Buon Natale! Merry Christmas!

Better late than never!

Got started a little late this year on X-mas decorations.... but I think I made up for it!

The finished product

This year my tree top is a butterfly to symbolize freedom, the greatest gift of all.

My growing Christmas Village tradition. This year I added the nutcracker & the sugar plum fairy under the tree.

Fireplace set-up

Cousins & Nieces, aren't they cute??

Sunday Lunch

Wednesday Dec. 2nd was my mother-in-law's birthday, but since it was in the middle of the week, not all of the family was available to celebrate on the actual day. For her birthday (on wed.) Enrico & I invited her over for dinner to our house, where I for a change, cooked for her! We had a nice evening together.

On Sunday, we all went to restaurant on a farm and ate lunch there. The food was sooo good! Everything was genuine and the pasta was hand-made. I didn't get pictures of the food because I was too busy eating! We had a great afternoon that soon turned into evening at my sister-in-law's house where Carlotta insisted in decorating the Christmas tree all together... so x-mas tree it was!

Marinella & the cake

Carlotta REALLY wanted to use my Canon Rebel... so of course I let her and these are the pictures she took! Not bad uh??

Carlotta & her Mom Cristiana

Simona, Carlotta & Cristiana

This little munchkin (who will be two on the 16th) put on quite a show for us! He was HILARIOUS!

This (freaky) Santa Statue was at the entrance of the restaurant and Carlotta wanted a picture with it... and I would of though she'd have found it creepy. Kids! Go figure!

Sweet, sweet Carlotta.