Turkey in the 'ber' months

Before I get started... I cut her hair today. Isn't it cute?

And would you just look at this cheesy smile? 

 

This was after she asked me if she could take pictures with my "mamrya." I told her yes, but only after I get a few shots of her new hair cut. And on a side side note, she called our mini trampoline the jumpaline today. Clever, no?

I bought a 19 pound turkey yesterday and I'm excited to cook it up on Saturday to celebrate American Thanksgiving. Celebrating on Thursday after Andrey works in the office all day makes it feel a lot less like Thanksgiving so we've done it on a Saturday since we've been living in Asia. I LOVE Thanksgiving and I love cooking for it every year, usually. Last year was the last time I can remember when I had no desire to cook for and host a big meal but that's because my daughter and I were still one organism at that point and I could barely use the toilet much less cook anything. About a month ago I realized that I am really in the mood to do it up again this year. It's a new day though because I'm not about to try and do everything myself like I've done in the past nor do I feel the need to do (control) everything only to stress myself out and end up exhausted by the end. Thankfully several friends have offered to help and I have happily taken them up on it.

Having a child has certainly changed things. I better know my limitations and frankly since becoming a mom I've had to work on my control issues. I recall some of the best parenting advice I read about parenting toddlers, "Don't let your toddler control you and don't try to control your toddler." I think I read it in an Ellyn Satter book. I have learned to chill out about a lot of things that used to stress me out. I still have a long way to go but I'm thankful for what I've learned and how I've grown since becoming a mom just over a year ago.

Do you find that you are way more into the holidays as you get older or does it come with having kids? I'm not sure what it is but I'm so excited about Christmas this year! We just put up our Christmas decorations a few nights ago. What? You might be saying. Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving? Let me explain. 

Christmas is HUGE in the Philippines. Like massive. Seriously such a huge deal. 

1) It's a Catholic country so Christmas and Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter) are understandably big here. 

2) Filipinos are a passionate people. This is demonstrated in how they celebrate Christmas. And for how long. Why wait until December? In this country, Christmas begins in September. Yes, September. Why, you may ask? Because Christmas starts in the 'ber' months. September. October. November, etc... You know, Berrrrr!, like what you say when you're cold. Does it get cold here? No. I have no explanation beyond that. 

3) Christmas Eve night at midnight sounds like a war zone. There are more fireworks going on (and going on and going on for hours after) than I have ever heard. Most Filipinos celebrate Noche Buena and have a huge Christmas meal at midnight the night before Christmas and then light up the neighborhood with unregulated fireworks. Hospital emergency rooms are crazy busy. And then everyone sleeps in really late on Christmas morning. 

I could go on about what makes Christmas so huge around here but suffice it to say that putting up decorations in mid-November is already very late.

Come to think of it, my enjoyment of the Christmas season has grown over the past few years. I think when I lived in the US it just stressed me out. And my years in retail and restaurants just about did me in with Christmas music. I couldn't stand most Christmas music (especially the commercial stuff) for the first few years of my marriage to Andrey. Now, even he remarks at how different I am because I just made a new Christmas playlist and it isn't even December yet. I have come to this conclusion. Christmas is really fun in the Philippines! Living here has revived my love for it. I am thankful for this because it is such a special holiday if you can just slow down enough to enjoy it (something I admit is much easier to do in a developing country), ponder it, savor it, celebrate it for what it is at it's core. A time to prepare for and celebrate the coming of Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. A time to bake stuff with cinnamon and nutmeg and apples and oh there are so many things on my list I want to bake! 

So for me, Thanksgiving is the kick off to a wonderful holiday season in a place I am very thankful to live - with my daughter in her country of birth, my extremely kind and patient husband and a very special community of friends. I think Ella agrees.

Happy Thanksgiving (belated to the Canadians) and Merry Christmas everybody!