Our Lil Thanksgiving

Since moving to our current home we've hosted a Post-Thanksgiving feast a few times but this year it was just the 4 of us.

Leah helped decorate for Thanksgiving/Autumn.



It was nice. I made everyone's favorites and we sat down and ate and well...ate some more.

Jeopardy Time

Growing up there was a nightly tradition my father always managed to observe when he was home. We would watch Eyewitness news at 6 p.m., World News Tonight (with Peter Jennings) at 6:30 p.m. followed by Jeopardy at 7 p.m. I credit World News tonight for my interest in Global affairs. My dad was a doorman in the building where Jennings lived and I remember stalking the lobby hoping to bump into him.

Some my earliest memories are of watching Jeopardy as young as 5 years old. It sounds silly but I always said that I needed to end up with someone who enjoys trivia as much as I do AND is good at it. Matt loves it and is very good at games like Trivial Pursuit & Jeopardy.

Leah now watches nightly with us. We record it so even if we aren't home we can still watch it the next day. She has Louis watching as well ;-) and her baby doll Bella.

To Grandma and Grandpa's House We Go...

After opening up presents at home we headed over to Grandma Ruth and Grandpa George's house. Aunt Lindsay was there as well. We opened up presents and then had a wonderful, delicious dinner that Ruth prepared.

Christmas Eve

Every Christmas Eve I give Leah new pajamas as her first gift, for her to wear Christmas morning.

Noche Buena

Getting together for a family dinner for Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) is a pretty big deal for Latinos. It is one of those traditions we grew up with that I am fortunate enough to continue now that I have my own family.

Leah begged me to have the house full of family and friends this year for Christmas Eve. BEGGED. She wanted the house decorated, food cooked and everyone over. It was really important to her. So we did just what she wanted. I am glad we did. It was a wonderful evening.

We are blessed to have so many wonderful, loving people in our lives.

Christmas Countdown begins

Our Christmas countdown usually begins around the time we decorate the tree at the grandparents' house.

We had a great time putting up all the ornaments and enjoying the time together.

Holiday Decorating

We decorated our Christmas tree tonight.

Leah helped Matt with the garland while I sorted the ornaments and put hooks on them.







Leah puts a lot of thought into where her ornaments will be hanging.













Leah and Matt "Miss and Mr. Photogenic"


Not so photogenic mom


An almost due mom

Matzah Ball Soup

Matt and Leah made matzah balls together for Matzah Ball Soup. Ruth always tells us about how when she first made matzah balls with Lindsay and Matt, how the kids got a kick out of seeing the tiny balls grow big so quickly in the broth. Matt doesn't really cook much but when he does it is always good and it is almost always something he had as a kid. It is a real treat to see him do it with Leah's help.

Matt's soup ended up looking like this-minus the carrots. Tasted really good. Nice comfort food.



Anyone who cooks with Leah knows how much she truly enjoys helping. She is especially good at making anything into balls. She gets all serious and focuses on the task.

Christmas Day 2007

This was our first Christmas in the new house. It has nice to be able to decorate a bit and have space for things like a tree and lots of presents. And oh boy did Leah get lots of presents. lol. Between Christmas Eve and Christmas I suspect we won't need to go shopping for toys for another year.

We were woken up by Matthew who I suspect was more excited for Leah than Leah was. When he first woke her up she told him to go away and she wanted to sleep some more. So sleep some more she did.

First she saw her new bicycle.




After opening presents we headed over to Ruth & George's for Christmas Day brunch/dinner.

Leah wasn't feeling too great, a bit of a cold so she was tired & cranky but still enjoyed herself. Not to mention looked adorable in the Christmas dress she picked out for herself.



Leah got the prettiest initial necklace, along with lots of other goodies in her stocking.



We opened lots of presents. Then had a delicious meal cooked by Grandma Ruth with Aunt Lois & Aunt DL & Aunt Lindsay. Everything was delicious and the perfect conclusion for Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was spent with our families and friends at our new house. We had a great big dinner of all kinds of different dishes and just hung out and had a good time. Eating, drinking, laughing and being merry. I think a good time was had by all.



After everyone went home Leah got ready for bed. She was incredibly excited and couldn't wait to put on her pajamas and set out brownies & milk for Santa. In years past Leah has been afraid of Santa and anything Santa related. This year however she reconciled her feelings and just couldn't wait for him to come. Every Christmas Eve we give Leah a new pair of pjs to wear.

Trimming the Deller Tree

Matt's family has a yearly tradition. They get together and they trim the tree. This may not seem like a big deal-tons of families do it every year but I always fine great joy is being part of it. And now with Leah here, its even more fun.

But the best part of the whole thing is watching the entertainment. Matt and Lindsay. Quite a competitive pair of siblings. Compete over who has the most ornaments (Lindsay does), who has the best ornaments (Lindsay does), who is going to be placing them where on the tree (Matt tends to move Lindsay ornaments more than Lindsay moves his), who broke whose ornament (I suspect no one broke them, they break over time but its fun watching them blame one another), which ornament belongs to who, who won the Santa game the year before (I've lost track)...you get the point.

For the upcoming week Matt moves Lindsay's ornaments when she isn't around. Silly man.

This was my fifth year there, I missed last year because I was working at Qdoba at the time. But still its nuts, 5 Christmases with Matt. He of course denies it but I can count. I have five wonderful ornaments Matt's parents bought me to hang on the tree :)

Coolest thing about this year though was the fact Leah is big enough to help with the tree. And help she did.