Today is a Good Day

Today is a really good day, at least so far.

While Will is picking up his new car (more on that when the car arrives), I am home with the kids on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I inflated the bouncy house for Maya, while Guillermo played with a friend.

Then, she and I and a neighbor went in the woods behind our house to see the boys' fort and then walked with with the boys deeper in the woods. The boys wanted to come home a different way than us, so I left Maya! with them and came home with the neighbor. It turned out OK. When I went in the back yard, there they were, back in their fort.

Maya came in a little bit later for a quick break. They were playing a game. The boys were the guards and she, of course, was the princess.

"It's being a really good day out there," Maya said. "And mom, you know what. I am the only one who found a slug, a dirty brown slug. We are pretending it's my magical healing power."

Happy Birthday, Guillermo! You are 8!!

Happy birthday, Guillermo! We love you!

Guillermo turned 8 on Saturday. I still feel a little strange saying that number. 8!

We celebrated the day by taking two of Guillermo's friends to Frankie's for some video game action. Another friend went out for sushi with us and then spent the night. As far as birthdays go, this one was a pretty good from my perspective. I think Guillermo was pretty pleased, too. He opened presents in the morning and then spent the rest of the time before his party putting together another Lego set. Maya was over the moon excited about her brother's birthday and put herself in charge of decorations. She worked nonstop in the morning, alternating between frosting the cake and spreading balloons around the house. I don't think she stopped talking once. She worked so hard she fell asleep the instant she sat down in her car seat to get to the arcade.

I couldn't leave her out. She worked hard to make his day special.

His baseball cake by Maya and me.

The Day After Christmas

Showing off the second round of his Christmas presents.

Guillermo concealed his disappointment well, but he was sad that he didn't receive the Lego set he wanted most of all, The Black Pearl, on Christmas morning. He's getting savvier in the ways of Christmas though, and he kept a close eye on the large package with his name that we left unopened under the tree on Christmas day.

My parents arrived the day after Christmas and we saved the presents they gave to us for that day. I think the Black Pearl was the first gift Guillermo opened and he breathed a sigh of relief. Maya was thrilled with her American Girl doll, who she later named Claudia. She especially loved the brush that came with Claudia. And, she loved the matching aprons she and Claudia both received.

Our visit with my parents was great. We went for a hike, my dad took the kids to a movie (Alvin and the Chipmunks, thanks dad!) and my mother and I took Maya to the First Night Celebration in Raleigh. It was Parisian-themed and Maya is all about France these days.

Throughout the week, Guillermo also hosted several Lego parades in his room to showcase all of his (and Lego's) designs. It's quite impressive and I would show pictures but he never managed to put on a shirt during the parades.

Showing off her new American Girl doll, Claudia, along with Jenny in her new bag. She's wearing her new apron and headband, too.

Sassy Maya, telling Grandpa something about his iPad.

Christmas - The Best Day Ever

Maya declared this Christmas "The Best Day Ever." Guillermo might have declared it that, but he was too busy building his new massive Lego set to talk.

We had a great, fun, lazy, snuggly Christmas day. I woke up early and laid on the couch while I waited for the kids to stir. Guillermo woke up first, at 7 a.m. Perfect. He even had to go wake Maya while I woke up Will.

They loved their gifts. Santa brought Guillermo a Ninjago Lego set; he brought Maya a guitar and another harmonica. Other gifts for Guillermo: a board game, a Greek Gods card game, a Harry Potter DS game, books from Tia, more legos from Lily and Tony, a Star Wars Lego set and a Skateboard. Maya picked up a loom with sparkly yarn to make a hat, a Lego set from Guillermo, books from Tia, a Wii game, and ... hmmm, I'll have to update this a bit later.

I went for a Christmas morning walk and later Maya and I went to a friend's house to deliver a few gifts and stayed for about an hour. The boys didn't leave the house at all, and I think that was the best part of Will's Christmas.

As Will made calzones for dinner, the kids and I decorated the train cake, our Christmas Eve tradition that we postponed a day so they could have a slice of Jesus' birthday cake at church. The train cake, as you will see, is a bit messy. Somehow they ended up in a contest to see who could get the most candy on a train car. Ick! They loved it, though!

He put it together in one day!

Maya, showing off her new Lego set.

The decorated train cake. I promise, there is a train in there.

Christmas Eve

All dressed up for Church, and dinner, and just one present: A disco ball for Maya and Furno from Hero Factory for Guillermo.

Loving up me!

Smiling with Papa

So excited for the night and day ahead.

The Nutcracker

Maya and I went to the see the Nutcracker this year. It was the first time for both of us. She wasn't too sure what to make of it at first, but she gasped and sat up a little straighter when the snow flakes danced on stage.

I think her favorite part of the day, besides the make-you-own cupcakes at lunch right before the show, was when I bought her Clara, the nutcracker. As soon as she saw it, she stopped walking and just stared at it. "Mommy!" "Mommy, look!" I couldn't say no, and I didn't want to anyway. We picked up a soldier nutcracker for Guillermo.

Gingerbread House

On the kids' second day of holiday vacation, we made our gingerbread house (We saw Arthur Christmas on the first day). They love this tradition, likely because they sneak candy while they build it. I think of it as sort of prep for the train cake we make each Christmas Eve. But I also like it because I know that for about 30 minutes of the day, Guillermo and Maya will get along. In fact, they actually like each other. See the proof below:

Having fun!

The finished product