Christmas in Virginia

This year with all the crazy expenses of living in New York, it was just not happening for us to travel back to arizona for Christmas. Not to mention, the kids only had a week and two days for their break! Luckily for us, the Mersiowsky's decided they would stay home for Christmas this year as well. It would have been pretty sad for us if we would have been here in this apartment without any of our family around to celebrate this special time. After all, being with family for the holidays it's what it's all about. We were all pretty excited to spend Christmas in Virginia! It worked out great with Erik's schedule that we got to extend our stay and ring in 2012 with them as well!

It's always so much fun hanging out with everybody! We have fun just doing nothing;) The kids have so much room to run around and play, we barely even see Halle and Co when we're there! While we were there they had a neighborhood happy hour. We had a bbq and then hung out by a fire sipping on cocktails!

Nise, Me and Shannon



Mackenzie, KK, Kennedy and Hallers
Shooting hoops!


For Christmas Eve, we all went to church and then headed over to Jen and Todd's house for dinner and drinks. They are good friends of Jeff and Nise. They were so nice to accompany all of us!





The kids were begging us to get back and home so they could open one gift! They get so excited! Well, you know how it goes.....one turns into two.....








Halle was so excited to open her present from Costa!
Her first perfume!




Lou and JJ's last night until next year!
Letters to Santa, Lou and JJ
Oh, and can't forget about the reindeer food the kids sprinkled around the yard!

Looks like the big guy left a few things!

And he wrapped this year;)
Christmas morning was .....super fun and CRAZY! Oh my goodness......with six kids, you can only imagine! Paper was flying everywhere, the presents were out of control! We had some pretty spoiled kids;) It was an American Girl Doll Christmas for the girls, Kaitlyn and Ally got dolls and Halle got the baking table set she asked for. They were in doll heaven! Costa was excited he got the beyblades and Wii games he asked for. Reece and Co had lots of fun with the nerf gun set Reece got! Christmas night, Erik made his famous prime rib dinner. It was fabulous! We sipped wine and enjoyed each others company. We were missing the rest of our family but so happy to be with them!








Costa was in love with dads new long board!
New outfit, boots and purse! Looking stylish;)






The rest of the week we just hung out and let the kids play and enjoy their new toys. Nise and I snuck away to Lululemon to exchange her hoodie her hubby got her and I got myself a little gift;) Actually, my hubby was pretty cute after he completely spoiled me for Christmas he told me to go ahead and get myself a Lululemon hoodie! I was feeling pretty spoiled. I wish I would have got a picture of us because we had such a fun day! We were all about the "Lulu."





One day we split up and Erik and I took Halle, Co, Kk and Crew out for some appetizers and drinks at Chart House.




Oh, and a little frozen yogurt!


We didn't know if we were going to be able to ring in the New Year with them, but lucky for us we got to stay! We went from house to house for a "Progressive" party. We started across the street for H'orderves, then went to the next house for salads and the main course, then finished at Nise and Jeff's for dessert. It was super fun! We've never done anything like this and had a great time. Their neighbor, Adam was in town visiting his parents and made the night fun with some silly games! Life savers, hula hoops, Oh boy! Craziness. The kids stayed at Nise and Jeff's with a babysitter, but we made sure they had fun ringing in an early new year! They toasted with some sparkling cider, and had fun spraying each other with silly string.
















The girls woke up at midnight to say "Happy New Year!"