Lemme Family Christmas 2008

Well, grab some hot cocoa or cider and some munchies, cuz this is a pretty long post! We just returned yesterday from a wonderful family Christmas in Virginia (just outside of DC). We came in on the 23rd and stayed with Matt's cousin's family. Their kids are our kids ages and have a blast together. We just helped out with the Christmas Eve dinner preparations all day on the 23rd while the kids played and watched TV.

Then, on Christmas Eve, we finished up with the last minute grocery shopping, cooking and table setting. The rest of the family arrived just before church and most of us headed out to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Unfortunately, that is the most popular service and with kids in tow, we were a little delayed getting off. So, we STOOD in the lobby and couldn't hear a thing. Cate rummaged through my purse and my mother-in-law's purse and Max drew on a bulletin with a pen. We received Holy Communion but that is about all we got out of the service. Note to self....next year, do not go to the earlier mass...go after dinner...less crowds!

After mass, we got back to the house to enjoy appetizers and wine and family photos before sitting down to our traditional Italian "Feast of the Seven Fishes"!

Max before everyone arrived!

Great family photo!

My nephew, Thomas, on his first Christmas Eve!

The whole Lemme gang!

How cute are they?!

The kids enjoying the train before dinner.

Cate and her Nonnie. They have a special bond as Cate is her namesake and only granddaughter!

Matt and his brothers

The kids table

Matt and I

Matt's cousin and his wife are expecting and they revealed to everyone at dinner the baby's gender. It's a GIRL!!! It was an exciting time!

And for our dinner entertainment...the family band!

So, after everyone left, we managed to get the kids to bed before Santa arrived. It's funny how they will go to bed so willingly on Christmas Eve (at least ours did, how about yours?).

Santa brought Max just what he asked for...a Tanker Truck and Thomas movie!

Santa's goodies for Cate...Fancy Nancy doll and her wardrobe ("that's a fancy word for clothes")!

The kids anxiously waiting to go downstairs to all the loot!

Santa was aware of our limited travel space, so he kept things small this year while still fulfilling their wishes! The kids also got luggage from us (yep, more travel space to pack it all in!). The only glitch came when all their gifts were open and his cousins were still tearing through their packages. We had to explain that Santa knew we didn't have a lot of space to pack it all in and that some children don't get anything for Christmas...blah, blah, blah...yeah, not really buying it, but he came around! It also helped to tell them that they would be opening more gifts with the grandparents later that day! I promise...my kids usually aren't that greedy (even though I don't really think it was greed so much as not understanding at that age!).

The damage...really not that bad compared to years past!

Painting after gifts were opened!

Our little princess!

After breakfast, playing, and naps, we headed over to Matt's aunt's house to start the gift explosion all over again. Their we joined the grandparents, aunts/uncles/cousins for Christmas Dinner.

Cate and her cousin, Thomas!


Max and his pirate tattoo!

All in all, it was a fantastic holiday with everyone! The day after Christmas we avoided the malls and sales and went into DC to go to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (click to read more about that). The kids had a blast. On the 27th, the moms went out for a relaxing pedicure sans kids, while the dads watched them. Then, after we had a nice lunch out, we went back to pick up the older kids and took them to see "Tale of Desperaux" while the little ones napped. Then, back to Matt's aunt's house for one final family dinner and to say goodbye to the grandparents. They headed back to NJ after dinner. The next day, we slept in a little and packed before heading home. We are so thankful for all of our family and the wonderful time we had with all of them.

I hope you enjoyed the recap....sorry for the length, but considering how many pictures I took (over 125), this is definitely the slimmed down version!