December 2012

Advent time came really fast this year, maybe because we were so busy with the remodel.
The songs, the stories and the poems we say every night have become part of who we are and I love the feeling...I become really curious and now I just watch myself and all of us with curiosity. We did work so hard internally on a new way of being a family, we learned to go deeper, to cherish each other, to not take anything for granted and I'm infinitely thankful for Christmas this year!!

The children had fun decorating the house with all the christmas stuff we had not seen for a while...the christmas lights around the house looked so great from inside and out...added bonus due to the big windows our lovely house has!!

The first Light of Advent is the light of stones
Light that lives in seashells, in crystals and in bones

The second light of Advent is the light of plants
Plants that reach up to the sky and in the breezes dance

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts
Light of love that lives in the greatest and the least

The fourth light of Advent is the light of you and I
Light of love, of hope to give and understand

The ritual of singing the song, saying the verse before we light the advent wreath and singing silent night every night of Advent, is so grounding for all of us. It helps us to slow down when we need it the most, to pay attention to the most important things in this time of year, to stay close to each other and hold that peaceful space among us.


The School had its Winter Assembly right before the Christmas break and it was a complete success.
4th Grade sang, played the violin and reenacted "Las Posadas" for the audience!! Lovely!!

This year, we started a new tradition in our little family. We decided to wait until the 24th to get our Christmas tree. The kids were not very fond of the idea at first, but at the end of the day, we thought it made for a real good idea on delaying gratification. On the other hand, Christmas Eve was extra special because of it...we kept drooling over our beautiful tree and decorated it as a family...I think we will do it this way from now on!!

Searching for our own special Christmas tree...where is it???

Danny is having so much fun walking uphill and down...I still remember him as a toddler a few years back running along these same woods in search for a Christmas tree...time flies!!

Santiago cut the tree all by himself, with daddy's help of course!!

Good team!!

Time for a nice cup of hot chocolate!!

That afternoon, we went home to decorate the tree, sing villancicos and Christmas carols and bake cookies for Santa!!
So far he has liked our chocolate chip cookies the best in previous years.  We hope this year he likes them gluten free.

We went to celebrate Christmas Eve to our dear friend's house The Martinez family!!
We all had a great time dancing and spending time with old friends.

On Christmas Day, the kids woke up very early as usual to see what Santa had brought them and they loved all of their gifts, along with the ones Grandma, grandpa, aunts and uncles sent them! Thank you!!

Even cookie got what he always wanted...A bone!!

Thank You Santa and all of those who made this special day extra special!!

During the Holy nights, this year there was a special feeling for all of us, we felt held and cared for by Spirit.
Santiago played the violin and the flute for some songs and we all sang the songs that warm our hearts and help us feel that special connection with one another.
At the beginning, we took out all the maracas and "panderetas" we had big smiles and laughed as we sang together, then, it got quieter and more solemn, we took turns lighting the tree.
The candles burning on the tree and the warm glow emanating from it makes it feel almost like we are somewhere else, outside of this world, we enter into our own special place where we are embracing each other, feeling at peace.