Superbowl Time!!

So I get a call from my Mom a few weeks ago that went something like this:

Mom: " So I just bought this groupon for a catered superbowl

party from some place in westborough, MA."

Me: "okay......."

Mom: "So who's going to have a party??"

And just like that, we were hosting this years Superbowl festivities.....

Ava was so excited she tried on many different outfits.

but after a visit from her cousin, who set her straight,

she decided on this little number...

and I am especially proud of her accent pieces (i.e. the giant slim jim and D-fence head piece)

The only problem was that her jersey was actually one of Tyler's

which left me running around at every store I could think of

to try to find him a Patriots jersey......the day of the superbowl.....

I would have settled for Patriots ANYTHING but everyone was sold out!!

So I found this outfit, tucked behind piles of toddler clothing....

after convincing my 3-year-old son that Diego was a much better quarterback than Tom Brady....

it was a big hit!!

And so we had the usual suspects over....ate way too much....and drank until it looked like the Patriots were actually playing well!!!

We also had some new visitors this year....

9 month old twin boys Ian and Connor Tobey, who fit right in!!

and after my kids polished off two chocolate cupcakes....and the sugar set in....

these two weren't the only ones looking for a way out !!

And because the game started at 6:30pm....most of our guests left before the game even began!!

Leaving Me, Joe and my parents to enjoy Madonna's half-time show....

and may I say that my mother's comments during her performance

made hosting the party totally worth it!!

Maybe next year Patriots.....maybe next year!!



It's snowing....

The kids were excited to have our first real snow of the season.....that is besides the snow

we had for Halloween!!

So we bundled you up in your snow gear.....well, for Tyler it was more like squeezed him

into his sized 18 month snow pants because Mom was convinced we wouldn't

be having any snow this season......and we headed out for

family sleding!!

 I'm pretty sure Ava ate her weight in snow......in this next picture it looks like she's standing at the bar

waiting for her next snow-mitten cocktail

Ava enjoyed her first solo sleding experience while Tyler mastered the art of throwing a snow ball.

Then Mommy realized she hadn't bundled herself up as well as the kids...

so we headed inside to warm up and

watch the Patriots win the playoffs....

Another great weekend.....see you Giant's fans at the superbowl!!!

Priceless

One hour car ride, 4 tolls and city traffic = $6.50 (and 2 lollipops)

Parking in the garage closest to our destination because it's freezing outside = $35.00

Lying about my kids age so I only have to pay for my ticket = $22.95

Two new family pets = $11.95

BEST SNACK LOCATION EVER, THE BOSTON AQUARIUM, = PRICELESS

Dashing thru the snow (okay, maybe not snow but flurries)

In a CRV too small

We can't fit all these toys

Presents big and small

Our family is so fun

The kids laugh all day long

Tyler Three and Ava One

"Jingle Bells" their favorite Song

soooooo.......

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

To Milford, we're on our way

For Christmas Eve with DiDi and Dup

and the Strazzulla side of the familaayyy...hey!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Our celebrating has just begun
Cousins having fun together
Making memories with everyone

We all eat way too much

The kids with all new toys

Doll houses, cars, trains and such

Filling the house with laughter and joy

Dup keeps Mom's wine glass full
she smiles all night long
Dad's sick and got a cold
and won't help Mom sing this song

SOOOOOHHHHHH.....

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

To Woodstock for Christmas Day

Christmas Morning at our house

To Meme and Grandpys, we're on our way...Hey!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Jingle all the way

Oh what fun two kids can be

On a Magical Christmas Day!!

Holiday Cheer

We have been celebrating the holidays in style over here at the Strazzulla household....

getting ready with a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old.....

I have to wonder if it will ever be this magical again?

We celebrated in Grafton with DiDi, Dup, Meme and Grandpy...

a local holiday event starring a locomotive train.....

of course lots of sugary treats....

and the anticipation of Santa Clause riding in on a fire truck.....which I don't have a picture of because my hands were numb as we have been so spoiled with mild weather this holiday season that Mom underdressed for the occasion!!

Tyler came home from school with a gingerbread house.....sooooo cute!!

and we went to the Natick Mall to run around with Auntie, Logan and DiDi....

oh yeah, and to get the traditional picture with Santa!!

We shared our holiday cheer with new PJ's at DiDi and Dups house.....

and Ava "picked" out something of her own to share!!

 We even had a little down time with one of our favorite cousins, just enjoying being together!!

The only thing that slowed us down this month.......

a game of ring-around-the-rosie gone terribly wrong ending with Ava going

head first into the kitchen cabinets (with a little help from her brother)!!

A trip to the ER and 3 stitches later she was fine...

And then we picked up right where we left off with a trip to

the Bass Pro Shoppes and Santa's Village with Meme....

as Tyler said "too bad Grandpy isn't here to catch all these fish."

And with these two cowboys we are just getting started with our

Christmas Celebration!!



Thanksgiving....Hostess with the Mostest!!

So this year we hosted Thanksgiving.....

there is something to be said for not having to travel on the holidays.....

not having to pack the kids up......

trying to travel during "nap time" (that never works!!)....

praying that nobody else left "first thing" in the morning on Thanksgiving.....

hoping that Dunkin' Donuts is open eventhough everyone else is closed....

throwing snacks and whatever else we can find into the back seat just to keep our sanity.....

yeah, I think I'll cook a turkey every year!!

My grandparents came down from Bridgton, ME....my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Rob from Caribou, ME....my parents....my inlaws....my brother-in-law Greg...and my friend Sage....

all 12 of us called for a bigger table, and while the kitchen floor was cleared, the kids took advantage..

I found out a few days before the holiday that we would be adding a few more guests...

which wasn't a problem at all.....except that I realized I didn't have enough forks for everyone!!

I swear I think our dishwasher eats forks like the dryer eats socks.....how could I have

like 25 spoons but only 8 forks??

Other than that the day went smooth....mostly because my family is so easy going.....

and the kids were really helpful!

Ava did some dishes.....

Tyler had fun helping us make our turkey cookies....

Great-Grandpy Fitz found a place to rest between dinner and dessert....

and Grandpy and Tyler burned off some energy

with an intense superhero battle on the porch!

The actual cooking was easy.....mostly because EVERYBODY BROUGHT SOMETHING!! Which I think is really the key to hosting anything......DELEGATING!! I got to enjoy

all of my family coming to my house without the pressure of dry mashed potatoes or soggy stuffing....

and we got to keep all the leftovers......I'm telling you, Thanksgiving at our house from now on!!