Xmas 2010

Xmas Morning 2010:

Tio Gabi (“Moose-tache”) & Kitty Cat, Papa & Gamma, Tio Javi, Moco & Bubba, and Louis Armstrong

Opening presents:

Bubba got a Spanish National Team soccer uniform… Tio Gabi and Kitty Cat got tea.

Tio Javi got his annual pear.  Moco got SmartWool socks and the American Girl Feel Better Kit (as modeled by Emilee).

Louie got a new ball.

Festivities:

We had Belgian waffles for breakfast and a beautiful crown roast for supper with the Iowa State gang.

We spent a good portion of the day preparing for the festivities, and it was well worth it.

The highlight of the evening was Trivial Pursuit — “kids” vs. parents.  We “kids” are 18 to 32 years old.  Almost all of the parents have PhDs in Chemistry.  There is a physician among them, and after all the ob/gyn questions that he missed, we’re glad he’s a podiatrist.  The parents blew a couple chances at winning, which allowed us to catch up, but in the end, their combined years of experience gave them the edge. There was no shortage of jokes, cheesecake, coffee, laughter, and pumpkin pie this evening.  (Well, maybe there was a shortage of cheesecake — Bubba ate three slices all by himself!!!)

Another wonderful Christmas filled with family, friends, food, and fun!!!

Xmas Eve 2010

Gamma brought the kids to NM from IL last Sunday.  Tio Gabi and Kitty Cat arrived on Monday from CO, and Tio Javi and I both arrived on Xmas Eve (he drove from CA, I flew from IL).  The kids helped put up farolitos around the house.  (This Southwestern tradition symbolizes the journey of Mary and Joseph from house to house looking for shelter in Bethlehem before Jesus was born.)  We had a late supper (lobster tails, jamón serrano, chorizo, manchego, and olives) before the kids left Rice Krispies treats and milk for Santa an a couple of carrots for the reindeer.

The weather in NM is beautiful — clear skies, sunshine, and high 30s/low 40s.  We wish there was more snow for skiing and snowboarding, but we’re thrilled to be visiting and spending time with family.  Just wish Daddy could have joined us.  He spent two days in IA before heading back to IL to work!

Reconstruction

A couple months ago, Bubba saw the Lego City Fire Station set in Toys’R'Us, and it immediately became the number one item on his Christmas wish list.  At least once a week, sometimes once a day, we had to hear about how much he wanted the fire station for Christmas (or right this very second).  Thanks to Gamma and Papa, Bubba received this set, along with a couple other Lego items.  He and Papa worked on setting it all up in New Mexico, and Bubba had a lot of fun playing with it the week we were there.  Unfortunately, it had to be taken apart for the trip back to Illinois.

Despite our efforts to keep the fire station intact in sections for the flight, pieces still came apart and then they all got mixed with his regular Lego bucket.  Last night, Bubba and I started to put it all back together.  Scratch that — I started to put it all back together; Bubba just sat there chirping in my ear how I wasn’t moving fast enough and how much he just wanted to play with his fire truck and the fire station.  (Note: I’m filing this in the back of my head so that one day, when Bubba is the father of a three-year-old boy who can’t read instructions and put together his own Lego set, my grandson will get a giant and very intricate Lego set for Christmas.)  We I finally finished the fire station reconstruction this afternoon, and now Bubba and Moco are playing very nicely at the kitchen table.

I have to admit, Legos are pretty fun, and the sets they have are pretty clever and detailed.  Almost makes me want to run out and buy a few more fun sets so they have a whole Lego City scene.  You’ll notice in the close-up shot of the Fire Station that there are bunk beds for the firefighters and a flat screen TV (on the second level), swivel chairs (both levels), and a coffee maker (first level).  Moco and Bubba added delivery “pizzas” (on the floor) in the lower left hand corner — such imaginations!

We have yet to rebuild the bigger fire truck and a few smaller sets, but the Legos are keeping them entertained this afternoon, which is all I can ask for right now!

Christmas Survey with Moco and Bubba

Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Moco: I don’t know.
Bubba: Nice.

What do you want most for Christmas?
Moco: American Girl clothes
Bubba: A Handy Manny drill

Do you believe in Father Christmas?
Moco: What?! Who is he?
Bubba: *shakes head*

What is your favorite food at Christmas?
Moco: Squash!
Bubba: Corn! Cinnamon Coast Trunch.

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?
Moco: I don’t know…
Bubba: *nods*

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?
Moco: I don’t think so…
Bubba: Uh-huh, I think so.

What is your favorite Christmas song?
Moco: Jingle Bells
Bubba: Santa Claus. Football.

What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Moco: ELF!
Bubba: ELF!

What is your best memory of Christmas?
Moco: When I got my DS.
Bubba: A flashlight?

What do you look forward to most at Christmas?
Moco: Seeing family
Bubba: Presents

What are you doing for Christmas this year?
Moco: Traveling to New Mexico
Bubba: Traveling to Illinois

Who do you want to kiss under the mistletoe?
Moco: No one
Bubba: *puts hands up to mouth* OH NO! I don’t want to kiss anybody!!!

What kind of Christmas tree do you have?
Moco: Fake
Bubba: It has a deer on it. Santy Claus. *heeheehee*

Do you take part in a secret Santa?
Moco: Not yet
Bubba: *nods*

Do you go to any Christmas parties?
Moco: I had one at school.
Bubba: Can I spell my name?

Have you ever had a white Christmas?
Moco: What’s a white Christmas? Oh, yes.
Bubba: LET ME SPELL MY NAME! YOU’RE MEAN! I WANT TO SPELL MY NAME!

How early do you wake up on Christmas morning?
Moco: Early enough
Bubba: Uh… six o’kwock

Do you still get a stocking?
Moco: Yes
Bubba: Yes. Can I spell Moco’s name? 1-2-3-4-5

How many Christmas cards do you normally send out?
Moco: A lot
Bubba: Football. I don’t wanna laugh anymore because I might get da hiccups.

What is your Christmas wish?
Moco: To see a lot of family members
Bubba: Santa Claus on his deer. Okay, that’s it. THAT’S IT! LET’S NOT DO THIS ANYMORE!

Man, I love these kids…

11/26: Today I Am Thankful For…

…Uncle John & Laine’s cooking.

Daddy, Moco, Bubba, Deacon and I drove up to Cedar Rapids after I got off work on Wednesday.  We stayed with Auntie Therie for the night before heading out for Elkader the next morning — but not before we had a hearty Thanksgiving breakfast cooked by Auntie Therie.  We feasted on scrambled eggs, sauteed onions, bacon, toast, cranberry bread, juice and coffee.  Bubba exclaimed, “Auntie Therie is the BEST cook!”  He was in heaven with that breakfast!

We stopped in Elkader to meet up with Grandma Lavera and Great Grandma, then we headed over to Uncle John’s house.  We were not expecting to eat Thanksgiving dinner at Uncle John’s; in fact, we had planned on going out to eat!  Uncle John invited us all over to eat when he heard we were in town — they had cooked three turkeys on the grill!  We ate well there, too!  It was nice to see Uncle John and his wife Kim and three of their five kids — Nikole, Kaycee, and Laine.  It has been a few years since we have seen them, so it was nice to catch up with everyone.  Uncle John took the kids out to see the horses and all the ‘coon dogs (at least a dozen); Bubba fired away a thousand and three questions and was stuck to Uncle John for a good part of the afternoon.  We watched most of How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  (I can’t believe we don’t have that book and/or the original movie!  That might have to be a Christmas Eve gift for the kids — new pajamas, a book and a movie to enjoy in the hotel after Chinese food?  Sounds like a fun night to me!)

In the late afternoon after the Thanksgiving meal, Daddy, Moco, Bubba, and I headed back to the hotel after helping Grandma and Great Grandma get settled at Great Grandma’s house.  We just hung out, relaxed in the hotel, drank lots of water, and watched Horton Hears a Who before going to bed.  That was our Thanksgiving — the driving was the hard part!  It seemed to go by very quickly, but it was relaxing not to have to do much work and just enjoy good company!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!!!

11/24: Today I Am Thankful For…

…a high tolerance level for (you fill in the blank)…

(Clearly I’m starting to struggle on the thanksgiving train.)

No, but really… I’ve been thinking about how to teach my kids about philanthropy and thinking about others, and not just during the holiday season.  But of course, it’s that time of year and there are so many opportunities to show concern for others and to develop a more altruistic approach to the holidays.  Slowly, I think they are starting to understand it as we talk about things like greed and materialism, discussing haves and have nots, etc.  In the past two weeks, I am starting to see these discussions come to fruition in small, but meaningful, ways.

Last week, Moco’s school council had a canned food drive.  Moco was insistent that we have non-perishable food items ready to go for the first day… so we emptied out the cupboards and filled her backpack to take to school.  During the week, the kids and I had a discussion about Christmas.  Santa only brings one, maybe two, gifts to each of our kids each year.  While they shouldn’t expect presents from family and friends, the reality is, Moco and Bubba receive gifts from immediate and extended family every year — and not just on Christmas.  Multiple times each year, Daddy and I help the kids go through their clothes, books, and toys and donate everything that they have outgrown or don’t play with but are still in good condition and not missing pieces, etc.  Two weekends ago, they cleared out almost a trunkful of their belongings.  I was floored that they just kept handing me things to put in the basket.  Bubba kept telling me “I don’t play with this… I don’t play with dat either!”  Moco was also very proud of how much neater their room was upon emptying out so much stuff.

Tonight Bubba and I went to the grocery store after I picked him up from Sherry’s house.  The Salvation Army bell ringer was outside the store, and when we greeted him as we entered.  This was Bubba’s first encounter with the bell ringers within his memory, so he started me asking me about what he was doing and why.  Before we exited the store, I emptied my change in Bubba’s hand and explained to him what we were doing.  He had a big grin on his face as he walked up to the red bucket and dropped a handful of coins in and pushing some other change into the bucket that hadn’t made it in from a person before us.  Then Bubba started up a conversation with the bell ringer, starting with “Why do you ring a bell?” and ending with “Okay… have a happy Thanksgiving!”

And finally Moco came home last night and told me about a drawing that she is working on during art class.  Apparently her school is one of many schools participating in a contest; the winner of the contest will have his/her artwork featured as a holiday card.  Proceeds from the sale of those cards will go to a children’s hospital.  Moco has been working carefully and diligently on her artwork, partially because she wants to haver her artwork featured and perhaps win the $50 prize, but also because, as she told me, “it’s really going to help the kids who need surgeries and stuff who are in the hospital.  I want to be able to help those kids.”  I really appreciate her honesty in recognizing her own competitive nature and balancing that with the sincerity of helping others.

So, I’m thankful that my kids are starting to understand and appreciate social responsibility and the impact that even they, as small children, can make in this big big world.

It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but I’m gonna post about Christmas…

I received this as an email, and since my creative juices have been zapped from me once again this week, I’m creatively recycling the email into a blog post.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here’s what you’re supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy (not forward) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you… ‘Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, unless it’s a quick gift or awkward shape – then a gift bag

2. Real tree or Fake? We don’t have a tree because we travel over the holidays. But if we’re at my parents’ house, it’s a real tree – and usually alive and planted in their yard after Christmas!

3. When do you put up the tree? See #2.

4. When do you take the tree down? See #2.

5. Do you like eggnog? Not really, but I’ll try it if it’s around.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I can’t even remember what I wore yesterday let alone remember Christmas gifts as a child.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Rohrk, without a doubt.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Memphis. I could shop all day, all night, all year for her.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but my mom has a beautiful display case full of nativity scenes that she collects!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don’t know… but I do remember one year that my grandparents sent my brothers really nice, cool gifts and I got a plastic container of those weird merengue cookies. I was a brat and pouted for getting stiffed on a good present. Then my mom called my grandma because she thought it was really weird that they got me cookies, and it turns out they had taped a $50 on the cookie container, but it must have come off during the unwrapping process… so once the cash was recovered, I was a grateful granddaughter. Seriously, for like an hour, I thought my grandparents hated me!!!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone and Home Alone 2

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October/November… This year I was good at started a Christmas Club savings account at my bank to put away money all year for Christmas gifts – and I’m so glad I did!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably, but I can’t recall a specific regifting incident…

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fudge

16. Lights on the tree? See #2

17. Favorite Christmas song? Winter Wonderland

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Almost always travel to Iowa or New Mexico, though we have spent one Xmas here in Illinois (when I was very pregnant with Bubba)

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? Probably, if I try hard enough.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? See #2. (Maybe we should get a Xmas tree so I can answer these questions!)

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Our tradition when I was growing up was to open one present on Xmas eve, the rest on Xmas day. But now it seems like we’re always traveling, so we open presents wherever, whenever since we’re usually visiting people…

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Stress – my own added to everyone else’s! And this year, having to work the day after Xmas.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I’ve never thought about it. I guess like blue and silver and snowflakes the best…

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I love when my dad and his good friend Norm cook up a giant paella when our families get together for the holidays.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I’d really like a house with a fenced-in yard, but I’ll settle for the day off the day after Xmas…

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? I’m sure someone will “steal” it to use on their blog, too!

27. Who is least likely to respond to this? Santa Claus

28. Favorite thing about Christmas? Spending time with family and seeing the looks on my kids’ faces when they tear open presents that they’ve been begging for over the past few weeks/months…