A Merry Christmas and Disneyland

I'm sitting here thinking about my family and reflecting on the images in my head of all of the memories that we made this Christmas.  This Christmas, as well as last Christmas, have been some of the best times that we have spent with our family.  Last year we were blessed with having Mauro's parents staying with us and experiencing all of the Christmas excitement with us.  But this year, even more special, Mauro's daughters were here to experience Christmas with us.  We have had an amazing Christmas.  Connie was able to wake up with us at the crack of dawn, to watch the little girls open their gifts from Santa, and then Kim arrived, later on in the day, to have Christmas day dinner with us. It was so much fun having them here to make some awesome memories.  They both gave gifts to their little sisters, but told them that the gifts were from Santa.  How sweet is that?

     This year, we hosted both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Cortes house, and with that hosting, came some new traditions. On Christmas Eve, we took the kids out into the back yard to roast marshmallows around the new fire pit. It was so much fun to see them all sitting around the fire trying to blow out their flaming marshmallows.  We will definitely do that again. And, then, on Christmas day, we smoked a Turkey!  Mauro had been working every day after work, the whole week prior to Christmas, on building and welding a very special, one of a kind smoker.  I had asked him if we could maybe bar-b-q the turkey this year, or maybe barrow a smoker, so that we could have something different.  Instead, he decided that he would fabricate one for me as a christmas gift.  It was the best turkey that I have ever had.  We will definitely do that every year for Christmas Day dinner.  I'm not sure if anyone else liked the Turkey, because we had a lot of it left, and no one took a bit of it home.  So, I guess we will be eating this Turkey for the next couple of days, and I couldn't be happier. That smoker was the best Christmas gift ever! But I have to say that my Coach purse, that my husband surprised me with, does come in a close 2nd! Not because it's leather, or that it's a designer, couture bag,  and not because it is the most expensive purse that I have, or will ever have - but simply because he listened, and he bought me something that he new I really wanted.  He bought it regardless of the fact that he thought it was an extravagant want, and vain, on my part.  For me, it really has nothing to do with price, or labels, or status. If I had really wanted a new toaster, and he bought me a new toaster, I would have been just as excited.  It's all about him showing me how much he loves me by listening to me, and considering what he knew I would like. He proved to me that he was paying attention to the things that I like and disliked,  even though he thought it was ridiculous.  I felt a lot of love from him that day! Thanks, Baby Love! 

     I am including pictures from our trip to Disneyland.  That trip was a one of a kind adventure.  All of the girls enjoyed themselves and we all made lasting memories!  I feel so blessed.  I can't wait to take them in a few years when Lily is old enough to remember the trip.