Christmas 2014

At the end of October/beginning of November, Dad, Jason and Katie (me) started talking about opening a woodworking business. I had an idea for a Nativity box. Once I got the patterns made up, Dad took it away! It has been quite successful, especially since it is so awesome. The one box that we mailed did not fare very well in the mail :( we've learned that it needs to be quite a bit padded, although it seems like the postal service was a bit rough with it...

Anyways, this is what the box looks like. Gorgeous!

A few days before Christmas my cousins, Shane and Cody, came to visit from Virginia. 

They brought their dad, my Uncle Steve, along to visit. It's amazing how different he and my Dad look. My dad favors his Mom, while Uncle Steve favors his Dad. Crazy genetics, but it was great to see them - it'd been several years! :) 

On the 23rd we did Gingerbread (graham cracker) houses. The kids love this and this year I don't think any of the adults even made their own houses, too many kids that need help. In a few years they won't need us to set up the structure and we'll be back to making our own!

Wendy

Johnny and Galina with their houses. Johnny "wapp't my house wif tandy to mate it strong!"

Kerriann helping Ella with her castle.

Emma brought her friend, Ashley, who did not want her picture taken :) Emma has changed again. She'll be 12 in February!

Julia and Julius (in our house they both get called "Julius" by Johnny :)

Julius and his craziness!

Jason helped Shelby with hers (and it was probably the best house made that night!). Shelby is very patient, but decided, when it comes to decorating.

Nick and Lydia

Anna and John

Shelby finally smiled.

Galina

Johnny eating more candy than he was decorating with (almost...).

Amelia was so happy to be around the kids, around anybody really, except the men. She is the sweetest baby ever. Loves everyone, is very patient with the kids picking her up all of the time - and I think Molly is the most patient mother I've ever seen. I have heart failure multiple times when they are around, but neither of them bats an eyelash.

Uncle John trying to get Amelia, she smiles, but gently declines :)

Lydia and Anna

Erin's mom and dad, Jan and Dave, were visiting from Pennsylvania. Dave is a fun grandpa, even if headlock smiles are forced :)

Jan letting Amelia ride a horsey. 

Ella was probably Amelia's favorite. She was just big enough to carry Amelia securely, although for short bursts because Amelia is huge (she's only 10 months!) and Ella would gladly take her around to see everyone. 

Surveying the damage...what a clean-up crew we need after these family gatherings!

Everyone, including Jason, tried on Granny's fun light shades. They make different things appear when you look at the Christmas lights. They are fun!

Granny

A big photobomb.

Getting on towards bedtime, so extreme entertainment measures were required. 

On Christmas Eve, we all gathered at John and Kerriann's new house in Hampstead. We ate Italian food: shrimp parmesan and eggplant parmesan. Riley and Judy came and they brought ham and collards. It was a yummy night! We exchanged gifts with Riley and Judy too. They brought each kid (that's 14!) several wrapped presents to open and the kids loved it!

We didn't get home from the family Christmas Eve celebration until pretty late, but the kiddos were so excited for Santa to come that they happily read the Christmas story with us, set up the Nativity, put out cookies for Santa, and even posed for a few pictures in their Christmas jammies. 

This year their lists were pretty simple. 

Johnny: a lawnmower, a vacuum, and a toy snake (which was not put on the list until late, and not translated until even later...will have to wait for Birthday). 

Galina: a make-over station, a tarantula (which she knew Santa wouldn't bring because Mommy wouldn't allow it), a girl cat (again, not happening, one devil is enough), and a car. Needless to say, she was slightly disappointed on Christmas day, but I think already knew it was coming.

Christmas morning came early for Galina - 6:30 a.m. but she patiently waited for Johnny to wake up, which happened a bit closer to 8 a.m. She was happy to organize the gifts, read all of the labels, guess what was in them, and help me make cinnamon rolls. 

Once Johnny woke up, there was no more waiting, they jumped right into opening presents!

Galina chose a guitar for Johnny.

Santa brought Galina a sparkly kitty necklace.

They both got the Osmo game from Santa, which is awesome, by the way. Totally worth it!

Johnny got shaving cream and a "razor." He was excited because he had seen it in the store and asked for it but was content to wait to see if Santa would bring it. Galina was excited because she'd get to "practice shaving [her] legs" - good grief.

Opening his lawnmower and vacuum (which he saw me buying one day when Daddy and I got our wires crossed at the store...). He has been asking for his "wan-mower" for MONTHS and was ecstatic to get it. It's been a week and he still wakes up and plays with it for a bit before he comes out of his room in the morning!

Mr. Peabody and Sherman. It's a fun movie!

Part of Galina's make-over station. Mommy, Pop, Aunt Mimi and even Uncle John all worked to make her a vanity that she got the next day at the farm. She knew that was coming from us and not from Santa.

Johnny got an R/C Jeep too. It's pretty awesome, except for the fact that it does not work in our house. We have to take it outside, or to the farm, to play with it. :(

Johnny got Galina a Frozen microphone for Christmas.

Brian got a blender from the kids, and a bunch of other survival stuff. 

Johnny got a Build and Grow monster truck with a hammer, philips and flathead screwdrivers and a pair of safety goggles. This kid LOVES tools. 

Galina picked out a Willow Tree figurine for me. Love her!

Johnny picked out a Peppermint Bark Yankee candle for me :) Love him!

Galina got a box of make-over stuff...fake nails, perfume, nail polish, hair chalk combs, and two pairs of heels. These actually fit her, and that was why they had to be purchased. Her other heels have been too small for over a year now, not that that slows her down...

On to stockings!

Candy, toys, toothbrushes, little games, etc. Fun stuff!

And the dogs and cat got toys as well. They love new toys!

So, MERRY CHRISTMAS! We had a wonderful Christmas, so different from last year when we were still moving in and redoing and adjusting. This year was calm, happy, fun, full of food and family! A wonderful time! We love these happy, caring little kiddos. Johnny is sweet, talkative, energetic and so, so lovable. Galina is fun, such an individual, smart and focused. They both love their family, each other, their pets and are just so sweet. We couldn't have asked for a better Christmas and are so grateful to both of our parents for making it happen, because it wouldn't have without them. Our washing machine broke two days before Christmas, the sink clogged two days after. Seems like there will always be little downpours, but we have such wonderful people around us as our silver linings and we love you all!