The Allen's: Looking Forward to 2011!

Wow, Thanksgiving and Christmas has come and gone. As we enter 2011, it's time to set our goals and resolutions! This year my resolution is to be thankful for what I have. As I get older, things come into focus a little easier. My family and watching my girls enjoy life is what's important.

Christmas was special this year; it really feels like our family is complete. Nick and I loved the fact that Sofia was old enough this year to really enjoy all the special things a kid gets excited about. We both loved hearing her sing all those holiday classic (and a little annoying) Christmas songs…Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer was one of her favorites and the song “Santa Baby” made her laugh every time she heard it. She loved seeing the houses decorated with lights, seeing Santa with his "cherry nose" and reminding us each time, she just wanted to talk to him.
Every time a commercial came on featuring Crayola paints, crayons, or markers she would remind us “You can buy those too”. And then seeing her face light up on Christmas morning as she opened up her princess Barbies was priceless.

This year we made stops at both my parents house as well as Nick’s parents. Christmas Eve we headed over to my parent's house for some traditional tamale making. I loved introducing Sofia to some of the traditions I did growing up as a kid. She loved playing with her cousins and helping out in the kitchen. I have such fond memories of Christmas Eve at Mama Chana’s house- all the cousins running around and playing and trying to get our parents to let us open just a few gifts that were under the tree. Well, 2010 was no different. I just find it hard to believe that twenty years later it’s now my kid doing the same things.

Sofie and Arianna helping out in the kitchen!

Mama Chana would have been proud!

This is what its all about!

We both love olives. Sofie says they are like pickles?

Papa, Sofie and Emilia

Daddy helped out too.

Cousins!

Done!

Once Christmas Eve tamales were made we headed home to wait for Santa. Sofie was so excited to wake up the next morning to see what Santa had made for her. It was so much fun watching her open gifts!