Christmas 2011

Another Christmas has come and gone... 

I can't begin to describe the joy of having spent every single Christmas Day of my life with my HUGE and incredible family... 

And I love that my son can say the same... every Christmas of his life.. in that same room...

Seeing the smiles on his face with each gift makes all the debt I acquired to produce them, well worth it..

Family is everything.... not just on Christmas.. but ALWAYS.

Love my "not-so-little" nephew.. and all that he taught me without even knowing it... 

Another Christmas... has come and gone... 

But I will continually be thankful for my little "gift"... my amazing son who I can not begin to imagine life without... I love you my sunshine... Forever, For Always & No Matter What!

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays.... 

From our family to yours!

*cell phone pic

Tamales & Trees

 This last weekend was a busy one... aren't they all in December?
My family gets together at my grandparent's house (Molles Manor) every year to decorate their tree in the "Big Room". It's tradition that they guys (my uncles and oldest male cousins) string the lights around the tree first, while the rest of us hang out and clean up from dinner.


Then it's time for the women (my aunts and oldest female cousins) to hang the popcorn chain on the tree. Our family has been decorating the tree this same way for at least 50 years... we don't mess with tradition. 

Then it's finally time for the kids to hang the ornaments. I wish I would have taken pictures of some of the ornaments. There are a lot that us grandkids made in school when we were little and gave to my grandparents as gifts. Also, most of our bulbs are glass.. the old school real thing glass bulbs. (and we always break at least 2 a year) 

Another tree tradition is tinsel... lots and lots of silver tinsel.... and when it's in the hands of my crazy cousins, it's EVERYWHERE. Decorating the tree is always a process, but we all love it and look forward to it each year. 

Best Grandparents EVER

One of my favorite tree traditions is our own personalized ornaments. Each member of my family has a small gold ornament with their name engraved in it. Once the tree is all decorated, each individual family takes turns taking a picture posing with their ornaments in front of the tree before they actually hang them. 

Unfortunately Drew was with his dad this last weekend so he missed out on the festivities... and I really missed having him there. 

The morning after the tree (Sunday) we all come back to my grandmas to make tamales. I found out this tradition started the first year my grandparents were married.... so we've been making tamales every December for the last 62 years. 

People start showing up around 4:30am (but not me... in all honesty I didn't get there till about 5:30 and I live right next door) and the process begins. It's like an assembly line of masa spreading, leaves being cleaned, meat being made.... This year we made 92 DOZEN tamales!! and that's actually a small number for us. We used to do about 125 dozen a year. It's a long day... we're all tired and complain the whole time... but it's a great day where we're all together catching up on each others lives and sharing a ton of laughs. We take a lunch break on In & Out burgers and hang out until the last tamales are cooked and every things cleaned up. This year we finished at 3:00 and I was SOOOO happy to get home to my nice warm bed and was asleep by 6:00 that night. 

My little cousins Seany & Corey

Happy Early Christmas Mom!!

Yesterday Drew's school started their "Christmas Shop" where they have random gifts the kids can purchase for their family. I gave Drew some money and he managed to spend it all and get all his Christmas shopping done in about 10 minutes. 

So last night we spent some time wrapping presents and singing Christmas songs. When we were done Drew took all the gift wrapping supplies and headed to his room to wrap the gifts he bought for me. He wanted to do it alone so I couldn't see. He was in there for about half and hour and I kept asking him what was taking so long. When he came out he had 3 small gifts all wrapped up, and showed me the small round one and told me how difficult it was to wrap and that's what took so long. 

After he got them neatly set up under the tree he asked if I wanted to open one now. Well we're both HORRIBLE at deciding anything, so we went back and forth about the whole thing.. and finally he handed me one and says "Here Mom, open this one. I got you this so it would help you save time in the morning and we won't have to ever be late". 

Hmmm.... What instantly came to my mind was an alarm clock. Seeing that I don't have a clock AT ALL in my bedroom and I use my cellphone alarm to get up in the morning... or if I know I absolutely MUST be up at a certain time, I'll set the alarm clock in the bathroom (yes, I have an alarm clock in the bathroom.. and not even a regular clock in the bedroom). And the box was about the shape of a small one. 

But I was wrong.... very wrong.....  

My little love bug bought me a bagel slicer.... to prevent us from being late in the morning. When I opened it he says "see mom, it makes it easier to cut the bagel, so it saves time" all with a HUGE smile on his face.. he was so proud of himself for buying such a "practical" gift. 

And I kissed him, thanked him, hugged him and told my little man how much I loved him and my great present. 

Only issue.... I only buy or even eat bagels about once a year. 

But it's the thought that counts!!

Happy Early Christmas!

All I Want For Christams

I've really been trying not to skip over Thanksgiving in our house.. but I have to admit its been tough. Last week Drew and I were both sick.. he has bronchitis... so we spent a lot of time at home, and I had to fight back the urge to decorate the house for Christmas. 

By this time last year Drew already had his Christmas list going... and was singing Christmas songs ALL DAY LONG. This year he's decided to ask Santa to just give his gifts to the homeless kids since his mom already buys him enough stuff (right now I am beaming with pride... all while being smacked in the face with the reality that I really do spoil my baby) as soon as his letter is done I'll post a picture. 

So while I'm fighting back my Christmas urge to buy Drew a new $50 video game tonight that I think I really want more than he does.. I'm going to give in and announce the ONLY thing I want for Christmas... 

These pink fuzzy slippers from Target. $15... and worth every cent!

They have little sequins all over them and they just look super cute & warm to me! I've been reminding Drew multiple times a day, at any given opportunity (like while burning his waffles in the toaster), of my NEED for these slippers. 

But I think I'm just going to go ahead and buy them for myself tonight. Call it an early Christmas present... call it retail therapy.. call it what you will, I want my freaking slippers!! 

Happy Early Thanksgiving!! 

I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas

 Who wouldn't LOVE a Hippo for Christmas? 

Drew's 2nd grade class is singing the song "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" at their winter program in a few weeks. We were so excited when we found out because it's one of our favorites and he already knew most of the words. 

The teacher has a little Hippo costume for one of the kids to dress up in, but we're on the look for stuffed hippos for the rest of the kids to hold while they sing. So if any of you happen to see a hippo while you're out shopping, please let me know... or have an old or extra one lying around your house that you'd like to send us, we'd appreciate it!

Looking for something like this