so crafty!

For Christmas this year I felt like Charli and I could really do some projects together, so I went a little nuts and made an advent calendar for her (based on this blog post) with a different activity for each day. I'm not really very crafty, but it turned out so cute and I had fun doing it (and stressed out about it, too. This advent calendar was way more stressful than my job). Here are some of the things we did!

the advent calendar itself

We made hot chocolate with these fancy chocolate sticks I found. You are supposed to swirl them in hot milk or water, and they melt and make hot chocolate! Well, that DID happen, but it took a while and in the end it just devolved into being a chocolate lollipop (which might even be better)

We painted nails, and established that I own enough nail polish to throw out a few bottles that had completely dried up into uselessness, and yet still have more than enough to paint every single fingernail and toenail a different color.

We made banana bread! This is a yearly thing, and really it's a big girl thing as opposed to a little girl thing, but Charli did help out at the beginning, and she's getting very good at cracking eggs!

We made these super cute paper ornaments! We put six or seven onto each long string of fishing line and hung them in our windows, and they look so nice! We also made snowflakes and paper chains. So fun!

happy days are here again!

The family all came here for Christmas again, since Mom and Dad were flew back into SF after their trip to Thailand anyway, so only Kim and Brent had to travel. As usual, everything was lovely and we had lots and lots of food, and presents, too! Here are a pile of pictures and a video for you to enjoy!

Buster helps decorate the tree

Daisy and Jim visit from Hong Kong

Buster enjoys his present from Nina, both wrapped and unwrapped

they love Nina

opening presents from Kelly on Christmas Eve

Hooray! Hat, jammies and hat, both jammies!

the tree, some presents, and a random balloon

traditional breakfast

this gift was the cause of much contention (on my part)

some particularly favorite presents

mad scientist carefully measuring sour beer

brush paintings from China

what kind of holiday would it be without visits from more family?

Charli decorates both of us

Buster discovers a fondness for rice, ribs, and fruit punch

Sam makes New Year's Day breakfast, including love toast!

obligatory family photos - happy + pirates

And last but not least, on New Year's Eve we found out that Charli loves Rock Band!

Sick. :(

Well, we made it 4 years and 1 month without Charli ever getting really sick. Sure she has had colds and sneezes and sniffles, but never the barf in the middle of the night type of sick. I was starting to wonder whether kids still get that kind of sick. Well, now I know. And yes, they do. Just in time for our eggnog open house tomorrow! Hopefully she'll be feeling better by then. She's in good spirits, drinking lots of water, just can't hold down any food. Such a bummer...

Sent home

Well, Charli turned 4 and has started wanting nothing to do with her parents. Here is poor, dejected Brian, home early after being sent home from Kelly's school. Previously when Charli and Brian would go to Kelly's preschool, Brian would stay there. This time, he was instructed (by Charli) to just drop her off and go home. *sigh* Soon it's going to be "just drop me off at the corner" and no kussies...

fd&c something or other

Happy birthday Kate! We loved the ice cream cake (especially the green icing)!

a thanksgiving change

This year we had Thanksgiving at Brian's grandmother's place, instead of Naomi coming to Jerry and Donna's as she usually does. She might be moving to a smaller apartment, so she wanted to have us all over while she still had the room for us! It was cozy, but definitely enjoyable, and Charli and Buster had a fine time.

Buster uses the walker

Charli decorates a cake with Kelly and Katy

Buster has a little nap

Big hug for Grandma when we leave

On Friday we went to the farm to cut down our Christmas tree

and here we all are, Christmas tree cut down and happy as clams!

big four

Charli turns 4! 4 4 4!

awesome cake baked and decorated by Kelly

Charli loved playing this with Grandpa. Not so much with Mom, who makes her follow the rules.

Charli Lawler scooted!