Sevilla Christmas 2010 - Part I

We spent a two-week vacation in the south of Spain to visit Fernando's family. We were unlucky with the weather for a few of those days, having been doused with some rain. But most of the time was spent in cool, yet sunny weather.

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We were lucky to catch Caitlin before she headed out to the States to see her family.

Hugs.

Paloma discovers the ornaments on the tree.
Fernando's brother shares a dance.
Paloma likes to kiss anything with a face. If I drew a happy face on a piece of paper, she'd kiss it. Here she lets her abuelo kiss a little doll that's a magnet.
The wood stove. So nice, so rustic and kept us warm in this spacious house.
We went downtown to feel the evening atmosphere.
A festive group sings some Christmas carols.
Street performers looking snazzy.Prohibited to enter before 10am. Christmas morning! (Sort of...we delayed it by a few days.) We left our shoes out in the living room and everyone leaves their gifts to the corresponding pairs.
The doors are open. Pau takes the lead!
Paloma strolls in trying to figure out what the hoopla is about.
Wooo....gifts!
Just what our Barcelonesa daughter needs..a book about the caga tió. (See two posts ago.)Pau breaks open a gift.Score! An iPod Touch!
Hugs again.

Fernando tries some annual lucha libre with the kids.
Abuelo's turn for double trouble.
Holding "Double P" was infectious.
These two got along well.
This ain't the last hug!
More to come!

Happy Eighteen Months

Paloma Version 1.5 has arrived! It's really official. Paloma is a thing-flinging, tantrum-throwing, scribble-making, mood-shifting, toy-dropping but more importantly hip-swinging, fun-loving, doll-hugging, proud-parent-making toddler.

This past week, Sweet P has been at home with a cough and cold, so things been kind of rough at home as she was more clingy and feeling miserable. Poor thing kept looking out the window! But I want her 100% before we spend our trip to Seville for Christmas. Since she'd been out, she'd also lost her appetite, which I know is normal. This worries me though because it always makes me feel guilty that she's on the low percentile of her weight chart. But she's part Filipino...we're tiny!

Any .5 of Paloma's age is and will always be so significant for me also because it marks the death anniversary of my paternal grandmother, who I think about fondly this time of year. Missing you sooooo much, Lola!

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Enjoying the seasonal city lights.

I wonder when imitation will really start to be helpful. She's got the rubber glove on, now when are we on to cleaning toilets?

It's getting funner and funner with Cousin Pau.

Pau also feeds Paloma some melindros. Yum!

The two boogers with cousin Macarena.

We can't resist putting P next to a large random figure for a photo opp. I don't even know this guy's name.
Ponytail! Now if only she wouldn't touch it or roll around so it would come lose...
Still waiting for a hand with the domestic chores...dumb learning curve...
Making phone calls as usual.
Enjoying Papi make a clown of himself so we can get a smile.

I don't like to post "ugly" pictures, but I also wanted to show a piece of reality. It ain't all beautiful, people!

Sweet P gave me a hand while I put together her kid's table. She was still trying to fix it for another half hour after it was mounted...
Checking out how funny she is in the mirror.
Being totally amused with this wedding favor that lights up.

She looks older here. I just love how her face is totally exposed.

Squeezing clementines for fun.
We celebrated her uncle Rafa's birthday. Here comes the cake!
Learning of spatial relationships in the works.

My parents gave Paloma a doll for Christmas, which she has learned to love. She kisses and hugs it and says, "Awwww..." It's so sweet!

See you all soon!

As the big day approaches

It's been a great few days with our friends Catherine (my former roommate in Seville), and her beau, Johnny. They are visiting from the UK for this long holiday weekend here in Spain. We were expecting some other friends from Seville to stay with us, but the unannounced strike by Spanish air traffic controllers put flights to a complete halt until Saturday evening. Unbelievable!

But we made the best of it. The fivesome (Cat, Johnny, Fer, Paloma, and I) took a walking tour around Barcelona and enjoyed the delightful atmosphere of the glorious holiday.

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At Plaza Catalunya ready to go.

Let's get some Christmas!
We ran into the Santa Lucia Fair, which is a nice installment of 300 stands selling gifts and Christmas goodies.

Naked wreaths just dying to be adorned and embellished.Logs, wood, beautiful natural textures.I can't help but drool over anything miniature these days. Here are accessories to dress up your Bethlehem scene. Maybe next year for us...when we'll have a slightly wiser toddler.

Mini pots make me want to make a mini stew.

Paloma sits in her stroller quietly with her little hands folded.

Handmade wooden elves. So sweet.I found the perfect kitty mittens to dress up those cute little hands.

Call it gross or strange, or maybe just a very healthy attitude towards defecation. Here Cat showcases the infamous Caga Tíos, or "poo guy". In Catalunya, it's holiday tradition to have this yule log displayed in the home. On Christmas, the children hit him with sticks while singing songs and he poos Christmas gifts. I know!

Squatters. And I'm not talking about people who take over an abandoned home. Look closely...

Caganers are small statues that sit randomly in a nativity scene away from the manger. They are pretty explicit and show a man with his pants down, bottom bare, and excrement on the floor. They are displayed for humor, I suppose. The original was just a Catalan peasant, but now they make popular figures like athletes, politicians, and entertainers. Which famous poopers can you see?

Fernando checks out a pooping Obama, which costs 17 euros. Michael Jackson, 15. You'd think the deceased would be more, no?

Cat and Johnny by the Barcelona lights.

La Rambla, a major touristic street looked fabulous. We're soaking it all in!

Now let's forget about the poop!