Christmas day...

Christmas day is spent with Nancy's side of the family together with our friends....

Reindeer Pete pouting as he wants to open his Christmas presents right away... as for Reindeer Sher, she is trying to just look awake!

Everyone got their reindeer antlers for pictures? Not quite....

We left Santa some yummy cookies, wine, wine glass, a shotglass and a lovely note....

Christmas morning... picture in front of the Christmas tree... it's tradition!!

the Milizia family...

Family picture...

Opening presents... I gave Sharon a new cellphone and Pete & Matt got Sharon a black Ipod Nano... the Ipod is on its way to being shipped to her, so Sharon was presented with a homemade picture of a very mini Ipod Nano which was packed in a big box, wrapped with a big bow! She loved her gifts!!

Chele got Mario a sweater which he exclaimed was one size too big... with the new sweater on, glasses and sequined red reindeer antlers - doesn't he look like the missing ghost in a Christmas Carol?!?

Sherene & Slavena and the girls with their lovely scarf which Julie made...

Slavena and Boris smiling for the camera. Pete and I are glad that you came and spent Christmas with us. Thank you so much for the delicious Bulgarian Feta Cheese bake with fortunes. I sure am looking ahead for a GREAT 2006! as my fortune predicts :P

The Gauger sisters... Nancy and Julie. Pete with Grandma Mary holding up the cardinal gravy boat I got her.

Christmas eve...

Over at the Milizia's, Christmas eve is tradittionally spent with the entire Milizia clan (Mario's side of the family). This year's Milizia-Christmas was hosted in Pete's house. Here are some very interesting pictures of the gang on this Christmas eve...


Nancy singing Christmas carols, cooking and posing at the camera all at once... superwoman she is!!


Here are the ladies with a picture with each of the Milizia brothers; Matt & Pete.


'O Christmas tree, 'o christmas tree... look at all those presents beneath you...


Reindeer Chele and Sharon looking swell...


Pete & Sher in front of the fire place and the Christmas stockings...


Sharon and Chele... and Caitlin (Pete's cousin) with Sher...

the girls...

Holiday greetings...

Have a Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!~!

Snow...

Mum was complaining how I did not post enough pictures from this year's big snowfall, around December 8th. Well, here it is mummy...

Look at all that snow on the Christmas wreath... and dear Peter helping to shovel. Where was I when he was shovelling? Next to being able to snap a couple of pictures.. it took me a while to get ready as I was putting on my ski pants and a couple of layers or clothing. I was ready to not only shovel but to spend some time just being outside.


I should be helping Pete clearing a pathway to the door and clearing snow off the car.. but, posing for pictures is sure fun too!!

Happy birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to you... happy birthday to you....
Happy Birthday dear mummy...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to yOU!!

We love you lots!!

Sherene & Sharon

XoXoX

Winter weather...

I love the winter weather..
So the two of us can get together
There's nothing sweeter, finer...
When it's nice and cold
I can hold my baby closer to me
And collect the kisses that are due me
I love the winter weather...
Because I've got my love to keep me warm

*Jane Monheit - The Season*

Countdown to Christmas...

Current location: Rochester. We went out for sushi last night with some of Pete's friends... Matt is leaving right after Christmas for a new job in Wyoming. Why on earth there? Great opportunity for him... rock/mountain climbing and computers - his areas of expertise. Good luck with the new move, job and all. Keep in touch Matthew!

Got a bit more beauty sleep time... managed to get some presents wrapped... a lot more shopping to do! I have got to get my X'mas shopping done!! Only one week until Christmas!! Or.. in the wise words of Seth Cohen from the OC, it's a Christmakuh affair!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Happy Birthday to you... happy birthday to you....

Happy Birthday dear dad...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to yOU!!

Hope you liked the little gifts we sent home to Penang with Chee Ming. We know you enjoy those small little munchies - hersheys, mini mint kit-kats, pistachios, etc.

We miss you very much and we love yoU!!

Sherene & Sharon

XoXoX

Party pixs...

Redeemed some sleep time from final papers and an amazing party over at Wojtek's last night... no pictures taken... but, I do have pictures from last week's party which I promised!! The usual group of friends were present...


Thanks for Friday night Wojtek.... how are you recovering??!!


Everyone still have their glasses filled and awake... Chee Ming's eyes semi-closed.


The lovebirds together.... :p


Chee Ming zoinked out on this picture... Philipp kept the party going!


At Pearl Street Brew... Boris, Pete, Sher and Slavena toasting to the end of the semester.


The rest of the crew at the brewery.. Sharon, Philipp, Ahmed, Chee Ming Michele, Wojtek and Pawel.

Winter wonderland...

Just reached home... had to slowly trudged through the icy walkways, pavements and road to my car. Warmed up car, scrapped ice crystals off and drove home. Again, had to slowly waddle my way through icy pavements to my door step... arrived home safely. My weatherbug's been chirping.. and here's what it has to say...

Now through 07:00 PM EST December 15, 2005
The short term forecast for western New York. A mixed bag of precipitation will continue across the region into the evening hours. You may experience freezing rain, sleet, snow, and or rain, or a mix thereof. The precipitation may even change back and forth from one form to another. Snowfall at times may reduce visibility to 1/2 of a mile or less. Southerly winds of 15 to 25 mph, may cause some of the ice laden branches and wires to come down, so be on the alert. Any untreated surfaces are likely to be very slippery, so use extreme caution if you are out and about this evening and allow extra time to reach your destination.

Tonight
Freezing rain and sleet this evening changing to all snow after 8pm. Snow and sleet accumulation 3 to 5 inches. Not as cold with lows in the upper 20s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph...becoming south 10 mph or less.

* * * * *

I'm not complaining here am I?!? Just stating the facts for you curios ones on what it's like living here in the northeast. I love the snow... really I do... just not the wind chill or ice. Other than that... grab those skiis & snowboarding boards and let's hit the slopes!!

Current updates...

One more paper to complete... chilly winds... icy roads... airport taxi service I shall be, Christmas cards to send out... just officially started Christmas shopping - rather late this year, yikes! :P This time of the year... I am constantly running from place to place... running errands and trying to remember what else that needs to be done. All I need now is a big looong break!! And it is coming up soon!! Thank goodness... Happy shopping everyone, have a wonderful break and season's greetings!!

p/s: I have pictures from last week's snow snovelling sessions, Christmas Jingle Jangle Jam and friends over at our place! Will be posted in due time... :D

Last week of classes....

I am officially done with classes!! Attended my last class for the semester last evening. Two and 1/2 presentations - over with... one paper due later today. Final big presentation... tomorrow morning. Three other final papers... due next week!

Library, carrels and cybrary work stations - current friend in need!! Typing away I am...

After tomorrow's presentation... I can at least have a bit of a breathing room.. will take a mini/short break and start writing again... *sigh... the life of a grad student in the final weeks of the semester!

Austen Classic...

Was in school over the entire weekend preparing for presentations this week... but I managed to tag along Chele & Sharon for a 10:00 p.m. showing of Pride & Prejudice.

This has got to be one of my favorite version of this Jane Austen classic. Number one on my list is still the Pride and Prejudice mini series (1995)starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Matthew MacFayden played Mr. Darcy's role very well... although the consensus among us girls was that his physical traits - not as dashing as Colin Firth - it has to grow on you. Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett - delightful.

Mindi's day...

Happy Birthday "mama" Mindi!~!~

We miss you lots.... hope all is well with you and Andy in Okinawa.
lotsa love,
Sher & Pete

Christmas lights a cRaZy!~

Nancy sent this to me earlier...
"Too Cool!", she said. "Can we do this to our house?" EErr... I am so not volunteering to put up all the lights... check the video clip out!! :oP
*make sure you STOP the music on the blog first to get the full effect!!