Our first Christmas in our home. Our first Christmas in Panama. Although we truly missed our loved ones; we had a lovely Christmas. It was very special being in our home and Elwood is just the perfect age right now. His excitement and enthusiasm was contagious.
Even with Elwood's childlike wonder, it was, at times, a little bit of an effort to get into the Christmas spirit. We missed the commercialism of Christmas that is everywhere the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. More than once I wanted a minted coffee from Starbucks. I wanted a real Christmas tree. I wanted all stores everywhere to be blaring Christmas music. I wanted to take our traditional Christmas light walk in our neighborhood back in Melbourne. I wanted to coordinate which family we would see when and what food everyone was making. I wanted Elwood to have Santa/Christmas magic discussions with his cousins. I wanted to be able to buy candy canes. It's an adjustment living in a place where everything I want is not always available.
However, in even hotter weather than Florida, we blared Christmas music and bought the only three strings of Christmas light we could find. One green, one white, one multi colored. They had multiple settings and every night we had to talk woody out of putting them on the setting where they are frantically blinking so fast that they could possible induce a seizure. We put our own mints in our coffee in the morning and we splurged and bought a $7 can of imported whipped cream to spray on top. We decorated a banana tree and proudly put it on our porch. We will plant our Caribbean Christmas tree in our yard after Christmas, if it can withstand all the love and attention both kids are currently giving it. Conor and I took turns singing Christmas carols to Woody at bedtime; Frosty the Snowman still being his favorite. Conor and I, working together, were almost able to remember all of the words to 'Twas the Night before Christmas, which was recited nightly upon Woody's request. In the park in Bocas, there was more than one plastic nativity set up so we talked about the animals and baby Jesus. Our ending bedtime song each evening was Silent Night.
On Christmas morning, the kids woke up well before the sun, which is a regular occurrence in our house and not just because it was Christmas. Elwood dove into our bed and excitedly wiggled around, asking us if we thought Santa had come. He told us he was pretty sure he had heard jingle bells last night. He took his flashlight and shined it off the balcony and as the beam passed over a small pile of presents in the middle of our bare floor, he exclaimed, "He did!! AH!! I see presents!! Santa DID come!!" We all excitedly walked down our new steps, indulged in coffee and chocolate milk covered in whipped cream as Woody helped everyone open their gifts. Tohi picked up on the festive energy and squealed and threw wrapping paper around as Woody tore open the presents around her. The sun was just coming up as the last present was opened. I sipped my whipped cream and coffee, watched the joy on Elwood's face as he threw his new airplane off the balcony to a just-as-excited Dad below. I watched my sweet Tohi girl look around with her two tooth grin spread wide across her face. I could still hear the crashing of the waves over our Christmas music and the nicest of Caribbean breezes was flowing through the house. Our first Christmas in our new home. Our first Christmas in Panama.
On Christmas morning, the kids woke up well before the sun, which is a regular occurrence in our house and not just because it was Christmas. Elwood dove into our bed and excitedly wiggled around, asking us if we thought Santa had come. He told us he was pretty sure he had heard jingle bells last night. He took his flashlight and shined it off the balcony and as the beam passed over a small pile of presents in the middle of our bare floor, he exclaimed, "He did!! AH!! I see presents!! Santa DID come!!" We all excitedly walked down our new steps, indulged in coffee and chocolate milk covered in whipped cream as Woody helped everyone open their gifts. Tohi picked up on the festive energy and squealed and threw wrapping paper around as Woody tore open the presents around her. The sun was just coming up as the last present was opened. I sipped my whipped cream and coffee, watched the joy on Elwood's face as he threw his new airplane off the balcony to a just-as-excited Dad below. I watched my sweet Tohi girl look around with her two tooth grin spread wide across her face. I could still hear the crashing of the waves over our Christmas music and the nicest of Caribbean breezes was flowing through the house. Our first Christmas in our new home. Our first Christmas in Panama.
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| We strung popcorn to hang on the tree that Woody ate off like how one would eat a candy necklace. |
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| After dinner we would set up a Christmas show to watch. Woody was hysterical watching A Christmas Story. Lots of questions. |
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| Jungle decorations from our yard make the gift of wine more festive |
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| I thought I might send a Christmas Card. . . Yeah, it didn't happen but how cute are the Christmas pictures for it?! Ha! |
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| Our new steps allowed us to move the beds upstairs. Woody was so excited to sleep in his new room. It was so adorable watching him set up his bed and fan. He has been looking forward to sleeping in his bedroom since he first saw the space under construction. Merry Christmas, little buddy. |
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| Everything. Just everything goes in the mouth. |
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| Chocolate Milk and Whipped Cream |
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| Christmas is Awesome! Wrapping Paper is Delicious!! |
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| Our new steps to the right. Old, dangerous ladder steps to the left. |
