CHRISTMAS 2010

Christmas Eve in Paraguay means FIREWORKS and around our house FIREWORKS means that Jeff is in his element. He gets a twinkle in his eye and then fruit and plastic toy soldiers and Lincoln logs start making their way from the house to the launching platform. The kids LOVE it and squeal in delight each time a firecracker is set off. This year Jeff did not disappoint.



Jeff, the Pied Piper of firecrackers...we had a couple extra kids playing at our house.


I wanted to cook something special for Christmas Eve. First, I thought about duck. Right now we only have one who is big enough to eat, but in the end she was spared because a week before Christmas she began laying eggs for the first time (I hate to kill a good layer). Then a few days ago I saw the “fish man” and he promised to bring us surubi on the 24th. But as of 5:00 Christmas Eve he hadn’t arrived, so I had to think of something fast. So chicken and dumplings and cabbage salad it was.

After dinner we read the Christmas Story from Luke then the kids opened stockings. Next we played a new family game and then headed outside for more fireworks - this time we set off the really big colorful ones (This year we did them away from the house since last Christmas here we caught our thatched porch on fire...remember the story?). At 10:00 we watched a new movie – Toy Story 3 – as part of our family tradition, so at midnight, we can welcome Christmas day and listen to the rest of the Paraguayans set off their fire crackers.

ON A SIDE NOTE: We put up the Christmas tree Dec 1. The lights didn't work and we can't buy any here. 2 weeks later we drove 5 hours to the capital & I bought lights. Got home, opened them & realized they were NET lights. I was determined to make it work & refused to just throw it over the branches & ornaments (as hubby suggested). After the tree fell, the star topper dropped on Ginny's head, & I broke an ornament, I finally gave up & threw them on.

It was fun putting up our Christmas tree and looking at all the ornaments we had collected from our West Coast and East Coast trips while on furlough. We sure went a TON of places.




Julia's first Christmas! here she is with her sweet (and apparently good tasting)stocking from Oma and Opa. Made in bosnia.


Christmas day the kids woke up and we immediately opened under-the-tree-gifts. They kids were delighted. Ryan became a woodcarver with a complete carving set and several pieces of wood, Ginny became a chef with a kid’s cookbook and her very own cooking utensils, Joshua became a scientist with an experiment kit and a bubble gum making kit, and the little boys became Jedi’s with light sabors and robes.

I cannot say enough how blessed we are to have such an awesome SIM family. It makes living in the boon-docks a bit easier and it makes birthdays and holiday times memorable. At noon we traveled to our team mates house (1 ½ hours away) for a yummy Christmas dinner and a short, but sweet visit.

Boy's table


Girl's table


On our way home, we stopped to buy a watermelon because no Christmas in Paraguay is complete without many many slices of fresh juicy watermelon.