Clothes from Granddad and Mammy
There's a vest in her lap and a sweatshirt in the bag ;)
Christmas shopping...found these bamboo scarves made in Italy. Each design is after a different famous artist. We thought that it was a perfect gift for Regan!
Now that's a huge scarf! Katherine wanted us to buy it for her...the huge one, not the regular sized one :)
Anniversary lunch at Fratelli La Bufala...we decided to try it. It was crowded and had a long line of people waiting to get in when we left.
I tried the stuffed crust with Bufala cheese...turned out to not be my favorite, but still ok
Anniversary shopping...I'm liking all of the Christmas lights
HAHA
We found a Christmas tree! Our anniversary tradition
This tree even had a sleigh in front
Dinner was fabulous! We tried an Indian restaurant near our house.
It was raining when we left but didn't spoil a thing. It was fun to spend an entire day together!
Driving, I saw this guy trying to fit soooo many BIG dogs into this tiny car. He was not succeeding. By the time he got one in, another jumped out.
Jonathan was proud of his mini hamburgers for dinner (and a homemade bun!!!)
Look who I picked up at the airport!!!!!! She's been planning this big surprise for awhile now. The other kids had no idea she was here. I had her hidden in my bedroom. We sat down with the kids to do their gifts for their special person. Benjamin went first. After he handed the gift to Hudson, Regan came walking in. The reactions were priceless!
Lauren was the first to run up for a hug...also wouldn't let her go and was crying.
Hudson and Katherine were shocked.
And Benjamin had a big smile on his face and happy to see her.
Lauren insisted that Regan HAD to sit between her and Katherine.
Now, back to opening presents!
Benjamin got Hudson a 3D Big Ben puzzle that lights up.
Katherine got a host of Chinese snacks from Lauren and some beads
Katherine got Lauren a dwarf hamster...it's been on her list for 3 years straight.
Hudson bought Benjamin new pj pants and a crew pack for Fortnite
Happy :) All my kiddos back together
It really is a cute hamster!
Hudson just staring at Regan..."I can't believe you are here!"
Some puppy love on our balcony
Her daddy is glad she's back, too!
Walking to a Christmas market down the street (trying to keep Regan busy and not falling asleep too early)
The Christmas market...it was huge and not at all like what we were expecting...hardly anything Christmas related at all...just people selling their crafts (still fun to look at)
Walking to the metro through Re di Roma park
Katherine was on Ruthie duty during Sunday school
Some of our SS kids working on a Nativity craft
She ended up with two :)
Hudson helping "the babies" in Sunday School make a baby Jesus in the manger
She was so proud of her baby Jesus :)
First Sunday back together so we asked a friend to take a family picture after church.
One of our friends gave us a bag of sweet treats to eat for Christmas. I'm not sure if we were all hungry or if it was that good, but we had almost finished the bag before we got on the metro.
On baby duty :)
Snack time
Regan brought some freeze dried sour Skittles for us to try. Interesting. Not as sour as I expected.
Regan brought gifts for everyone. She picked out an elf shirt for her dad :)
Regan got Harry Potter playing cards for Benjamin
She got Hudson "I am a proud brother of a wonderful sister who bought me this shirt" shirt
She got a sisters necklace for Lauren
And she got "a poodle in noodles" stuffed animal for Katherine
I got a Union University MOM shirt and a coffee mug :)
Benjamin wearing his new clothes
Regan and Lauren goofing off at the Cassalinghi store
I can't remember what these two were goofing off about...possibly hugs ;)
We got a chuckle out of everyone on the couch being on a device, dogs included ;)
Lauren and Hudson's Christmas concert at school
Just so I can remember how they put lights up on our street during the holidays
Walking home after the show
Happy 19th birthday!!!!!! It was a normal school day for the others. Regan slept in. I went for coffee that morning with some of the other moms and the shop had 3 donuts. I thought it sounded like the perfect way to start your birthday.
They are glad to have her back.
waiting outside for Lauren's Christmas dance performance
It wasn't really a show, but more of letting us see the things they have been working on. They did 3or 4 dances and several exercises.
This was her only non ballet dance, a contemporary one.
After all of the performances, I came home to fix the birthday cake while Jonathan worked on her meal request, chicken pot pie.
Opening a few gifts for her b-day
These two LOVED Scout, especially Ruthie. He did really good with them! The only thing was the dog kept trying to lick her pacifier.
Benjamin on baby duty. She was starved and wanted some enchilladas!
We had chicken ones and these spinach ones
Silas opening his gift from Lauren before they went home. They needed to leave pretty quickly to get some Benedryl for his eyes. He was having an allergic reaction to the polyester blanket that he was playing in.
Lauren made letter pillows to spell out Ruthie. I need to get a picture of them with Ruthie
Out with Rachel and Wu dixiong visiting some people. This is the French embassy.
I was told that this is the best coffee in all of Rome. WDX bought us all a cup. He was right. It was quite good.
random decorations
Opening more presents...pj's for all from Grandmommy
Well, except Lauren because she already got her gift last summer, but GM sent a small something so that she could still have something to open.
Hudson LOVES his vest! He said he "likes having expensive clothes" He saw that it was Columbia brand and knows we don't buy the expensive things...so he was thrilled :)
Cute mini stockings from Mamaw and money inside :)
Katherine made a sheep ornament for Lauren.
pretty sky
making cookies...the kitchen was too crowded so we are doing everything in the living room
plus watching Hallmark movies in the process
Ha! These boys living their best life, in bed playing video games with each other.
We got Jonathan an new pot
They got me a new coat
Kids all got ornaments from us...moose made out of metal
Reindeer
ballerina
Dog in wagon
Deer in forest...he said it was so beautiful!
Please! We are good. Can we have some cookies?
Lauren bought 2 ornaments over the summer, one dad and one daughter.
Cookies and milk for Santa
Puppies' stockings...plus a Canettone (instead of Panettone...the traditional Christmas cake. Cane means dog)
Stockings
Twas the night before Christmas...
It's Christmas DAY!
a book series he has asked for
23 highlighters
Jack Straws
the scarf he had wanted
new gaming controller that lights up
warm clothes
socks
I know. She has curly hair, but she asked for a curling iron...so...
new controllers for Hudson
Yep, she finally got what she's been asking for for years, a phone.
a cool light
silk pillow cases
Breakfast before church
The dogs liked their stocking stuff
selfies before church...me and Katherine
me and Lauren
me and Regan
me and Hudson
me and Benjamin
kids singing in church
Everyone got a Christmas goodie bag when leaving church
Hudson trying out his new popcorn machine
This is how I spent the rest of the day after church...in my pj's, watching shows, enjoying the kids, and eating snacks from my stocking...my kind of day!
Quite possibly one of my favorite pictures :) Jonathan sporting his new shirt from Regan while thinking about the book he was reading (completely not posed, even though it looks like it)
Merry Christmas! Heading to church...
