La Familia en Navidad (the Family at Christmas)

Christmas came and went like a whirlwind. Some sort of paradox down here...island time is slow and easy, yet the days go by so fast. This is a wonderful combination for teaching the virtues of patience and grace while counting down the calendar to the day we return home to family and friends! 

~Our holiday began with David's arrival on the 18th. The ride to the airport (which is only 10 minutes from our apartment) never gets old as we are filled with renewed excitement and anticipation each time we go to pick up dad. Wyatt likes to watch the planes overhead as we travel down the freeway, guessing which one might have be Davids. After dropping off his things at the apartment, along with a quick change of clothes (it was cold when he left Houston), we headed straight to the lagoon for some paddle boarding. I stayed on the banks and took pictures as dad enjoyed the fun with the kids. He has been wanting to paddle board since we first discovered the sport on our vacation last summer. The kids and I have met a friend, "Art", who rents the boards at Condado Lagoon, so we had it all set up for dads arrival.

I tried a board as the others were coming in and, as you can see from the photo, I was a little more steady on my feet than David:) It really is a peaceful sport once you get the hang of it and can take off gliding across the smooth water. We went back the next weekend when Nathan came in and the water was a little rough. It was not as peaceful having to fight the wind.

~ David and I enjoyed his first night back with us like we always do, by going out for a date. We love to stroll down Ashford Avenue, walking with tourists past all the outdoor shops and restaurants. He now craves the Puerto Rican staple food when he's back home, so we tried a new little place on Ashford that served up some of the best "Le Chone" (roasted pig) with rice and beans we have had yet, and then walked in and out of the beautifully decorated hotels along the street. 

Dad was with us for 3 days before Skylar (and Steven) arrived. We shopped to prepare for a full house (all except Nathan who was not going to be with us this Christmas). The day of her arrival was full of an excitement I can't even explain. I had not seen my daughter in nearly 5 months, and the kids their big sister. We thought long and hard of what kind of sign we could hold up at the airport, but then opted for flowers and balloons instead. Ahhh, there's something about airports and watching reunions of loved ones. It's even better when you're the one being reunited with the ones you love!

~Prior to everyones arrival, I had drafted up a "Christmas Agenda" for our family reunion and holiday time together. Steven was to be with us for only 2 full days before flying back home to be with his family on Christmas Eve so this made for a full 2 days after they arrived. The first day we were off to Old San Juan, touring El Morro Fort (see a previous post for all of this wonderful history of El Morro and lots of great photos), shopping the COACH and Ralp Lauren Outlet Stores, as well as a stop at The Cigar House, dads newest little upscale cigar hangout when he's in town. 

                                                                                

~We decided to have our Christmas early, before Steven left and because Nanny was giving a gift to each one of us that had to be used the very next day....A snorkeling trip off the east coast of the island on a chartered boat. No one knew about the trip except for me and David. I had to reserve the date far in advance to make sure we could pull it all off without a hitch before Steven went home.  The next group of photos are of our gift opening night. What was suppose to be a small Christmas, slowly grew to a little more than anticipated as Skylar and Steven arrived with a suitcase of treasures to add to our humble little tree.

                                                                                  

                                                                       

But the biggest gift of all was what I received this year....ALL OF MY CHILDREN WITH ME on Christmas!!!! This was not suppose to happen, as I was already grieving the fact that Nathan would not be able to come until sometime in January because of his job. However, that all changed when David did what he always does.....makes sure I have everything I want, and often goes far beyond what I never even ask for!  This time it was making sure we were all together on Christmas, that this would not be our first to spend apart from one of our kids. To do this he paid for Nathan to be flown in for Christmas and timed it so, that while were opening gifts, he was texting Nathan as he arrived at the airport and making sure the taxi would deliver him to our apartment just as it was my turn for the last gift. As David stood in the doorway and said, "We have one more gift for you and saved the best for last..." he had tears flowing down his face, and in walked my son Nathan who I had not seen since we left home in August!  There was not a dry eye in the room. (The term "son" has a special connotation for me, and each of my boys know it. I realize I could just say their name as I relate this to you, but it's just what flows from my heart when talking about my "sons".)

 

  

                                                              

~So it was up early for the snorkeling trip the next morning (Friday before Christmas). It was not the perfect situation because I had to give my reservation to Nathan since we had only reserved enough spots way in advance for those of us who were suppose to be here for Christmas. This was alright with me. I love the water, boating, and snorkeling, and most of all being on the Caribbean with my family, but I am already so blessed and see it quite frequently, so I wanted Nathan to have the time of his life for the 4 short days he was to be here.  I stayed behind with mom (Nanny), while the rest went snorkeling, and we made a day of it. With everyone gone, and no vehicle to get anywhere, we learned how to catch the city bus for a fun day of finding last minute stocking stuffers. Now that Nathan was here, I had to scramble for something extra:) I got a text when the gang was on their way home from the snorkeling trip that read, "Get the aloe vera gel ready!!!" They had a great time and too much sun. Being on the Caribbean 2 days before Christmas, when all else back home in Texas was cold and dreary, was something to behold. They were on the chartered boat with several other groups, but needless to say, with Nathan and Steven together, my group was the crazy ones who all the crew members hung out with. They said they learned so much from the crew who paid them special attention...for 'some' reason :-/

My fella Wyatt!

~ Nathan took fast to Wyatt's parrot, Rico. He really is a good bird as we compare him to others. There are several shops around the island that have big cages with parrots of all sizes. When we ask different questions about the birds we realize just how lucky we are with Rico. We were beginning to wonder if he was ever going to talk, but the last month he has developed a very repetitive vocabulary. His favorite word seems to be, "Naomi"! We're not sure if I'm calling her out more than anyone else, or if her name just rolls off the parrot tongue a little easier than others. He also says, "Hello", "What are you doing", and "Step up". Nathan wanted to take him home:)

~There's nothing quite like having all your kids under the same roof with you, especially as they get older. I woke up a couple of mornings and just lay in bed thanking the Lord for what was mine that day....all my kids, grown and young, asleep together in the other room:) LaFamila takes on a whole new meaning when we are so far apart from each other for so long a time.

REUNITED AT LAST!

I grabbed the camera quick to snap a pic of all 5 in front of the television. This probably won't happen again while we're in PR.

Having fun with Nanny on a restaurant patio. Poking fun at how she waves to people:)



~The day after Christmas was "girls day out". We took Skylar to the biggest mall in the caribbean, "Plaza Las America's". Naomi has been waiting for this for weeks! She dreams about "Plaza" in her sleep and couldn't wait to take big sister. Let's just say, fashion is all the "style" in PR, no pun intended. We joke that women in PR dress up and wear heels just to go to the grocery story. For our day of shopping and spending the girls Christmas money I had scheduled facials for all four of us, my mother included. The girls had never had a facial, so this was a real treat.

After our facials

 Having a little "girl" fun in front of store windows along Ashford Avenue

~ The fun finally came to an end. Nathan left Monday after Christmas, and David and Skylar left the same day, on Wednesday. I got up early to take David to the airport. Sending him back home never gets easy. It was back to the apartment to wake up the rest, and spend the remaining hours I had left with Skylar. We walked to a nearby sandwich shop, me, Skylar and Naomi. Then she wanted to take one last trip to the beach. Hunter came along to spend these last moments with sister.  We all traveled to the airport to send her off. The final good-byes were not easy.

They say pictures are worth a thousand words. I will leave it at that.

~ It's always an extra blessing when Dad is able to see Hunter play baseball while he is here. This doesn't always happen as he has to schedule his flights to PR according to his work schedule which doesn't always coincide with Hunter's baseball schedule.  However, while he was here he took Hunter to a Christmas clinic at the baseball academy and was also able to see the first game of Hunter's Winter Classic Baseball Tournament. The scenic trip across the island to his game was a vacation in itself as we drove through the most beautiful mountain area down to the southeastern coast. Dad beams with pride to see Hunter take the field with his PR "brothers" and teammates, and even more to see the level of play with which he is a part.

What's prettier, the field or the view???? That's Hunter on third.

Hunt's  playing second in this photo

 Dad taking it all in...the breathtaking scenery and the amazing stadium Hunter was playing at.



~And so our holiday came to a quick close. The day after everyone left was not a good one for any of us as we all sort of lagged around in a state of "what do we do now?" I cried off and on the entire day. Some emotions just cannot be overcome, atleast for a wife and mother. But I did what strength and composure demanded and called my troops together to recommit our time in PR to the Lord, to be strong for one another, and to support Hunter in his baseball training. We all agreed that there is still so much to be thankful for with where we are and what we have yet to experience, and that is what we will focus on as we wait to return home this summer. The words from our Pastor in his New Years sermon set the course for a fresh start, and I leave you with these reminders from scripture...

Philippians 3:13-14 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. (NLT)

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)

Feliz Ano Nuevo ~