We had another wonderful Christmas this year. I swore that I wasn’t going to buy as much, or have as many presents, but unfortunately my husband I got the better of me

 

John-John decorating the tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaileigh helping decorate the tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaileigh, John-John & Breezy (with her Christmas collar)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The package opening frenzy to follow…

 

John-John and I tracked Santa the other day on Norad Santa Tracker on Christmas Eve. When we were checking, Santa was flying over the pyramids in Egypt. A little while later, John asked where Santa was now. I told him I’m not sure. He said “Do you think he’s in San DeLego now?” I told him that he was probably right, he might just be in San DeLego

We really don’t have any Filipino traditions as a family, much less does Alanna cook. So tonight was a milestone, not only did she cook, she made Lumpia.

And by the way, they were really TASTY!

Ok, so I’ve been cooking since I was about 10 years old, either with my mom or by myself. Tonight was my first kitchen fire. 28 years of cooking (ok, so I’ve really been cooking since I was 1) and NEVER have I had an accident like I had tonight. Thankfully John was home and the fire was caught and put out quickly. I shudder to think of what could have happened.

I accidentally turned on the wrong burner that had the plastic cutting board on top of it. I went in and checked the pot I was cooking in, and for some reason (duh) it wasn’t getting hot enough. So I turned it up, then checked it a couple minutes later. Thank God I checked it, it was then I realized that the wrong burner was on… Glad John was home, I yelled HONEY, turned off the burner, lifted up the cutting board and then, like in the movies, SWOOSH, the burner engulfed in flames. I grabbed the fire extinguisher from under the sink and couldn’t get it to work, handed it to John who immediately put out the fire. Little did I know that you had to squeeze the thing and pull the trigger. I thought you just had to pull the trigger. (Stay turned to Bautista Fire Extingisher Training 101 soon!)

WHAT A MESS! We didn’t end up eating dinner until after 9:00 pm. Luckily I had enough ingredients to remake the meal but and I still have a bunch of powder stuff to clean up. YUCK. I’m just so glad and thankful that it wasn’t worse. Phew, that was a close one…

Oh yeah, and of course the kids had to jump on their cell phones to let all their friends know that Mom almost burned down the house…Great, now no one will want their kids to come over!

Mom: Are you studying for finals?

Alanna: Yes.

Note that her nose was about 5 inches away from the computer screen with Itunes running in the background.

Mom: What are you studying?

Alanna: I’m remembering what I remember.

Mom: And exactly what was that?

Alanna: I don’t remember.

Someone had to sit in the naughty chair tonight and it wasn’t John-John…

 

from a snow monster!

Looks like John-John’s been here…

Well, I didn’t have the heart to toss the rest of the cake until it was completely inedible. So finally, Sunday evening, it went over the fence for the deer and field mice to munch on. Little did I know that what would finally eat the remaining cake was a ~250 pound wild boar. I tried getting a picture of it, but sadly, this was the best I could do.

It ran off before Dad could get out the big flashlight for a better view. I wonder how many more of these are in our yard…

I can’t count how many times today I’ve seen this:

Asking “can’t I just open one?” “It’s just a tiny one.”

How many more days until Christmas? I’m starting to crack…

Kaileigh baked me the most beautiful birthday cake that anyone has ever made me in my entire life. I’m not sure how long she worked on this, but I know Dad had to run down the hill to the grocery store at least twice to get more supplies

 

 

Me blowing out the Happy Birthday candles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All five layers with strawberries and frosting in between.

 

 

 

 

 

And did I mention that it was TOTALLY yummy?!? Seriously, it was the best present I got for my birthday (the new digital camera is pretty cool too!). Thank you sweetie for making it for me!!