We had a wonderful, peaceful Chistmas! We got up about 7:45 and opened our stockings, and then went to Church for Christmas morning Mass. It was not very crowded (we heard Christmas Eve mass was packed!), but the Priest did a wonderful sermon. He read the childrens book, A Chirstmas Story, and had some of the little ones up on the alter, right to the point, and not to long! We did not want to have to rush through our presents, so we waited until after church to open them. We had a lot of fun, and Bell loved ripping off the bows, tags and paper!
We all got some really nice gifts. Austin got a remote contorl plane (a gift that was not electronic!!), among many other things. Bell loved her little computer dad bought her (maybe she will keep away from MY keyboard now), and her xylaphone and moraccas!! As you may be able to tell from these pictures, I got a new CAMERA for Christmas!!! Don picked me out a great one and I am SOOO happy to be able to get some good pictures and retire my old one! And Don got a cart to tow behind his lawn mower - boy that was a heavy one for me to get home and hide! - Thanks to our neighbors shed it was not detected!





We had our neighbors in in the evening for a few hours. Bell loves playing with Jessica and Lindsay and ran right up to them when they came in. (Brett and Steph - we missed you guys!!).
It was a nice, relaxing day, as was today. Both days have been rainy, cold and damp, so we have enjoyed staying indoors! Austin just got out of his pajamas to go to his friend JD's house at 4:30 PM!
We hope you all had a wonderful and peace filled Christmas, and we miss you all. Looking forward to our trip north on Wednesday!!

Go Saints!!!

The Saints beat the Giants today 30 -7.
Way to go SAINTS!!! Superbowl bound.......

Merry CHRISTmas Eve !!!!

Merry Christmas!! We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year in 2007.
Yesterday we made Christmas cookies with our friends Jess and Lindsay. The first batch was GONE before I turned around!!

Tonight, Christmas Eve, we had Don's parents and Uncle Ed down for dinner and presents. I took video and mom took all the pictures, so hope to get some to post. This was Bell about 7:30 PM - out cold!! And what a hairdo when she woke up!! Now she is up and watching It's a Wonderful Life with daddy and Austin, and I am going in to join them. Can't beat that, cookies, hot chocolate and my family around me on Christmas Eve!!
Wishing you all Joy and Peace. Todays reading in church told us "Jesus is Peace", and tomorrow we celebrate Jesus!!
Love,
Don, Karen, Austin, Isabella and Baby T.

Christmas Parties....

Saturday was the Mothers & More Christmas party. They have wonderful Santa and Mrs. Claus that comes every year for the kids. Most of the kids would sit with Mrs. Claus if they did not want to go to Santa. Bell did not want either and would only go with Austin. Our neighbors Jessica and Lindsay (our great dog watchers!!) came with us as well.
When we got home from that party, we brought Austin and Bell to their house and Chris watched the kids overnight while Don and I went to Pennslyvania to his company Christmas party. Hey, they were paying for a hotel (and we have not been away overnight for 1 1/2 years), so we took advantage of it!! Bell was really good for Chris (other than sleeping 8-10 and then staying up until 1 AM before going back to sleep until morning!).
Don and I had a fun time at the party, it was nice to get to dress up and go out. Nick and Linda were their as well (Bell's Godparents), and it was fun to get to spend some time with them as well. With us in Delaware and them in New Jersey we do not get to see them as often as we would like. Don and Nick are on completely different projects at work now, so they never even get to see each other there. Don and I got to sleep in and go out for a nice relaxing breakfast before coming home. At least it was relaxing until Don got a call from work and we had to stop in there on the way home!! But today is (or hopefully is depending on how the project they are working on today went) his last day for two whole weeks!!! He loves taking off Christmas week, and since he used so little vacation time this year (to busy!), he has two to take. It will be WONDERFUL to have him around, I am so excited.
Anyway, we are looking forward to having Dons parents and Uncle Ed here on Christmas Eve day, and will be spending Christmas day quitely at home. We will go to NY during the week between Christmas and New Years to see everyone there, and back home for New Years.
It was a nice weekend and got us in the Holiday mood.
My parents leave tomorrow for Germany for a "Christmas Markets" cruise down the Danube river, and come home Christmas Eve. Germany in December, brrrrr...

Thanksgiving weekend...

Well the kitchen floor is mopped and Bell is asleep..... so what better time to get some Thanksgiving pics up before it is Christmas already!!
We had a fun Thanksgiving. Well most of us did!! Don did not, as he had some kind of bug and spent a good part of it feeling VERY under the weather. Aunt Terry and Uncle John were in New York for the weekend and it was great to see them, and it was their first time seeing Isabella.


Friday was a beautiful day and we went to the park in Baldwin Harbor with Aunt Elanore and the girls. It is a great park, as there is about 5 playgrounds, each with bigger toys for different age groups. So Bell and I stayed in the little kids part while El took Austin and the girls to the biggest one.




We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at Dan and El's house!! And then Aunt El read Bell this book with a spider in it, which Bell loved. (Warning: I would be careful about reading any books with Aunt El, sometimes she bites!)



We had brunch at Steve and Gina's on Saturday morning before leaving NY, and it was great to get to see everyone and Bell got to play with Gianna.



Then we went to New Jersey to see Dons parents and Uncle Ed. We had a nice dinner up in Uncle Ed's apartment, and Bell had a great time playing on the floor with Unc!! She loves playing with the cans of cat food and the cat toys hanging on his door. My camera stinks!! - so we did not get any good pics of this, but I will post the videos next and there is one there.

Just a few minutes...

I know, I know, I need to get a Thanksgiving post up, but that is a bunch of pictures, and hopefully will have the time tomorrow.
Today was a busy, yet relaxing day. Austin had his second swim meet (at 8 AM). he got a second and third place in his individual races and they took first place in the boys medley relay!! We then spent a few hours at home, with Bell getting on her coat and hat (it is finally feeling like December weather here), and going outside to play while daddy wrapped up his Fig trees in tar paper and burlap, hoping they will make it through until spring. One of the first things Don said when we talked about buying a house was that he wanted Fig trees. One of the members of our church just happens to have a number of mature trees in his yard and offered Don some cuttings. They grew well over the summer, so hopefully in a few years we will have figs.
Then I got to go out for some "girl time" in the late afternoon while Don stayed with the kids. Sometimes it is just nice to get out for a little while!
Austins friend JD is sleeping over (they are watching X men now, just the boys - Don included!), and had dinner with us. After dinner (burgers, tater tots and carrots - don't know anyone who doesn't like tater tots!), we were sitting around at the table and started throwing around a balloon of Bells that was on the floor. It turned into a major game of keep it up in the air, and even moved from the kitchen into the living room. We gave Bell her punch balloon, which kept her very happy. She was standing in the middle of all of us diving for the balloon, punching away at her balloon!! It is great to spend spontanious time as a family having fun, we had planned on playing a board game, but the balloon was just more fun at the time!
Karen