Letters to Santa

'Tis the season for letter writing to Santa, or as they say en la Little Havana- carticas a Santi Clo. Ok, si, there may not be snow or sleighbells in Florida, but that doesn't mean the little fingers here don't write as furious as the ones up north. I'd even say that there are MORE letters to that jolly soul from here (not because they behave better, it's just that their tiny fingers aren't frozen).

But before the letters go out we must get into the holiday spirit- South Florida style.

Christmas time in Miami.

There are no Christmas tree farms down here so off to the stores we go.....

and then come the lights and decoration.

The only proof that it's winter in this part of the country.

Of course there's a lot more preparation for the grown ups, but for the kiddies only one more task is needed- the ever important letter to good ol' Saint Nick.

And what did my grandbabies ask of Dear Santa?

The eldest, el Dr., asked for 3 items. He's in need of Legos and the villians Shredder and Dekker. When asked why he wanted villians he said he needed them so his superheroes had a reason to defend the city he was going to build with his Legos. Genio- Genius, that's him- pure genius.

And his sister La Princesa you ask? What's on her list? JU SO FONII !!! She's La Princesa and already has everything she wants. Besides, whatever comes into the house she knows is hers, so why bother with a list?

As for Rinquincaya y PicaPica- hanky alert.

When PicaPica, 5 year old grown up that he is, was asked what he wanted he said,

"I want a flower for mommy, and my family happy."

::eyes tearing::

With faces brimming with joy and love, and while exclamations of awwww were heard throughout the room, we then turned to Rinquincaya. Knowing he always wants to be like his older brother, we awaited with anticipation the precious words to come. So, what do you want from Santa ?

Without hesitation he looked at all the adults in the room and said,

" Toys".

I didn't say you needed a big hankie....

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

So Sweet!

No, this isn't a post about mis nietos (my grandchildren). Well, not directly anyway. Ok, ok, kinda sorta. But it doesn't start that way!

Sweets- candies- one of the many goodies of the Gods. As I was wondering what music to play in today's post, I reached into my purse and pulled out a piece of dark chocolate. Oh yeah!

Instantly the day brightened , and as I was beaming with anticipation- inspiration!!

I remembered that same beam of joy radiating from La Princesa's face when I bribed her with a candy. A candy for a kiss. Whaaaaat? She doesn't know Babushka yet, so I tempted her with el caramelo; THAT she knows! Don't give me that tsk,tsk! and shake of the head as if I was the first to do that. How do you think those chocolates got the name of "kiss" ? Seriously! You think I'm the only long distance abuela? JU SO FONI !!!

Caramelos- sweets, staples of the Cuban Way, and like everything else, we like it rich and to extreme!!! This being a post and not a novel, I will name just two of the mucho, mucho, many sweets we love. Actually, I'm just going to mention drinks, because the cravings will start and I really don't think the bodequita is open.

Ambrosia #1 Guarapo.

The ever natural, original soda of our island. This is the juice taken from the sugarcanes; so special we even use special machinery to extract its' goodness. Fresh from the sugarcanes the flow of liquid sugar would entice us with it's coolness and jumpstart us with it's potency.

Ambrosia #2- Chocolate Caliente (Hot Chocolate-Cuban style)

On the rare nights it would go below 60 degrees in Miami, we'd trek to Moro Castle for their sickeningly sweet, super addictive hot chocolates. Yo se, I know, I promised only drinks, but Oh of course they had to be accompanied by churros, nice and fresh, looking like sticks of solid snowflakes from all the sugar glistening on them. Now, if you think ours is the regular hot chocolate that is mass produced, here I must say Sacrilegio!!! Cuban hot chocolate is made with the French (originally) Chocolate Menier, and that not being rich enough, evaporated and condensed milk is added. Again, oh yeah!

But sugar isn't just in our foods, it's in our souls and part of our history. And no one is more in our souls or part of our history than the late Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz who's signature word was sugar- "Azucar" and it fitted her importance to us perfectly.

BB surrounded by Azucar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgtxZda3Q-E&feature=related

A post about Chocolate, Grandchildren, y Celia Cruz - SWEET!!

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

El Doctor y La Princesa aka Beauty and the Beast

Just by the picture can you tell which is which?



Oh the dreams we have for our children.  Si, yo se, I know, I know, we're supposed to let them choose their lives and livelihood, but what's wrong with a little guidance?  I mean, really-shouldn't our experience count for something?  Is it so detrimental to wish for greatness or at the very least help loved ones to have high aspirations?  And if we couldn't persuade our offspring, how about the grandbabies?  Honestly, shouldn't we have some sort of compensation for having survived their parents' teen angst?  I say YES!!  It is our well deserved right to steer the sweet darlings to a better tomorrow, to help them reach their potential and chosen destiny. 

And so my first grandchild, my eldest daughter's son, will be a doctor- specifically, a plastic surgeon.  What?  You think Babushka's beauty will last forever? JU SO FONII !!! Si, most definitely, a plastic surgeon.  Thus, the nickname El Doctor is his.

The youngest of my grandchildren, his sister, is the only girl and La Princesa.  What other nickname could I possibly have given her?  Babushka was swimming in a pool of blue and needed a little pink.  Visions of tea parties and tiaras teased us all.  Little did we know- that tease would grow into a terror.

Where her brother is gentle and loving, she's grunting and loud.  Tiaras and tea parties?  Try torn up Transformers, tirado during a tirade.  El Doctor is pensive; La Princesa is pushy.  Dainty, make room for dizzying.  She loves to go into a sprinter's pose and shout "ready, set, go" as she performs sprints around the apartment. Endlessly.  Ever see sprints turn into marathons?  Also, please don't try to rest while she's around.  Anyone shutting their eyes before she does will get a tiny finger in the face, trying to open the offending pupils while laughing and squealing "ding, dong" in their ears. 

I don't know.  No se, no me pregunten.  All I know is the china tea set I had bought might end up being a wedding present- for El Doctor.

Babushka Besos a Todos.  Cuidensen.