December Days 23 & 24

Thursday the 23rd I roasted more almonds and baked more cookies. I also made peppermint bark for the first time and oh Lord that is some sweet stuff! Eva and Sarah must have pounded candy canes for almost half an hour before we got them to the right consistency. Next time I might have to put them in the food processor to save time and mess. But then most of the fun goes away for the kids! The kids had friends over to play and I tried to clean house a bit. When Tony called and asked if I wanted him to bring something home for dinner it was a divine experience perfectly timed. Chinese it was, and I was glad for it! Emily had been begging to go to the pet store for several days now and Tony took the big three while I stayed home with little Eva. We crawled into my bed early and had some quality snuggle time together. Emily proudly came home with some new toys for her hamster that she intended to give him for Christmas, which was also his birthday. Her hamster Erwin even had his own stocking ready for Christmas morning.

But it was not meant to be. On Christmas eve morning she came into the kitchen with his cage ready to replace his bedding, he wasn't scurrying around as he usually does when his condo is being relocated. She was talking to him asking "where are you Erwin?" Tony and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Emily reached in to the back where he sleeps under the wheel and discovered that he had died. She pulled him out and I felt him, still warm. Poor little fella. One day before his first birthday. It was sad. She carried him around in a tissue for a while and one by one as the rest of the kids woke up, Emily gave them the awful news. Sarah cried.

I made breakfast and put on Tony's favorite movie, It's a Wonderful Life. That is almost the only thing that will make my husband sit still; a good movie, especially his favorite one. Otherwise Tony is always on the move, on the go, busy. He isn't beyond the occasional weekend short midday nap but not much else ever keeps him down. After the movie [just Tony and Emily stayed on the couch for the whole thing, the rest of us succumbed to the distraction of other things] we readied ourselves for spending the afternoon with Tony's family at his mom's house.

We all enjoyed the tamales that Lupe and Tomasa made. We all enjoyed holding baby Zoe, who is six months old now. She's a little living doll and Emily adores her!



Eva with cousin Aiden.



After spending a few hours with the family we were off to Christmas eve mass. My shepherds and my angel performed their parts well in the live children's nativity. Tony's mom was in attendance as well, that made it extra sweet. After mass, Tony wanted to go back and spend more time with his family so he dropped me off at home to finish up some last minute wrapping and such. I called my dad and talked to him for almost an hour. I was glad to talk to him on Christmas eve, we had good conversations, we always do.

Tony dropped off my three little ones and went back to his parents again with Emily to visit with family that arrived late. By the time he finally came home for the night, we were all in my bed watching a movie on TV and a few had already fallen asleep. I was hoping they stayed that way all night!