Hand Made Gifts

One family tradition I'd like to continue in my young family is the practice of making our own gifts.

My parents always encouraged us to make our own gifts. Gifts we create ourselves, they always stressed, would certainly be appreciated more. It was their way of not only shielding us from the over commercialization of Christmas but more so of encouraging us to be be creative and imaginative.

And so for many years, from when we were toddlers up to our teen years, the week before Christmas was spent secretly rehearsing and writing and drawing and painting, each in his own corner, creating that special gift for Baby Jesus and our parents.

At times it was a poem. Or an essay. Or a letter to Baby Jesus.

At times it would be drawings. In pencil and in charcoal. Or paintings in water color, pastel and even oil.

At times it would be a performance. A song. A dance. Once, even a one act play.

1972: With siblings Wawel (left) and An (right), we sing Christmas carols to the Baby Jesus

It was a lot of hard work. But also a lot of fun. And we all looked forward to sharing our gifts during Noche Buena.

Thanks to his teachers in Little Sandbox, my four year old Gabi has started to put this tradition in practice. His gifts to Patty and me this year were all made with his own hands. All created in school over a two week period. All made with love.

2010 Calendar

Key and Pen Holder

Hand Print Weight

Thespian Gabi

Gabi plays St. Joseph in his school's Christmas pageant. As in previous plays, Gabi delivers all his lines with confidence, belts out the songs and struts the dances with gusto and bravado. And his teachers have certainly taken notice of his enthusiasm by giving him such an important role.

2007 - A Manger Menagerie

2008 - The Greatest Story Ever Told

My little boy who three years ago was just a "saling pusa" on stage and who last year played one of the three kings, is now St. Joseph himself, the main male character in the Christmas play.

Congratulations, my son. Mommy and I (and Bela too!) are so proud of you.

My Fluttering Bela

Truly like a butterfly, my independent-minded daughter is.

She goes where she pleases. And yet pleases where she goes.

Birthday Blow Out

It's birthday season once again in the Mercado family and for all the grandchildren that means blowing-birthday-candles time once again.

From October 20 to December 27, ten birthdays are celebrated: Therese on Oct 20; Paolo, Nov 2; me, Nov 14; Rocio, Nov 15; An, Nov 17; Mom, Nov 27; Wawel, Dec 8, Pepi, Dec 15; Gabe, Dec 24 and Dad, Dec 27.

So that means at least ten cakes in eight weeks for all the grand children to blow.

It's family tradition to let all who want have a turn at blowing out the birthday candles. The celebrant of course gets first crack. Then everyone else follows, one by one, from youngest to oldest. And for every turn, the birthday song is sung.

And so for a family with nine grandchildren, the birthday cake ritual can last for quite a while. And needless to say, the cake is almost always covered with a new layer of "icing."