A Holiday to Remember

Well, the holidays are over and as you can see we are pooped! But at least we all had some fine Irish Whiskey before it was all over (those of us over 21 that is!)

We had an expected, but still tragic loss in Joe's family just before the holiday. Joe's Grandma, "Grandma Mary," passed away from a long battle with cancer. She was much loved and lived a wonderful life, touching everyone she knew. She was great Grandma to Charlie and Finny (and Mackenzie) and she always had a little religious token or book for the boys. She wrote them letters and cards that were always so endearing. Charlie and Finny always talked to her on the phone, and in the end, made videos for her to see from her bed. She was Mom to Rosemary, JoAnn and the late Anthony who had Down Syndrome. Grandma Mary cared for Anthony for 50 years, all the while encouraging him and others with developmental disabilities to live amazing lives! She was truly an inspiration. Her caring heart and warm smile will always be remembered. We know she is in heaven with Anthony, her husband Joe, her sister Kay and many others.

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at my parents' house. It's a big holiday hoopla and we look forward to it every year! We each made our fish for the Italian 7 Fishes and we exchanged "Dollar presents" like we have done every year since there were just the 7 of us in a little rancher in Effort, Pa! As usual, my Mom went crazy buying everything under the sun for the grandkids. The living room was teeming with presents and the kids were chomping at the bit since 5:30am waiting for dawn! It was a frenzy of wrapping paper and screams as the kids unveiled their much awaited presents. Jack and Luke even got a drum set, which Luke has been asking for for years! He's going to start a "wock and woll band" and I think Charlie and Jack are going to join him!

Santa stopped by for one last grope, I mean trip before heading back to the North Pole. And we all packed up to do the next leg of our visits.

The boys held hands on the way to Aunt MoMo and Uncle Matt's for a very Costal Christmas at their new house in Delran.

As if all the "cool cars" you could imagine weren't enough, my 4 and 2 year olds got a Wii from their Grandparents for Christmas! Surprisingly, Charlie recognized the box and freaked out when he saw it! We've been playing it ever since. Charlie has "Wii elbow," but he refuses to admit it for fear I won't let him play. Joe and I figure his love for the Wii is a good way for us to parlay some extra good behavior from him. We'll see...

All bathed and ready for the sleigh ride back to Marmora for their Santa presents!!

The boys got their share of presents from Santa as well. Finny was so cute. He had to pick up every present and take it over to the couch to open. Charlie chose the guerrilla present opening method and was done in 2 minutes! But there were plenty of things to be assembled and taken out of boxes, so Joe did that while I watched "It's a Wonderful Life."

We celebrated my birthday for about 3 days straight! We took advantage of every babysitting opportunity we had and really tried to spend some time together! We went to a movie, played Quizzo at a bar (yes, a real bar. I haven't seen the likes of those in quite some time!) and finally on the actual day we all celebrated together (just as I like it!) Joe spoiled me once again and made a bevvy of appointments for me from haircut and color (I don't know why he made the "color"), mani/pedi, massage and shopping! I am a lucky girl!

We celebrated the New Year at our house with Marissa, Matt and their college friends (whom we have adopted as our own) Aubrey and Pete (who are always a party where ever they go!) It was a little tamer than years passed, but we had fun!

Aubrey, "Wobby" as Charlie affectionately calls her, and Charlie are kindred spirits for sure! She spent part of the night pretending to be the "Wobby monster" and chased the kids around the house. Charlie, of course, believed her and was hiding. Finny didn't take no mess and ran right passed her every time!

We pulled up 2007's ball drop on youtube and watched it on tv pretending it was this year's. Charlie had a blast screaming "3-2-1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Then, at 10pm, we went outside and banged pots and threw the traditional pot of water to wash away last year (a Cuban tradition Joe and I have kept alive every year... every year we're awake that is!)

We eventually made it to the real midnight and banged a few pots of our own.

2009 was a good year, it brought us Quinn and Mackenzie and countless other blessings. Grandma Mary's passing brought a bittersweet end to the year, but I try to think about her life not her death. I know her legacy long surpasses the sadness we feel right now. We try to honor her daily by finding the little "angels" in our everyday lives!