Friday, December 25, 2015

A Very Merry Christmas

Our Christmas celebration always starts on Christmas Eve when all of the Kozuki relatives gather at Pampa and Grandma's house.  This year, the festivities started around lunchtime because my gift was perishable and had to be consumed!  We tried five different types of uni... all delicious!


And the kids opened one of their gifts early, which really might have been a gift for Sho.  They got a karaoke-on-wheels-complete-with-disco-ball machine, which definitely got the party started after the annual gift exchange.


On Christmas morning, the kids were up around 6:30am and they patiently sat in front of their stockings, waiting for everyone to get up before they opened anything.  I have not seen this kind of restraint before.  As Ben was waiting, he said, "I'm so excited... I think I was made for Christmas!"



Santa was good to everyone this year...


Everyone got exactly what they wished for.  Jason said, "I've been waiting for my whole time for a Lego Avenger set."


Tantie and Uncle John had to leave after breakfast, but we had a great holiday together.


Uncle Todd helped Jason build Stark Tower and Jason was proud to have something so cool to call his own.  I hope Stark Tower doesn't go through any renovations right away... but it's Jason, so all bets are off.



Ben built the General Grievous model he's been talking about for months... and he is patiently waiting to drive home to open and build his Poe's X-Wing Fighter.


It has definitely been a very, very merry Christmas.  As we post this blog, we're all still in our pajamas and it's almost dinner time!  That's a good day.


Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Happy 9th Birthday, Kara!

Kara also got a jump start on celebrating her birthday during Thanksgiving with the family...


But this morning's celebration started off with a bang!  Let's hear it for sour cream apple pie and ice cream, some strawberry soda and... Spam!


Apparently, having your parents bring you fast food for lunch on your birthday is the thing to do... so we obliged and Kara's choice was to enjoy a Big Mac and curly fries.


We talked the kids out of doing friend-parties this year, but agreed to let Kara invite a friend to go to Color Me Mine and then out to dinner.  Kiara joined us for the food and "entertainment."  Our kids love the fire... 


And we love that Kara has the good fortune of having such a wonderful best friend.  Kiara made Kara's special day extra special... like only a best friend can do.