Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Christmas 2018

It never cease to amaze me how quickly Christmas comes and goes.  So much gets pack into a month and there's so many feelings that go with it all that can't be captured in words.  Hopefully the pictures will spark some of that when we look back on it.
 We got some presents from some our favorite people.  Our respite worker (Ms. Mary) has become a favorite fixture in our home for everyone, especially Bubby.  He will grab her hand as soon as she comes to go swinging in the back.  Pumpkin always is darling with her and so she's become an adopted Grandma of sorts, bringing story books or small toys from the dollar store.  We love her!
 The Harrisons are a couple I visit with often and has always been so kind to make candy trains for us at this time of year.  This year she gave up blankets as well everyone loved them!
 We found some unique light shows around the valley and went out in our PJs to enjoy them as a family.
 Kent's siblings and their families came to our home for the Christmas Eve party.  We see each other so little so there's always some catching up to do.


 These two are such hams together!  We just wished they weren't on the other side of the valley because they love each other so much!


 Sitting around waiting for the big man in red to appear.




 We finally had a tiny little one for Santa's lap and heard the good news of Jess and her baby to come.  Just Bug-love and Pumpkin sat on Santa's lap this year and Santa felt the need to make her Christmas wish come true by giving her a Paw Patrol stuffed animal.

 Pumpkin's response to her gift was perfect delight, on everyone's part.  She won't be this little much longer so I love seeing the magic that it is when wishes come true.
 These guys are too big and cool for Santa but they sure had fun playing games together.
Christmas day is always a joy.  In general we've tried not to make it about big things, most of the kids get their presents for each other at a second hand store or dollar store.  We do try to make it about thoughtfulness, something they know the other person will enjoy.  This year Bud was particularly thoughtful and it showed in how his gifts were recieved.   It warms my soul to see this sensitive side finding expression.




 Snuggles are always the best!
 A surprise gift of slippers, even a Pokemon themed one for Bud which has seen a ton of use since.

 After the chaos everyone settled into books and puzzles.

It was Ms. Mary's birthday so I had prepped a cake, a rather sad attempt at a chrismas tree, and we stopped by in the early afternoon to surprise her.  We got to meet one of her sons that we hear so much about and help to get Chloe her dog dressed for the day!


Things were fairly quiet and content post-Christmas. So much satisfaction was found in their new art sets that the spent the remaining hours on that. We started a 500 piece puzzle as a family on the 29th and finished it in 4 days.  Pumpkin won some tickets to go to the movie theater so I went with 3 of them to see Mary Poppins which we loved.




Park days with friends filled the in between times.  Bud got a kick out of digging tons of holes with connecting tunnels.  Somehow he got everyone into the fun.




We also celebrated our Baba's birthday.  Kent bought his own Cannoli cake from a special bakery not too far from his work place.  We place it in our fridge and somehow Bubby got to it and decided to redecorate it.  I asked if he wanted a new cake and he said, "Are you kidding?  this is the stuff memories are made of!" so we piled the remnants onto a plate and plugged in some candles!


It was a wonderful holiday filled with laughter and fun.  I'm so blessed to have this crowd to grow old with!

Monday, January 21, 2019

A Ngai Thanksgiving

As I get older the more I realize that family is worth time, energy and money.  My siblings and I haven't been able to have the contact I always wished for, due to life, circumstances, etc.  One of my brothers had moved to Utah for school and finally 3/4 were all in the same country, if somewhat spread out.  A few months before Thanksgiving we realized we'd all be in fairly close proximity, Joe and Becky (residing in Texas) would be with her family in Las Vegas.  Somehow we pulled it together so we could all spend time with the cousins playing.  It was wonderful!

James and Sam came out from Utah and we got a place with kitchen right next to each other.  My kids didn't want to leave their little ones and Bug-love was a popular attraction for both of them.  She adores little ones.  Pumpkin got to play big sister to this cutie and Bud was an outlet for a ton of energy.
 Learning all things Pokemon from a pro!
With Chinatown nearby and a Costco run just beforehand so we were set for food.  We spent our days sightseeing and playing at Bass Pro Shop the and meeting Santa. 

 The girls adored the mermaids and Pumpkin was thrilled to have her recognize her with her hands.


Snuggling/wrestling and lots of giggling for this girl!  She couldn't get enough of the little ones!

 Three out of four of the Ngai siblings!
After Thanksgiving day all 3 families met up at the park where the cousins played happily and the adults got caught up on life.  The three of us really haven't been together since James and Sam's wedding.  Looking back on the pictures both Joe and I have really aged.


A simple game of running up and down a incline that wore out all the littles and gave them good appetites for lunch.

Pumpkin LOVED all her cousins and was planning playdates as if they lived just down the street.



I had to chuckle when Bug asked if these little ones were really cousins.  We call all our Asian friends as 'Auntie or Uncle So and So' so naturally they thought all those friends were related.  It was a source of satisfaction to her that she was playing with her actual cousins and just loved all of them.  Hooray for family and when life serendipitously brings us within driving distance of each other.  The years will fly by and these little faces won't be little for much longer.  Here's to making memories.