The Christmas Celebration Continues

Even though December 25th had come and gone, our Christmas celebration continued.  On New Year's Day we usually celebrate Christmas at home with just the four of us.  But Owen begged and pleaded this year to open 'just one present' early.  So on December 26th, he picked out a present from under the tree and ripped it open...

Then the next day came and once again Owen was begging to open "just one present."  So once again he picked one out and tore it open...

The day after that, Owen was pleading yet again to open a gift (I think you can see where this is going!)  After opening another present, I was able to convince him to hold off opening any more so that he still had a couple gifts to open on New Years.

As I watched him open each gift, it dawned on me what a great idea he had!  The boys didn't get overwhelmed opening present after present.  Opening just one gift a day made that item much more enjoyable.  Thus was the beginning of our new Christmas tradition!  Although it will take a bit more thought on Mom's part to get the proper number of gifts for each kid - like Christmas shopping wasn't hard enough the way it was!

Before we knew it, New Year's Eve had arrived.  We celebrated by driving down to the Twin City Model Railroad Museum to see the Night Trains exhibit.  Everyone else must have had the same idea because the place was packed.

Owen enjoying the model trains

The boys

The Christmas Train zooming by

"This is so much fun!"

The boys playing with a train table

Afterward we headed home to celebrate with drinks for everyone!  Owen had made a hat at school just for the occasion.

"Happy New Year!"

Cole wanted to try on Owen's fancy hat too, but it was too big and kept falling over his face.

The Slominski household was sound asleep long before the clock struck midnight.  On New Year's day, we woke up early and headed to church.  We were even going to show up on time, or so we thought!  They changed mass times because of New Years so we were actually 30 minutes late!  Not a good way to start out the year!

After church and breakfast, we opened the rest of our presents.

"Finally! I get to open my presents!"

"This is soooo exciting!"

"Look! My very own dishes!"

"See my new choo-choo?"

Cole and Owen cooking up a storm

"Yummy! This is so tasty!"

Cole opening a gift

"A slide!"

"I'm the king of the world!"

"Weeeee!"

We spent some time playing with the boys' new toys.  But then I realized, there was one more present to open.  A gift Owen had made for us at school...an adorable ornament for the tree!

With all the gifts opened, the boys (both big and small!) had fun playing while Mom got to work whipping up one of our favorite Colombian dishes, Ajiaco, a yummy stew made with chicken, corn, potatoes and a very special herb native to Colombia called guascas.  I always cut a few corners when making Ajiaco (who has time to spend 4 hours in the kitchen!) but even with my short cuts, it turns out muy delicioso (very delicious)!

We enjoyed ringing in the New Year and hope you did as well.  Happy New Year!  Wishing you a year filled with peace, joy and love!