Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve was our "Avalos Christmas".  Leena reading the note from Santa Claus and noticed he ate his plate of cookies.

She was really excited about opening presents.

Isaac eating the grapes that the reindeer left behind.

Isaac also loved opening up presents.  He was extremely happy when  he got all his favorite trains and various cars.

I made Aleena this Cinderella dress.  She loves playing princess dress-up but doesn't like the scratchy store-bought dresses.  She wears it all the time and I am pleased.

Christmas day turned into a push-up contest!  Ladies included!

Just another warm sunny Christmas day in California.  Waiting to take our family photo.

The snow capped mountains are my favorite.

Back inside we had a little Christms performance.  Mom and Dad prepared "What Child is This?".  Their first duet, and they were amazing.

Christmas day we flew to Virginia.  We had the best smooth trip in all of 5 years!!  The flight attendant and the pilots were so generous.  They allowed our kids to sit up in the pilot's seat.  They added the pilot hat for the picture, and told Aleena to hold up the Lakers water bottle that we bought in the airport.  They were so fun.  Also, the flight attendant gave cookies to our kids that are meant to be for first class.  Aleena and Isaac were so good all 5 hours of flying.  What  nice Christmas present to Matt and me!

We celebrated the Mayry Christmas a few days later.  Our kids are spoiled to have TWO Christmases.  Stockings were hung and Santa was super generous in filling those stockings.

The cousins had so much fun playing together.  They watched, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", while we waited for the family to arrive to open stockings.

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Aleena found this Rudolph nose and wore it all the time.  She wanted her cousin's antlers for the photo.

Colin and Courtney.

Rachel and Alex.

Aly,  Kurt and Jackson.

Bekah and me.  Matt was sick in bed and her boyfriend, John, wasn't there yet.  We took a picture together instead :)

These girls know how to party. They danced around all day in their pretty dresses.

Isaac being his rascal self.  I love his eyes.

The next day we went to our friend's farm.  The kids loved it.  Isaac is looking down from inside the barn.

Aleena loved watching all the cows.

She liked sitting on the tractor.

Mr. Creasy feeding the cows.  The kids got a kick out of that.

Isaac loved seeing all the tractors.  He especially loved "driving" this one.

Aly and Matt.

Me freezing in the Virginia cold. 

We like to have "themed" dinner nights.  This night was Asian night. The boys were hungry and wanted their food now!!

Yum! We had pancit, sweet n' sour meatballs and eggrolls.

Good friends, Bobby and Bridgett came out to visit us.  They're getting married this year!

Aleena loves her eggnog.  Grandma Dunn would be proud!!

A Mayry family photo, minus Rachel and Colin.

We got the chance to visit Thomas Jefferson's house, Monticello.  It's just a hop skip and a jump from where Matt grew up.  Matt with Isaac and his mom. 

Afterwards we exceeded our daily caloric intake and had some good ole' fried chicken, hush puppies, mac n' cheese and beans.

Best fried chicken....EVER!!

New Year's Eve we dressed up in our University of Virginia shirts and watched the ball game.  It was Mexican night and I was in charge of food.  I made enchiladas and Matt made Shrimp Cocktail Baja Style.  Super delicious.  We also celebrated Isaac's 2nd birthday.  Grandmommy made her delicious coconut cake.  It was awesome!!

Aleena and Isaac couldn't get enough of their Aunts and Uncles.  They had a blast.  Can't wait to see them all again!

Cousin Sandwich

At Riverside grill in UVA attire eating the most delicious burgers and fries.

Seeing Aleena for the first time that day at Riverside Grill.  The night before we left them in good hands while Matt, his mom and I went to karaoke in Washington D.C. and then stayed in a nice hotel.  It was so much fun!  It was also fun to see my babies happy with their aunts and uncles and cousins.

Walking around University of Virginia campus and stopping to take a picture.  The campus was modeled after Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello.  It's gorgeous.

Aunt Rachel's turn for dinner. She made a delicious pork loin with gourmet fixings.  This was "gourmet night".

A happy momma relaxing with her happy babies.  Having more than twelve extra hands for seven days is awesome to have.

The kids and I loved looking out the window to see our Cardinal friends.  We also loved looking at the lake.  Grandmommy has a beautiful peaceful place.

Our last night in Virginia.  We stayed in a hotel in D.C. near the airport since our flight was at 8am.  We had so much fun.  I got them popcorn and we watched a little television (cupcake wars) while sitting in bed.  They also got to jump on the bed. 

They're pretty awesome!