posted by Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy
It's Christmas Eve! The holiday season is in full swing and another year is drawing to a close.
WOW!
It has been quite a year for all us CasaBabes! We've celebrated lots of wonderful new releases, shared good news and challenges, and revealed some things about our personal and writing lives.
Mostly we've had lots of fun here on the blog with all our fantastic readers! We really do appreciate everyone who stops by to read our blog (whether you comment or not). And we want to wish all of you a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON and GREAT NEW YEAR!
My family has had a lot of ups and downs this year, but I wanted to share with everyone here at the Casa blog a particularly wonderful gift my niece and her husband received this past June.
My niece and her hubby have been married eleven years and after ten years of trying unsuccessfully to have a baby on their
own, at the beginning of 2009 they decided to try the adoption route. Knowing how difficult it can be for find an infant (their hearts' desire), they settled in for a long wait... Happily, instead of the many months they expected, they received a call in the middle of June that a newborn baby boy was waiting for them! Everyone in the family has been positively ecstatic over this truly blessed 'gift.' This picture is of my niece (yes, she is 4' 10"), her hubby (6'2") and baby Aiden taken last month at his first Thanksgiving.Since the holiday season is all about gifts, the CasaBabes have decided to give away some special treats for a few of our commenters today. BOOKS OF COURSE! And lots of 'em! We'll send out autographed copies of The Treasures of Venice, Breakfast in Bed, Love At First Flight, and Fugitive to four lucky people!
Don't be shy! Just tell us about a memorable holiday gift you received or gave (past or present). And also, are you on Santa's NAUGHTY or NICE list this year?!?! (I'm pretty sure you can guess which list Aunty is on.)
Merry Christmas, everyone! Just having my son and daughter home for Christmas before my son goes off into the wild blue yonder with the AF is my real Christmas present this year. He was supposed to have left in Nov, but will be leaving in Jan now, so it was a nice delay for me. :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, everyone!
ReplyDeleteOne of the best presents I received was a beautiful pen. My husband gave it to me in 2006 and told me it was to sign my first book deal (which happened in 2007) I got so choked up, I actually cried and I never cry! It still brings tears to my eyes.
Merry Christmas to you all! And all the best for the Casababes in 2010!
ReplyDeleteCheers.
I have to say one of my best Christmas and New Years Gift was my Son Ryan in 1974. He was expected on Christmas Eve. I was in labor on and off through the holiday. He arrived Dec. 30th. I brought him home New Year's Day. He's my Boy. He's a avid reader, music and movie buff and very smart and handsome. He'll be here tonight too. Merry Christmas Eve everyone.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a "best Christmas gift." Truth is, the best part of any gift is the love it's given with.
ReplyDeleteTell little Aiden I said, "Welcome to the world." What could be better than a new baby at Christmas?
Merry Christmas, everyone.
My family and my friends are really the biggest present for me but I do remember I once received this plush bunny with this adorable red dress that I've kept for 10 years plus now. Then again, books are always a great gift. I give people books as much as possible :D
ReplyDeleteMy mom had never seen The Phantom of the Opera, so a couple of years ago I gave her tickets to the play!
ReplyDeleteMERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
ReplyDeleteTerry, how wonderful to have both your kiddos with you at Christmas! I know you've had some tough times this past year but this will be a wonderful and memorable Christmas for you!
HUGS!!!
AC
Robin,
ReplyDeleteThat was a GREAT gift! But would we expect anything less than great from a domestic god like your DH?!?!
AC
tearing up just reading about it
What a cute picture and how wonderful for them!
ReplyDeleteHere's to a great 2010 for the Casababes!
Linda
Donna,
ReplyDeleteSo great to 'see' you! Hope you are having a happy happy holiday there in the snowy north and my 2010 bring many wonderful things to you!
AC
Diva Donna,
ReplyDeleteWhat a very memorable Christmas you had back in 74!! Ryan sounds like PERFECT romance hero material to me!
Hope your Christmas is very merry,
AC
MM,
ReplyDeleteYou are so wise. It really is "the thought" not to mention the love that goes with the gift. And I can't think of anything more special than a baby at Christmas... But DON'T TELL! Aunty has her grinchy reputation to maintain. ;-)
AC
Ana,
ReplyDeleteI must agree, BOOKS are THE BEST presents ever! Esp. Casablanca books. ;-) Can't help myself, my CasaBabes are FAB writers.
Thanx for popping by today and hope you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
AC
Tetewa,
ReplyDeleteOOOO! What a GREAT GIFT -- tickets to see Phantom on stage! I last saw a production of it in 2008 and it was a stunning as ever. (sigh) Sir Lloyd-Webber sure knows how to pen wonderful songs.
Hope your holiday is merry and bright!
AC
Thanx Linda!
ReplyDeleteWe were all so very happy about little Aiden!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a GREAT NEW YEAR to you and yours,
AC
I'm definitely on Santa's nice list...although I wouldn't mind so much if I was on the naughty list for the right reasons ;)
ReplyDeleteI like giving gifts much more than getting them. I love to find hard to find items or items that my loved ones really want but won't buy for themselves. This year my fav gift is the Wii, because it is the promise of spending time together as a family having fun together. We are instituting a family game night instead of always going our seperate ways. I can't wait!!!
Thanks for all of the great books this year and happy holidays
cldivineATyahooDOTcom
The best Christmas present was the year I was three years old. I got a baby doll! She had beautiful blue eyes; a little, dimpled chin; and she even cried. My baby doll was my baby sister Kristi, born 3 days before Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHO HO HO Santa has arrived here in Australia it is 5-45am Chrissy morning and I am on Santa's good list because there are lots of pressies under the tree for me but I have to wait till all of my family arrive to open them I am being good !!.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best Christmas presents I ever got was last year when 2 of my daughters gave me new grandsons 3 days apart and I was there to welcome them into the world it really was awesome they were born on 13th & 16th December.
Love the picture of your family Aunty Cindy what a beautiful baby Aiden is and your neice and her husband must still be over the moon.
Merry Christmas to all and thank you for some wonderful reading this past year.
Have Fun
Helen
Oh my! I was on vacation and missed getting involved in the giveaway! Bad Sharon!!
ReplyDeleteI can happily add in a copy of "My Dearest Mr. Darcy" to the pile of fabulous books gifted for our special Christmas treat.
Cindy, thanks for sharing your niece and nephew's story. I am blessed in my regular line of work - RN in the maternal child health field - to be a part of many adoptions and surrogacies. It is a wonderful honor to see the joy when a family is formed in such a special way. A miracle of a different nature but just as profound.
Merry Christmas to everyone!
Just wanted to drop in and say Merry Christmas to everyone.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful present your niece and her husband received. They make an adorable family. I can't image the baby will be spoiled at all. :)
Here's wishing all the best for ya'll this coming year.
Memorable presents? I guess they've all been good, but that Kitchen Aid mixer I got from my DH a while back just keeps on giving!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to All!!!!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
ReplyDeleteOne of the best presents I received was a new PC a couple of years ago from my mom.
One of the best presents I gave was cookies and muffins to my grandma and grandpa!
The best present I received was a grandson on Dec, 26, 1989.
ReplyDeleteHO HO HO!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been out finishing up my shopping. I know, I know if it wasn't for the last minute I'd never accomplish anything. :-P
Booklover, my brother got a Wii last year and everyone LOVES to play bowling and baseball. The kidlets are just as skilled as the adults. AHEM! Sometimes more...
So glad you've enjoyed our books!
AC
What a FUN Christmas present, Deb!
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I thought our baby brother was the best present our mom ever brought us. Of course we were 7 and 9 at the time and he was 10 lbs. at birth so fat and cute from the get-go.
Thanx for popping by to share the holiday!
AC
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Helen!
ReplyDeleteYou were up EARLY! I'm sure you are busy unwrapping pressies right now, so I hope you got everything you wished for and THEN SOME! I'm sure all your grandbabies are having a grand time opening their presents.
AC
Welcome home from Mouseland, Sharon!
ReplyDeleteWe'll GLADLY add a copy of the fabulous My Dearest Mr. Darcy (book 3 of the Darcy Saga) to our prize list!
I am always so grateful to nurses in every venue, but your must be extra rewarding. THANK YOU for being the special kind of person who works in such a profession. And DITTO to Cheryl!
HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
AC
Thanx a bunch for the good wishes, Mason!
ReplyDeleteHope your Christmas is bright and your new year is full of WONDERFUL things!
AC
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteMy BFF says the same thing about her Kitchen Aid. Your DH is one smart guy!
Congrats on getting your author copies just in time for Christmas!
AC
Happy Holidays, Razlover!
ReplyDeleteThanx for popping by on Christmas Eve. YUM!!! Baked goods are always a very welcome present (just in case, ya know, you have some extra cookies lying about...)! Of course, I would never turn down a new PC either. :-)
AC
Hm, the best gift I ever got? My daughter home from college for a month. Best gifts I ever gave? You'd have to ask my family! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAs for which list I'm on...I'll never tell.
Merry Christmas all!
Margay
What a WONDERFUL Christmas present, Estella! Even if he was a day late. :-) My nephew was born Dec. 26, 1984 and he's pretty darn special too!
ReplyDeleteThanx for popping by today and hope you have a GREAT HOLIDAY!
AC
Hi Margay!
ReplyDeleteSo glad your daughter made it home for Christmas! I know you'll enjoy your holiday with her. :-)
Thanx for popping by and sharing Christmas Eve with us!
Hope 2010 is EXTRA SPECIAL for you!
AC
Hi Aunty Cindy,
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be Aiden's first Christmas. I would like to say that I've been somewhat good this year, but I do occasionally have some naughty thoughts. One year I got a ticket to Amsterdam and it was a short, but memorable experience. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to anybody and everybody...my ideal Christmas present...snow that falls only on grassy areas, world peace, ice storms that aren't, understanding between all people, no more using God as an excuse to kill others. Oh before I forget, getting Cheryl Brooks Fugitive as a gift under the tree! lol ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Jane!
ReplyDeleteMERRY MERRY Christmas! Amsterdam is indeed a memorable place. I distinctly remember a porn shop right next door to a McDonald's. LOL!
Hope 2010 is a wonderful and memorable year for you,
AC
LOL Jessica!
ReplyDeleteWorld peace, snow that doesn't fall on the road, and Cheryl's Fugitive under your tree... Sounds like a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to me!
Thanx to you and everyone for dropping by and spending part of Christmas Eve with us!
AC
slides in im late i know id like to say Merry Christmas first and formost
ReplyDeletemost memorable christmas gift was my 3 yr oldnephew hgave me rocks
that he found in the yard after searching and searching for thats omething special for thegirl you love ( he seen the diamond comercial) so once he found me his moma nd granmother those special rocks he wrapped thegift him self
and uhh im probably on the naughty list ahh well i like itthere
Merry Christmas!!!! Hubs and I have four kiddos and it's always been difficult to find that one gift that sends them over the moon. Who would have thought that a cell phone would have sent my then 14 yr old into a torrent of tears? It's one of my most memorable ones.
ReplyDeleteMy best present was a cat when I was a child (parents really didn't like pets) so it was quite a surprise (I had been begging for years lol). I now have 6 and care for ferals/strays. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Everyone!!
ReplyDeleteI've been nice (umm sure)
My favorite Christmas present -- my engagement ring!!! I never saw it coming -- needless to say I was surprised.
Hope you all enjoyed Christmas celebrating like I did. Best present I ever got was a trip to a Mexican resort, all expenses paid, had a great time.
ReplyDeletetoys when was i little and i giving to my famly and seeing their faeces when they like it lol
ReplyDeletei say giftcards
kh
happy holidays to u all
kh