Once again the Christmas rush has come and gone. Each year the celebrations seem to fly by faster and faster. It seems as though we're just putting up the tree, and suddenly Christmas is over and everything is coming down. While it's nice for life to go back to "normal", I'm always a little sad to say goodbye to the magical feeling of the Christmas season.
Christmas 2012 was fantastic as always. We started the morning decorating our sugar cookies, and saying our last goodbye to our friend Twinkle.
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| Lexi and Zach work hard on the cookies. |
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| It's so much fun! | |
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| Twinkle says goodbye. |
The cousins arrived to town a bit later than normal, unfortunately, due to a virus that Auntie Amy and Ben were fighting. But once they arrived the festivities began and it really felt like Christmas! We started with church, and then did our annual photo shoot before the party began.
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| Poppy's Angels | |
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| The cousins |
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| Licciardello Family Christmas |
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| Gigi and Poppy with their grandchildren |
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| Zach photo bombed the Father/Daughter shot! |
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| Lexi is very annoyed |
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| It takes us all a minute to recover |
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| Ahhh...perfect. :) |
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| This one cracked me up so much I had to include it. :) |
Sadly, I managed to lose my camera right before the party, and missed out on getting pictures of all the fun. And fun it was!! Santa once again made a quick stop at the party to hand out some gifts. The kids loved it, and Lexi actually accepted her gift right from his hand, for the first time ever! I was so proud. :) We had non-stop fun until midnight when Daddy dragged our exhausted little angels home and put them to bed, while I stayed to help clean up.
Daddy and I must have been exhausted too, because Santa stopped by and left quite a set-up for the kids right in our bedroom!!
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| Lexi with her bean bag chair, pillow and blanket from Santa! |
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| Zachary got a bean bag, pillow and blanket too! |
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| Both kids inside the wonderful canopy tent Santa left! |
But we couldn't hang around for too long, because Santa had left quite a load at Gigi and Poppy's and we needed to get over there to check it out!
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| Stockings!! |
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| Lexi opens her stocking. |
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| The kids check out the tree with Gigi. |
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| Gigi gave everyone clown noses! |
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| The Daddys - the real clowns. |
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| Zach is very excited about his dream lite! |
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| Lexi was very excited to get her own iPhone!! (It is really an iTouch and does not call/text or browse.) |
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| Zach was so excited about the headphones, he forgot to open the rest of the gift! |
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| WOW!!! An iPad!! ;) |
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| Did you see what I got??? |
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| Trying it out. |
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| Lexi and Cassie checking out the new apps. |
It was a marathon gift opening extravaganza. We were all pooped when it was over, but had to get showered and dressed and ready for the afternoon! It was another lovely celebration.
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| Cheers to Westy XII |
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| Cousinly love |
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| My happy girl |
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| Sweet Sophie Rose |
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| Ben and Poppy |
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| Uncle Jay loved his gift. :) |
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| The foam roller remains the best toy in the house. |
By the end of the wonderful day, we were all very happy to climb into our beds. There was more celebrating to be had in the morning! Off to Boxing Day in Rhode Island! It was a great celebration this year with the entire Lippman clan, including Jen's parents and sister, Marta.
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| Craig and Ahren relax on Boxing Day. |
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| Zach and Lexi play with the light tower. |
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| Zach loves his new tinker toys! |
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| Zach and Daddy are happy in Rhode Island |
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| Eva does not want to share her ice cream with Grampa! |
As always there were far too many gifts, and even more food. But it was a wonderful three day celebration with our entire family. We feel so blessed to be able to share the holidays with so much of our family each year. But most especially, Ahren and I are overjoyed watching the children enjoy the magic of the season. There is nothing more wonderful than watching the kids eyes light up with excitement during the holidays.
