2008 Christmas Newsletter

To our dearest family and friends, we hope this holiday greeting finds you all warm, healthy, and happy.

This year's Christmas newsletter from the Arzaga family is about a boy...well, like the movie of the same title, it's really about two boys. The story of the movie focuses on two boys who go through a gradual process of who they are. Sounds similarly like our two growing boys, Jacob and Joey. But unlike the end of that Hugh Grant movie, there's no sudden leap into the future about who Jake and Joey will become.

So we'll revisit 2008 and ask the question, who are Jake and Joey? Who are they?
From Xmas Portraits
Trina and I are proud of our boys and we love them dearly. We also don't pretend that they are far from perfect. Yes, they have their moments. We have had to already endure many parent-teacher conferences so early into Jake's days in school. We've been told how Jake has misbehaved whenever he doesn't get his way. (Really? a five-year-old misbehaving? that's unheard of, right?) And then there's Joey. He entered 2008, already in the midst of his terrible two's (and his birthday is not even until July). He is a bully to his big brother and sometimes, to his preschool pals. We've been notified many a-times, that his behavior in preschool has resulted in scratching other kids, and not sharing or playing well with others. Our favorite, was when he started a "mutiny" with his classmates by re-arranging the furniture in his classroom...just because he didn't like lunch.

Hard to believe that angelic picture you see at the top is the one and the same boys I just described. We can only laugh about this later, when Trina and I are older. And I'm sure it brings a chuckle to all of our family and friends who are reading this now. Despite all that, Trina and I still see the good and the potential in our two boys. Not many kids wander into childhood seeking to discover themselves. Then again, Jake and Joey aren't ordinary boys - at least, in our eyes.

So who are they?

This summer, we and the boys spent our vacation at the beach in Carova, NC, where Jake and Joey spent a whole week being boys. They had fun in the swimming pool, on the beach, and right inside our beach house. Wherever I looked in and around the house - the boys were laughing and carrying on with their friends and cousins, playing with their Diego and Thomas toys, and even riding the elevator up and down the house all day long.

We spent other times heading out to various attractions around the region. We made our annual pilgrimage to see and ride the Thomas the Train in Lancaster, PA. We spent other days visiting the animals at the Frying Pan Park in Herndon, VA and at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. We also spent a day at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. There, we visited the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum and discovered the wonders of the National Aquarium of Baltimore where the kids "ooh-ed" and "ahh-ed" at the many fishes and other aquatic creatures. The boys still love their choo-choo trains, but at least they're exploring the world around them and expanding their interests.

Who are they? The answer is coming.

Jacob is now a five-year-old kindergartner. That's right, Jacob entered Kindergarten this past September. Jacob was so excited about his first day, he voluntarily went to bed early and immediately woke up when morning arrived. You would think it was Christmas morning for him, but that was how excited he was. He couldn't stand waiting for the rest of us to RUN to the bus stop. He was all SMILES to start a new chapter in his life. Watching him board that school bus, we couldn't help, but be overwhelmed with pride and joy.
From Xmas Portraits
Notwithstanding the numerous parent-teacher conferences with Jake's teacher, Jake did very well for his first report card. He outperformed the benchmark numbers set forth by the state school board and came within eight points of the maximum possible score. Not surprising, really. He is always eager to do his homework every night and writes his own "books", such as, his favorite cars, the different seasons, and various animals. Our favorite story is about a kid and his trampoline. Who knew he can read and write already a whole story about anything and everything all by himself? He writes a new book almost everyday. Our collection of memorable items to save for him continues to grow.

Who are they?

This year, we realized how brave a boy we have in Joey. You see, he had not one, but two surgeries this year! Joey needed surgery to repair a "defect" in his abdomen that is best described as congenital hernia. His second surgery was to remove his enlarged adenoids and tonsils. They were obstructing his ability to eat and breathe normally. This being his second surgery, we hope to never experience that again. It's not easy to see one's own child go into an operating room and then be whisked away immediately. To see his little body on that table is one of the worst thing a parent could experience.
From Xmas Portraits
As expected, Joey was grouchy and grumpy for several days, but we can finally say good-bye to our "Darth Baby." We're relieved to see that he will soon be back to his toddler self. Really, if he wasn't acting his age as a boisterous, wild child, than something else is wrong. We'd rather he be himself, than for us to be worrying constantly about his health. He is, after all, a two-year-old boy who wants nothing more, but to eat, sleep, and have fun. Hmmm, don't we all want that simplicity as adults, too?

Who are they?

On Memorial weekend, Trina was remembering the fifth anniversary of her dad's passing. Jake innocently asked why mommy had tears in her eyes. Trina explained that she misses Grandpa. Jake stepped away and continued with his playing. But later that weekend, he surprised us when we found him crying all by himself. Not prepared on what to say or do, we tried our best to console him, but all he wanted was to see his Grandpa. Even though he had never met him (Jake was born five days after the funeral), he wanted to see him and know who he was.

Our not-so-young Golden Retriever, Paddington, was recently diagnosed with cancer. And a few weeks back, we attended the funeral service for the boys' great-Aunt Sydney in Ohio. It's difficult to explain certain subjects to a child. Sometimes, it's difficult to understand things ourselves as adults. Without their realization though, they're exuberant innocence brought out smiles in an otherwise sad occasion. We find comfort in seeing their bright smiles and holding them close in our arms, even only for a moment.
From Xmas Portraits
Who are they?

Not many people (at least not named Mozart, Picasso, or Tiger) fulfill their fate and destiny by the age of five or two. Will they be "boomerang" kids returning to their nest? Will they be wild and whiny, without direction? Maybe, but, hopefully not. Or will they be a Nobel laureate or a Hall of Famer? Maybe, but, hopefully so. Really, all we wish, as are every parent's wish, that our children grow up to become good persons. This is only the beginning for our two boys. Only time will tell. We can only hope that we can see as much of their adult lives.

It's Christmas Eve now, and all that Jake talks about is Christmas morning. How wonderful is it that the Christmas spirit rings loudest to those who still believe in Santa. And the New Year is upon us. 2009 is a blank slate for Jacob, Joey, and for the rest of us. Can't wait to see what the New Year brings.

So the question remains. Who are they? The answer...the answer is still coming.

Thank you for taking the time in reading our annual newsletter. Stay safe, stay warm, and Merry Christmas, everyone.
We are the Arzaga's.
From Xmas Portraits
 
Our Christmas Newsletters from the yesteryear's.
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