Rocha Family Christmas

Keith and I every year so far have had the privilege of spending 2 weeks every Christmas in Chicago with Keith's family. Not only is it a relaxing vacation for us, but it's also really good family time. Keith and I have always marveled that we both come from families that really enjoy each other's company and genuinely love each other. Our families really have a lot of similarities...we're laid back, love to make each other laugh, love to hang out with each other...things like that. One reason we knew we were MFEO (meant for each other:) is because we loved and fit in so well with one another's families. This year was especially fun though because it was Kate's first Christmas, first trip to Chicago, and first time to meet her Rocha great-grandparents. It really was a wonderful trip. And...we got snow! Down here in Chattanooga we don't see snow very much...especially not the kind of snow that accumulates in inches! It was fun. Anyways, I was so relaxed on this trip (or lazy if you prefer to be blunt), that I literally took zero pictures...so I had to steal them all from Erica's blog:) Thanks Erica!

Here we are on Christmas eve. We open all our presents on Christmas eve after we sing carols and read the Christmas story from Luke 2 (all after we have a huge dinner featuring Grandma's famous meatballs and "Lefsa").

Sitting at the dinner table. This is the one place we're sure to get in quality time together. Belinda's friends joined us on Christmas Eve. They are the 2 girls closest to the camera...everyone else of course is family.

Erica got this picture...my girl makes some awesome faces. I love the placement of the bottle too. Here, she looks a bit possessed.
My man with my girl...as usual:)
Squeezing on the couch to sing, read, and open presents!
The kids got some cute new PJs for Christmas. Here are the girls playin' in 'em.And huggin' in 'em. Selah's PJs were just a smidge too big. I love this picture of the girlies:

Here we are on Christmas Day at Aunt Sue's. The boys were being entertained by Lego's. We also had the Wii out which was our family gift from my mother and father in law. Belinda and Kayleigh...not sure why Kayleigh is making that face. She makes good faces too:
Kate being held by her Great Grandma Porter!

Erica and Selah...so pretty!
Beautiful Kayleigh in her Christmas dress. Here's a fun story for ya: Kayleigh went into the bathroom by herself here at Aunt Sue's. When she leaned over the sink to try to wash her hands, her hair apprarently brushed the candle that was lit on the counter-top. Poor little Kayleigh's hair caught fire and she (Praise the Lord!) put it out all by herself. She came out of the bathroom and told her mommy "the fire tried to get me!". It was then that we noticed/smelled the synged hair.
Ann got this shirt for Christmas because in her words "I used to think Chuck Norris was a beautiful man". As a little joke, Erica picked this shirt out for her. It says "Chuck does all my stunts":
A few days after Christmas we went downtown to Navy Pier for this HUGE "Winter Wonderland". It was a child's dream come true...and due to it's size, maybe worst nightmare. Here are Manny and Ann in front of the Ferris Wheel. It was freeeeezing down by Lake Michigan.
Inside Navy Pier there are these cool water things that shoot over your head. They're so romantic...jk:
The kiddies all bundled. Kate was seriously bundled up which put her to sleep.

Later we realized she was so bundled that she was sweating. So we had to cool her off a bit. She didn't wake up:
I was hungry...and Erica got this *hot* picture of me devouring popcorn.Here's a little peak of Winter Wonderland. This tree was HUGE!!!

The kids were entertained by their uncles: (Jared with Kayleigh and Malachi)Keith with Selah:

Manny, Erica, Jared, and Keith. Can you see the family resemblance?
Malachi has a sweet mohawk right now:We went to this fun restaurant downtown that is famous for being rude. That's right, these servers are told to heckle their customers! Ann had fun being rude back when we had to wait forever to get seated:)


Haha!
He's got skillz:

Sooooo cute:
It looks like Malachi is holding her and has a really big hand. Haha:
Always time for snuggling. We made Kate a little bed in the window behind us. She just layed there the whole dinner.
Here we are back at home...Selah being cute as usual:

New Years Eve!! Erica and Peter had a really fun party with all the people from their Bible study and some from church. We played catch phrase...love that game:

Countdown! I was the annoying one in the back counting down the whole minute.

First pic of 2009!!! From left to right: Betsy, Adam, Erica, Peter, Me, Keith (and Kate), Cathy, Tyler, Jen, & Derek! Fun group.