Since Wednesday of last week, posting has been sporadic and  we have been in go go go mode. Why? I’ve got family in town! It has been a lot of fun catching up, hanging out and showing them around but oh so tiring as well. Not to mention the copious amount of food we’ve inhaled. I think I’ve eaten enough to hibernate for the winter!

We’re still go go going into this week so I just wanted to pop in to say hi and share a few photos since my blogging schedule is going to be off again.

So without further ado, here’s what we’ve been up to… (ohh I made a rhyme!)

From top to bottom, left to right: The beach – The races. Ok not really but doesn’t it look like Little Peanut is dressed for it? – feeding ducks that never came to shore. I think the army of kids scared em off – family picnic. That’s my little nephew showing the corn whose the boss!

My little ones first Christmas card photo!

My family has quite a few holiday traditions and now with my own little one I hope to continue those and start a few new ones that we can continue through the years. Last year she was only 4 weeks old so while she celebrated Christmas she didn’t get to participate in any of it. While she’s not old enough to understand Christmas I believe she does know that it’s a special time of year.

For as long as I can remember my family has had the same Christmas tradition. All morning my mom would be preparing pho (Vietnamese soup) for our after mass dinner. Before we left for mass my mom would line us up in front of the tree and take photos in the new Christmas outfits my mom had gotten for us. After mass we would head home to devour the Pho and open gifts.  We were either too impatient to wait until morning or my parents didn’t want to wake up early with us! (As a new mom, I think it’s the later one!)

After my brother was born (he’s 10 years younger then me) he started his own tradition and got to open one gift on Christmas Eve morning. After the gifts we would light a fire and play with our gifts or watch a movie. Then we would leave out the cookies and milk for santa before heading to bed.

On Christmas morning we would wake up and race out to see what Santa had left us in our stockings. To this day we still have pho and open gifts at my mom’s house after mass.

With such fond memories of my family Christmas I hope to provide the same for my kid as well as starting a few of our own traditions. Such as:

1. Buying a new ornament or adding to our snow village each year. My husband and I have been doing this since we got married.

2. Baking cookies on Christmas eve. Gingerbread cookies are one of my favorites and I love having them to munch on during the holidays.

3. Making and using an advent calendar.

4. Decorating the house and tree with home made crafts and decorations.

Cathy and I would like to thank everyone for your overwhelming show of support for our business venture! We’ve received the most wonderful emails and comments from friends, family and even a new customer! We also received some great suggestions and product ideas so please keep them coming!

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