Thanksgiving 2010

So, I know this post is well overdue, but better late than never. This year, as most years past, we go home to my parents for Thanksgiving. It is always such a fun and special time for all of us. We actually stayed about 2 weeks this year, as it coincided with one of daddy's work trips. So it was twice the fun with cousins, and abuelos for the kids. We were sad to come home, but photos bring sweet memories to mind...so I want to post these...

We went for a hike....

and it was fun...it was good to breathe in some fresh air...

More xmas pics...

from the day after...










We hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed time with the family...I know we sure have, and continue to have fun...

Merry Christmas

What a fun Christmas day! We had a wonderful day spent together, enjoying family time, giggles, new gifts, and remembering that Christmas is about Jesus! I want to share pictures from our fun morning. We began with huge grins and smiles as we awaited to read the Christmas story, eat breakfast and open gifts. I think the pics suffice to tell our story today....I do want to share one specific though and it has to do with the following:



Beautiful, isn't it?? I think so, but even more beautiful with the story behind it. This was the second gift I opened. It is from Katherine. As soon as I opened it, my heart leaped, and my eyes filled with tears. Tears of joy. And out of my mouth, came the question, "did Katherine pick this out all by herself?" The answer to the question, "yes, she did". Why was I so touched that it brought me to tears?? For days, Katherine had been drawing pictures of what she wanted Santa to bring her, and placing them under the tree. A few days ago, as I fumbled through the busyness of my day, Katherine came up to me, handed me a piece of paper, a pencil and said: "Mommy, I want you to draw a picture of what YOU want Santa to bring you. We'll put it under the tree with all of mine" I quickly sketched a pearl bracelet on the paper and handed it back to her. She followed this with:

K: "what is that?"
me: "a bracelet."
K: "no, it's not!"
me: "yes it is."

She took the paper, rolled it and placed it under the tree. I thought nothing of it. So, when I opened that little box, and saw exactly what I had drawn, I was touched that; although she had NEVER seen a bracelet like that, she found exactly what I had asked for. She couldn't understand what I was crying...and maybe you don't either, but I know. I had no words to express my gratitude, all I could do was cry with joy!

Now enjoy the rest of our Christmas morning, through pictures...

Christmas Eve

What a wonderful day. It was filled with lots of work; we cleaned, we cooked, we moved stuff around...but we also laughed and played, all before church and dinner tonight. I loved today. It was a wonderful day.

We enjoyed a beautiful candlelight service at our church, and afterward came for dinner and family time before heading to bed and awaiting Christmas morning. Over thanksgiving my dad challenged me to cook a turkey, the same way my mom does. The same way I grew up eating turkey during the holidays for as long as I can remember. The same delicious turkey that I didn't think I had it in me to turn out. Thank you papi, for the challenge. I'm glad I did it. I loved it. My kitchen smelled just like mami's. I didn't feel too far away, knowing that we were all going to have the same Christmas Eve dinner, just not sharing the same table :). The turkey was exquisite. We ate Salvadorean Turkey, and I made it this time. I still can't believe it turned out so great!

The kids had so much fun running around, being silly, and playing with daddy. Here are just a few pics of our Christmas Eve this year. They are not the best technical photos, but to me they are more perfect than any technicality...they portray my family...in love.

O Christmas Tree

We've put up our Christmas tree!! The kids helped this year, which made it more fun, yet a little more stressful. Add to the equation that it's the first year we've not had carpet, and the fact that most of my ornaments are the "breakable" kind you know why it was a bit stressful. However, it was not the kids who broke ornaments, but myself. I think by the end of the night, 3 ornaments had shattered on the floor...and yet we managed to end up with a beautiful tree once again! :) Here are the kids putting on the last few ornaments.

I absolutely love the glow of the christmas lights...it's warm and inviting--makes me smile and fills me with Joy!

Happy Halloween

Halloween came a bit early this year; I mean, Katherine got to wear her costume to school yesterday, and then we all went up to daddy's office for some early trick or treating. They kids had so much fun trick or treating, not that they would remember to say it each time; rather I think they enjoyed grabbing candy out of buckets on end. We came home with way too much candy, and we still have tomorrow night. Just a few pics of my little monkeys, and my beautiful princess! Katherine wanted to be Cinderella this year, and I have to say it fits her well. Joshua really really wanted to be a Buzz Lightyear, but mommy was unable to find a costume in his size. So, as much as he would have preferred Buzz, he settle for being a cute monkey. Oliver also dressed up as a monkey.

My boys....so much alike, yet so different

So, today a dear friend prompted me to take a few minutes and look at my boys when they were the same age. I went and dug up some pics of my Joshua and tried to do similar pics of Oliver this afternoon. I absolutely love this collage. My two little guys, so much alike yet so different in their own little ways!! Take into account that Joshua is a month younger in these pics, than Oliver; which accounts for the fact that Oliver looks leaner than Joshua. Oliver has been crawling and pulling up for a bit now; whereas Joshua didn't start crawling until about 9 months old!! :) Anyway, without further ado, my boys!



and just for the fun of it, here is Katherine at 9months. I left two in color so you could see how blue her eyes were!! She had already changed so much, she and her brother's look so different to me at this age!


Joshua today...



Oliver and his big two tooth grin...

Sweet Fall light

The middle picture in the collage is what I saw...beautiful backlit leaves on our tree in the front yard. The rest, Katherine made happen!! Fun...



We love this time of year, when the leaves start falling and changing color. When the temps start dropping and we can think about wearing warmer clothes....it's a wonderful time!