Christmas Day at Our House

And so the Big exciting awaited day had finally come and the girls couldn't have been any more excited about Christmas Day! And so was I. I am probably an even bigger kid when it comes to this day. It reminds me of my late Grandpa, Al. He was the grumpiest man you'd ever meet but come Christmas Day he was so transformed. He would even put the Santa hat on and pass the presents around, jokingly with his dry sense of humor. He was just as giddy as me on Christmas day. All smiles, with his eyes full of joy and love for us all. I have so many fond memories of my grandpa around this time of year. It really makes me miss him and I will always remember him, especially on Christmas day.
It was grandpa's tradition to first thing in the morning open presents in the stockings and then wait painfully (as a kid) for breakfast to be over so we could open presents. We made homemade waffles and took our time talking and enjoying the morning and each others company. This is the tradition we have in our home to this day. I know how hard it is to anticipate the gift opening moment, but these are traditions for a reason.
And so there we were making homemade waffles just like at grandpa's while the girls stared at their packages guessing what Santa brought them in each one. Eden tried several times to make her way to the gifts and so finally we had finished our breakfast and the girls tore through their packages, as kids tend to do. I can't tell you what a joy it is watching them. It is a moment I will always cherish.
Nana joined us in the early afternoon with a car full of gifts. Santa had visited her home, too. By this time Eden wasn't feeling well and by the late afternoon she had a fever and was passed out on the couch, poor thing. But she really did have a great Christmas. Santa brought her everyhting she wanted including a guitar and the Star wars Millenium Falcon, and the cupcake factory were among a few. Lola got her Tag system, pony amusement park, Sleeping Beauty table set and so on. They each openned at least 30 gifts, thanks to Nana. They were very good girls this year. Nana is such a blessing especially during this time of year. She sees to it that Santa gets their Christmas list.
I almost forgot to mention that the night before Christmas we set homemade cookies out for Santa with milk and letters, too, but we also leave carrots outside for the reindeer. Every Christmas morning we wake up and find the cookies eaten, the milk gone and carrot trail in the yard. What messy hungry, reindeer.
It's always wonderful when Christmas comes around and it's so hard to see the Christmas season come and go. It's my most favorite time of year. I have so many fond memories of this day as a kid and it really reminds me of the ones I love. We are so very lucky to have such a great family.

Christmas Eve at Abuelita's House

Our tradition is to spend Christmas Eve at Enrique's mom's house in Pittsburg. This year we had a traditional Mexican dinner. The girls helped make the tamales a few days before. We even wrapped them especially for the occassion and Enrique's mom brought tostada from her recent trip to Mexico. Dinner was unique, fun, and very good! Uncle Usi even made us a bundt lemon cake for dessert. It was very yummy and Lola called it a big donut, I believe that's what she called it.
The girls had a great time at Abuelita's. After dinner, we watched Kung Fu Panda and openned presents shortly after. This year we all tore through our presents at the same time. It was pretty comical. I felt like a kid again.

Christmas Eve with Great Grandma and Family

Today was the day we were going to visit my grandma who is in a care center in Vallejo. I was so afraid to see her because we had heard she's not doing too well. So it was important to me to have the girls visit her. It's been about three years since the girls have seen her. My aunt Alice and cousin Pumpkin were there too. It was a wonderful visit and great to see the family although we missed seeing Giovahna, Joey, and Mikey. We haven't seen Alice in about a year and Pumpkin even longer than that, but as always it's wonderful spending time with them.
The girls did incredibly well. Eden was proud of her performance from the day before and so we all chatted about that and Lola was so gentle with grandma. It was kind of funny because she was too small for climbing on grandma's bed to give her hugs so we had to help her up and in the pics it looks like she's hanging on and she really was. She just hung there and was surprisingly very gentle with grandma. My grandma thought that Eden looked like me (maybe when I was a kid) and that Lola was a pretty little girl.
My aunt Alice as usual had us laughing most of the time and I even got a chance to talk with Pumpkin.
A Priest came to visit and gave my grandma Communion and blessed her. It was an incredible experience and I am glad I got to witness it.

Eden's Christmas Ballet Show

Eden was so excited about her dance, Once Upon a Christmas, which took place at the Lescher Arts Theater in Walnut Creek December 23. I was just hoping she'd make it through the day because the night before Lola came down with a stomach flu and I just prayed for Eden to be well for her show. And she was, thank goodness and Lola got better soon after.
The day started out with a few hours of rehearsal time and then a couple of breaks in between shows. Nana stayed at home ALL DAY (thank you!) and watched Lola for me while I picked Eden up from rehearsal, took her to lunch and took her back for her first show at 3 pm. We had such a good time just getting some one on one time together which is so rare. I even got a chance to watch her afternoon show and afterward I brought her flowers and she was so very happy. She said she wanted to do shows forever and she couldn't wait to get back for her evening show.
That evening we all went to the show, me, Lola, Enrique, Nana, Uncle Usiel, or Uncle Usi (Enrique's brother) and his wife, Auntie Carolina. I was so glad I got a chance to see the afternoon show because right after Eden's performance I had to leave the theater with Lolie because she wasn't feeling well. Once she fell asleep it was back to the theater to see Eden take her bow and show up at the stage door with everyone. She felt so incredibly proud and she did such a fantastic job. For three months she practiced and rehearsed for this show and she didn't miss a single rehearsal. She was the best Soldier girl in the show.
On the drive home we got a chance to talk about the show and all her fellow dancers. She loved everything about performing and can't wait for the next dance show. Neither can I. It was the best night!

Christmas Parties at school

Lola had her very first Preschool Christmas Cookie Party and sing. It was very charming! The kids sang songs like 'We wish you a Merry Christmas' and some others I had never heard of. Lola's teacher said to Enrique when we first walked in, "Lola is one of my favorites!" That was great to hear.

Lola couldn't wait to put on her Christmas dress and she got lots of complements. She looked very cute. She was in a bit of a fiesty mood and said no most of the time and wanted mommy mostly and wouldn't let me out of her sight. Her very good friend, Eliza gave her a present, a sesame street coloring book and she was very happy after that.

The next day Eden had a Christmas "party" kind of sort of. It was mainly a day of arts and crafts and goodies and a day for us moms (and dad's) to get a chance to get to know one another. I met the mom of a boy that Eden is supposedly marrying when they are older. He even said he wants to take her to Hawaii on their honeymoon. Oh and she requested that he buy her a diamond ring, of course. Kids at this age are so very funny!

I really enjoy events like this and volunteering in Eden's classroom because for one I get to meet all of her friends, but I also get to see what things they are working on and I really get to know the teachers and helpers very well. Eden is so lucky to have such an incredible teacher. We exchanged hugs and wished each other a Merry Christmas and she even gave me a thank you gift for helping this year, which I thought was very sweet.

Our 10th Anniversary!

Well, we made it to ten whole years! We have been through so much in those ten years and it's funny because about 3 years ago, we said we were going to renew our vows on our tenth anniversary, and well, we didn't but where did the time go?
Like I mentioned before on our Honeymoon we stayed in and watched a Bond 007 movie marathon and it was so memorable. So we decided to go to dinner at our favorite Mexican food restaurant, ordered a couple of margarita's, and then we went to see the Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond Movie. That was a good movie! Then we came home and watched a bunch of movies. The best part of it all was the girls spent the weekend at my mom's house and it was very relaxing! I wrapped presents and we played Wii, I even got to read a book (this WAS my favorite thing to do before children). So, we made it to number 10 and it was fun reminiscing on the past and looking forward to the future.
It's kind of fun having someone in my life who shares so much of my past. We've been together for a total of 17 years! We never dated another person and we've managed to remain the best of friends. Every now and then we'll see some friends from high school and it's funny to see their jaws drop and they are always amazed to see us together still after all this time.
I remember years and years ago (about 18 to be exact) we went to the Junior Prom and when we got up to dance, Enrique held my hand for the first time and there was this strange spark that occured. It's something I have a hard time describing, but it was almost like we were two pieces of a puzzle that just connected so well. Like our souls had found one another. I knew from that moment on he was my soul mate.

Thanksgiving: What we are Thankful for

We have so much to be thankful for; our health, our home, friends, family. This Thanksgiving we spent the day at Nana's house (my mom) and it was very relaxing and fun because Eden is at an age where she really wants to entertain and cook. She's so eager to learn so much about cooking. She's always trying new recipes and surprisingly she can cook very well. So this year the girls spent the night before Thanksgiving at my mom's and they prepared foods and set the dining table. They did a great job, too. Oh I should also mention that Eden wanted to make pumpkin pie from scratch this year (yes, from an actual pumpkin, not the can) and so we baked pies a couple of nights before Thanksgiving. They were delicious, too!

After our big feast it was time for home to rest up for our annual girl shopping day on Black Friday. It's been a tradition for me and my mom to get up early and get all those great deals and yes, we drag the girls with us, too. We did pretty well shopping and had only a few melt downs, but all in all we survived and got some of the best deals I've ever seen.

The Christmas Tree Hunt

Hi!

So sorry it's taken me so long to get a new post up but can we get any busier these days? Anyway, it is our Herrera Family tradition to go the weekend after Thanksgiving and chop down our own tree in Castrovalley.

This year it was an especially nice, sunny, warm day. You never know what to expect. There have been such cold days, the girls' cheeks were so pink and made for the most perfect Christmas photos. Normally the girls are enthralled in the search for a tree, but this year there was a ladybug infestation on most of the trees in one lot and I've never seen so many ladybugs! They were like ants. I love ladybugs, but I have to admit, it was kind of gross. So, that was what the girls were mostly busy with, but we managed to find the perfect tree. I think I say this every year but I think this years tree is exceptionally beautiful. One of the best thus far.

Well, I should say that once we find the tree each girl (with dad's help of course) takes turns sawing it down and we all yell "Timber" when it comes down. We get a bit silly, but you just can't help but get into the Christmas mood. After we chop it down, and after about a million photos, the girls help Dad carry the tree to the car.

Then it's an evening of Mexican hot chocolate and Christmas movies and decorating the tree.

What's Happening with the Family

Well, many of our friends and family have been asking us to start a blog so here it is. There's just so much that has happened I think this will be a great way to document what's going on in our lives and a wonderful way to share it with friends and family, near and far.

First of all we couldn't be any happier to say we are so glad that we have Barack Obama as President Elect. We have so much faith in him and he has really given our family and others so much hope for the future. We can not wait for him to be in office. Finally change will come.

Secondly the girls are both doing so very well. I am just amazed at all they have accomplished this past year.

We just met with Eden's first grade teacher and I knew that she was doing quite well, but I was so impressed with just how well she is doing! She's one of the top students in math with an average of 99% in math and she's also doing incredibly well in reading and writing. Go girl!

Also, she has been moved three levels in ballet in just one year and was also offered a spot as a soldier in the ballet "Once Upon a Christmas" which will be showing in December at the Lescher Arts Center in Walnut Creek. She is very passionate about dance...I wonder where she gets that from... and I might be a little partial but I think she's very good!

Lola started preschool this fall and she is doing phenomenal as well. Her teacher says she listens very intently and she's just a very good student over all and she gets along well with everyone. We are proud of Lola, too. It's been a big year for her. She is involved in Gymboree and loves it. I can't believe it's taken me three years to finally take her to Gymboree, but she loves it. She's our out going little miss bossy pink pants. That basically describes her pretty well. She's always got her hands on her hips, bossing someone around. She's been so very loving lately. Lots of hugs and I love you's. She's becoming a real sweet heart like her sister.

Lastly, Enrique and I have been discussing our 10th anniversary which is just around the corner, December 5. I can't believe it's already been 10 years! We will probably just send the kids to my mom's house for the weekend and go out somewhere fancy for dinner. Looking back on our honeymoon in Hawaii, we stayed in room one day and watched a 007 movie marathon all day. That was the best so we just might do that again this anniversary.

We'll keep everyone updated.