Andre and John

just an fyi --- Andrea and John are getting married on New Years Eve!!! Quinn, Keira and I are in the wedding ---- it's going to be a great time.

Send them lots of happy wedding wishes!
genine xxoo
Happy New Year

Happy Holidays Everyone...

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas. This year was so much fun with the kids...Quinn has been excited for months, and had been helping Keira catch on. So having them both "get it" was delightful. Christmas Eve, we met Bill and Kathy at church, and then headed back here for dinner. Being that it is just them and us at Christmas time, it is so nice that they pack a bag and spend the night here. The kiddies ate and got to open some Christmas Eve presents. They were thrilled with new pj's and loved their robes :) Aunt Patty and Aunt Annie sent along gifts too - sweatshirts, boots, dresses etc. --- and a few fun toys from Gram and Gramp were really enjoyed by them - sleds, ball game, TV dance... I'm sure I'm forgetting things!

After the little ones finally got into bed, the adults had fun prepping for the next day! Charging batteries, wrapping last gifts, and setting them under the tree...so much fun. We've also gotten smart over the last few years, and wait to eat ourselves until after the kids are in bed! Kathy made a great New England Clam Chowder - so we nibbled on that and veggies to hold us over. Later Billy steamed up some giant, i mean giant Crab legs....hmmmm.....so delish. We all got so full, we didn't bother with the shrimp! Blending your tradtions can sometimes be a bit of a task ---- but it's been relatively easy for Billy and I. Christmas Eve for him generally meant lots of finger foods - a light fare. For me, Christmas Eve dinner was probably the most traditional --- and laborious too! Many Italians eat the meal of "7 fishes" Christmas Eve --- and back years, and years ago -- it followed with Mid-night mass, and then another round of food - primarily Sicilian Sausage cooked at 1 am! Now remember this was a large gathering of people! So, since we've been married we've tried to blend the two. We do still keep it more app's and finger foods Christmas Eve --- but have incorporated the seafood aspect I grew up with. We love it, and both really feel great about keeping it meaningful to us both. :)

Christmas Day didn't start as early as we feared LOL!!! The kids actually didn't wake us until 7:45 am --- and surprisingly didn't head straight to tearing presents either! I was even able to make coffee prior to starting! Keira kind of took it all in, trying to figure it all out. Quinn headed straight for the tree and giggled with delight at the sight of presents, and a note from Santa! Big smiles all around - and the kids really enjoyed themselves. After Quinn and Keira ate, they snuggled in the den and watched Tinker Bell together - while we got to eat our Christmas Dinner --- Prime Rib, mashed pot's, aspargus & fresh bread from the breadmaker. Some cheesecake and cookies wrapped up the day.

A bit later I got a call from my Dad saying that he had just been informed that a delivery would arrive to us the next day b/w 9-12. No other hints :) So you can imagine our surprise when the doorbell rang at 10 - and we expected our local UPS driver - only to find Debbie and my Dad on the other side!!!! Surprised is an understatement....we all were very happy, and I joined in on the giggles and hugs as our extra holiday gift visit arrived. It's hard for both Billy and I to not be with all of our family on the holidays - we're so thankful that we have Bill and Kathy here.

Ok - enough of the details, here's some pictures.... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

*Quinn's first look at the tree...

*Billy reading Santa's note...
*The elves carved them each a Pinoccio :)
*Quinns new sweatshirt from CA!!
*DVD's , Choc., & Clementines were found in their stockings...

*Sigg Water Bottles - to get us away from plastic
*Keira double checking to makes sure "we got them all"

We're home...

Just to let you all know that we are home, safe and sound. Thurs. nite our power went out - it just came back this morning (tues.). Luckily, we were able to stay at Bill and Kathy's - they were in CA visiting Ann and Patty --- so at least we weren't bombarding them! It's been a hectic week, and I think we're all pretty tired, and happy to be home. Keira has cried more than usual - asking to go home, which surprised us. She really picked up on something being off. We were also lucky that we didn't have any damage to our home/cars...and only lost a few limbs from some of our smaller trees. That was not the case for most - Bill and Kathy lost a lot of their trees....to give you an idea...Billy took a half day today, and was chainsawing and stacking from 11 - 4.

Soooo - off to bed to hopefully get a great nite's sleep :)

and by the way...our holiday card may be a bit late this year .... but better late than never!

love and kisses - genine

holiday photos - first attempt

to say that taking our holiday photo(s) is an event every year...gives you no idea of what this entails...usually the getting dressed is ok...generally accompanied by "I don't want to wear this now!" --- and for some crazy law of physics...as soon as the camera comes out - all hell brakes loose! are you laughing??? that's good, because we weren't!!!! "CAN YOU JUST LOOK AT THE CAMERA???? SIT STILL! SMILE! QUINN!!! KEIRA!!!! COME ON LET'S JUST DO THIS!!!"..... just to give you a feel for the action LOL

Anyways --- these were the last shots --- and I ended up taking them myself in a last attempt to get something useable... my friend thea had come over to try and get a "quick" family shot... just an fyi...quick and family shot never go together....!

So, here they are...my little beauties --- we'll most likely use these on our card - still hoping to catch a few others.... enjoy and be sure we have your address if you want a card! It's really not rock science to leave a quick easy comment right here on our blog!!! hmmm...hmmmm.... we do actually like seeing that you've been here to visit us... and appreciate a quick line or two back now and again!!!

Happy Holidays...

getting settled...

after our trip to Rochester for Thanks Giving, and Quinn's birthday... we finally feel like we'll be settling in to a less hectic routine! lol All of these events are wonderful of course, it's just very busy.



I did take many pic's while in town, and of his birthday here yesterday. I'll work on posting some of those asap.



Just an update on gift ideas post birthday etc....



OFF THE LIST...ALREADY PURCHASED

• baby high chair - Keira


• drums - Quinn


• fleece pullover - Quinn

EASY GIFT IDEA:

on Monday Quinn will be doing his first of two trials at a local Tai Kwan Do studio. If he likes it - we will be looking to sign him up for classes --- of course this costs money --- but we both feel the benefits of it for him will more than pay for itself...especially in the winter, when burning off energy outside is a little tougher. So - if you'd be interested in passing on the "toy" or shopping and would want to gift him Tai Kwan Do classes - drop me a line, and I'll keep you posted on how he likes it. Keira is too young (need to be 4 ) :)

hope you all enjoyed the holiday, and are enjoying getting ready for Christmas or other holidays this time of year. we'll be working on our holiday photo tomorrow, and will post a pic. asap!!! Be sure to send us your mailing address if you'd like to receive a photo card!

xxoo genine