that jolly guy brought too many toys

So this is the THIRD time I'm attempting to post this because I would write, save, then it would disappear. So....you guys are getting the super shortened version of the previous writings.

Family. Fun. Food.

One of the main highlights of Christmas was that Eric's mom and grandpa flew in on Christmas Eve so that they could spend Christmas and New Year's with us.  We are soooo glad that they came out and we enjoyed having them here, we just wish it could've been for a little longer.

Christmas Eve we went to Kelli's grandparents house, ate lots of good food, did the annual grab bag/steal/gift exchange, and headed home to rest up for Santa Claus' arrival.

Christmas started EARLY for us.  We went over to Kalaheo to open gifts and have lunch at their annual Soup & Sandwich gathering.  There were a ton of toys between the three kids, lots of wrapping paper, and lots of smiles.  Kaiya got all kinds of toys...two riding toys, learning toys, two play cameras, bubbles (her favorite..."BUBBOSSSS!!!!"), Alphie (mommy's favorite toy when she was younger), and a bunch of other things that I can't remember all of it.  Lunch was fabulous, as always, with lots of food, friends and family.  A great way to spend Christmas.

I apologize for the very shortened post about Christmas, but I wasn't about to write out a whole long thing, only to have it deleted for a third time.  Hope everyone else had a great Christmas.  We wish we could have ALL of our family and friends together in one place, that would be a Christmas miracle.  :)

.merry christmas.

.little miss kaiya's 1st christmas.

daddy's mom, grandma barb (yes, kaiya has 2 grandma barbara's) came in on christmas eve to stay for two weeks. we’re all very excited about that. although little miss kaiya cries a bunch when anyone but mommy holds her, grandma barb tries to get in her time holding, playing or talking to her as much as possible.

instead of the traditional milk and cookies left out for santa...santa and his helpers got to munch on bread topped with an assortment of cheeses and honeycomb, followed by some red wine.  yummm!

we had a great first christmas as a family. she had a late christmas eve because of all the activity going on at great-grandma lina’s house, and didn’t end up going to sleep until about 10:30, 3 hours later than normal. but, she slept through until 6:30, ate, changed and joined everyone to start the festivities. cousins kaytin and caleb sang happy birthday to jesus, ate breakfast and it was present time. everyone had to open their stockings first, got lots of little goodies, then it was onto the presents. kaiya received LOTS of clothes and toys. she got two of the same playmat toy, so one was off to grandma barbara and papa harry's house. however, everytime Kaiya goes to play in it…caleb comes crawling in next to her. she’s not a big fan of that..so she starts wailing. :( daddy got lots of chef stuff (cookbooks, chef shoes, knife and sharpening stone) and mommy got a sewing machine and a new purse (yay!!!).

although daddy had to work, he made a delicious french onion soup to for the annual taba luncheon. it was a hit and everyone loved it. mommy had 2.5 bowls. :) little chickee got passed around, but mostly wanted mommy. she was a good girl all day and kept with her usual schedule.

great-grandpa john gave all of us some christmas $$, so mommy used hers to buy one of those flip minoHD cameras. mommy and daddy can’t wait to start using it and posting videos of the little chicken.

btw, she’s being referred to as little chicken because she is alllll smiles whenever we say the word. lately, she’s also been starting to laugh. she laughs when daddy bounces her in the air, and when mommy sniffles. we’ll try to get some laughs on video once she starts with the full on belly laughs.

in the meantime, here’s one picture of her in her christmas outfit, from grandma barbara…that is 3-6 months, but was still too small and didn’t button up all the way. oh well.

.best santa ever.

remember how i said i would write more about her picture with santa later…well here it is!  isn’t that santa HILARIOUS!  i find it awesome that kaiya’s first santa picture is with this guy.  no wonder we didn’t have to wait in line.  i know, i know…he’s the hawaiian santa.  still….i will crack up everytime i look at this picture.  thank you kukui grove for hiring a hawaiian santa!!!  LMAO!