Christmas eve we brunched at the Call home with the extended Cole family. White elephants this year came with a feet theme so socks and feet pictures, more socks and $ and feet candy...you get the idea.... and then we headed to the bowling alley to try and bowl. I remember decades ago when it was only US at the bowling alley. Easy to get in and truly no one there. Well those days have changed. It was crowded with a waiting line. Adam’s family got a lane, Angela’s family got a lane and we waited and waited and an hour later--we ate some fries, had Alfie bowl a bit on Angela’s lane and went home. We will have to rethink the timing of this tradition.
Truman flew in on Christmas Eve afternoon and we were thrilled he got to spend 3 days with us.
This was our 5th annual Christmas Around the World event. This year we celebrated in Italy which called for homemade Pizza ( and some poppa Murphy's as back up) , Salad, Bruchetta, bread sticks and Italian sodas. It was all delicious. It was especially fun to prepare it all while the song, "That's Amore" played in the background. We sang and danced to it and tried out our best Italian. "Buon Natale." "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie..that's amore." It's been stuck in our heads ever since.
Italian Christmas tradition features Le Befana...the Christmas witch. I received a Christmas witch 20 years ago that my sweet friend Linda Wangsgaard made for me.
Landon shared the Le Befana story and how she is looking for the Christ child to deliver presents to and just in case she leaves presents to all of the boys and girls. Alex made all of us our own little tin of beloved shortbread cookies. These were the cookies my mom always made during the Christmas season. She taught my sister Liz her tricks and Liz has passed it down to Landon and Alex now.
The kids didn't quite know what to think about a witch delivering presents. We talked about opera originating in Italy as well, so we sang "Jingle Bells" in full voice operatic style.
The cousins did their gift exchange and were delighted to have just one present to focus and love on.
Bedtimes bathes were next. Addison's family and Monson's family were sleeping over at Meema and Poppa's house and time was ticking...so a tub, then into their grinch pjs. The snow started falling and Sophia was determined to lead everyone back outside and enjoy the snow.
The Buzelli family said goodbye and went home and Alfie and Tayla wrote their Santa notes. Alfie and Tayla have "Christmas Sleep spots." Alfie by the side of Poppa's bed and Tayla by the side of Meema's.
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