TWAS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

Before I tell you ALL about my wonderful holiday in Ohio, take a look at my Mom and Dad's beautiful living room.....does this scream cozy xmas or what?

This was the first year that I actually had so much time. (being jobless has its benefits:) We arrived in Canton 4 days before Xmas. Quality family time!

On Christmas Eve we enjoyed my Mom's traditional mushroom soup with sauerkraut, a recipe which has been passed down through generations. I have eaten it every Christmas Eve my whole life and I LOVE IT! Neto always says "it's nothing special" but then he fills up his bowl again. I think he really likes it but just likes teasing me more. This is why he also jokes about my mom's homemade bread, he likes to get a rise out of me! (no pun intended)

My mom gave me one present that night, which is not usual. 2 years ago, my sister in law Michelle had my name in the gift exchange and gave me a really cute purse and inside it was scraps of material and a note saying "I promise when I am done with Nursing school I will make you a quilt." Well, she is now a nurse, and this was my wonderful surprise!
Its beautiful...so colorful and so much work! Thanks Michelle, it was worth the wait! We went to an evening mass at 9pm that night and afterwards my aunts and uncles came over for cookies and wine......lots of homemade wine. Everything at my Mom's at Christmas time is tradition and that why I MUST be with my family for Xmas!! Someday I will carry on these traditions at my own house, (and make my own) but until I have kids (having a job and house would help too) I will continue to enjoy the warm Christmas that my mom puts together! I thank God that Ernesto's parents are Jehovah's Witness! haha. We can always spend New Years out in San Diego...It works out perfectly! Xmas morning is always the best! Lounging in a robe, drinking coffee, eating homemade bread...waiting for the rest of the family. At about 10am Santa showed up Xmas morning with a rake for my mom!!

Ok really it was my brother Bill. He had dressed up the night before for a party with his friends kids, and decided he would surprise us...He and Barbie actually got pulled over for speeding on the way to my parents house and the cop let them go. What cop could give santa a ticket on Xmas? We all took turns sitting on Santa's lap telling him our wishlist. Of course as tradition goes, I plee with everyone that we open presents BEFORE we eat dinner, and they say NO, laugh at me and say "you are worse than a little kid Cindy". So we eat.

And then it was time! Present opening time! In the past few years we have tried to take turns and watch each other open our gifts, as opposed to the madness of everyone tearing through at the same time and not seeing what anyone opened. Neto started out with some "self-improvement gifts" like white strips for my teeth, Oil of Olay intensive 14 day skin repair kit, and an electric razor??? What was he trying to tell me?? He was laughing and I was scared to see what was coming next....

I was plesantly surprised when I opened a beautiful coffee mug and a gift certificate to my favortie store...Yep, TJMAXX!! My niece Kelli got me the awesome peacock feather earrings! This was a year of turquoise!! This has been my favorite color for years, but i always have runner-ups that change frequently. This year it is yellow. Last year was orange. Turquoise is the constant....and although I picked theses two gifts out....they were gifts from my dear husband. Isn't it beautiful???

Its a leather clutch if you couldnt tell from the pic. Ernesto and I were at TJMaxx on Xmas Eve morning and the moment I saw these earrings, I knew I must have them! I am in love with these exotic beauties!

Ernesto said that would finish off his xmas shopping for me and he bought them.

They are big bold and beautiful! Gold and turquoise, one of my favorite combos! I also got a pair of turquoise leather gloves that are fabulous!

The best gift's are the one's that require thought. Neto went to Joann Fabrics, picked out a pattern of an apron, and found a material that I love (black and white Damask) and started a sewing project!! It was really sweet. Neto know's what I like. I love that!

All these great gifts, when the only thing on my Xmas list this year was the Canon Rebel Xti. Well I didn't get to unwrap it, but it IS in the mail. This is more of a "family gift" for us. That is what Im calling it. I have BIG plans for this thing!

My parents got Ernesto and I a really good air mattress. We have a place for you to sleep now when you come to visit us in Costa Rica. (when are you coming?)

Bill and Barbie blew up a picture of the whole family when we were together this past summer, framed it and gave to my parents.

I had to do a self timer portrait of the family...dogs included! My brother Tim and his family are missing. I hope one year soon we can all be together on Xmas!

I love this picture of my parents with my niece Kelli. She is only 17 for all of you people asking about her on Facebook......sorry

When Brrrian arrived on Tuesday, he brought a game home with him. Its called BANANAGRAMS and its now my favorite game. You must give it a try!

My whole family got addicted, we must have played it 500 times in the week I was there! My dad is not crazy about it, but that is only because he never wins! haha Its like scrabble, only timed. Everyone takes 11-21 tiles (depending on # of players) and you race to use all your tiles. Of course we had a lot of laughs with some of the words used. We had a dictionary nearby. I realized that Im not the best speller, and I recieved a few comments that I frequently misspell words on my blog. "Don't you use spellcheck?" Well, I will from now on! I apologize, oh faithful readers! Here we are in the middle of a heated game.

This was a wonderful Xmas and its not over yet! We left for San Diego on Sunday

(after waiting in the airport Saturday. Its a bad time to fly standby, but we are used to it. I have flown home standby during the holidays for 8 years! As long as we have ipods and computers, the wait isnt so bad!

More holiday updates on the way from sunny San Diego!!!

Happy Holidays!