I was in charge of the Family Christmas Party this year and must say that it was fun once again. Larry and I decided to have it at the Church this year and I am glad we did. I didn't stress about my house being cleaned and didn't have to stress later about cleaning it again. The church was a great idea. we pulled a few curtains to make the room where we met smaller and cozier....it worked great!
I was stressing thinking about organizing everything and was reminded by a cute niece that I have plenty of help. My mind hadn't switched gears yet or had switched back & was somewhere else or something but once she reminded me of that and I made some assignments everything fell into place and went well. I didn't stress much at all today. Julie and Kevin organized the story of the Nativity and the others helped and it turned out cute. As I watched this year my mind reflected back to when my kids & nephews & nieces were the kids in the play and now it is their kids. Couldn't help but smile! So glad for memories and family traditions.
I tried taking pictures of everyone so that those that couldn't make it and live out of town could see. I know Shari enjoys seeing what's going on. I got counting later of all those missing and we had 27 that weren't here. I thought the majority was here but that's still a lot missing. I guess at this point....with the families so big we are not going to always have everyone. So, we will enjoy those that we do have....and we did!
I have always loved the Ropelato family and have felt totally loved and accepted by everyone. It's a great family to belong to. Everyone cares about each other and would do anything to help another out. I just really like them all. I love seeing it grow and the next generation is just as great.
I love getting together and having my kids interact and know their cousins, aunts, and uncles too. Family has always been so much to me and I wanted it to be the same way for my kids. Larry's mom and dad should be proud of what they started. (I know they are)
It's funny that years ago I gave dad a recipe for Lasagna and he is now the Lasagna Specialist. He has improved the recipe a few times and so he gets to make it every year for everyone. He said he doesn't mind and I am glad because when he stops doing it I think it will fall back on me.....and I know it won't be as good. He's got it down perfection......yummy perfection!
I love watching my nieces and nephews as parents. It's so fun seeing a part of them in each of their kids....again my memory goes back in time and enjoys itself.
It's so fun just visiting and being together since that doesn't happen often with the growing families. Time flies....you know that right? I remember not long ago I was the new bride and mom. Grandma & Grandpa Lowe (Larry's mom's parents) were the ones responsible and enjoying their posterity. I am glad that they got this started......
So really at our party we eat. We eat Lasagna....because we're Italian. We visit and enjoy one another. The kids run and play and make memories. Then we have the kids act out the nativity. It's important to our family for the children to know why we have Christmas. So.....we do this every year.
I think the "littles" enjoy dressing up and being a part of the play. Sometimes we have lots of angels. Our wise men are girls as well as our shepherds and it never matters. It use to be that the boys out numbered the girls but that is not the case with the younger ones.....we have lots more girls.....who make nice looking shepherds, inn keepers, and wise men.
Then when we can....which is most of the time we invite Santa to visit us. I like having Santa be a part of our parties too because he is a great symbol of Christmas....and fun! Most of the kids thought he was great this year. I think there was only one that cried and she was little. My grands liked him.
Santa brings the kids socks......the kids seem to like it. Parker even went back and showed Santa the socks he just brought him....he was hoping for a bow but maybe on Christmas day he will get that.
Kimi and Jared aren't as crazy about Santa but do like getting a gift so they play along.
I love Santa.....I have always loved Santa. My first memory of Santa is when I was just little.....probably around 3 and someone knocked on our door and when I went to open it Santa Claus came in. I asked Santa for a baby doll....and I didn't care what kind as long as I got a baby. That year I got a cute Pebbles doll from the Flintstones Cartoon. I loved that cute baby doll. Tonya and I were talking at Thanksgiving and she remembers that doll too. I kept my dolls and played with them for years. Santa just makes me smile!
Kevin was my helper in finding Santa this year.....I think he did good. Santa had a good time and I believe we will see this "helper" again in the years to come.
After Santa made his appearance we visited more and anyone that wanted to played the M&M game. It was only the kids playing the M M game. To play the game you roll a die and when it rolls on the number that you selected you get to suck up M&M's through a straw and drop them in your bowl until someone else rolls that number. (we pick 2 numbers) The kids had a good time and everyone had plenty of M&M's to eat. I think Haylie won or came in 2nd to Jared and so I gave her a big "sucker" for sucking the most M&M's.
After a few blinks we'll be doing this again.
