The Hoang Family

12.30.2008

Christmas 2008

My favorite part of Christmas this year was observing how very different our children are. On Christmas Eve we let the kids each open a gift. Olivia opened her two best friend barbies from "Barbie's Diamond Castle" and exclaimed "Just what I've always wanted!!!" :o) I was hoping they'd be a hit... after all they were one of my Black Friday bargain finds! She loves that movie and likes to perform the "Connected" song the two barbies sing. This child is such a riot! She insisted the barbies sleep with her that night. Tavian opened up an awesome new book (books are his favorite things ever) from Auntie Sara & Uncle Sean. Seriously, this book is so cool! As you turn the page the horse (or whatever is on that page) actually moves! His reaction was also full of delight but then he quietly sits down and devours the book very independently. He pointed out and said "star" and "kircle" (circle). Then we as we put out cookies for Santa he said "tanta"! I'm so proud. :o) Christmas morning Olivia was the first up of course. She says "mama, let's see if santa came!" So I scooped her up and we went downstairs followed by a groggy daddy. First things first, did he eat his cookies? Why yes! "Santa did came!" she exclaimed and then darted for her stocking and dug in. To my delight she was very appreciative of each and everything she got. Quyen took advantage of Tavian's sleeping in and opted to re-join him (we let them snuggle & sleep with us on Christmas Eve) for an hour or so while O and I colored in her new big Tinkerbell coloring book. It was a nice quiet special time for me smelling the coffee brewing and sharing in my little girls delight for her new treasures. *sigh* :o) As the morning went on Olivia could hardly wait to get through everything under the tree. Tavian woke up and first noticed the huge jumping castle that Auntie Tonia & Uncle Eric had sent "WOW" he said. After that he opened up the Wonder Pet's Fly Boat we had gotten him and we could hardly get him to move on from there. This is a child who would have been content with 1 gift. Of course this will change by next year I'm sure but for now I just love watching him sit and play fully satisfied.

12.12.2008

"BIG KISS little kiss BIG HUG little hug"

That is what Olivia tells us and then proceeds to lay on us every time we part ways. Whether it be at preschool, me leaving home or bedtime it has become our "thing." I have no idea where she came up with it but I love it and it's definitely something I want to remember long after she grows out of it. Now if she would only let me leave without tears and pleading *sigh*

12.05.2008

The Hair Cut

Well they say what goes around comes around... I came home last Wednesday night and was snuggling with my girl when I noticed something wasn't right. I pulled her back to get a straight look at her only to confirm that she had cut a third of her hair off... 8"! I was really enjoying how long and pretty her hair was getting so I was kind of bummed. We told her that we were going to have to cut all of her short now and she wailed "NO! I'm a girl. I have to have LONG hair!" Okay, that was pretty funny and lightened the mood. The next day, on Thanksgiving, we put her hair in a pony and chopped the rest of it off. She was quite surprised when she looked in the mirror and said with the huge grin "I still look like Olivia!!" We think she thought we were going to shave her head like we do Tavian's quite often. Anyway, I think my mom took a little extra joy in the experience because I had done the same thing years ago. ;o) We think she looks pretty darn cute!

12.03.2008

Apple Cup & Thanksgiving

Every other year when the Apple Cup is in Pullman we have our family from the west side journey over to Spokane for a fun filled weekend of rivalry football and turkey dinner. It was so wonderful to spend some quality time with everyone and I also must say that I rather enjoyed getting up early & cooking with my husband for a few hours while Sara watched our kiddos! Our 3 nieces stayed the weekend at our house and had a sleepover in Olivia's room... man I love those girls and have missed them dearly since they left (and so has their cousin Olivia who likes to pretend she's big & cool like them when they are around ;o)