Home Christmas 2014

Since we were in NY for Christmas, we had Christmas at home on Saturday so the kids would have time to enjoy their gifts before having to leave them for several days!  We gave them each 3 gifts, Charlie our Elf, delivered 1 gift, and then there were gifts from KC and TN family!  Our kids are so loved and spoiled!

Ready for the morning!  Gifts were paper-coded!

 The morning- SO excited!!

Thankfully the kids had simple wishes- Annalise wanted anything Hello Kitty (and every.single.gift was Hello Kitty), Asher wanted anything to do with scoops (we bought him one to play with outside), Adeline wanted anything to do with dolphins, and Alden wanted anything to do with Legos!

Santa Over the Years

2014

Wow- what a fun look at the past!  I love how Addie is wearing the snowflake dress in 2012, 2013 and Annalise is wearing it this year!

Winter Champs

Winter Champs Swim Meet was a huge success!!  Adeline swam 5 events- and placed in them all!  Alden swam 3 events and placed in all his!  They have worked so hard- we could not be prouder of the progress they have made!  Annalise is SO excited to be a part of the Spring Champs!!  It's so hard to believe that we weren't sure if Adeline and Alden would be able to swim in Champs last year since there was a chance we would be in Lithuania!  Turns out we were home and now, a year later, Asher and Annalise were there to watch and cheer!!

Baby Jesus, We Love You

For the first time, our church had a Christmas Pageant!  We listened to the CD going to and from school for a month- we all knew ALL the words!  It was such a blast helping- another mom and I helped since we are teachers and bossing kids around just comes naturally!  The kids did great and it turned out super sweet!

Alden the Dove

Annalise a Donkey and Adeline the Sheet

Practicing!  That's me, the red blur at the front...

All lined up and ready to walk in singing!

Yay!!

Emily and I matched- we totally didn't plan that!

Loving the hot coco and cookies afterwards!

Loving the treats!

He sang along from the audience!

It was a blast and we are looking forward to next years performance!

Bass Pro Christmas

After school on a Wednesday, we headed to Bass Pro to see Santa, the fish, and show Asher and Annalise the "Dead Zoo" as it is called....  Fun was had by all!  I had my doubts about Asher- in the orphanage Santa visited, but he gave them gifts to open- gifts they didn't get to keep, but they still got gifts.  Asher was determined that Santa was going to give him gifts when he saw him....  Thankfully Asher was ok by just getting a candy cane from Santa....

Addie's Adventure- Day 2

This was THE day- the DAY that Adeline has dreamed of- she got to MEET and TOUCH Winter the Dolphin!

Addie and Al arrived right before they opened and enjoyed having the marine hospital basically to themselves!  They got to meet many creatures- some in the movie, some playing other characters in the movie- and learn lots about various creatures and the highlight- MEETING WINTER!  

What a sweet memory for Addie and Al- we are so blessed to have such an amazing Dad/Husband!

Winter and Hope playing

Winter watching Adeline

Pure Joy- that is what the look is on her face!

Florida, Day 1

To say that Adeline has been excited about this trip is a huge understatement!!  For the last month, we have been welcomed every morning, with a countdown for this trip!  I am so thankful for a husband who is willing to use his miles and hotel points to make a precious memory with each child on their 9th birthdays.

Adeline was super excited to be up and having breakfast with Al at 3:45am- their flight took off from Richmond at 5:40am!  According to Al, she was happy, chipper, and oozing excitement allllll day!

First flight!

The baggage claim TOTALLY captures the whole reason why Addie wants to be there!

We had heard about this power plant, and how it was so warm that it drew a large amount of manatees!  Off Al and Addie went- and saw LOTS of them!  Even a baby shark was swimming with the manatees- and every things ended peacefully...

Next up, Chihuly!  Adeline studied this artist last year at school and we even visited part of the exhibit while it was in town, but we didn't get to take the official tour!  Al surprised Adeline with tickets to the whole experience!!

They even got to see some glass being made!

Next up, swimming at the hotel pool- gotta love Florida!!  My little go-getting even texted me to ask what she was swimming at Champs so she could practice!

After the swim, they headed to the beach to walk and enjoy the sites on the Board Walk!  So beautiful!

Loving this turtle!

Sunset on a pretty amazing day!

The highlight will be tomorrow- when she gets to meet, TOUCH, and have her picture taken with Winter!!  She does not know that she gets to touch Winter- she is going to be SO excited!!