Growing up, my mom did a wonderful job raising us by (mostly) herself and adjusting to life in this country (she moved here from Brazil in her 20's when she married my dad). I am sure it was hard trying to raise American girls on her own yet still connect us to our Brazilian heritage. All of our extended family (on mom's side) live in Brazil and it was not always easy to carry on family holiday traditions or to start new ones for American holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc). With that said, my sister and I loved our childhood and wouldn't trade any of it!
SO (long story getting shorter), I think this is why my sister and I try so hard to carry on and create new family traditions with our own families. For us, it's caramel rolls on holiday mornings, 'Christmas Vacation' movie to start the holiday season, new pajamas on Christmas Eve, etc. Like my sister mentioned in her blog, it's exciting to think that our kids will carry on these traditions!
We usually spend Christmas Eve with Chet's side of the family with Mass, presents, and a lasagna dinner (so yummy!). And then we spend Christmas morning with just us and Christmas Day with my parents with a feijoada dinner (Brazilian food- so good) and more presents. More fun traditions!
SO (long story getting shorter), I think this is why my sister and I try so hard to carry on and create new family traditions with our own families. For us, it's caramel rolls on holiday mornings, 'Christmas Vacation' movie to start the holiday season, new pajamas on Christmas Eve, etc. Like my sister mentioned in her blog, it's exciting to think that our kids will carry on these traditions!
We usually spend Christmas Eve with Chet's side of the family with Mass, presents, and a lasagna dinner (so yummy!). And then we spend Christmas morning with just us and Christmas Day with my parents with a feijoada dinner (Brazilian food- so good) and more presents. More fun traditions!
This year, I am thankful for these family traditions~
Matching dresses for the girls and new family photos
Time with family and friends.
This is most of the Lamis crew after church.
Camille and Isaac playing with his fun bubble fire truck!
All the Lamis cousins before we head home on Christmas Eve. Poor baby Keeley- we always seem to take this group shot at the end of our family gatherings and she is wiped out and not happy!
New pajamas on Christmas Eve. If you saw their pajamas drawers, you would see that I LOVE striped pajamas (especially Hanna Andersson ones!).
All the "big" kids- Beth and BJ (Chet's brother), Joe and Angie (Chet's sister), Chet and me. 
And especially for family photos like this! Chet's dad is cancer free!
Seeing the kids' reactions when they see their toys from Santa!
Is that really for me??
Matching dresses for the girls and new family photos
Time with family and friends.This is most of the Lamis crew after church.
Camille and Isaac playing with his fun bubble fire truck!
All the Lamis cousins before we head home on Christmas Eve. Poor baby Keeley- we always seem to take this group shot at the end of our family gatherings and she is wiped out and not happy!
New pajamas on Christmas Eve. If you saw their pajamas drawers, you would see that I LOVE striped pajamas (especially Hanna Andersson ones!).
All the "big" kids- Beth and BJ (Chet's brother), Joe and Angie (Chet's sister), Chet and me. 
And especially for family photos like this! Chet's dad is cancer free!
Seeing the kids' reactions when they see their toys from Santa!
Is that really for me??
In case you were wondering why there are no pictures from my family's Christmas Day get together, Chet and I somehow caught a stomach bug and were sick all day! That is one tradition I will NOT be continuing. My parents gave us the wonderful gift of staying with the kids and putting them to bed so that Chet and I could just sleep. We didn't even get to eat our feijoada- bummer!Can't wait to see what 2011 brings!
