VanArnhem 411

Fireworks!

Wonderful!

That's Christmas in one word.

Everything went great.  Everyone had fun.  Everyone behaved.  Can't ask for much more than that.

A few weeks before Christmas, my friend Dianne asked people to share their Christmas highlight moments.  Those little times that are so special during this season.  As you can imagine, we had many of those moments this year but here is my favorite.

After Brooke and Isabel were in bed for the night on Christmas Eve (you know - snuggled up, visions of sugar plums, all that stuff), Jeff and I just sat relaxing on the couch.  And from the window I saw fireworks being set off somewhere behind our house.  Just a few.  I had to keep watching to be sure of what I was really seeing.  Fireworks on Christmas Eve.  Why so special?  Because -

1.  I have never, ever in all of my life seen anyone set off fireworks on Christmas Eve, and

2.  Fireworks on Christmas Eve are a tradition in Guatemala.

Can you even believe it?!  Go ahead, Google "Guatemalan Christmas traditions" and I can just about guarantee you will find mention of fireworks. 

So that was one of my favorite believe in the magic of Christmas moments for 2006!

Report from the Trenches

Isabel

Isabel is quickly learning that mommy always has a camera in hand.  Whether it's because we are wearing our cute new Old Navy outfit or because we are eating our first banana - the moment will be captured!  (If you click on the picture above it will take you to the rest of the photos - well today it's only one but I'm trying something new so bear with me).

We all made it through today unscathed.  Mom home alone with the girls.  We even got a little cocky this afternoon and made a family trip to Target after Jeff got home - no problem!  Brooke continues to check out Isabel every now and then.  Since I have no real way of knowing what she's thinking, I'm going to guess it's something like "why is that little baby still here?".  I think she'll be much more interested when we hit the days that Isabel can be of use to her - like helping her eat or manipulate toys.

I'm still working on some posts about the trip - I promise soon!

We're home!!!

I promise tons of details in the next few days but for now I added some pictures into the Isabel photo album.  Enjoy!