Julia's Birthday

Well It is now the day after Christmas and I had no choice to clean my house. I was having 20-25 people over again, now for Julia's 6th birthday. We had pizza with a Hannah Montana theme. Thank goodness John is so good under pressure. He cleaned and picked up the pizza and we were ready to go by 12 noon. Right on Schedule!

Since MiMi moved to WA I was left to make the cake myself. I think I did a pretty good job for the first time.

Julia enjoying her cake with icing all over her teeth.

Julia wanted to have Karaoke and play Twister for the games at the party. I added some twister pictures lots of booty in these...



Julia received a lot of great gifts at her party. She also made sure she said thank you and hugged everyone after opening each gift. She also stated she couldn't hug Aunt Gerri because she wasn't there but she would have if she was. Aunt Gerri sent Julia some well needed dresses and a game for her Leapster. She also received a Art Kit form Aunt Marie in NY and finally Aunt Katie and MiMi sent a combined gift of puppets with a door way puppet theater.





Julia had a great time at her party. Right now at 6 she doesn't care her birthday is the day after Christmas. Hopefully as she gets older she will still feel that way.

Christmas Day

So Christmas Morning was great we opened gifts and had a nice breakfast. Johnny made breakfast as I opened the toys. By the time I was finished I cut two fingers and could barley use them the rest of the day. Why do they make it so difficult to open a kids toy. It's crazy. Anyway, it was Anna's first Christmas and she just sat in the bumbo watching everyone opening presents (including hers) just talking away.

Here is Anna in the bumbo on her first Christmas. She grabbed one of the ornaments off the tree the only way I could get her to look at me was to let her have it or she would keep turning around to grab it.

Ella with her cheese smile

The girls excited to see Pop and Gabby Christmas morning

Finally this is the aftermath of the kitchen and living room after all gifts were open and the house was officially trashed.

We then went to Pop Pops for dinner at 2pm. My sister in law Emily went in her room to change gabby and I followed just to talk. She was changing Gabby's shirt and it said Big Sister Gabby. Well of course I can't control my self and yelled "Oh My Gosh are you pregnant" and she is Yeah! she is due June 26th. Well anyway it was so posed to be a surprise for Auntue and the rest of the crowd in the kitchen but with my big mouth I runied it. We walked into the kitchen and Erin looked at me as mouthed the words " we heard you" Gosh leave it to me. I'm so sorry Emily, really I am.

Christmas Eve

Well Christmas is a three day thing in the Kokinda house. My dad came in on December 22nd. He had a bad snow storm two days prior in NY and is travel experience was a mess. We finally got him from the airport at 5:30. We were so posed to go to Mikes Farm for dinner but oh well maybe next year. Although my family in NC were probably a little happy we couldn't go.
On Christmas Eve I have the family over to our house and I cook Italian. It has been a tradition in my family since I can remember and when John and I got married I decided to bring my family tradition here to NC. Since my mom is gone it kind of makes it a little more special for me to be able to do this and think of her.


This is Shelby and Anna. I have know idea what there looking at but they were holding hands. Erin and I always get them together. It's so neat having a niece 18 days younger then my daughter.

Jason got a really cool science kit form Riley and Judy. Johnny and Jason sat on the floor for hours making all kinds of electrical paths. Poor Johnny 3 girls. I guess he will have to live vicariously through Lil Jason.