A Guatemalan Christmas

Last weekend, we went to Phoenixville for a Christmas party with other local families that have adopted from Guatemala. This year the party was held at a Guatemalan restaurant (one we now really want to go back to!). We got to talk to some other parents, and Rudy had fun running around with the kids. The entire restaurant was for our party so the kids had the run of the place.

Sitting in Santa's chair pre-Santa.

The upstairs room had almost no furniture, balloons, and music- the perfect place for the kids to run around. Here Rudy and another child are negotiating for balloons.

He was in the process of blowing up a balloon, as I took the picture, the balloon went flying out of his hands.

Finally getting the hang of blowing them up.

Rudy had a long conversation with Santa, starting off with showing him his shirt (it says, Have a Rockin' Christmas)...

... then he gave a thumbs up to Santa...

...and continued to talk.

One of the parents was telling us that the town we were in, Phoenixville, had a Firebird Festival that night, The build a big wooden Phoenix structure and the set it on fire at night. We couldn't stay for the festival (although it is definitely on our radar for next year), but we decided to drive by and see the big bird.

Also after the party, we took Charlie home for the night. Here he is being silly and carrying around what seemed to be his favorite toy, a maraca.

Paul and Rudy built this block tower. Moonlight really enjoyed it. Here he is sitting calmly, but Paul and I watched him bite and try to pull off some of the blocks a little while later.

Spiderman and Santa

The two subjects of the post are not connected in anyway. I just don't feel like splitting them.

Yesterday on the way home from school we stopped to get Rudy some new mittens. The choices in toddlers were few, but fortunately for Rudy, one of them was a Spiderman hat and mittens. He now wears them around the house.





Today we went to a Christmas party for families in our area with children adopted from Guatemala. This was only the second event we've gone to with this group but we had a nice time and sat with a family whose son is about 2 weeks younger than Rudy. By the end of the afternoon the boys were running around and playing together. Of course, the highlight of the party was the visit from Santa.





This is the second time so far Rudy has sat on Santa's lap (okay the first time it was St. Nicholas at a church party) and he has remained very consistent: he wants Batman, Robin, their house and car (aka the Batmobile). We'll see what Santa has planned.