Christmas in Spokane

What a month! I can't believe tomorrow is January already! I thought I'd have this blog up to date before today but we actually celebrated Christmas THREE times and we are still unpacking from our travels (and finishing the last of the holiday cookies...thanks Sandy and Yadda Family!) We have so many pics, video clips, and great memories to share (and I'm sure the same is true for all of you) I can't possibly fit it all on this site; I hope life affords us time and opportunity to visit with each of you personally. In any case, I will try to share a few highlights to give you a sense of all our holiday fun. As I said, we celebrated Christmas in three parts: once in Spokane with Papa and Mema Ciabattari, once in our humble little abode, and finally at Nana and Papa McDonald's. Ellie had so much fun, Dan and I ate too many cookies, we all played in the snow, and Santa made a guest appearance at Mema and Papa's. Ellie learned all sorts of new things. Her favorite new word is "Oatmeal" and she uses it all the time. It sounds like "Oat Male" with a little southern twang...it's adorable. She also says all the colors, baby, stop, tissue, and...well, there are just too many to list. You get the idea. OK OK, enough of my narrative. Here are the pictures I promised. Thanks everyone for a terrific Christmas filled with love, laughter, and many blessings! We hope your 2008 is just as happy, healthy, and blessed as our 2007! Happy New Year! (Check out the slideshow at the bottom of the page for all our Christmas pictures!) If ever there were a moment that could epitomize total peace and happiness, for me, this is it. I love this picture. I am so truly blessed.

Ellie loves to be silly. She loved the blinking Rudolph nose in her stocking!

Ellie with cousins Olivia and Nick

Hi Santa! I see Mema in the background, but where is Papa? Hmmm...