Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 19)

(from the OMG - she's 18!!! department)

Well - I can't believe we're here.  Rose turned 18 in November.  This is the first Santa photo with three adults, not two adults and a kid.  

And so - here we go:

We do clean up well!!!  Rose did get a chance to talk to Santa after the photo, while I was taking care of the technical details of the photo session. I did overhear a discussion about possible presents, but didn't pick up any of the details - I hope Santa comes through!

Afterwards, we went out for a quick celebratory dinner at the Wedgwood Broiler.  I'm still glad parts of "Old Seattle" like the Wedgwood Broiler still exist.  (Link to: Wedgwood Broiler)

As for my Christmas wish from Santa?  I wish for continued good health for me and all of my friends and family - both immediate and extended.  I've come to value those connections even more lately.  I'm also hoping - much like Ringo Starr - for Peace and Love (and Happiness) in 2026!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone - from the Pietromonaco family!

Cheers,
Paul

P.S.  Bonus photos - all of us waiting outside to have our photo taken:

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 18)

(from the I Don't Think Rocky Had This Many Sequels department)

Well - we did it!  It was a mad whirlwind getting to the Santa photos today - we were booked in the last available slot.  But - we did it!!

Without further ado - Santa Photo 2024®!!

Rose is quite the young lady now.  But - she still asked Santa for a present!

Personally, I'm thankful that we were all available to be in the Santa photo this year.  We're working on staying healthy and optimistic this upcoming year.  (Health and happiness for all - that's what I'd ask Santa for!)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone - from the Pietromonaco family!

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 17)

(from the Yup - That's Rose!!! department)

Hi everyone,

The streak continues - 17 years!!

So - I present to you - the Santa photo...

It's been a transitional year for the family.  I was let go by Indeed on April 1st - April Fools' Day.  (Heh - funny!)  I've been looking for a job since then.  Dana continues her volunteer work at the Seattle Aquarium, and has a new gig volunteering at the Seattle Asian Art Museum.  Rose has settled into her second year of High School - she's doing well!  This year she's been studying American Sign Language (ASL).  

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings from the Pietromonaco family (Dana, Rose & I).

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 16)

(from the OMG - That's Rose??? department)

Hi everyone,

Well - we did it!  A 16 year streak!    

Without further ado...

It's been a busy year - Rose has started her first year at High School - Dana volunteers at the Seattle Aquarium - I'm doing more Java programming at work - and we're all still healthy!

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings from the Pietromonaco family (Dana, Rose & I).

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 15)

(from the Look Ma - No Masks! department)

Hi everyone,

In these difficult times, it's more important than ever to try and maintain a semblance of normality.  

And - so - without further ado....

Don't worry - we're all fully vaccinated!  Everything was done quite safely.  And - check out Santa's cool "SC" belt buckle!  He was quite proud of it - and rightly so!

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings from the Pietromonaco family (Dana, Rose & I).

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 14)

(from the How Are There 14 Of These Since Rose Is Only 13? department)

Hi everyone,

Wow - what a year!  Even though we're still in lockdown, we did manage to visit with Santa this year.  However - it was a little different....

Yes - we're smiling happily!!  Can't you tell??

It's been a heck of year, putting it mildly.  There was something comforting about seeing Santa - this year more than ever.  

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings from the Pietromonaco family (Dana, Rose & I).

Cheers,

Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 13)

(from the Omg - Rose Is So Big Now!!! department)

Hi everyone,

Well once again - completely at the last minute - we have our Annual Santa Photo!®

I guess Rose really is too big to sit on Santa's lap anymore - but she sure looks happy!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone - from the Pietromonaco family!!!

Cheers,
Paul

P.S.  Yes - same red shirt - I only wear it once a year, basically :)

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 12)

(from the Holy Cow - This Means She's 11!!! department)

Hi everyone,

Well - a little last minute - but we got our Santa photo this year!!

And - yes - I'm clean shaven.  Again.  This may be a semi-permanent thing now.  

The fun part?  This isn't the first Santa photo we took this year!  We also took a Santa photo on the 1st of December, during the Island Lights Festival in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

Things are a little more relaxed in the islands - although I'm wearing my formal Hawaiian shirt. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Pietromonaco family!!!

Cheers,

Paul

P.S.  Yes - that's the same red shirt.  Apparently, I only wear it once a year now.

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 11)

(from the Paul-dolph, The Red-Cheeked Daddy department)

Hi everyone,

We're on top of it this year!  Lights outside the house - festive spirit inside the house - and Santa photo taken early!

Again - this has been a transitional year for us!  But - a great year as well!  Plus - Rose is 10!  How did that happen??

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Pietromonaco family!

Cheers,
Paul

P.S.  No new shirt this year.  It's just too festive!

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 10)

(from the OMG - Is That Rose? department)

Hi everyone,

Per our annual tradition, here's our new Santa photo for 2016:

It's been a transitional year for us - in many ways - but I'm so thankful we can spend the holidays together as a family.  Here's to a better 2017!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Pietromonaco family!

Cheers,
Paul

P.S.  Still the same shirt.  Maybe a new one next year!

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 9)

(from the Is that Rose?  She's so big! department)

Hi everyone,

Happy Holidays!  Here's our new Santa photo for 2015:

We took three photos - and all were great!  This one was the most fun, though. 

Rose was very comfortable with Santa - just a bit shy at first - but she gave him hugs and whispered her Christmas wish to him.  Part of the festive mood may have been due to the Fran's hot chocolate I bought while we were waiting in line.  (Dad may have had a little caffeine in his... ^_^;)  There's nothing like hot chocolate on a cold evening to kindle the holiday spirit!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Pietromonaco family!

Cheers,
Paul

P.S.  Yeah - I know it's the same shirt as last year.  I need to get more Holiday Appropriate® festive shirts.

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 8)

(from the Yes, there's definitely more than just Rose and Santa in this picture department)

Hi everyone,

Happy Holidays everyone!  Here's our new Santa photo for December 2014:

This was one of the easiest photos we've ever taken.  We actually took two - and they were almost identical.

Afterwards, we had dinner at Piatti's and got ready for the arrival of Santa.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Pietromonaco family!

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 7)

(from the Seems like there's more than just Rose and Santa in this picture department)

Hi everyone,

Yes - it's that time of year again.  Here's our family Santa photo:

Once again - Rose was a little shy at first, so Santa volunteered his chair for us.  But - Rose warmed up to Santa pretty quickly - even though she really wasn't sure what to ask him for!  He suggested that she send her wish to him in a letter, and that seemed to be okay with her.

Afterwards, we stopped by Fran's Chocolates for some high-class hot chocolate (yum!) and finished off the evening with a nice dinner at Piatti's.  A good time was had by all!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Pietromonaco family!

Cheers,
Paul

Rose @ Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker - Sunday, December 8th, 2013

(from the Endless Twirl department)

Hi everyone,

We attended a performance of the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall on Sunday, December 8th, 2013.  Rose was pretty as a ballerina.  She insisted on getting a flower headpiece, so I insisted on a photo:

 

Generally, I don't like photos in portait-orientation, but this does capture her full outfit:

 

Then, she twirled away:

A good time was had at the ballet by all!

Cheers,
Paul

P.S.  I recently found this pic of all of us, courtesy of Radio Disney:

We look great!!!

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (part 6)

(from the We Really Dressed Up This Year department)

Hi everyone,

Well - we got our yearly Santa photo taken today.  Although Rose couldn't wait to see Santa - jumping up and down in anticipation on the steps outside Santa's cabin - once inside, she literally disappeared into Dana's leg.  We had to coax her out with a candy cane and a Mickey Mouse doll.  Santa let us have the chair too:

The picture came out great.  We do clean up nice, don't we?

We got dressed up when we went to the matinee of the Nutcracker that afternoon, and headed directly to Santa's afterwards.

We asked Rose what she was going to ask Santa for.  She told us that she'd written it down in a letter - so she didn't feel like she needed to ask him anything.  We suggested that she at least ask him for her number one item - and she agreed.  Although she had practiced, she got very shy, and wouldn't say a word.  Finally, before we left, she did muster up the courage to ask Santa for a Rock Star Jacket - like the Fresh Beat Band wears - and wished Santa a Merry Christmas.

So - in that spirit:  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Pietromonaco family!

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (Part 5)

(from the How can she have 5 photos when she's only 4? department)

Hi everyone,

Here's our 2012 Christmas photo:



Rose was a little nervous prior to meeting Santa, but once she sat down for the picture, she was excited about it. She told Santa exactly what she wanted and then we took the picture.

NOTE: Unlike previous years, we have digital copies of two out-takes. They're not quite as good - but I'll post them here anyway:


(taken just before)


(taken just after)

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose (Part 4)

(from the Christmas in July department)

Hi everyone,

It occurs to me that I never posted the 2010 Family Christmas photo. Well - here it is!



For this one, we figured that Rose wouldn't pose unless we were in it, so I did have a (small) chance to get ready for the photo.

Happy (Belated) Holidays Everyone - from Paul, Dana, Rose, and Santa

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose!!! (Parts 2 & 3)

(from the Happy Holidays department)

Hi everyone,

Just got our Santa photo back. Here it is for 2009:



Dana and I weren't planning on being in this one - but, for the first time, Rose was too scared of Santa to sit on his lap unless we were all there. Look at how pensive she looks!

We managed to get her to pose last year by herself. I realized I'd never posted that one, so here it is - Santa 2008:



Happy Holidays Everyone - from Paul, Dana, Rose & Santa!

Cheers,
Paul

Merry Christmas from Santa and Rose!!!

(from the Happy Holidays department)

Hi everyone,

Well - our little Rose got to meet Santa for the first time. She was extremely well behaved - perhaps it was her new velvet dress!



Merry Christmas everyone!

Cheers,
Paul