The Onrubia O'Toole Clan: 'Tis the Season...

This Christmas was an amazing adventure this year - new house, new dog, new life on the way. It was hectic and crazy, but by the grace of God and the kindness of our families, we pulled through and had an absolutely beautiful holiday.

On Christmas Eve, I packed up the kids and spent another Onrubia Family Christmas at my aunt's in Waldorf, MD. Even though not all of my (extremely large) extended family made it, there was still ample amounts of laughter, story sharing and delicious food. After a late evening trek back to my house, my parents, brother and cousin and I partook in one of our favorite Christmas traditions - opening gifts at Midnight! This has been something that we've done since my brother and I stopped receiving 'Santa' gifts. The boys who were granted a reprieve from bedtime got to enjoy this as well. (Of course, keeping them up this late was intended to keep them sleeping until Daddy got home from work the next morning which, by the way, was successful).

On Christmas morning, after Dave got home from work, the kids awoke to see that Santa had indeed stopped by (despite my numerous threats in the car ride home to get them to stop hitting each other), enjoyed their cookies and milk, and left them some absolutely wonderful items under the tree. Keegs received a pint-sized digital camera, Joey finally got his "Indiana Jones airplane legos", and Rowan received a little "Cozy Critters" dollhouse. A little later that morning, Dave's parents and brother came by and we opened more presents and enjoyed a brunch before Daddy had to hit the hay :).

In all, it was a whirlwind of shopping, decoration and preparation from Black Friday until Christmas Day. Everyday was another crazy holiday event at school, another party, and more preparations. Every night was a different Christmas movie, a new story, or a special visitor. From moments of utter chaos came some of the best (and most hysterical) memories ever.

Some of the highlights from this season....

1. Celebrating Keegan's 7th birthday.

(Keegan, self-portrait)

I can hardly believe that my little man is 7 years old (nor can I believe that I am the mother of a 7 year old). As my first born, I was absolute awe at his birth, crumbled when he was sick or hurt, and marveled at every breath, every step, and every word that came out of his mouth. I still find myself in absolute wonder at how intuitive he is and how quickly he learns things. He is my little thinker (often, like his father, over thinking things) and is about as honest and realistic as they come. He is my video game playing partner, my legomanic, and my Spongebob afficianado. (The photo below is by Keegs, I'm glad Santa brought him a digital camera).

On his birthday, we brought Spongebob cupcakes (yep, homemade, haha!) to share with his classmates and after school, I brought him a gigantic arrangment of birthday balloons (much to the awe of his friends and classmates) and (because it was pouring out), a new Spongebob umbrella. To which my little Keegan responds..."Hey mom you got me a new Spongebob umbrella!", nevermind the looming # 7 balloon that was over his head! Hahahaha! After a trip to McDonald's for lunch (his favorite, the kid can devour an entire super sized chicken nugget extra value meal on his own), we made a cake, ordered some pizza and celebrated with his grandparents, his siblings and his Ninong (which for your non-Filipino folk means godfather).

(Keegan gets ready to blow out his candle.)

(Yummy! Daddy-made cake, decorated by Keegs and Mommy. That's a wand on the left, and a wizard hat on the right. Not bad for a 7 year old, eh?)

(Love this picture of Keegs and his grandfather.)

2. Celebrating Lola Helen's 90th birthday. I LOVE my grandmother. She is a truly remarkable woman. We held a mini-celebration complete with a presentation of traditional Filipino dances (my pinsans are amazing, and BRAVE folks) at our family Christmas party this year. (If only I could give her what she really wanted for her birthday....)

(Verna and Helen)

(Helen dances with candles!)

(Rob and Chris, aka Coconut men.)

(What made it worth it all.)

3. Joey's song for Santa and Rowan's "Jingle Bells". At our family gathering, Santa (aka Uncle Bob), comes and pays a little visit to all the kids. Well, as he arrives, the kids get together and sing "Santa Clause is coming to Town". He gives a little gift (a little preview of what's to come that night) and each kid gets to further petition jolly ol' St. Nick to for a place on top of his "nice" list). And this year as he departed, my Tita Leny asked if anyone wanted to sing him a song. Joey pops up and announces that he will sing and launches into a solo of "I wish you a Merry Christmas". My aunt kindly corrects him, by singing "We wish you a merry Christmas" along with him. Joey turns around and says "No! Just me, so I wish him a merry Christmas".

(My super-cute nephew RJ)

(When's it gonna be our turn to see Santa...patience from the girls)

Another fabulous take on a traditional Christmas carol was Rowan's rendition of "Jingle Bells", which she says should be sung as "Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell all the way". Of course this is the only line of the song she knows and sings loudly over the WHOLE family.

(Furture Vet? Taking care of her stuffed toys, Dr. Rowan enjoys her present from Santa)

4. Establishing and enjoying our own family traditions. I've got my own little world here. My little troop of kids who make everyday worth living and every moment a lively one. I look forward to every holiday being filled with not only traditions that Dave and I carry over from our families, but traditions that we create and celebrate on our own -- including our pre-Thanksgiving dinner tree decorating, shopping for and selecting Holiday pajamas, Daddy's Christmas Eve pancakes, and of course, enjoying our own private little (very) early morning Christmas celebration.