"Baby Jesus!"

Some popcorn with my happy snacker.

Had to take a photo of him with baby Jesus. So odd that baby Jesus would be hanging upright on the wall. I asked NJ if he knew what was on the wall above him. He said, "Baby Jesus!" How did you know?

Everyday he asks me if it's Christmas (even though I made him a countdown) and asks me if he can open a present, just one present. Well with him asking I noticed that he had a birthday gift that had been stashed under the tree, so I let him open that. Ooh, a coloring calendar, crayons, and a lunch box!

NJ wanted to watch and help while I made some mini cheesecakes. 

He kept a careful eye on the mixing.

And he was my happy taste tester. This was one big bite! 

Ah-ma says to slow down and enjoy it! 

My little lemon picker. 

Christmas party at Baba's judo. He ate lots of yummy food!

What a long day! Laundry, dishes, lemon picking, cheesecake making, gift wrapping, playing, napping, driving, and Christmas partying. Good thing tomorrow we can sleep in. :)

"We had Ariel cupcakes"

NJ's hair was such a cute mess this morning, sticking up in so many directions. It took me a lot of water to get it down. 

After dinner, NJ asked to decorate a cookie. I let him have one small one. 

When I picked him up he talked all about the Ariel cupcakes he had for a girl's birthday at school. He really liked them a lot because he kept talking about them. He didn't even eat much of his lunch because of them.

"I don't have a brother or sister"

My little breakfast buddy. He's happily spinning his plates as if they're records on a turn table. 

NJ was super excited about his Auntie Ma-cole coming over to join us for dinner again. We made some lettuce wraps that NJ loved. Loved is almost an understatement because he seemed to literally inhale them. I lost count after six of them. He probably had about eight, he definitely had more than I did. One second it was on his plate and the next it was gone! He'd pick it up in one big bite, he'd somehow fit it in his mouth using his two hands and it was gone. I called it the lettuce wrap disappearing act. If Baba and Auntie weren't there, no one would have believed me! When he wanted another one he'd name every ingredient that was identifiable to him... "Can I have another one please? More lettuce, ho-sin sauce, tofu, chicken, carrots." We couldn't make them fast enough for him. I could hardly make one for myself after making him one and he'd ask for another before I take my first bite. Auntie said that this should be in our food rotation more often. Ha, ha. Maybe so if I get this kind of great response! 

Auntie Ma-cole brought him another box of puzzles! Four in one. NJ insisted that she sit with him to watch him put them together. During dessert, NJ told Auntie: "I don't have a brother or sister." It was out of nowhere with no reference to anything. He asked Auntie, "Do you have a brother?" She said yes. Then he asked me, "Do you have a brother, Mama?" I said yes, it's Ah-goo or Uncle Perry. He says, "Baba, do you have a sister?" He said no. He must think that siblings are usually one of each.

After NJ went to bed, me and Auntie got to sit and talk. We had tea and hot chocolate and decorated some sugar cookies. Yum. Wish we could have done that for hours.

This is what I got from him when I told him to smile. Thanks.

I showed him dessert a little too early. He kept asking, "Mama, am I done yet?" He ate with his eye on the prize. 

We each ate a mini cheesecake I made for Monday's potluck. He wanted to share with me, how sweet.

When I went to pick up NJ from school, the teacher let him pick out a prize from their treasure chest. She said that he volunteered to clean up toys when no one wanted to. She said he's very helpful and sweet. That made us so proud. 

While he was at school, I had quite an eventful and exhausting day. It started at 4:00am and I didn't get home until 4:00pm. A good old ucla visit lasted much longer than usual. I dropped by some doctor's offices, went back to the ICU and the floor for liver patients. I was surprised that some nurses remembered me this time, last time I didn't get much reaction. It was a pleasant surprise to also see some of my doctors I'd see everyday I was there. I love going back regardless of who knows me or remembers me if anyone at all. I dropped off some Christmas cards for them. After that I headed over to grab lunch with my cousin, it was so enjoyable to spend some time together. Then I dropped by my brother's work and we walked to Starbucks and talked. I actually turned down free coffee because of my horrible heartburn today. I love coffee, but couldn't do it! By then I hit traffic and it took me an hour and half to get home. Oh well, it was worth it, it was a good day full of visits. 

"Mama, watch me do the puzzle"

NJ and his boys

His usual after church lunch crew.

And his happy self with his second cousins. They are either really excited about decorating their own cookies or hyped up on sugar. I made some sugar cookies in the shapes of stars, trees, and men. Mixed up some red (more like pink) and green frosting, and put out some sprinkles. I'm not sure if they had more fun decorating or eating them. 

One of his yummy creations.

And one of mine!
I love having family over. It was a little hectic and rushed, but so nice to spend time with everyone. It's cute to get the boys together too. We had some dinner, took some photos, decorated our desserts, talked, and laughed. I wish our lives weren't all so crazy and we didn't live so far from each other to do this more often.