Christmas 2011 Family scrapbook

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through our house, 

I was getting ready to host our family party.

Before most of the gang arrived, 

I took a few minutes to snap pics of the house with my iPhone. 

The kitchen chandelier had icicles and 

snow flakes hanging from it's wire frame,

a glass of proseco waits on the hostess to get back to her cooking duties.

I had prepared a lasagna with homemade sauce, 

a honeybaked ham, aspargus and pototoes,

delicious homemade coleslaw and a big tossed salad.

Tiny light whites made the room feel magical.

Our stockings were hung by the chimney with care!

 My mom knits all the christmas stockings for the family, 

with the exception of the original 5 stockings for me and my 4 siblings, 

which were knitted by my grandmother.

 Hubs put a dimmer switch on my chandy for me earlier in the day~

it looked so pretty with its blue opaline drops, 

an early xmas gift from my blog reader Betsy!

 This blurry picture shows all of the stockings that St. Nick must fill before morning.

 A rare appearance in the kitchen by Mr. Maison Decor~haha!

 My sons, Brandon and Colin with me and Brandon's girlfriend Mimi.  

Mimi wears a Santa hat every year to our party!

 I spent a lot of the first half of Christmas eve in the kitchen~

 At the sink with my sister Ellen.  

Ellen is wearing a pretty beaded sweater I bought for her~

I loved that it is beaded on the back as well as the front.  

 Lots of picture taking was going on all night long~

I have lots of blurry pictures,

 but this wasn't the time for staging pics. 

 Here Ellen takes a shot of my little brother Brian

 working on the mashed potatoes, 

with my son Colin assisting.

 Mother and son having a good time taking a self portrait!

Brother and sister share a moment over the stove.

  You can see the mosaic transferware creamer night light

 in the mini hutch that I asked Penny to create for me. 

I love how it brings some life the shelf at night.

With my brother in law, Mike, I am modeling 

a blingy cuff bracelet gift with tags attached 

and a new gold pashmina from my exhubs!  

There was lots to eat and drink~ 

Colin with his Dad in the dining room.

and before we knew it the evening was over.

It was Christmas morning! 

Hubs took this pic of Colin in his new robe 

and me in my new pajamas with the dogs by our sides.  

The kids opened more gifts that Santa

 brought and the hectic holiday subsided into calm.

With me in my new cap (from Colin) perched on the top of my head 

 I stole a Christmas nap on the couch. 

The rest of my day was so nice and relaxing~

I spent the entire day with my wonderful husband, my best friend. 

The perfect gift.