A Concert and Lots of Cookies

This weekend, Mateo's school band performed in their Annual Winter Concert. As always, their band teacher did an excellent job in organizing it. Mateo is really enjoying being part of it. Here he is with his band buddies. Don't they look handsome?



After the concert, Mateo went to Grandma's house and I was whisked away for a triple date. We met with Iliana and Hector and Julissa and David to watch The Tourist. I'm sad to say that I was a bit disappointed in the movie. I found it a bit flat, lacking action and suspense. And Johnny, oh Johnny. I hope that he has not lost his ability to play an actual human. With that said, I'll watch it again when it comes out on DVD. I just have to support my guy and feed the obsession.

Here we are being silly at Brea Birch Street after the movie.








After our date, my dear friend, Julissa ended up with appendicitis and had to have an appendectomy. The movie was not that bad. Poor friend. Take care and hope you feel better soon!

I visited my mom and checked out all of her lovely Christmas decorations. I took lots of pictures but, of course, crappy camera. Need I say more? My mom completely and utterly transforms her entire house into a Christmas wonderland. She leaves no room behind, no corner untouched. Everywhere you look, it's Christmas. Here are some of the better pictures but they do not do her abilities justice.

Remember the Thanksgiving wreath I made for my door?
She made her own Christmas version for her door. Great job, Mom!

She made this cute topiary out of styrofoam spheres wrapped in yarn.
Too cute!

Her little Christmas Village.
She bought the same little village houses I got at Target last year.

Sidebar: I do hope that Mr. Casillas is reading this blog and getting the hint. If you are reading this blog, honey, a camera, a good camera for Christmas would be nice!

Paulina, my cousin, Rebecca's daughter, had a cookie exchange party. It was lovely to get the kids together and enjoy each other and the food. My cookies, did not turn out too well, though. I attempted to make cookie pops (cookies on a stick to resemble lollipops). Since I am a working woman now, I decided to cut corners and use store bought sugar cookie dough and mix in a few favoring and coloring ingredients to it. I don't know if it was the dough, or the oven temperature, or maybe I rolled them out too thin, but they spread too thinly and ran into each other in the oven. Then, the skewer sticks that I used did not bake in well enough and they started to separate from the cookie. I ended up taking the skewers out and taking them as they were. All in all, they tasted fine. Fine enough to win second place. Cari's cookies, of course won First place. Congratulations, Cari!

The First Prize winner and the Judge.

The kids: Paulo, Mateo, Alec, Andy
Ricardo, Luc, Viviana, Paulina, Joaquin, Rebecca

Prior to her cookie party, Paulina performed in the Nutcracker Ballet
for her ballet studio. Unfortunately, we did not make it to her performance but
I hear it got rave reviews. Thata girl, Pauli!

Best of everything!
SC
xoxo