Can we do it all over again???

This is really the most wonderful time of the year. From Thanksgiving on, we get so busy preparing for Christmas. We also celebrate Connor's birthday this month. It was very cute to have him blowing his candle (or trying, anyways!). But even cuter is that every other day, he will come over to my scrap room carrying two candles, asking me if we can have his birthday again. So, we go and lit the candles, and sing the "Happy Birthday" song for him. He gets so excited, even if he doesn't get toys every time.

We went to see Santa, of course. There is a small zoo in a town nearby that has a beautiful display of lights. You can drive around to see the lights, and then you can go in and see Santa. Connor was thrilled, but I'm not sure about Coco... I think she was very concerned that she didn't know what to ask Santa for Christmas; she was really mortified. We had to explain that Santa is a real expert in little girls and he would know just what would make her happy.


We also went downtown Chicago to get the kids to see the window displays. I had not done that in quite a while, and it was really the first time we took the kids. Connor was actually not that thrilled. He was downright scared of several of the windows at Macy's. We all loved the manger at Daley Plaza. I was very surprised. It surprises me even more that as of today, nobody has spray painted it, in any other way defaced it, or gone berserk because it offends some religious, gender oriented or animal right group. That alone is like a miracle in itself.

On Christmas eve, the kids baked some cookies with daddy. Now, I was still very busy wrapping some presents for our relatives, so good old store bought dough had to do. We've heard Santa doesn't really mind, as long as there's a glass of milk to wash them down.


Coco was an angel for the vigil mass. She looked adorable!

We came back home to prepare the cookies and milk, and the oatmeal for the reindeer. We usually get carrots for the reindeer, since it seems more healthy, but we ran out of them. Coco even colored a picture of a reindeer to decorate the table, but she made sure that Santa knew he couldn't take it, since she really liked it so much. Santa ended up writing a nice little thank you note on the picture itself. I love taking pictures of that very Holly Night, when all is really calm and silent. It is just magical and mystical. I really, really love this night when our Savior was born.

That Santa is just so kind! Of course, he knew exactly what to get everyone in the house, but I think the happiest of all was Cesar. Santa is very nice and decided he has been showing character and responsibility enough to handle a cell phone (FINALLY!). Cesar was soooo happy, he even let me take a couple of shots of him and the kids both at home and at Noni's, where we went to celebrate. This year I made the ham... but I'm pretty sure it was a little bit of a letdown. Cesar got in the car after dinner, and he said, "I think Noni is loosing her touch a little bit. That ham was kind of dry". I said "Oh, I made the ham, honey". Of course, smart as he is, he said "Oh, you know what I'm realizing? I think I put gravy on it instead of glaze!!! That's what it was!!!". You have to adore this boy.


And even though we had a white Christmas, and had snow to share, that is now gone :( In true Chicago fasion, we went from 0 to 60 within hours, and had all sorts of rain, so all we have left is these pictures...

So, how about you? I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and I hope that the New Year brings blessings to you and your loved ones. Now, we get ready to celebrate the Epiphany and the Three Wise Men on January 6. In the Mexican tradition, they will bring toys to the kids in celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I hope you have a beautiful rest of the season! Lots of hugs!