Happy New Year!

This is how we rocked New Years Eve...
After watching the footage on the news for the past seven years... we decided to experience First Night for ourselves.
We braved the cold and met up with the Romney's for some good times. We were part of the parade, all of our feet got soaked and made for some uncomfortable walking the rest of the night.

While we were enjoying the festivities we ran into fellow blogger Andrea...yes it is a small world.

After we had enough of the cold we went to the children's museum for a magic show/variety show. In the picture below you see Aric trying his best to bite his tongue. There was so much cheesiness he could hardly stand it! The guy next to him was sure enjoying the show though...

This guy led us in some songs...now you know why Aric could hardly contain himself!

Maya, Eden and Seth got called up on stage...they were loving it!

Gabe, Maya and Seth doing the motions for one of the songs...

Camden was so over sitting there and listening to silly songs, so he went and played. He loved the grocery store...

 

He also loved this mirror...

After we had enough of the show, we went on the carousel.

What is it about New Years Eve that brings out the crazies!

Aric put these 3D glasses on Mr. C, aren't they hilarious!

We walked around the park and enjoyed the winter wonderland...

We danced and partied like it was 2010!

We got home around 10pm and the girls were bound and determined to stay up until midnight. It was a long two hour but they did it!

We all slept in and enjoyed a fun New Years breakfast...green eggs, ham and a muffin.

 

This year it was all about the kids. We had a great time and look forward to a fun, uneventful 2010! Happy New Years to you!

So Very Merry...

Through Eden's Eyes

These are some moments captured by Eden on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Festivities

Dinner...fried turkey of course. This time we just fried turkey breast instead of the whole turkey, I'm smelling a new tradition.

The cousins do their gift exchange

(Clearly some were more excited than others...)

The Aric and Evelynne gift exchange...Tessa was getting in on the fun.

 
They exchange festive accessories. This year Aric made Ev this fancy pin out of an ornament.

Ev got Aric this very festive man bracelet.

We honored our Abuelita Tina by doing our traditional family dance to "Abriendo Puertas" by Gloria Estefan

 

Later that night M and E sprinkled some reindeer oats.

Christmas Morning

Maya and Eden were good enough this year that Santa brought them exactly what they wished for...a Nintendo DS.

Camden got a basketball hoop. Maya asked for one for him.

 

The girls got this special gift from Auntie Jo and Uncle Steve. It's not enough for our family to have one of these music boxes...now we have two! The music is great for about 10 minutes...after that your ears start to bleed.

These were the gifts they got from Grandma Kathy and Papa Ron.

I made the girls their very own Snuggies...

Here is Mr. C with some of his presents...

This is what he did all morning...

I was fortunate to have two of my brothers stay with me. Here is Ben with the t-shirt we got for him...

Now I know what I am giving him next Christmas...

 

Here is Rico with C...looking so handsome those two...

It's always sad to see them go. I love that they make such efforts to spend quality time with us. My girls love their tios!

I still can't believe Christmas has come and gone. I feel like I have wished December away, I just kept thinking that at the end of  the month we would have our adoption finally finalized. No such luck. Here we are in January and we are still waiting for a court date.  Apparently the commissioner decided that she wasn't going to review any adoption cases until Jan 4th. What's another week right!?....I keep telling myself it doesn't matter, but it does.

In the meantime, I am grateful that we had a joy filled holiday season and that we created wonderful memories with friends and family.