Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to post, but I wanted to take the time to send my readers some wonderful holiday wishes.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Christmas holiday with their loved ones.

Tell me about it your holiday...I'd love to hear it! <3

Christmas with the Marrero's

After going to my aunt and uncle's house for Christmas brunch then we were off to my mom's for a lunch/dinner.

Anytime anyone walked in they commented on how beautiful of  set up she created for Christmas. I loved it! She purchased these Christmas decorations that she said were 50% off and just the way she set it up was elegant. Then again, that's my mom for you. She's got a way with her decorations.

Even the cookies on the table were so gourmet looking. The set up was spectacular.

Before we opened the gifts I wanted to take pictures with my mom and my sisters.

Jax making fun of my son not wanting to take pictures. So we got caught laughing.

Jen, Mom, Me & Jax

We took pictures with my aunt and my grandmother as well.

Me, Mom, my aunt Marta, Jax, Jen

Grandma joining in ;)

Gang's all here ;)

Then, my grandmother took pictures with her great grandchildren.

Here are the kids with "Greenma" (my mom).

Dominic, Sanaris, Samantha (friend of family's little girl), Jayden.

Here are the kiddos before opening up the gifts. They were already tired of pictures. I always tend to wear them out.

The men...aarrrggghhh! lol.

The kids opening up their gifts.

She wouldn't let go of her cookie to open her gifts, fat fat! lol

Samantha & Sanaris

Jayden prefered to play with a coffee pot.

 The bigger kids opening up the gifts.

My aunt opening up her gift.

Jen got a new sweater, cute.

Jen opening up the gift we made her.

My Stepdad, Jose opening his gift.

Mom happy with her creme brulee torch set we gave her.

The hubby opening up a gift.

My men =)

Christmas Morning with the Rebollo Family

Christmas morning we went to my Aunt & Uncle's house to have a Christmas Brunch with the family.

This is where all of the kids get to hang out together and we try to all meet at one place to exchange our gifts. Family is what it's all about...it's the greatest gift of all.

Sani got makeup for Christmas.

Ethan opening his transformers.

Another Toy Story toy for Christmas.  

Erinn helping Sanaris with her xmas presents.

My son Dominic and his cousin Jayden.

Jayden entertained instead of opening his gifts.

My uncle Rey and my Goddaughter Erinn.

My cousin Ethan and my daughter, Sanaris.

Dominic playing with his sister Leap Pad.

My uncle Tony & my nephew Jayden.

My aunt Joy's mom and aunt. Also known as the Twins & "Double Trouble"

Mima (my grandma), Aunt Joy, Uncle Tony & my nephew, Jayden.

My Goddaugher, Erinn & her boyfriend, Chris and his family.

For appetizers my aunt made her famous Cocktail Smokies, which everyone seems to love so much. She made a huge pot of them and they were gone in an instant.

In case you're wondering the recipe consists of:

1 (10 oz. Jar) of Apricot Jelly

(2 packages) Cocktail Sausages or Little Smokies

Mix together and place in the crock pot. Heat until smokies are warmed, approximately 2 hours. You can cook them on the stove top as well.

She also made the most mouth watering meatballs. My husband was like, "who made these?" My Goddaughter said, "my mom." So he replied with, "She's coming home with me!" Lol. I always told him that my aunt cooks so Goooooooddddd! I guess he never believed me.

Merry Christmas!

What did you guys do with your families?

Christmas Eve with the Pomares Family

For Christmas Eve we had plans to go to my brother-in-law & sister-in-law's house (Orlando & Yisel). They were cooking up a little piggy for dinner. (Sorry, not intended for the animal activists).

When we first got their and saw their beautiful tree we decided to take advantage and try to capture a family photo by the tree. Every year this is a difficult task because my son HATES taking pictures. He is always screaming, crying and trying to escape from any and all photos. I think they came out alright.

Christmas 2011- Pomares Family

Family picture with my mother-in-law

I got this crazy ideas to try and get all the kids gathered around the Christmas tree and take pictures of them. If I may add, this was just a CRAZY idea of mine. I just shot away and crossed my fingers that one of them would at least come out fine. Trying to get the kids in sync is a difficult task.

Dominic, Kristian & Sophia

Sanaris & Sophia

Brotherly/Sisterly Love- Sophia & Kristian

Kristian, Sanaris & Sophia

We all sat outside trying to catch the most minimal sense of cool air that we can possibly get here in Miami. Did not really feel much like Christmas considering the weather.

Despite the fact that I really was not in the mood to drink, my husband insisted that I do. After the first sip, I was not complaining. Orlando was making me any martini he can think of: strawberry, raspberry...and they just got fancier and fancier as the night went on.

My husband joining me as well of course.

Here we are all hanging out outside trying to enjoy ourselves on Christmas Eve.

The hubby and I

Chris (The hubby), Anabella (Sis-In-Law) & Ligia (Mom-In-Law)

My Niece Racheal that came down from TX.

Racheal & I

The Pomares family have the tradition of putting the kids to sleep early and then waking them up at midnight to open the gifts. In my family it's always been a little different. We had to go to sleep and then wake up Christmas day have breakfast with the family and open up our presents.

This year Yisel decided that she was going to have her father dress up as Santa and wake the kids with a, "ho-ho-ho" greeting at the door as he dropped off all of the presents. It was quite funny really the whole little skit we saw them play before the actual appearance. First things first, we had to get the kids to sleep...

They weren't very tired.

Here are just a few pictures of the kids opening up their gifts after Santa's arrival. I'm not even going to lie to you, but I must have like hundreds of pictures already just from this Christmas weekend alone.

Opening up her Barbie Gourmet Kitchen

Happy with his Buzz Light Year

Have I told you how much she loves Minnie?

Can you tell how much he loves Mickey?