A List a Day?

I started this blog for my family & friends to have a glimpse into our daily life here in Costa Rica. I'm not sure how much time I'll actually be able to commit to blogging, so I'm thinking of trying to add a list each day here. They may be random thoughts, things we need to do, or just a list of what we did that day. I can't promise it will always be interesting, or even meaningful, but I will try to keep this up. I think it will be a nice record of our time here, however long it may be. (I'm hoping I don't regret making this blog...)

So, for today - I will start with a list about our Christmas experience here.

• Ticos celebrate Christmas on the 24th, at midnight.
• EVERYONE, kids included, stays up until midnight to open presents.
• They then play with their presents until 2 or 3 AM. Including electronic cars, fireworks, etc.
• We were up at 6:15 AM with Olivia - full of excitement to see what was in her "socking".
• Jeremy and I were ready to go back to bed at approximately 8 AM. (We didn't, but we wanted to.)
• This was our first year with a fake tree.
• I really missed the fresh tree scent.
• I really didn't miss all the needles everywhere on the floor.
• I'm not sure when we'll take the tree down. I feel like it'll be kind of sad without the tree in the corner.
• We were given some money from family members to buy presents for the girls. It was quite interesting.
• Ava got a blanket w/toys attached and a entertainment bar (?) that dangles toys overhead. That was about $80.00. Yes, you read right.
• Olivia got lots of little (dollar-store quality) toys. She also got one big item, a Dora dollhouse - which is entirely made of plastic, and cost about $65.
• I'm not complaining about the quantity of gifts they received, just surprised at the price difference.
• We were able to really use our nativity set "What God wants for Christmas" with Livi this year. (Thanks, Hortons!)
• She wanted to open all the boxes at once.
• We ate a nice Christmas dinner with the Gammage family.
• We watched "Alvin & The Chipmunks" Christmas DVD approx. 10,000 times.
• We watched "Elf" four times. (Love that movie!)
• Olivia learned how to say "cotton-headed ninny-muggins"
• I cooked a turkey breast in a crock pot for the first time.
• It was yummy.
• Olivia was able to talk to all her grandparents, aunt, and uncles on Christmas Day.
• Skype is wonderful.
• We got to take Christmas cookies to the guys at The Refuge on Christmas Eve.
• Olivia decorated the cookies. :)
• Ava slept through that whole exchange. :)
• We were also able to buy Christmas gifts for Maria and her two children - to be delivered tomorrow. (She's the lady who received a new home for Christmas)
• We made our birthday cake for Jesus - Olivia, Luke & Ben all sang & blew out the candles.

Not a super-interesting start to a blog. That's just a glimpse of our Christmas. What did your family do for Christmas this year? Your answer doesn't have to be a list.