Christmas

Well, I have so many things to write about, but I thought I would start with Christmas.  This Christmas was wonderful for us.  We are so grateful for all of our blessings.  We managed to see almost everyone from both sides of the family.  I know Ava and Sam enjoyed seeing everyone, and I hope we made some good memories :)  Here are some of our favorite pictures from a few of our Christmas celebrations.  I will share more later!

Ava posing in her Christmas outfit

 Pretty girls!!!

Erica and Nick

My dad makes a Lebanese feast every year for our Christmas celebration - it is one of my favorite traditions!! 

Sam has perfected the art of the bottom lip :)

We tried getting a picture of all of the grand kids - of the 25 that I took this is the best one!

After the grand kids, we had a photo session in front of the fireplace!!

At home on Christmas Eve - this is the one shot I got of us making cookies.  I let Ava roll out the dough and then Sam got in on the action with the icing and the sprinkles.  It got a little wild!!

Ava couldn't take her eyes off of the cookies.  Loving Sam's smile!!! 

Christmas morning - Ava's favorite gift is her Rapunzel "salon."

Sam's new train table!  If we even mentioned Santa, Sam said, "choo choo."  I think he liked it!!

Barbies everywhere!!!

 Roar!!!

Barbie Dream House

We celebrated Christmas with my mom, and then went to Texas the next day and spent some time with James' parents.  And then James and I went on an AMAZING vacation, so there are definitely more posts coming soon!!

Christmas at Our House

We have had such a fun time getting ready for Christmas this year. I think Ava and Sam are both at such fun ages, and we have been able to begin some new traditions. I just wanted to give a glimpse of what Christmas looks like at our house this year.

Our tree

Can I just say that I think the most beautiful trees are the ones full of homemade ornaments.  I will never have a fancy tree - I can't wait until mine is just covered with ornaments from the kids!

Ava and I had a blast making the gingerbread house - Sam had a blast eating half of it :)

It would not have been the same here without our Elf on the Shelf - Sprinkles.  Sam seriously can't stand it every morning until he finds him. And I have to say James has had probably just as much fun finding spots for him!  And to make it even more fun Sprinkles occasionally leaves little gifts for the kids - this morning he left Christmas pajamas!!

I love everything about Christmas cards - making them, sending them, getting them!!  I always keep them and will have fun looking at them again next Christmas!!

Ava REALLY wanted to be Santa Claus in the bathtub - Sam did not!!

 Our new Christmas pj's from Sprinkles!!

I hope everyone else has had as much fun getting ready for the holidays!! 

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a busy (and really fun) Thanksgiving holiday.  First, we celebrated on Wednesday night with my Daddy, Andrea, Erica's crew, Jordan, and Conner. We missed you Jacob :(  We had a very non-traditional meal -  spaghetti and meatballs.  We also celebrated Tyler's (my oldest nephew) birthday.  He is 14 years old which I absolutely cannot believe.  In two years he will be driving!!!!!

Conner and Sam are hiding from monsters under the table

The birthday boy

Jordan with the girls

The girls had such a fun time playing dress up with Jordan- what a good uncle!!

and a good Papa too :)

On Thursday we went to my mom's and had Thanksgiving lunch with Matthew and Erica's family.  It was a delicious lunch, and all of the kids had so much fun playing

Mama with all the kids

and then with just the girls

We took this picture first and Sam wasn't in the mood - obviously!! 

I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving.  I can't believe it is already time for Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving Feast

Last Thursday Ava's Mother's Day Out class put on a program and had a Thanksgiving Feast.  James and I were so lucky to go together and have lunch with our little girl!!  She had so much fun playing with her friends after lunch!!

Ava made several goodies for us.  One was a Thanksgiving place mat listing all of the things that she was thankfull for.  The first thing listed - Elle (our dog).  First of all, her teacher was baffled that anyone would name their dog Elle (she spelled it "L").  I assured her that Ava was right and that was her name.  Then I wanted to make sure with the teacher that she didn't say Elle first - she did - haha!!  The order -- Elle, Sam, Mommy, and James. Oh well- third is not too bad- at least I wasn't fourth :)

I hope I can get the video figured out on this blog, because I have another cute one!! 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Pirainos

Gymnastics Girl

We have been going to a combo gymnastics, ballet, and tap class for several months now.  We just LOVE it. I have to say that I was a little worried because I didn't know what to expect.  However, Ava is in her element there.  She is so excited in the morning when it is her dance day.  We have made new friends, and my normally shy, quiet little girl is such an extrovert when she is there. 

Last week the moms got to go in and watch (take videos) of the girls doing gymnastics. I just thought I would share some of my footage, but I can't upload my video for soem reason- BOO!!  I will keep trying because it is worth it :)

Halloween Fun.....a little late

We had a great Halloween weekend.  I have just been to busy to sit down and write about it.  Ava had a lot of input about the Halloween costumes this year - she felt VERY strongly about being Jessie from Toy Story.  Then Ava and I decided together that Sam should be Buzz - maybe next year Sam can pick out his own costume :)

The kids and I had SO much fun decorating these pumpkins. I just didn't want to carve a pumpkin this year and was so excited when I found these cute Potato Head decorations at Target.  I cannot even explain how excited they both were every time we went outside.  I just took them apart yesterday. 

James' parents (Grandma and Grandpa) came to spend Halloween weekend with us.  We made a little trip to the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday.  The highlight for both kids was riding the ponies!

Sam and Grandpa

I was working REALLY hard to get smiles - not to be!!

The whole gang

Sam and Ava on the hayride

Ava said that she really needs a pony now - HA!

On Sunday night we had such a great time trick or treating with our little Jessie and Buzz.  James had to nearly drag me home along with the kids - I kept saying, "Just one more!"

 Miss America - Ava waving at the trick-or-treaters as they walk by!

 I got very few pictures of Sam - he was too busy to be still for my pictures!

 Here we are at Rob and Margaret's house - ready to go!

 The thing that I always want to remember about this Halloween is how sweet my kids were when they went up to the houses to get candy.  They were so polite, and Ava took such good care of her little brother.  She held his hand and waited for him, and when Sam was reluctant to talk she talked for him.  I am so glad that I have been blessed with these two kids :)