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.

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. 

Happy 7th Birthday, Ben!

Ben turned 7 years old today!  Since his birthday is always close to Thanksgiving, we started the celebration a little early and had a birthday cake after turkey and stuffing.

To Ben's surprise, everyone pitched in and he got a Lego Mindstorm, which he was totally not expecting and initially didn't seem all that excited about... but later he said he didn't want to appear boastful in getting something no one else has... so apparently he tempered his excitement until we got home and he put together his first robot.  Now, it's all he talks about and he says, "I just LOVE it!"

Ben had a very eclectic birthday breakfast... crispy bacon, hashbrown, mandarin oranges, a (gasp) root beer float and it's not a celebration without layered finger Jell-o!

Ben wanted to go to Zoo Lights and though it was a bit chilly, we were well prepared with scarves and gloves and we had fun seeing all of the lights!

We even got to have a visit with Santa at the zoo.  Kara was the only one who had ever talked with Santa and that was back when she was just three years old.  Ben said he didn't really need to talk to Santa because there is nothing else he really needs.  Aww.... I wonder how long that will last.

As promised, Ben got to have In-N-Out on the way home from the zoo.  The simple pleasures of a 7 year old...

I told Ben that he is growing up so fast and he replied, "I know.  I wish I could shrink so I could stay little."  He's a wise one, our little Ben.

Mommy's Work Event

Every so often I have to drive down to Los Angeles for work.  Kara has often asked if she can come with me to my "work event."  Most of the time, it doesn't work out, but this weekend worked our perfectly.

We started the morning by going to Krispy Kreme, where Kara was fascinated, as everyone is, by the process of their donut making.  We stood there and just watched those donuts float through the oil and make their way through the wall of icing...

And then to find that Krispy Kreme and Coffee Bean were under the same roof... it was perfection!

Since moving to central California, our love for Coffee Bean has grown exponentially.  If I'm ever in southern California, I feel it is my duty to find a Coffee Bean.  And then take a photo of my Coffee Bean.  Simple pleasures...

I realize that Kara has been coming to my work events for more years than she can remember...

Thanks to Kathleen, Kara was part of the team with her custom-blinged Donate Life shirt and name tag.  She was such a great helper and a really good sport.  I must admit, it was really fun to have her there.

On the way home, we talked about a lot of things, one of them being the people she met today - the recipients who are so grateful and the families who have lost someone they love.  We talked about gratitude and how it's important to be grateful for what you have... especially the things we sometimes take for granted.

After a long day and with a long car ride, I'm not surprised she fell asleep on the way home.

The moment I spotted her sleeping, it reminded me of her first work event with me...

I was reminded today how much Kara has grown during my time at OneLegacy and how lucky I am to do something I love and to be able to share that with her. 

Suckers for Star Wars...

With the new Star Wars movie coming out, I knew this was going to be a rough year... but I figured that would be in the toy department.  Who knew that there would be Star Wars everywhere you look!

Though we usually only have one type of creamer in the refrigerator, I was pretty easily talked into trying a new flavor.

And when we were strolling down the baking aisle at the grocery store, it was impossible to pass up the Star Wars molds for JELL-O!

And while at Home Depot, where we went just to get a key ring for a project, we happened to see the Darth Vader key and justified getting it because really, who doesn't need an extra house key?

Ben has already asked how old he needs to be to have his own key to the house... and when you see that little toothless smile, it's hard to turn him down!

No surprisies this Halloween...

There was no question... we knew it was going to be a Star Wars year for our kids.  They all love Star Wars and know everything about all of the stories and characters, so there was no discussion, no changing of costume ideas.  Done deal.

Ben loves all things Darth Vader, which is ironic because of all three, he seems to have the sweetest heart.  But look at those eyes.... there is still sweetness behind the mask!

Again, it was a no-brainer that Kara would (and would want to be) Princess Leia.  And with her long hair, she didn't even need the wig to pull it off.

Though Jason had a different costume ready to go, he tried on Ben's costume from last year and decided he would dress up as a clone trooper, not to be confused with a storm trooper, Mommy!

Since Target made it way too easy this year, Sho and I even decided we'd join in the family fun.  

May the force be with you!

Deja Boo!

It doesn't seem like Halloween without the ghost cookies! 

For a minute, we thought maybe we lost the old school-three fingered ghost cookie cutter, but fortunately it turned up at Grandma's house just in time for Halloween. Thank goodness... only treats!

African Adventure in Fresno!

For months, we've visited the zoo and knew they were working on a new addition... it recently opened and we decided to check it out.  It was AMAZING!  We were blown away.  I cannot even describe it in words and the photos don't do it justice.  You definitely forget you're in Fresno!   

 

Ben was so excited to see a rhinoceros in person, since he's never seen one before...

Kara said she loved everything about the new African Adventure area... 

And Jason wore his new "Zoovengers" shirt out of the zoo! 

So if anyone is heading our way... we've got a must-see!  And the zoo is great as well :)

Firsts of the Season

Kara scored her first goal of the season.  From where we were sitting, all the way on the other side of the field, it was hard to tell who scored, but as the girls were running back, Kara had a huge smile on her face and one of the other moms said, "That was Kara for sure.  Did you see that smile?"

Ben has always enjoyed playing goalie, in part, I think, because there is less running involved.  Today he didn't play goalie at all, but instead started as a defender and in the second half, he was a forward.  I looked over to one of the grandparents on the sideline and questioned, "Why are they playing Ben there?"   Ben did such a good job - I've never seen him play so aggressively and go after the ball with such determination.  It was awesome.

Jason is the player that while the game is going, he waves and says hello or he runs over to me to give me a mid-game hug.  Who can resist such cuteness??

I must say, I didn't play soccer growing up and I've never enjoyed watching soccer on TV, but it is so much fun to watch these kids on the field and cheer for them.  It's official... I am a proud soccer mom, van and all!

A Hat-Trick Weekend

So I am using the hat-trick phrase very liberally... and maybe you'll guess what happened this weekend.

Though Jason seemed to have a better game this weekend and had some shots on goal, he did not score three goals during his game.  But he smiled and had fun while trying!

Ben usually spends half the game playing goalie, which he enjoys, so he also did not score three goals (but he probably stopped three!).

And Kara had a great game also, and no, she did not drink three Gatorades during her game...

The amazing part of the weekend was that Ben lost three teeth!  He's had three loose teeth for awhile now and we've been waiting for them to fall out or get knocked out during soccer.  He lost one on Friday and two on Sunday.  He's keeping the Tooth Fairy very busy!

So this weekend's hat-trick had nothing to do with sports, but I think this might be almost as rare!

311

Kara has always done well with reading and taking the computer tests that score if she's really read and comprehends the story.  Most of the books she's read are worth a couple of points and they all get added together so she can reach her trimester goal.  The book she just finished and took her test on was a long one... the longest one yet... 311 pages to be exact.  And she aced the test, earning 10 points towards her goal. 

She was very proud and we were very excited and impressed.  This called for some celebration... so after dinner we went to Jeb's for ice cream and Kara ordered a double-scoop sundae.

Almost equally as impressive, she polished off that sundae on our ride home!

Soccer Saturday

Saturday started soccer season!  Despite a Friday night family play date, which put the kids to bed pretty late, they were up early for their first soccer games of the season.

For two years, Jason has been going to soccer games, wearing hand-me-down uniforms, just to feel like part of the gang.  He finally gets his own uniform and his own game!

Looking at the schedule, we've got two kids playing many Saturdays at the same time on opposite ends of the school... and after Ben's game, I felt myself starting to lose my voice... it's gonna be a fun season!

"Tomorrow can be Friday"

Jason went back to preschool last Friday and though he wasn't super eager to start school again, he happily greeted his new teachers and had fun at school. 

To mark his first day back (and since we no longer have to rush to pick Ben up at 12:15pm), we went to Foster's Freeze for lunch.  I don't think I've had a meal here since high school and I forgot how much I enjoy the floats and fries!  I suggested to Jason that maybe we should go to Foster's every Friday to which he replied, "tomorrow can be Friday."

This week was the start of soccer practice for all three of the kids.  Even though it's still super hot at 5pm, everyone seemed to enjoy practice.  Only a few more weekends until our Saturday mornings will be spent on the sidelines cheering for these kiddos.

Clay's tradition is to have a Roller Towne outing at the beginning of the school year, so today Ben and Kara both laced up their skates and around the rink they went! 

Last year Ben kept his skates on for about five minutes.  This year he worked up a sweat and had a lot of fun doing it.

Kara also had fun skating and when taking this picture with Kiara, who has been her best friend since kindergarten, I was reminded of their first skate together three years ago and how fast time flies.

Just to add to the fun Friday, we had the Carrasco kids over after school.  The kids had fun and will definitely sleep well tonight!

After all the fun today, I'm sure they'll all want it to be Friday again tomorrow :)