Crisafulli Family Christmas Party

Opening presents at the gift exchange.  The kids all draw names around Thanksgiving and buy presents for each other.  

All the kids in their annual Christmas picture. (though it did not feel like December, 70 degrees, etc...Today, though, icy and ffrr-freezin with possible ice tomorrow).  Gotta love the Texas weather.

Sarah was NOT a happy camper.  

Amanda holding, Chris and Suzie's new baby girl, Abigail.  Check out all her beautiful, dark hair.  Oh! and congrats to Amanda and Chris, they're expecting a baby of their own soon.

Julie, Gina, and my dad, chillin' reading a Christmas book.

Becca's Christmas Choir Concert

I caught them mid-laugh, mid-scowl, and mid-exclamation. Scenario..."Why don't you take a picture in front of the Christmas tree?!?"  I love Antonio's scowl at that!! 

Becca and mom, Kimberly

Becca and her friend, Angela

We all know how much Antonio loves a good picture....He just "makes" the picture, doesn't he? Aw well, we love him anyways.

Becca and TJ after the concert.  

Concentrating hard on singing the right note.  It sounded perfect!

Preparing to sing.  Isn't Becca pretty?!?

BELLA!!

Look at my beautiful, new dog, Bella.  For those of you who don't know, Angel got out of the backyard on the 4th of July.  We don't know if the fireworks spooked her or what, but we haven't seen her since.  We tried posters, online searches, as well as checking the pound for weeks afterwards, but still no luck.  Anyways, Bella was abandoned in Glen Rose near Antonio's parents.  She's a little skittish, but is soooo sweet.  

She and the cat, (Antonio's dubbed him Minion) play constantly.  So much so, that it is a good thing the cat has his front claws removed.  

She looks innocent and sweet here, but she is full of energy.  She runs laps around the backyard and even the house sometimes.  She would make a good herder or obstacle course dog.  

Outside at the reception

Not the best colors....but this picture is one of my favorites.  Too bad we weren't both looking in the same direction.  :-)  

Aunt Val and my mom...just what do you think they are discussing?!? Contemplating deep thoughts.

Friends of ours.  Terri, Banu and some random "peace-sign guy".  JK, but don't ask.  :-)

Of course, the guys are playing cards.  And that table was perfect for Euchre.  

Cake Close-ups

I liked two styles and I couldn't decide, so I got both.  Solves that problem, huh?  :-)  Polka dots and hearts.  Both dainty yet beautiful.  

And the topper, perfect.  Thanks Mary.

Yes, mine was beautiful, but Antonio's was DELICIOUS!  If I could do it again, I'd make my bride's cake chocolate.  I am such a chocoholic.  White was traditional, though, so that's what I did.  And both of them were great!  YUM!

More decorations

For those of you not in the area, the reception was held at my parent's new house in Mansfield. The house was beautiful as always and the decorations just added that much more to the atmosphere.  

The entryway...more flowers...bouquet...guest signature book...and wedding favors (tulle wrapped blue and white mints with a hand-stamped tag with the date and our names).

Balloons...with the living room and the margarita machine in the background.  :-)  Of which I only drank a small fraction.  One glass at the party, maybe a few more days later......

Setting up the outside tables prior to the party.  I was inside at the time, benefits I suppose of being a bride, in August, the morning of your wedding day!  Boy was it hot, glad I could let others help.  

The dessert table prior to cakes.  Isn't the topper lovely?  My sister, Mary, picked it out.  Perfect!!

Cakes, better pictures coming....

Summer Update

About time for a few new posts, huh?  :-)  My summer break is now into the second month, but still this is the first chance I've had to add new pictures and information.  It's been a fun, relaxing time.  But these last weeks have been busy.  I've attended one professional development class, visited NY, attended Antonio's class reunion and spent the better part of this last week putting up posters and scrounging Arlington and the surrounding areas for my dog, Angel.  (more about her later, she escaped on the 4th.)  Anyways, now that I've some time I thought about an upcoming anniversary....... I thought I would post some decoration pictures first.  :-)  Enjoy!

My favorites, blue and SUNFLOWERS!!!  Oh, and my mom baked a bunch of traditional cookies from my family.  Grandparents and family recipes were a delicious hit!

More flowers on display.

Gift table and basket.

Decorated table in the dining room.  More cookies and gift baskets with mints.  We decorated them with tiny blue flowers.  So cute.

Houston Weekend

Aren't we gorgeous?!? Trying on hats was fun. Always entertaining to pose for the camera.

Antonio and I agree, this would make a great head shot. Too bad we were in Houston, huh, Becca? We missed the make-over and photo shoot. Oh well, we saved your dad $30 and spent more than that in Houston! Too much fun...

Then we have me in the black, knit beret (beanie-according to Antonio) :-) Wicked!
Gotta love the shopping! Julie looking at wallets...

Becca and Lisa modeling, they could be sisters, huh? They look more alike than Lisa and I do.
Julie looking stylish.
Coy and cute.
Snapping photos from the car window usually doesn't get such good results, but luckily Julie's aim was good - fantastic in fact. It didn't hurt that Becca and I were there to help time the picture. And yes, that really is an armadillo with long horns. Another Houston landmark.
Of course we had to have lunch at Freebirds. Julie loves this place. Of course, the rest of us don't mind the burritos either. :-) Now we just have to convince her that we don't have to go to Houston to get a Freebird, there's one in Fort Worth!!
Pigeons!!! More from the "winged rats" later.
Ellie, Lisa's cat, lounges on our luggage and laundry. Nothing like a cat nap!

Weekend Plans

Well, we have a big weekend planned. My sisters, Mary and Julie, have joined Becca and I in a trip to Houston to visit my lil' sis, Lisa. She's in medical school and couldn't get away for her long weekend, so we obliged :-) and came to her. We came in late Friday night and stayed up talking, watching online videos, and planning our day and a half in H-town. Today we have lots planned, but I won't ruin the surprise. Look for photos later!! My camera is acting up, so we are using Julie's, however, she forgot to bring her computer connector cord, so I'll have to get the pics from her later.... For now, here are some more pictures of the last few months...

First......From New York.....

Grandma is back in Bradford. She is doing better, now that she is in familiar suroundings. Here she is now with her new puppy. She loves animals so much that we decided to get her a stuffed one following her surgery. She loves it!
Grandma and Grandpa Carls
Mom, Grandma, and my Aunt Ginny
"Goldie"
The climbing tree behind my grandparent's house. The swing we put up this summer. What fun!

Even with the light snow, my mom just loved cleaning off the car before driving.
Looking out over the hill at my grandparent's house. The fenced in area is where Terry trains her horses. Past that is the blueberry hill. During the summer, this is all so green. It's been many years since I've seen it in the winter, covered in white. So beautiful.

Look at how much taller the tree appears to be in the winter. This has been the setting for so many memories. With many more to come....