christmas

christmas and the month of december was busy as usual this year. jimmy was working a lot making the $. and i was doing everything else here at home....getting all the gifts for the kids, teachers, and family members (making many late night trips to toys r us, michaels, bed, bath and beyond, the mall, and every other store in this area!), sending out our cards, mailing packages, cleaning, organizing, and decorating the house, doing preparations for 2 birthdays this month, planning and preparing for our christmas dinner menu.. which of course takes a ton of trips to multiple grocery stores (you just can't get everything at one place! there's whole foods, kroger, korean grocery.), etc. i'm tired... and full from all the food that i've been eating. :P

but amidst all the craziness with traffic, crowds, and lines and hectic schedules, i am reminded that christmas time is still a joy for so many reasons. I've said this before in a previous post, but what the heck... I'll say 'em again... :). for one and most importantly, it a fresh reminder of the birth of Jesus and then ultimately His death in which He died for our sins... the gift of eternal life. then two, it's time with our family members that we may or may not see as often. it's a time to reflect on our relationships with our loved ones and to live and love with a clean heart. and three, for myself personally, i get to experience christmas through my kids. I get to be a kid all over again. i get to see the sheer excitement in addison and ellie's eyes. it makes all that holiday stress so worth it. ellie was slowly getting into it this year by watching her sister go crazy over the unwrapping of gifts. but it was addison who squealed with giddy delight with every gift. And the thought of santa coming to OUR house and delivering gifts was just beyond amazing for her. so it was a joy as a parent to witness such innocence, happiness and wonder.


addison's note to santa. she had to clarify which stocking was hers. hehe



cookies for santa and carrots for rudolph (because "he needs energy to lead the pack")



opening presents from santa... with bed head and all



horse on a stick! hehe it was one of her favorite gifts this year.



ellie got a new doll stroller.... because she puked on her old one during her stomach bug so then we threw it away.



loving her rocking blue dog...even backwards! santa did good this year!



addison wrote a letter to santa that she wanted "princess things"... so this is what she got. can't get anymore princess than princess figurines, i guess!



"this is really early....it's still semi-dark outside."


and then later that day....

halmoni and hadabogi enjoying a gift






and then the food. mostly american... pork tenderloin, stuffing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, corn, shrimp cocktail... with a korean chicken dish and some kimchee. hey, we're korean.. it wouldn't be a korean holiday dinner without some kimchee and rice! :)