Part 2 of the 10th annual REAL World Holiday Marathon

AN's in part 1

MAKING NEW MEMORIES

"Mama, can I call Peanut and tell her we made it here safely?" Joan asked after the LA crew arrived and got settled.

Mary smiled. "We texted Aunt Alyssa from the airport after we landed, remember? I'm sure she told Peanut."

"I know." Joan sighed. "But I want her to know we made it to Nonna's safely." Suddenly her eyes lit up with an idea. "And if we call her on skype then she can actually see Nonna and Nonna can say hi to her and I know she'd really love that." Joan turned hopeful eyes to Nonna. "Do you wanna say hello to Peanut?"

"Of course I do, bambina," Nonna said without hesitation "Especially if it will help put her mind at ease."

Joan beamed at Nonna then wrapped her in a spontaneous hug. "I knew you'd understand."

Danny smiled softly as he watched the exchange then said more to himself than anyone else in particular, "She always does."

"One more story?" Angie asked hopefully.

"Grace and Kendra have already read you four," Steve said. "It's time for bed."

"Aunt Mary and Uncle Aaron will be in that room right there if you need anything." Catherine pointed to a door across the basement from the beds that were set up for the younger children. "And you know which room Mommy and Daddy are in upstairs."

Angie nodded. "I'm not tired though."

"That's because our bodies are still on Hawaii time," DJ explained. "But we have to try to go to sleep now so we're not tired in the morning."

Steve smiled. "That's exactly right buddy."

"Can we play for a while and then we'll go to sleep in a little bit?" Joan asked. "If we promise to be quiet?"

"I'd really rather you just go to sleep now," Mary said. "How are you not tired after the long plane flight and all the excitement of getting here?"

Catherine chuckled. "It has the opposite effect on them."

Angie looked around the room and noticed there were only two beds set up. The one she and Joan were sleeping in and one for DJ. "Where are Grace and Kendra sleepin'?" she asked.

"They're going to sleep upstairs in the sewing room," Catherine told them.

The disappointed look on Angie's face melted Grace's heart. It was the first year that she'd been given grown up sleeping arrangements as opposed to being with the kids and she was honestly torn as to how she felt about it.

"I could bring my air mattress down here," she said, clearly wavering.

"You don't have to do that," Catherine told her.

"I know I don't HAVE to," Grace said. "But I kinda WANT to. I miss camping out with my cool cousins." She turned to Kendra. "You're welcome to stay upstairs in the sewing room."

"To be honest I was kinda hoping you'd want to move," Kendra said. "The sewing room is great but I think sleeping down here would help me miss my family less."

"Let's go upstairs and get our stuff," Grace said happily.

"YAY!" The three younger children cheered in unison.

"Hey, hey, hey, Welcome to New Jersey!" Danny's sister Angela called out as she entered Nonna's kitchen, her arms loaded with winter accessories. Dropping everything on a counter, she wrapped her grandmother in a hug. Gesturing to the food cooking, she kissed Nonna. "In your element, Nonna?"

"I am, cara, did you eat?"

"Before coming here at breakfast? Of course not," she laughed as everyone rose to greet her.

"Scrounging a meal?" Danny teased as he embraced his little sister. "Keeping out of trouble?"

"I was until you got here," she said and the kiss to his cheek was followed by a playful shoulder punch.

She pulled back to look at her niece. "Grace, damn, look at you, girly. Beautiful as usual. Must be my genes," she teased as Grace laughed.

"It's so good to see you, Angela," Catherine greeted her with a hug.

"Hi, Aunt Angela!" DJ exclaimed, his eyes taking in the hats, gloves, and scarves.

"That's all for us?" Steve asked while receiving a hug of his own.

"Just some extra warmth for when you guys head out for winter fun," Angela replied.

"Ohh there's a purple scarf! Thank you!" Angie ran in for a second hug.

"I'm very very happy you're here, is Francesca and Uncle Sal coming?" Angie asked.

"I took today off, but they're both at work, they'll be here for all the fun, promise."

"This is very thoughtful," Catherine said appreciatively.

"Since we're gearing up for the cold, I'll be right back," Grace said and left the room as all the others greeted Angela.

When she returned carrying a garment bag she motioned to her cousin. "DJ, I've got something for you,"

"For me?" DJ's eyes widened with anticipation as he eagerly took the bag from Grace's hands and looked between his parents.

"Go on, open it!" Grace urged with a smile.

DJ lifted the bag, revealing a regulation navy pea coat. "No way! This is awesome!" DJ exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. "It's a real navy pea coat! Look, Grandpa!" He held it up to a beaming Joseph.

"Is that…" Steve began and Grace nodded, moving to wrap him in a hug.

"It's the one you bought me the first Christmas you and Auntie Cath came with us to Nonna's," Grace confirmed, smiling. "Once I outgrew it, I saved it, thinking I'd get to pass it down just like this."

"It was yours? From Daddy?" DJ was even more excited by that fact.

"It was. I was eleven and Uncle Steve and Danno drove into the city so he could get it for me. It's too special to leave the family, so now it's yours."

"You'll look so handsome in it," Elizabeth said with a smile for Catherine.

"It's so cool! Thank you, Grace," DJ exclaimed, already trying on the coat.

"You're welcome." Grace kissed his cheek.

"It fits perfect!" He was beaming. "And when I outgrow it, I'll give it to Angie!"

"Sweet boy," Catherine's smile lit her eyes as Angie clapped and hugged her brother, saying, "You look very very handsome!"

As Angie and Danny stood at the kitchen window watching the first flakes of snow begin to fall while the others finished up breakfast she said, "Hey Uncle Danno, remember when Grace gave DJ the special pea coat?"

He chuckled. "You mean like an hour ago? Yes, I remember that."

"Ms. Lane said repeating things can help you remember them, and I want to remember everything about this trip."

"Then you repeat things as much as you need to," he told her.

"And I have an idea for something else that might help," Elizabeth said. She reached into a bag sitting beside her chair and pulled out three colorful journals covered with holiday scenes.

"Memory books!" DJ said excitedly. "Like the ones we had at Disney!"

"That's right." Elizabeth handed a book to DJ, then Joan, then Angie. "Having memories in your head is nice but it's also good to have something you can look back on to help refresh them."

"We can get everyone to tell their favorite Christmas memory and we can write it in our books," Joan suggested.

"That's an excellent idea," Deb said. "Maybe we can find a time while we're here and all share our favorite memory."

"What a wonderful idea." Nonna clapped her hands. "I can't wait."

THE END thanks for reading

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