Feliz Navidad!

Merry Christmas!  This morning was so magical for the kids... The first thing Zoe did was run right to the Christmas tree, started jumping up and down (I was around the corner watching the whole thing) and then she started running in circles, then saw me & squealed "Mommy!  Hurry!  There is something I need to show you!  Santa came!  There are so many presents under the tree!  Hurry!  Look!"  I sent her on a mission to wake up her sleepy-head brother and the whole scenario repeated itself!  Twice the fun!   This year we opted to just "enjoy the moment" than try to snap pictures away while the kids opened presents.  

We then spent the afternoon with our extended family here in PR and got to share in their traditions.  I really enjoyed sitting in a circle while the family sang their favorite Christmas songs (in Spanish of course) playing the bongos, wido, and maracas.
 

 This was the first present Noah opened!  He loved it so much we HAD to tell him to put it down and open more...

Here is our princess!  She is REALLY into Cinderella these days. 

"Auntie" Yazmin

This is a traditional holiday drink called Pitorro.  In January, you take white rum (made in the mountains...aka: Puerto Rican moonshine) and mix all the different fruits you want into a jar with an air tight lid.  It then sits in a dark place for 11.5 months (just in time for Christmas).  The liquid is then poured into jars and you drink it.  Let me tell you... it is some strong stuff!

 This is a traditional (& labor intensive) dish here in PR called Pasteles.  Mashed green bananas, small pieces of pork, sweet peppers, onion, garlic, seasonings... and I'm sure more all wrapped in banana leaves, tied, & boiled.  
Oh my!  It is so yummy!