I'm dreaming of a white Christmas......

Merry Christmas from the Duffy Family!

We enjoyed a white Christmas which was just unbelievable. James liked playing in the snow, especially scooping it up and throwing it at Daddy. Daddy tried to show him how to pack up snowballs, but he didn't have much luck making them just yet. He did run around collecting already formed snowballs that Daddy made for him. We could only stay out a few minutes because it was SOOOO cold! I do not know I survived the 5 winters I spent in Illinois! Brrrrrr! Nana showed Brendan the snow from the window and I swear he just looked and looked. The snow just kept falling and before long there was quite an accumulation of both snow and ice. This made it difficult for Nana and Granddaddy to get back to the hotel. They saw many cars that had run off the road. I imagine that many, many people did not end up being able to get to their families house or church this Christmas. With two little ones and the cold we did not make it to church. Next year when J and B are a little older we cannot wait to take them to the 5pm Mass for Children with Christmas Carols. Gathered warm and safe around our table we gave thanks to God for the opportunity to be together to celebrate the birth of our Messiah. It was a wonderful night.





We had tortilla soup and tamales for Christmas Eve dinner, a family tradition, and then buttermilk pie in honor of James' birthday. We had made so many cookies and treats the last few days that we were kind of tired of sweets, so we waited to make his birthday pit until last night. It was nice. In our family it is custom for each person to get a birthday pie. This was started by my grandmother. We chose buttermilk pie for James because we discovered a few months back that he loves it! Later on we opened up presents from family. The big gifts from family for 2009 were:

James: Remote Control School Bus and an animated Thomas the Train
Brendan: the Babycook (more on this on a later post!) and Your Baby Can Read
Lauren: the Flip and a new camera lens (50mm, 1.8)
Daniel: money for a tatoo and a combination BCP and Hymnal (What a combination, huh?!)





Santa came during the night and these boys must have been good because he left all kinds of loot! An excersaucer, Crawl through Barn Door, stuffed animals, a musical elephant and stocking stuffers for Brendan and a shopping cart, vacuum, easel, Tag Jr. and stocking stuffers for James! Each boy got a movie from the Disney vault.....we hope Santa continues that tradition! Mommy can't wait to watch Pinnochio and Snow White. Needless to say, the Duffy house is full of new toys and books and movies for the coming year. Can you say spoiled rotten?

We explained to James about the reason we are celebrating and read him beautiful stories about the birth of Christ. A little over his head for now, but we plan to continue with the explanations each season so our boys grow up with a giving spirit.....to see that giving is ALWAYS better than receiving. All day long I have imagined the face of 5 year Ethan, whom I have never met, opening his presents this morning. He is the child we adopted through our church for Christmas. He and his mother will be spending Christmas in the Battered Women's Shelter which devastates me. But the good news is that Ethan's mom got to give him a new bike, and many toys and clothes today. He even got a stuffed stocking. Being able to do that for another mom is the BEST feeling. It is what I would want someone to do for my children if I were ever in need. So Merry Christmas Ethan!




Today we are still in our new Christmas pjs and playing with all our new goodies, watching Christmas movies and I will be starting our Christmas dinner in a while. On the menu: apricot dijon pork tenderloin, potato casserole, scalloped corn, crustless broccoli quiche, creamy carrots and blueberry lemon phyllo tarts. YUM!



Well, must run for now and see if I can upload my new Flip videos. Merry Christmas to your family from ours!!!!