Christmas Eve at Aunt Carol's

Christmas Eve we went with my dad, Azra, Alyse, Brandon, Jill and Joe at Willow Creek Church for  a Christmas service.  All three kids went to the nursery and were in separate areas.  Per the usual I knew Vincent and Cecilia would be fine but I was worried about Joel.  New people, a new environment and a crowd are not always things he does well with.  When you drop your kids off they give you a number and if something happens and your kids need you they flash your number up on the screen during the service.  Brad and I are always worried it is our number that is being flashed on the screen, but it never is.  All the kids did great in the nursery area and were very excited to head to Aunt Carol’s house for the Ruggiero Christmas Eve gathering.

Snowman Hat on Joel...he loves hats!

First attempt at a family Christmas picture

Second attempt...Neither one is great.

Sammy and Joel

Brad and Cecilia

Sammy and Jack

Sammy, Jack and Mia!

Joel the cookie monster.

Cecilia and Joel

My adorable cousins!  They could pass for siblings.

The Ruggiero Christmas Eve gathering was filled with family, food, drinks, and laughs.  Andrew made me and Cecilia matching tote bags.  They are so cute and we use them a lot.  I keep my veterinary supplies in mine and Cecilia was using hers to keep her dolls in, but they she realized not all her stuff fit in them, so now they are used to hold the wood blocks Andrew got us.  The wood blocks he got from work and gave a lot of tender care and made them look like new.  They are all kinds of neat shapes and the kids loved them!  Joel claimed most of them and now knows the names of a lot of three dimensional shapes.  Vincent had so much fun seeing Coco and was begging to have a playdate with her!  

Aunt Alyse and Vincent. 

Dad throwing kids on the couch.

Brandon playing with Cecilia and Joel.

Thank you Aunt Carol for the cowboy gear!

Uncle Rock, Coco, Vincent and Aunt Mary

Vincent, Mia, Rachel and Kelsey

Nanno and Cecilia.

Rachel and Kelsey with Vincent and Cecilia.

When we got home Vincent and Cecilia were asleep and Joel was wide awake.  Once he was in bed we were able to get things ready for Christmas morning.  We may have stayed up a little too late and we were hoping the kids would sleep in.

An empty tray of milk and cookies for Santa.

The tree with presents under it.  Santa doesn't wrap presents.

A kitchen playset from Grandma Pat and Papa Ron they opened on Christmas morning.