Holidays

    Christmas has passed, and some of its glamour with it also. It was unexpectedly beautiful. I did not get into a true Christmas mood until Christmas eve. Of course, we followed all the nice traditions we usually follow. It started with our yearly photo session, where Catalina runs around the house and we try to catch a good pose. She's gorgeous, so not that hard :)

This year it was Catalina's first visit in a theatre. We saw "A Christmas Carol". The play was a little difficult for her and she was quite scared when Marley's host appeared, but she sat still and asked to leave only towards the end. So, I'd say a success. Here she is putting lipstick on, right before the play started.

We also like to take her to the Macy's store in downtown Philly to visit the "Dickens village" and see Santa. She always gets bored by the long wait, but she is quite happy when she sees Santa. Considering all this happened the same day the theater happened, and the line was LOOONG, she fared quite well.

Next stop, was mommy's work for a new visit with Santa. Like always, Catalina loves that event. Mommy and daughter had an amazing time, eating cookies, listening music, watching a magic show and ...drum roll please... visiting Santa!

And then, it was time for our domestic adventures. Cooking, cooking and more cooking. Some house cleaning. Christmas eve morning found me little excited. Away from our romanian families, somehow it did not feel like a holiday. So when Marius decided to dress like Santa, I was more like "whatever". Little did I know! Having Santa Clause in your house does bring the Christmas spirit with it! And also, you get almost unlimited photo opportunities

 Catalina was taking her afternoon nap when Santa arrived. After scaring the neighbor's son, Santa decided to wait inside for his favorite girl to wake up. Obviously, Catalina was not initially very found of the big man dressed in red that invaded her house. She did not want to sit in his lap, nor did she want to take the gifts from his hand. But also stated VERY clearly that she does not want Santa to leave.

    You know, how you read stories about kids who are mesmerized with Santa? Who truly feel the strongest emotion when they see Santa? I never truly believed it, since I learned at a young age that parents actually buy presents that go under the tree. And don't get me wrong, I was never upset about it, as long as the presents sat under the tree :)
     So, seeing Catalina looking so cautiously at Santa made me smile. When Santa told her the he heard from the elf (Elf on a shelf kind of elf...) that she wants a pink guitar, Catalina stood silent. I was holding her, and almost believed that Santa actually talked to the elf. She was SOOO surprised. She actually fought her fear and took the guitar from Santa. I can still feel the emotion in her eyes, the happiness that everything we told her IS real and the elf does have magic. Everything about this girl is a little magic, and this is how magic and the Christmas spirit entered our house on Christmas eve.

And when I was actually drawing the line and considering myself happy with the way Christmas started, something amazing happened. It started to snow! We've been waiting for snow forever, and all forecasts warned for rain. What do you know, Santa does need snow for his sleigh, so here we are, playing in snow on Christmas eve. We had just enough for a snowman (that Catalina loved!).

First sledding experience!

Next day was time for friends and some serious eating. So, all in all, a pretty nice Christmas. We are waiting to see what 2013 has in store for us. We hope for a lot of laughter, health and family around.

Happy New Year!

Praying

     Words can never be meaningful when it comes to the pain a parent feels when the child is sick or in danger. I am not even trying to imagine how life can go on for the Connecticut community who lost so many precious children. I am miles away, but the tragedy hit me so bad.

     I thought long before posting such a sad message on Catalina's blog. But somehow, I feel that if she ever reads it when she grows up she needs to know. She needs to know that one night her mom was in very raw pain, thinking that she did not pray enough for her. And that tonight I made this promise to her, to pray for her more often, to pray for things that matter. To pray to The One that can help us.

    So tonight I will pray that no other parent has to go through nightmares about their kids. I will pray that each and every single parent can hold a healthy, safe child at night. I will pray that all the angels that went to heaven tonight will find a way to sooth the most imaginable pain their parents suffer.

   As for my own little one, I will pray all the prayers that cannot be spoken. Because no human, mortal mind can actually round up a list of things that can be put together to keep a child safe. Only God can guard us. We need help. Let's ask for help and hope we are heard so nobody ever will cry the tears that are cried tonight and in the days to come.