BEST GIFT EVER!!!!

(Not including the health of my family and all that)


Woo hoo!!! Hope everyone else got what they wanted this year! Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Hoping everyone has a wonderful Holiday!




click to enlarge

Traditions

I really love the holidays! What I love most is all the fun traditions we have. It is nice to have the extra time as a family, and I hope my kids will look back on these as good times (not times that their Mom was a screaming, stressed out mess. They get enough of that the rest of the year!)


A number of years back we bought this gingerwood house that we decorate.

The kids have a blast with it. I have to sit on my hands and resist the urge to jump in there and make it neat and orderly.

We are not winning any contests with this little number, but it is festive none the less!

I love to bake for friends and neighbors. I usually try something new every year, which is a bit of a gamble. I love the above Christmas buttons. So easy and so good. I will definitely be making these again. I think I have eaten more than we gave away.


The above Oreo truffles were simple, but a bit time consuming. Pete loved them and says we have to make them again. Maybe he can be the one to hand dip 100 little balls into chocolate.

There is a drive through light display called Festival of Lights that we also do every year. The kids love popping their heads out of the top of the van while we drive around to see the lights. Pete looks like he his having fun too.

I have to admit, the kids usual gripe about picking out the tree. Not sure what their problem is. I always loved picking out the tree as a kid! Whatever.

This year they actually got into decorating it! Usually they each will hang 1 or 2 ornaments, then run back to whatever they were doing, leaving me and Vinnie to finish up. (Vinnie is a crack up. Every holiday he is all about the decorations and putting things out. I can always count on him!) This year they all stayed and hung up every last ornament! Which was nice, except it meant I had a lot more rearranging to do when all was said and done. I am willing to let the gingerwood house look like a mish-mash, but not the tree!


The final step, the tree topper!


This year I took all the boys to see the Nutcracker. I had done it once with Zach many years ago, but haven't done it since. We all really enjoyed ourselves, and decided it was going to be a yearly tradition from now on.


While this is Christopher's first year in preschool, we have been attending someones school Christmas program every year for many years. He was so excited about it, and is still singing "Away in a Manger" for us at the top of his lungs. If I ever get around to taking it off the video recorder and putting it on here you can hear it. Hilarious!
Of course there was no flash photography and we had a crappy seat to boot, so this is the best I got. Bummer.

And finally, the visit with Santa. I am not the type to force a kid to do this, and have let Zachary know that while I would like him to, he does not have to. When my Mom saw this picture she commented about how sweet and mature Zach was to do this for me. Then I had to admit to her that I paid him $5 to do it. And he would only get the $5 if he smiled. Hey, whatever works!

Happy Holidays to all!

Happy Birthday Zachary!

I can't believe it, but my oldest turns 12 years old today!

The following are Zachary's top 12 highlights of the last year.

1. He officially passed Pete and I up in skiing ability. He had a great time making us go on black diamond runs, then waiting at the bottom for us while we fumbled our way down.

2. He was chosen to play Majors in Little League.

3. After struggling with his bat, smacked one to the outfield in a game changing moment!

4. Graduated from elementary school. He was so ready to be out of there!



5. He got his first cell phone. And Pete and I now understand the beauty of the "unlimited texting plan"!




6. He had a great time at summer camp, and was able to meet up with friends from previous years.




7. He played on the Jr Pee Wee football team and worked his way up to the starting line by the end of the season

8. Started middle school and absolutely loves it! We couldn't have asked for a more seamless transition.

on his way to the dance


9. He attended his first middle school dance. I don't think there was any actual dancing with girls, but he had fun none the less.

10. We went to Disneyland and he went on every major roller coaster and loved it! (this was one of my highlights too since I now have someone to go on roller coasters with!)

11. He started playing rugby just last week. He was a bit nervous before his first practice, but loved it! One of the coaches even pointed out his "perfect tackling form" to the rest of the team.

12. He finished his first round of finals and did awesome! He may have even pulled off straight A's.

Happy Birthday Zachary! Being your Mom is certainly one of the top highlights for me!

Until next season...

Wow! I am behind on blogging. I am struggling to find the time these days. In other words, the usual!
The Contini boys all wrapped up their Fall sports seasons last month.

Christopher had a great time with soccer. Next year he will be old enough to play on a "real" team! He is more than ready.


Vinnie's season ended in the freezing, pouring down rain. It was absolutely miserable watching the games, I can't even imagine the poor kids playing!

Vinnie was a trooper though, and didn't complain!

He had a great season and was a real solid player. He probably would have been even better if he wasn't chattering constantly on the field!



He loved his trophy and couldn't wait to add it to his "collection".

Joey's baseball season was next to end. While his team struggled, it was a great learning experience for Joey, and he really improved his skills.

He finally came out of his hitting slump and knocked a few to the outfield! I can't wait to see how he does in Little League this Spring.

Zachary's team played a tough team in the first round of the play-offs. As usual it was an unusually warm game. Zach was hoping for a rainy game all season, but never got it. He is number 4 above, lining up against the huge guy. Yep, our team was physically one of the smallest in the division. We ended the season 4-4 though. The play-off game was surprisingly close, and in fact we would have tied except for a bad call by the ref.

Lots of family came to cheer Zachary on.

Coach Saul presented Zach with his "helmet trophy" which I thought was fun compared to the usual plastic gold trophy crap we usually get.


Last to finish up this year was Joey's flag football team. The tournament was a series of 4 games in mostly pouring down rain. Once again, miserable to watch! The few pictures I took were during the brief breaks in the rain.


Although it was Joey's first year playing, he did great and was a real solid player as well.

He is pushing to play tackle football next year, like Zachary. While I do not have concerns about the "tackle" portion (heck, it can't be any worse than the pummeling that goes on in our living room on a nightly basis!). I am concerned about the time commitment and really long, tough work outs. Joey is a whiner and I do not want to hear him griping before every practice! Oh well, we have a few months to decide.

Way to go Team Contini!

Usually the winter is our break from sports, but Zach is starting rugby this week! Pete played in college and is thrilled. I am guessing Zachary will get his wish to play in the rain. I am looking forward to learning a new sport!