Christmas Eve Service

Making a last run to stock up for the next few days and to make two Christmas dinners for family. NJ was disappointed not to have more samples. There were only two today. But he still got some sushi from the korean market which made him really happy. He ate an entire roll by himself! He would have had more, but I ate some and had to stop him so that Baba could have some too. 

A quick dinner before heading out. It was a relaxing day at home with just us so we thought it would be nice to go to our Christmas Eve service at HOPE. As many years as we've been attending we've never made it, but always wanted to! Usually we have a family gathering or we're sick or running around too much. 

Candle lighting. NJ tipped it as I was trying to light mine with his and he burned my fingers! Ouch.

The sanctuary was full, it was so festively decorated and the music really nice. 

NJ is taking his first communion. Baba was explaining the significance to him just before this. 

Candle lighting again.

NJ, meet baby Sophie! She was so cute, we all met for the first time at church tonight. They are another THOGL family visiting from out of town and we invited them to the service. It was nice to meet, talk, and we were able to give them some stuff they needed for their stay here. They were cute sitting nicely next to each other on the pew. Maybe next time they can run around together when she's a bit older! A great Christmas eve!

Baba and NJ squeezed in a quick game of chess. This is the first time NJ's played anything on one of our phones. But it was to practice chess. 

We finally get to catch up again with Auntie Becca and Uncle Dan who we've missed! It was nice to spend some time with them especially since things have been crazy (for all of us). 

After lunch we met friends at the park. I can't believe I didn't get any photos of that play date! Well, NJ had lots of fun at the playground while Mama talked to his friend's mommy and Baba talked to the daddy. Worked out well. We were so tired after, NJ knocked out in the car. We went home to rest and then had a visit from friends. We went to church in the morning, a very festive celebration, lunch, park, and then after dinner guests. Turned out to be a full day without planning it that way. It was tiring but worth it to spend it with good company.

NJ keeps asking us to read him his Lego sticker book. He's practically memorized it, but he loves it so much he wants it read over and over. Baba tried to be funny and read it in his Filipino accent, but NJ was not amused. (I was!)

He's always picking up his bop-it and carrying it around. NJ asks us all day to: "Try Mama!" or says, "Your turn Baba!" I asked him to smile with it, but instead he struck a weird pose. I don't know what he was doing. 

We went out to dinner very spur of the moment with some friends. Auntie commented on having to order spaghetti anytime NJ does. She says that eats it so deliciously. Ha, ha, I think I want some spaghetti too now! 

Printing and More Printing

I got my first and second orders on my Etsy shop! My very first was in person at a small craft fair, but that was before I officially set up on Etsy. I'm excited about my DuckFishDesigns! Baba is helping me with printing and adjusting color. Thank goodness, he is much better at doing these details than me and so willing to help. He's so supportive. 

NJ happily played with his legos all day on his first day off from school. His vacation started one day early. I'm glad he wasn't too bored since we were taking a lot of the day to get things done. 

Our Christmas card this year all four versions. Why? Because I've got problems. I know for the most part no one would even notice or care. But I care! Maybe a bit too much, but I feel like it's a representation of us and my design. It's not the best at all, but I want to make it the best of what it is. Baba thought I was nuts, but thankfully he's also a designer so he mostly understood. I couldn't stop talking about it because it bugged me to no end. He knows me very well and got me to make it the way I want so we could print it again. He sent it and picked up the order. When he gave it to me he said, "Now you can sleep at night." It's true, I lost sleep over something like this. I always stress myself out unnecessarily. But that's why Baba is in my life to keep me sane. 

"Mama, I ate his face!"

Every day after school he begs to play at the playground. that's where he meets his friends sometimes and they they get more energy out before going home. I always forget my camera. I'm usually at my most sluggish of the day when I pick him up which doesn't go well with all the happy, friendly parents and staff at school. It's so nice that everyone's so friendly and talkative, I just wish I could be the same. Half the time I'm sure I look miserable, but I'm just so tired. And it's hard to explain to another parent especially since I don't have other little ones at home and I don't work. They probably think I'm nuts or just really lazy. 

NJ got a chocolate santa from one his teacher's assistants today. Of coarse he had to eat it right away. How could I say no to this face? 

"Mama, I ate his face!" (Followed by loud laughter)

Sadly, this is totally normal. We're pretty bad when it comes to getting your mail. So if you don't hear back from us about a card or something you sent, this is why! I've missed RSVP's because of this bad habit. Can't keep up with all the mail! 

Lots to work on today! Passing on some mugs that I worked on with my best friend who did the cool drawing. I just wrote the verse on each. I like how they turned out. Hope the girls do too. 

Adoption ornament exchange that I'm late on. I wasn't sure what to do this year, but I found these cool little soy sauce dishes. Still need to bake them and glue the ribbon on. I wrote a message and verse on the back. I wonder if any of the families will know what it is. Kind of funny since I didn't plan for it to be anything asian, but it is. 

Something simple for his teachers. 

My poor guy that's so bored because Mama's busy trying to finish way too much at once. 

Social Studies Presentation & Leftovers

NJ has a social studies presentation tomorrow about a family Christmas tradition. It was between the adoption ornament exchange or the the advent calendar that we do every year. We decided on the advent calendar since he could just bring a photo of it instead of bringing in ornaments. We reviewed what he'd say about it, including how we put something he's thankful for every day. He did his presentation to us at least three times to make sure he knew his stuff, project his voice, look at us, and answer questions we had. Not bad, I thought it would be a lot harder. 

We had leftovers from our weekend dinners, still good. This happy face is enjoying his ham and brussels sprouts. 

NJ was eager to help me bake in the morning. So much that he was upset to not stay to help. He and Baba were off to church. I had to finish up making food, wrap some gifts, and meet with some girlfriends. I don't get to see them that often so I thought it was important to connect. I wanted to bring NJ, but it's better that he goes to church and it turned out well. My friends kids were all with their dads that day by chance except for one. So it was all girls and he would have been the only little boy. 

Hope they like my weird and cutesy casserole dishes. It was just the six of us at my friend's new place. We had a nice lunch catching up on all the good and the bad. It's great that even though our high school years are long gone that we can still build on our friendships and not just dwell on the past. It was really nice, glad I took the time to go. 

My cup of choice, it says it all. I like to hide at parties. But good thing we're just with family tonight at my cousin's house for dinner. We had five families there that night. With four boys, we all have one boy. So far anyway. Two more on the way. We're all so excited about the family growing and having babies around again. Yay babies! 

This is the second night in a row that a happy man is cutting into a big juicy ham. Ha, ha. Guys and meat. 

The boys played and it was an explosion of tracks, trains and cars. So nice of cousin Cooper to share all his toys and for Auntie and Uncle to let them make such a mess! 

We had a gift exchange with just the kids. We had them pass it in a circle while music played. When the music stopped, you keep what you have. That was pretty fun. It was more like pushing the gifts around rather than passing, but it still worked! NJ got the best deal ever, he got some comments about how smart he was in his trading. He got the big box with a pack of twist crayons and an extended reach grabber (I don't know what it's called). Cousin Caden didn't want his Melissa and Doug puzzle of America so he traded it for the crayons. Just the crayons because he didn't want the grabber. Cool, nice puzzle! And he still had half his gift. Then Auntie offered her lego-like train for his grabber. How did he get such a great deal? A puzzle, which he loves. And a train that you put together like legos, which he loves. So funny. Uncle says he's like the guys on Barter Kings. He can learn from our buy and sell side business. Ha, ha. 

The boys decorated some cookies that Auntie made. I was surprised that he didn't eat it all up, he only had about half a cookie of the two he made. We took the rest home (I also had a few bites). 

Photos with the boys. Next year it will be plus two! 

The mommys' turn. 

Now the daddys'.
So fun! Didn't expect to stay 'till 10:00! Hope we didn't over stay and keep them up. Family is a definite blessing.