We hope that everyone had a great Christmas! We enjoyed Christmas in our new home and are thankful for the many blessings we've had this past year. Maria really enjoyed her second Christmas - even more so than her first! 
However, she is still not a fan of Santa. Maybe next year?!
We recently moved to our new home and were very excited to decorate for Christmas. Greg stocked up on lights and Maria gave Daddy a peanuts lawn decoration to add to the mix. 
Maria also got to help Daddy hammer in the tree base. Well she helped Daddy with tree base #1 until he got so frustrated (luckily Maria was inside already before the curse words began!) because the tree tilted 1/10 of 1 degree, that he literally hammered apart the base and headed back to the Christmas tree lot for a new one! This is of course after dragging the tree in an out of the house, leaving many a pine needles behind. Ahhh the perfection required by an engineer!
Later that day, we waited 2 hours to get into Sleepy Hollow to see the Christmas decorations. We got out of the car and walked the neighborhoods, enjoying popcorn, hot chocolate and music by live quartets. Maria was a trooper and stayed up to see the lights even though she was obviously pooped! It was in the mid-40's (cold for us!), so she was very bundled up to the point where she couldn't move her limbs!
Christmas Eve finally arrived! We went to the Children's Mass together and Maria and her cousin Aidan were definitely the loudest kids in church. Luckily they entertained each other, although there were still a few screams here and there from them. We'll definitely stick with going to morning mass and not late afternoon mass during naptime for our regular Sunday mass!
Aidan joined in on the fun, but wouldn't sit with his cousins. Maria knew it was too good to be true when he squatted next to her!
When it came time to open up the kids' gifts, it turned into chaos (as any Cuban gathering should and would!)!
. 
The night was chaotic, but fun!
Maria and her abuelos :) She's a bit dishelved, but it's 2 hours after bedtime and she's been opening gifts all night - what can you expect?
Maria with her Auntie Evie and Uncle Don
Christmas Day! Fireplace courtesy of KOST 103.5/KCAL 9. Works for me!
Here are some pics of Maria enjoying what Santa brought her...
Mommy and Daddy still in their PJs opening gifts with Maria
Maria enjoyed reading one of her new books with Abuela.
We all headed off to Nana and Grandpa's house for Christmas Day and enjoyed some yummy food - spaghetti, ham, green beans, double baked potatoes - yummm!
Below, Grandpa tries to get the perfect shot with his camera (top of the line Pentax - circa 1970). The all-manual settings on G'Pa's camera make it a challenge on stills - let alone mobile toddlers
Uncle Matt introducing Sammy the Snowman to Maria....and Nana and G'pa with Maria.
Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year!
However, she is still not a fan of Santa. Maybe next year?!We recently moved to our new home and were very excited to decorate for Christmas. Greg stocked up on lights and Maria gave Daddy a peanuts lawn decoration to add to the mix. 
Maria also got to help Daddy hammer in the tree base. Well she helped Daddy with tree base #1 until he got so frustrated (luckily Maria was inside already before the curse words began!) because the tree tilted 1/10 of 1 degree, that he literally hammered apart the base and headed back to the Christmas tree lot for a new one! This is of course after dragging the tree in an out of the house, leaving many a pine needles behind. Ahhh the perfection required by an engineer!
Later that day, we waited 2 hours to get into Sleepy Hollow to see the Christmas decorations. We got out of the car and walked the neighborhoods, enjoying popcorn, hot chocolate and music by live quartets. Maria was a trooper and stayed up to see the lights even though she was obviously pooped! It was in the mid-40's (cold for us!), so she was very bundled up to the point where she couldn't move her limbs!
Christmas Eve finally arrived! We went to the Children's Mass together and Maria and her cousin Aidan were definitely the loudest kids in church. Luckily they entertained each other, although there were still a few screams here and there from them. We'll definitely stick with going to morning mass and not late afternoon mass during naptime for our regular Sunday mass! Afterwards we headed to the Abuelos house for "Noche Buena" celebrations, filled with Cuban pork, rice, black beans, plantains, and yucca - it was delicious! Maria got to enjoy the Cuban food and loved it. Here are Maria and her cousin Bella in their pretty gowns after dinner waiting to open gifts!
Aidan joined in on the fun, but wouldn't sit with his cousins. Maria knew it was too good to be true when he squatted next to her!
When it came time to open up the kids' gifts, it turned into chaos (as any Cuban gathering should and would!)!
. 
The Abuelos attempt to take yet another group shot. This is as good a shot as we could get
The night was chaotic, but fun! Maria and her abuelos :) She's a bit dishelved, but it's 2 hours after bedtime and she's been opening gifts all night - what can you expect?
Maria with her Auntie Evie and Uncle Don
Christmas Day! Fireplace courtesy of KOST 103.5/KCAL 9. Works for me!
Here are some pics of Maria enjoying what Santa brought her...
Mommy and Daddy still in their PJs opening gifts with Maria
Maria enjoyed reading one of her new books with Abuela.
We all headed off to Nana and Grandpa's house for Christmas Day and enjoyed some yummy food - spaghetti, ham, green beans, double baked potatoes - yummm!Maria can't wait to cruise the strand in her shiny red wagon! Too bad it was so rainy and cold outside on Christmas Day!!
Below, Grandpa tries to get the perfect shot with his camera (top of the line Pentax - circa 1970). The all-manual settings on G'Pa's camera make it a challenge on stills - let alone mobile toddlers
Uncle Matt introducing Sammy the Snowman to Maria....and Nana and G'pa with Maria.
Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year!
1 comment:
such cute pics you guys. I felt like I shared christmas with you :) Maria is soo big and definitely a cutie. I like the picture with her cousins and the pics of her and her wagon. Thanks for sharing. Happy new year to you all!! love, The Yoons
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