Cleveland & Christmas

My brothers and I went to Cleveland last week for my dad's heart surgery.  We couldn't help laughing during our family meeting the night before - especially when my father proudly showed us his new iphone app called - wait for it..."the flashlight app."   But overall it was pretty scary - and I wasn't even the one getting opened up.  It was a big relief that the surgery was successful, but then comes the recovery...

After Cleveland we headed to philly for christmas.  This was the first Christmas for which both boys seemed really excited and aware of Santa which makes things so fun.  Charlie was especially excited about Santa bringing him a sled and wrote him a letter which he gave to the crossing guard at school to send.  Yes - the crossing guard...The crossing guard has taken a liking to Charlie and asked him to write Santa a letter which she could send.  Charlie and his cousins also made cookies for Santa as an offering.  This all worked out in his favor as a sled did indeed appear on Christmas morning.  Luckily Charlie didn't seem to notice that the big box packed in the car disappeared on the return trip....The other presents I got weren't as well received - a balance bike for Diego and a keyboard for Charlie were pushed aside in favor of more fun toys like a remote controlled car, a "workbox" and a pig popper.  The boys had so much fun with their cousins and were devastated when it was time for them to leave.  They were also so exhausted that they could barely function. 

cookies for santa

Christmas morning!

how sad! playing with the only snow left

tio charlie gave the kids PJs to match his!!

Diego with his favorite toy - a 10 year old Staples gadget!

My mom’s pop-up store did really well (http://www.curiophiladelphia.com/)  - I’m very proud of her.  It is A LOT of work, but we are hoping she can continue it full time going forward.  Here are the kids eating their first “grinder” sandwich and stinking up the store.  And Charlie and Wallis working the cash register….