Give Thanks!

Daddy and Mommy decided to host family over this Thanksgiving.  Katelyn helped get the house ready for her guests by vacuuming the dirt off the hard wood.

 

Bella helped as well with the mopping.

On Thursday, Daddy's side of the family came over.  Auntie Caroline, Uncle Vu and Aiden couldn't make it since Aiden was under the weather.  Auntie Tiffany and Uncle Kevin who are Daddy's cousin got to see the house for the first time.

On Friday, Mommy's side was over.  Group picture with all the kids and teenagers.  Everyone is growing up so fast!

The girls had so much fun with their cousins.

And here are more family pictures from the day.

Thirty plus people were over and each family brought a dish or two. We ended up eating a feast.  It was the first time Daddy cooked a turkey.  Special thanks to Auntie Kristine for picking out the turkey and marinating it and extra special thanks to Po Po for washing all the dishes after the party!

Mommy asked Katelyn what she was most thankful for.  She decided to draw a picture.   She said she wanted to draw all her family members since she loves them, but ran out of room.

Life Recently

Bella woke up around 5am for a week.  She was so tired, she would crash on the couch.  She was putting things in her mouth and told Mommy, "teeth hurt!"

Adam celebrated his third birthday.  He had a firetruck pinata filled with lollipops.  The kids sure were happy once the pinata broke.

Devin turned one.  He had a Gymboree party.  You can't tell in this picture, but he had really cool slick hair.

The girls were two of the most active kids at the party.  The sisters had so much fun playing together.

Bella wakes up earlier than Katelyn each morning.  Bella likes to climb into Katelyn's bed an hour later and snuggle and give her sister hugs.

Bella didn't like swings before, but now she loves them.  She tells Mommy to push her higher.

In Katelyn's classroom, the children can earn pom poms for doing good deeds. Once the tube is filled to the top with pom poms, the kids get a special treat.

This time around the kids earned a dress up party.  Katelyn dressed up as Rapunzel. Most of the boys were super heroes and the girls wore princess costumes

Busy, Busy Weekend

Auntie Sum, Auntie Janelle, Auntie Amy and Mommy hosted a baby shower for Auntie Stef and Uncle Jason. It was nautical themed.  The girls were invited and met some new friends.

The guests of honors! We can't wait to meet baby Preston!

The guests could decorate onesies.  This was Katelyn's creation.  She made hearts, flowers and shapes.

After the shower, the girls headed for an early Thanksgiving dinner at Auntie Diane's house since she is leaving for Mexico next week.

Uncle Kelsey brought over his dogs.  Katelyn used to be afraid of dogs, but now she is more brave and will actually even feed them.

Tao Po is up and about these days and feeling much better.  She turned 91 and celebrated her birthday last week.  Mommy forgot to take pictures.

The girls had lunch with Grandma and Aiden's family the next day.  Grandma wanted to take picture with her grand kids.

The sisters went to visit baby Sam.  Aidan and Allison were there and taught Katelyn how to play Jenga. 

Speaking of games, one of Katelyn's favorite games is Zingo.  Mommy taught Bella how to play and she enjoys matching the tiles to the card.

Katelyn also likes to do puzzle games.  In this puzzle, she needed to use all the shapes in the bubble to complete the picture of the house.

Winter School Pictures

The teacher's put Bella's hair in pig tails, so it wouldn't get in her eyes.  Mommy would have preferred her hair down, but at least she is not wearing socks and smiling.

 

This was the first year, the girls had a sibling picture at school.

Like Mother Like Daughter

The girls had a play date at Auntie Lilian's house.  Katelyn played Goldfish and War with James, Auntie Lilian and Luke.

At their house, Uncle Dan had a pull up bar.  Katelyn loved going on it and seeing how long she can hang off it with no help.  She did 38 seconds.  Hanging off the monkey bars at school really helped!

Bella wanted to get in on the action to and she held on for a few seconds.

Katelyn is just like Mommy and likes to drink hot water.   She will even request it when she's having dinner.

Bella is also like Mommy in the sense, she likes to shop at Nordstroms.   She didn't want to let go of the bag and carried it around the mall.

Last week the girls went in to the doctor's office to get their flu shots.  Here are the sisters before the shots.  Mommy will spare the picture after the shots.  Bella kept saying,  Mommy ouchie, Mommy ouchie!  Katelyn said her leg was really sore.

Kalina turned one and had her party at a playhouse.  She went to town with her smash cake!

Bella loves her baby dolls.  She will put each doll on a chair and pour tea for them.

Of all the cars at Toys R Us, the Porsche was Katelyn's favorite.  Does she have expensive taste or what?

Halloween Festivities

Katelyn's classroom has been busy getting ready for the annual Imagination parade.  This year, her class made characters from the book, The Little Engine That Could.  The kids painted the wheels for the train.

Group pic before the kids lined up for the parade.

Katelyn was the white train.

Bella's classroom costumes were inspired from the book, Animal Opposites.  They painted on their t-shirts.

Mommy was surprised Bella stayed in formation and didn't run to Mommy when she saw her. Mommy didn't have to walk with Bella.

The Friday before Halloween, the girls dressed in costumes for school.  Bella was an elephant.  She didn't care to wear the elephant face.  It was a little big and covered her eyes.

Bella with her teachers and friends.

Katelyn picked one of her many princess costumes she had at home and decided to be Rapunzel.   She kept changing her mind which princess she wanted to be and finally decided on Rapunzel.

Katelyn and her school friends.

On Halloween day, the sisters dressed up as Wonder Woman and Super Girl.

Daddy thought it would be fun to dress up as a super hero family.

Katelyn took this picture of Mommy and Daddy.

Aiden and Adam joined the girls to go trick-or treating.  Our neighborhood is usually really busy with many kids and family going from house to house.

Bella was really careful in only taking one piece of candy when it was offered to her.

Everyone had a great time!