My Last Post About Colombia

For some reason I don't really feel like writing about this today, but I can't seem to come up with anything else that would be better. So here it goes - how we spent Christmas and New Years in Colombia.

Christmas

In Colombia they celebrate Christmas on Christmas-Eve after Midnight. Lucas's parents invited the family from the neighboring farm over to the farmhouse for a great meal and a few drinks.

Then, they proceeded to teach me to how to dance Colombian and then requested that I teach them how to country line dance. Let's just say that it was a good thing I already had a few in me for that.

After the neighbors finally left, I gave everyone their first present from 'Santa' - pajamas - and requested that everyone go put on their pajamas before we open presents. This is my own family tradition that I'm passing on to Lucas's family. Last year we mailed them all pajamas. My family generally opens one present - pajamas - on Christmas Eve. And we all look nice for the Christmas morning photos when Santa comes. Here is everyone in their new pj's.

(Here is a picture of Martin in his pajamas. I didn't get one of just him standing there so this is him opening presents. This particular present was from Rafa. It is Martin's favorite cereal from the U.S.)

Then it was time to open presents!

My parents got the boys Alabama gear. Roll Tide!

Martin models his shirt...We got Simon a bottle of Watermelon Smirnoff because apparently they don't have that flavor in Colombia and it is one of his favorites....
We gave Lina a 'Coach' purse ;)
His parents opening their gifts from my grandparents....This was my favorite present of the night. Lucas's mom had been asking me if she could buy my purse like this. I kept telling her that I would think about it but that it was special because it was a present from Lucas. I didn't want to let on that she would be getting the exact same purse for Christmas. She was so excited!My parents gave Lucas's mom a makeup bag and a tote with places to put pictures. She filled the tote with pictures of us and then stuck more pictures of the two of us inside the bag. Lucas's mom was flipping through the pictures and asking about each one. I think this was her favorite present.
Here is one of the much talked about canvas pictures.... They turned out beautifully.Lucas got a duffel bag from Martin. (Thank you, Martin. I know you say you don't read my blog you just look through the pictures every once in a while. But if you happen to read this part around the photo of your gift he is loving having his own bag to use for travel instead of using mine. And he is traveling all the time!)

Modeling a polo shirt from Simon and LinaI'm modeling this beautiful necklace that I got from Martin. I don't even get jewelry from Lucas. Kudos, Martin!

As you can tell, we had a great Christmas and Santa was very good to us. These aren't even a quarter of the photos of all the gifts but I wanted to make sure and post a few of my favorites of everyone.

New Years

We celebrated New Years at the neighbor's farm. We had a great dinner (and drinks, of course). Then celebrated in a tradition of writing down on one sheet of paper the bad things that happened over 2008. On another sheet, we wrote down our wishes for 2009. We take the bad list and....

Burn It!

We keep our well wishes with us throughout the new year. You wanna' know what mine were? Sorry! :)

When the clock struck midnight we celebrated with champagne and hugs for everyone!

The festivities continued throughout the night but I wasn't feeling too well. One girl tried her best to get me to dance which annoyed the crap out of me. We ended up leaving early.

I definitely prefer New Years back home (with friends in a bar) but there was one part I enjoyed just as much in Colombia - my New Years kiss from the husband.

(Notice my ever-so-feminine Colombian poncho? I love that thing. Wish I could wear it here without looking silly.)