I've been working on this post for several days. Unless I stay up until midnight anything extra doesn't seem to happen anymore. Ely is such a good little helper, so much so that she wants to help with EVERYTHING. Including times I am at the computer, and she just wants to pound away and do what I'm doing. So far we have found one chore we can let her help with. Every morning she reminds us to feed the pets. I put the dog or cat food in the bowls, and she carries the bowls to their proper place, sometimes she makes it all the way without spilling and sometimes she doesn't. Most of the time she ends up playing in the dog food. It takes a while, I never realized how long everything takes with a little one. Christmas morning took a few hours to open presents. We only got her 3 presents, our family members and friends got her a few gifts as well. This little girl loves books, she received around 10 , and she had to read every single one after opening it. She would read it first, then daddy had to read it to her, then mommy, and then she would read it herself again. It took such a long time, in the sweetest way possible. I know someday she will rip through her gifts and just put each one aside and move onto the next. Below are pictures from Christmas, Sean's Holiday party the day after Christmas, and New Years.
Christmas Eve after she half way opened one of her presents from Great Grandma ( the pants on the couch) and after opening Christmas Eve pajamas.
Christmas Morning
He is always the most excited over his one present
Sean has taken me to a few work parties. I think this one was one of my favorites. It was at the Southeast Botanical Gardens. We enjoyed yummy food, beautiful scenery, good company, and some dancing.
One of the many ducks at the Gardens. He let me pet him.
Our first late night party with Ely. She fell asleep during her bed time in Sean's arms while we were playing board games. She loved playing with the other kids and all the attention she received.
In Japan, New Years is their biggest holiday. The week following New Years several people go to shrines and follow other traditions that we do not have in the states. We went to the Futenma Shrine the day after New Years. It was a very solemn experience. I hope to go again, maybe next year and participate in some of the activities going on outside the shrine. There are several food stands and booths that are selling toys, similar to a fair in the US. This was one of my favorite New Years experiences to date.
