Christmas & New Years 2016
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Its hard to start a post like this; there are just so many great things to relive and memorialise in these pages! Its amazing how much can happen in a short amount of time, and how even with it all you still come out you can still come out feeling reaffirmed in your life choices, and how great they everything is working out. So I guess that is what I am feeling right now, even in the midst of all the wonderful chaos that is family and holidays.
I suppose I'll go back several days and start with Christmas Eve. Prior to this day, we had been preparing for all the parties and visitors by checking out sights we'd like to take everyone to, or things that we wanted to see-namely Star Wars and the bridge haha. But the night before Christmas, we baked and watched all the movies we wanted to before heading over for the annual Hanaike family get together. As usual, the food and fun was on point and it was nice enjoying everyone and their significant others. After lots of laughs, snacking and presents we all hugged and called it a night.
The next day was full to the brim with arrivals and events. All of my siblings made it into town, and while Lester had to work, we got to attend my cousin Becky's endowment ceremony as she is getting ready for her mission in Romania. It was both filled with the Spirit, and also a lot of fun and laughter. From here, we met up with my parents and the kids at the Church building where we had a mini family reunion in celebration of Becky, and it was a lot of fun and food as per the norm. I think the kids especially wore themselves ragged running around having fun. From here on out, it has been a non stop party over at our house-movie and game central, and we've loved it.
Christmas Day itself we woke up to stockings Santa had filled and presents for one another in our little room downstairs and just basked in the wonder and magic of the day with littles to enjoy it. It was a slow paced, beautiful kinda morning. After visiting with my family for a little bit, my Father in law picked us up and we all headed over to the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay for a beautiful Christmas breakfast buffet with his whole family. Its hard to say what was the best-the decorations, the live music, the food, Santa roaming around, the spectacular views of the coastline or the company. We thoroughly enjoyed all of it, and I loved the chance we had to dress up and have some fun with them. In the evening, we played some games and talked with Andy and Katie and it was an over all wonderful Christmas.
Sunday, with Lester back home, we headed to church where my Mom gave an excellent talk, and we enjoyed visiting w everyone. As soon as we got back home, we changed into our holiday pjs, ate a big breakfast [complete w our Christmas croissants and hot chocolate] and did our own Hanaike family Christmas. The kids were in heaven, but so were all of us-there is nothing as wonderful as family I think, especially when you have littles around. It was fun seeing all their developing personalities spotlighted, in their expressions, things they said and ways they played together. It was all so fun!
The next day was Monday, and although we had already seen it, we felt the need to relive the awesomeness that is Star Wars, so while Hillary and my Mom graciously agreed to watch the babies, we all went to watch it again. So good!
On Tuesday, we all woke up early and headed over to watch the sunrise over the Golden Gate Bridge at Lester's suggestions. Talk about BEAUTIFUL! And it was so empty, which was new for me. We walked on the bridge on this crystal clear morning, and although brisk, it was perfect weather and I loved it. From here, we put our Academy passes to good used, and went over to Golden Gate Park and inside the museum for some fun. We ended our morning at our favourite book store, Green Apple Books before heading home for more games, food and naps. Then that night our dear friends the Lualamaga's joined us and the party went on.
Wednesday, we woke up to some good old fog and drizzle, and after a delicious peaches and cream pancake breakfast we went on a walk to one of my Mom's favourite spots and enjoyed the outside and fun. By the time we reached the sand and beach, Addy had splashed in so many puddles, it had gone beyond her rain boots and soaked her pants. Still, they loved running around with Mariah and Ross, playing hide and go seek in the wooded area up above with all of us, and yelling at Uncle Luke high up in the trees.
Thursday was New Years Eve, and we spent most of the day running little errands, playing games, snacking and just enjoying being together. We also went and played at our old school FDR and let the girls run wild and free. In the evening we had a make your own pizza bar, and played a bunch of Minute To Win It Games, Blindfold Karaoke [one of our faves!] and Just Dance. I can't help but think of how lucky we all are to genuinely enjoy each other the way we do-sure, we sometimes grate on each others nerves [that's just family though I think]..but when all is said and done I know that I never have to hesitate to find someone for support or help, and neither do any of my sisters. We also don't have to fake liking anyone which is nice haha-I think when you add new people over the years though, that is actually a great thing. When playing Blindfold Karaoke, you couldn't help but see how in perfectly suited each spouse was to each other, and how they still are so head over heels into each other, no matter how off key they sing or how bad their dance moves are. So I loved all that. We rang in the New Year with lots of noise makers and cider, and Auld Lang Zine. It was a great night, and I think for once, the kids were actually really ready to go bed haha.
Friday being our last full day together, we braved the wind and cold for the gorgeous clear views at Fort Funston, where we snapped some family pictures. Afterwards we went to T-Pumps for boba before coming home. We spent the rest of the day finishing up any other visits we had to make, playing games [as always] and just having fun.
And now, here we are, Saturday night in a house just the 8 people who live here feeling like the house is empty haha! Thank goodness we still have my parents and Luke and Sam to hang with or it would be even harder.
I guess to round it out, I'll just say that Lester and I were just talking about how wonderful this year has been and how we're almost not ready for it end. I think for so long, from like 2012 to half way between 2014, for some reason life felt like it putting us through the ringer. There were so many incredible blessings, but also a lot of trials-I think some of the hardest parts of my life so far-but they also came with a ton of lessons. But in 2015, it was like the break from the storm, the clear skies we'd been waiting for. It was so needed. But now, putting a time stamp of a new year makes it feel a little bit like we need to ready ourselves bc things have been good for to long haha. But we pushed through it together before, and we can again, in rough seas or the smooth sailing. I think no matter what though, whether we're pushing with all our might through 2016, or just cruising along happily, we will be ok and we will be happy with it. I will choose now to be happy this year, and all year long.
Besides-how could I not be with these two crazies at at my side?!?! Good things are coming, I'm sure of it.
Wednesday, we woke up to some good old fog and drizzle, and after a delicious peaches and cream pancake breakfast we went on a walk to one of my Mom's favourite spots and enjoyed the outside and fun. By the time we reached the sand and beach, Addy had splashed in so many puddles, it had gone beyond her rain boots and soaked her pants. Still, they loved running around with Mariah and Ross, playing hide and go seek in the wooded area up above with all of us, and yelling at Uncle Luke high up in the trees.
Thursday was New Years Eve, and we spent most of the day running little errands, playing games, snacking and just enjoying being together. We also went and played at our old school FDR and let the girls run wild and free. In the evening we had a make your own pizza bar, and played a bunch of Minute To Win It Games, Blindfold Karaoke [one of our faves!] and Just Dance. I can't help but think of how lucky we all are to genuinely enjoy each other the way we do-sure, we sometimes grate on each others nerves [that's just family though I think]..but when all is said and done I know that I never have to hesitate to find someone for support or help, and neither do any of my sisters. We also don't have to fake liking anyone which is nice haha-I think when you add new people over the years though, that is actually a great thing. When playing Blindfold Karaoke, you couldn't help but see how in perfectly suited each spouse was to each other, and how they still are so head over heels into each other, no matter how off key they sing or how bad their dance moves are. So I loved all that. We rang in the New Year with lots of noise makers and cider, and Auld Lang Zine. It was a great night, and I think for once, the kids were actually really ready to go bed haha.
Friday being our last full day together, we braved the wind and cold for the gorgeous clear views at Fort Funston, where we snapped some family pictures. Afterwards we went to T-Pumps for boba before coming home. We spent the rest of the day finishing up any other visits we had to make, playing games [as always] and just having fun.
And now, here we are, Saturday night in a house just the 8 people who live here feeling like the house is empty haha! Thank goodness we still have my parents and Luke and Sam to hang with or it would be even harder.
I guess to round it out, I'll just say that Lester and I were just talking about how wonderful this year has been and how we're almost not ready for it end. I think for so long, from like 2012 to half way between 2014, for some reason life felt like it putting us through the ringer. There were so many incredible blessings, but also a lot of trials-I think some of the hardest parts of my life so far-but they also came with a ton of lessons. But in 2015, it was like the break from the storm, the clear skies we'd been waiting for. It was so needed. But now, putting a time stamp of a new year makes it feel a little bit like we need to ready ourselves bc things have been good for to long haha. But we pushed through it together before, and we can again, in rough seas or the smooth sailing. I think no matter what though, whether we're pushing with all our might through 2016, or just cruising along happily, we will be ok and we will be happy with it. I will choose now to be happy this year, and all year long.
Besides-how could I not be with these two crazies at at my side?!?! Good things are coming, I'm sure of it.
