I can't believe Daniel is five! He is the best kid we love him so much! Even though Daniel's birthday was right after we were getting back in town from Christmas - we managed to pull together a last minute party with the kids he knows from church that are in his preschool class.
Playing games
I made a gold fish cake.
Ready to blow out the candles.
Daniel asked for a dragon kite for Christmas...a dragon kite...Shannon and I were at a loss. We couldn't find one anywhere but randomly found one at Costco later and gave it to him for his birthday. He fell asleep on the floor hugging it that night. So funny.
Getting birthday kisses from Nora.
Unwrapping a basketball bag from the Koller's which he loves.
When my sister Jenny and her family got back in town after the holidays we were able to spend a few days with them. So great to see them and baby Paul who I hadn't seen yet!
Jenny and Paul
Nora and Grandma
At the park with the kids.
Ben getting the veggies ready for tempura: It's tradition in the Mizukawa household to make a Japanese feast for New Year's. It was all SO good! Ben did most of the cooking. He made two kinds of Japanese soups, tempura, a few different sushi rolls, won tons, and mochiko chicken. Did I mention it was SO good?! Daniel loves sushi so he was pretty excited.
Leah and Daniel made their own concoction: Fruit Nut Salad
Jenny and Kate fanning the sushi rice.
Nora liked the nori.
Kate rolled all of the sushi.
Sam and Daniel are about the same age and Daniel just loves Sam. I'm glad they got some time together.
Daniel and Nora were so looking forward to seeing their cousins! They had so much fun with them.
Daniel and Ruth who are pretty close in age.
Mom and Ruth cooking.
Nora with another baby cousin Paul - my sister Jenny's baby! They live in Ohio and were out of town for Christmas but we got to see them after the holidays. Paul is such a happy baby.
He just makes me smile. He's so cute.
Nora, Grandma, and Henry
Nora was sad about something and wanted Ruthie to hold her.
Henry and Rilla
Nora wanted to get in on this...
We discovered that both Daniel and Henry LOVE the movie How to Train Your Dragon. I got Daniel these pj's before Christmas and he has loved them. When Henry saw Daniel wearing them he followed Daniel around endlessly pointing at his pj's saying "Dragon!" We all thought it was so funny.... Then when Emily put Henry down for his nap (in the same room with our luggage) Henry apparently found the pj's and put them on! He couldn't help himself!
We found Henry some Dragon pj's of his own so he wouldn't feel left out!
The kids woke up early ready to see what Santa had left for them. It was so fun watching all of their surprise and excitement!
The letter Santa left for the kids.
The kids were excited to find reindeer foot prints in the snow where they had sprinkled the reindeer food.
Waking up to a white Christmas!
Baby Rilla
Waiting to come downstairs in the morning.
Santa brought Nora some things for her baby dolls and some pretend makeup and brushes etc. b/c she is always trying to get into mommy's.
Daniel showing off his Steve Irwin action figure and the crocodile: Daniel is REALLY into nature shows on tv/books about animals etc. He is fascinated and asks me to see if a "nature show" is on all the time. We came across Steve Irwin's show The Crocodile Hunter one day and Daniel was mesmerized. He LOVED it and wanted to watch it everyday. He would dress up and pretend to be Steve using his stuffed animals and pretend snakes to do whatever Steve was doing. Anyway, Shannon found this action figure online and got it for Daniel which has proven to be a hit. (Poor Daniel doesn't know the true fate of the crocodile hunter. I think he would be crushed!) We also got him the Planet Earth and Blue Planet DVDs since he's been into that kind of thing and he watches them every day! He knows more about animals/fish than Shannon or I do!
We made these bags for the two Grandma's and Shannon's aunt this year. The kids had fun doing it.
The half-time show...
Ready to rest and watch a movie.
My mom always made this German Kringler every Christmas morning. It is one of my favorite things. It was a special treat to have her there and make it!