Oh the generosity! We were welcomed into the Daycons (Combination of the family’s last names) Christmas Eve Party. Oh what a party! We were brought to their house across calf deep flooding (so even though it was only a 1/4 mile away we were very grateful for the tricycle chauffeuring). The party was hosted on the first floor of a house that holds 3 to 5 siblings and their families (I was told 5 and chad was told 3, who knows). As you can see it was a whole lot of family crammed in a loud, love filled space with about 15-20 cousins, 10-15 siblings/spouses/aunties&uncles and a few other hangers on like us.
The food was fantastic, the entertainment a delight. The kids all performed dance routines, one by girls, one by the boys, some with both. I think we really must institute these traditions. After the dancing were the silly games: Hip Hip Hooray!, eat a cookie off your forehead no hands (Oh poor sweet marion was a woeful ball of tears after “crumbs got in my eye!!!” and oh, she wasn’t the winner either…tough blows…she didn’t even win against the baby kids in being first to unwrap a lollipop! oh these coddled American kids ;)) and don’t forget the “how long can you sing the last syllable of ‘Merry Christmaaaaaas’?” All on a VERY loud microphone.
Christmas morning joy: Santa found us!
And home made dinner of course. Many hands… make light and delightful work.
Christmas Eve we delivered candies and Christmas wishes to neighbors, the girls rode their bikes and entertained friends. And of course we can’t celebrate Christmas in the tropics without some pool time!
Christmas brought books (actual paper books!), calls to home, new dresses from grandma and games and cooking sets, US treats for me and all the usual jubilation that we are so lucky to see from our wee ones: “He came, he came!!” They were genuinely elated. Are their more joyful noises then the loud/trying-to-be-quiet glee of kids discovering magical gift deliveries?
MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL!
The Adobo Hobos 