Feliz Navidad

The night came and went better than expected, nenas you guys had a blast and mami and baba enjoy seeing the happiness in your faces every time you open a present.

During the day while baba worked las neans and mami fix the table and finish the bunuelos. WE took our time taking long baths and I even blow dry Milo's hair they looked so cute, nenas today you worn the skirts Abu made for you.

We waited for baba to come home so we can throw the reindeer food so they can see it shinning and Santa can stop in our house.

After putting the food we went ahead and had dinner spoke a little about what Christmas is all about and we were amaze at what SAmia said when baba asked her.

Samia - Christmas is about loving and sharing..(that is my girl)

We all enjoyed our food and then baba and mami do our routine he goes outside to eat the cookies and drink the milk and throw a black bag with the gifts. Then after being inside for a while I start looking at the starts with the nenas baba shakes some bells and then we get all excited because Santa has arrived in our house...and shortly Samia goes outside with Milo and finds the bag, then the fun begins. This year we did not buy many gifts but it adds up with all the gifts we get from friends, Abu, Tio's and friends.

THANK YOU ALL we love them all.

And nenes at home we celebrate early baba is being awake since 430 AM only fair and time does not matter is the moments that count.

Mio Giving Christmas 2009

So the time has come again we started this last year every year we find kids or a family to donate gifts for we do in titi Mio's name she was so good giving to others and specially children so is a way to honor her and to teach the children that christmas is about giving.  

I know the economy is hard but our children are getting gifts there is no reason why others should not.  This year we found a  family of 7 children ranging from all ages 1 to 16... Samia helped us pick the toys but since she is a little girl she wanted one for her for every toy we pick I guess that is how we teach her is not just about us but others in Christmas.

The wrapping is always done by the whole family.  Mami wrapped, baba did tags and bows, Samia pick the bows and help us putting the bows with Milo's help.

Nenas Inshallah we would do this every year however there are a few rules:

-NEW toys NO DOLLAR store toys that would be Haram or unfair.

-NO receipt for the donation (that would be cheating here we are giving and then get something monetary in return NONO remembe we give without expecting anything in return)

-The greeting cards have to say From: AMIRA or titi Mio

Kool Sana Wenti Tayba - Feliz Navidad - Merry Christmas

So the day is almost over.....it was so so so wonderful for many reasons.

Being together

Seeing Samia and Gamila play with their toys

Baba and Mami enjoying their new children piano

Taking pictures with our 2008 Pajama pants

Enjoying the friendship of so many special people around us

Knowing Abu had a wonderful Navidad with los Tios

Nenas one more Christmas that God has giving us the chance to share my family the only thing we can say is THANK YOU THANK YOU and also say a prayer so God can help so many people in need right now.

THANK YOU GOD                     ALHOMDULLIALLAH                     GRACIAS DIOS

Doing what Mio knew best GIVING

So last night I could not fall sleep and here I am searching the web and I read like 3 articles all saying how there are not enough toys being donated, or enough food being donated. So how can we help I start thinking. Then I think that maybe donating to an orphanage would be a good idea.

When baba wakes up I tell him and right away his answer was "YES and we are doing it today in Amira's name" When we were in Egypt we heard many stories from the people that would come to the house to say Sorry, how Mio would always be giving toys for the poor children or checking their teeth, donating children tooth brushes, tooth paste etc. Keep on mind many of these items are expensive in Egypt and a family in need can not afford them.

So I call several places and finally I found a shelter for woman and children I spoke to the person in charge and she was so happy and excited she even took the time to tell me every child age and gender, and I could tell by her voice she wanted them today. So on we went to buy the toys and then we come home to wrap them.

Through the whole process Samia help us pick the toys up, she help us wrap the toys. She wanted some for her but mami and baba explained to her that we were helping Santa and we were going to give them to other children. By the end of the process she was saying "All these toys for my new friends" Allhomdulilallah! she understood the best she could.

After everything was finish we drove to the place and left them there so the children can have some toys in Christmas.

Nenas Inshallah we would do this every year however there are a few rules:

-NEW toys NO DOLLAR store toys that would be Haram or unfair.

-NO receipt for the donation (that would be cheating here we are giving and then get something monetary in return NONO remembe we give without expecting anything in return)

-The greeting cards have to say From: AMIRA

Samia I was very proud of you today! Baba was very happy doing all of these however I could tell at times his eyes water and was overwhelmed with emotions. Me what can I say I miss her everyday!