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.