A Very Merry Christmas

"Non temete!"

We've had a big crazy family Christmas this year with so many people that my sister and I had to go out and buy a table so we could all sit together. (True story. Although the table will come in handy for the future anyway.)

There were Venezuelans, Uruguayans, Germans and Italians sitting around it but the food on top was strictly German (thanks for the delicious pâté Babbo!), down to the goose and Knödel for Christmas day.

Of course, preparations had to start with the most important job: cleaning the chimney. Luckily Dani wasn't afraid to get up and dirty (read, Fa talked her into it) and took care of that chimney like a professional.

Hmm, not sure if Santa will fit through here...

Although as it turned out, the work was for naught as Santa apparently arrives on bicycle here in Italy.

Make way for Santa on his trusty steed.

Small Paw got an early start on her presents with a wonderful Hanukkah gift from her godfather. What a lucky duck she is.

Yay for Hanukkah presents!
Thank you padrino!

The Christmas eve table.

The beautiful table, a family effort.

Everyone wore their finest.

They all clean up nicely, don't they?!
The whole family, minus Carlos the photographer.

Drinks to get the evening started.

This doesn't taste like champagne at all. Are you trying to fob me off with Prosecco??

Of course there was an embarrassment of presents.

Woohoo!!!
Kaku wearing his Christmas gift
Assembling the Christmas fighter plane
Salute! Prost! Salud!
Happy Christmas from the Paws

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas too and are getting ready for a splendid new year. We already have several new destinations lined up to get Small Paw into the traveling groove, starting with Japan in March. So stay tuned for more Paws on the Road in 2014!