turns and open one gift at a time.  

Emma's Minnie Mouse vacuum

I love how they all share in each others excitement of the gifts!  This is Leah getting a My Little Pony gift.

The girls thought it was funny that we rewrapped their American Girls (their Christmas gifts they bought at the AG Store in LA)

What they didn't know was I had been working for weeks sewing them doll dresses and matching skirts for them.  I did it for each girl/doll.

Emma got a life size Minnie!

Leah said she was old enough for an AG doll, but we were not.  She was thrilled with this AG-type doll.  We knew she would love the cowgirl!  She named her Naya (you know, neigh, like the sound a horse makes!)

Minnie was a BIG hit!

BIG hit!

Chiara got Legos...she was thrilled.  They are the Friends ones like the ones she has already.

Merry Christmas- part 3

Time for Mommy to open her gifts!  Chiara made me a gift....I had no idea that it would have me in tears.  For David's birthday I had put together a jar of "All the Reasons I love you"-about 300 pieces of paper, each listing a reason.  She took that idea, with a cup she made a cover for and papers that said all the reasons she loves home schooling.  Tears.  Joy.  

David captured the emotion.  I can't wait to start reading them, which she said I had to wait until we started school again.

My sweet Mayah bought me a gift.  It was a lovely mug for my coffee and tea.  I used it Christmas Day!

Leah getting a kiss...David surprised me with a Kindle Fire!  WOW!!!

Emma helping me open a gift.

Daddy's turn!  This gift from the girls had layers of love!  The first layer was Chiara's.

Next was Mayah's

Finally Leah's....and she is helping...

It was the Avengers Bluray DVD.

I surprised him with new headphones...his other ones have the wires exposed!

Emma with her Minnie vacuum.  She was not so sure

Love this little helper!

Perfume from my man!

Cute picture!

David got all 3 movies he wanted this year!

David bought a juicer for all 5 of his girls....for smoothie making!!!!

Merry Christmas - part 4

Here is the skirt and doll dress I made for Chiara.  I made them for Chiara, Mayah, and Leah.

Papa (David's Dad) made Emma her fleece blanket.  The other girls all have one.  Emma's is Tinkerbell.

Stocking time!

This is where Emma wanted to sit to open hers.

Chiara asked all year long for this book.  I was thrilled to get it for her!

Great Nana and Great Grampy opening their Omaha Steaks from my parents.  

Aunt Jessica was here this year.  Her first Christmas with her family in a very long time.  It was lovely.

Nanny and Grampy brought in HUGE gifts....cute picture!

TRUNKS!  Personalized and ready for the many many things the girls hang on to. They were filled with toys and other gifts.

Chiara making her big Friends Lego set with Aunt Jessica

Mayah's first Lego set

Me and my sweet husband. Love this guy and I love spending this time of year with him.

Aunt Jessica with three of her nieces.

Sisters. 

It was a wonderful Christmas; it always is!  I love the joy, the food, the laughter, and the fun!!!

Hope yours was as merry as ours!

Mini Me

We have really been enjoying football season this year!  After church each Sunday we head over to my parent's house for a great Patriots game!  My sweet Chiara came down in her Brady game shirt and I already had my Wilfork one on.  She even wore her jeans and boots.  Mini Me! 

I love that she is getting into the spirit of the game!  One of these days I hope she wants to learn it and starts actually watching it with us, but if she is anything like her Mom that won't happen until she is older.

ZooLights/Phoenix Zoo 2012

Another family tradition this time of the year is our night visit to the Phoenix Zoo to see the lights...and a talking Giraffe named Jengo. The girls look forward to it every year.  Since the weather has finally turned to winter out here it was quite chilly which just makes the experience better.  

Last year the music light show they do (every 5 minutes) was a "storm" and was complained about by myself and my mother...along with many visitors and we are happy to say they changed it!  Back to kid/family friendly! 

Emma enjoyed seeing Jengo the talking giraffe and absolutely loved the lights!  

Nanny bought her girls animal hats so they all wore them on this chilly night!  Such cuties.

The light show on the lake!

Jengo talking-he said each of the girls names, but mispronounced Chiara and Mayah.  We excused him because he is a giraffe.

Nanny and Grampy with the girls

Emma insisted on walking.  We are slowly leaving the season of needing a stroller anymore. 
Crazy thought!

Chiara went on the Polar Slide, but I could not get any pics.

Emma, Leah, and Mayah went on the carousel. 

Petting her zebra. 

Leah loved her lion!

Mayah was on a jackrabbit this time