december happenings

here’s what we’ve been up to the last few weeks:
elsie’s hair is getting long and she’s decided that she doesn’t like haircuts anymore so she will grow it out but wear it up everyday. (yeah right)

she’s discovered a new love for chicken teriyaki and eating with chopsticks.

kira’s cheerleading squad performed at a local christmas parade.

cam went to outdoor science camp for a week..a big event in the 5th grade.

els and her good friend at a playdate at the americana.

elsie had her first dance recital. note that she didn’t have her hair up and refused to let me touch it.

elsie’s recital was held at caleb’s old preschool, where elsie will also go in sept and which also happens to be where chris and i became mr and mrs waters 🙂

i thought it was so funny that her dance teacher made such a big deal about us bringing flowers for our dancers… i knew E wouldn’t care, she dug her balloon much more 🙂

and this should be a post on it’s own.. but thanks to friends, we were able to spend an afternoon at dodger stadium. SO amazing!!!

if K was in this shot, i would have contemplated christmas cards… although i made up my mind in early december that im not sending any out. so nice not have to stress about that!

i wish i could have captured how giddy excited HE was to be here 🙂

we’ve got another few more weeks planned with friends and family coming in.. just trying to go with the flow and not stress… i dont even have my shopping done and i am so okay with it all 🙂 i have even kept up with my december daily book. which is just amazing that i’ve stuck with it this far 🙂

December 15, 2008 22

happy birthday chris

this man is so busy i don’t know how he does it. he works like a madman but still has time to come to all of his kid’s games and be their loudest cheerleader 🙂 this year he’s been to 7 countries for work and one to cheer me along as i taught in italy. in a way it was strange to see him with all that free time on his hands in italy, as he hardly ever has free time. and as our year comes to and end, that would be my wish for him. more free time, more sleep. 🙂
here he is shooting a wedding with me

and surprisingly having some downtime in yosemite, playing golf

in new zealand (gosh this seems so long ago, but he went here twice this year)

in italy

in london:

and home. which i believe is his most favorite spot in the world 🙂

we love you!!!

December 7, 2008 23

this week

the boys were on a half day schedule this week (parent conferences, i can brag and say they got awesome reports, as this is my blog and i can do that) 🙂 we were spoiled with beautiful weather and got together with some of our favorite friends for both mommy and elsie- brooke and kili! the mommies had to have a coffee stop before we took on the park!

we love the gingerbread at starbucks! 🙂

there was an older girl at the park who did this (els did not see) and i told brooke, elsie will be in that same spot later. sand, dirt… her element 🙂

these puppies needed a good soak later

the girls adore cameron!

isn’t she lovely!

and last time my mom was in town, she dropped off a bag of little goodies for the kids to open each day.. they’ve been loving it. reminds me of when she did that for me when i was little, awww. love you mom! (kira wasn’t feeling camera ready but at least you get to see her fancy nails she painted)

and yesterday i picked up the best cookies from trader joes! dark chocolate covered shortbread. holy cow. i told the kids they couldn’t eat them till i finished my KI project and took pics. how do i know they won’t last thru the weekend?? 🙂

December 5, 2008 6

ice skating in LA

after 5 long, hot soccer games in 3 days (kira's soccer tournament) we decided to celebrate with some cool outdoor ice skating. in LA? nu-uh! 🙂 we loved it! perfect timing, they had to clear the snow just as we got there!

you know you are skating in LA when you see this posted on the side of the Zamboni:

loved these of these 2:

and cam, kira and i decided to stay on the sidelines and watch. kira is usually all about ice skating but i think 5 soccer games was catching up to her. but gee, that ice gives off nice light :)

and caleb who wants to know how to skate so badly but doesn't quite have the patience for it. but had a good time anyways.

and then the tears when it's time to go.

thank goodness for the free starbucks coupons we got from ice skating, we went to 3rd street to cheer her up. 🙂

November 30, 2008 18

last week at school

on our way to the 5th grade's state float parade. as fun as this project should be- i dread it. for the 3 months that it is preassigned, i stress. i have high hopes for child 3 and 4 to get a head start and get the creative juices flowing 🙂

it appears elsie has what chris and his other family members have- eyes that are sensitive to light. this girl can't go in sunlight without her glasses. oh i wish i stocked up when they were on sale after summer.

cam chose west virginia as virginia was taken.. our family has big love for the state of virginia 🙂 good memories.

especially this little guy who was born there. we can't wait to go back and take a family vacation there someday.

at his little thanksgiving feast/performance 🙂

im seriously slacking on kira pics! putting on my to do list as she is home this week from school. she's just a busy little bee, that girl 🙂

November 24, 2008 7

her own little world

pics from the week of a little girl in her own little world, even speaks her own language. nonstop. jibber jabber happy happy all day. phew, im tired. she's as sweet as can be but has been extremely chatty lately, such is the life of a busy 2 year old. and a tired mama 🙂

we attended the boy's activities at school this week. she was a busy bee. will be posting those in a few- today was the last day for a week, im so happy! glad that we're getting a full week for thanksgiving this year!

oh and ps! last night, chris and i saw the best movie of the year! slumdog millionaire. we can't stop talking about it and want to see it again and again. so good. 🙂

November 21, 2008 5

what i found in my inbox

the subject said: meet me outside!

caleb and dad had some extra time before school drop off so they surprised me at the front door with a treat. love his little face popping up with my favorite treat 🙂

November 20, 2008 9

ten years ago today

our first son was born. —- if you can't stand the sap, turn away now. 🙂

so ten years ago, right now.. it's night time. i would have probably said goodbye to chris and kira as they would have gone home and it would be me and the bubba alone in our hospital room. he was born naturally, so he started the night in his little clear cubicle cubbie thing, what are those called? and when he cried i was able to get him myself. i know that it's all a blur that first night. he'd cry, i'd tend, i'd put him back and that would continue thru the night until i couldn't get up anymore and i'd let him sleep with me. i know because chris has pictures of us the next morning, totally knocked out but sleeping together. the first of many nights where our children slept with us. for so long i have wanted a son. and there he was. looking so much more asian than i would have thought 🙂 my big 8 pound baby boy. hard to believe that he's this full on kid now- double digits- who plays competitive sports and actually is interested in watching real sports with daddy, plays video games, who's best friend is his little brother, who can hardly stand not to give his little sister whatever her little heart desires, an avid reader at times, he read the entire kids bible in a weekend and memorized the books in the old testament in order. he is a loyal friend, so loyal. i can't say enough about him. he's wise beyond his years. and those who know him know what i mean. i think back when kira was 10 and now she's 13, and that jump is just HUGE. and it happened so QUICK. the thought of him growing as fast just amazes me. i am not ready for all my babies to be big kids, kira's my height now, it's a matter of months before cam is there with us as well. it's a strange thing to see these children who you cared for and taught SO many things for so long grow up and become their own person.

it's amazing and such a privilege. we love you cameron. so happy you are in our lives. so thankful to God for you. xooxox

his photo collage…four times as large as this picture shows- caleb did the decorating this year :)

November 18, 2008 19

noon & night

broke out the camera as els was lounging in my bed at noon. wanting me to read if you give a mouse a cookie. she's addicted to that whole series.

i read, she fell asleep. so nice! she hasn't napped in months, at least not at the right time- sometimes she'll nap at 3 or 4- where i'd rather her not nap at all by that point.

then bathtime, surprise surprise she wanted me to wash her hair and didn't make a peep. afterwards she was so amazed at how different her hair looked. i guess she's normally all bent out of shape when we take her out, that she's not collected enough to see her hair. 🙂 she liked it so much she wanted me to take a picture 🙂 okay 🙂

have a great weekend people! we have our last soccer games– or at least for this season, as caleb and kira will continue on with more tournaments. and cam starts basketball. it's neverending! but fun 🙂

November 14, 2008 12

it is sad

that i am still pulling pics from the halloween shoot 🙂 it’s day 12 of november and i haven’t picked up the camera since this day. and this day wasn’t even me, it was all chris!
on monday night, right before bed, he complained of a toothache. i gave him some tylenol and sent him to bed. i took him to the dentist the next morning, and a few hours later, he walked out of the office with 2 teeth less. poor dude!
thank god chris was there for me to call in for reinforcements, i had to go out in the waiting room, i don’t do good with things like that. 😦 but yet, take a child from my body, why yes, i will 🙂 oh, how i miss being pregnant and labor and all that. tangent.
and just a few of the girls that i love. 🙂

and one of elsie with her new doll love from tokyo.. i didnt give it much love in the last post. i failed to mention how chris thought the girl looked like elsie sooo much (not the eyebrows) that he bought her all these goodies, including a japanese DVD that is just so cute. if only we knew what she was saying. 🙂

it is unbelievable to me that it the holidays are approaching. this year has been the fastest ever! 😦

November 12, 2008 9