Costume Trunk (7 of 12)

The kids were out of school the week of Christmas, so we had a lot of time on our hands at home... just in time to celebrate the glories of dressing up in costumes! Brayden and Layna broke into our costume box (which became a costume trunk when they receive a dozen+ costumes for Christmas!) and this is the result:

My new favorite picture of Brayden (and the wallpaper on my phone!)

The pair, such a riot

Hawaii's newest pimp. Aloha!

Zoolight Safari (6 of 12)

Last Tuesday (the 22nd) we took the kids to the Birmingham Zoo for their annual Zoolight Safari! I realize that many zoos around the country do this, but I hadn't attended one before. Saying that the kids had a transcendent experience is putting it mildly. Brayden nearly lost his mind when he saw the lights from the car as we were pulling into the parking lot, so imagine his squeals as we actually walked into the zoo! Here's a video of us walking around. I apologize in advance for it being so dark, but (duh) it was at night. Even if you can't see them clearly at times, you can still hear the excitement! (NOTE: I was pushing our double-stroller with one hand and taping with the other, so -- on occasion -- it seems a little crazy...)

New Puppy (5 of 12)

Christmas has been loads of fun here in Florida. While I still work on collecting pictures of opening presents and other fun times, I have a video to share featuring Nicole's sister Elyse's new puppy, Kora. Kora is about 12 weeks old and was so very cute -- she's a Yorkie-Bishon mix, which Elyse calls a Yorshon, or what I call a designer mut! :) She played well with Zoey (even when Zoey was a bully) and the kids loved her (I mean, what's not to love, she looks like a living, breathing Beanie Baby!).

In the video, Elyse is getting ready to leave to go back to Gainesville, so the best part of the video is when Layna is saying "bye" to Kora (listen at the end, Layna says, "Bye Kora! I love you!").

Snow in Bama (4 of 12) -- updated!

A few weeks before Christmas, it snowed in Birmingham! The kids had a marvelous time... here they are. For Layna, this was her first snow!* For Brayden, he remembered the good time in DC when he got to play in the snow all winter long.



*I have been rightly corrected that Layna has, in fact, seen snow prior to the reference in this post (see here). My bad!

Christmas Day!! (3 of 12)

When we woke up on Christmas morning, Santa had come to visit!! The kids weren't entirely sure what was going on (I believe Brayden may have thought Santa was still in the house...), but they were thrilled once they saw their gifts! Here was the setup prior to their arrival:

Layna's stocking and gifts

Brayden's stocking and gifts

...and the joint gifts from Santa!

A fantastic play kitchen!!

A super new castle to play in!

Good morning!!

Christmas Eve (2 of 12)

On Christmas Eve, we had a great time making gingerbread houses, eating a big festive dinner, and then opening our family presents. Here are some snapshots of our gingerbread construction!

Reading the instructions

Getting some help from Mama

Working on her house...

...or eating her house!

Brayden's looks great!

And now, the finished product!!

Our gingerbread village (from left to right: my church, Layna's something, Nic's house, Brayden's cabin)

Layna's looks like an outhouse (haha!)

Brayden's fabulous cabin

Christmas Eve Eve (1 of 12)

Merry Christmas one and all!!

The Family Girata hope you're all having an absolutely fantastic Christmas Day! To celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, today begins a very special series: The Twelve Posts of Christmas! (hence the numbering in the title) We have -- and will have -- a LOT of Christmas to share, so stay tuned for a dozen daily updates, beginning today! As you read this, we are in the car on our way to spend tonight and the next week with family in Florida, but with all that excitement, there will be plenty to share.

So let's begin with a vocal tribute to Christmas from your favorite Girata kids! This video has three (3) songs on it. I admit, the first two aren't terribly exciting, but stay tuned (or fast forward) to the third - Jingle Bells - where they really get into it!

Brayden's Christmas Program!

Now onto the "real" performance! The pictures here are cute, but the video is great (truly our first "home movie" in the embarrass-you-as-a-teenager sort of way!). I want to warn all you casual Family Girata readers, this video is long ...and of a 3-yr-old's Christmas program ...so it may not be fit for more than grandmothers. ;)

The 3s and 4s

Who loves to sing?!

A quieter number (maybe Away In A Manger?)

Rehearsal...

Finally, we've reached Christmas posts! I have so much to share that has been backlogged... I'll start with Brayden's school Christmas Program. Well, not his actual program, but a video of him rehearsing at home for the program. I can't tell you how many times I've heard these songs, either like this or in the car (so. many. times.) but it's still super cute. Here are three favorites just for you!

Fun with the family

Some final pictures of fun in PA over Thanksgiving, then there will be LOTS of fun Christmas school things to follow!

The family

My sweeties

All together

If you ever wanted proof that my parents are a good time... here it is! My Mom sings a song called Raindrops that ends by throwing your head back and sticking your tongue out to catch lemondrop and gumdrop "raindrops" (you'll see that they sang the song a lot...):

Catching gumdrops!

Having fun with Gido

Playing with Gigi

Smiles

More singing...

Starting the song...

The big finish!

Brayden wanted to sing, too!

Making silly faces

Good times!

At the Science Center

We spent a great day at the Carnegie Science Center, a hands-on kids museum. There are so many pictures... I narrowed them down to these!

Playing in the fountains

By tracing the curves, you move like bird wings in flight

Spinning a water table

The master at work ...intense!

Continuing his masterpiece

Now Layna gets a turn!

Petting a horseshoe crab

Taking a break (don't tell!)

Playing in a HUGE ball machine room

Waiting for more balls

Got 'em!

Working hard in the water (watch that tongue!)

Enjoying a puzzle break

Little drummer boy

Layna's own crazy tongue action!

Around the house

The trip to Pittsburgh was more than just a Thanksgiving celebration with family, it was an 80th birthday party for my grandmother ("Sito"). We celebrated her birthday after our big Thanksgiving meal by giving her a special gift ...and when I say special, I have to clarify that Sito LOVES to gamble. She's one of those people who always walks out of casinos ahead. I don't know how she does it, but she can place cards, slots, or whatever and win.

So, for her birthday, the family gave her cash in the form of 80s. Brayden, being the oldest of the great-grandchildren, gave her 80 dimes:

Giving Sito her birthday dimes

Helping her open the gift

Then, being the oldest grandchild, I presented her with 80 dollar bills, and then Aunt Annette, as the oldest child, presented her with 80 tens... yes, that's $888 for gambling, and believe me, we went out to the casino the next night!! ;)

Sito, teaching Brayden about financial planning!

Meanwhile, Layna was creeping around the house having a ball with the family.

Layna with Aunt Nancy

Playing with Gido

Peek-a-boo...

Later that night, we played our family card game, Shanghai Rummy. It's a tradition to get a dozen or so of us around the table for hours to play this 10-hand game. Brayden and Layna both enjoyed sitting at the table with us to "learn" how to play!

Aunt Nancy, teaching her nephew some tricks

Layna "helping" Carol

After the long Thanksgiving day, we were all pooped... especially this little princess.

Tired girl

...there's still more coming!