Christmas Eve 2006

Finally! I’m finally done baking about 8 dozen Snickerdoodles. I promised myself that I wouldn’t get stuck baking on Christmas Eve, but let’s face it: it happens every year. At least I’ve got delicious Snickerdoodles to have with milk before I go to bed :). I’ve got to hide some from the rest of the family…shh!

I can’t believe it’s already Christmas Eve! This month, just as I suspected, passed by really fast. I have a feeling next month will pass by even faster, which frightens me a little. Everyone’s been telling me that my “perfectly round” stomach looks like it’s about to pop soon. Gotta remember to take pictures every few days from now till Alaethia’s born :). Something I desperately wish I’d done with the boys :(.

So, you know how I wrote yesterday that I was so happy I wouldn’t be out driving with the last-minute shoppers? I ended up doing just that. Mom got home from shopping (and having lunch) with Elda around 2, so the boys and I had a quick lunch and we all left.

Gramma loved her gifts and we talked for a while before we left. It had been pouring on the way to the nursing home, so we were hoping it would let down a little before we took off again. It didn’t. I didn’t plan on stopping anywhere to shop, but I wanted to try and find something nice to wear for the Quinceañera. John and I were the only ones who got down at Target; the truck’s seats were all wet from trying to get everyone in carefully at the nursing home.

We rushed around looking for something. Either everything was way too big or really plain looking. I had dressier clothes at home so I didn’t even bother trying to make something else look nice. Instead we went over to electronics and got some rechargeable batteries + charger for my camera since the one it came with was disposeable (which I thought was weird).

Getting out of Target was terrible…I almost got hit God knows how many times just trying to get out of the parking lot. The weather got better as we were closer to home, though, thank goodness.

The Quinceañ was actually much more fun than I anticipated. I still wish I’d found something nicer to wear, but once we were there and talking to relatives I hadn’t seen in a long time I sort of forgot about it. The kids’ presentation was so adorable; all the little boys whose ages varied from 5-15 bowed in front of Cori and gave her a rose they had hidden in their coats. Then later on, Cori and 3 of her friends had another little presentation. They’re all such good dancers!

Speaking of, Mario and I totally need to be taught how to dance. I will be getting my groove on at Noelia’s wedding in June!

Mario finally sold our old 1992 Prelude; the one Jorge had at his house for over a year and never actually “bought” from us. He sold it for MUCH LESS than that car’s worth, but it’s not like we could have gotten too much more for it because of the whole flooding incident at Jorge’s (he left it out of his garage and they live in a low-lying area =\).

Mario ended up getting an in-dash double-din TV for the Equinox. He says it’s his birthday/Christmas present, which I don’t think is too fair since I usually have the truck. He won’t really be able to enjoy it much =\. The rest of the money went towards a debt he owed his Godfather, Jorge, for. We were going to use the money for paying off bills, but we’re planning to do that during income tax refund time, if all goes well of course.

I would have finished this entry much earlier, but I was over at Mary’s talking to everyone. Most of the kids are being put to bed already (well, I say “already” but it’s kind of late. They’re usually in bed by 9.). Jaylen’s still up over here, giving me trouble. He only has one more minute to be up.

I can’t wait to see the look the their faces in the morning when they open up their gifts. That was the one present I wanted: for them to be happy. That’s all that matters :).

I probably won’t get around to telling everyone individually, so I’ll tell you now: have the best, most wonderful, love-filled Christmas!