I just looked and I started this post on January 1st - ha! I don't even have time to read the blogs I love anymore let alone update my own I guess....so here is your warning - longest post eva!
Well, after my mini-meltdown on cookie day, I realized I couldn't do it all...but in true Shana form I was going to die trying...the result was that I was just too busy to blog about it, so this post will include our Christmas happenings at the Karczewski's...
After Christmas my house looked like this...
...there was a Christmas Bomb that went off and Hurricane Lily followed shortly after...
that, coupled with the fact that I went back to work on January 3rd is the reason this post is sooooo late.
Maybe we should start with Liam's first Thanksgiving celebrated at Billie & Steve's...this year we were very thankful for him!
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| We are thankful for Liam! |
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| Turkey knocked them out |
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| Liam too |
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| And when we got home Christmas pajamas were on their beds! |
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| And Lily's tree was up...she had to take a pic - but she may have taken one of herself? |
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| She loves her tree |
Country Christmas at Country Springs Waterpark, if you haven't been - you should go, the lights are amazing and magical and there is a small warming house with hot chocolate and a big train setup...the kids love it, maybe as much as I do :)
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| shortly after this picture was taken - Lily and Mason left and Liam tipped over |
Off to get our tree! This year Lily helped decorate and loved it!
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| she asked daddy "Please, I can sit on the back?" ~ how cute |
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| What's better than decorating the tree? Having our girl help us :) |
We had breakfast with Santa again this year at Auntie Chris'...there were three new additions since last year...Aubrey, Gabriella and Liam (Miles in utero ~ I'm sure he enjoyed the breakfast)
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| Aubrey, Liam & Gabriella |
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| Lily & Gabriella |
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| Mama & Gabriella |
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| Lily loves Santa |
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| the biggest sucker ever - I'm talking about the lollipop |
For St. Nick's Chris brought Lily home a Christmas doughnut and a Hot Cocoa from Starbucks, because she is the "Official Hot Cocoa Taster" (and me a iced vanilla latte, it didn't fit right in my stocking, so I just drank it). St. Nick stocking opening was delayed a bit because Chris was involved in a high-speed chase after he witnessed a hit-and-run accident that morning on his way home from work, and in true cop form, he took off after the assailant - he was bummed that he didn't catch him. Lily patiently waited...and waited.
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| Lily patiently waiting with her hands on her hips |
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| St. Nick's breakfast, Lily just ate the jimmy's |
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| her haul |
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| Happy First St. Nick's Liam! |
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| Lily shows Liam his gifts |
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| she got some Gel Gems ~ she loves them |
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| About an hour later they were in a pile of mush on the bench under this window |
A December breakfast - gingerbread pancakes and egg nog!
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| she loved it |
Jingle Bus tour downtown...
Before Christmas, we had some things to take care of....
like welcoming Our Floridians...and by
Our Floridians, I mean my Uncle Mike and cousin Sasha
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| waiting atiently at the airport |
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| Ashlyn & Lily holding the welcome sign |
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| everyone with the sign |
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| there's Sasha! |
The night before Christmas eve I was knee-deep in appetizers (I make the appetizers, Billie and Steve make the meal ~ we make out on that deal)...shrimp, deviled eggs, cheese spread, veggies & dip, artichoke dip...but decided "Hey, let's make Christmas cupcakes!" (because we clearly had nothing else to get done)...and then Lily proclaimed "Oh...yeah...they are Rudolph's favorite!"...so we did and it was fun!
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| she's a natural baker |
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| Liam watched |
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| demolished |
...and after everyone was tucked in their beds with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads and I had semi-cleaned the kitchen, I started to get everything ready for the next day...baby bag packed, pump ready, presents wrapped with bows straightened and tags made, it was past 1:30 a.m....and then I set out their clothes for Christmas Eve...
...and had to pinch myself...I have a little girl and a little boy...it was going to be a wonderful Christmas, a wonderful first Christmas for Liam!
The next morning before heading off to Billie and Steve's for Christmas Eve, we took care of some final touches before Santa came...
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| We sprinkled Grinch Dust...so he couldn't get her presents |
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| and set out our cookies - and Rudolph's cupcake, which Lily reminded me of |
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| trying to get a pic of the kids with the tree |
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| hold it..hold it |
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| ...and he's down...cue daddy swooping in |
Christmas Eve at Billie & Steve's
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| Nana and her grandchildren |
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| the cousins |
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| our family - Liam's first Christmas |
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| what a cutie! |
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| Mama and Liam |
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| Auntie Billie and Liam |
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| Stud |
It was great the kids opened 4 o'clock gifts...
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| Opening 4 o'clock gifts! |
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| Parker getting his 4 o'clock gifts |
We smiled and laughed...
Some of us took naps...
Nana D read stories...
Lily gave out kisses...
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| Parker was loving this! |
The band played....
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| Mason on drums, Lily on maracas and Parker on guitar |
Billie let me take a belly pic...
And we opened presents!!!
Lily received lots of baby stuff (hmmm...I wonder why)...my sister called it Lily's baby shower
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| some of us slept thru our gift opening |
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| modeling a cute hat from Jen, Craig & Parker |
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| Liam playing Mason's piano |
Waking up Christmas morning...we had Monkey Bread (which by the way is delicious and has become a new tradition!) and opened presents from Santa, among the favorites, Santa brought Lily a Bitty Baby (that she affectionately named Bitty Baby Lily) and the much anticipated Pillow Pet (she wanted this as bad as Ralphie wanted a Red Ryder BB Gun ~ seriously)...she sleeps with them both every night since Christmas...Liam received the his first pair of Chuck Taylor's (which he will need in every size)
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| Christmas morning stretch |
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| Lily opening her presents |
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| Bitty Baby Lily |
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| Liam's first police car |
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| Liam in his first pair of Chuck T's |
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| Bitty Baby and her Pillow Pet |
After we opened presents we headed over to Chris' Aunt Donna's for lunch, where Lily and Liam were spoiled rotten again...
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| Lily opening more presents! |
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| Al & Diane |
We ended the night with a nice bath...even Boots joined in...
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| The perfect end to Liam's first Christmas! |
The following week we had our final Christmas with my cousins and all the new babies!
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| Tiff holding Liam |
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| Jonny holding Liam |
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| Nana's and babies |
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| Lily, Ashlyn and Mason 2010 |
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| Lily, Ashly & Liam 2009 |
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| Happy new family - Corrie, Jonathan and Gabriella |
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| Mama's and their babies |
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| Ashlyn & Lily falling |
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| Smiley Ashlyn |
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| opening presents |
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| Gabriella models her new hat |
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| Lily's cute vest |
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| all the kids |
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| from left: Gabriella, Aubrey, Ashlyn, Lily, Mason & Liam |
So there you have it....our Christmas, in a nutshell, I have some great videos, but they will have to to wait. During the holidays it seemed like we were rushing around a lot (but, I guess everyone does around the holidays), but looking back on the pictures, it was great, I tried to do a lot of things with the kids because I was off and wanted to take advantage of that. We rushed around to spend time with family and make memories with our new little family that we've created...and I will always love Christmas!
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