Like the Graceful Dolphin, I shall Dive into the Chaotic Oceans!

                  I had a really awesome time last night. Uncle Donnie and Aunt Linda never showed ( Their loss ), but Uncle Jack was there...BIG suprise. My cousin Matt, his wife Naomi, and their four kids Malachi ( 8 years old ), Xavier ( 6 ), Alize ( 3 ), and Lyric ( 2 ) were there. My cousin Josh was also there which was awesome. He's such a good lookin guy, wish he'd quit picking these pycho bitches for girlfriends. His son Camri ( 10 ) is in Texas with his mom, and his daughter Ariana was at home with her mom as well. My cousin Brandi was also there of course, with her four kids, Kierra ( 13 ), Jasmine ( 11 ), Gianna Maria ( 2 ), and the new baby Jimmy ( 6 months old ). Getting confused yet? LOL. My Aunt Annie has ALOT of grandchildren. Then you had my parents, Nate and I, and Emania. Naomi's sister was there to help control the mass choas of excited munchkins, and Brandi's faince Jimmy also stopped by so I FINALLY got to meet him after 3 years...LOL. Xavier and Malachi were wrestling around with Nate all night... especially Xavier. Little X as I call him has adored Nate from the getgo. Nate was seen by the kids as a tower of fun... except for little Lyric who is desperately shy and timid. Kierra was mouthy as ever, and almost got the wrath of Aunt Annie. Alize was running around playing with her older brothers and Emania all night. She was shirtless, and barefoot, and looked like a cross between an Aboriginee and a half naked indian from Nebraska...ROFL. Gianna is " Na Na's " girl ( Aunt Annie's ), and spent the majority of her stay on Aunt Annie's lap, piggin out on the tray of mushrooms, carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and peppers. Yep...she's a Docking. I think the funniest part of the night came when Brandi was holding her son Jimmy, while holding a beer bottle and a bottle of milk. Jimmy made us proud when he ripped the beer outta his mommas hand and put his whole mouth over the top. His little face got the BIGGEST smile and when Brandi tried to take it away from him, he slapped her =)). Oh yeah...he's DEFINATELY a Docking. We were laughing so hard we were in tears.

                Although Aunt Annie didn't have time to make the cookies ( Insert moan ), the food was incredible. Pork Sauages, a bread bowl with Aunt Annie's secret dip, veggies, shrimp ( Bleagh ), trays of houres de voures, a pan of Aunt Annie's special cheese dip that my father devoured by himself...( Hog ). Candy Canes were stuck to everything, the cat was having a smorgesborg of shrimp as tiny hands dropped them everywhere. Pop cans as far as the eye could see, and plentiful beer. Nate ran to the store with Brandi and was kind enough to pick me up the stuff to make ameretto sours...Gods bless him...and got himself some Jameson and a bottle of " special " eggnog that was touched with the glory of wiskey. My mother was feelin pretty good after gulping down 2 bottles of Lambrusco LOL.

                   Needless to say, Emania was EXHAUSTED. She had soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun playing with her cousins last night, and stayed up 3 hours past her bedtime. Nate took her home shortly after 10:30, and I stayed behind a little longer. I guess the Peanut was not happy when daddy explained to her that mommy was gonna stay and talk to her Aunt and Uncle for a little bit. Poor sweety. At least she slept good and didn't get up until 8am...LOL.

                     Another highlight was talking about Grandma. Aunt Annie looks so much like her... Anyways, Aunt Annie has Grandma's recipe box...the greatest treasure in America. We looked at all the recipes and drooled with memories of Bobby Balloon Cake, Chocolate Pie with Meringue topping, Chocolate Cake, Apple Crisp, Strawberry Jam, St. Joseph's bread, Easter Bread, Meatball cookies, ect.... Gods the memories... The best part was taking a big wiff of the box. It smelled like Grandma's kitchen...smelled like her. A mixture of chocolate, sugar, dough, and jams... I miss you Grandma.......

                     All in all, it was a fantastic night. No fighting, no crying, just smiles and laughter...mixed with memories of when my dad and his siblings were kids... memories of mine and my cousins of getting yelled at for running around like a stampede on the second floor of grandma's house... only to be told to come downstairs and eat. Thats when Matt, Brandi, Josh, my brother and I nearly jumped down a flight of steps... to be greeted with hams, potatoes, veggies, fresh breads, dips, cookies, and PIES galore!!!!!!!!! Thats when Grandma would pull me aside and say, " Amy, the apple pie on the table is for everone else...this ones for you... " at which point she's pull out a hidden pie...with the crumb topping... with extra apples and cinnoman... thats when I felt really special. Thats why I love to make apple pie.

                     Today, as soon as Peanut wakes up from her nap, Nate and I are going shopping. Emania's gonna hang out with my mom while dad takes us up. I can't wait. I LOVE christmas shopping!!!!!! We told Emania she had to be good and go to sleep, so daddy and mommy can take her to grandma's house to play, while we go talk to " Santa Paws " as Emania calls him with love and joy. We are having soooooooooooooooo much fun. This is what makes christmas fun... the kids. This week we're baking cookies, having a school party, and playing in the snow...I can't wait!!!!