HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Two weeks back from holidays and I still can't stop thinking about how much fun we had with family in South Carolina. What a joy it was to watch Tae and Elea deepen their relationships with their cousins, aunts & uncles, and Grammy & Poppy. I only wish the Kuemmerlins (and Watkins) could have been with us too!

CHRISTMAS ON THE BEACH

Living abroad we truly miss our family and friends all the time, but we especially miss them during Christmas time.  We planned to go home for Christmas this year, but with being preggo with baby Elea and a long flight we didn't go. Instead we made plans to go to a beach for a week with Keila and her family.  Neither of Keila's girls had ever been to the beach, so it was a fun trip.

 

Christmas Eve is Ana Luiza's birthday, so Jess made her day special by grilling picanha and getting a cake for her.  We also got her a little gift.  She said it was a birthday she won't forget!

Christmas morning we woke up and gave some presents to Keila, Ana Luzia, and Lolo.  After that we headed to the beach for a glorious day of sun and sand.

Each day we started out at the beach, then Tae would come in and nap and we would then go out to the pool at our apartment complex.  It was a toss up for which Tae liked better, he loved the beach but the foot pool was a close second! 

It was an amazing week of relaxation, it was so fun to watch Tae play on the beach and in the waves. The first day he wasn't so sure of everything, he clinched us tight when we held him in the water.  By the last day he was running out into the waves with no reserve (close to us!).

SANTA 2016

We took two trips to the mall to see Santa this year, I had a feeling Tae wasn't going to be as chill as he was last year. The first trip we just went around and looked at all the decorations, and the next we committed and took a seat next to the big guy.  The first trip he loved all the decorations, but was a bit leary so we had to hold him and bring him to them.  We took a quick walk past Santa and didn't really get a reaction.

On the next visit, I told Jess we are getting a picture with Santa even if he cries. Tae loved the teddy bear before Santa, so we thought we were going to be in the clear.

 Nope.  We were wrong. Didn't want to be anywhere near him. I'll let the series of pictures speak for themselves.

It's funny because he constantly walks around pointing at anything Christmas related and says, "Ho ho ho."  He carries/drags a Santa around everywhere he goes.  We figured he would love Santa, when will I learn not to expect things. :) 

Phew.  What a day. He must have been traumatized because he fell asleep in the car! 

And just for the sake of comparison...

Christmas 2015 

Christmas 2016