HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

nyc

Oh, New York. Being here makes my heart happy. This time Bruce and I went kid-less with my four siblings and my sisters' significant others a few days before Christmas. We spent the night - all eight of us - in one hotel room Bruce booked in Times Square. It was... cozy. Luckily my siblings and I are small people and quite adept at falling sleeping in small quarters, in unusual spaces. For Bruce, Andy and Matt who are all 6-feet tall and over, however, it might have been a different, very cramped story. While we did a little shopping and a lot of walking around, the majority of our itinerary revolved around Bruce's appetite. Priorities included dim sum at the Golden Unicorn in Chinatown and dinner at the Spice Market. If Bruce is serious about anything, it's his food.

All pictures courtesy of my sister Danielle. I'd forgotten my camera... !!!

christmas

Oh, my darling Bruce. I think it's time to change my password on this thing. Guest bloggers make me nervous. I have so much to blog about, but I've been too busy engaged in other intellectually stimulating activities like watching Gossip Girl and playing Rockband. Quality time with my family, of course. Here are a few pics of my favorite moments Christmas week:


























Defoam? Fuz? I won't give the offending speed scrabble player away, but let's just say it's a good thing his name congruously rhymes with handy.

My First Noelle

As my first official blog post, I would like to talk about my wife.

From the moment I saw Noelle in our Stats 221 class, I knew there was something special about her. And when I heard her speak English for the first time without an accent, I knew she was the one.
I clearly remember our first date and how I was constantly thinking to myself that I wanted to know everything about her, but at the same time I kept thinking that I would have plenty of time to do so. The more time I spend with Noelle, the more amazed I am. I'm confident all would agree that I married way up. All who know Noelle love her. She is kind and generous regardless of the situation or person. Noelle brings optimism, timeless beauty, and class to any room she enters.

To me, Noelle is everything I need in my life...she makes me smile, she makes me laugh, she makes me happy, she keeps me grounded...she helps me be my best. I literally cannot imagine my life without Noelle. She is gorgeous in every sense of the word. She is my best friend and lover - an honor worth dying for. She is my first and last real true love.

And she is the mother of our children. There are certain memories in your life that never fade with time. One such memory recently occured to me as I arrived home from a long, busy day at work. The elevator opened directly to our apartment and I stepped out into the following scene:

I found Noelle kneeling on the floor surrounded by our kids singing the primary song "I'm so glad when daddy comes home". Now some may see this as cheezy, but to this dad, that's what life is all about. I will forever remember this moment in my life. There is nothing more important than my family and the strong reminder still brings tears to my eyes just by thinking about it. I will confess that this memory has replayed itself in my mind when I am out of town for work and returning to an empty hotel room at night. I find myself dropping to my knees to thank God for my wonderful family and plead for their potection while I am away.

Merry Christmas Noelle. I love you.

a snowy day

The boys took a walk with my dad, my sisters and Andy. L had never seen snow. He was fascinated and decided to eat it. Why didn't anyone stop him? I thought you guys loved my child???

All pictures taken by my sister Danielle - or at least with her camera.


















Nothing better than a white Christmas.

la posada

Here in Mexico, posadas are an important part of the Christmas traditions and festivities. So far I have attended two posadas (one for Bruce's work and one for B's class at school). Apparently, there is usually a plethora of food, a gift exchange, the ever-present pinata and the singing of a certain song. The song that is sung (say this three times fast) is between 'Mary and Joseph' and 'the innkeepers.' Each person holds a lighted candle and the guests are split into two groups, facing each other, with one group standing outside the door or a window. La posada essentially means 'the inns' or 'shelter' and it's meant to represent the hardships Mary and Joseph endured while seeking shelter. I have yet to figure out the melody of this song, but that may be the point. I want to say it closely resembles the tune of a dying donkey.

As for the pinata business... at Bruce's work posada, they brought two pinatas - one for the kids and one for the adults. The grown men and women were more manic than the kids about smashing their pinata and hoarding their candy. Wish I'd snapped some pics of that. These people never cease to amaze me.

So I didn't feel like uploading photos on the blog right now, but if you feel so inclined, you can take a look at the pics I uploaded to Picasa of B's five-hour posada bash below. Let me repeat: FIVE HOURS.

la posada

That's my hand. Because I know you wanted to know that. And in case you were wondering, each child attached a letter to Santa on those helium balloons. These Mexicans know how to party long and hard.

traditions

The making of the gingerbread house.



What's better than gorging on surfeit amounts of azucar?


Being hand-fed surfeit amounts.


However, taking note of his dwindling supply of gumdrops, B decided to box M out from all the fun.


Feeling the injustice of her plight.


With limited access to the goods, M was forced to recede and go watch The Polar Express on the couch with L (who had long lost interest) for the gazillionth time.




And B was left peacefully free to decorate the house how he wanted. Just the way he likes it.