Our annual 
Christmas trip to Tahoe this year started with a relatively smooth drive through the Bay Area (not our usual luck, but this year we left on the 22nd instead of the 24th :) smart!). However, we drove right into the remnents of a snow storm and the wind was kicking up all the fresh powder on the icy roads which resulted in a white knuckled drive over 88. There were a few moments where we could not see a thing, and could not stop the car....not fun. But over the river and through the woods, to Papa and Hana's house we went.
The next morning we woke up to a beautiful, but freezing cold day and headed out for lunch and games at Jethro's. We made a high chair work at bar tables, played pool, Noah was near pro status at shuffle board by the time we left, and a sharp shooter at Big Game Hunter. He was also laying it 
on THICK with our waitress, my dad taught him to say, "hey bebe" and he did it with all the batting eyelashes and coyness of a pro. It was seriously hilarious! He was also using his "oh-so-ridiculous" and yet insanely cute "cheese" smile when ever I took the camera out. Such a ham :)
Christmas eve was a relaxing day, it was nice to visit and play and smell Hanama's yummy cooking. Just before dinner, Hanama let the excitement of Christmas with Noah get the best of her and she gave him his first present! Noah was sooooooooooooo excited to have his own little couch. 
He sat right down, got comfy and we provided him with all the props (sans a beer or coctail). Super cute! Then we all dug in to THE BEST TAMALES EVER! Gotta love the tamale lady....and paired with Hanama's beans :) heaven! After dinner, we got comfy to watch a movie until we realized how late it was :) Noah got to open yet another present (which he still plays with daily "ball ball"), and we sent him off to bed. Then the work began....
After discovering that the tunnel/ball pit/tent contraption we bought was the size of a small country, we decided against setting it up in the living room, and spent the next hour with all 4 of us to build Noah's tricycle! I had no idea, how much work Santa did at night while we all slept! Shhhesh! Honestly though, I was soooooooooooooo excited to see Noah open all his gifts, I didn't 
want to wait until morning, I wanted to wake him up right then and there and stick him on his new bike :) But I didn't, it was seriously worse than waiting for Santa as a child. :) It took me a long time to wind down and sleep. Luckily, Noah is still little enough that he didn't realize Santa was coming, and let us sleep in. Papa and Hana on the other hand, were all too excited and we woke up to the sound of a camera clicking away in the doorway!
Confused and sleepy we all took a minute or two to figure out what was going on, but Jason eventually stumbled out of bed to set up the gigantic ball pit thing while I changed Noah's diaper. When we came out of the room, I expected Noah to make a run for the shiny new bike under the tree, the kid nearly takes out bicyclist as they ride by us, he is obsessed with "bicks!" Instead, he made a B-Line for the ball pit and tunnels :) I suppose it's not too big of a shocker, balls have been his favorite toy since he was 9 months old! He was throwing balls everywhere and smiling from ear to ear. I think I was probably smiling just as big! It make my heart swell to see Noah so stoked. I couldn't wait for him to see the bike though, and though he loves, in that moment, he only had eyes for the massive tunnels and new ball pit!
It took some serious bribery to coax Noah away from the tunnels and balls, but he eventually
followed me as I held a candy cane, breakfast of champions, and we opened stockings and more presents before he was officially done. The kid got super spoiled and had more gifts than he was willing to sit and open! So we took some of our new toys outside for a test run while Papa cooked breakfast (shrimp omelets, delicioso!) After breakfast, I think we got in a few more presents, and a bit more play time before packing it all up and jamming it into the car. But we did, and while Papa and Daddy filled up a newly discovered leaky tire, Noah was making all kinds of noises and silly faces with no promise of a nap while we made the trip to Tahoe for Christmas #3!
Hanama made him this
beautiful blanket ♥
We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed Christmas morning with Papa and Hanama. Thanks guys, we miss you ♥
* original txt written 12/31/09 - geeeeeeeeze the new year started with a bang :)
i will catch up!!! *
Christmas trip to Tahoe this year started with a relatively smooth drive through the Bay Area (not our usual luck, but this year we left on the 22nd instead of the 24th :) smart!). However, we drove right into the remnents of a snow storm and the wind was kicking up all the fresh powder on the icy roads which resulted in a white knuckled drive over 88. There were a few moments where we could not see a thing, and could not stop the car....not fun. But over the river and through the woods, to Papa and Hana's house we went.
The next morning we woke up to a beautiful, but freezing cold day and headed out for lunch and games at Jethro's. We made a high chair work at bar tables, played pool, Noah was near pro status at shuffle board by the time we left, and a sharp shooter at Big Game Hunter. He was also laying it 
on THICK with our waitress, my dad taught him to say, "hey bebe" and he did it with all the batting eyelashes and coyness of a pro. It was seriously hilarious! He was also using his "oh-so-ridiculous" and yet insanely cute "cheese" smile when ever I took the camera out. Such a ham :)
Christmas eve was a relaxing day, it was nice to visit and play and smell Hanama's yummy cooking. Just before dinner, Hanama let the excitement of Christmas with Noah get the best of her and she gave him his first present! Noah was sooooooooooooo excited to have his own little couch. 
He sat right down, got comfy and we provided him with all the props (sans a beer or coctail). Super cute! Then we all dug in to THE BEST TAMALES EVER! Gotta love the tamale lady....and paired with Hanama's beans :) heaven! After dinner, we got comfy to watch a movie until we realized how late it was :) Noah got to open yet another present (which he still plays with daily "ball ball"), and we sent him off to bed. Then the work began....
After discovering that the tunnel/ball pit/tent contraption we bought was the size of a small country, we decided against setting it up in the living room, and spent the next hour with all 4 of us to build Noah's tricycle! I had no idea, how much work Santa did at night while we all slept! Shhhesh! Honestly though, I was soooooooooooooo excited to see Noah open all his gifts, I didn't 
want to wait until morning, I wanted to wake him up right then and there and stick him on his new bike :) But I didn't, it was seriously worse than waiting for Santa as a child. :) It took me a long time to wind down and sleep. Luckily, Noah is still little enough that he didn't realize Santa was coming, and let us sleep in. Papa and Hana on the other hand, were all too excited and we woke up to the sound of a camera clicking away in the doorway!
Confused and sleepy we all took a minute or two to figure out what was going on, but Jason eventually stumbled out of bed to set up the gigantic ball pit thing while I changed Noah's diaper. When we came out of the room, I expected Noah to make a run for the shiny new bike under the tree, the kid nearly takes out bicyclist as they ride by us, he is obsessed with "bicks!" Instead, he made a B-Line for the ball pit and tunnels :) I suppose it's not too big of a shocker, balls have been his favorite toy since he was 9 months old! He was throwing balls everywhere and smiling from ear to ear. I think I was probably smiling just as big! It make my heart swell to see Noah so stoked. I couldn't wait for him to see the bike though, and though he loves, in that moment, he only had eyes for the massive tunnels and new ball pit!
It took some serious bribery to coax Noah away from the tunnels and balls, but he eventually
followed me as I held a candy cane, breakfast of champions, and we opened stockings and more presents before he was officially done. The kid got super spoiled and had more gifts than he was willing to sit and open! So we took some of our new toys outside for a test run while Papa cooked breakfast (shrimp omelets, delicioso!) After breakfast, I think we got in a few more presents, and a bit more play time before packing it all up and jamming it into the car. But we did, and while Papa and Daddy filled up a newly discovered leaky tire, Noah was making all kinds of noises and silly faces with no promise of a nap while we made the trip to Tahoe for Christmas #3!
Hanama made him this
beautiful blanket ♥
We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed Christmas morning with Papa and Hanama. Thanks guys, we miss you ♥
* original txt written 12/31/09 - geeeeeeeeze the new year started with a bang :)
i will catch up!!! *
5 comments:
Aright once again tears are brought to my eyes that I did not have a Christmas with my families this year. No matter how crazy the arranging of the 1, 2, or 3 of them are I will not ever miss another. I love you all so so much and am happy to see you had such a wonderful holiday.
What a wonderful Christmas!!
Cute post babe...helps me remember it like it was yesterday
Funny post esp.the putting the bike together. You forget that they come in pieces or you pay 60 bucks to have the dude in the back assembly it for you. Once again the kids make out like bandits but at least it means that you won't have to buy them any new toys until the birthday.
The photo of Jason on the "couch" with him cracked me up. Oh and the one were he is "lounging" on the couch with a remote. I would cal that the "Noah in the future" photo.=)
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