For Hanukkah, we got Maile the latest installment of Just Dance – Just Dance 2014. In the new year, we’ve been having a lot of fun playing the new songs. Maile has really improved as well – she routinely gets 2-3 stars on the Easy and some Medium levels. Lauren can’t play yet, but Christine and I have a blast playing along with Maile.
One of the songs we played tonight was YMCA by the Village People and I noticed that Maile didn’t quite get the “Y-M-C-A” part, so we practiced a bit afterwards and I think it’s safe to say she has it nailed now…
(Be sure to stay until the end for Maile’s surprise booty dance too 😉
(Click here for the video.)
This week it was back to work and school and trying to get settled in back home.
But still plenty of fun memories from our time in Hawaii…
(Click here for the video.)
Just like her big sister, Lauren was introduced to ice cream for the first time on her birthday by Papa Cal (it’s in his contract that he gets to introduce the girls to ice cream). We threw in a cupcake (which she loved) for good measure too!
In comparison to Maile, Lauren was certainly a bigger fan of ice cream. She ate up everything Papa threw at her!
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...
Maile Girl showing Lauren how the whole candles thing works...
This pink thing? Delicious!
This food is pretty different from my normal food. Can we work this in to the routine more?
(Click here for the video.)
Incredibly, it’s been a year.
Lauren at 1
I just looked through all our pictures from the past year and put together a short video that captures how our little girl has grown. It was a fun way to reflect on everywhere this year has taken us.
Lauren is an amazing little girl – slowly, but surely developing her very own personality (no small feat given her very outgoing sister who has no problem dominating the conversation!) But Lauren finds her spots and has carved her own place in our family. She’s easy going, but not a pushover. She has a mischievous streak and it’s already clear she’s not going to let her big sister leave her very far behind. She has a smile, that while different from her sister’s, still is able to light up a room. When she puts her head on your shoulder, you can feel her love. It’s the best.
Happy Birthday, baby girl – we all love you so much!
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on December 27, 2013
On Wednesday, we made the move from Oahu to Kauai for the rest of our vacation. Great Grandma lives on Kauai so we went over to visit her yesterday – she has a pool too! While Maile Girl, Katie and Emily went swimming, Lauren had some quality catch up time with Great Grandma…
It's kind of hard to get a 1 year old and a great grandma to both look at the camera at the same time...
See what I mean!
For her part, Maile is getting braver and braver in the water. Here she is swimming across the whole pool…
… and then she even ditched her floaties (although she was much more particular about how far away she was willing to let Mommy stand…)
(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)
by Papa K on December 26, 2013
Per tradition, we spent Christmas Eve with Grandma Gail’s side of the family on Oahu. We had a great time with all the uncles, aunties and, especially, cousins – but the best part was definitely the visit from Santa Claus. Yep, the big guy took some time out of his rounds to visit with Maile, Lauren and the rest of the kids.
For Maile, it was a big year – our fear of Santa has finally gone away and we were just plain excited – Maile even made a card for him. Christine was sitting with her when Santa arrived and she said Maile’s heart was beating a mile a minute.
I didn’t capture it in the video, but Maile Girl was absolutely floored when she opened her present and it was the Barbie she had asked for in her letter. “He got my letter! He got my letter!” she was screaming and giggling all over. Big time win for Santa.
As for Lauren, unfortunately, Santa got a little tied up so he didn’t make it until after little Lauren had already crashed out. For posterity’s sake we made sure she got a photo op with him and she later stirred to play with her new toy that he brought her. We’re giving her a “no tears on her first visit with Santa” nod anyways.
Maile Girl and Santa - not a tear or fear in site!
Did you get my letter?
Lauren meets Santa (sort of)
Maile Girl showing Lauren how her new toy works...
Thank you Santa! I'll try to stay awake to meet you next year!
(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)
by Papa K on December 20, 2013
Perhaps we have a doctor on our hands?
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on December 18, 2013
Tuesday through Friday, Maile takes after school classes at her school. She’s taken soccer, gymnastics, Lego class, art – but lately her favorite is the Chinese Dance class she takes on Fridays with Lily Lao Shi.
Our little Chinese dancer...
Last week, Christine and I were invited to attend the last class of the semester – a performance! It was pretty awesome – and Maile did a great job listening to the teacher and it was clear she had picked up some of the moves over the past couple of months.
Maile Girl is pretty good with the ribbon!
Fair warning, the videos below are a bit longer than normal, but I think you’ll enjoy 🙂
Bring on the ribbons!
And, of course, Maile’s solo:
Proud daddy!
And Mommy too!
(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)
(Click here for the third video.)
On Sunday, Mommy and I went on a special date to go see the Nutcracker at the San Francisco Ballet! I was so excited all week – every day I counted the days and it got closer and closer. When I woke up on Sunday morning, Mommy helped me pick out a special dressy to wear – I decided on the purple one I wore at Auntie’s wedding – it felt like it would well at the ballet.
BTW – Guess who was at the Nutcracker!!!
Apparently, a couple Sundays before Christmas, Santa hangs out at the ballet!
Okay, back to the show. It was amazing. I was a little scared at some parts, but Mommy was there. My most favorite part was the Waltz of the Flowers. It was magical.
Every year for Christmas I get a new ornament for our tree (it's a tradition Mommy started when she was a girl). This year I got three dancing fairies at the Nutcracker so I can always remember!
Do you think one day I might be able to be in the Nutcracker? I think so – I’ll keep working at this…
Thank you Mommy for such a wonderful adventure!
(Dad note: Special thanks to neighbor Bill for getting us the tickets!)
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on December 15, 2013
Maile Girl wrote her first letter to Santa on Friday morning. Maile told Mommy what she wanted to say and then Mommy helped Maile write it by dictating each word letter-by-letter. (A good mommy indeed). She even (at the slight urging of Mommy I’m told) included a plug for her little (not yet able to write) sister.
The proud letter writer!
The letter itself
In case the photo is too small:
“DEAR SANTA
I HAVE BEEN GOOD
FOR CHRISTMAS PLEASE BRING ME
A BALLERINA BARBIE
A RAINBOW LOOM
AND SOME ART PROJECTS
LAUREN WAS GOOD TOO
PLEASE BRING HER A NEW BOOK
A HELICOPTER TOY
THANK YOU
LOVE MAILE”
She also wrote the number 1-29 in the right margin – just to impress the big guy 🙂
Her choices were kind of funny. The Ballerina Barbie came out of left field – we’d been purposely trying to avoid Barbie. She says she saw it in a store – I’m guessing she saw a commercial for it. The Rainbow Loom is something we’ve been talking to her about and she received a bracelet from her older friend Jennifer when we were home in Swampscott. No idea on the helicopter toy – maybe Lauren mentioned it to her 😉
After putting the letter in an envelope, we addressed it, put a stamp on it and then brought it to the mailbox.
(Click here for the video.)
