Christmas #1

We Coppola's like to start the Christmas festivities early, and we celebrated with Cary's immediate family last night. Bobbi had the table set for all 10 adults (including Grandma Taylor) with her good china and the little boy's table with coordinating plates and sippies. We started with some yummy appetizers and just chatted while Joey, Davis, Maddox and Carter played downstairs. I have to admit that it's really nice that the boys are old enough to play alone in the basement while the adults are upstairs. We always like to tell Joey that he's in charge, and I think he takes that role pretty seriously! This year, Cary put all of their family's home videos on DVDs and handed them out as Christmas presents. So old family movies played in the background all night long. Before dinner we opened our stockings that were definitely stocked with goodies! Carter's favorite was the big bottle of bubble bath in the shape of Lightning McQueen. Cary got a cool wrench and I got some pretty blue earrings, along with some other great things. For dinner, we had prime rib (or maybe beef tenderloin...I'm actually not sure what the difference is...), roasted potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, green bean casserole, corn, rolls, lettuce salad, corn salad, and creme brulee. It was all really really good!

Once the kids were fed and our plates were clean, we all opened our gifts. Bobbi and Joe gave Carter sports bedding for his big boy room (which we'll probably move him into this summer). He also got a Diego car and a Cars book from Bobbi and Joe. Holly and Joe had Carter's name and they gave him a penguin nightlight (which her boys have and love) and a Pottery Barn Kids gift certificate. Let the big-boy room decorating begin! Cary got an air compressor, which he was totally pumped about! And I got cool clothes from The Limited. We all left there with way too many things to take home!

It was such a fun night and I feel so blessed to have married into this wonderful family. We all have so much fun together and also care about each other so much. It's great to watch the five little boys play in the same room and just see how much our family has grown in the past five years. I can only imagine how much bigger we'll be in another five years. And maybe, just maybe, there will be at least one little girl! Now that would be a Coppola miracle! :)

Cary in the holiday spirit

Carter opening his stockingJoey, Davis and Carter at the kids table

Our first and only attempt at a family picture
Tony, Kelly, Davis and Bennett
Joe, Holly, Joey and Maddox (Joe looks angry but he's really just concentrating on video taping the night!)

Carter trying to open his gift while eating a candy cane. The candy cane was definitely the priority!
Cary and his air compressor