Christmas!!!

We had the Smiths over for dinner on Christmas eve and as the Brazilian

tradition asks for, the kids opened some presents too.

Christmas morning we had fun opening the other presents and we got ready for Church.

The girls and Isaac wanted a Wii system and it was my easiest Christmas ever.

We just got the Wii and some games and voila...they were happy as can be.

We spent the whole day playing with it.

As always I missed my family from Brazil.

I wish I could be at my parents for the Holidays. 

Every single year.

Christmas time

The month of December always brings lots of fun. I enjoy decorating the house with the kids and all the activities that we have.
David and I celebrated our 11th anniversary. Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday that we got married but when I think about all the things we went through together I can say that I am happy and life is good.
We also went caroling with some friends, the girls sang and played Christmas songs on the piano for the elderly in a Nursing Home in Aiea. We made tons of cookies to share with our friends and the most important thing that I learned new this month is that there is NO cookie dough that you have to bake for more than 8 minutes. It made miracles around our house and my family now actually eat the cookies I make. I learned how to make a orange/carrot cookie that is by far the best cookie I ate in America. The kids still enjoy night walks to see the Christmas decorations and lights.

1-David and I leaving in a date to celebrate our anniversary. 2- Caroling

Eddie is back!!

Our elf on the shelf is back and hopefully he will help me with the kids.

With Isaac and Sam I need all of the help I can get! :) lol

Christmas day

We had a great time at Christmas morning.
We were all in the "NICE" list.

I love my shoes Santa!

I was happy to get "Edward" for Christmas :)

Belle loved the present grandma brought it from Egypt.

Thanks Santa for all of the gifts but my favorite of all is my FAMILY!

Happy: Are you kidding me? My red shoes off course!
Sad: I really wanted to be in Brazil today. Phone calls are not enough...

Christmas Eve with friends!

Christmas week is really hard for David and I.
We love it but we would like to spend it with our families.
David in Utah and I in Brazil.
We started our own family traditions and we stay in Hawaii now.
I do miss being with my parents and Christmas Day is the only day of the year that I like snow.
It is to cold to go to Utah in December and to far to go to Brazil
especially with 4 children under 9 years old.
I learned to love the tradition of Christmas morning for opening gifts
and something that I REALLY miss is waking up and smell mom Barlow's homemade
biscuits, bacon and gravy.
We make it better inviting some friends to come over and spend the Christmas eve or day with us.
This year we were invited to De Lima's home.
It was great, we had yummy food, Brazilian desserts and good company.
I am so thankful for all of the blessings that I have
and to the opportunity we have to celebrate Christ in our lives.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Cute babies playing together! We had fun reading and acting the birth of Jesus.

Friends make everything better! These two sing really well!

Isaac and I and Hannah singing Christmas songs

It felt just like home with a really yummy "Pudim de leite condensado" made by Andre and
my Brazilian Meringue lemon pie. It came out pretty good huh?

After the dinner we got home and got right to our

"Brazilian tradition"
opening gifts (well ONE gift)
at Christmas eve and I read the kids a cute story called
"A night without darkness"
by Thimoty Robinson
a Nephite Christmas Story.

The kids enjoying some gifts from far away...



Good night everyone and don't forget to leave cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the rein deers.