Of Presidents and other mice....

Enough of the baby-boomer generation running this country! The 60's are over. We need new leadership!(anyone want to buy this shirt?)

As the King of Spain said:

He's Just Pretend, Mom

We went to our ward Christmas party on Saturday. Lucia was very excited to see Santa Clause. So after a very yummy prime rib dinner, and a very long play, Santa finally showed up. The kids were both very fussy by that time (about 9 pm) and so their visit was very short. When we got in the car, Lucia told me, "Mommy, Santa isn't real, he's just pretend. That was a person in a costume." I told he was one of Santa's helpers filling in for him. I asked her where the real Santa is and she said, "He's long gone, in the North Pole, but he's just pretend." I asked her who was going to bring her presents on Christmas and she said, "My teddy bear." Ok-whatever.

Nikki's favorite YouTube find!

Lucía loves this song too!

So catchy, "Chocolate raaaaain"

Decorating the Tree

We decided to pull out our little fake tree the day after Thanksgiving. I was so anxious to get the Christmas season started, I couldn't wait. Our tree looks so pathetic now with Marco and Lucía constantly pulling off the ornaments. Oh well, that's life with toddlers.

I'm almost done with Christmas shopping and have tried so hard to keep it under control this year. Another goal I've had is to read the book of Luke in the Bible, one chapter a day, until Christmas. This time of year is a time to reflect on the birth and life of Christ. I'm trying to teach that to Lucía, that it's not just about presents. But buying toys is so much fun! Yesterday I took her shopping with me (bad mistake). I got a couple of things for Julio, Dad, Tami and some toys that I tried to sneak for her. She saw them though, very slyly looking through the holes in the shopping cart. When we got in the car she said she wanted to play with her new toys when we got home. I tried to lie and said, "What toys? I didn't get you any toys." She didn't buy it and started throwing a fit. I told her I left them at the store because she was peaking and I wanted it to be a surprise. Then, she believed me. She did get revenge though when we got home. She told Julio, "Daddy, Mom got you new shoes and a belt!" So much for surprises.

Day at the Park on Thanksgiving Weekend

Friday we went to Walnut Creek to see Julio's mom/Abuela at his cousin's house. We went for a walk at the park and this guy was taking a nap on the lawn. The kids went over and were trying to see his face under his hat and were talking and laughing at him. It was hillarious because he was snoring the whole time. I guess you had to be there. Also, Marco fell and hit his lip-hence the fat lip in the picture. That kid is always falling and getting hurt! I always feel like I'm going to have a heart attack when I see him falling in what seems like slow motion and I can't get to him fast enough to save him from injury.

Busy week

Wow, it's been a busy week. On Tuesday night we had Enrichment where I learned to make a pie crust in the pie pan. Wednesday I subbed half day. Thursday was Book Club. I love going to book club and having my womanly conversations. We chatted past midnight, so I was exhausted yesterday. We've got some really neat books picked out for next year including classics, inspirational, historical, and a little bit of romance. I'll post our list when I get it. Then yesterday, I got a call in the morning from one of my high school English teachers wanting me to sub for her. That was kind of fun. I love walking through the halls of my high school. It's like walking down memory lane and reliving all those formative moments in life. I went to the library and pulled out the yearbooks from the years I was there. I was showing the students who thought it was so funny that I had poofy bangs. Most of those kids were born around that time. I'm getting old! So now we have the holiday to look forward to. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorites. I'm ready to shop!

Those pictures I just posted to have some recent pics of the kids. They love playing tea party. Marco only gets to do it if Lucia is still asleep in the morning. He likes to get up much earlier than her. They both have to have a milkshake in the morning. I put a scoop of canned pumpkin, half a banana, Carnation Instant breakfast and milk. It's funny though, because even if Lucia is sound asleep, if she hears the blender, she's up right away and wants her milkshake too. Anyway, just some ramblings. Hopefully I'll have more to ramble about soon.

My list of places outside the USA to go before I die

1. Italy (all of it)
2. Spain (all of it)
3. Stonehenge (been to England, but didn't see it)
4. Prague
5. The French Riviera
6. Red Square, The Kremlin
7. Hagia Sophia
8. Transylvania
9. The tulip fields in Holland
10. The Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Warriors
11. The Egyptian Pyramids
12. Taj Majal
13. Thailand
14. Kuala Lampur
15. Hong Kong
16. Jerusalem
17. Greece
18. Istanbul
19. Victoria Falls
20. Serengeti (African Safari)
21. Mount Kilaminjaro
22. Mount Everest
23. Fiji
24. New Zealand
25. Australia (all of it)
26. Tahiti
27. Easter Island
28. Iceland
29. Cuba
30. Tierra del Fuego
31. Rio de Janeiro
32. Iguazu Falls
33. Panama Canal (I saw it as we landed in Panama City Airport)
34. Galapagos Islands
35. Chichenitza

So much to see, so little time and money. Maybe someday...