Our Angel is now FOUR!

What?  A hiatus from blogging?  Well, kinda...the problem has been that there's just not enough hours in the day.  I have written in my head numerous posts to this blog but haven't had the time to actually sit down and type them out.  If only I could find a way to write the posts during my 2-hour morning commute to work!

We brought in the New Year with Jon's family.  It's Nana's birthday on 12/31 so the entire family went out for Chinese food and then went back to Nana's and Grampa's home for cupcakes, puzzle making, and ringing in the New Year while watching the ball drop in Times Square.  I have fond memories as a toddler sitting up with my Nana (mom's mom) watching Lawrence Welk and then watching the ball drop.  Kristina had a LONG nap earlier that day so our nightowl had no problem sipping her juice while welcoming in 2011.

On January 7th, we celebrated Kristina's 4th birthday alittle early at her school. I was able to get the day off from work -- giving me a little more time to whip up a batch of cupcakes and prep 13 goodie bags (all done into the wee hours of the morning). As I arrived at school, all the kids were quietly sitting at their tables awaiting the sugar feast. It was fun and I was so thankful to have the time to share with Kristina and her classmates.

Getting ready to sing "Happy Birthday to You!"

Taking a picture before making a wish and blowing out the candle.

The mini cupcakes were a hit -- each kid eating 2.  And this year, the teacher didn't swipe all the icing off each cupcake!

The Birthday girl with her favorites:  Ms. Misty (her teacher) and a juice box!

Kristina was not happy that I was leaving her again...  *sigh*

January 7th was also Russian Christmas.  In Russia, New Years is the huge holiday where gifts are shared, lots of food eaten and everyone stays up until the wee hours of the morning.  But if I had my choice, I'd wish everyday could be like Christmas so who am I to pass up this opportunity?  We hung up Kristina's Russian stocking and it was filled with stickers, markers, etc.  One gift we gave her was this 18" bunny rabbit (Zaika the Rabbit) that sings a traditional Russian song:  "V lesu rodilas' yolochka" ("A Christmas tree was born in a forest").  My intentions were to cook up something Russian for dinner but work and life quickly dashed those ambitions.


Russian Christmas Card



Opening her stocking filled with little goodies...

...and doing the Happy Dance with Zaika the Rabbit

Yes, we keep our tree up through Russian Christmas (now a good excuse when we're too busy on New Year's weekend!)

Mom and dad arrived from FL on January 8th to spend a week in Escondido, CA (just north of San Diego).  They came to my hospital before heading south and I was able to give them a tour of where I've worked for almost 12 years and meet some of my Cedars family.  Never thought I'd get that chance!

On Sunday, January 9th, we drove down to Escondido to stay 3 1/2 days with mom and dad at the Lawrence Welk Resort.  It was so nice to get away and the thought of getting a little sleep nearly overwhelmed me.  Even got a 500-pc puzzle completed in two nights.  What a luxury!

Kristina enjoying leftover cupcakes with Poppy

We finished this 500 piece puzzle in 2 nights -- with the help of Kristina.  She *amazed* each one of us with her puzzle skills!

On Monday, January 10th, our angel turned 4 years old.  How can this be?? It was a relaxing day spent sleeping in and hanging out at a local Farmer's Market.  Unfortunately, I had left a large bag of birthday gifts back at home (ugh!) so Jon and I scrambled at the last minute to buy her a little something so she'd have a present to open up on her big day.  We capped off the night with an ice cream cake -- YUM!

NOTE:  I started a tradition last year by placing a tiny matryoshka doll on her cake.  This matryoshka doll is a small tribute to the young woman who brought Kristina into this world and changed our lives for the best.

Ahhhhh, even big girls like to be held and carried when tired!

So cool -- wearing her shades and sipping her lemonade.

Kristina never passes up an opportunity to toss money into a fountain (and would fish it out if we let her!).

Daddy and his little big girl

Kristina and Lawrence:  "Ah-one, Ah-two"!

Yummy birthday cake

Just itching to blow out the candle and get down to business!

Our baby is 4 years old.  January 10, 2011

Fun celebrating with Grammy and Poppy....

...who can't pass up a smoochin' opportunity!

I forgot to bring gifts but mom hand delivered a gift from the Marino's in FL - nightgown and purse!  Thank you!

Mommy and Daddy's last minute dash to get a gift turned out to be a huge hit!

Oh, geez....what were we thinking?  Our little 4 year old going on 44!

The next day, we ventured out to the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park (formerly known as the Wild Animal Park) and had an absolutely great day.  Kristina was so excited to see gorillas, elephants, deers, giraffes, rinos, etc. in person!

A girl with a 'tude leading the "pack" through the park. "Come on, guys!"

One of my favorite pics...we were having so much fun.

Kristina got such a belly laugh at one of the gorillas:  "He's scratching his butt!!"

"Come on, little ducky -- I'll give you a hug."



Sleeping kitty -- big kitty



Kristina loved to watch the elephants

The Park was just getting ready to close when I took this picture -- very apropos as the sun was starting to set but shone so brightly on the mountains in the background.

The Birthday celebrations continued and on January 16th, we had a small birthday party at our local Build-A-Bear shop.  Kristina, along with 4 girlfriends, got to make their own stuffed animal, groom it, dress it, and name it.  Kristina is a true "Deary" wanting Clarise (the doe from "Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer")!

Our party facilitator, Ashanti, signing all the girls in.

Kristina looks on as Clarise is about to become "alive".

After Clarise was stuffed, Kristina chooses a heart to be placed inside of Clarise.

Kristina places the heart inside Clarise while Aunt Laura and Riley look on.

Even Grammy made a bear ("Midnight") and gave a heart for Kristina to place inside of Clarise.

Funny how Kristina and Riley have the same look on their faces as they groom their animals.  Can you tell where Kristina's right hand is???....

...trying to cover up her ears!  She is still sensitive to "loud" noices and the grooming area made a vacuum-like noise.

The Supervisor.

Friends with new friends:  (left to right) Kira, Kristina, Gaby, Tricia, and Riley

Since the Build-A-Bear shop didn't have a party room, we went to the mall's food court where we set up some tables with balloons and brought in coffee, cupcakes (yes, my middle name is now "Betty Crocker"), juice boxes and lots of love to celebrate Kristina turning 4.  Nana, Grampa, Poppy and Grammy were all there completing the guest list.  Now if only I had half a brain to take a photo of all 4 grandparents with the birthday girl, it would have been perfect.

Everybody singing "Happy Birthday"

Blowin' out the candles

No mini-cupcakes for this occassion!

Besides candy, I found these matryoshka hair bands to place in the goodie bags!

The "kids" table; the Grandparents were at the adjacent "adult" table.

My daughter and Goddaughter, Tricia -- now if ony Goddaughter #3, Riley, would have gotten in the pic!

Aunt Laura reading Kristina her card, along with Tricia and Riley.

In the midst of all the holidays and celebrations, I treasure the quiet moments with Kristina and thank God for our little girl.  There were many nights when I went to bed at 1am knowing I had to be up at 5am for work, but still found myself staring at Kristina as she slept.  She has fulfilled our lives like I never knew possible.  To me, Kristina is the gift that makes every day Christmas in our lives.

Happy 4th Birthday, sweetheart.
Love, Mama and Papa