my vintage santa collection:
prosecco by the tree:
where you hang your stockings when there is no mantel:
cate's christmas eve excitement:
new jammies by the tree. note to self: italy doesn't "do" christmas pajamas. don't count on gap. you will order four sets of matching pajamas EARLY. you will think you are on top of your game. the gap will only deliver the 2 sets of 3ts. NOT HELPFUL. next year...be prepared.
santa came! :
pigs in a blanket-a christmas morning tradition:
the aftermath:
cutest stuffed frogs from bb!
santa knows 'ashion...yes?
princess dresses+t rexes+ dragons=a 3 year old's dream christmas:
overwhelmed with gratitude that he was here:
i was a VERY good girl. santa brought me a leather bag from firenze. sneaky santa!!
giant kinder eggs from their stockings:
santa brought me something else...pneumonia. BOOOO!
hope your day was beautiful and bright. love you all!
Loved every picture. Merry Christmas to your sweet family. Praying you feel better soon. xoxo
Posted by: Jessica @The Mom Creative | 12/27/2013 at 05:40 AM
Looks like a great Christmas! :) SO sorry you have pneumonia though! That's the worst! :( I hope you feel better soon!
Posted by: reyanna | 12/27/2013 at 08:24 AM
So fun to see the photos, Steph! Hope you feel better, mama. Love you!
Posted by: Account Deleted | 12/27/2013 at 08:57 AM
Thanks for sharing your lovely Christmas! I hope you feel better very soon!
Posted by: Shelbie | 12/27/2013 at 09:22 AM
Beautiful Christmas memories with your MAN there... Get well!!
Posted by: Jennifer | 12/27/2013 at 09:56 AM
Looks like a beautiful Christmas! Feel better soon!
Posted by: Meghann Andrew | 12/27/2013 at 10:04 AM
Wonderful photos! take care of yourself!!!
Posted by: Miriam Prantner | 12/27/2013 at 10:26 AM
Looks like a wonderful Italian Christmas...besides the pneumonia! I hope you get better soon. If it makes you feel any better, I got appendicitis and had to have surgery! Lol! Wishing you good healthy in the New Year and lots of precious family time!
Posted by: Raquel | 12/27/2013 at 10:36 AM
I am so sorry you ended up sick! I too had a very serious illness while in Germany at Christmas several years ago. I was in bed on Christmas day, and could not move, or breathe, or do anything normal. Please get lots of rest.
Posted by: Candy | 12/27/2013 at 10:59 AM
You marble floor always throws me off. It took me a minute to figure out that this wasn't a tiny tree sitting on a marble top table. :) Hope that you kick the pnuemonia quickly. Santa brought us the stomach flu over here. Holiday sickies are no fun.
Posted by: Erin R. | 12/27/2013 at 11:09 AM
OMG! I love that dragon!!
Posted by: Mariangeles | 12/27/2013 at 12:28 PM
It looks like a really wonderful Christmas with all of you together. So glad, but I'm really sorry you're ill. I do hope you're completely better very soon.
Posted by: CJ | 12/27/2013 at 04:00 PM
Hi Stephanie, love all your photos and funny stories. Question - why are some gifts not wrapped under the tree? Just asking! (Ones from Santa?) I've seen that a few times around the place and am just wondering. We don't do that in Australia. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Debra | 12/28/2013 at 01:17 AM
Santa doesnt wrap in our house. ❤️
Sent from my iPhone
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 12/28/2013 at 03:08 AM
Oh no! Get well soon, Stephanie! Wonderful photos and memories of your first Italian Christmas!!
Posted by: Gayle W. | 12/28/2013 at 04:46 AM
Yikes! Hope you are feeling better. Pneumonia is a horrible, horrible thing to get. Merry Belated Christmas!
Posted by: Mariah | 12/28/2013 at 02:13 PM
Poor you! Take care, oranges, plenty of rest, the works! Cute x-mas pics, i always loved it when they wore new pjs for Christmas! Love your decorations, great job as you probably shopped it all in one piece from the US! My twins turned 13 today, how time files!
Posted by: Kate | 12/29/2013 at 12:43 PM
So sorry you're sick - take good care of yourself. I had pneumonia a couple years ago & thought I'd never get well. Try to get as much rest as possible. Remind me next year & I'll help you out with the Christmas pjs. Love all of the Christmas pics!
Posted by: ginny | 12/29/2013 at 05:19 PM
Beautiful Christmas pics (Cate's look is priceless!). I have had pneumonia several times, no fun at all! Hope you are well soon! Santa only brought one gift to our house, and never wrapped. All the rest of the loot was from mama and papa.
Posted by: berta | 12/30/2013 at 10:12 PM
Oh fab - thought that might've been the case. I love the photo of the twins holding their dinosaurs while wearing their princess dresses, so cute.
Posted by: Debra | 01/01/2014 at 07:45 PM
Happy New Year! I'm catching up on my blog reading after being away. I love those giant Kinder eggs! I think I still have all the Kinder egg toys in a jar somewhere in storage. Love those things!! Enjoy!
Posted by: Melissa R. | 01/08/2014 at 09:11 AM