40 weeks: Holidays 2016

The end of year goes by so quickly! After coming back from Halloween and Disney, we celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving at our house is typically very low key. We stay at home and mama cooks a big Thanksgiving meal. It's kind of funny because you and Bradley do not like the typical Thanksgiving meal.

Our tradition is usually ham or duck, sweet potato casserole, brussels sprout hash, sausage stuffing, pumpkin pie and bars. This year, you asked about the Thanksgiving day turkey. We are not big turkey fans but I felt like I needed to cook the turkey so you have the full experience. This resulted in a last minute run to 3 grocery stores to find a fresh bird b/c it was too late for us to thaw a frozen bird. Baba to the rescue! He fended off a few other people for the last fresh bird.

During our meal, I think you had one bite of turkey which was one bite more than your brother. Good thing I had backup butter noodles.

Then came Christmas!! We went to see Uncle Johnny, Yipao, Meibo, Anthony gege and Mei Wong in Connecticut. But ... I don't know how much longer that will last because you were constantly asking about Santa back at your house (mainly your gifts). We might have to transition to Christmas in Minnesota next year. As always we had a ton of fun in Connecticut. Then, back home we came to start to get ready for the new year and your birthday! Too much excitement.

Now that you are five and in the middle of your kindergarten year, you've really grown up. Lately it's been one loose tooth after another. I've also seen a lot of development and growth. You are very, very good in coloring, able to pair colors together and color within the lines. Also, you are extremely good and very patient with crafts. You did some bead work at explorers and we bought some at home too. It was very funny b/c we needed an iron to melt the beads together. You said to me, "that big thing that gets very hot". I thought it was a glue gun. Then I texted Meibo and she said, "he means an iron". HAHAHA clearly mama does not iron much.

Your Chinese reading and writing is also getting pretty good. I've come to realize that you're learning more than I know... which is great. I think it's funny that you talk about your dad to me in Chinese. I'm sure more will come of this.

As always, mama keeps all your funny Ben-isms:

11/9 (me) Did you just thrown the light sabers down the stairs?

(you) No, I gently pushed it down and it went klink klink klink klank klank

12/3 - Lost fourth tooth with the help of your brother (he kicked your face while playing)

12/14 - I like chocolate but not chocolate in my butt

12/18 - My wish came true, you started to play with your brother. I also realize that it's not a good wish as more injuries will start with two boys playing

1/14 - I think he's having the worst day ever

1/17 - Baba is the big money guy. Baba has the dollars and mama has the pennies.

1/17 - I like to put my finger in my butt bc it smells great (you will hate me for putting this in)

1/23 - Lost your fifth tooth!