Black Eye

You should see the other guy.

Guillermo was running into his favorite restaurant, Red Robin (ick!), the other night when he tripped and fell, face first, on the side walk. The scar around his eye was bright red the first night and he had a bit of bump over his eye, too. It seemed to be healing fine but he woke up Tuesday morning and his eyelid and the area under his eye were swollen. A trip to the doctor reassured us that it wasn't infected and now it's back to normal size but the scar will last for quite awhile.

Christmas Day

Before Christmas Eve service.

On Christmas Eve, listening to Santa review Guillermo's Christmas list.

Writing a note to Santa

Modeling the ring she found in her new jewelry box.

Admiring his loot from Santa.

Christmas Day was a wonderful, relaxing, rainy day.

The day started at 5 a.m. when Maya, who had fallen asleep on the couch on Christmas Eve, woke up disoriented in Guillermo's room and cried that the Halloween music that she likes to fall asleep to wasn't on. Twenty minutes later, she had to go to the bathroom and was cold, but she didn't know or remember that it was Christmas. I got her back to sleep and she didn't wake up again until 7:15 a.m.

The rest of the morning we spent opening presents, eating breakfast and playing with toys. Guillermo's big gift from santa was a Lego Star Wars Magnaguard Starfighter ship. Maya received an playdoh ice cream set. They were thrilled and Guillermo wanted to put his Lego set together right away. Later he opened a new Jedi reading Leapster game and pretty much threw in the towel on the rest of gift opening so he could play his new game. Maya didn't want to stop, though. As much as I tried to keep up our tradition of one gift at a time, she would discreetly tear the paper off the sides of her gifts. When my parents brought out the bike they bought her, she looked almost scared at first, but she rode it around the living room a few minutes later.

It was pouring outside and the kids spent the whole day in their pajamas and nobody minded one bit.

Decorating the train cake.

Christmas Eve Service

Guillermo and Maya were angels yesterday. I don't mean they behaved like angels because they really didn't. Guillermo woke up way too crabby for it to be Christmas Eve and Maya was pretty upset to learn that she still had one more day to wait even though the Christmas countdown clock at a house in the next neighborhood told her the evening before that Christmas was just 1 day, 5 hours, 33 minutes and 24 seconds away. "It said one day, mommy!" she cried to me.

Instead, they were angels at the Christmas Eve service we attended at church. We went to service at the church where Maya attends preschool. It was great. The kids got to choose if they wanted to be an angel, a wise man, Mary, Joseph, or the shepherds. Mine choose angels and were given the little costumes and halos and during the service they sat with the other kids in the front of the church. They were thrilled. To make the service even better, afterward the church served birthday cake for Jesus. It was a perfect way to end the service.

The kids were less than thrilled when I told them that the one Christmas present they got to open that evening was their ornament. I relented and let them open the presents they gave to each other: the pink box of Legos for Maya and spy googles for Guillermo. I went to the airport to pick up my parents and the kids settled in with Will for a Christmas Eve movie. Appropriately or not, they chose G-Force because they were tired, they said, of Christmas movies.

Christmas Overload?

Yesterday I was starting to think that my kids had lost a bit of their Christmas spirit. For the second night in a row, Guillermo didn't want to drive around to see Christmas lights. It isn't like we went every night, but he wasn't having it.

Then, after we checked out the Griswold house in the neighborhood next to ours and headed to another one, Maya asked if I could turn off the Christmas music in the car and put on kids music instead, please. "Will Santa still come to our house if we don't listen to Christmas music, mama?" she asked.

Indeed, he will.

Maya's Christmas Program

Maya's Christmas program was last week. It was super cute. Her class wore paper elf hats and "sang" several Jingle Bells and several other songs in the church santuary. Maya sat in the front, right next to one of her best friends, and sang, or tried to sing, the whole time. She was so pleased with herself when she finished.

After the program, the children left the church sanctuary first and were going to serve the parents cookies as a thank you but when we arrived in the party room, we found the all the kids carrying plates of cookies back to their own chairs. For her part, Maya did get three cookies so she could share one (only one) with me. :) Later, she presented me with a present she made at her school, a paper snowflake ornament with her picture on it. It is adorable and so is the wrapping paper she decorated with red heart and green Christmas tree stamps. I love her school.

Santa's Lap

Maya and Guillermo finally saw Santa Claus this season. It was short and sweet visit at University Mall and unfortunately for me (and now you), my camera was out of batteries which forced me to fork over $16 for a 6x4 picture but I don't have a scanner so I can't share it with you.

Anyway, Maya asked for a paint set, which was what she originally had been asking for until last week when, inspired by a small box of chocolate in a gift bag for one of her teachers, she decided to pass on the paint set and just ask for chocolate. Now, she's hoping someone else in the family gets chocolate from Santa and she can just share but still enjoy her new paint set. And, paint set? I'm not sure where she came up with that idea but I'm sure Santa can oblige.

Guillermo said he asked for Legos, any kind of Legos (though he later said he didn't want the Lego city set, unless its the police car). He really wants this Lego Death Star set, but if I were to guess, he'll have to settle for this one instead.

Homemade Ornaments

Maya's homemade christmas tree ornament - just what I was waiting for.

I love our Christmas tree and all of its ornaments. I love the glitter of the lights (and the mardi gras beads) and I love the memories the ornaments prompt. Late last week, however, I started to realize what our tree lacked (and it wasn't a Christmas tree topper because we don't have one and I'm never too interested in finding one). I realized the tree was missing homemade ornaments from Guillermo and Maya. We have a few beaded candy canes that G made a few years ago and a few decorated pine cones from a few years ago, but that is it.

What I want for my tree are kid-colored orange paper santa clauses or pink wreaths hanging on the tree by yarn. I remember my parent's tree always included ornaments my sister and I made when we were in preschool and kindergarten. I especially remember the upside down candle Julie made that we always giggled over when we hung it on the tree (near the back)

We didn't have any of those ornaments, or at least I couldn't find any, until yesterday. . Maya came home from preschool with an ornament shaped like a Christmas tree that she made out of green cardboard. She decorated it with shiny star stickers and beads. It's perfect and it's now hanging right in the front of the tree. And, the director of her school promises Maya will come home with lots more homemade ornaments after her Christmas extravaganza tomorrow!

Purple Belt

Guillermo, posing with his new purple belt.

Guillermo is now a purple belt. He passed his first belt test at Aikido tonight.

Last week, he made me so proud (and nervous) when he signed up to take the belt test after just one semester of Aikido. Most of the kids didn't want to take it, but he signed up and didn't look a bit nervous. He and another student took the test and passed all but two categories. He returned tonight for his last class of the session and passed.

To celebrate, we offered to take him out for Mexican food (of course!) but didn't tell him that we suggested Mexican food because kids eat free and beer is cheap on Tuesdays at the restaurant we picked. Instead, he wanted Japanese food (the nerve!) and we obliged. He ate sushi for the first time and loved it. I think Will fell in love with our son all over again.

Just for the record, the owner of the school where Guillermo takes Aikido says there are no belts in Aikido but he has them because the students love them and they keep the students interested. And it works. We had planned to skip Aikido in the spring and sign Guillermo up for soccer or something else for a change of pace. Guillermo was on board with that plan until he got his purple belt. Now, he's ready to start again in January.

Christmas Parade

It was cold, but we bundled up and went to the annual Christmas parade again this year and had a great time.

Maya's favorite part was collecting candy. Guillermo loved watching the Taekwondo students break boards with their fists and legs and then collecting the broken boards littered on the street. And for me, my favorite part was the latte Will brought me to keep me warm.

Maya did have a good time, I promise.

O Christmas Tree

We decorated the Christmas tree the other night and now it looks beautiful!

My Christmas tree ornaments mean a lot to me. Each year since I was young, my parents gave me one to reflect whatever was going on in my life and Will and I have passed this tradition on to our kids. This year, for instance, we bought Guillermo an ornament of a black belted-Santa doing martial arts because Guillermo is taking Akido and wants to be a ninja when he grows up. Maya is getting a mouse holding the number 4 because this is her fourth Christmas and she loves to find the numbered ornaments from years past.

Even though the ornaments mean a lot, I was determined not to stress out with the kids helping me decorate the tree. I wasn't thinking last year and let them open ornament boxes to get out their ornaments. That resulted in several torn boxes and a very stressed me. This year I made the rule that I open the boxes and they hang the ornaments. It resulted in a relaxed me, happy kids and a few branches heavy with a large concentration of ornaments. Still, it looks beautiful. And it was so fun to hear the kids marvel at the treasures they put on the tree. Maya likes the marshmallow snowman and Guillermo loves the ornament we picked up in San Antonio one year of Santa Claus in a saddle holding a gun (nice Christmas spirit we have!).

What we do need more of, I have to say, is homemade ornaments from G and M. Now I know what they will be doing during their winter break.

Thanksgiving

We went to Atlanta again this year for Thanksgiving and had a really nice time. We always have fun when we go, but the six-hour drive can be brutal. Luckily for me, Will drove both ways so I could get some writing finished.

The few days we were there were fun, but Thanksgiving was the best for the kids because they could see most of their cousins. Guillermo had a great time because there are a ton of young boys in the family. Maya was having fun but stuck close to me for most of the night until 4-year-old Emma arrived and then she left my side.

Guillermo was disappointed by one thing. He wanted to swim at one of Will's aunt's pools. We promised him we'd be back over the summer.

Maya's 1/2 Birthday

We don't normally celebrate half birthdays at our house but Maya's preschool does for kids who have summer birthdays when school is not in session. Maya is one of those kids so yesterday was her big day, at least as far as the school was concerned. She turns 3.5 on Saturday and her preschool made such a big deal of it. It really was pretty fun.

For birthday treats, we made chocolate cupcakes decorated with one holiday candycorn per Maya's request. When we arrived at school, we found streamers hanging in the doorway to her classroom and various play birthday cakes and other birthday toys were set up at one of the tables. She got to be "Kid of the Day," received a birthday sticker and the kids sang happy birthday to her when she passed out her treats. And, when I picked her up she was wearing a 1/2 birthday crown. (Of course, she wouldn't let me take her picture!)

Church and George

George and Maya snuggling with Will after a hike in the woods.

Maya and George before church

Maya has been asking me to take her to the church where her preschool is located so today I did. We went to the service and Maya was intrigued for about 20 minutes or so, which isn't too bad. She was interested initially because when she leaves preschool she often hears music coming from the sanctuary and wants to listen and today the music is what captivated her the most. She was amazed when the choir sang its first song and it was a perfect introduction for her because it started with just singers and then the organ and other instruments were added in later. Her eyes got bigger with each sound she heard. I liked the church for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that there are bags filled with paper, colored pencils, stamps, books and other things for kids to pick up before they enter the church. Maya did a pretty good job of staying busy during the service.

We've been babysitting this weekend, too. Maya's preschool has a stuffed monkey named George that gets passed around every weekend with different kids. This weekend was Maya's weekend to watch George so even though we have had a low key weekend, we've been trying to entertain George. He sat on airplane (as part of an event at Maya's school), went on a hike, met some of the other monkeys at our house, sold beans at the Alternative Gift Market, and went to church, of course. Tomorrow, he's headed to the library and maybe he'll help us make cookies to take with us for Thanksgiving.

George selling bean soup at the Alternative Gift Market at Maya's preschool.

Maya Posts

Maya chased after a butterfly at Guillermo's school the other day. She didn't catch it and here is what she had to say about that:

"I try to catch butterflies but they are too fast, just like chickens. I try to catch chickens but the other kids do. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't."

My Mom's Visit

Last week it rained and rained and rained. On Saturday, my mother, (who was visiting for the week) Maya and I went shopping and then my mother and I went to a baby shower so Sunday was the first nice day we were able to enjoy outside. We spent it on a hike at the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

On our hike, my mother learned how to play Star Wars. She was Chewbacca and I think she loved the game ;) The fall colors have mostly faded, but we did find some bright spots. Back in the garden, we played chess on the giant chess board, found fairies and watched the water fall from the fountain.

Today, she volunteered in Guillermo's class, helping some of the kids finish their family trees. Guillermo's family tree was already finished and he was at another center, but he was still pretty proud to have her at his school.

Oh, and this week, Guillermo learned to tie his shoelaces! Hooray.

Bat Girl

The other afternoon, Maya and Guillermo and I were playing baseball in the front yard. Maya became bored after awhile but to convince her to stay with us I told her she could be the bat girl.

That did it. She was so excited. She had no idea what a bat girl was and she didn't care because she heard Batgirl. So for the rest of the day, she pretended she was Batgirl, helping Guillermo and me, known during our baseball game as the Cardinals and the Yankess, respectively.

"Does Batgirl do this?" she asked and then handed us the ball?

"Does Batgirl do this? she asked and then handed me the bat?

"Is Batgirl friends with the Cardinals?"

"Batgirl likes the Yankees, right?"

I love my Batgirl.

Halloween

Bad Butterfly and Batman posing before the Halloween festivities

This Batman carries a sword

A Bad Butterfly with her scariest face.

Batman and the Bad Butterfly had a wonderful Halloween night. The activities started at a neighborhood party and culminated with our family of four sitting on folding chairs handing out candy to the neighborhood kids. In between, Batman and the Bad Butterfly did a lot of trick-or-treating.

Will took Guillermo and a friend out this year and I stayed with Maya. Last year I tried to take both of them by myself and it was horrible because when Guillermo ran to keep up with friends, I had to pull Maya along or pick her up and run. Maya and I had such a nice time this year. She talked nonstop about everything and was so happy to ring the doorbells of homes that weren't too spooky. The early evening sky was grey and cloudy and the moon was full and they both were perfect for Halloween. Maya wanted to collect as much candy as she could so the Great Pumpkin would leave her a great present and she must have. The Great Pumpkin took the candy and left Maya a Playdoh picnic bucket and Guillermo a blue Bionicle. They were entertained for hours this morning.

A family portrait (me missing!)

He Can Read

Guillermo marking up a catalog.

Guillermo read to us tonight!

He brought home an early reader book called "The Mess" and read the whole thing! He was pretty proud. He read it to me first at Maya's dance lesson and then at bedtime to Will. Mostly I think he has memorized the book, but that doesn't matter. He loved that he could read to us and seems excited to learn. I tried to take a picture of him with his book, but he refused.

Punk Rock Kid

Today was wacky hair day at Guillermo's school and Guillermo rocked it. I gave him a fauxhawk this morning and then sprayed it orange. He loved it and I have to admit, I did, too!

"I didn't have a wedding"

Awhile ago, Maya was admiring somebody's freshly painted fingernails. I don't think they were mine, but they could have been, and she casually asked if she could have hers painted too. I didn't have time and really didn't to start that habit so I told her finger nail polish was for older girls.

"For when you get married," she answered.

"Yes, for when you get married," I responded just a little bit uneasily but that was the end of that.

Today, I dropped Maya off at our friend's house so I could accompany Guillermo's class on a field trip. Maya's friend's fingers were painted a shade of cotton candy blue with sparkles. Maya admired them as I walked back to my car.

When I picked Maya up several hours later, her fingernails were a bright red, a not so pretty red, a somewhat inappropriate red, but she was proud. "Maya, your fingernails are pretty," I told her.

"I didn't have a wedding," she told me right away. "Pat just painted them. I didn't get married."

"I'm glad you didn't get married, but your nails look beautiful," I told her.

Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Guillermo went on his first field trip today and his first school bus ride, too.

I, of course, tagged along as a chaperone, but only after I asked Guillermo if he wanted me to go with him and he responded by hugging me and shaking his head yes. (Sigh. I love kindergarten.)

The chaperones met in the classroom to receive our group assignments. I don't know why I was so surprised since Guillermo is a boy, but when I looked down and saw the names of the kids in my group I said, smiling, to the teacher's assistant: "Four boys? You gave me four boys?" "They are really nice boys," she conceded.

And they were. They were great. The field trip was to a pumpkin patch that Guillermo and I had been to before with Will and Maya. It has a corn maze, animals, cotton fields, a few fields of pumpkins, tractor rides, a hay structure that features tunnels and slides and more. I think my group liked exploring the corn maze and picking cotton the most, though they also had a great time on the hay slides and tunnels.

Guillermo is still recovering from feeling sick earlier in the week so by 11:15 a.m. he was wiped out, as was another boy in the group. The two others were ready to run so the hardest part was keeping all of us together and happy. And, finding the best pumpkins. We succeeded in all of that.

Wedding Blues

Maya has been sleeping in her brother's room while Big Papa has been visiting but we moved her into our room tonight because Guillermo isn't feeling well.

After I read her books on my bed, she took notice of each of the photographs on my dresser and then asked where my wedding picture was. I pulled out the small picture frame that was hidden behind some books.

"Why do you like it so small?" she asked.

"It's a nice picture," I answered.

"Why wasn't I at your wedding?" she asked.

"You weren't born yet," I answered.

"Guillermo and I weren't born yet?"

"Nope."

"But I want to go to your wedding," she whined.

"I wish you could have been there," I said as I started to walk out. "I love you."

She just scowled. Five minutes later, she was asleep.

This is My Grandpa, Guillermo

Guillermo's teacher sent home a homework calendar at the beginning of the month. He is supposed to do three of the five activities a week and they are pretty fun. For example, one day he is supposed to see what melts faster, ice or ice cream. Another day he is supposed to draw a picture of a pumpkin, a moon and a bat. A few weeks ago, shortly after Will's father arrived, Guillermo was giddy over one of the assignments: Spell the name of a grandparent. It took him a minute to realize that he was named after Big Papa, but as soon as he did, a smile spread across his face and he thought he was so sneaky as he spelled G-u-i-l-l-e-r-m-o.

The next day, Will's father went with me to pick Guillermo up at school. When Guillermo saw him, his face lit up and he ran to give him a big hug. Then, he proudly walked him back Ms. Gage, the teacher's assistant in Guillermo's class, to introduce her to his grandfather, Guillermo.

Race Day

Guillermo, Me, and Maya pre-race

Guillermo and Me, post race

I did a super sprint triathlon this weekend and had so much fun. The best part: Guillermo gave me the extra boost to get me across the finish line.

The tri was a 250-yard swim, a 9 mile bike and a 2 mile run. I did most of it with Jennefer (and had a great time) but we got separated during the run. As I neared the last of the final long stretch before you turn to run to the finish line, I saw Will, his father and Maya cheering for us and a few seconds later, Guillermo joined me on the run. It was so fun for both of us. He was really proud to cross the finish line and he gave me a big hug when we were done.

Kid of the Day

Guillermo and Maya acting silly on will's birthday.

Since her first week of school, Maya has asked me repeatedly when she will get a chance to be the kid of the day. At her school that means that she gets to feed the fish, help pass out napkins at snack time, be the line leader, push the button in the elevator and do other fun things. Tuesday was her day, and she beamed when her teacher told her the good news. She must have had a good day because she was so wiped out when I picked up from school later that she couldn't remember one thing she did as the kid of the day.

Guillermo also told us that he was the attendance helper this week, but he couldn't remember what his duties included. He told me that previously he was the recess helper and he helped bring in all of the recess gear from outside.

Costume Party

Practing before the party

She still wants to be Super Girl when she gets older, but she had fun pretending she was Wonder Woman for a bit.

Guillermo's friend had a costume party birthday party a few weeks ago. Guillermo wanted to be a ninja again. We surprised Maya with this Wonder Woman costume I bought a few weeks ago. She loved it but didn't like that it was so short. She ditched the boots once we got to the party. Too bad for her. She's about at the last age where I will let her wear thigh-high boots.

October Leaves

We raked our first pile of leaves last weekend. You can see, the kids were thrilled. For months, Maya has been asking us to rake a pile for her but we didn't have enough until now ...

Rainbow snuggle

Every night when I put Maya to bed we snuggle up before I kiss her goodnight. And every night we say the same thing:

"Let's snuggle before I leave," I say and wrap my arm around her.

"OK, a rainbow snuggle, like this," she says and draws a rainbow in the air with her finger.

"OK, a rainbow snuggle," I say and I give her a squeeze.

And then she fidgets and turns and chats and wiggles and usually complains that my arm is in the wrong place or that my head is on her pillow or too close to hers.

And then I kiss her goodnight, usually shaking my head. But, I wouldn't change a thing.