Birthday treat!

We got a piece of very, very happy news this last year (yes, it was finally a year of good news items!). We received an email from our cutest Carmen letting us know that her Christmas request of her parents was to let she and her sister, Chiara, come to the USA for Christmas and New Years. WAHOO!!!!

Nah, I wasn't excited at all. ;)

We picked them up at the airport around 1:00 AM. How could I complain? It was like my 3rd child was coming home....

What a wonderful treat. Carmen fell right back in to the rhythm of this house, remembering where nearly everything was, emptying the dishwasher for me, prompting the kids to pick up, being her usual attentive, happy and mischievous self. So wonderful!

Marin and Gabe acted like she had been gone for a few weeks instead of 18 months. It was a delight to watch. Chiara was so fun to get to know. She was quiet for the first few days as we all tried to decide how much English she really understood.  Sneaky girl....she knows a lot more than she let on! I think she finally got comfortable with the kids by about day 3 and started taking to them. So cute!

They brought a whole suitcase full of treats for us. A Nutella cookbook (it's like cooking by picture since it's all in Italian ~ delightfully fun though!), pastas, sauces, lots of different flavor treats, makeup for Marin, body art for Gabe, a stunning scarf for Brett.....

 

We enjoyed the snow (Chiara's first time seeing and touching snow), watching movies, making lots of good food, and going shopping. We had one whole evening dedicated to body art with Gabe's gift. It's probably a "Klutz" book but it's in Italian so I can't confirm that!  The kids drew animals and designs all over one anothers' arms. They are pretty good!

One of my favorite parts of their time here? Gabe quizzing Chiara on smells with his "smencils". I had so much fun watching Chiara try to memorize and figure out the English names for smells she knew then attempting to repeat them with her eyes closed while Gabe tested her. She was such a good sport and had such fun! I think Gabe's loyalties to Carmen shifted a bit to Chiara after this trip.....

The deal is: the next time we see those wonderful girls it will be on their home turf in Sardinia. 

I need to save my pennies!

A couple Christmas memories

While the snow flakes are still flying outside I've decided to finish a couple winter posts on this silly blog...

The kids are getting big enough that I prefer their help on some of their Christmas gifts. Both were happy to opine on what clothes they would like. Marin was quite giddy to have a "shopping spree" with mom. With graduate school having been the focus of our lives for so long she was pretty entertained by finally having some money towards clothes. She has proven to be an attentive and efficient shopper, knowing what she wants and what I will agree to. It takes minutes rather than hours and is strangely pleasant.

Gabe was a bit more interesting. He does but he doesn't care what he wears. It's odd to me. At age 8 he is strangely in tune with his own sense of fashion and makes combinations that are striking and handsome but he does it in a way that seems so nonchalant.

This year he asked for trashy pants. Really. Those were his words: trashy pants. Huh?

Everyone (you know, the all encompassing "everyone") is wearing them. They are relaxed, they do not have to have a zipper, they look beat up, and you can play in them and not care if they get dirty. Trash pants. I also received that look...the one from the side of their face with one eye brow raised that says, "Duh, Mom. Don't you know anything?"

Obviously not.

We were in The Children's Place store.  I found a gorgeous pair of toffee colored cords...they were worn on the thighs and around the knees...jeans like style but frayed around the edges. DING! The hottest looking trashy pants I have ever seen! The resulting conversation was something like this, "Hey, Gabe. I kind of like these pants but they look pretty beat up. In fact they look like someone ran over then with their car. They're too messed up but do you like the style?" Gabe: "Those are perfect trashy pants, Mom! I LOVE them!"

HA HA HA HA HA!

I rock. I bought the hottest looking cords for the 8 year old under the guise of their trashiness. I still have it.....

Both kids walked away with excellent additions to their wardrobes that fit their own sense of style. I love these kids!

Time for Updates

I was reminded yesterday during lunch that I need to be a bit more prompt on updating our family blog. Sometimes I need a reminder that others are interested in what we are doing....it all seems pretty ho-hum to me most days!

I've decided to post some of the Christmas pictures that I promised. I really did love my colors this year of gorgeous pink and spring green. It made the dark winter days seem a bit brighter.

I love the lights, the sparkle, and the anticipation on the kids faces. 

 Christmas Eve Pajamas

 Demon cat was guarding HIS tree and packages. He wouldn't let the kids get their gifts!

 Gabe - Pokemon heaven!

 Demon cat is finally content ~ convinced no one can see him.

 Miss Sassy Pants in her new boots and furry vest. I call her Yetti. Her great grandma seems to think she's pretty awesome!