Sandoogans' Log

This was gonna be the year that we were gonna take family pictures and send out Christmas cards. We use to send out regular Christmas cards every year, not sure why we stopped. I think most people throw them out, us included. We do keep the pictures ones though. I love seeing how much the kids change throughout the years. Maybe next year I'll finally start the tradition of family picture Christmas cards, but for now here's an impromptu picture of the girls meeting Santa. As you can see, Emma looks starstruck, Sami like an experienced big sister and Adele like she's over it. Wishing you all a merry Christmas!

Our joint ornament. I fell in love with it as soon I as saw it, I knew it was perfect given of where we go married. Our first family of four ornament. This makes my heart smile. I love Christmas. I'm sure I've talked about this plenty of times in the past. As soon as December 26th comes around I get a little bummed knowing that we'll soon have to start packing up the Christmas decor. We usually hold out until January 6th for El Dia de los Reyes. In keeping up with  tradition , this year's ornaments are quite special. I still need to get the girls their individual one, but Mr. A and I are content with sharing this year's ornament. This is the first year we got a joint ornament being that it's our first official Christmas as a married couple. We were also pretty stoked about getting our first "family of four" ornament from Hawai'i. Each time we go to Hawai'i we make it a point to get a family ornament with all our names on it. It m...

My six year old and I, I swear we fight like we're sisters in our teens. It can be scary at times because she's only six and we pretty much drive each other nuts. I don't think she realizes how much she means to me and how she, and her sister, are my freaking world. I'm hoping when she's older this blog will still be around so she can read my entries about her. I'm sure it's hard for her to understand right now that my evil step-motherness is only me looking out for her best interest. I want to raise a beautiful human and is that means having to be the bad guy for a bit, so be it. Hopefully when she's older she'll appreciate it like I do with my parents now.  I love you Sami Wami, you are my world. When you were born, I was born into motherhood. You make me proud everyday, my little penguin. 

We use to love sending out Christmas cards each year but have backed off a bit. I'm not sure if it's because through the years we've gotten busier, or lazier, or both. Maybe next year we'll start up again but until then, happy holidays from our loved ones to yours! Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays and amazing New Year!

Picking up our first Christmas tree as a family of 4. It's not the best pic, or tree, but we were being rushed because they were about to close. I personally love the tree, it's our Charlie Brown Christmas tree! Christmas time! It's here! Sami and I have anxiously been awaiting for this season to arrive. I've caved a few times and let Sami break my personal tradition: no carols till after Thanksgiving. I won't lie, I didn't mind too much. This year is our first holiday as a family of 4. It feels pretty amazing celebrating with our new family member. I'm looking forward to shopping for this year's keepsake ornaments. I wanted to get a pregnancy ornament last year but opted to wait. I'll be sure to get it this year, even if it's for last year. It still counts, right? 

Sami looks uncomfy in the pic but she actually wasn't. She was chatting The Claus' ears away. She had a long Christmas list. Her dad and I had to tell her to cut it short.  We normally send out Christmas cards but have skipped the last couple of years. It's a nice gesture that I do enjoy but for some reason have been lagging on it. Maybe next year we'll do ecards or something. Thanks for taking the time to read my gibberish and comment from time to time. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tamale Ninja I was organizing my pictures and came across this little gem. This was from Christmas last year. We spent it with Mr. Andrade's family and as is tradition on his side (and most Mexican families), 10,000 tamales were to be made. I might be exaggerating on the numbers a little but I'm sure not by much. Mr. A's mom decided it would be a good time to get Sami started on learning how to make tamales. She actually did fairly well. Her tamales were tiny but she got the gist of it. This was a shot of Sami thinking she was all bad after making her first tamale.

We bought this ornament for our Compadre. It was the year he moved back to Mexico. 2011 This little snowman is Sami's ornament this year. It represents her starting school. 2012 This ornament is also Sami. This represented all the places she's traveled (so far). 2010 This guy is one of my favorite. This ornament is Mr. Andrade. It represents him taking off to Dubai to build the world's largest water fountain. 2009 I guess this would be considered a family ornament. We bought this in Dubai. 2009 This of course is my ornament. One of my personal faves. I love The Beatles and Christmas what perfect way to commemorate both. 2008 Our Hawaii family ornament. It was our first trip as a family to Oahu. Can't wait to go again. 2011  I know yesterday I talked about my Christmas carol s tradition and how I love playing them all month long. I have yet, another tradition. What can I say? I love Christmas! I think this might be the...

We finally got our Christmas tree over the weekend. I didn't think we'd wait this long but then again I can recall many times when my parents got our tree on Christmas Eve. I suppose it isn't too bad. Christmas has become much more exciting for me. I think the reason being is Sami is getting older and getting into the holiday spirit. She's understanding what Christmas is. My sister and I are doing an excellent job of brainwashing her with Christmas carols. I have a personal tradition in which I play nothing but Christmas carols through out the month of December. Literally. Nothing but carols. This year I couldn't wait and started a little earlier than usual. As soon as Thanksgiving was over I began with my caroling. Sometimes I'll tune in to the KOST or my Sirius Holiday Traditions station. I love singing my heart away as I make my way through traffic. Sami now has her own personal favorite carols as well. So far she loves Santa Claus is Coming to Town an...

almost as much as I love Christmas. This is one of those few videos that I can watch over and over. It's not one of my favorite Christmas carols but, definitely one of my favorite comedy skits. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Happy holidays!

I love this time of year! I have a small tradition where I will listen to nothing but Christmas carols. I figure I only get to enjoy them for a little under a month so why not? Here is one of my favorite. It's not your stereotypical Christmas carol but still awesome. Maybe it will become one of your favorite too. Enjoy.

Looks like somebody loved their Christmas gift.

Last night I came home to a sleeping Sam on our couch. It was the first time she's done this. She's usually very particular about where she falls asleep and the couch is not on the top of her list. Her babysitter informed me she had refused to go in her crib or anywhere other than her arms. Sam's been under the weather lately and putting her to bed has been a challenge. Seeing this moment after work was just what I needed to end my day on a  pleasant note. I might be a typical mom I suppose but I just love the little scene. It looks like she fell asleep on our couch waiting for Santa to come. Again, its moments like this that I have found my born again love for Christmas. Kids make everything great.

Went to the Citadel on Sunday to try and get some last minute gifts and came across their tree. From what Miguel tells me it suppose to be this amazing tree. You be the judge.

I had been pretty proud of myself this year being that I managed to finish MOST of my Christmas shopping. I was trying to avoid shopping at malls and outlets at all cost. I usually do all of my shopping online, however this time around was a tad more difficult. I had to shop for Mr.Andrade's gift and if it arrived via UPS/Fed Ex I'm sure he'd open it first! He gets home at 4. I on the other hand don't get home till after 7. Shopping in the rain=good times! I decided to get off of work early and go with Sonia to buy those last minute gifts. We decided our destination would be Old Town Pasadena. We figured it wouldn't be packed since it was cold and drizzling outside (heaven for me) and the stores are outdoors. You know what? We were right! It wasn't packed at all, however we didn't anticipate passing the parking lot 3 times (thank you Sonia for not listening to me OR your GPS system), trying to find parking, our feet hurting from wearing the wrong sho...

Christmas hasn't always been one of my favorite holidays. I stopped loving Christmas in 1994 the year BOTH of my grandmothers died. It just didn't seem the same without my abuelita Lupe. The family seemed different (for obvious reasons) and my winter blues officially kicked in. Each year around this time I would get the "winter blues" and feel down for what I felt was no apparent reason. I hated it. My feelings for Christmas officially changed last year. I had my daughter and I guess its fair to say we didn't get to celebrate our first official Christmas. We spent Christmas and New Years in Dubai. My guy was overseas working and his company flew the baby and I out there. The experience was amazing but I felt bad for Sammi, being her first Christmas and yet they're being nothing out there. It was like any other day. I was happy our family was together but sad we didn't get a real Christmas. This year I couldn't wait for this time to arrive! I coul...