Christmas Morning

We woke up bright and early this morning to open Christmas presents with Lola. Mom, Dad, Mike & Ren joined us to via Webcam. You've got to love technology. They got to enjoy seeing her open all their gifts live. It's not the same as being together, but it's the next best thing.

Milk & Cookies for Santa...
All those presents for Lola! (Some for baby, too.)
Opening a special gift from Aunt Janis & Uncle Rich.
A cupcake set for our lil baker.
The vintage cash register from Fischer-Price (Mommy's so excited about this one!)
She loved introducing them to her new baby.
Her favorite gift of the day so far--Daddy surprised her with a Foofa doll! She wouldn't put it down. She brought it with to the 10:30 Mass at St. Mike's and every time the choir started singing, she said "Foofa dance." and would make Foofa move to the music.
Mommy surprised her with a Jessie hat. I figured as soon as she opened it, she'd go right over to her horsey for a ride.

And she did!

She loves playing with her Mary statue on her dresser but it's breakable--so imagine my surprise when I found a seller on etsy who specializes in Catholic saint "dolls".
A special big sis gift from the Stine's!
I've wanted "Lola" by Marc Jacobs forever and Daddy really surprised me with this one. The bottle is quintessential Lola. It's named after her and there is a rose on the top of the bottle. Wow.

Mary.
And the "Hail Mary", which Lola is learning, is on the back.
Fun toys. Can't wait to play!
Beautiful ear bling from Titi.
And baby boy got some great new clothes!
THANKS GUYS! We love you. Be together next year :)

Twins for Lola

Lola's Big Gift from Grammy were Bitty Babies (that look like her!)--she's had the crib for awhile, but she also got a new swing. I swear her playroom is turning into a little apartment of her own--kitchen, swing, crib, highchair...

I can't wait for spring to come so we can put these two "babies" in her double stroller and roll them right down Michigan Avenue to the American Girl store! Mommy may even have to bring her Samantha doll with her so she doesn't feel left out...

Merry Christmas Eve!

Ronnie & Silvia hosted an awesome Christmas Eve over at their place tonight. We all made some appetizers and Ron treated us to an delicious dinner of pulled pork sandwiches. My bro can cook!

Lola had a blast hanging with her cousins Sidney & Hallie. The girls, especially Lola, couldn't get enough of Ronnie's piano. She's shown such an interest in music, what with talking non-stop about getting a guitar for Christmas and then not wanting to leave the keys tonight. Thank goodness Uncle Ronnie can teach her some notes...

Baby Johnny got lots of snuggles tonight. Here he is with 3 of the 4 Nashville Zics.

Mom let the girls open a gift as soon as we all got settled.
THE GUITAR!
She jammed all night...
Lil Rock Star.
Cousin Jessica with baby.
Sweet, sleepy lil guy.
Mommy took a few piano lessons in her day. Aunt Mar gave me her old piano when I was younger. I used to love to play it. I used to be able to play the theme from "Beauty & the Beast".


My girl.
And then she found Uncle Ronnie's skateboard. Uh oh. John was so proud she actually was pretty good at it.


Me with Uncle Johnny & Baby Johnny.
Since Lola learned the Fight Song this fall, the Zics gifted her with her first cheerleading outfit! I still remember shopping at the bookstore for mine when I was 5.
Sidney was a big help and opened Johnny's gifts for us.
Johnny got a ND wardrobe perfect for our first family trip to South Bend this fall.

We gave Mom a collage of photos Kristina Carter took of us last month. She loved it.
Ronnie & Silvia gave us a VERY special gift!

Me with the oldest & youngest Johns of our family. Papa & Baby.
ALL THE JOHNS OF THE FAMILY. Five...count 'em....FIVE!
Papa Zic
Dr. John
Johnny Zic
Johnny H
Baby Johnny H
mommy+daddy+johnny

Cousins...

Lo & Hallie's guitars.
Johnny got a Sophie the Giraffe.
The next babies in the family will have to come from these two...this factory is closed!

Mary quoted this shot as "Three Men & a Baby"...love it!
Oopps...Doubled that!
We celebrated Britt's 19th Birthday (!!!)--Mom also added a #5 to the cake in honor of the 5th Anniversary of Britt's stem cell transplant. It was 5 years ago this week she went through 4 days of Chemo followed by the transplant. God is so good that she is doing great after all she and Mom went through.
What she wouldn't do for her...

More baby. He slept most of the night but woke up for quite awhile towards the end.

GF and Lola signing Beach Boys.


In the midst of changing her into her PJs. This kid loves to run "nakies".



Grammy got Johnny a HUGE stash of cloth diapers...Ronnie wanted to feel the love.
Such an orginal tree stand.
Johnny's huge stash, complete with new luggage for travel to Florida.
A great gift from Auntie Brittany.
Can't wait to brew this Christmas morning!