Christmas 2014

Christmas this year was spent both in Arizona and back home in Virginia.  The kids and I had fun spending time with my family. We ate our family Christmas dinner a few days early and opened presents and the kids put on a nativity play.  On Christmas day we flew back home to be with Mike and open more presents. Our friend Matt came and ate and played the rest of the day with us.

This year everyone got kindles as their main present which were a big hit.

Marcus was sad and told his teacher that Santa didn't come to his house this year. Which I guess was true because St. Nick came earlier in the month and we were traveling.

Natalya as a wiseman and Raquel as Mary

Checking out the lemon tree at Grandpa & Grandmas

Happy in Arizona

At the airport heading home

Butterfly Wonderland

The kids and I headed to Arizona to spend a few weeks with my family.  While we were there we got a special visit from Mike's family.  We spent a day playing with both grandparents at the Butterfly Wonderland exhibit in Phoenix. Aunt Ali and Aunt Natalie along with their kids came along for the fun. It was neat learning about and seeing lots of different butterflies from all over the world.  It was cool being in a room with hundreds of butterflies and having them landing on us. Unfortunately Erik got his enjoyment from stomping on a few that were on the ground.

Heading to Arizona

Ready for take off

Butterfly Wonderland

Natalya & cousin Lexi

Cousin Anna & Raquel

Marcus & Natalya

Newest Cousin Jason and Aunt Natalie

Grandpa Kennedy & Natalya
with a butterfly that stuck to grandpa the whole time he was there.

Erik & Natalya enjoying the nice humid weather in the butterfly garden

Natalya & her butterfly

Raquel & her butterfly

Erik enjoying a butterfly on his shirt

Having a snack with cousin Evan

2 Crazy 2 year olds

Kennedy Cousins

Gingerbread house

The boys and I helped Natalya make a gingerbread house at school.  She listened to her teacher and didn't eat a single piece of candy putting it all on her house.  She was creative with her candy and had lots of fun.

St. Nick

St. Nicholas visited our house on Dec. 6th. Our new German friends let him know to stop at our house. The kids were excited to wake up to find yummy German chocolate, candies, oranges and nuts in their shoes.

It didn't take long for the boys to devour their basket of treats, giving themselves a sweet breakfast.

I think its the start of a fun new Christmas tradition.

 

Carolyn's visit

My cousin Carolyn came for a quick after Thanksgiving visit. She took the train down from D.C and the kids and I picked her up at the station. They thought it was pretty neat to see the train come into the station and see so close.  Carolyn's wish was to walk along the beach so we took her to Ft. Monroe beach where she could see the water and explore the fort.  We ate yummy fish for lunch at a little place right on the water, so hopefully Carolyn got her fill of the sea.  The kids really enjoyed having her come visit, the girls even had to wear their boots just like Carolyn did.  We were sad to see her go back but hopefully she will visit again soon.  

Thanksgiving Feast

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast and Fall Festival

The kindergarten classes had a combined feast where they try food that they may have served at the first Thanksgiving.  The boys and I helped set up and plate food for Natalya then dashed over to Raquel's class to help set-up for her class fall festival.  Then we made it back to hear Natalya and the other kindergarten classes sing a few songs.  After their performance we went back to Raquel's class and helped make Oreo Turkeys until Erik threw-up on the classroom floor.  We made a quick exit and headed home. Besides having to be in two places at once it was nice being able to spend a little time with each of the girls and their celebrations.

Rock Climbing Party

Natalya had a rock climbing birthday party this year.  We rented the climbing wall at our local YMCA and the kids had lots of fun. She invited friends from swim team, school and our neighborhood.  I think it was the easiest party we have had in a long time.  The only trouble was with the tall cake that didn't want to stay up. I ended up having to run out and find something to make as a better base to hold the cake. It all worked out and Natalya had a great cake and a great time at her party.

Birthday Girl!

Happy 6th Birthday Natalya!

Natalya the princess

Learning the guitar

Having fun at swim practice

Some of Natalya's Favorites:

Food: Macaroni & Cheese

Toys: Barbies

Color: Yellow, Pink & Blue

Movie: Frozen

Day of the week: Saturday- because I get to go rock climbing and do lots of other stuff

Activity: Painting, mixing colors

Place: Chuck E. Cheese- get to play lots of games

Vacation: Going to Grandma's house

Best Day: I liked it when I was a baby.

Treat: Lollipop & popcorn

I wish: I could fly by myself, had a unicorn & a Pegasus

Wants to be when she grows up: I want to be lots of stuff, Rock Star, Vet and an Artist.

(Said by Natalya on 4/29/14- I don't know if I want to be pretty or help animals when I grow up.)

and a few more reasons I love her....

1. She is a great big sister. Always watching out for her brothers. But especially Marcus, who she walks to preschool hand in hand with and makes sure he gets to his class.

2. Smart. She is always asking questions and wants to know what everything is and how it works. She is testing for the gifted program at school.

3. She is excited to try new activities and enjoys doing them. She swims, plays soccer, basketball and the piano and makes lots of friends while doing it.  Her new activity she wants to try is ice skating.

4. She likes to make up stories and songs. You often find her singing a song that is all her own.

5. She is good friends with her sister. They don't get along all the time but they truly are best friends.

6. She has a good sense of humor and loves to laugh. 

7. She is learning German. She likes practicing the new words she learns with our German friends.

8. Even though she wants to be like her big sister she is still her own unique person with her own opinions and isn't afraid to express her likes and dislikes.

9. She is brave, understanding and sympathetic.

10. She knows how to share and is happy to do it.

For her birthday dinner she chose Texas Road House. It was kids night so they had fun getting their face painted, getting balloon art and eating ice cream.  Natalya got a special balloon with a bear inside for her birthday.  

Here are the other kids face paint

Marcus with a rocket

Erik the blue tiger

Raquel the cheetah

Star of the Week

Natalya was the Star of the Week in her kindergarten class.  She made a poster about herself showing a picture of her family, her house and what activities she likes to do and her favorite toys.  She wrote she was 6 yrs. old and she likes candy and cake.  She also got to take in her favorite book to read to the class and be the line leader. Marcus and I also brought her lunch for her birthday. Her choice, grown-up chicken nuggets from Burger King.  We also got her a birthday cupcake. I think she enjoyed being extra special in her class for the week.

Family Walks/Bike Rides

We love our neighborhood we live in here in Yorktown.  We walk or ride our bikes everywhere.  One of our favorite family activities is to ride our bike to the park and walk around the pond and play tennis.

Marcus and Erik have gotten really good on their new bikes. Erik can make it all the way to the park and back on his balance bike.  The girls have enjoyed learning to play tennis. We all have love the beautiful fall weather and spending time together as a family.

Erik on the way to the park. He was talking the whole way.

Marcus showing how well he can ride his big bike.

Soccer

Natalya had a fun time playing soccer this year.  She went from being the only girl on her team last year to an all girls team this year.  I don't think they ever settled on a team name and changed it every week, everyone came up with ideas and were always happy to cheer for their team no matter the name.

Go Purple.....