Family Christmas Dinner 2006

On Saturday, December 30th, I went to my first annual family Christmas dinner at Nana Faye's house! I had a chance to see many of my new cousins from near and far, who were also there for the first time. Watching and playing with Nana's choo-choo train under the Christmas tree was fun too. We also had a special "WELCOME HOME" celebration for Cadetta!

THE BOOGA

Booga Update 12/26/06

Dear Family & Friends,

I turned 11 months old two days ago on December 24th. I'm not sure how much I weigh or how long I am because I haven't been to see the doc yet. I still can't walk by myself but, I'm working on it everyday with the help of my Pop-Pop, Grandmother, Mommy, and Great Grandmother "Pumpkin Pie". I got 2 new teeth (top) this month so, I now have a total of six. Another one (bottom) is pushing it's way through and should arrive soon. Now that I have so many teeth, I can eat small amounts of table food. It's a little more work to eat it because of all the chewing but, I really like it! It makes baby food kinda dull and it tastes so much better. I'm still having fun everyday with my friends at day care. I also took a trip to Baltimore, MD to see my Cousin Nailah. She celebrated her 1st birthday with a "Winter Wonderful" party on December 3rd.

The Name Game: For those of you who saw the flyer in your Christmas card from us and couldn't figure out the name my Grandmother wants me to call her from the dancing letters, it is "Grammy".

Needless to say, the highlight for me this month was my first Christmas! I met and took pics with 2 Santa Clauses. Then, I helped my family put together something called a Christmas tree. The box it came in was pretty cool too and I had fun playing in it. My Mommy dressed me up like Santa Claus and we took pics while we decorated the tree. When we finished, it was something to see. There were so many bright lights, balls, and something called candy canes...it was awesome. The King Family had their annual holiday party. My Pop-Pop and Grandmother went but, it was past my bedtime so, me and Mommy just chilled at home. I'm looking foward to going to the annual family Christmas dinner at my Nana's house in a few days. The dinner will be early enough in the day so, I can go! There was a Christmas party at day care too. We also had a special service at church on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Baby Jesus being born and I had a good time. Now that I can clap my hands, I can praise GOD too, just like all the big people. And then, there was Christmas day...when I woke up, I had more clothes to wear and toys to play with all day. I had a special dinner with my family and my Godmomie Latoya & Godpopie Justin came to see me. I really like Christmas and I can't wait to celebrate it again next year.

Well, I guess that's all for now. As always, my Pop-Pop, Grandmother, and Mommy said to tell you "hello" and we all hope that you and your family had a Merry Christmas too. Look for my next update on my first birthday 01/24/07. See you then!

Love, "The Booga..."

My First Christmas

Booga Update Postponed

Dear Family & Friends,

Because I am on the eve of celebrating the birth of Baby Jesus and Christmas for the very first time, please look for my monthly "Booga Update" on 12/26/06. I want to include the events and pics of this special day in my post. See you then. Merry Christmas!

The Booga

Welcome Home Cadetta!

We missed you and

praise GOD for your safe return.

We look foward to seeing you at

the family Christmas dinner!

Love, The Booga & Family

What Is This Thing?

Cool Slideshows!

The Candy Cane

One of the most popular candies of the Christmas season is the red-and-white striped candy cane. But just where did it originate? In the late 1800's, a candy maker in Indiana wanted to express the meaning of Christmas through a candy symbol. He started by bending one of his white candy sticks into the shape of a candy cane. When held with the crook on top, it looks like a shepherd's staff, representing Jesus as the Good Shepherd. When turned upside down, the candy cane becomes the letter "J", symbolizing the first letter in Jesus' name. The candy maker then incorporated several symbols of Christ's love and sacrifice. By starting with a plain white peppermint stick, he symbolized the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next, he added three small stripes, representing the pain inflicted upon Jesus before His death on the cross. The three small stripes represent the Holy Trinity, joined by a bold stripe, representing the blood of Jesus shed for mankind. It was the candy maker's desire that his invention would help people to remember what Christmas is all about...the birth of Jesus Christ.

Excerpt from the book "Christmas Traditions From Around the Globe"

Puttin' Up The Christmas Tree

Cool Slideshows!

The Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is one of the most common symbols of the Christmas season. With its magnificent lights and decorations, it is beautiful to behold and reflects the warmth of the true meaning of Christmas.

In the Middle Ages, the Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes to display hope for the forthcoming spring.

According to a legend, the Christmas tree is linked with the birth of Christ. Legend tells that on the night of Christ's birth, all kinds of living creatures came to Bethlehem with gifts. The olive tree came with its fruit and the palm tree came with its date, but the fir tree had nothing to give the newborn king. So an angel, having compassion for the fir, commanded a cluster of stars to shinie on the fir's humble boughs. Upon seeing the lighted tree, Baby Jesus smiled and blessed it. As a result, the fir tree is wrapped with twinkling lights and dorned with decorations, to delight children, old and young alike, during Christmas.

Another belief is that the triangular shape of the fir tree symbolizes the Trinity and points upwards toward GOD. Even common tree decorations draw their roots in traditional values. The crystal balls symbolize the fruit of redemption, and the lights (or candles) are ancient symbols that stand for spring's triumph over the darkness of winter. Most importantly, the lights symbolize the light that Jesus Christ cast upon the lives of the people.

Excerpt from the book "Christmas Traditions From Around The Globe"

Counting Teeth

#5 and #6...are in the mix!

to be continued

A Spin On 2 Classic Tales

Booga In Wonderland &...

Booga Through The Looking Glass

Cool Slideshows

myfriends@daycare

Happy 1st Birthday Cousin Nailah!

It was a "Winter Wonderful" birthday in Baltimore, MD for Cousin Nailah on Saturday, December 2nd. We made a snowman picture frame, decorated our own Christmas cookie, and had lots of goodies to eat and drink.

Santa Claus also stopped by to see the birthday girl. He sat with each of us and asked what we wanted for Christmas. He even took pictures with all of us!

Santa & Cousin Nailah

Santa & Cousin Miles

Santa & The Booga

Cousin Nailah,
We hope that you enjoyed your special day!
Love, The Booga & Family

Santa Meets The Booga

Happy Holidays from all of us with love,
My Pop-Pop, Grandmother, Mommy, & Me!

Santa Claus

The tradition of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, is celebrated throughout the world. Children are told that Santa brings them presents on December 24, the night before Christmas (or in some countries on December 6, St. Nicholas' Day). In most countries, it is said that Santa lives at the North Pole and flies through the sky on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Late at night, Santa comes down the chimney and leaves presents by the Christmas tree for children, also filling their stockings hung from the mantel.

Santa Claus, which comes from the Dutch name Sinterklaas, is based on a real person, St. Nicholas. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4 century A.D. A very shy man, he wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. Legend tells that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire, thus beginning the tradition of hanging stockings for Santa.

The jolly, red-suited Santa of today has changed much from the early images of him. Santa was orginally depicted as a man in a long brown robe and furs, carrying a cross and wine flask with a holly crown on his head. Then in 1885, a Boston printer, Louis Prang, first devised the red-suited Santa. In the 1930's an advertising artist took the image further, leading to the modern image of a jolly character in a red suit trimmed with white fur. Through his love for children and gift giving, Santa Claus is an integral part of the spirit of Christmas.

Excerpt from the book "Christmas Traditions From Around The Globe"