A Non-Traditional Christmas

This year we had an awesome 4-day Christmas weekend! Most of our celebrating was non-traditional. Although it involved a lot of cooking (which is traditional):

And of course going to Mass for Baby Jesus's birthday. Christmas Eve we all packed up the car (with the food) and our spending the night gear (which involved inflatable mattress and sheets) and drove to Pablo's parish. 

 

We had "Christmas Eve" dinner at Pablo's house (a.k.a. rectory). Non-traditional Christmas Eve dinner - we had Butifarra. Those of you currently reading who have had this sandwich that is never disliked by anyone who eats it, know what I'm talking about. For those of you who are reading this who have not had the privilege to eat what I'm talking about, I guess you could click here and read about it. That will have to do until you actually get to eat a butifarra.

 P.S. if you clicked on the link, the "Salsa Criolla" looks something like this:

After waiting until midnight, toasting, sleeping, waking up, having breakfast on Christmas morning and driving back to our house, we got home and were greeted by Pellet & Cali!

 Then we moved on to our non-traditional Christmas meal which was: "Pasta Fest"! It involved three sauces below: pesto, meat sauce and walnut sauce.Yes, walnut sauce. Just like I said to the butifarra people, if you haven't had walnut sauce, click here and read about it. Your life will be changed if you ever get to have this sauce. My personal favorite.

 We ate and we were merry.

 

Then - around 4:00pm on Christmas Day - we finally opened our presents. Our dilemma was that we all needed to be together to open presents... Pablo was not able to get to the house until about 2:30pm (he had to celebrate Christmas Day Mass), once he got home, we were all hungry, so we decided to eat, then open presents (while the pasta rested before going to Dessert Fest at our friends Kerrie & Eric's house to eat desserts and drink hot buttered rum).

 

 

 The next morning we woke up to snow (non-traditional)

I hope everybody had an enjoyable Christmas Weekend and were able to celebrate it and enjoy it to the fullest like we did in this neck of the woods!

Note: We got a flip video camera for Christmas (thank you Melissa!)... I'm working on a Christmas Weekend Video Montage... stay tuned.

Everybody and Their Mother

Except Eric’s mother because she’s on the other coast.

Last night we had Mom Dinner at the house. We took advantage of Melissa’s [Norm’s mom] visit and Nora [my mom] being on her way back to Augusta and invited Kerrie and Eric and Pam [Kerrie’s mom].

My mom and Norm’s mom obviously know each other. And Norm’s mom and Kerrie’s mom had met earlier in the summer. The last that needed to meet were my mom and Kerrie’s mom. So now finally all the moms are acquainted with each other [except for Eric’s because she’s on the other coast, but hopefully one day soon she’ll get to meet the others].

I have no pictures of Mom Dinner – we got to eating (lots) and chatting and laughing (loudly) and drinking wine and rum and I totally forgot about the camera. We had a great time indeed.

I know I can speak for the other 3 friends when I say: we are thankful for having our moms and each other’s moms around and therefore, Mom Dinner!

Football

I never thought I would ever say this: I am learning about the game of football.

I think somewhere along the way I've mentioned that Juan Ma started high school. Well, he is now in the JV Football Team. Let's just say one more fact: I have attended (and paid attention) to more football games in the months of August and September (so far) than in all my prior years (put together).

I am so amazed how this little guy (well, not literally speaking) has naturally been able to motivate me to learn (and enjoy) a sport that for my whole life I've had absolutely no desire to learn (regardless of all the Super Bowl parties in college).

Here are some pictures - in some he is 63 and in others he is 65.

The Eighth Grade

Last night my Facebook status read: "tonight he's graduating from middle school, wasn't it just like last week that he started kindergarten? time flies..."

I know that graduating from middle school does not rank up there with college or high school, but it's still a milestone. In 3 months Juan Ma will be a freshman in high school and in 4 years we'll be back, sporting our Fighting Irish green and gold just like I did over 10 years ago.
This was my high school graduation day - May 20, 1999.

It's amazing to sit back for a moment and think about this little baby that was born almost 14 years ago. I remember June 13, 1996 as if it were yesterday:

Waiting for the doctor to come out and say Juan Ma is here! [please excuse the outfits]

I'm so proud of him for being the boy that he is and eagerly yet bitterly looking forward to the man that he'll soon become.

Just for the record I do have to tell that Juan Ma showed up to graduation with no jacket and no tie. All the boys were wearing a jacket and/or a tie. He was upset because he chose not to do so. When his name was called we were all in shock to see him walk up wearing a jacket. Smart child - he borrowed a neighbor's to cover up during the important part.

If These Walls Could Speak

Who says you can't have fun while sorting through books, papers, photographs, knick knacks, clothes and furniture in the process of disassembling a house which walls have been witnesses to all of life's stages as well as life's struggles, uncertainties, joys and celebrations?

Thankful for Family, Food & Great Times

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! We were all (except for my mom) able to get together at our house and have lots and lots of food and enjoy the time together chatting and catching up.

This is what our menu consisted of:
Mrs. Lazio's clam dressing (the best in the world)

Broccoli

Corn Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole with Candied Pecans

Ham

Turkey breast (his mouth is actually very far away from it)

Croissant & Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding


Here are pictures of the day:






I might get an earful for this one, but I'll deal with that later, it's too good not to post:


I think this video might summarize it better:

39 Years

A night like tonight, 39 years ago, my parents got married. Due to God's plans, they were only able to share 33 years of them.

My mom was 17 and straight out of high school, my dad was 23 and owned a cattle business where he delivered butchered calves to restaurants through the front door - yes, walking right through customers enjoying their dinner date.

In 33 years, life dealt them all sorts of cards to include the crazy joker and they played them beautifully (in my opinion). They were an outstanding example of love and solidarity. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a witness to their marriage and have had the opportunity to learn from these two strong and amazing people.

Family Time

Our moms have been visiting for the past few days! We've been enjoying relaxing days. Here are some random pictures:

Here are the moms fixing dinner - Cali is checking out the action


This is how she goes about it... usually she lays right behind (whoever is cooking)'s feet...


Not sure what's going on with him - he randomly took over Cali's food bowl and stuck his foot in it


Norm fixed Pisco Sours today - so good!!


Me and my pups!!