Another year, another Christmas. The holiday season started off with a Christmas Festival at Escuela Del Mundo where the three groups of grades had a performance. Trace's class sang songs,
Alex's class read and demonstrated how four different countries celebrate Christmas and the older class danced.
I, of course, had to fly out that day so I missed the festival and Christmas Day and New Years Eve and all of the fun in between.
Though, before I left we gave Alex and Trace each a wonderful gift from the three sets of grandparents and us. They have been wonderful so far and thank you grandparents very much! I also want to thank my friend Carrie for working so hard day after day to find and purchase these gifts that were pretty hard to get a hold of, as well as the accessories and then to bring all of it down to us in Mexico. If it wasn't for Carrie it never would have happened.
Christmas day arrived and Ozzy and the kids opened gifts.
What began as an exciting morning quickly turned bad. We didn't get the kids much because they don't need anything and they said they didn't really want anything. Plus they each received a really nice gift from the grandparents. Since we do not have a TV here the kids are not saturated with commercials and commercialism so they do not know all of the latest and greatest toys that are out. Trace pretty much got clothes, which he needed, as well as Alex. We kind of forgot about the whole Santa thing
and got totally busted by Trace. The few gifts they got were wrapped in the same paper and there really wasn't anything fun to open.
So, we screwed up!! and I felt horrible. I forgot that the excitement for the kids is opening new toys. Ozzy realized that all Trace wanted was just one new toy that he could play with physically, and I completely understand, he is a five year old boy. Of course all of this information is being communicated through email and I am not able to talk to the kids. After a while Trace forgot about it, thank goodness. They headed off to Christmas dinner at a friends house which they were excited about, in their new clothes.
It is hard to plan Christmas because I am usually not around for the entire holiday season so I have no Christmas, I miss the parties, the school activities, opening of gifts, excitement of the children, etc. Christmas for me is just another day at work. I have only been home once in the last 17 years for Christmas so I have forgotten what all the excitement is about. My kids should not suffer because of that. We usually do Christmas on a different day just before or after the 25th but since I wasn't home for the last half of the month it wasn't possible this year. They are used to me being gone for almost every important event and holiday. We just do it another day. That is the life of an airline kid. They have never known anything else. It is a give and take life for them. They are able to fly anywhere in the world for free and are able to live in cool places like Mexico, but they spend holidays without their mom. Right now they would rather have mom around but one day they will be more than happy to take those free rides and hopefully they will be able to appreciate my job.
When I came home we did the usual stock the pantry run. My Christmas guilt was weighing on me so I told the kids to pick out something that they wanted since Santa was such a slacker this year. Trace picked out a $3.00 sword that makes noise and lights up. He was sooo excited and said that it was the best toy ever.
Alex picked out some headbands even though she was very happy with her Christmas stash since it was all about clothes and hearts.
So the day ended for the Ostrowski's without too much drama. We learned a big lesson and will do better next year. Also, in our defense, going back to the commercialism, if it wasn't for decorations down here we would never know that it was Christmas. It just isn't thrown in our faces unless we go into a large store, like Walmart, which is about an hour away. Think about it, we have no TV or radio and the temperature is in the 80 to 90 range. You just kind of forget about the season.
Even though I was working I at least got good trips for the holidays. With the exception of five days "slummin it" flying domestic.
Spent Christmas day hiking six miles round trip on the mountain behind our hotel in Santiago, Chile. The trail was super busy with hikers and bikers and cars all going to pay a visit the the Statue of Immaculate Conception. It is summer there so the weather was beautiful. It had just snowed in the Andes so the mountain tops were snow capped. Made me realize that I miss hiking, but not enough to move back. The Chileans celebrate Christmas at midnight and into the wee hours of Christmas morning.
Spent New Years Eve in Lima, Peru. Had a great day getting a 1 1/2 hour long facial. Stoping by the beach checking out the surfers wishing I was out there with them, shopping at the Indian Market buying Alpaca blankets to bring back, since it is so cold here in Mexico, and ending the day in the crew van headed to the airport to work back to Atlanta with what seemed like the entire city of Lima setting off fireworks from about 11:45 until after midnight to welcome the new year. I felt like I was back in Salt Lake City watching the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics and silently cringing because you know how I feel about fireworks.
It was all good though I would much rather be home with my precious babies. At least I was able to practice my Spanish on my trips.
Happy Happy 2013!!!
thanks for all your posts in 2012, they are always fun to read and CHEERS to 2013. A short while ago I met your family walking past the Square and I stopped you by calling out your names. I am headed down to Sayulita from Vancouver soon, is there something Santa forgot that I could bring ?
ReplyDeleteGood to meet you that day. We appreciate the offer but I think we are in the clear until next Christmas. Safe trip. A bit overcast and cool down here these days. Keeps the AC bill down at least.
ReplyDelete