Christmas with the Crea's 2010

It was the Crea year for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year. We headed to the Crea farm a day early because of an approaching snowstorm, but were still able to make it to the cities for the children's mass and Christmas Eve at my grandma's the following day. The kids did pretty well for all the car riding they had to do in a couple days. They were both a little crabby by Christmas Eve though, after sitting through the car rides and church. But it was wonderful to see my immediate and extended family and spend the traditional Christmas Eve at my grandma's (sadly, without grandpa.)

Christmas Eve morning was a casual affair at the Crea Farm. Brendan and Papa decorated Santa Cookies and the rest of us took our time doing last-minute Christmas prep and getting ready to head to the cities for Christmas Eve.


One, of several, three-eyed Santa's, made by Brendan. (The Santa Cookie is a tradition we grew up making...a sugar cookie with a sugar glaze, red sprinkles for the hat, mini-marshmallow for the hat's pouf, shredded coconut for Santa's beard, a red-hot for Santa's nose, and currants for Santa's eyes. Nobody really eats these except for Liz, but in true Crea fashion, they're tradition, so they have to be made!)


Brendan loved the train set that went around the middle of my parent's 2nd tree (yes, I said 2nd...you don't even want to know how many they have!), so they let him take it off the tree for him to play with on the ground. He was in train heaven...(and, alas, the train also went to train heaven...because those kinds of trains aren't really meant to be played with like a real toy and it slowly fell apart.)


The traditional Christmas family picture, taken on my grandparent's stairs. (The kids were pretty crazy at this point...they'd already sat through two days of driving and a longish church service.)


Three generations...mom, myself, and Megan.


My youngest sister, Cathy, and I. The other two sisters were too busy snooping for their Christmas presents to bother taking a picture with us (kidding!)


Megan wanted nothing to do with the picture-taking at this point. This is the best shot I got of the four of them.

After a delicious supper of home-made ravioli, salad, creamed veggie spinach, fruit salad, and bread, it didn't take long for the kids to get antsy about opening their gifts. Brendan had the honors of getting the first gift (okay, okay...it was really to get him calmed down because he was so excited...)

Brendan got three dinosaurs (T. Rex, Triceratops and Brontosaurus) from Auntie Dooney, his Godmother. He was absolutely ecstatic about his gift, and most people around him caught on to his enthusiasm.

Brendan and Matthew, playing dinosaurs during gift opening.

Megan could have cared less about the gifts...she was all about my cousin, Margie's, cookie crumbs.

Megan physically licked the cookie plate clean. She couldn't get enough!

My Uncle Greg got a box of steaks from my sister, Liz, his goddaughter. Everyone had a good laugh (Uncle Greg loves his steak!)

Megan, in front of the tree, on Christmas morning.

The craziness that is Christmas morning at the Crea Farm.


Megan and I, opening her stocking.


Brad and Brendan, opening Brendan's stocking.


Megan, being adorable, rolling around in the wrapping paper.


Brendan and Zizi Liz.


Brendan and Brad, playing Buzz Lightyear and Woody, both gifts (for Brendan....not Brad) from Auntie Dooney.


Brendan was excited, but exhausted. He lasted through the opening of the stockings and a couple of rounds of gifts, before he crawled onto Brad's lap and sat like this for quite awhile.


Brendan (after he got his second wind) with Zizi Cathy and Dozer.


One of Brendan's most asked-for gifts was an electric guitar. When he opened it (from my parents) he pumped the air with his fist and yelled "YES!"


Daddy couldn't keep his hands off Brendan's guitar. He had to try it out!


Megan got a Cabbage Patch baby from my parents. She squealed when she saw it and then hugged it tight when we finally got it free of the packaging.


Brendan and Megan, hanging out with their Papa.


Brendan and Megan, opening their new kitchen set, from my parents.