Emily, Craig, Kay & Marissa: 2014

GG and Kay coloring while waiting for dinner...

All the girls painted nails while the guys played with the hover craft.

Our friends stopped by with "Christmas Carols"...

All dressed up at dance...

Our little monkey. Marissa climbs everything. She seems to be fearless...

Family walk to try out Marissa's new car.

Marissa LOVES her jacket. I gave up and put all the jackets in a big basket that she can reach. She digs through until she finds just the right one. She will carry it all around the house and will usually insist on wearing it.

Opening Poppy's gift.

Kay and her daddy fixing hair.

Looks like Kay left and Craig decided to keep playing ;)

So proud to be wearing her sister's boots.

Marissa even insists on wearing her jacket at school. We saw one of the families from her school this morning at breakfast and they commented out of the blue how Marissa is always wearing her jacket. Funny girl.

Blueberry fun

Not a fan

We had a wonderful holiday season. We did a lot of "American" things this year to celebrate. Our house was decked out in lights and decorations and we drove around several times to find other festive homes to look at.

Nana and Pops spent about a week at our house. We put them to work like usual helping around the house and playing with the girls. The girls have now been looking around for their missing playmates.

GG came to visit and spent several days with us. How lucky are Kay and Marissa to have an 87 year old grandmother who can fly half way across the country and is healthy enough to get down and hide behind the sofa during hide and seek??

Opening presents from Grandma and GG before they left to visit Scott and Marcia.

A sled! Let's hope it snows so we can use it.

Craig got a bunch of home brew stuff.

Showing off my special gift from GG.

Marissa climbed in all by herself. Kay decided she could fit as well and joined her!

We opened presents with the Hardin's on Christmas eve. We wrapped up duck tape and a shower curtain to play a joke on Will. He was a good sport and "thanked us" very politely. Once we told him it was to make a hover craft he started grinning ear to ear.

Setting up the luminary.

Coloring the giant coloring book book for Santa. My mom started this tradition with us and I decided to continue it.

Reading Twas the night before Christmas.

Watching Christmas shows.

Looks like Santa came!

Kay got the princess barbie she requested.

Marissa LOVED her gift from Santa. She kept climbing in it and fussing until someone pushed her around the house.

Kay's Hong Kong umbrella was ruined in the car/gas/washer leak. She was really disappointed and so sweet. She said "I wish I could ask Santa for an umbrella but I already asked for a barbie princess". Lucky girl, she got both!

Santa = FAIL. Marissa got finger paints from Santa. She HATED them. She kept wanting to eat it and would scream in disappointment when we said no. At least Kay had fun with it.

Craig opening his beautiful home made craft from Kay.

Great gift from Phil/Malia/Miles and Hazel

After us telling Marissa "no" when she tried to unwrap the presents under the tree it took her awhile to feel confident enough to rip the paper on her presents. After lots of encouragement she finally got it.

Craig opening his magnets of pictures we took in Hong Kong.

We gave Kay my childhood doll and clothes. She has had a blast dressing her up.

We had big plans of a formal Christmas dinner. We spent so much time getting ready for the gathering we were hosting the next day we ended up having a casual dinner in the kitchen. Everything takes longer with two little helpers!