Christmas Break in Oregon

Christmas Eve and ready to open presents.  That's how we do it at my parents. And the kids were excited!

Eva had been DYING to open presents.  It's really hard when they are all out staring at you.

They spend a lot of time on this recliner with my dad.  Elijah always is wondering where Pap is when he isn't around. He doesn't really know what a job is.  I think he even asked my mom if he was at school.

My brothers are so awesome!  They love my kids and played lots of games with them. And of course tease my Eva to no end.  They treat her like a sister.

I don't know how many years its been since I was around for Erik's birthday. But this time I was. On the 26th of December he turned 23.  I remember his birth like it were yesterday.

Zoo Lights

This took a lot of courage for her.  

Portland Aquarium

Ricky and Keri invited us to come.  It took me over an hour to find the darn place, but it was fun. 

Out of this World Pizza.  Lily is always the sweetest to Elijah. She plays with him and loves on him.

These girls will be best friends forever.  Just like their mamas.  

These cute kids are only ten months apart and are cousins. Something about it cracks me up.  

Our Christmas morning on the 30th

Cousins.  I think these girls will be good friend one day.  They already are.

Sledding

Kids left and the adults had fun.

Eva lost her first tooth in Sisters.  I technically yanked it out for her. She had been so patient. 

Puzzles.  I just watch.  

Cannon Beach

Christmas Day Dinner with the Wilkinson's

Christmas Eve.  Eva was cute and went to my mom and told her she really wanted a boy barbie because she didn't have one.  And of course they got her one.  My kids are spoiled.

Christmas break was quite different for us this year.  For the first time we, Matthew and the kids and I spent it apart.  It really was an accident the way it happened.  Matthew bumped some classes to be able to take his USMLE test and by doing that he had to make them up in December.  Well, imagine our surprise when they told him he would have to be doing a shift at the hospital Christmas Eve and would then be finishing up on the 28th.  We were very disappointed.  We tried to make the best of it, but it wasn't the same not having your whole family together.  The truth is, if we wouldn't have been so naive, we wouldn't have come to the States.  I would have much rather been together as a family.  But, we did it.  And hope to not have to do it again anytime soon, but we aren't counting on it.

So, from the 17th to the 28th I spent time with my family.  My brother Alex was there from the East Coast, which is always such a treat when he is around, and then Erik, of course was home and Ricky and Keri weren't to far away in Washington.  We managed to see them quite a bit too.  On the 29th, Matthew flew in, happy day for me.  I REALLY missed him this time, I normally can hold it together, but holidays are different I suppose.  Then we headed to Sisters.  We were there for the New Year and spent some time with his siblings, and the kids' cousins.  Then headed to Cannon Beach for a few days with Nana and Grandpa, only to head back to Hillsboro for a couple days before we came back to Mexico.  This trip flew by!  But we managed to do some of our favorites.  Oregon in the winter isn't the best, but we always love the people we leave behind and they make being there worth every penny!

Mexico Part 44: Winter Ballet Recital

Waiting for the performance to start.  He really does enjoy Eva up on stage. 

Eva's ballet recital happened the beginning of December.  She is now one of the oldest girls in her group.  She really should have moved to the next level, but at the time we were talking new school, and new ballet class too, didn't seem like a good idea.  The teacher agreed that what she really needed was an intermediate class, which she doesn't have, and instead told me that no matter where Eva stayed she would modify things for her.  She stayed with the little kids and she is quite the leader in there.  It was funny to watch her take charge of all the little kids during the recital.  They have the performance with the college students, so it always a breath of fresh air and humorous to see the little ones.  I LOVE my little dancer.

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving.  A time to be with family, and in our case our awesome friends who have become family.  This year we were able to gather together with Matt and Mckensie, Aaron and Sarah, Sarah's parents, Josh and Amy.  Between all of us we were able to make a successful thanksgiving.  I wish I would have taken a picture of our table because it really did look beautiful.  Since our homes are on the smaller side, we used our park and used our card tables to make one big long table.  We brought our own chairs and everything was set.  I took the task of making the turkey.  In almost ten years of marriage it was my first turkey.  I felt very proud of myself when the turkey was done and it looked nice and golden brown.  I used my friend Monste's brining recipe, which didn't disappoint.   While we always miss taking turns spending time with our families every year now that we have been in Mexico, we really are thankful we have good people here to share this holiday with.

Mexico Part 43: Dia de Naciones Unidas- Cuba

In the morning before the assembly

Walking across the "stage" 

Her good friend Daniela Yuritzi

These girls are the three musketeers   I hear about them every day, and Eva is lucky to have them in both her English and Spanish class.  Renata's dad is from San Diego and she speaks English really well.

Eva's Spanish class.  There are 40 of them!

Eva's Spanish teacher Miss Miriam

Eva's Cuba outfit project.  

In November, I was going crazy trying to find a Cuban outfit.  Sometimes I don't like to stress out about these things because they can ask for some random things, but this time I am so glad I did because they needed the outfit for an assembly they were going to have in front of lots of people.  I wonder what they would have done if Eva didn't have an outfit.  Well, thanks to a good friend of mine from Eva's kinder, I was able to find an outfit that fit.  She was cute, and wanted to be modest with her outfit.  She asked to wear the shirt underneath and pants underneath the skirt.  It is interesting how without really telling your children about modest clothing they start to learn from you as a mother and see your example.  Thank goodness I am leaving her a good one!

Mexico Part 42: Mexico City Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe

From left to Right, Tio Antonio, Tia Jovita, Tia Erika, Tia Araceli and my dad.  Two of my aunts are missing in this picture.    

Mexico Part 41: Mexico City Teochitlan