Christmas Eve with the Kudrons

Christmas time was full of fun festivities.  We hosted the Kudrons this year at our house on Christmas Eve.  This was a milestone moment for Steve and me.... we cooked our first ever turkey!  Granted, we took the easy way out getting the turkey that is in a bag and all you basically need to do is put it in the oven but still... it was a proud moment.  Dinner turned out great... a little too many options (because we were afraid we'd ruin the turkey...LOL) but good nevertheless.

 

The grown ups enjoyed time to hang out...

 

The house was decorated just right... 

 

Grandpa helped in the kitchen... thank goodness!!!  I'm always so nervous to screw it up!

Present time... woo-hoo... the kids favorite part!

 

The cousins love to get time to hang out...

 

And finally ending our night with our traditional reading of Twas the Night before Christmas...



Christmas with the Graces

We celebrated Christmas with the Graces a few days early because Jeff and Julie and Gigi and Papa.  We had a low-key afternoon all focused on Baby Annie's first Christmas!  That will cutie-pie is getting so big so fast. Seriously, we were all hovering over her so much.  Poor thing was probably scared of us all because we all wanted our special time with her.  We  had a nice lunch and some time to just hang out and relax. 

 

 

Great time with family.  We look forward to a life time of special Christmas moments to come!

 



The End of an Era for Ryan... AYSO

Ryan has just finished completing an amazing season.  Her AYSO team came in first place and went on to play in the area tournament against other teams.  They lost in the finals.  Ryan played so hard.  And then, she also made the AYSO All-Star team and was playing simultaneously on that team as well.  The All-Star also went to the area tournament and lost in the finals... in PKs.  Actually, both the semi-final game and the final game went to penalty kicks.  Ryan made both of her beautiful shots.  We came out the winner of the semi final PK shoot out but fell short in the finals.

 

Ryan played 12 soccer games and had 10 practices in just two weeks... the poor kid is beat!

But... if you'd ask... she do it all over again. 

 

Now on to the club State Cup in San Diego!  Wish her luck!

 



Charlie the Champion

Little Miss Charlie Grace got to play in her very first soccer tournament over Thanksgiving break.  Her fall coach, Ron Weber, handpicked a group of girls to take to a tournament.  Charlie was the youngest player and played so well.  We are extremely proud of her for playing with the big girls.  She has spent a whole year being dragged around to Ryan's tournaments and now she finally had her own.  She likes to be like big sister Ry-Ry.  One thing is not like her sister though... out of all the medals that Ryan has accumulated this past year, she doesn't have a "champion" medal and little Miss Charlie DOES!!  Her team won the tournament and she could not have been more proud. 

 

 

Here are the girls celebrating their big win!

 

Ryan and her friend taught the younger girls a great cheer!

(Ryan is in the red and blue stripes... she just couldn't stay away)

 

The Medal Ceremony.  Charlie earning her very first medal!

 Nice job team!

(Mommy got to be one of the assistant coaches.  Charlie liked that :-)

 Two peas in a pod!

 #1

 

Her medal hanger is no longer empty! 

 "I'm catchin' up to you Ryan!  Watch out!"

 

Look how proud.

 

Love you Char Bear!  Congratulations! 

 



Thanksgiving at the Kudrons

 

 

I was the worst photographer ever at Thanksgiving this year!  Mike and Nancy hosted a wonderful day.  Everything was beautifully decorated and tasted yummy!  This is the only picture I took!  At least I got one picture of the cousins showing how they are all growing! 

 

Katie and Ryan are 8 1/2.  Charlie is 7.  Cameron is 5.

What a cute group of kiddos!

They had a blast playing together like always.  They are all so sweet to each other.  Never any drama.  Love it.

 

I am thankful for my family.

Happy Holidays!