Christmas Eve 2010

...was spent a little differently than it usually is. On Christmas Eve, we make it a point to go to the mall and see Santa with Emma and people watch. But this year, well, this year, we stayed put. With Emma not feeling too well and coughing, we did a pj day and watched movies, listened to our Emma's favorite Christmas CDs, and wrapped gifts.

It was a a nice day....

Emma was excited because tomorrow (Christmas Day) is "Jwesus and abuela's birthday".

My Mom was a Christmas baby....

This year was a little different for me, too. Instead of being overcome with the fact that my Mom wasn't with me, i found myself telling Emma about all of the fun things that i did with my Mom when we were getting ready for Christmas. How we would bake. How we would laugh with Aunt Claudine until our sides hurt. How we made fun of gifts from year's past. How we spent so much time in the kitchen, just like Emma and i were doing.

The gifts that my Mom gave me of herself and memories continue to live on.

And that, for me, is the best gift of all to realize this Christmas.

We also wrote Santa a note this year from Emma. Santa, i'm sure, will leave a note for her, too.

I was also thrilled this morning to get a package from a friend who sent me quite a few Guatemalan ornaments. This was my special gift to Emma and i was thrilled that it made it here in time for Christmas. Emma was so excited to see the ornaments! We talked about Guatemala and how these ornaments were made in the country where she was born. We hung them on the upstairs tree.....and it was perfect.

Just like the entire day was.