AHHHhhhhhh...

And it's over.

 Christmas that is.

All the running and doing and making and wrapping.

I really did have a good Christmas, with my kids and a couple friends.

I had 7 days off from work...and loving it!

What makes my Christmas good? Having my kids here.. the end.

What could make it better?  having our traditional family foods, homemade pizza,

Breaded Pork Cutlets.. aka: "Breaded Meat"  and of course

Crescent Cookies! Cookies I literally grew up eating at Christmas time.

I cannot imagine a Christmas without them!

I love that my kids LOVE our traditional foods. At some point, they will each ask:

"Are you making Pizza?...are you going to make Cookies?......are we going to have Breaded Meat?"

and my reply... "are you kidding?.. " Of course none have actually tried to make these "infamous" dishes themselves yet. We used to make the cookies together when they were little, but they're "just fine" with

MOM making it all. I did tell them they better "get to learnin'" how to make the family recipe Pizza and Cutlets, so the tradition can carry on.

It was 42 degrees and a snow less Christmas, which was just fine with me. Not having to worry about

people driving in and going home on icy  roads. Yeah, it's pretty to look at but...I'll pass thanks.

I didn't get to see the rest of my sisters, who had their own Christmas Eve, with their kids and grandkids,

but we kept in touch on FB... ahh.. technology...

So.... it was a simple Christmas Eve. But just the way I like it.  My kids all here at the same time

wonderful friends.. and favorite foods.

Having memories of Christmas past and of my own childhood. Missing my parents,

But being so thankful for all that I have good in my life.

So, hope you enjoy my photos below, and a little glimpse of my Christmas.

Hope you had a great Christmas too.

Have a wonderful healthy, peace-filled New Year.

.....How many days till Spring?

5 sheet pizzas...finished at 2 a.m..
lots of work.  It's Pepperoni covered LOVE!

Just some of the "Feast"... The "famous" Crescent Cookies,

"Breaded Meat in the Red Bowl, and Pizza.

Son Eddie, putting his gifts under the tree.

BFF Gloria, Newlyweds Daughter Allison and Andy, Daughter Jamie.

My Babies!

Allison & Andy's gift to me. Their wedding on DVD, a beautiful

Wedding photo, and gorgeous Wine Glasses.

Crazy  siblings Eddie and Jamie

I "made" these for my girls at:

www.zazzle.com

I made Allison and Andy, a book of photos  I titled

"Behind the Scenes the making of a Wedding"

They really loved it.

Family and laughter... the best!

my handsome son Eddie

It's all fun and games, till someone (Allison!) throws a

JR. MINT, and it lands in a pool of hot candle wax!

Gloria brought this amazing array of Cheese cakes..

all I can say is .. O-M-G.

And just as I thought it couldn't get any better,

Jamie (who spent the night) treated me to breakfast!

...but not before she woke me up,  by standing in bedroom doorway,

singing Christmas Carols!!

I returned the "favor" by shouting "Fa-la-la-la-laaaa!

down the hall when she left... ya we're a weee bit

crazy : )

Christmas Day

Gifts I made for my girls and BFF