DPP 2014 / 12.13.14 / Christmas story book

we've been collecting toddler friendly Christmas books to add to our collection that we select from near bedtime for this time of year.  :)  it's been so fun to learn and read together.  my MIL sent us this one and it's great.  super simple story about why we celebrate at this time of year -- the birth of Jesus.  it's his birthday!  i suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a book that's simple and yet right on for the story of Jesus' birth.

DPP 2014 / 12.12.14 / belly shelf & hot cocoa

tonight we were at a party to celebrate good friends that are leaving nashville for their next adventure.  i am still in denial that they are leaving us here, but i know their adventure will be exciting and good for them.  they have the potential to live overseas and as you all know we fully support that.  at the party there was yummy, thick hot cocoa.  potentially some of the best i've had.  i enjoyed my cup and also that i could set it close by on my belly shelf.  cannot believe that i am almost 37 weeks and we will meet our baby boy in just a few busy weeks.

DPP 2014 / 12.11.14 / hibachi dinner

today is paul's birthday and he chose to try a new place for dinner, tokyo hibachi.  it was exciting and hoped that james would like it as much as we thought it might.  he did.  his favorite part was when the chef made a huge flame of fire.  he even did it again at the end just to make james happy.  so much fun!

DPP 2014 / 12/10/14 / the stockings were hung...

when paul and i started dating i realized the next christmas that stockings were a big deal in his family.  after we were married i decided to make our own stockings as a surprise for our first christmas.  it was quite an ordeal at first b/c i had never crocheted anything other than scarves, pot holders or other flat rectangular items.  thankfully my good friend in korea had more experience and was able to hold my hand and teach me through the process.  we spent our first holiday in melbourne, australia doing a house swap.  as i had to work on them during the flight i shared them with paul early.  he was thrilled.  one each of them i have a felt tag where we list where we spent christmas each year.  another korea friend shared that idea with me and i loved it.  so our tags so far list--melbourne '07, hoi an '08, houston '09, phnom penh/laos '10, houston '11/'12/'13, and nashville '14.  james's first christmas i worked on his and made it striped red and green since mine is green and paul's is red.  hard to match the yarn since the initial yarn was bought in seoul and his yarn was bought here locally.  his tag just has houston '12/'13 and nashville '14.  obviously next year i will be making another stocking for baby brother.  so exciting to have this fun family tradition to carry on.  

DPP 2014 / 12.9.14 / accomplishment

paul and i are spoiled when it comes to household chores.  after living in asia for 5.5 years and having house help we just got used to not doing them.  in our current house the chores even get more complicated b/c we don't have a dishwasher.  ugh.  that means all the dishes have to be washed by me and by hand.  i loathe the dishes now.  it's my least fav thing and i can name a long list of things i would rather do instead.  i typically let them pile up and it's becomes this huge pile that stares at me every time i enter the kitchen.  argh.  today though i made the goal to get them done.  i worked on them monday and today since i have to do them in groups.  toddler won't let me do them all at once and the baby boy won't either.  it's hard to stand there without my back starting to hurt anyhow so it works.  i also have to stop, dry and put them away in groups too as our kitchen is small.  it feels good to have them done except for the cups which i plan to finish up tomorrow.  here's to small accomplishments....

DPP 2014 / 12.8.14 / imagination

james has been really into rescue bots at the moment.  we watch them all the time.  yesterday i looked up to find him setting up this entire scene in front of the TV including animals, cars, and then cars that were standing up on their rear bumpers.  he was totally into whatever he was creating.  i love this stage and seeing his imagination at work.  each day there's something new that i am just taking by when he's playing/creating.

DPP 2014 / 12.7.14 / cookies

today i took a cookie decorating class at the skillery.  i just wanted to learn the basics and how to make cute cookies.  last year at my husband's family's christmas eve celebration i scored ninja bread cookie cutters.  super pumped, but have no idea how to do that well or even where to start.  then the class pops up on the skillery's email i get.  bingo!  so today i learned how to put royal icing in a pastry bag, add a tip, and pipe white lines on cookies.  i even learned how to "flood" cookies and add sprinkles and such.  it was fun and relaxing.  i was pretty happy with the outcome and look forward to trying again sooner than later.