2010 in Review: Christmas part 1!

Christmas this year started with a trip to Meadows Farm down the street from us to pick out our Christmas tree!

Last year we had a live tree

Yes, LIVE, as in see that giant root ball at the bottom of the tree, we planted it outside after and its still doing well a year later! The rootball was soo heavy, Gabe had to bribe the construction workers next door with some beers to get them to help him drag the 300lb tree up our steps. 

This year we decide a real tree would do the job!

Grandpa Bobby tagged along as we searched for our perfect tree!

We found it, and Jack LOVED it, every morning he would run to the living room and say WOW!

Actually everytime we walked into the room throughout the day, he always said WOW!

He got close to the tree daily and inspected it.

Jack loved many things about Christmas this year but his favorites were the Christmas Tree, The Snowmen Family outside, his family, yummy treats, skipping nap time and late bedtimes.

He got excited everytime he saw these guys and even would call the little one, "Baby".

This was almost our holiday card, just kidding, but I took a ton of pictures desperate to get the perfect one! This one was the winner...

He was happy because his Aunt Sarah was over, we are in denial about her moving to Wilmington, NC soon, but we are very happy for her and can't wait to visit!

He got to play in the snow for the first time, this snow suit is Gabe's from the 80's!

He thought it was cold! And he wasn't a fan of his mittens either but at least he finally learned to like hats, he now knows hats means he gets to go outside.

Snow and Santa Claus don't rank too high on his list. We are thankful for all our presents but he wasn't obsessed with his presents either, he really was overjoyed to be with so much family. It was a special Christmas this year with lots of family and we know in future years toys will become much of the focus but with tons of cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. running around this year that was the best.

2010 in Review: Happy Sweet 16 Paola!

Here is the sweet sixteen year old herself, Paola:

Paola's mother was my babysitter from age 9 months until I left for college. Tears are brought to my eyes when I think about Dina, she was there for every important milestone in my life growing up. She was my second mother, I have many memories of calling her mom as a young child. I often think of her when I am challenged by Jack, I don't know how she had the energy for both me and my twin sister.

When my family moved from DC to Vienna when we were 2 1/2, she came with us even though it dramatically increased her commute. She lived with us in Vienna while we were young. Poor Dina was harassed by us way after my parents got home from work, we always wanted to play with her and paint our nails in her room. When I walk into the guest bedroom in my Mom's house I can still remember exactly what it looked like when it was Dina's room. Dina taught me so much about life, I always remember the most random memories. She was always very fair, never a push over and never too strict. We respected her rules, we spent a lot of time outside as kids but I clearly remember one time I went outside without her permission, I felt so guilty the whole time that I hadn't asked permission. I soon ran back inside to go ask. That was her rule, she always said yes to us playing outside but we had to ask permission first. Obviously that is a good rule but I remember the importance she instilled in us about that rule.

She probably remembers things a lot differently then I do but I am sure we both remember a lot of loving memories.

I remember how she made the best waffles for lunch!

She cooked my family dinner almost every night and cleaned our house too, we were so blessed to have someone like her in our taking care of us, mothering us. We are blessed to have the happy memories she has given us.

I remember several of her signature dishes and I remember how she was allowed to have coke with dinner and our options were always milk, water or orange juice.

Here is the special women herself, she will always hold an important place in my heart.

I remember when she would pick me up from preschool, summer day camp, soccer practice, friends houses and many more. I remember in high school when she let me drive her cool new silver Honda Civic to school one day and big upgrade from my 1992 black Nissan Sentra.

I clearly remember the day she said to me, my mom and my sister that she "may be pregnant" and then when she confirmed the news I was over the moon. I was finally getting the little sister that I have always wanted. I remember when we had to go to the after school program while she was on maternity leave, I remember the day she came back with with her tiny little baby girl, Paola. I remember beaming with pride telling my classmates about Paola the day after she was born.

We had so much fun playing with Paola growing up. I even kept a little journal about her firsts, I wrote down at 4 months when she first held her bottle all by herself. She learned how to crawl because she loved our cat Jasmine and was determine to inch her little body closer to that cat. JA-MIN was also one of her first words. I always think of her every year one December 4th and count back the years to 1994 to figure out how old she is. I was nine when she was born, I can't believe this year we got to celebrate her 16th birthday!

These two young ladies below are Paola's cousins, Dina's nieces. Daniela is a few year younger then me then Mary is a few year older then me. I have the best memories of birthday parties, sleepovers and much more. We went to Daniela's quincera and we were attendants in Mary's quincera.

I admire this sweet family, Dina, Maria (Dina's sister-Daniela & Mary's mom) Paola, Mary, Daniela, and Mary's son Mathew.

We were all family, Dina raised me as my second mother and it felt so good to be reunited again. We are getting together next weekend, I can't wait!

Here are a few more shots of the party.

When I called Dina to tell her I was pregnant, we both got teary eyed, she couldn't believe the baby girl she raised from 9 months old was all grown up.

I couldn't have asked for a sweeter, more caring women to be my second mother.

Gabe writes...

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/18/motocross-tragedy-leads-to-stronger-faith-clothing-line/

Gabe latest article, one of many he has written for CNN's Belief Blog, one day I'll get around to posting all of his articles...but that will be after I get back to blogging in general!

Santa Claus

Last year ten days before Christmas I was shopping at the mall and some of my favorite people happened to join me. The line was short and it was the perfect opportunity for Jack's first visit with Santa.

Mall Santa did a great job and we sent out a similar picture as our Christmas card 2009.

Na-Na was jealous of Jack's wheels so she rent this scooter at the mall in an effort to be more like Jack. No, really Na-Na had injured her foot, therefore rented this scooter at the mall to make things easier.

A poopy diaper/outfit change later. Na-na learned the scooter wasn't all it was cracked up to be and was doing her shopping on her injured foot, while Grandpa Jay and Jack enjoyed.

It was 2009 and we attended the volunteer Christmas party at the non-profit where I had recently began to volunteer. My in-laws volunteer there too.

Fast forward to 2010, my neighborhood had its annual Christmas party. I dragged the new transplant to Washington, DC, Jess, to attend the suburban Virginia event.

Even the local high school band preformed, Jack enjoyed.

Everything was going great, Jack was in his new Christmas sweater Na-na bought him and I was ready to continue my new Christmas card tradition with a picture of Jack sitting on Santa's lap. We sat and we watched at the children lined up and received their gift from Santa, when the line got short, we joined. Now it was Jack's turn with Santa, he gave me the death grip and refused to let go. I quickly realized my Christmas card picture was not going to happen. I joined Jack by Santa's side and he still did not really enjoy.

For attempt #2 my Camera was hiding in its favorite place (under the couch) so my hopes for a Christmas card picture was a preemptive fail.

But don't worry because my work-now in 2010 as the Executive Director of the small non-profit where in 2009 I had started as a volunteer, was having a Christmas party.

Last year we just had a volunteer Christmas party, where the volunteers pot lucked and had a small get together.

This year I reinstated the client Christmas party! We invited our clients and their families to have cookies with Santa and hand out presents to each child.

God really provided for us in 2010. He blessed with me with wonderful volunteers who keep the non-profit running now for almost 40 years. In a combination of being somewhat ancient and a miracle, we had three old-school poloroid cameras. Perfect to provide a family picture with Santa to our clients and their families. The catch was they no longer made the old school polariod film. What was I to do, we were on a budget, and I couldn't go out an buy the new version of the polaroid camera. I came up with several solutions less then ideal. About a week before the party when I had a volunteer group come in to decorate, I pulled out the box of Christmas decorations and discovered six rolls of old school polariod film! I quickly calculated that if each family got one pictures that we should have enough film, in my eyes a miracle! We even got a family picture of Me, Gabe, Jack and Santa. The old school polariod sits on my desk, reminding me how blessed I am.

Jack got to spend a lot of time with Santa that night, being that his mom was running the party, but again he never quite warmed up.

Santa round 3.

Christmas 2010 was a miracle because all 20 members of my Dad's family got together for probably the first time in 10 years. We had several young cousins running around, who some are closer in age to Jack (their first cousin once removed) then to me. The week was filled with lots of fun, life long memories and a lot of working hours for Gabe. On Christmas eve he was finally able to join us. He joined us in style, Santa Claus style. While making sugar cookies at my moms house in came Santa, filling the house with giggles.

Did they believe? The youngest first cousin, Jason, told me, "Now that was really Santa, or it was one of Santa's elves dressed as Santa, or it was Gabe, but I'm pretty sure it was really Santa!"

The littlest one of all, Jack, really believed, he was terrified of Santa.

He was okay if Mommy was holding him.

Santa sent me a present early this year. When I really need a new spanish speaking volunteer on Mondays, Santa sent me his friend. Long story short as I got to know the volunteer, she asked me if I knew the real Santa, because she knew him. The only real Santa I know is from my childhood. When the older neighborhood girl down the street told me that the Santa's in the mall were really Santa'a elves dressed up as Santa because of course Santa couldn't be everywhere at once, I totally believed her. Did I ever mention that I was voted most gullible of my high school senior class? In the back of my head when I took Jack to Mall Santa last year, I knew that Mall Santa wasn't the real thing.

Luckily older neighborhood girl didn't squash all of my childhood fantasies. She told me the REAL Santa was at Merrifield Garden Center and we HAD to get our mom take us there to see the REAL Santa if we wanted to get any decent presents.

Talking to her about Santa made me feel like she knew a celebrity. What do you mean you know him? He is Santa...the REAL Santa, the girl down the street told me and I went myself as a kid to visit this magical Santa. He has a name!? He lives right around here!? She told me more about her friend, John Buckreis, and his story of how he became the REAL Santa.

St. Nicholas of the 21st Century, began as an orphan in 1944. At a young age he begin collecting toys from the rich and handing them out to poor. My new friend gave me his book St. Nicholas of the 21st Century by John Buckreis, signed by Santa Claus himself! I got to read the story of the REAL Santa. This year Jack was a little too young to make stand in a long line to see someone he is currently terrified of. Next year we will go. Future years we will go, and I will read the story to Jack when he is ready.

Don't believe me?

Click below to read more about the REAL Santa:

http://www.catholicherald.com/detail.html?sub_id=8702

http://www.catholicherald.com/detail.html?sub_id=8208

http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com/What-s-Happening/Santa-Schedule/Merrifield.aspx

2010 was a blessed year, with its up and downs, I like to think of the ups and get nervous of how could we ever ask for more in 2011.

My Christmas card was a failure, no picture with Santa and going out super late, still need to address the last bunch. This was a learning year, I learned about Santa and I learned so much more about Jack in his first year, my marriage, my job, my family and more.

Today as I rode with Gabe in the car at 11:11 am on 1/1/11, we both made a wishes. Here is to 2011!