The Joy of Christmas

Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad to all from Guatemala! 

The past two days have been filled with Christmas excitement and celebration. Yesterday we had mass, a special family style dinner, the volunteers put on a hilarious version of the nativity play, there was a bonfire with marshmallows and at midnight we set off fireworks bursting with red and green and celebrated the beginning of Christmas day. Since most of the celebrating was yesterday we decided to do something special for the girls this morning. Before they woke up the other volunteers in my section and I brought down our Christmas tree and the gifts that we had wrapped up for them. We set it all up to be ready and waiting when they woke up. There were even shoes from Santa Claus. 

The girls were SO excited when the woke up to the tree and the gifts and were so eager to open them and find ones that had their names on them. We spent the morning sitting around, listening to Christmas tunes, laughing, smiling and opening presents. The girls loved everything they opened and immediately put on their new pajamas and fuzzy socks. When we finished opening the gifts we headed up to breakfast all dressed to impress (in the pajamas of course). After breakfast we cuddled up under the tree to watch movies and enjoy the rest of the day.

Surprise!

Opening.....

Modeling their new pajamas.

They could not believe how soft their pajamas
were--Ana and Vilma showing theirs off.

Christmas love!