We Are Family

We are family...

Thanksgiving 2008.. special Thanks to Andy for taking this picture. Not an easy task as Bruce has often said trying to get our family gathered for a picture is like herding cats.

Ok... so it's Black Friday here in the states. The official kick off to Christmas. Santa made is appearance in the Macy's parade this morning and I noticed The March of the Wooden Soldiers was on this morning. So it's official ... Let the games begin.

While my sister in law heads for Kohl's at 2 am? Yeah... like in 30 minutes... sure... wait up? Yeah... you guessed it I don't do black Friday. After years in retail working in sales and as a buyer.. I've learned you start early and hopefully are finished by Thanksgiving. I have always referred to black Friday as amateur day. I don't blame her for going though. For her it's tradition... she and her sister go every year. They have a system.. they enjoy the crowds, kayos and always manage to entertain us with survival stories. May the force be with you Olga... I'm staying home. lol.

So what does Lee do the weekend after Thanksgiving? I decorate! The trees go up and the lights get turned on. Yes... it's officially here. The holidays are once again upon us. Am I finished shopping this year? What do you think? NOT ! But have no fear I'm in pretty good shape shopping wise. 80% complete .. the remaining 20% I'll do at a slower jollier pace.

This year will be fun for sure.. Tamara's 1st Christmas home. We found Father Frost online and I explained that he and Santa are one and the same so she's excited. I wish I knew what Father Frost had done for her in the past. I'm sure Christmas in Georgia was more religious then commercial as it has become here in the states.

I remember as a small child in Croatia we didn't really get gifts on Christmas. We had St. Nicholas day on December 6th and he came through the key hole. We didn't see him until he showed up on New Years Day on a cruise ship. Yeah.. well that's what happens when you live in a port city. ;o) Anyway... when we arrived to the USA .. I was a little Santa rebel. In 1st grade I started a riot in my class. It was a week before Christmas and my class mates were excited about Santa coming Christmas Eve. "Ah... excuse me... he's not coming" I told them. "What?" .. "He's not coming. You missed him. He was here 2 weeks ago." Well as you can well imagine my classmates were not happy. With that our teacher came over to see what all the noise was about. One little boy.. angry as can be said. "She says Santa isn't coming" So the teacher asked me "why?". I explained. St. Nicholas was here on the 6th. He came through my keyhole and left my gift. The teacher thought for a moment and said. "Class Lee is right. Santa did visit her 2 weeks ago but he's coming back. You see Lee is from Europe. St. Nicholas or Santa starts his deliveries early. In early December he's so small he can fit through keyholes. But as he eats all the milk and cookies he gains so much weight. By the time he makes it the USA he has to use the chimney." "Wow... really? OK.." the children were satisfied with this explanation. And all was well with the world until the nuns scolded me for pulling Santa's beard during a 2nd grade CCD Christmas party. Hey he was a fake. I could see the elastic holding his whiskers.

I had to expose him. Didn't I?

And so I wonder. Will Tamara want to sit in Santa's lap? Will she wake up at some insane hour Christmas morning? Hum? Stay tuned.

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So how was your Turkey Day? Ours was fun and fattening of course. Tamara had a blast playing with all her cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Below are some pictures of her before we left for my brother & Olga's for lunch.

Above is a picture of Dido and Grandma with the grand kids.

Talk about herding cats? lol.

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Videos.. yes we have videos. No sound but motion. ;o)





Cute no?

OK.. Mommy needs to sleep... Tamara is helping me decorate in the morning.

Should be fun. Ho! Ho! Ho!

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Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Wishing you and yours a day filled with Love and Laughter.

Bruce, Tamara and I are especially very Thankful this year to have found each other.

Have a wonderful Day!

Are you ready?

Love this picture.. my little DIVA in training. ;o)

OK... catch you soon... don't eat too much!

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