We've taken Noah to the Chinese New Celebration since he was born (almost accidentally). He will have been exposed to so much more than me in his short life! I heart NYC!

It will be my second year as the Co-Director of Filipino Heritage Camp (FHC) and the first year that any of the 10 Colorado Heritage Camps (CHC) has two Directors that are both adult adoptees in its 19 years of existence.

I volunteered as a camp counselor in 2000 when I came across the website after doing a search on line. I still have the printed emails that I sent to the CHC Director who is pictured to the left.


I was not sure what I was getting into - traveling solo to Denver, CO to be a counselor to young kids who were adopted from the Philippines. I comforted by the fact that there was a fellow young adult adoptee that I could relate to and that a couple families happened to be on the same Motherland tour 2 years earlier!

Fast forward a decade later and many hours on the phone with my fellow co-counselor and now Co-Director. I would like to think I am ten years wiser and more experienced to take a leadership role in a camp that has become a second home and family to me.

It will be our 4th consecutive year traveling to the Rockies with my son who has been attending and recently participating as a camper, which will undeniably help play a role in his own identity development.

Traditions and Family

Christmas with the Crowder/Pasquarellos!

Yes, I am the sentimental type and heavy on family traditions. Because my memory is not so great I always made a point to take pictures and thanks to the advanced technology in photography I won't miss those important moments!

If only I kept a list of gifts that I gave to my family....I am sure they would make me laugh hysterically.

Christmas at the Crowder's (and Pasquarellos) always starts with an early rise so we could tear into our stockings! We are flexible about the time of arrival now that we are older but still engage in paper shredding through our stockings.

There was one point when we had a membership to Price Club (warehouse) and our stockings were filled with 6 dozen pencils and other bulk items like post its and scotch tape! We still continue the tradition because it would not be Christmas without it!


The next phase was Christmas breakfast, which always includes grapefruit topped with meraschino cherries and the usual makings like scrambled eggs or pancakes and even buckwheat waffles....I suppose it was the preparation that made has made it memorable because there is something to say about too many cooks in the kitchen.....

This year we had a cranberry coffee cake and pomegranate with dill and pistachios. Delish!

Once our tummies were full we proceeded to the living room, exchange gifts and play with our new toys for the rest of the day.

Mid Winter Gathering

Solstice means: standing-still-sun.











Above: My uncle Ron tending to the bonfire

For the last few years my family has celebrated the winter solstice at my aunt and uncle's house in Valatie - upstate New York.

I am not sure how the idea came about but it has been an annual event in which my uncle prepares a bonfire on their property. My aunt provides edibles, spirits and warm drinks such as hot chocolate and hot cider. My contribution has

.been ingredients for s'mores and also getting a little dirty as I probe




What I find fascinating about Winter Solstice is that the earth is closest to the Sun in January than any other month of the year. Something about the tilting of the axis - exact calculation is " 23 degrees and 27 minutes off the perpendicular to the plane of orbit" All the science mumbo jumbo gives me a headache so I will spare myself the pain of explaining it.




Above: My brother Ed and John bringing more fuel for the fire.

In anycase, I hope that Noah will be able to appreciate this event as he becomes older. It is one day in which our ever growing family can become attuned to the astral observance and be with our loved ones.

Creative Holiday crafting

As if I needed another project on my plate, I decided to take on the daunting task of making holiday cards this year. I wanted something more of a keepsake than a card so I made a versatile tree ornament slash decoration.

I chose a family picture from Noah's first birthday and found all the supplies at Michael's, which also included a circle cutter. How crafts have evolved. Perhaps the next time I will make sure the paper is recycled. I went to CVS Photo store and printed out the wallet size pictures - 8 on a sheet for 29 cents.

Despite the long hours of cutting circles, trimming pictures, gluing and writing personal messages on the 20+ cards I felt accomplished and extremely satisfied. It was heartwarming to see the ornaments on their Christmas trees.

I think next year I will think of a less complex design.

May the force be with you!

I hardly remember what age I was when I first watched Star Wars: Return of the Jedi but I know I was pretty young. My brother's had a collection of figurines from Star Wars that I was not too interested in but do recall playing with them once or twice along with my barbies. I know my mom still has one of the space ships in the attic.

For whatever reason we decided to dress Noah up as Yoda. I figured it was too easy to find one of the cute baby costumes so who was better than the wise one? I originally wanted to dress him up as a turtle but the holiday crept up so quickly we did not find it in time. Since there was a shortage of women from the movie, by default I was Princess Leah. John of course wanted to be Obi Wan Kenobi so the family theme was in full affect.

I went to the Halloween Bazaar in Union Square and even a week before the store was a mob scene. There was a section dedicated to Star Wars characters. I was appalled when I saw the price for the Princess Leah costume, $74 while John's costume was 1/3 of it. I ended up buying the wig of two braided buns and sewed a similar dress together from a white bed sheet. With little time to plan I did not have a chance to fix some minor details but I did save $50 and dabbled in some sewing - a dream of mine.

Halloween has become a multi million business. It was reported that in 2006 an estimated 2.5B was spent on costumes and this year roughly 5B nationally. In the suburbs vacant business warehouses become Halloween Headquarters. Everyone is getting in on the fun - dressing up, carving pumpkins, handing out candy and especially decorations.

We have 365 days to think of what we will dress up as next year!

We all have a little country in us.

Durham Fair, CT
http://www.durhamfair.com/content/44/default.aspx

In high school my friends and I would trek to the North Haven Fair, Orange Fireman's Fair and the Durham Fair in Connecticut; all of which fell between August and September. Who could not resist the amusement rides, cotton candy, and fried dough with tomato sauce?! My favorite ride was the Zipper, a two minute ride that jolted every inch of your body and was one of the best adrenaline rush!

My sister in law mentioned that the last day of the Durham Fair (in Durham. CT) was coming up and I couldn't pass the chance to go for old time sake. Though, since I was going with Noah I would not have a chance to ride the Zipper, not this time at least. There was an abundance of other attractions to keep us busy.

The rush of excitement as we were taking the shuttle bus to the fair grounds had me giddy even as I was pinned between Noah in his car seat and the rest of the stroller. With tickets in hand we were ready to conquer all.

We walked through the large warehouses of livestock that included - goats, poultry, rabbits, llamas, swine, sheep, dairy cattle. There was also competative arts and crafts exhibits, vegetables, canning, baking, needle work and so on. I can't wait until Noah is old enough to appreciate the Fair for all of its glory.

It would not be a fair without all the food vendors. We indulged in an onion flower, fried dough, root beer float and also had to force ourselves not to let our temptations get out of hand considering the food was pricey.

Next time we will have to allot more time to see everything! Can't wait for next year!

Durham Fair 2008 - http://www.durhamfair.com/

The benefits of tree farms.

My Mom started going to a local tree farm to cut our Christmas tree thanks to her friend who lives across the street from us. The farm has been in our town near Sleeping Giant for ages.

When I was in high school I went to Bielefeld, Germany for Christmas, my first one away from my family. The Beckenbauers brought me to a tree farm and it was majestic. Large snow flakes were were floating around us. I remember the was nothing I had seen before. It was bulging with branches and a blue-white color. The decorations were just as spectacular, with red circular ornaments and thick silver bows.
A traditional German/European Tannenbaum.



An average Christmas tree takes 5-16 years to grow while supporting life by absorbing gases and giving off carbon monoxide. Every 18 acres of Christmas trees provide oxygen for 18 people. Tree farms also, "tabilize soil, protect water supplies, and provide a refuge for wildlife while creating a scenic view. http://www.americanforests.org/news/display.php?id=125

Family 'Bish' Bash

All things aside, I enjoy family reunions since we do not get to see each other often. There may be some heated drama but the lasting thoughts are that all families have their moments.

Camping with the family makes for more excitement and any chance for a bonfire is a plus.