We bundled up the kids to go to our friend's house for a play date. 

Chloe has been talking about Sashu and Driti nonstop since we came back. I noticed Chloe plays better with boys then girls. The kids ran around the entire house playing 'tag, you're it' game. Shane spent most of his time on the stairs going up and down giving his mommy a good exercise. Thanks Usha and Raj for having us at your beautiful new home! 

This is the park Chloe keeps insisting that there is dinosaur having a beach party in the mountains. We looked for them in the woods but I think they were napping when we were there. Next time, Chloe.

In the last two weeks or so, I noticed Chloe started to draw faces. 🙂

Shane has my mom's eyes (lucky him!). They are also born on the same month and on the same Chinese zodiac year.

My mom and I have a very close relationship and I'm very thankful for that. Both of my parents are pretty liberal and not traditional. I never had a curfew growing up and they always trusted me to do the right thing. It was really hard for them to leave me here in the States when I decided to stay and pursue my degree at RISD, when my dad was due back in Korea after working for the Korean Embassy as a diplomat in NY. It was heartbreaking but they let me go and do my own thing. Even though we live thousands of miles away they are always close to my heart. Kids are really bonding with my parents and it's a true joy watching them enjoy each other.

I wish I will be as beautiful as she is when I become a grandmother.

On Christmas eve…

They ran into the living room and saw all the presents.

Chloe stood there for a moment before she started opening the gifts.

Out of all the presents she opened, the first thing she wanted to do was to paint the picture frames. Thanks aunt Jenny for the presents!

Andrew and I spent about 3 hours setting up this kitchen unit. 

We had a wonderful day with our family. 

My parents arrived last Monday and I can't describe how happy we are!!! Chloe remembered them from their last visit about nine months ago and jumped to my mom's arms as soon as she saw her. Shane probably didn't recognize them right away but gave them a very warm smile. The kids are ecstatic about them staying and as for me, well I've already gained about 2lbs. We're eating well and so happy. 

I'm so thankful for my family. 

Something about Shane:

1. At 15 months, he's repeating everything we say now and understands most of what we say. He loves his sister and always wants to hang around her and play with whatever toys Chloe is playing with at the time, which leads to a lot of screaming and pushing. 

2. He's also independent and can spend up to 45 min. playing alone, particularly flipping books and putting objects in and out of boxes and jars.

3. Favorite words are; bye bye, hi, more, apple, ma-Na-Na (banana).

4. Loves dancing and sings along with Chloe. 

5. His bedtime routine is the most challenging (bath time in particular) but the best time of the day. He doesn't like washing his hair and doesn't want to go inside the tub. So, I twist and turn trying to wash him given he won't sit and tries to get out by trying to climb on to my lap, but as soon as I say "okay that's it, we're done", he goes inside the tube and sits down with the "ha ha, I got you" smile. What the heck?! Then I have a hard time trying to get him OUT of the water. Ahhh… then the getting dressed part… He runs and runs away naked, giggling and laughing. He totally knows what he's doing and thinks it's so hilarious that his mommy's hopping here and there trying to catch him. By the time I get him lotioned and all dressed, I'm sweating and exhausted. Then, this is when it gets better…. I hold him as he drinks his milk, then I fight him ( well almost there) to brush his teeth, THEN I hold him again and we pray to God together. At this time, he's holding me tight, resting his head on my shoulder….. the best!!! As soon as I say, "… we pray in the name of Jesus", he says "Amen" and pulls himself our of my arms towards his crib. Then I say goodnight, and  he says, "night" then he's down for the night until the next morning. 

The love and  joy I feel about my kids is just unattainable. I'm beyond hopeless.

Merry Christmas, my darlings….

Today was Chloe's last day at school and the parents were invited to their chanukah party. 

Chloe knew that I was there as a guest and was very accomodating. She brought me a chair to sit next to her and didn't sit down until I sat down. 

We got to see the children perform on stage, played some games and ate snacks with them. Chloe was a very good listener. She was very attentive and cooperative to what the teachers were guiding them to do. 

Some parents made comments about Chloe being very quiet and shy. I was just laughing to myself. Shy? Maybe sometimes, initially…but quiet? Oh nooooo. 

This morning she beaded a necklace all by herself. I was impressed! Some of the holes in the beads were really small and there were even hard for me to do it. She did a great job!

Andrew's best friend and his wife came over in the evening to bring presents to the kids. It was a nice surprise and Chloe got to stay up a little late and had *drinks* with us.

Thank you uncle Danny and auntie Renna for wonderful gifts!!

We went to see the holiday train show at the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx. We really enjoyed this 150 miniaturized five borough landmarks (including the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Terminal, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Bronx's own Yankee Stadium) that are brilliantly recreated entirely from natural materials like twigs, seeds, tree bark, and berries. More than a dozen model trains, from late-1800s steam engines to modern high-speed passenger trains, make their way throughout the recreated landscape. The kids were busy pointing different trains and buildings. Amazing.

Andrew's favorite!

It was a really cold day. Haha, he could barely move his arms but he was still fast.

This morning she woke up VERY early, VERY excited that it was her birthday. I was too tired to get out of my bed (it was around 5 a.m.) so I gave her a book to read in our room. She was quiet "reading" her books for about half an hour, before Shane woke up. Btw, she usually wears a dress or a tutu on top of her pjs to sleep and before she came into our room (in the dark) this morning, she managed to put her necklace on. O. M. G.

I took Chloe and my mother-in-law out for some Korean bbq for lunch.

She baked cupcakes with Jennifer in the afternoon.

Ta Da~

Then Andrew came home with a birthday cake!

It was overall a very busy day for her (and me) but the celebration continues this weekend. I can't believe she's already three… I am so thankful for my sweet, beautiful girl.  I remember the day like yesterday when God has answered my prayer. I love you, I love you, I love you, my precious Chloe…