Thanksgiving with the Arreola's

My parents made the trip up to Georgia for Thanksgiving, sparing us four round trip tickets to Corpus Christi, Tx. It's always nice seeing Grandpa Chendo and Lita interacting with the girls. What are grandparents for if not to spoil their grandchildren?

Isabella grew accustomed to dessert after every meal, and snacking the entire day, but I must give my father credit because snacks don't get healthier than pomegranate.

They arrived on Saturday afternoon, and my father and Tim left Sunday morning for the ranch. My mother, Aimee and I were left to prepare for the tamale party which took place Monday evening. It was back to work on Tuesday for Tim at Stevi B's and for Grandpa and myself at home. The picture below has Abigail in her bumbo looking out at me blowing leaves.

Even Grandpa Walker made an appearance. It was fun catching up with him.

Wednesday we packed up the cars and headed to the ranch for our family Thanksgiving. After forgetting our pack and play, and locking my keys in the car at the Wal-Mart, we arrived around 5pm. Once we finally got there, Isabella took a little walk with Grandpa before dinner and we made smores before getting ready for bed.

Thanksgiving morning, Aimee and I went into town (Monticello, GA) to do early Black Friday shopping. I am glad that I went, becuase I got all sorts of things for free!! After breakfast we all hung around the cabin. Tim (now a card carrying GA hunter) played with his shotgun/rifle, Aimee and Abigail took a nap in the hammock, and Isabella and I took a zillion pictures.

"A hammer in the morning, a hammer in the evening......"

Oh how sweet it is to just take a nap mid morning on a hammock. They hung out like this for just under an hour. We couldn't have asked for better weather.

No trip to the ranch would be complete without a tractor ride down to the pond.

Isabella & Mommy tending to their babies.

Not wanting to cook after the Tamale Fiesta, we decided to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner via Cracker Barrel: turkey, ham, two sides, biscuits, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole (that I made). The turkey was not the best, but everything else was fantastic.

After taking about six pictures, this is the best I could do. You'd think I would have thought to move the water bottles, but I didn't.

We started adopting one of my favorite Walker traditions by going around the table and sharing a few things we were thankful for. Tim and I are so thankful for our growing family both immediate and extended, and for having such a wonderful place to spend quality family time.

After eating a ton of food, Isabella discovered pie (her new favorite thing). We returned to Atlanta late that afternoon in time for Black Friday, and to send my parents back to Corpus Christi, Tx.

Isabella is initiated in the Walker hall of games

Since I joined the Walker clan, I can not remember a time that we've gotten together as an entire family without playing a game or two. Even great grandma Dorton (92) still plays Yukor & Canasta. So we've looked forward to gaming at the dinner table with Isabella for sometime now.

Our first game was none other than Candyland.

She was very excited, patiently waited for her turn, and was quite pleased when she won. Granted, we skipped a few rules like the licorice card (where you lose a turn) and the candy cards (when they make you go backward), but vowed that once she's a little older no concessions. I would be remiss in saying that she understood 100% of the game, but that's not the point. She genuinely enjoyed looking at the cards, moving her little candyman around, and spending time with us. In fact, she so persistantly asked us to play every time she saw the box that we had to put it away.

Isabella & Abigail, we look forward to much more game playing in the future.

Tamale Party

A friend of mine Anne, who left before I thought to take the above picture, asked me if I knew how to make tamales. Having never made tamales, I called my mom and asked her if she would teach me and a few friends how to make them.

Mom and I, well mainly my mom, prepared the beans and pork the day before. The afternoon of the event, I went to a Mexican grocery store and bought the masa, which is freshly ground corn mill. They literally took wet corn kernels and grounded them right before my eyes. It doesn't get fresher than that.

Once everyone arrived at 6pm, we seasoned and kneaded the corn dough. Then the real work began: We had to line and fill about 16 dozen corn husks with masa & it's filling (in our case beans,pork, & spinach and cheese).

Abigail had a hard time going down, so I just brought her to the tamale party.


My cousin Katie tied knots around the bean tamales so we could differentiate them from the pork tamales. The picture below has us filling the last few corn husks. The big container was completely full when we started.

We didn't finish until after 11pm that night. Beforehand, I don't think my friends realized the amount of work that went into these little delicacies, but once you sank your teeth into one it was all worth it. At least it was for me.

Growing up, I never fully appreciated all that went into making tamales. I would occasionally come in and help with them, but it was more of a chore than anything else. Although, I never thought I would say this, it has become one of my favorite things about my culture. An opportunity for women to talk, laugh and grow together while at the same time feeding their families. I am really grateful for all my mom's hard work and willingness to pass the skill down a generation. I hope to make this a tradition not only with my friends, but my girls.

Babywearing duo

As I write this we're coming off day two of Tim's Vegas trip. Earlier this evening Isabella and I checked the mail together, and to our surprise we received a baby sling made especially for her by her Tia (Aunt)Sarah. Needing a distraction and something to entertain Isabella, it couldn't have come at a better time. She LOVED it.

I decided to babywear before having Isabella. There are considerable developmental benefits, not to mention being hands free is crucial with two. I was trying to show Isabella how to be hands free in this picture, but I don't think she quite got it.

Isabella is turning out to be such a sweet sister, mommy, and little helper. Always ready to help me change/bathe/burp Abigail and or her little babies, I couldn't be more proud.

Abigail Rolls Over!!!

Since part of me is writing this blog for my sweet girls to read once their older, I wanted to document Abigail's milestone. I have no pictures, in fact I didn't even see her roll over. All I know is that I laid her down for tummy time, turned my back for a second, and when I glanced over to her she was on her back. After realizing what had happened, I immediately grabbed the video camera but she was in no mood to replicate her success. Thank you Abigail for giving us this joyous milesone, I look forward to many more.