Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This Christmas, because both Kaitlyn and grandma got sick, and I got sick right after that, we didn't go anywhere. But we still had fun.


The last Sunday before Christmas, we went to a friend's house for a children's Christmas party. She is really brave to plan this party with all kinds of activities for kids, and allow parents to leave.

Well, I don't think any parents left, but we were able to chat around, enjoyed tasty snack food she prepared, letting kids running around following her and her grandma for games, making gingerbread house, doing crafts, etc.
It's fun! We all enjoying ourselves!

Great! We finally can eat as many candies as I like!

One part I thought it's interesting, they were going to do a white elephant game for kids. Everything went well with picking gifts and opening gifts. When it comes to stealing gifts, everything went downhill right away:-) First boy picked the gift of another boy - a McDonald register with food (I really don't know what's so attracting about it, but all kids wanted it, including Kaitlyn), anyway, the other boy refuse to give it away - "it's mine!" After we explained to them the purpose of the game, he finally agreed to give it a try to pick another toy, then he picked a mechanical car from a girl. That's another chaos, the girl cried like hell refusing to giving it away, then crying started everywhere - some kids were upset holding their toys tight afraid someone else will take it, other kids were unhappy wanting to get the gift they want!


Oh my gosh, how to explain the give-exchange-sharing idea to a bunch of 3, 4 year old! It's so interesting to see kids at this age express their feeling straight out! - "It's a toy for me, I picked and opened the wrapping, why should I let someone else take it! Why should I rational the meaning of the game! Even if I may just want to play my toy for a minute, why someone else take it now?"

A fun game that doesn't work for kids this age!! Hahaha... I wish I had pictures showing what's going on then. But no, I'll be ashamed of myself making fun of these kids to make my blog looks more interesting :-)


One thing I felt good about it is we went to Christmas Eve Candlelight Service in our neighborhood. It reminds me this holiday is not only for shopping and eating, but also to remember us that "Jesus is the reason for the season."


On Christmas day, we opened presents, or I should say mainly Kaitlyn ;-) I know she truly believes in Saint Claus now!

Out of all gifts she received, she love the reindeer and Barbie the most! There is a story behind reindeer.

She had been asking for a singing reindeer long before holiday, I finally got her one to put under Christmas tree. She took it with her to California trip, then one of our friend's son liked a lot too, I wanted to give it him since they don't have garden ridge there. But Kaitlyn won't give it away no matter what I promised her to get her a big new one, any other gifts she likes. On the day we left, I left the reindeer in the car for the boy not telling Kaitlyn. Of course, the next day when she found out, she cried for hours. I kept telling her, Santa knows she did a good thing, he'll bring one for her. She kept asking me whether Santa will bring her for sure? I bought one after we came back not letting her know it, wrapped it as a gift. As you can imaging when she opened the box found the same reindeer, she just can't believe it. Later, she kept telling me " I know Santa will give me this! Santa give me this!" "How did Santa get it? Did he bring it back from California?" "Santa heard me!" She took it to school the day after Christmas, her daddy said she told her teachers, even receptionist, Santa brought this back! She knows Santa will! It's so touching to see her eyes sparkled when she see it. Hopefully she learns to Cherish her toy, and more willing to share!

The barbie is also very interesting. Daddy was complained about her falling in love with barbie recently, so I purposely not bought any barbies as a gift this time. Then a friend of mine gave this to her as a gift, I didn't know what's it and asked her to open the Christmas Day. When she opened up the gift saw the gift, she was quite shock, asked me in a few minute delayed - "How does Santa know I like Barbie too?" "I love Santa Claus!" "When will Santa come back?" Haha... I almost felt off the chair, laughing...