Ringing In 2012

No pun intended.
Really.

A few days before Christmas Eve, Joe was at the jewelers to buy the girls some earrings for Christmas. The jeweler mentioned to Joe that he still had the ring I had fallen in love with a few years back. So Joe texted me a pic of two rings. I being a women picked out the ring instantly without hesitation. He asks me if I want it & of course I said yes, BUT I also said that he didn't have to get it for me. Of course, if he wanted to who am I to say no?? LOL!

He comes home & hands me a gift bag. I told him to put it under the tree for Christmas & he said "No. This is NOT a Christmas present." We went back & forth a bit but then the woman in me gave in & opened it. It was as beautiful as I remembered it, but it didn't fit. It fit on my pinky.

Today we finally got some time to run down to the jewelers & he sized it for me.

I love it!! I consider it an Anniversary band, even though it's not our anniversary. Since there are 3 stones, I like to think that they represent Joe & the girls.

While we were waiting for the jeweler to size the ring I had plenty of time to look in the cases. I mentioned to Joe that I could give him a "shopping list" & pointed to a few things. He gets the jeweler to pull them out for me to try them on which I couldn't pass up.

What woman would pass up the chance to play??

However, Joe wasn't playing & had the jeweler polish my favorite piece for me to wear home.

I know how lucky I am to have such a generous & wonderful husband. He knows how much I appreciate the jewelry & he knows that I don't expect it either. He's just the type of guy that likes to treat me with something special for no reason.

So our New Year's Eve is off to a great start. We don't go out to celebrate, we stay home, let the girls stay up late, watch the ball drop & go to bed. Might sound boring to some people but to us it's nice & relaxing.

It's been a crazy hectic year. Some bad, some good, some fantastic. I'm ready to move into the new year. I'm ready to get back on the treadmill (I slacked off around June). I'm ready to shake loose of the fog that's been floating around me (a different post). Let's hope 2012 is wonderful for us all!

Wishing everyone a safe & healthy Happy New Year! Enjoy it!

Christmas Day 2011

Christmas Morning the girls get up no matter how tired they are but know they aren't allowed to open presents until I get up...and they aren't allowed to wake me up either! It's sorta like waking a grizzly bear from hibernation....

They know that they must also let me take their pics in front of the tree. No ifs, ands, or buts. I try to keep it sort & sweet because there are goodies to be opened!!Marissa had circled a doll house in the Toys r Us catalog (along with other fun stuff), I asked her about it & she said how she really wanted one. Gianna had gotten one a few years back but doesn't always share, etc. I was a little skeptical since she's 10 & not little anymore so I talked to Joe about it he said "Go for it. Every little girl dreams of their own dollhouse", so I bought it. I didn't get a pic of her unwrapping it since it was too big to wrap, and I didn't get a pic of her face when she saw it for the first time either (mom fail) BUT she says it's her favorite gift! So worth it.
Gianna was happy with her gifts too. She's the more exuberant one & squeels with delight over every gift! Easy to please.

Marissa could easily get lost in a book & was excited to get this one in hardcover.
See what I mean? This girl is easy to please! ;) Both girls were really into "Monster High" dolls. I love that they're still into dolls! Yes they enjoy their electronics, but will easily play dolls too.


As for Joe & I we don't have pics of us opening presents. I had serious bedhead & had the same jammies as the girls. That's all you need to know! ;)

We got Joe some DVD's he's been wanting as well as an ipad 2. The man is so hard to shop for!! I know he likes playing with mine but know it would take him awhile to get one for himself so I went for it. He already loves it!

I got some assorted packs of page protectors from Becky Higgins' Project Life kit (not doing PL but I wanted the page protectors) & a few boxes of the grid journaling cards. The girls got me some GC to Michael's & itunes. Joe also bought me hoop earrings, a few DVD's and.........

a Silhouette Cameo!! I can not wait to play! Though I need to learn how to use it....


To top it all off Joe got me a MacBook Pro! I did not ask for it, in fact it intimidates me, but I hear it's very easy to use (BTW--I'm blogging from my trusty Dell laptop since I'm still learning how to use it/setting it up). Joe said he heard how it never gets virus' & since I may or may not have had some virus issues in the past few years he was sold! He really, really spoiled me this year. I know I am lucky to have a generous husband like him, he is truly one of a kind. He puts up with so much from me, especially the last few years (but that's a different post).

Of course with all the fun comes the cleaning up. We did it in stages starting with all the wrapping paper.

After the chaos, we all agreed it was time for breakfast!


Hoping everyone had a wonderful & Merry Christmas!

May Your Days Be Merry!

Spectacular Holiday Typography Design Informer (clipped to polyvore.com)

Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Eve around here is low-key. We try to keep it very simple so that we can enjoy it. I made a few yummy appetizers & had the rest of the meal catered. We serve it buffet style & eat till we're full.

Before the guys claim the living room to watch movies, we had the kids open presents from each family. However, before they are allowed to open anything, they must pose for a group pic. We like to prolong the torture. ;)


Afterwards the kids all divvy up the gifts & find a spot to open their goodies. Marissa with her pile....


Gianna with her pile....After we get these shots we let them at it! There's paper flying everywhere, lots of squeals of joy & happiness all around. It's great!

This year I tossed out the idea of getting an "everybody" pic. I never seem to remember that I have a tripod but this year I finally did & wrangled everyone into the shot. I refuse to mention how many pics we took before this one....it was the last pic & the best I was going to get.


Of course, then I "had" to get a "sister" pic, leading to more pic taking with the tripod. Once again many pics were taken, some great blackmail pics too! ;)

After everyone left I made my little family take a family pic. They were all tired but I was determined.
Afterwards the girls get their "Christmas Jammies" & leave milk, cookies & carrots for Santa & his reindeer, before heading off to bed. It was the most relaxed Christmas Eve yet! I should make a list of what we did so we remember for next year!!! ;)

School Holiday Parties

This years school Holiday parties seemed to be on the more mellow side. Games were played but quieter games. I'm not complaining one bit & believe me Gianna's class may have been playing quieter games but her class is FAR from quiet! They started out with a relay game which was not quiet at all.She was concentrating hard. Afterward the class played Holiday Pictionary & they had their treats.Marissa's class party was the next day. The 5th graders played bingo, & a telephone style game & enjoyed their treats.

Nothing out of the ordinary, I guess, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything! Sorta sad that this was Marissa's last Holiday party....next year in Middle school they don't do parties....my baby's growing up. **sniff sniff**

Rock The Hula!

Back in October, Gianna was at a friend's party when I snapped these pics. There was something about them that inspired me to scrap them right away. I don't think I've ever scrapped pics within days of taking them! I'm pretty happy with it too.

Then I got busy & never took pics so I could share. Day after day would go by & I would forget about them until too late. It was getting pretty bad, considering I had been a bad blogger, I had something to share but no pics.

I need to change that. New Year's resolution? We'll see. ;)

So finally here's a LO that I did back in October. (colors are better IRL)

Rossi Family 2011

Click here to view this photo book larger

Turn your favorite photos into a photo book at Shutterfly.com.

5th Grade Holiday Bazaar

Marissa's 5th grade class held a "Holiday Bazaar" this year to raise money for local flood victims.

Each class had a chance to go & shop around for various items & the 5th graders "sold them". The parents were also able to go in & do a little shopping. They had so much to choose from too! They contacted a jeweler to come in & buy unwanted gold from the adults. Another booth sold purses, scarves & misc. The kids had baked goods, as well as handmade cards, ornaments & chocolates.

I went in during Marissa's selling time. Her & her friend Sienna were in charge of selling the chocolates & cards.

Their goal was to raise $2000.00. Know what?? Their class raised over $3000.00!! What a wonderful way to give back to the community! They were, & should be, so proud of themselves! I'm proud of them too, especially my little elf. ;)

Joy

Ever stumble across something plain & immediately realize you could turn it into something pretty?

I came across this set of frames (got them in the Dollar Spot at Target a LONG time ago) in my basement as I was decorting for Christmas & brought it up to my desk. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

I took some older paper from Jillibean Soup, OLD jumbo letters from Making Memories & a few buttons. I simply put the paper in front of the glass, then adhered the letters to the paper. Of course, it needed a little something more so I used THIS diecut to make the little flowers, added some irridescent glitter to the edges & added the buttons.

The hardest part was finding a place to hang it. Wasn't thrilled with where I put it but I am happy that it's MADE & I can always find another spot next year! ;)

Christmas Cookies 2011

Every year I make Christmas cookies. Lots & LOTS of cookies. I have some favorite recipes & usually try to stick to 5 or 6 varieties. This year I wanted to cut back on the quantity of cookies.
I think this year I'm going for an easier Christmas. You know, more time "enjoying" the season.

These are my "almost-famous-in-my-own-mind" Chocolate Chip cookies. I think if I narrowed it down to just one type of cookie this would be it. Everyone's favorite.



White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookies. Joe loves these but I usually just make them a couple of times a year.


Walnut Tassies, or Walnut Tarts...whatever you call them, they are DELICIOUS!! They're a bit time consuming but so worth it. ;)


Another of Joe's favorite, Honey Sand Balls, or as I call them "Snowballs".



Usually every year I make red & green Spritz cookies. During one of my marathon pinning sessions on Pinterest, I found these cookies & thought that I could cut out my usual spritz cookies with these. However I doubled the recipe but rolled them as one so the cookies came out HUGE! As pretty as they are, the consensus was to bring back the Spritz next year. Pinterest-FAIL. Oh well.

Gingerbread Houses

One of our traditions we like to do in anticipation of Christmas is build a Gingerbread House.

We buy a kit from Michael's & whatever assorted candies we can find that are "perfect" for the house. One staple are the NECCO wafers for the roof. To us it just screams "GINGERBREAD HOUSE"!!

Since we don't eat the house we decided to put it together with a hot glue gun to speed up the process so we can get to the fun part--DECORATING!! We hot glued it together then used the frosting to cover up the glue.

This is when Joe takes over & does the roof.
He insists on shingling the roof.
By.Him.Self.
Thankyouverymuch.

We let Joe have his fun so that we can have ours. I help the girls with a few things here & there or "guide" them a little but this year it was all them.

Marissa took over the front of the house. She even built a patio/walkway in the front.Gianna did the back & the landscaping.
We decided afterwards that next year we'd have teams & we'd build two houses. We might even have a throw down with my sisters' & their families.

Can you say competitive?

Marissa's Holiday Concert

Marissa is in Chorus at school. Tonight they were the pre-show that ties in with the 4th grade Holiday show. Since there are just three 5th graders in Chorus, they couldn't showcase them as just the 5th graders.

That would be awkward.

The group sang about 5 songs. They were terrific! My girl was especially adorable, if I do say so myself! ;) These 3 girls are the 5th graders, Marissa's on the left.

After they were done we left (we didn't stay for the 4th graders...shhhh!!), but Marissa was all smiles the rest of the night. Love her!!

Zonko's Back!

Shortly after Thanksgiving, our Elf, Zonko, came back to visit. He's been all over the place!

The best part of his visits? The girls jump out of bed in the morning to find him! ;)

Annual Family Christmas Party

Tonight was our annual family party with my side of the family.

We started planning it last year. Since there's so many of us, trying to come up with a date we can all get together is hard. It's good to plan early!

Everyone brings something to eat, then we hang out, catch up, & enjoy it all. This year it was at my sister, Marie's, house. The kids run around & play, the guys watch TV, the women get the food ready & talk. Lots of talking!

Since there are so many kids we do a Secret Santa for the kids only. The kids think this is the best part!
Getting a group pic of everyone is hard. As it was this pic only shows some of us. Three cousins couldn't make it this year. We had one cousin that left early due to a tired baby,so they missed the pics. We don't seem to get into camera mode until later on. The guys (with the exception of my Uncle), didn't want to get in the pic. The kids, well getting them to cooperate ('specially mine lately) is HARD.

We are 4 of out 8 cousins from 2 brothers. My sister Chet, my cousin Maria, my sister Marie & me.


It was a lot of fun & a great way to start the Christmas season! Next year's party is in the works & I'll be hosting. Can't wait!