All the stockings were hung...

Christmas tradition for us always involves a Cybak get-together on Christmas Eve. We do the modernized version of a Ukranian Christmas Eve. You've got to love those peirogies! Greg and my cousin Adam smile for the camera,

as they're on their best behavior

for Santa and are ready for the presents!

We added a new twist to our Christmas Eve gift exchange...a white elephant game of sorts. Uncle Rich tries to "sell" his ornament as multi-purposeful! Hmmmm....I don't know if I'm falling for that one.
Aunt Janice, Aunt Jonelle (Rich's wife), & the children find Rich humorous.

So, "'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" (Hey, kids, that's your cue! Get to bed! Get some zzzzz's!)

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care....

In hopes that St. Nicholas" (or his stand in, my Mother) "soon would be there;"
"...Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed in all fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back..." (I'll say so!)
"...He spoke not a word, but went straight to work, and filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,..." (Check out the wrapping job on those presents! Boy, his "elves" sure are handy!)
And so the poem/story goes...

For us, Christmas morning is hot chocolate and some muffins and cinnamon rolls. Mom goes to work in the kitchen to help get things ready before the kids come down to open their gifts.
Josh grabs his standard seat and one of the kitties (Keno)...
Greg comes down the stairs first and stops to take the scene in....A portable DVD player! For me? Cool!
Greg's expression to his portable DVD player was a little more priceless!
He jumped into Allan's arms in excitement and gave him a huge hug!

Hmmmm...has this big kid really been that good?!?!

That looks like an awfully big package, Josh.

Another big kid is all smiles Christmas morning! Dad got a gift certificate to one of his favorite train stores in Columbus, OH. We knew we could get him out to Ohio for a visit!
SHOES! "You mean to tell me that Grandma picked these all out on her own? They're perfect! I love them! She has great taste!"
Well, we all know Christmas isn't complete without some Steeler gifts! Greg proudly sports his Hines Ward #86 jersey! This was one of many Steeler gifts he received this Christmas.

Greg and Jeff pose together while opening gifts.
Jeff is all smiles in his new, sporty vest! Is modeling in his future? He is a cutie, but don't quit your day job quite yet, Jeff!
Josh and Jaime open gifts in the background as Jeff and Carrie watch as the kids unwrap more presents.
Don't worry, this isn't our house or a relatives!

It's just a must see when you're in PA, in the Beaver County area!

This house can be seen for miles! Talk about Christmas spirit!

"Happy Christmas to all - and to all a good night!"

We also want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May your holidays be joyful and filled with all the love and happiness that life has to offer! May 2007 bring you more happiness and wonderful memories with family and friends. Keep in touch! We're thinking of you all.

The Perfect Fit - Truefitt & Hill

Hi, everyone! I wanted to give a little shout out to a great company that you may or may not know about. It's called TRUEFITT & HILL. It's a barbershop and store that sells men's toiletries. One of my dear friends Brittney (many of you may have met her at our wedding, one of my beautiful bridesmaids...or checked her out on our blog - she's a fellow Buckeye...) works for TRUEFITT & HILL and heads up press and customer service type stuff for their Chicago location. They have two locations in the U.S - Chicago and LasVegas. But, that's okay, because they are great about shipping! They also offer a special...FREE SHIPPING on orders of $100 or more. Okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself....Brittney and her fiance Brad turned Bickley on to TRUEFITT about a year and a half ago. Now, it's a must for Father's Day, Christmas, his birthday, etc... I have to say, he was pretty jazzed to receive TRUEFITT & HILL again this Christmas. The products are top of the line and are worth every penny. Bickley has tried several products...from the day to day stuff you find on the shelf at drugstores and mega stores, like Neutrogena, to products geared toward men at places like Bath & Body Works or the Body Shop. But, we're yet to find anything that gives him such a close shave, that doesn't irritate at all, that smells great but isn't strong, and that makes his skin feel incredible day in and day out! We even invested in a top notch razor for him, and he loves it!

TRUEFITT & HILL makes the kind of products that are worth spending a few extra pennies on, and they're perfect gifts for the man in your life that has everything! Check out their great gift sets too! Don't just listen to me rambling, check out their website at http://www.truefittandhill.com/ Under the page listed as "PRESS", you can download magazine/newspaper articles that have also given props to TRUEFITT & HILL. They've been recognized by TIME, GQ, THE MIAMI HERALD, IN TOUCH, US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, and more! Lastly, check out their gift collection as well ~ FREE SHIPPING on those too!

Cut and paste TRUEFITT & HILL's address from this post or click on the link in the blog OR the link on the side of the blog. Let me know if you have questions (or contact Brittney...her address/number is on the web page under PRESS). Also, feel free to ask Bickley about the products he has tried and regularly uses. You might even want to bookmark their page for Valentine's Day shopping! Thanks for checking them out!

What you won't see in our Holiday Greeting Cards...

Family Photos...what fun!
Is she for real? We're not even sure where this crazy face came from and why. The funniest thing about this photo is Greg being so calm...

he's really use to her adolescent mood swings.

It's sad but true.

Nice try, kids, but those are forced smiles.

Let's try it again.
Okay, better, but Greg you're looking like
you might need to make a run for the bathroom!

You seem to have gotten the hang of it, Greg,

but now Emily is the constipated one.

Hmmmm....Emily, hugging your brother looks painful.

And, Greg, you seem to be enjoying her torture.

I think we call that "paybacks".

We finally get a laugh out of them through Bickley and me

doing our reenactment of Ricky Bobby's prayer

about "Baby Jesus" from Talladega Nights.
Stay tuned for your Christmas card

to see which photo we actually use.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fliptastic!

Saturday in Dayton, Emily's hip hop team

(Fliptastics) gets ready to perform.
The girls bust a move!
"You go, girls!"
Emily and friends Kenzie and Megan
Emily is all about photos as you can tell.
I guess we'll take this half-smile if that's all we can get.

(The part of Emily is being played by Veruca Salt ~

"Daddy, I want it all!"
[Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory]) -
Emily wanted a t-shirt from her dance competition,
and we gave her a hard time [because it's so easy to do].
Bickley caught a koozie that was thrown
into the audience and tried to offer that up in exchange of a t-shirt. Emily was less than impressed as you can see from the photo.

O, Christmas Tree! O, Christmas Tree!

Our Christmas Tree

We changed themes this year and decided

to go more old-fashioned...

kind of a country theme...

and, yes, my mother is rubbing off on me.

Red bulbs, pine cones, gingerbread,

and handmade ornaments.

We love the tree! So very cozy!

Bocce and Euchre also like the tree...

Our "good luck" bird nest

"Who, me? I'm just checking out the beautiful ornaments..."

Snowmen and pine cones...

gingerbread and wooden beads...
and a cat!

"You're not supposed to see me...

I thought I was camoflauge with this tree and all..."

"You really thought

that BOUNDARY REPELLENT worked?"

"I'm the good brother...

I know Santa Claus is making a list

and checking it twice..."

Happy Holidays!

Stay tuned for pics. of the kids!

Tree Farm Traditions

Well, we started the tradition a few years back of picking out our own Christmas Tree at Rhoads Tree Farm in Circleville, OH. It was even there that we got engaged on December 5, 2004. So, we still venture back there year after year to find the "perfect" tree. This year the kids came along, somehow I don't think it lived up to the hype we had been giving it all these years, although they were semi-impressed with the "shaker machine" that your Christmas tree is put in to be shook, removing all those loose, pine needles and such from your tree before you take it home. By the way, Mom, we did end up with a bird's nest again this year...we're hoping it's good luck like you've always said!

Sibling love...what they'll do for pictures! Let's hope this lasts through tomorrow; we'll need the whole crew to "deck the halls". Stay tuned for pictures of the decorated tree and to see how Bocce and Euchre like their new "toy", I mean Christmas Tree!

Happy Holidays!