Luging through life

Wow, I have tried to write this post I don't know how many times, and I just haven't been inspired.  In my defense, we have been pretty busy building a luge and such.

Check this out:

So far the new year has been promising. We are all healthy, productive, and are having some good laughs, which is all I can ask for.  Every night right before my girls fall asleep I here them giggling insanely in their beds, being silly.  I love that.  Yesterday, before I put my littlest one to bed, she looked at me, tried to wink, and said "Cheeeeooowww" (meaning, Ciao!).  I nearly died laughing, it was so cute.  Look at this face and imagine her winking at you and saying "Ciao".  Irresistible I tell you.

For New Years Eve, we started the afternoon by watching The Wizard of Oz.... all curled up in blankets on the couch, wrapped in each other's arms, we enjoyed the same movie that was made 70 years ago and that I grew up with. When the movie finished, I set the table using napkins and candles, marking the evening as a "special occasion". Under each plate I placed a little gift for each of us, representing a wish for the new year. After each taking a turn to see our "wish", we each lit a candle for the new year, starting with the oldest to the youngest, and then expressed what we were grateful for from the past year. After toasting with our "fancy" glasses (salut, cheers, sante!), to the new year coming, we finished the evening with some boardgames (Dora Bingo to be exact), and some homemade donuts that were actually supposed to be "Churros" but landed up tasting like my dad's oliebollens. I was not allowed to post a picture of them because Jorge didn't want me "misrepresenting" Mexico with Churros that were not even close to Churros (not even "similar"). After some goodnight stories, some cuddles in the "big" bed, the girls crashed, legs and arms thrown over each other's legs and arms, and Jorge and I brought in the New Year together.

And this is what I ate New Years day... we all know how much I love a tortilla with egg, bacon, mayo and a side of beans and chilies with a hot cup of coffee.  D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S.  I call it my Papa Jorge breakfast of champions.  Have a mentioned how much I miss him and Mama Angelica?  I have a good feeling they will be here with us sometime this year.  Cross your fingers.

Since New Years, we've been trying to embrace the cold winter, and get out a bit more.  I love love love the cold wind on my face (within reason of course).  And properly dressed, you really can have fun.  Here are a few pictures of us taking a walk around one of the nature reserves near our house.  Despite the sheer ice on the entire path, we were giggling by the end of it every time someone fell.

And of course, what else does winter bring but sliding!!  We decided to build our own luge in the back of the house.  Its a work in progress - but pretty perfect for a 5 year old.  We have a couple of hours of fun every weekend.  And now that Jorge has his own snow pants, well, we don't have to hear about how nice the weather is in Mexico all the time :)

My winter goal this year is to introduce the girls to cross-country skiing - at least once.  Maybe next year we will try downhill.

I've also completed a few of my own personal projects.  My first cowl for example!  This was my sisters belated Christmas gift which I tried out for a few weeks before I gave it to her :)

And I just finished my first ever hat, which was so easy.  I got the pattern from Martha Stewart here: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/knit-hat?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/gifts-for-her#slide_26

I know I look like a geek, but look at my hat!!  I MADE that!

By the way, Happy Martin Luther King.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' -Martin Luther King, Jr.