"We should take a ride tonight around the town and look around at all the beautiful houses..."

John Mayer says it best, 'something in the way the blue lights on a black night can make you feel more'. Christmastime is the greatest, especially when you know all the fancy neighborhoods in your town. Our neighborhood has a few people who enjoy sprucing it up for the holidays with the lights and yard inflatables, but nothing compares to those in the fancy neighborhoods. I believe Mommy's favorite thing to do is ride around the neighborhoods and look at all the decorated houses. There are some nice houses in our neighborhood who like to get creative with their decorating, but the people in the shopping district get glamorous with their lights. No inflatables from The Home Depot in their yards, rather they wrap their columns, their railings, their trees, everything with golden lights. It's as though they're engaging in some sort of 'Whose House Can Look The Most Gold' competition that the rest of us are unaware of...

Moving along...

I was thinking about Christmas in Mexico some more, and I'd thought I'd share some more traditions and things that make me happy. To start off, we usually go to the children's wing in the hospital to hand out toys for the kids and toiletries for the parents who stay in the hospital with them. Following the distribution of gifts, which is kind of heartbreaking but hopeful, we gather around a Christmas tree and Nativity scene at the entrance of the wing and say the Rosary. My Tia will lead the Rosary and will sing Christmas songs, (all about Jesus, mind you,) in between the Mysteries. It's a bittersweet moment, for you have some of the kids being wheeled out to pray with their parents, you've got parents that haven't been home for days or weeks on end because they stay with their kids, and you've got the caretakers who have to cater to these sick children and who have probably become as attached to them as their parents. Everyone prays for healing and for miracles and it's a sad yet lovely sight to see everyone come together and pray for the same thing.

There are other traditions we partake in. The Rosary is usually repeated at home with the rest of the family who don't go to the hospital. The Rosary is followed by a reverence to the Baby Jesus then food. Of course food. The food is followed by more food, more deserts, and more beer. More importantly, the aforementioned traditions are accompanied by family, good friends, great conversation, and memories being made. Following ALL that, we have the opening of gifts, which is pretty much awesome. We have 2 young kids in our family and one baby, so to see the older two freak out about their gifts is phenomenal. Sometimes we go above and beyond and even though they might get so excited they forget to say 'Gracias', we know it means something to them and that's enough.

This is a little late, but I apologize for not having more stories about my parents. It's the holidays, you see, and I'd like to get away from making fun of my parents for a while and instead concentrate on what's important: love.

That being said, I give you more Christmas memories:

Tia, Mommy, Tia, Tia, Tia, Tia
Hahaha... I love it

Tio, Daddy, Primo, Primo, Primo, Tio... no idea. Whoops.
Again, LOVES it

More family enjoying a Christmas card game

Me with two of my cousins wandering around the street...
back when it was safe to do so at 2:30am.

Lulis and JJ
He later went off to become a musician and we haven't seen
him around lately. That's a shame. He was so nice...

Would you LOOK at all that food?
No wonder I can't ever wait to get there.

Tia, Me with Miguelito, and Mommy

Lulis and her firstborn.
He seems quite unamused with the gift, but I can assure you
he loved it.

Miguelito receives an offering of toys and an Osito Bolo.
He looks pleased as punch.

Daddy and the baby

Me and the baby

Lulis and her baby... so cute!

Me and Miguelito by the tree. It took a while to get this photo.
He kept laughing for some reason until he finally settled down.

Me at the Fundidora where my great-grandpa worked.
I look like I could kick butt at this job... maybe?

I'd have to find an apron that fit me, first.

Mommy, wake up! We're taking a photo!
Merry Christmas, yo!

I wish I got presents 3xs my size...

Mommy and Daddy witness the unveiling of the presents...

Pery and Tia Pera. She's got her apron on.
You know some good stuff is going down
in that kitchen. Mmmmm...

FELIZ NAVIDAD, HOMIES!

Well, there you have our daily dose of Christmas. I think this is a good way to get ready for the holidays and to get into the spirit of things. You must be asking, 'doesn't Daddy have a family'? That he does. We will meet them later on this week. I must be off. Chemistry studying has ravaged my brain. The white matter is just leaking out my nose in exasperation... Goodnight, all!

Ally