Spain Dad, a baby blog

At Christmas time Americans sing about roasted chestnuts. Europeans eat them.

Kings Day is celebrated on January 6th, and it is the day children traditionally receive Christmas presents in Spain. The gifts help the children remember the part of the Christmas story when the “kings” or wise men brought presents to baby Jesus. We started celebrating Kings Day with Alleke last year because we wanted to [...]

April walked into the living room and leaned over the back of the recliner. “Mom, do you have a nightlight?” she asked. Mom was sitting on the couch with little Teo asleep in her arms. “I don’t think so,” she said, not taking her eyes off her grandson, “but you can look around.” April disappeared [...]

Tomato & Bagel Knife by The Marmot. I turned the key in the lock and opened the door into our apartment. Alleke scampered by and climbed onto the couch. Before I had time to take off my coat and hang it up, Alleke was already jumping up and down like a cheerleader and chanting, “Daddy’s [...]

“Look, Amy,” Alleke said, lifting up the long cardboard box. “This is where Christmas trees come from.” So much for trudging through the snow and cutting down an evergreen tree with a hacksaw, which is what I remember from my childhood. For our little city girl, Christmas trees were made of plastic and wire and [...]

Happy Kings Day, or Feliz Reyes in Spanish. Tag along with Alleke to the Kings Day Parade, take a bite of our traditional Kings Day breakfast, and enjoy the unexpected Christmas weather. Watch Reyes on Vimeo.

Like many families in Spain, we will be exchanging gifts on Kings Day (January 6th) this year. Nativities are an important part of Christmas in Spain, so part of the fun has been watching Alleke wake up each morning and discover that during the night our three little kings have journeyed a little closer to [...]

When I put Alleke to bed on Christmas Eve, I thought twice about telling her about the presents we would open in the morning and the party we would go to at her friends’ house. Like most kids on Christmas Eve, I thought she would wake up ridiculously early looking for presents and party food. [...]

“See,” I said, “it’s baby Jesus.” I held Alleke over the railing so she could get a better look. She squirmed, flopped over my arm, and reached for the floor. I set her down, and she ran over to investigate a metal plate on the floor. I leaned against the railing and watched. Sometimes I [...]

Alleke had some friends over yesterday to help her decorate her first Christmas cookie. Watch Christmas Cookie Decorating on Vimeo.