Christmas Eve 2011

We were so lucky this year to have my mom come and spend Christmas with us.  We absolutely LOVED having her here with us.  It has been a while since I have been able to see my mom for Christmas so it meant a lot to me to have her here, especially because we just had Jonas too. 

We spent a few days making candy.  This really was one of the highlights for me.  I loved spending the time with my mom doing something that we always used to do together.  I have really missed this little part of Christmas.  We made pretzel turtles, fudge, cookies, cake pops, brittle, caramels...and I am sure I am missing something.  We made a whole lot of stuff!  On Christmas Eve we delivered about 20 plates of goodies.  It was so fun! 

Lucas snuck a few treats here and there...the evidence was all over his face. 

Every year we get to open a gift on Christmas Eve...it's always pajamas and my husband is not a fan of this tradition.   Ha ha, too bad...he gets jammies every year and he NEVER wears them...except for right after he gets them for a picture. This year I was kind and thoughtful...(why thank you) and got him something that he would actually wear...

A Merry Christmas reigndeer shirt...ha ha no..the next thing....

 I got him some University of Utah basketball shorts.  Finally after 5 years of marriage...I caught on.  He was happy and surprised and that made me HAPPY. 

Grandma opening her pajamas. 

Madeline and Lucas in their new jammies. 

This year was so fun...Madeline was so excited about Christmas and everything we were doing.  I loved watching her.  There is something magical about children and Christmas.

Family Pajama picture 2011   

Baby Jonas snuggled on the blanket Grandma made him.  

My beautiful Momma.  

Baby Jonas and his first Christmas.   



Jimmy's 31st Birthday

Jimmy turned the ripe old age of 31 in December. 

We celebrated by going out to eat with the family and then we had our friends watch the kids and we went out to a movie.  It was a lot of fun.  If it were up to me he would have had a huge party with lots of friends...but Jimmy doesn't roll like that....take him to a movie and he is happy. 

Madeline picked out the cake for daddy.  I had a hard time buying a cake because I ALWAYS make the birthday cakes but I cannot find a good chocolate cake recipe...a fudgy yummy chocolate cake. I wanted him to have a delicious cake on his birthday so we went with the never fail Costco cake.  It was delicious and fudgy.  Maybe next year he will get a delicious homemade fudgy chocolate cake....I have already resumed my search. 

 Madeline and Lucas put the candles in and they were so proud of their work. 

 The handsome birthday boy....

 The mighty winds...

 The happy children....

Happy Birthday Baby!  We love you!  You truly are one year older and wiser too....hee hee.  

moments

Do you ever have little moments during the day where you just feel so happy and so thankful for what you have?  This was one of those moments for me.  (the only thing missing here is Lucas, he was already asleep).  We were all laying on Madeline's bed reading bedtime stories and I just felt this overwhellming sense of happiness and gratitude.  I had to grab my camera to take a picture because I wanted to remember how I felt at this very moment.  I truly am blessed. 

first time at the beach with jonas

At just a little over a month old, Jonas took his first trip to the beach. 
We decided to take the puppies along and headed over to the dog beach. 

Jonas snoozed in the tent all morning...

 Madeline and Lucas went wild....

 Jonas continued to snooze....

The first of many beach outtings for this baby.

Christmas traveling dinner 2011

Growing up my family had a tradition that is very near and dear to my heart.  We always did a traveling dinner with our extended family.  I have so many fond memories over the years of that tradition.  Since we are far from family we decided this year to get some of our friends together to have our own traveling dinner.  We have awesome friends!  It was so fun!

We started at the Peralta's with appetizers and I think everyone was full before they left! 

Then we went to our house for soup and rolls, then off to the Mouritsen's house for the main dish and then to the Yates for dessert.  We really did have an awesome time!  The kids LOVED getting together with all of their friends.

James Yates reading Christmas stories to the kids (Ezra, Madeline, Perri Rose, Ohi)

 Rich Peralta snuggling our little Jonas.

 The ladies. (Ka'ili, Kapeka, Maile, Chellie)

 Jimmy, Lucas, Bly, Pawahi

 Our friend Jason was awesome and willing to be Santa for the night.  It was hillarious!

 Madeline wasn't so sure about Santa...one of these years we'll get her to sit on his lap!

We feel like we have been so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing friends who make it easier to be far from family, especially during the holidays. 

getting ready for Christmas 2011

 We had a lot of fun getting ready for Christmas this year.  I really enjoy that our children are getting older and love to do fun little things that help us get into the spirit of Christmas. 

We made salt dough ornaments..... 

They were so excited to paint them and hang them on the tree afterwards.   

We also made gingerbread sleighs.  This was quite the event.  Madeline was very particular about her sleigh and the way that it was decorated.  This may be a new family tradition....although next year I think I want to try houses instead. 

  

                                  

I just love little hands...they make everything look sweeter. 

We also went to ZOOlights  at the Honolulu Zoo.  It was a lot of fun

to walk around and see the animals all lit up.   

 And we DEFINITELY had to ride the Christmas train at the Pearl City Mall.  This year we had to bribe Madeline with a cookie to ride it.  She was a little nervous about going alone and Lucas wanted nothing to do with it.  She was so funny, she tried really hard to not let us know that she was having fun. 

This year I made Jimmy his own little advent calendar.  It was fun.  I tried to include things that we

like to do but don't always have the opportunity to do...like play singstar, board games, go places like Dave and Busters.  It also included some fun things we did as a family like go see the Christmas lights and have a Star Wars movie marathon.  Each day I also wrote something that I love about him...this was super easy because there's so much to love!

This was the advent calendar that kids got to use this year.  Each day had a little treat

in it and a little paper with an act of service they had to complete during the day.  It was a lot of fun and

they REALLY looked forward to it each day. 

We also did our book advent.  Each year we wrap 25 Christmas books and once the kids are ready for bed we turn on the Christmas lights and they get to pick a book to unwrap and we read it by the Christmas tree.  It's a lot of fun.  They really LOVE reading all of the different books about Christmas. 

Of course we had to go get a Christmas tree...

 This year I made a new tree skirt.  I think it turned out pretty cute!

 Decorating the tree...

I love Christmas time and I especially love the traditions and togetherness that seems to be more evident during this time of year.