California Christmas Love

This Christmas, we spent a little over two weeks in my beloved home - California! With our fabulous luck, Paloma came down with an ear infection and spent much time indoors. But that didn't stop her from having fun. We arrived on Christmas Eve, and the next day the house was filled with guests to celebrate Christmas Day with my paternal grandmother's side of the family.

The weather was sooo warm. Some days felt like summer! I brought along my coat and wore it some places in the evenings, but I felt so silly since everyone wears flip flops year round. Good times!

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This is just part of the gang on Christmas Day. Lots of food and people - Filipino style!

Paloma loved playing with her cousins (In Filipino culture, "cousins" is any kids in the family around your age!)

She loved all the girly girls around - Jasmine and Alissa. It was so sweet!

 Paloma poses at church with the manger scene.Fernando's first time at Cheesecake Factory to try the mega desserts.

 I also got to meet up with my Cal State Fullerton friends at Downtown Disney. Amy's got a bun in the oven!

 Paloma did a little overhugging with River.

Me and my longtime friend Kim at BJs to get our pizookie. Check!

 Rob helped us eat it too.

 We also hung out with my cousin Haydee and Daniel to admire the huge decorations in Downtown Brea.

They took us to the infamous Bruxie, where they serve waffle sandwiches. The chicken was definitely my favorite.

 Our lovely companions.

 We also went to Ferrell's, where we originally wanted to dine, but there were lines out the door! So we settled on getting some ice cream while Paloma watched how they made their handmade cones.

 A little evening entertainment to cap the night.

Paloma also enjoyed all the greenery in the backyard with Lola.

Holding my parents' heirloom tomatoes. They were actually very good. The tastiest tomatoes we'd ever had!

 Jumping for joy as usual.

 Chilling with Alex.

 Kim and Rob came over to treat us with donuts (Fernando's favorites) before we left. Guess who had some...

 We also went to the cemetery to visit my grandmother's grave. Forest Lawn is so peaceful and green.

I don't see this woman enough throughout the year. We visited my cousin Armilyn at her work.

 We were able to leave on a Sunday night, so we celebrated Fernando's birthday at Claim Jumper that afternoon before catching our flight.

After 24 hours of traveling, we're always pooped. But not pooped enough to celebrate Fernando's birthday among the three of us. Happy 36th, Fernando!

 I may just have more pictures to share later. In the meantime, hope you enjoyed these!

Christmas Party at Playgroup

Yesterday in playgroup, all the kids and their parents were invited to a special party to celebrate the Christmas season - Catalan style! While I'd never witnessed the "caga tió" tradition, I'd heard a lot about this smiling log that poops presents. I can never wrap my head around this! He looks like this:

Although I mentioned this last year, here's a refresher. Starting on December 8, you give the caga tió a little bit to eat every day like fruit peel. On the day you celebrate Christmas, you beat him with a stick and sing songs about the tió. He doesn't drop big gifts (that's for the three kings to do), just little ones like candies, nuts or turrones. Or other things I guess! Let's get to the party!

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As soon as the snacks showed up, all the kids lined up along the tables without blinking. And that's with the school's no/low sugar policy!

We all sat around and sang some typical songs in English and Catalan, which the kids had been singing for weeks ("Jingle Bells", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", "El 25 de Desembre", and "Caga Tió")

Who's this? Well of course...it's the infamous pooper! He's covered in a blanket for some privacy.

One of Paloma's teachers leads Paloma to check out the secretive log, who's about to drop a bomb or twelve.

The kids sing songs to encourage the caga tió to do its dirty business -- two or three times actually! Poor thing needed a laxative.

Yay! With some concentration and encouragement, he did it! He pooped some presents for all the kids!

Paloma wonders what's underneat the log excrement / her present.

Plasticine! Or in American English terms, play dough!

On our way out, Paloma admired the Christmas tree that's been up for a few weeks, which is adorned by the kids' homemade ornaments.

We found one of Paloma's two! But we couldn't find the other one...

Here it is! It made the top of the tree! I'm so...I mean, we're so proud!

See you soon! ;-)

Happy happy 30 months!

Hey to the ho! Oh yes, the moment is here. Accept no imitations! Paloma version 2.5 has arrived! We've reached  the high point of toddlerhood, the pinnacle, the apex, if you will. Or maybe not? At this point, that means Paloma often says "Paloma can do it" or "I can do it myself". As she discovers her new independence and becomes her own little person, she's also better at communicating what she wants. The wheels are a-turnin'! The other day, I said, "We'll go the store tomorrow," and she said, "Tomorrow is always a day away, mommy?" As in, the lyrics to one of her favorite songs...she made a joke! Haha!

Her mind works in other interesting ways now as it's evident that she's a full-on bilingual, speaking mostly to me in English and to her father in Spanish. A few weeks ago, I asked her to translate some nouns from English to Spanish and vice versa, which she did. We're learning a lot about the developing brain. It's true - they are sponges!

This month, we've also spent a lot of time indoors, seeing that the cold has hit us. Or maybe it's my excuse for doing Christmas crafts at home since I had visions of crafting with my then-future daughter while I was pregnant. Either way, on to the show!
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Paloma loved decorating her little tree.

She also made some salt dough ornaments for the Christmas tree in her play school.

Trying to space them out before they go in the oven.

Putting glitter on them the next day. (Also just a gratuitous pigtails shot. Hehe.)

She has great concentration when it comes to small details, like making this snow wreath made of cotton balls.

Even though it's been cool, the sun has been out most days, which helps my mood SO much. We were also able to go to the beach and enjoy some paella with our friend Angel.

We even made it to the zoo, where Paloma reads about the natural habitat of the chital, an animal I'd never heard of.

We also took a weekend trip to Sevilla, Fernando's hometown to see Fernando's parents.

Back at home cooking and grinding a chocolate bar.

Perfecting the circle. Check it out!

Making more crafts at home with some pinecones.

Ah, this was a fun one for me. Our Christmas 2011 "gingerbread" homes. Paloma alternates candy colors for a perfect fence.

Adding the finishing touch - Santa!

We went to a nice get together at one of her school mate's homes. The kids had fun...and the parents did too!

If I don't get to blogging before the big holiday, we want to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!