Valencia Family Christmas 2010

On Christmas day the Valencia family gathered at Armando's moms house for their annual festivities. The day consisted of a lot of amazing food, great company, a visit from Santa, a gift exchange & a dozen or more toddlers all sugared up and running wild. I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Part of the groupBrandon playing his new video game Yareli with Grandma Teresa & Grandpa Oscar

Cousins Celeste, Addy & Esmeralda

Yareli

Howard, Elda, Sara & Cathy

I tried to get Sadie (my favorite 3 year old niece) to come home with me...I even promised her her own room & pizza every night. She still went home with her own mom though.

Rafa, me and Esperanza

My niece Marticella with her soon to be husband Amador and their baby Emmanuel I voted Sadie as 'best dressed'

She's just too cute not to keep taking pictures Rafael, Twins Andy & Sadie and my lil Esperanza

Sadie & Esperanza

Cousin Rolando (who dressed up as Santa), Tio Rafael, Cousin Victor, Tony, Armando & Esperanza

I tried my best to prepare Esperanza for Santa's visit this year. She grasped the whole relationship between Santa and the presents and seemed really excited to see him and sit on his lap. Right up until the moment came. Esperanza was terrified of Santa again this year. So we just accepted his gifts and opened them on the stairs.

And there's Sadie...who looks the least bit afraid of Santa Santa even brought me a gift!

WAY too much candy

The woman who brought us all together...Armando's mom Angelina with Santa

And yours truly...

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. See you next year!

Christmas Eve 2010

This year was the first year we split up the days for celebrating Christmas. Usually, it's a frenzy of trying to coordinate it all into one day. Skipping nap time, rushing from one place to the next, eating at the first place then being too full to eat at the second place & overall not feeling like we enjoyed enough time with either side of the family or the day. This year was much more relaxing.

On Christmas Eve, we picked up some Thai food and met up with my family at the VA Rehab Center where George is currently healing. He still isn't strong enough to bring home for even just a day pass, so we came to him. My mom, George, Cyndi, Tony, Roman, Me, Esperanza, Armando, Mary & her guy friend Austin all gathered and had a nice relaxing evening together. We ate yummy Thai, exchanged gifts, chased the kids around, and enjoyed the company. Roman & Esperanza had their share of fun, chasing each other up and down the halls and playing with toys they received as gifts. As sadly normal, we missed a lot of our family this Christmas. Some are far away, and others close but unable to join us.

Austin took the group shot

Lolipops Roman loved the Christmas tree ornaments
16 weeks pregnant with sisters Cyndi & Mary
When we got home, we let Esperanza open a couple presents. Here she is with her purple unicorn 'pillow-pet'
She always loves the snow globes Even Lucy got a Christmas present

Up next...Valencia Family Christmas Gathering

Snow Bunny

Yesterday we drove up to Mt. Hood and played in the snow. We carpooled with a bunch of people and headed towards the mountain. Esperanza was overly excited to go to the snow. Every so often in the car she would start screaming the word snow and laughing non stop. When snow started to become visible outside, she'd get that much more excited. We finally set up 'snow sledding camp' in the parking lot at Snow Bunny. The lodge may be gone, but the snow is still there. Somehow, people can charge an arm and a leg to play on the snowy hillside beyond the parking lot...but the snow in the parking lot was free of charge. So, like several other people, we decided we would have just as much fun sledding and playing in the parking lot as we would on the spendy car free snowy hillside. We set up a camp stove, made hot chocolate, ate hot dogs and had a blast.

Tony pulling the sled with Esperanza, Rafa & Victors son (I forgot his name!)

Rafa, Mando & Esperanza

Mando & Esperanza (hot chocolate in hand)

I think they were throwing snow balls

Rafa & Esperanza sledding down the hill

Celeste
Clarissa

My snow princess

Brothers Sergio Jr & Rafa

Celeste & Esperanza (who looks terrified but really isn't)

Roman's 2nd Birthday

Esperanza's cousin Roman turned 2 years old this past weekend. He is such a handsome little guy...or big guy I should say. He surpassed Esperanza's weight and height a long time ago. Cyndi and Tony had a small party for Roman on his birthday and we were thankful to be able to share the special day with him. Happy Birthday Roman

Birthday boy with a friend

Cake Time!!! Gift opening!!!
And now time to play!!!

Aunt Naomi

For two very short but precious weeks, my sister Naomi was here visiting us for the first time in several years. Before Esperanza met her for the first time, I spent a few moments talking to Esperanza and telling her about this 'new aunt' that she was about to meet. When the moment arrived, Esperanza flew into Naomi's arms and gave her the biggest and longest hug I've ever witnessed her give to anyone she hadn't met before. It was so sweet. It didn't take long before Naomi became Esperanza's new BFF! We went over to my moms almost every day to hang out with Naomi and take in as much time as we could before she had to go back home. We miss her already and we hope to see her again soon. Most of the pictures I got of Naomi just happen to have Esperanza in them as well. They made quite the team.

Naomi could spin Esperanza way longer and faster than anyone!

Esperanza wrestling with the bear Aunt Naomi gave her
Even when she isn't ready for a picture, Naomi looks amazing

A visit with George at the VA rehab center

Missing Geneva