Christmas 2015

Christmas this year was filled with new traditions, old traditions, and even some Spanish traditions. Christmas began a week early for us. Mark's sister and brother-in-law were going to be gone over the holidays so we did an early Christmas so they could see Jack play with his new roller coaster.  The box was huge, and even though Jack was old enough he finally was interested in unwrapping, he still lacked the skill to take less than 20 minutes for unwrapping. He loved taking "bih piece" (big pieces)and would make piles of the ripped paper- how very much like mom and dad. 

Everybody got kazoos and a silly book from Luke. Maria had never played the kazoo before- she was a natural once she figured it out! 

It was a big box!

slowly making progress....

Picking out our tree. It was 7 feet tall. Next year we will have to hire someone else to help us carry it! 

 This year on Christmas Eve, we joined Mark's Aunt and Uncle in Riverton, a few of the Martin cousins and his Grandparents for yummy soup and celebrations. Uncle Craig is a model train collector. Jack hung out with his buddy/cousin Max and checked out the train. We were given one as well from Craig last year but didn't put it up because we were afraid he would break it. He did great so I guess next year we'll try putting it under the tree!

After dinner we sang some traditional Christmas songs. This was "Must Be Santa"- complete with Props.

I pull off the beard quite well! 

Chilling with uncle Luke. 

 After some fun, we went home and prepped for Santa to come. We left out milk and some carrots for the reindeer.

 I totally failed and didn't get a picture of the tree beforehand. Let me assure you there were a lot of gifts under the tree and it looked pretty magical at 9am....also at 1:45 AM but maybe that extra glisten then was just from my eyes trying to close on me.

Maria got Jack a build-a-bear. It is a puppy (since we didn't get one for Christmas obviously) that plays the Charlie Brown theme song. 

In Spain they don't do stockings, Maria liked this tradition for sure! 

Jack with his stocking--and mom's soda. 

Modeling his bow tie from Aunt Cheriss.

Christmas selfie- mostly to show off his bowtie onesie. 

Exploring the roller coaster box with Uncle Luke

The unwrapping aftermath.

Modeling the hat made by 6 year old cousin Grace- he actually likes it quite a bit! 

Maria got Mark a star wars fighter ship. Jack had fun helping him put it together.

We celebrated New Year's Spain style- well sort of. Maria went to a dance but came home at 11:30 to celebrate midnight with us. The tradition in Spain is you eat 1 grape each of the last 12 seconds before midnight- so yes, you attempt to eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds. Maria did it twice- once with her family and again 8 hours later with us. I got roughly 6, Mark gave up after 4. Next year I think we will have to carry on the tradition- but pick smaller grapes. Though Maria says that's cheating!

A few days later, we celebrated 3 Kings day. We enjoyed this Roscon and gave Maria a gift card to Panda Express (her favorite "American" restaurant). I don't think I'd get the roscon again. I'll stick with my sweeter more cake-like desserts. But Maria and her other friend from Spain had some and according to them it tasted just like it does back home. Win!

We really enjoyed this past holiday season. It was fun to see Jack start to grasp the holiday more, and to share traditions and make more memories with Maria- next Christmas will seem more dull I'm sure.