Christmas Eve Day, 2011

Livie, Andrew, and I are ready for Christmas. I'm having fun with the magical side of it, since we have a small one in the house.

Livie and I have been having fun tracking Santa, thanks to NORAD's Santa Tracker, which not only shows where he is on the map, but offers occasional videos of Santa and the reindeer team in various places around the world. It is SO MUCH FUN!

Liv wants to show off her reindeer pajamas.

Of course, later on this afternoon, we'll go to Mass, then come home and eat a Tex-Mex/New Mexican dinner . . . a new tradition we started last year (when we ate posole). This year, though, we're eating tacos, refried beans, and Mexican rice.

For the past few days, Livie and I have been reading some Christmas-themed books. One of my all time favorites is a book called, The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola.  "Las Posadas" is a Hispanic tradition, one that is big in New Mexico (and Santa Fe, especially). In a nutshell, actors dressed up like Mary and Joseph knock on doors, seeking shelter (the Spanish word "posada" means "inn"), and the crowd (the "audience") follows along. At the end, they find shelter (in the plaza) and everyone celebrates with hot cocoa and cookies.

Here's our version of the book. I love its colors and illustrations.

Much later tonight when Livie finally falls asleep (in her reindeer pajamas), Andrew and I can play "Santa's Helpers" by putting the presents under the tree and into the stockings. And don't forget . . . we get to share some cookies and milk.