Jan 28, 2012

HARAJUKU


Marlo in her Harajuku dress...so cute I can't handle it.Piper had her big 8 year old birthday bash last night. It was a pretty exciting night. We are loving Gwen Stefani's new Harajuku kids line at target, so that was the inspiration.

We took Piper and her 6 friends + 1 favorite cousin to the party at Sakura.
The gift bags and cool stuff inside. Japanese toys, candy, chopsticks, and harajuku necklaces.
The 100% homemade harajuku birthday cake...yes, go ahead, be impressed.
Dinner at Sakura. Japanese sushi and steak house. Dinner and entertainment:


Pretty sure, some of them thought we had better get out of there quick!


The girls loved the volcano, the guy trying to flip shrimp into their mouths, and all his funny jokes.
They had fun trying to eat with chopsticks...






We went into a private dining room after dinner and made candy sushi, and opened presents, and had cake. The waitress brought in a tempura banana with a candle...so cute.

Candy sushi: fruit roll ups, rice krispie treats, and candy. Easy, fun, and cute.








The party was very fun and I think everyone had tons of fun. Especially me, since I didn't have to clean up my house after it was over!

Magical


Our Christmas was magical this year. We kept it low key. We tried not to overdo the gifts. We spent a lot of time talking about the real meaning of Christmas, and we spent lots of time making special gifts for each other.
We spent Christmas eve with family. The usual traditions: we went and ate Chinese, and then stopped by Sister Rose's house, then came to our place and read the Nativity and had the kids act it out.


Mary and Joseph (aka Tatym and Aden)
A squirmy baby in the inflatable cradle

Marlo's loving her new soft blanket!
Then the kids opened their Grandparent gifts. Fuzzy blankets with their name and number from the Dudleys and Grandma jammies from the Francis side. Both were a big hit.
Christmas morning started early. We were up before 6 am. Had all the gifts opened, had a big yummy breakfast, and still managed to get to church on time at 9:30. We came home and napped and then went to Angie and Randy's for Christmas dinner.


All the kids with their cozy blankies
Grandma Pajamas
Cooper can't take his clothes off quick enough...he loves new clothes




Santa made it!

The gifts the kids made each other

Cute faces on Christmas morning...














Marlo did not want to let go of her little bear...



Not even when she ate breakfast

Christmas dinner at Angie's
On New Year's eve, we had everyone over here. Cam and Preston came into town, and Tim's brother Darren's family all came out, Angie and Randy's family, and his parents. We had the obligatory jello eating contest, which Angie dominated (so gross, truly). Played some games and then had the big count down (New York time for the littler kids).
New Year's Eve...Jello eating contest




HAPPY NEW YEAR
It was a fun and exhausting, which is how it should feel if you are doing right, I say.

Isaac tooting his horn at Titus...