Well, I am sitting on the couch watching the star on the top of Christmas tree flash for no reason and thinking, "Tomorrow we take it down." Oh yes, the holiday season has come and gone. Angel just ran to get a movie and our two beautiful boys are soundly sleeping. And so I sit, in a quite house and write. Here are some of the highlights of our holiday season...
*Ignacio wrote his first letter to Baby Jesus this year (well...Angel wrote while Ignacio dictated) and we placed it in the tree to wait for Baby Jesus to come scoop it up. And sure enough on December 13th in the morning it was gone. Ignacio asked for a magnifying glass, binoculars and a Spiderman that talks. He got all three.
*Emilio says "Ho Ho" anytime he sees anything Christmas related and we probably heard it close to a billion times in a month span. His little pursed lips make it one of the highlights of the season for me.
*We decided to buy our tree at ACE Hardware...I know...not the image you conjure up when imagining the experience of cutting down your tree...but...it was the BEST tree we have EVER had. As I am sitting here now I can still smell it. Only $24.95!!
*We spent Christmas in the big white house in Athens and it was amazing to watch our little ones make memories in the house Mama Ama did as a little girl. I laughed, I cried, I ate. My highlight was interviewing my grandma for the book I got her for Christmas. My respect for her only deepened learning more about her past and her hopes for me in the future.
*Angel made TWO Venezuelan meals this holiday season. The first was at Mama Ama's house for Christmas and the second was at Tia Casey's house for New Year's Eve. Amazing.
*After unpacking our bags from Athens we packed them up again to head to the North Shore to see Casey. It felt relaxing to be a warm, nurturing place where there was someone asking ME what I needed and wanted rather than being the one cooking, cleaning and tending after the little ones. I did little cooking, almost no cleaning and much reading and relaxing.
*The New Year was brought in along side my love bug Angel after a beautful meal with great people at Casey's house. We did it full Venezuelan style from the food to the traditions and grapes. It was great. The boys slept the WHOLE night both nights there!!! I was coming off a day of nausea and stomach pain but managing to feel better within 24 hours.
*Now we wait and wish for SNOW!!! The kids now have all the gear...we just need the white stuff!!! Here is hoping January will totally make up for the warm, grey month of December.
I am thankful for all the love in my life that comes to me in the form of family and friends who make my life full of life and laughter. I am thankful for the lessons of this year and the strength I have found in myself to create a healthy and safe childhood for my kids. I am sad for the losses I have experienced and continue to experience but continue to hold hope that love conquers all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
