More Christmas Memories

We really did have a pretty nice Christmas despite being away from our families this year (and despite Christmas dinner not arriving - we'll have to try the honey baked route some other time). Santa Rocco was a little more sublime this year than last year given his eye surgery, but he still managed to bring plenty of Christmas cheer to our home.

He found some excellent things to make MeLissa smile. Delicate white gold and tanzanite earrings were a wonderful surprise. Then there were entertaining books from Martha Stewart to give her ideas once she begins helping others plan weddings and other events (and there's quite a few things that will make our own parties quite wonderful, too!). A bioelectric shield to balance her body's energy and protect her from negative outside sources was just what the doctor ordered (literally!). But, due to its sentimental value, the mini grand father clock Mark found which showcases Thomas Kincade's Light of Peace along with playing Somewhere Out There (one of MeLissa's favorite songs!) is probably the most cherished gift she received.

Mark's gifts from MeLissa were a combination of fun and practical gifts. He received some breakaway pants, notebooks, pens and sticky notes (standard gift fare for Mark while he's in school), a slinky (which Pixie also thinks is quite amusing!), a Three Stooges Video and a giant martini glass! This gift paired very well with a gift from Mark's parents to us - slipper stir sticks! To make travelling less frustrating for Mark, a gift of monogrammed luggage straps in "yum yum" yellow, were wrapped up tight! To keep him well dressed, socks and boxers were just right. To round things out, one more thing was found - a shirt to express Mark's true feelings on fruitcake - a food he's glad isn't avaiable year round! The shirt is all the more fitting since MeLissa's family (with a few exceptions) actually likes fruitcake and eats a good bit during the holidays; thus, disproving Mark's theory that there is only one fruitcake in the entire world that has been passed for centuries. This cake might exist, but only because it hasn't been given to the MeLissa's family!

We received a few other gifts as well - ornaments and candies from Mark's parents (can you guess which ornament they gave?) along with some fun presents the color of our Christmas tree that will come in handy! And, from our friends Lisa and Rob, a bottle of wine and some very nice handmade candle holders and a handmade ornament to grace our tree!

Our only bit of disappointment for the day was that our Christmas dinner (the previously discussed honey baked ham) didn't arrive on time. Rather than let this get us down, though, we prepared a Christmas picnic which we enjoyed by our Christmas tree complete with spinach crab dip, veggies, sparkling blueberry juice and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (sans eggs and wheat, of course!) We plan to have a post-Christmas Christmas dinner as soon as the other goodies arrive!

Oh, and just because she's so sweet with her little santa outfit on, here's another picture of our dear "Pixie Claus" to warm your heart!