Our 10th Anniversary

Chris and I enjoyed a wonderful anniversary celebration, going out for a movie and fabulous dinner and then staying overnight at the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck. Happy Anniversary my love! Here's to many more!!

Belated Christmas in Tivoli

More fun family times! A delicious holiday meal (thanks Gigi!), belated present opening (thanks Christine and Matt!), and a holiday movie ("Elf") to round out our Christmas celebrations.

The Holiday for the Rest of Us!

Not to be done in by Christmas, we swung into Festivus with Chris's family the day after and had a wonderful visit and holiday time together. Tia Kathy, Tio Terrill and cousins Monica, Jasmine and Marcus came up from Virginia, and Grandpa Jack and Grandma Deb made the trip from Newfield. Brian joined us on Festivus itself (December 27) with his friend Marykate.

The cousins had a great time hanging out together:






We went to the South Mountain Reservation, a local park, and to the Turtleback Zoo:



For the Feats of Strength, we went bowling, our traditional Festivus activity!









Jasmine and Papi were the high scorers at bowling, and got to wear the Santa hats at present opening and dinner.





We enjoyed the traditional Festivus fare of spaghetti and meat item (this year meatballs), and for dessert, Festivus cupcakes. Monica found the Festivus bean in her cupcake and was crowned Queen with another Santa hat. She kindly gave her consort hat to Wendy, who was very excited!

Christmas Day Festivities

We enjoyed a Colombian-themed Christmas lunch with two other families whose children are also adopted from Colombia. Dan and Amy and their daughter Abby joined us, as did Chandler, his friend Noah and sons Brian and Joe. I made arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) and arroz con lentejas y coco (coconut rice with lentils), and we rounded out the meal with takeout from a Colombian restaurant in Elizabeth and Noah's delicious Mexican tangerine pork! Later in the afternoon we went over to our neighbors Liz and Nick's house, and enjoyed a wonderful international potluck with other friends and neighbors. It was a fabulous first Christmas Day in South Orange!

Christmas Day -- Opening Presents

One advantage to Santa's early arrival is that we were able to space presents over two days, which meant the girls had time to appreciate and enjoy what they were given. As clothes are a big need since they are now in public school with no uniforms, many of their gifts were clothes. But we did go ahead with beds and clothes for the American girl dolls and a craft kit and coloring book for each. Gigi and Grandad generously gave them books that they had particularly wanted, so they were very excited to sit right down and read!

Christmas Eve Dinner

We had a lovely time hosting the Cannings and Gigi and Grandad for dinner at our house. Hopefully the start of a new tradition!!

Santa Presents

Though Santa did not bring a chihuahua, he was kind enough to fulfill some other Christmas wishes. Wendy was beyond thrilled with her Baby Alive (who drinks and eats! then pees and poops!). Gigi could barely contain her nausea (sorry Gigi), but Wendy and Papi went right to the kitchen to get the process started. Fer loved her new roller skates, and we look forward to taking her to a nearby roller rink so she can enjoy them!

Early Arrival -- Stealth Santa Part II

The second part of Operation Stealth Santa occurred the morning of December 24. Some readers may not know this, but apparently Santa and the elves take the reindeer out for a test drive the night before Christmas Eve, to be sure everything is ready. While on the test drive, they choose a few families to deliver the presents too, and this year we were chosen!! The girls were incredibly excited to receive another letter from Santa explaining this plot twist, and also to open their stockings a day early. For us, we were very relieved to know that Christmas Eve itself would not be a night of hysterical excitement, plotting and waiting and trying to catch Santa in the act.

Wendy and Fer with the letter (text below), and opening stockings:





HO HO HO!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Dear Fer and Wendy,

Every year, on the night before Christmas Eve, the elves and I take the sleigh on a test drive to be sure the reindeer are ready. Every year, we deliver the presents early to a few special families when we do the test drive – and this year we chose YOU!!

Merry Christmas from all of us at the North Pole! We love you very much!! You are wonderful girls!!!

Much love,
Santa

P.S. I found a few yummy cookies in the kitchen and helped myself – hope you don’t mind. And I took a carrot for the reindeer – they were getting hungry! Merry Christmas!

Wendy, ever analyzing and thinking, wondered why only one carrot, why not eight since there are 8 reindeer? We posited that perhaps each family he visits contributes one carrot . . . another Santa mystery.