Enjoying Vacation!

We survived the trip to GA! It was twelve hours of chatting, snacking, singing, fussing, and simple endurance. Maria and Cati always take the opportunity of isolation from all information sources to ask me all kinds of questions that I don't know the answers to: How did the U.S. flag develop? What was the South like after the Civil War? The Battle of Chattanooga! What was that? (Just a few samples.). Singing was the best cure for Giuseppe's fussiness, so we sang lots of Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, Itsy-bitsy Spider, and Are you Sleeping (in Italian and in rounds!).

Friday, we unpacked and rested. We enjoyed a good time playing outside. My parents have a nice big yard to run around and play and the weather is so nice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were supposed to visit with friends today, but unfortunately, we are starting to come down with an upper respiratory infection that my dad has had. Three of the kids started running fevers around bedtime last night. Hopefully, we will get over this in time for Christmas in a little more than a week.

But, everyone is still enjoying their day: Maria and Grandma are making doll clothes, Chiara is enjoying about her hundredth mandarin orange, Matteo and Cati are enjoying Garfield comics, Giuseppe is rummaging through one of Grandma's drawers, Elena's playing tea party, and Dany's getting ready to enjoy some hot wings and the Falcons game with my Dad. Now, I get to go join the fun!

Happy Gaudete Sunday, everyone!

 

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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!

More Christmas weekend visitors!

On Saturday, while Rob and Jess were still here, my aunts and cousins visited from Atlanta.

First, the kids had to show off their Christmas gifts.

And, everyone played for a while.

Then, the kids opened new gifts! Thank you!!

Here are Chiara and Aunt Jess enjoying her new gift.

Then, Matteo had to teach everyone how to play the Wii :) He's an expert!

The girls enjoyed playing Sudoku!

When my aunts and cousins had to leave to get back to Atlanta, we realized how nice the weather was outside! So, we played outside for a while!

It was a fun weekend!! On Sunday after Mass, we enjoyed a quiet afternoon resting from all the weekend excitement!

Uncle Rob and Aunt Jess visit!

Uncle Rob had to work on Christmas day, so he and Aunt Jessica couldn't start their drive down to GA until he got off work that evening. They arrived after we were all in bed! They were able to stay Friday and Saturday but they had to leave early Sunday morning.





They brought lots of fun Christmas gifts!



Some of their gifts were from their trip to Hawaii !! The girls got necklaces and flowers for their hair.



Jessica even managed to put one in Chiara's hair!




Matteo got a sea turtle necklace.

Every Christmas, Grandma gets a new puzzle as a gift. This one only took 2 days to finish. Dany and Ginny left a few pieces for Grandma to complete when she got home Friday afternoon :)

When Grandma got home from work on Friday, Chiara helped her open her gifts from Rob and Jess. Chiara insists on helping everyone with their presents! And, she's sure that scissors are necessary for the job!

Ginny was here on Friday, too, to visit with Rob and Jess. Chiara helped with her gift, too :)

But, Rob, you have to come back!!! I didn't get any pictures of you with the kids!!!! What will I put on next year's photo calendar ???

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas morning was a wild time of gift-opening!
Here are the kids before the madness began :)





This doll was the one thing Cati asked for this year.


Here is Cati's gift from the Arcara's in Italy.


And Maria got Aesop's Fables in Italian :)



Matteo opened everything as fast as he could :)

So, he got to start playing pretty quickly.


Diving into the stockings...




Chiara slept in a bit, so she got a late start.