Christmas Season 2013 was a good one. Lot's of love, good food and family, family, family. We are stuck with iPhone pics because I kept forgetting to bring my black beauty with me :/ Then, when the big day finally came, my camera batteries died two pictures in. Sigh. Oh well. And thank heavens for the iPhone.
So let's get this craziness started. As you are all aware, I'm a picture junkie. I love taking them, I love looking at them and I love posting them. So here we are, picture overload: January 2014.
We took the kiddos to Dim Sum for the first time in December. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is where some Asian restaurants push carts of Ala Carte items around rather than ordering from a menu. It's most often items like, dumplings, buns and such. Appetizer type stuff. It's kinda fun and thought the kids might enjoy it. They did. We discovered, Ava, LOVES chicken feet. Yeah. She is definitely the most Asian one of the bunch. (maybe that's why she is currently Ba Noi's favorite?) Ollie is pretty easy to please as well. Kahner... well... he's just Kahner. He waited the entire time for the yummy bun cart to come around and picked up some cream filled buns. That's why it's fun I guess, something for everyone.
The kids gave me the gift of sleeping in through most of Christmas break. Best. Gift. Ever. And the kids were so so excited to get out the Christmas pillow cases Grandma made for us last year :0) nothing like kids who are ready to sleep!
I know it's blurry, but isn't he cute all curled up like that? That's what I thought.
And our yearling tradition of making gingerbread houses. Ollie said "Did you get me looking cool, Mom?" Yes, I think I did son...
We took some time to make some old fashioned Christmas candy... oh the goodness... YUM.
Loving every second of this building stuff. I think his house ended up weighing about 5 lbs! So much candy, so little space!
Silly Avie. I call this one "My Asian Mouse."
But it's not Christmas without snow!!
or sledding...
on a giant louge that Daddy built in the front yard...
until it's dark and so cold your children walk in with booger-cicles... true story...
And Christmas DEFINITELY wouldn't have been complete without being able to meet my newest niece, baby Averie. Isn't she a doll!! Man oh man how we love this little lady. Such a GOOD baby! We were sad to send her back to Oregon when the time came. I think little miss and her mommy and daddy were ready for their own beds though. *Note to self: get beds so comfy they won't want to leave next time.
Our silly elf Buzz. He likes reminding us why we celebrate Christmas... what a good Elf.
One of my favorite traditions, I think is the same for many, is the opening of Christmas Pj's on Christmas Eve. The kids were much more excited than they look in the picture (except Ava... she looks a little overly excited don't you think? Maybe it was the sleep deprivation... maybe it was running on sugar fumes and candy canes? Who knows... she was h.a.p.p.y.)
There they are. New robes and Pj's from Mommy and Daddy...
After present opening the kids all settled in with their first pick toy. Ava's was this "color-me-pretty-pony" not it's actual name... it just sounded cool...
I guessed this one... he was rearing to rip into his army trucks he'd asked for...
Kahner wanted to open the marble track Grandma gave him since Santa stocked him up with Skylanders and he had to wait for the wiiU to update and load... it was a loooooong two hours for this kiddo.
Oops. Working in reverse for a second. I couldn't overlook the lovely food brought to the Phan family on Christmas Eve. Oh wow. Uncle outdoes himself every year. This year we had, Clams, Crab, Scallops, shrimp, pasta and some steaks the size of my head. (That plate is two of the steaks sliced thinly over our salad.) Wow.
Brothers v Brothers. Can't beat a good old fashioned game of Rock Em Sock Em.
Little Miss had to try on every. single. outfit. from Ba Noi's dress up set.
She is a happy girl when her Ong Noi is around. She is so good at getting the men in her life wrapped around her little finger in the blink of an eye. (How could you resist that sweet smile!?)
Ahhhhhhhh, the aftermath. The weeks of clutter...
Ollie took it upon himself to break in Ava's new stroller... with a stroller race. Such a boy.
K man was feeling well enough to build some legos.... then was back down the next day.
Love the button up polka dot pj's Santa brought her!
She love's to help her mama. It was so nice to have all my kiddos home for two uninterrupted weeks! They are such good helpers (most the time)
Oh, and this boy. Poor guy spent most of the time sleeping and moping about. At this point, he was sick and tired of being sick and tired :0( we finally took him to the Dr. when we felt like he should be getting better to find that he had had the flu on top of a sinus infection. Luckily he was on the upswing at that point and pulled through just fine. He's a trooper.
My helper Ava. She loves slicing olives.
da da da daaaaaa!!!! only took us two hours to build! And two second to be accidentally destroyed...
oopsie. Working backwards again. Cousin Dominique with Grandma Wilma. So sweet.
My Dad, being... my Dad. Love him to pieces this one.
Loved this tender moment... Dad teaching his Mom, Wilma to play a game on the Kindle...
Speaking of games... oh yeah. Perfection baby. Best game ever invented. We spent hours playing this!
Mmmmhmmmm, chewing on some German chocolate direct form Germany, thanks Aunt Tawnya!!
I Mustache you a question...
Spent the last 10 minutes looking everywhere for him....
I honestly can't get enough of this little girls artwork. I love it.
OK, I love all my kids artwork. This one is Ollie's self portrait from kindergarten... LOVE.
And my little family spoiled me with this cute ice cream cake for my birthday. (technically the week before my birthday but it's easier to do on the weekend) Yum!
Back to reality. The kids were so excited to go back to school. I wasn't so ready.
Don't know how this little gem made my Christmas 2013, this was circa 2010. Oh boy it's a goodie. Three crying kids, one very tired Mama. (Even though you can't see Kahner's face, something tells me he was crying too...)
My sweet Mom and sister came out to watch the kiddos while I did my Young Women thing on the the night before my birthday, and I came home to presents, sweet notes and cards from everyone and a happy birthday banner. How fun! Definitely feeling spoiled now!
My actual birthday was spent at the dentist with my three muskateers. It was Ava's first time and she only freaked out when the dentist came in at the very end to "count her teeth" oh boy.
So, one mama, two hours, three kids, and FOUR cavities later...
But nothing could stop Kahner from wanting to play guess who. Oh, the obsession. Not even the fact that THREE of said cavities are in this kids mouth... nope. I guess that fact only depresses me.
And to end... you'll get the rare glimpse of mama bear and her cub. I'm usually behind the lens. I got to take this kiddo to the "Great to be Eight" program last night. Sniff sniff... how can he possibly be EIGHT this year!? Big milestones coming for the Phan family. 2013 was a good year. 2014 is going to be a great one. I can feel it in my bones.
God is good & Families are forever... happy sigh...
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