Today, Janie learned about making a fire with Dada and played a little pool with Ankong.
She also learned how to play hide-and-seek with Ama.
Here she is counting to 10.
There’s Ama!!!
morning at the cabin
The grandparents got some good quality time with all their grandkids this morning.
Ferry Ride
This evening, we all drove down to the ferry terminal. We parked the minivan onto the boat and then took the elevator up to where the cafeteria and other amenities were located.
Janie sat down with Ankong and Ama by the window. It was too dark outside to see anything so she snacked on a rice krispy treat.
Once at the cabin, Janie had story time with Ankong. She got some new Dr. Seuss books from them!
Sushi Lunch
We had lunch with the family today and Janie got to meet Amelia, Auntie Amy’s little girl, who is almost 3 years old. They shared stickers together and sat next each other as they ate.
The girls really liked their ice cream dessert with fruit and a cookie.
The view from the restaurant was so pretty and even Peanut got a good look out the window.
Ama and Ankong got some snuggles in before he fell asleep.
What a yummy lunch!
Lots of visitors!
Today was filled with excitement for this little boy. It started out quiet with Yai. He was super alert and just hung out with her.
He later chatted with Ta over FaceTime and would turn to the screen each time Ta would say something. Maybe he likes his low voice.
Around lunch, Auntie Jia and Uncle Jason arrived and met him for the first time. Toni and Thomas were also here but they were either sleeping or eating. We’ll get a cousin photo next time.
Ama and Ankong also flew in last night and came to meet their newest grandson.
This is a big year for the Lao Family!
Uncle Bang and Auntie Vyl also stopped by to meet him in the afternoon.
He was much sleepier by then.
Here he is with his new buddy Rowan.
Auntie Teresa also came to say “hello” to him. I can’t wait for him to be big enough to follow Henry around.
Toni and Thomas
This afternoon, Janie met her baby cousins for the first time. Initially, she was hesitant and didn’t know what to think despite talking about them all week.
She remembered their names and quickly learned who was who based on which rocker he or she was sleeping in. She commented on how Thomas has the monkey chupon (pacifier) and Toni has the elephant. She also told Auntie Jia that Thomas had more hair.
She spent a lot of time sitting with Auntie Jia while she fed each of them over and over again. Any time one would cry, she would run to the room to check on them. At one point, Uncle Jason said, “let’s go back to the livingroom” and she waved him off and said, “no, I’m gonna watch the baby”.
She was also consoling Big GG throughout the afternoon and placed him in the swing in the evening.
She also had the whole afternoon to play with Ankong and Ama.
They had lots of giggles together.
She shared her necklaces and toys with them.
Janie had a fun time today with her newly expanded family.
On our way home this evening, she said that the babies “cry and sleep and eat a lot too”.
Evening Activities
This evening before dinner, Janie played with her Lego house. We left it up this week and it was been like a doll house for her. She’s also constantly changing it and moving things around.
She also got to play with her iPad this evening and has been paying more attention to what color things are supposed to be. Here she is coloring in the picture of Tigger.
During dinner, Ankong and Ama called so she hung out with her grandparents for most of her meal.
After School
After school, we drove straight to 99 Ranch Market to pick up some groceries. She got to pick out a special treat for being so patient on the drive and during our shopping trip.
Later that evening, Janie scooped ice cream for Ankong and Ama on FaceTime.
A little more Christmas
On Monday morning, Janie really slept in. I guess she just needed to recover from all the new experiences of the last 4 days.
Once she woke up, we drove down to Orange County to meet up with Auntie Marie and Cousins Cole and Brandon. She got to open a present from them.
She hadn’t eaten much at lunch so she had lunch with Daddy when we got home.
She ate some of Daddy’s rice and udon that we brought home for him.
Later that afternoon, Daddy got the car washed and then came back to re-install the car seat. Janie insisted on bringing the step stool out so she could sit and watch.
We moved her car seat to the right side so that Mommy can sit in the back seat with her on the ride home.
For dinner, we went to Ankong and Ama’s house.
She had an avalanche of Christmas gifts from her grandparents including 2 giraffes, a Mickey Mouse, giraffe blanket, clothes, and a doctor set.
Every package was labeled “For KK”. She is one lucky kid.
Auntie Jia also bought her a stamp set and mini globe. They opened the stamp set and got started. What a fun Christmas!
Mexico: Day Three
Our flight home wasn’t scheduled until 4:10 so there was plenty of time to go back to the beach and pool. But first, a nice hearty breakfast!
First stop was the pool. Janie was so excited.
The pool was super empty at the time that we went so it was nice and quiet too.
Luckily the sun came out strong and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky today.
Next up was the beach for a little more digging and meatball-making.
She also braved Mr. Ocean and managed to get her feet in the water.
http://youtu.be/a5T3uWVzZTE
Here’s a video of her slowly making her way in.
By the end, she was running into the water to scoop up some water.
Then before it was time to wash up and pack, Janie went in for one last dip with Daddy. They enjoyed the view and our little slice of the infinity pool together.
Ama and Ankong stopped by to find us and got some snuggles in.
We had brunch outside at the pool after checking out and Janie got a wooden giraffe toy. Uncle Jason bought it for her from the vendor nearby.
It’s one of those toys that dances when you press the button underneath and it really cracked her up.
Here’s our family photo before heading out to the airport.
On the plane, Janie enjoyed doodling with her hotel pen and pad of paper.
She was very good on our 3-hour flight home and got some cranberry juice to sip along the way.
When we arrived at LAX, we had a long walk to customs and Janie ran the whole way. She had so much energy that must have been saved up on the plane. I think this girl was just happy to be free from the seat belt!