This Christmas was a rather special Christmas! The Chandler 9 was able to gather together and share the Christmas spirit...
It's the first time we've all been together during this
spectacular Holiday!
Diane, Luisito, and Tony came to visit from Northridge, CA. Nick, Jenny, and Jaxon came to visit from Fort Stewart, GA (Nick came home from Iraq on December 3 - safe and sound!), Cameron came home from San Diego. Aubrey, Mitchell, and I were ready and waiting in Chandler for the bunch to arrive!
Christmas Eve we gathered at Cindy and John's home for our traditional Christmas Eve Family and Friends gathering....where everyone comes with a ton a food, a goofy gift to exchange, and a talent....or at least what we like to call a talent.
A few of us have true talent and most of us just try really hard to come up with something...anything!
Cindy played Christmas Carols and accompanied the Christmas version of "Don't Forget the Lyrics" (Chris and Gary's talent)
John and Lorna...doing the most important task of the evening...preparing the eats! As always, we had too much and it was all so yummy!
Two...oh so very handsome....young men. Doing a little Christmas in Arizona pre-party on the balcony.
So happy to have Cameron back home in Arizona. We've missed this face! Welcome home, Cameron!
Grandma Reba's taking Jaxon for a spin...not too sure if he can keep up with her!
The circle of unwrapping!
This is a "kid favorite" game that we play every year. One gift is wrapped a bazillion times and passed around the circle, each child taking one turn to unwrap the gift. The last one to unwrap gets to keep the gift...but no one can predict who's going to win because no one knows exactly how much a bazillion really is! Trevor represents the Vigiletti family by winning a $10 McDonald's gift card in this game!
Cameron, Aubrey, Mitchell, and Jaxon...taking a break from all of the festivities in the movie room...watching Toy Story 3
This is a crazy game...first you have a vanilla wafer on your forehead and the first one to work it into their mouth...without the use of hands....wins! Who's going to take this one???(Looks like Luisito has Diane and Tony to cheer him on!)
Everyone is watching....
He almost has it....it's a close race...will he get it???
And the winner is.....Luisito! 
Luisito and Jaxon in their matching
Christmas morning jammies!
We absolutely DID have ourselves a very
Merry Christmas in 2010.
This is Aubrey's senior year and it is her 4th year in the Chandler High choir. Mitchell is in his sophomore year and decided to join the choir this year for the first time....tonight was their first concert together. Aubrey is in the Advanced Women's choir and Mitchell is in the Men's choir and Chorale. The music was beautiful and they sang to a full house.
From Diane: Funny thing Cito said the other day, "Mom I think I am getting used to using one arm." What a trooper! I guess he is no longer mad at me. :)
Easter Fun with Morgan!
Happy 7th Birthday, Cito!
Happy 18th Birthday, Allison!
First orchestra Concert of 2011/2012
And all the girls just LOVE Mitchell! Lucky guy...he must be doing something right!
Cindy played Christmas Carols and accompanied the Christmas version of "Don't Forget the Lyrics" (Chris and Gary's talent)
John and Lorna...doing the most important task of the evening...preparing the eats! As always, we had too much and it was all so yummy!
Two...oh so very handsome....young men. Doing a little Christmas in Arizona pre-party on the balcony.
So happy to have Cameron back home in Arizona. We've missed this face! Welcome home, Cameron!
Grandma Reba's taking Jaxon for a spin...not too sure if he can keep up with her!
The circle of unwrapping!
Cameron, Aubrey, Mitchell, and Jaxon...taking a break from all of the festivities in the movie room...watching Toy Story 3
This is a crazy game...first you have a vanilla wafer on your forehead and the first one to work it into their mouth...without the use of hands....wins! Who's going to take this one???
He almost has it....it's a close race...will he get it???
And the winner is.....Luisito! 
Luisito and Jaxon in their matching
We absolutely DID have ourselves a very
Nick arrived home safely from Iraq on December 3rd, 2010. His beautiful wife Jenny and his absolutely darling son (my sweet GrandBoy) were there to greet him at his home base at Fort Stewart , GA. It was freezing cold and in the middle of the night, but that certainly didn't hold these two back from meeting Nick as he arrived home.
Two very Happy people..... I love the joy you see in their faces!
12 Long months apart.....lots of lovin' to make up for!
Happy boy, waiting for his Daddy to arrive....
This boy loves his sticks...great moment to wave those sticks
This boy loves him Mama! What a trooper...middle of the night...freezing cold...and still smiling!
Welcome Home, Nick! You have been loved, prayed for, missed, cherished, bragged about, adored, written about, talked about, worried about.... for the last 12 months....
My sister Cindy has a friend who is an unbelievable artisit! The pictures I have posted here are some that she just completed of my Mom and Dad. These are quilted art, with hand dyed fabrics and photo prints embllished into her quilted designs. I am so impressed with the work, I just had to share. To see more, visit the artists blog at http://louiseschieleworksandwords.blogspot.com/
My father was a very talented musician. In the background of this picture, the artist has stitched the words to one of his favorites tunes - "Red Roses for a Blue Lady"" 
