Merry Christmas!!!

We had a wonderful holiday and hope you did as well. For us it seemed like one event after another - which Ellen particularly enjoyed. On Christmas Eve, Shawn made a traditional Chilean dinner of Cebiche de Corvina (Red Snapper and Shrimp marinated in Lime Juice), Pastel de Choclo (Meat and Onion Pie with a crisp corn topping), Ensalada de Zanahorias con Cilantro (Zesty Carrot Salad with Garlic and Cilantro) and for dessert, Empanaditas Fritas de Manjar (fried pastry stuffed with carmel). Delicious! After everyone put on their new Christmas pajamas Grandpa Dave read "The Night Before Christmas" by the fireplace. Then, Ellen and Anais set out cookies and chocolate milk for Santa after hanging their stockings "with care". The next morning the girls found that Santa had indeed come, even after all the "naughty" behavior! Due to the economics of a large family :-) he doubled up on the gifts and brought the girls a new play kitchen and the boys a double stroller. Next came a breakfast of snowman pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and fruit. Finally, the gift opening - still in our pjs which Jenny found very cute. After many gifts, a break for naps, more gifts and the ceremonial opening of the "homemade" gifts via speaker phone with the Bratts in California, we took another "break" while the kids played with their new toys and I made dinner - Boeuf Bourguignonne. Even with the usual chaos of our household, it really was a nice day and we were glad to enjoy our first holiday with the twins in our own house and share some of our traditions with Jenny and Grandpa Dave. Holiday cheers to all!!!