12/21/08

The Beginning of Our First Blizzard This Year!

Carl and I went to see The Nutcracker this year and had bought tickets in advance. Well the weather had other plans because the snow was already falling at a fast pace when we got to the theater. By 8pm the snow was falling without stopping or slowing down, so we knew we were going to get hit hard. The weather forecast was for 11-18 inches and strong winds. Well we got the strong winds and the snow. 15 inches to be exact! It really is beautiful though.

Off the front porch.

Our snowman. This is Carlo's favorite decoration.

The falling snow.


The window covered with snow from the 15 mph winds.

12/20/08

Just A Silly Picture of Sophia!

Sophia at breakfast with her crazy hairdo!

12/16/08

Making Sugar Cookies with the Kids

Carlo cutting out his shape to put on the tray.

Sophia doing her cut outs.

Time to decorate.



Sophia adding her touch to the cookies.





The final results!

12/14/08

The 2nd Annual Mazzarelli Christmas Brunch

Since we first moved to Bangor, we decided that having a brunch for the holidays with all of our friends would be a great tradition. So we repeated last year, with a few more guests and a little less stress. The food was abundant and so yummy! Carl did all the cooking and did eggs to order this year. It is so nice to have everyone over with the tree up and Christmas music playing! The kids played nicely and the adults got to have some adult conversation. We are so thankful for all of our friends. They really help make the holidays special for us!

Sophia all geared up for the festivities!

Carl and Steve cooking away!

All the kids being silly with their orange smile!

Kate painting Sophia's fingernails. This was a real treat for Sophia!



Our friends Adam, Laura and Michael with their daughters; AnnaLena and Sofia.

Our friends having good conversation over yummy food.

The chef having a beer after all the food is out!

Tracy and McKayla

12/11/08

Taking "The " Christmas Picture

Getting a 2 1/2 year old, a 5 1/2 year old and a 2 year old golden retriever to sit in front of a tree and sit just right is just about impossible! The kids were super tired that night but I had to get the picture so we could do our cards for Christmas. They actually did really well for being so tired and we got some really cute pictures. Some for the card and others for the us to enjoy.

Me and the kids!

The kids and Daddy!

The kids and Oliver in front of the tree! How cute!



Oliver and his Daddy cuddling!

12/3/08

Decorating the Tree

Carlo could not wait to decorate the tree this year. We had some light difficulties with the tree and I had been working a lot that week. So we decorated it after it had been up for a few days and Carlo could hardly stand it! We improvised with the lights (after Carl worked on them for 2 days!) then we had some of the kids friends over to help decorate the tree. Needless to say, some ornaments got broken but they seemed to have fun. And the tree looked great afterwards!

Addison, Leila, Silvia and Sophia picking the perfect ornament.


Sophia helping decorate the tree.



Carlo helping put the ornament on just right.




Daddy putting the star up.




The finished tree with the Polar Express Train around it! Isn't it pretty?

11/28/08

The Polar Express Train Ride

We headed down to Portland to do something special with the kids and it was a surprise! It was hard to keep it a surprise because we had the kids wear their jammies for the train ride and they wanted to know why. Carl and I found the train ride on-line and knew right away that we had to do it. We made it a surprise and when we got to the parking lot Carlo said " Is that a train?, I hear Polar Express music!" Then we told him what we were doing and he could hardly contain himself. The train ride was about 40 minutes long and the kids got a cookie and hot chocolate. They thought that was awesome! Then the story was read over the loud speakers and then the conductor came around and punched their tickets! Wow was Carlo excited! Then the train ride ended at the train station dressed like the north pole with elves and Santa. The kids got to do some crafts from local schools and businesses. Then they got to sit with Santa and got their picture taken. We left around 8:30pm and got home aroun 10:30pm. The kids were exhausted but it was well worth it! We will definately be doing it next year!

Getting ready to leave to go to Portland.

Looking out the window during the train ride.



Story time!

The family on the train having a blast!

There's the conductor!

Carlo enjoying his hot chocolate.

The golden ticket for the train ride!

Carl and the kids being silly on the train.

Carlo , Sophia and Daddy

At the "North Pole".

11/27/08

Thanksgiving!

This year we got to spend Thanksgiving with our good friends The Darcy's. Carl cooked and we all ate! It was a really nice time and the food was mmm mmm good!

The chef (being silly!) with the beautiful turkey!

Sophia patiently waiting for her dinner.

Carlo admiring the dinner on the table. ( I love that smile!)

Addison giving us a little dinner music!







Sophia and the really big turkey leg!




Tracy and Carlo being silly with the turkey leg!

Carlo and Addison getting ready to eat.

Everyone at the table!

(except me, but someone has to take the picture!)

11/23/08

My Little Artist

One day Sophia and I got to hang out while Carlo was at a friend's house and she did some painting. Well, she painted for about 1 hour and made about 10 pictures! She really loves to be creative. I saved all of them!

Working on a masterpiece!

Fingerpaints are so much fun!

Loook at all of this hard work!




Hard at work again! After cleaning our hands of course!

11/22/08

Our First Bit of Snow!

Sophia waiting in the kitchen for the boys and doing something she should not! Caught you Phia!

Oliver and Marley enjoying the snow!

Sophia and Oliver pouting at the door while the boys were outside.

Carlo and his pal Addison "raking" the snow?

Snow angels. It doesn't get better than this!

(Well really there wasn't much snow but they made do!)