The Christmas Holidays

I can't believe Christmas is gone! It felt like I just put up the Christmas tree but that was back in November. Now I have to take it down and quite honestly, I don't want to! Oy. Time, why are thou so fast? A lot has happened and so as much as I hate to I need to bullet point this.

• Jamy and I decided to join two Secret Santas - The Hangs and The Yangs. The coolest thing was both my Secret Santas got me a record player! Yes, I got two!!! I've been wanting one for so long but never got the courage to get one. Thank you, Yeng and Susan. I love love love it. It is so me. No joke!
• Jamy and I decided to buy everyone in our life a gift this year. Trust me when I say "I have never hated the stores so much, especially Kohls, Marshalls, and Ross!" However, Jamy and I really enjoyed picking up gifts for the people we care about. That made it all the more fun. We loved the late night shopping and thank God for the holiday hours!
• Jamy and I got to dress up and went to my first Christmas party ever! That was a treat because I got to doll up and we both looked pretty nice. Instead of snow, like most places in Winter, we received non-stop rain. Jamy and I left early from the party to hit the stores for extra shopping time and it felt nice--- him in his black suit and I in my little black dress running across the parking lot while drenched in the heavy pouring rain. We laughed so hard! This reminds me of the movie "The Classic".
• For the first time in history, all four C&MA Hmong churches joined up for Christmas Sunday! It was simply beautiful. I'm glad to have been a part of it.
• Christmas eve was spent at the Yang's resident. We had Pog and txiv hluas Jeffrey on live chat the entire time while we ate and opened gifts! Thank You, Lord, for the gift of technology. Even if we're far, we are near one another.
• PK's family came to town for Christmas. The kids were such a joy! They spent two weeks with us. We had Christmas morning breakfast and then onto gift opening! That was really nice. Kengie got me a white puffy jacket for the Winter. I really love it, but I need to lose 20 lbs for it to fit loosely. Oh goodness! Thankfully, I just joined a weight-loss program and should fit it soon. Susan gifted me a little black book that turns into a tiny desk lamp. It's cute and perfect for my current situation. LOL
• We spent our first Christmas without our maternal grandfather. It's definitely different, but I am thankful that our uncles are still trying to hold the traditions and legacy my grandfather has left behind. Even though it's definitely a sad time, I sense peace amongst us.
• For our annual Sibling Christmas, we opted out on gift giving. Instead, we went out to dinner at Fogo De Chao. It was yummm.
• We took PK's kids out to Eat Tea, previously known as Summer Memory Station. I like the former name and I have no idea why they changed it. This name gave a nostalgic feel to the entire place. Possibly also because we got there when the sun was about to set over the busy street. The golden light peered through the windows and it created the ambiance of what I'd like to call "the feels". The feels is between nostalgic, comfort and peace. I don't know how else to explain it, unfortunately. Anyway, Ava finally got to try Dragon's breath. This girl couldn't stop thinking about it and she talked about it for days. She said she can't wait to go back home and share with her classmates of her experience. 
• For New Year's Day, the Hang family took some family pictures together. it came out "aight". Lol I'll have to share them...soon. We also celebrated my father-in-law's birthday with some homemade pho. It was literally the bomb.com :) Super delicious and the best part? Chris, tais dlaab and Ian joined us. Such a treat for me! :) I love baby Ian so much!
• Receiving four days off work for Christmas and four days off for the New Year was such a treat! I've enjoyed every bit of it!

The best part of the holidays???????? Yeng and tais dlaab announced their pregnancy!!!!!!! Once again, they got all of us. We were surprised to the max!!!!!!!!!! Praise God for all His blessings onto the Yang family.