Merry Christmas!

Here are the Christmas pictures a few days late :) It's ok. Christmas is a season that lasts more than one day!

Here are the kids ready to tear into their presents...

...and ready to dive into their stockings!

Here are pictures of a few of the gifts...

Chiara got this princess headband and gloves in her stocking...

...and she didn't take them off for a while :)

Cati said that her favorite gifts were her new St. Catherine of Siena doll (below) and new journal (not pictured).

Matteo was happy to get a dress-up costume for boys!! We have lots of princess dresses at home, but nothing for boys until now.

This is a new dress for Cati's American Girl doll. Maria got one for her doll, too.

Maria was very happy about her new slippers.

Everyone has enjoyed Matteo's new Star Wars figurines. He got all the major characters from Episodes 4-6.

He said Han Solo is his favorite!

Matteo and Chiara got a lot of audiobooks for Christmas that I know they will use a lot once we're back home.

Here is Elena in one of the many new outfits that she got for Christmas. She is sitting with Aunt Ginny who is always there to celebrate on Christmas morning with us. She's the seamstress-extraordinaire who makes the girls' dresses. Many thanks to her most recently for their Christmas dresses (see the Christmas Eve blog post).

We had a wonderful Christmas day, and we hope that all of you did also!!!!

Christmas Eve 2009

Here's a look at our Christmas Eve.

We went to Mass in late afternoon. The kids wore their new Christmas clothes from Aunt Ginny. Here is a picture that we took after Mass.




Then, we went to my grandmother's house for Christmas Eve dinner. Here is a picture of my grandmother and the kids at her house.

They all changed into more comfortable clothes and we enjoyed a delicious dinner!

After dinner, my grandmother opened her Christmas presnts.

Elena enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper.

The older kids turned the used wrapping paper into light sabers and re-enacted some Star Wars scenes.

Then, we went back to my parents' house and put the kids in the bed to get a good night of sleep before Christmas morning!

Christmas day pictures to come soon!!!

Beginning our Vacation in GA

The three little ones and I flew to GA on Tuesday. It's always fun to fly with little ones because the get so excited about flying. Here are Chiara and Matteo preparing for take-off. Chiara is figuring out her seatbelt.


Elena slept for the first half of the flight.



The other two kids colored pictures and played with stickers.




And they enjoyed the drinks and snacks that they stewards brought us. There weren't any messes!



We were all happy to arrive at my parents' house. My brother is visiting for a few days. This is his first time to meet Elena.



Playing with Pipa.


...and Grandma.

Last night we visited my Grandmother for a little while. She and Chiara enjoyed playing the piano together.



And, my Grandmother enjoyed meeting her newest Great-granddaughter!


Unfortunately, little Elena has had a rough time through all of this. On Monday, the day before we left, I had to bring her to the doctor. She had a double ear infection and bronchialitis. She was put on antibiotics and breathing treatments (as seen in the below picture). We had to bring her back to the doctor today because she had a reaction to her antibiotic. So, she has a new one now. Hopefully, this will agree with her and help her feel a lot better!




Now, we're waiting for Dany and the older girls to arrive sometime this evening. They're having a longer drive that normal because of the terrible weather in the East today. May the holy Angels guide and protect them!

10 years!

Ten years ago today, Dany and I were married! There's nothing I can say to fully express my joy and gratitude to Dany for these wonderful years!! I love you!!

You can see that I replaced the picture of the kids at the top of the blog with pictures of Dany and I the summer before we married. Don't worry...I'll put the kids back where they belong soon :)

Here's a look back over the past 10 years.

We were married at the Catholic Center in Athens, GA.



Here is our wedding party with family and friends. Thank you all for your love and prayers!

Dany has always had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother which has been a great inspiration for increasing my own devotion to our Mother. I offer my heartfelt thanks to her for her prayers over these 10 years!

We were married my Father Jack, OFM, someone close to the hearts of many of us!

We offer our heartfelt thanks to our parents!!!! Thank you for your example, prayers, love, encouragement, and support over these years.

We went to Italy for our honeymoon, so I could meet all of my new family :)

We also got to meet His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, and receive his blessing! How could we NOT have a wonderful 10 years after that!

Nine months later, we welcomed our 1st little girl, Maria, to our family!

Two years and 4 months later, we welcomed Cati.

Then we moved to Salt Lake City...and welcomed our first little boy, Matteo.

Then, we moved to Greensburg, PA...and welcomed Chiara to the family.

And, most recently, we welcomed little Elena to our family.

What can be said except,

Thanks be to God!