Ho Ho Ho

This year we went to see Santa on Christmas Eve.  We got there first thing in the morning so Leilani could be first in line. As always, she was ready to go with her Christmas Wish List in hand.

 This year Leilani was very serious about making her Christmas list.  She collected ads from the newspaper that had the toys and games she wanted.  Then she cut out the pictures of the things she wanted to ask Santa for.  Finally, after each picture was glued onto the pages, she had Mommy spiral bind her masterpiece (to give it a more polished look)

 Aunt Callie and Grandpops took the book with them to Toys R Us and were stopped multiple times during their visit by parents and store employees demanding to know what company made the wish list and where they could get one for their kids. 

 Santa was pretty impressed with the book too.

 Though he was more impressed when she went through every page with him and explained what each item was and where it ranked on her Christmas list. 

 Luckily she was Santa's first visitor of the day while he still had patience and found her precociousness to be charming and delightful. 

 This is Mommy's new friend who works the Jose Eber booth at the mall.  He offered to curl Leilani's hair if she would sit nicely while he did it and be a hair model for him. I just wish we had visited him BEFORE the pictures with Santa because her curls were amazing! It drew quite a crowd and he sold 2 curling irons just in the time he was working on her.  

(He asked us to come back again next weekend.)

Cookie baking with Daddy

To get ready for Christmas, Leilani and Daddy baked cookies on Christmas Eve- Eve (December 23rd).  They made 2 batches.  One was chocolate chip (to give as gifts) and the other was sugar (to leave for Santa Claus)

The joy of sugar cookie making is that Leilani gets to decorate them however she sees fit. 

 Look at that concentration!

 This one is shaped like the letter L



Leilani the Yellow Belt

Last night was promotion exam night at Taekwon Do.  Leilani and Rubie were testing for their yellow belts.  They were the only white belts testing and the youngest kids there.  They were AWESOME.  Both girls have been working really hard and did their best.  We are so very proud of them both!

Here they are bowing to Instructor Nick before their test.(Check out Lani's braids!)

Kicking Stance!

A quick hug for luck.

Yellow belt at last!

She was thrilled about getting a trophy too.

Instructor Nick tying Leilani's new belt

Instructor Jameel, Rubie, Leilani, and Instructor Nick.

                  Congratulations Leilani The Yellow Belt.  We are so proud of you!!

Fancy Nancy Day

Our local Barnes & Noble had a very special event that Leilani (and her Mama) were very excited about.  There was a book signing with Robin Preiss Glasser the illustrator of the "Fancy Nancy" book series.  The books are some of Leilani's favorites so she was thrilled to get to meet the woman who does the amazing pictures. (Seriously, the illustrations are 75% of the books' charm!)

 The invitation said for the girls to come in their fanciest ensembles, so it was a sea of feather boas, ball gowns, tiaras, and princess accessories. 

 She had the girls all come up front and one by one, she applied their make-up (glitter).  After being properly made up, each little girl turned to the audience who all said in unison "Oooooh la la!"

 Here's Leilani getting "Fancified"

 She was very excited and ran back to me so she could see herself in the mirror.

 She read the kids her newest book and they sat very still and hung on her every word.

 When she asked them questions, every little girl raised her hand to answer. 

 And she taught the girls how to practice walking like a model by doing the "banana walk."  Each little girl had a chance to walk around with a banana on her head saying "faaaabulous" and "dahhhling"  It was quite clear by watching Robin in action tht she is a former ballerina.  She's very glamorous.

The party ended with a book signing.  It was a great day!

Disneyland with Grandma Linda (& Aunt Randi and Uncle Robbie)

 We went to Disneyland and it just so happened to be the day they were filming their Christmas Day concert and parade.  The whole park was decorated for the holidays. 

 I love that she's looking at her reflection in the Christmas ornament.

 All smiles with Uncle Robbie.

 With Mommy in front of the castle.  That's the lead singer from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performing in the background.  They performed with some of the dancers from Dancing with the Stars.

 Nick Cannon was the MC for the event.  He came over to chat with Leilani and take pictures with her.  She had no idea who he is, but was thrilled to find out that he is Mariah Carey's husband.  "Daddy.  today I met a new friend who is husbands with the Christmas song lady."  (Lani's favorite song is Mariah's "All I want for Christmas.")

Halloween Part II

So tonight was the big night and Snow White was in all of her "princess glory." 

But let's back track to what happened the night before Halloween.

At about 9:30pm I heard Leilani scream at the top of her lungs.  Convinced that she was under some sort of attack I flew into her room in an absolute panic. When I got in there she was sitting up in the middle of her bed with a huge grin on her face. "Mama. Great idea - I don't want to waste time in the morning changing into my costume so I'm going to sleep in it. Run downstairs and get it for me."

Why is my daughter such a BOSSY little control freak?!" Oh Shut up all of you. I know why!

We started off the evening at the mall with Rubie.  We investigated ahead of time and found out that the trick or treating was from 4:00-6pm so we got there right at 4 so we could beat the rush.  So explain why the majority of the stores had signs in their front windows that read “Out of Candy.  Sorry” Either they only planned to hand out candy to 11 children, or they’re all big fat liars!  The girls had a blast and were unphased by the dishonesty.  Their mommies, however, were NOT amused. 

The sweetest Snow White and Wonder Woman ever!

 Lani was very excited about her special Poisoned Apple bag that her mommy made.

I forgot to mention that she was awake at 5:15 on Halloween morning.  I tried to explain to her that it wasn't time to wake up because the sun hadn't even come up yet.  Her immediate response was "Oh good.  Because we trick or treat when it's dark."  No reasoning with that kid!

We only went to a few houses in the neighborhood.  Leilani doesn’t really care for trick or treating.  Her preference is to stay home and hand out the candy.  She loves it and every time she hears kids approaching she jumps up and down and screams, “They’re coming! They’re coming!”

 Could there be any more mischief in this face?!

 Thanks Aunt Callie for the Snow White costume!  It was PERFECT!!