Baking for Christmas

Worked all morning on these Rudolphs. All set and ready for our Christmas party!

Hohoho

With Santa -2014

Walking is not boring anymore

I never really liked walking or jogging. Since we've got Cailin, walking is more enjoyable.

Santa letter and Gen's reconciliation

Dear Santa, it's that time of the year again! Unfortunately this year for Michael it was the end of the 'Santa' era. For a 5th grade 10-year-old, I am not sure if he still believes or just plays along to get presents from the jolly old man. Santa has been taken credit for 10 years for all the wonderful Christmas presents. I always feel a little 'resentful'. So at least now I can take all the credit and tell him straight that 'nope, you are not gonna get that for Christmas because Daddy and I don't approve'. I thought for a moment I saw him getting a little emotional of the realization of the non-existence of Santa and that he tried to hold few tears in his eyes. That made me sad! The 'end of the fantasy' childhood made me sad! He still is going to get most of the things on his already written Santa letter. (They aren't cheap!) And he agrees to go along with his two younger sisters and mailed the Santa letter together. He even plays along with them every morning the 'look for the elf' game. My almost 11-year-old son!

Genevieve's reconciliation at St. Therese. She talks about God and Jesus quite often. She tells me that she loves Jesus and God the most, then mom and dad, then Cailin. My 7-year-old God-loving daughter!

First snow of the winter

We had the first snow of this year the day before Thanksgiving. And it was Cailin's first snow in her life. Boy! She was excited and happy hopping around in the snow! Even she still needs taming, kids love her. All right we all love her.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Tuohy kids

Say Yes

 Always say yes to fashion, even if it's just a sweatshirt. I'm back to mommy mode in dressing lately. Because of all the 'dirty' work of house training a puppy it becomes so practical and comfortable to wear sweats and yoga pants all day from waking up till going to bed. There's absolutely no point of changing clothes during the day for the short outing like picking up kids from school. I've found comfy and cute sweatshirt and sweatpants from JCrew. Although most often I feel in a sloppy mood, once in a while after a quick shower and light make-up I feel refreshed enough to dress a little cuter with a hat, sunglasses and a red pair of sneakers. Fashion is always my biggest vice. It seems so hard for me to compromise. I just don't want to let go that inner self of me dressing well. Part of me always belong to fashion.

The family is complete with Cailin

Finally I gave in to the kids and Husband. Finally we got a dog, the dog, the Golden Retriever puppy, who we named Cailin. It means "girl" in Gaelic. Finally our family is complete. I know I'm out of my mind for taking on the role of newly mom again when at this point of my life I could just enjoy six hours of peace in the day time. It's all over again with a puppy. Feeding, potty training, and just in general that be with the "baby" and give her full attention.
She is a cutie though. That makes it a little easier for me to love her. I hate to say this, but I'm not an animal person. I didn't grow up with dogs or cats or rats. I think we had couple of canaries at one point and then somehow they escaped from the cage one day. But I never felt the loss and sadness.
Life is messy enough. Why do I want a dog to make a already messy home messier? Or in the other way the home is already messy, so why not add another member?
I prayed about this for a few days after seeing the sadness in my daughter's eyes after we attempted to adopt a dog but didn't get chosen to be the adopter. I pray to God at the tenderest moment that for the sake of the kids, I would like to take the responsibility and I would open my heart to accept and love a dog. So God arranged this whole thing including me happened to find this breeder with 3 puppies left, and Husband really wanted to drive an hour and half to see the puppies and we brought home Cailin on the same day.
One week later, after many peepee, poopoo, throw-up incidents in the house I find myself starting to really fall in love with Cailin.
So here she is...

Cailin

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H&M sweater coat

H&M Sweater coat from store; Zara hat.

Day 21 The Last Day of Vacation

Olympic Park

We were hoping to see Mt. McKinley but instead we saw two while Beluga whales.

We found Sara Palin's house!

 Tried fishing here.

Mt. McKinley from the sky

Loved this vacation! The best one so far.

Day 20 Back to Anchorage

Back to Anchorage.

At the bait house near the river, we saw this guy filleting two beautiful silver salmon he just caught. And he offered us half of the fish fillet. Back to the hotel we had the most amazing fresh salmon sashimi for dinner.

Day 20 Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier

The longest tunnel in the U.S. 2 miles long. 

Driving through the tunnel, we came to the town Whitter for lunch with the water front view.

Day 19

One Day Cruise to the Northwestern Glacier

Boat Name: Alaskan Explorer

 The hotel we stayed at Seward and the view from our room.