The Ordini's: December 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Christmas 2009

So this passed month seems like it has just literally flown by. I mean seriously... All the insanity, stress, planning, shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping and it's the holiday's over in a blink of an eye!!!! I tried to enjoy every minute of it with our new little bundle of joy. First we had Christmas Eve at my brother's house. His wife, Pam, hosts her family every year then and graciously includes us in the festivities. Christmas Day is always spent at my Mother's....each year gets more and more interesting with each child added. My Mother has a tradition of 'forcing' us all to sing Christmas carols with instruments every year after dinner....it's down right comical. But this year somehow it turned out to be the Luke and Max show (two of my nephews) singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer over and over and over again. Hilarious.

Every year Chuck and I host a double Christmas party at our house. The first part is for his side of the family....and it's a large one folks. Those of you unfamiliar with the Ordini/Knaub/Culley/Carey clan....with children we are now totalling around 28+ (depending if grandparents and aunt/uncles/cousins make it). And there is three more babies on the way. That's right, all three of Chuck's sisters are pregnant with three more boys. My mother-in-law said to me one day "Poor Kelsey....she'll be clobbered by the boys"...and I said "Not if she's anything like her Mamma....she'll keep them in line."

So after the Ordini family dinner we always have a white elephant gift exchange. I mean, really, with that many people do you want to do anything else?? It's always loads of fun. Then around 7pm the second party which includes our friends starts. And I must say, even with having a new born this year went very smoothly. Since the party was on a Sunday most people didn't stay into the wee hours of the morning since they had to go to work the next day. Suffice it say there was close to 60 people in and out of my house that night. Sadly there are never any pictures to share either because I'm constantly in host mode.

We were also blessed to have my sister, Kelly and her two boys stay with us this trip.(they live in Coral Galbes, FL) They normally stay with my Mother, however, she has recently moved my Grandmother in with her since she has started showing signs of alzheimer. It's truly a horrible disease....I hate it. Hate seeing parts of my Gramma disappearing right before my eyes. And it's quite an adjustment for both of them and difficult for my Mother not to have her daughter and grandkids there...but she was able to see them everyday at our house. It's so much fun to see how the boys change since we don't see them every day. Max, the older nephew, truly grasps the concept on Santa this year, so we put cookies and a glass of milk out for Santa before he went to bed. Unfortunately my sister put them at the wrong fireplace, so when he woke up the next morning and found the empty glass and plate suddenly in the living room with the Christmas tree...Kelly had to come up with some quick thinking. So cute to see his face though.

While Kelsey is obviuosly too young to grasp what Christmas is yet....we were certainly over the moon with happiness at having her with us this year. The perfect gift. We feel blessed beyond belief to have her and all our family and friends in our lives. The bless us each and every day in some way. Wishing you all much peace and happiness in 2010!!! Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone!!!

First family outing to get our Christmas tree at Jug Hill.

Kelsey dressed up like the abominable snowman during her first snowfall

Christmas Eve at Dodd and Pam's

My nephews -Kyle, Max, Luke and Gavin in the Christmas PJs I buy them every year.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Kelsey's Santa hat shots

Oh yeah....I also took some shots of Kelsey in a Santa hat that I plan on using for our Christmas card this year.....seriously....couldn't you just bite her???

Kelsey's first professional portrait session

So this week Chuck and I took Kelsey for her first professional photo session at KiddieKandids to get her Christmas picture. And I must say....simply adorable!! I know every mother says that....it's just so overwhelming for it to finally be my child getting her portrait taken. I loved every minute of it....even watching the poor photographer try to get her to smile by making the same sound over and over and over again with no results.....ins't that the truest definition of insantiy?? Anyway...she only actually smiled in one shot which we didn't order....because the other shots were just priceless.

While that was the plus side of our week...the down side was we officially chose a day care to enroll her in starting in January when I have to go back to work full time. I'm currently working from home for December and going in one day a week. Fortunately Chuck's store is closed on Tuesday's in the winter so he can watch her that day. While we feel good about the day care we chose for her, it was a painstaking choice to make just between the different locations but also dealing with the guilt you have as a mother deciding to put her in day care. Unfortunately, right now it is an unavoidable fact that we have to....but I pray daily that God provide some sort of miracle so that maybe that could change.

Listen....I know a large ratio of families have to have two incomes to make ends meet and it's hard for everyone and I'm trying not to beat myself up about it....I know it will get easier. Just dreading the New Year knowing that heartbreaking day is coming. But this too shall pass.