Christmastime is here...(Part 3)

By the time we finally made it home, we were happy to be with our little buddies (who celebrated Christmas with the dog walker plus our neighbors who didn't want them to be alone). We were also happy to be back safe and sound in our own beautifully decorated house and with our own tree. Neither of us were all too psyched to pose for more pictures (see images below of Sarah "shunning the paparazzi" and Mike thinking the cat's tail is a candy cane) but when it came time to light the tree and open gifts from each other (as well as from various Angresanos and Brickhouses who sent their gifts from Idaho and Virginia - including from Bob and Hale who had a baby right before the holiday and s-t-i-l-l managed to be timely), we were all smiles.

What a special holiday season it was and how lucky are we to have family who loves us! We are s-s-s-o-o-o tired that we plan to celebrate New Year quietly with a good movie and a warm fire.

All our love,

Sarah and Mike























After a seemingly endless number of flash bulbs popping this holiday season, no more photos, please, Mr. Paparazzi.

















Mike, the cat's tail is not a candy cane (even though Carly seems to be looking on in enjoyment).























Our own 2010 Christmas tree sits with presents yet to be opened!

Christmastime is here... (Part 2)

Marybeth and Felicity (or is that Phoebe, Frances or Harry?) made the trip to Rhode Island for Christmas Day.

















Cousin Eddie and Mike (nice Christmas socks) relax by the fire.






















Missy brings order to the gifts under the tree.






















Sarah displays a personalized Christmas ornament for our tree back at home.

















Our hostesses in Rhode Island stayed up way past their bed time waiting for Santa to arrive.


Part two of our Christmas took us to Providence, Rhode Island, where we spent Christmas Eve (a Polish Vigilia dinner) and Christmas Day (centered around kids and gifts plus a host of family members who traveled from near and far) with upwards of three dozen Savickis, Lombardis, Corcells, Carvellases, Mannings and other well wishers. If it was a white Christmas we wanted by traveling north then we definitely got one. The biggest blizzard to hit the east coast rolled in the day after Christmas and by the time we finally caught a flight home (on the only flight to Charlotte that wasn't canceled a day later), over two feet of snow made New England look like The North Pole. We had a fantastic trip but being away from Sarah's family (plus Carly, Abby and our own Christmas tree) on such a big holiday was tough. It made us realize how love crosses all time zones and is the glue that keeps us all together when we can't all be in the same place.

Love,

Sarah and Mike