Christmas 2010 - Take 3

For our final Christmas celebration we spent time at Nick's mom's house.  We arrived Saturday afternoon and left Sunday morning.  We had a low key dinner and then tore into the presents.  Cali really wasn't feeling well so she wasn't as active as normal.

Grandma and Cali watching TV in bed

Cali and Leigha playing before dinner

Daddy helping Cali open presents

Sometimes presents just mean work for daddy's to put them together

It started snowing Christmas night.  We woke up Sunday morning to 5 inches of snow at Nick's mom's house!  Cali still wasn't feeling too well but her fever finally broke so we took her outside to enjoy the snow.

You can tell she didn't like the snow on her face.

I LOVE SNOW!  It is my favorite!

Cali loves her daddy

 While Nick packed up the car Cali played with some of her Christmas presents.  Adorable!

Once home we unloaded the car and rested.  Cali played with all of her new toys and Nick and I tried to get ready for the week.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas 2010 - Take 2

Our second Christmas was with my side of the family.  We went to my mom's house Christmas Eve and stayed till after lunch on Christmas day.

We started the festivities with lunch with Uncle David and Aunt Barbara.  This is my dad's "twin" brother who happens to be 11 years older than dad.  They are so similar so it was nice to have a part of dad there with us for Christmas.  After lunch the kids got to open presents from Dave and Barb.

 Cali loved her phone!

After attending a Christmas Eve service at mom's church we had a big dinner.  After dinner the kids put our Reindeer Food in the yard.  It was adorable!  All three kids loved throwing the oats and sprinkles in the yard.

Back inside the kids got their Christmas PJ's from Grandma.  It was adorable that they all matched.

Kimmie, Michael, and Cali

Christmas morning was so much fun with three kids!  There were toys, wrapping paper and tissue every where!  Cali did really well and enjoyed tearing the paper off gifts.  It was a slow process because she wanted to open and play with each toys as it was opened.  She was also fighting a cold, which was wearing her down.

Mommy and Cali waiting form everyone to wake up so we could open presents!

Grandma and Kimmie reading the note from Santa

The kids opening their stockings

More presents!

My sister's birthday is December 26th so we celebrated her birthday at lunch on Christmas day.  Mary's birthday used to always blend in with Christmas when we were kids.  We try to make it two separate celebrations but that doesn't always work.  But hopefully she still felt special with her presents and cake!  Happy Birthday Mary - we love you!

Christmas 2010 - Take 1

We had 3 Christmas celebrations this year.  Two with Nick's side and one with mine.  So here is the first of three Christmas posts!

On Sunday December 19th we had our Christmas festivities with Nick's extended family.  We had lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.  Nick had a youth event so Cali and I went on our own.

Grandma and Cali

There are currently four young cousins all six and under.  It was very funny trying to get all four to sit and look at the camera.  This is the best I could get.

Cali, Ali, Leigha, Thomas

 After lunch is was present time!  Cali got lots of cute things from Grannie and the aunts and uncles.  Once the kids had toys to keep them busy the adults played our "Dirty Santa" gift game.  It is so much easier than trying to get everyone something.  This year's game was pretty tame, no real aggressive stealing of gifts.

Cali trying to dump the gifts out of the bag!

It was a fun day with family.  Cali was wiped out from all the playing.

22 Months Old

Cali Maple turned 22 months old on December 23rd!  Wow!  I can't believe she will be 2 in 2 months!

22 Month Stats:

• Has 11 teeth
• Talks all day long - some of it is understandable
• Takes one nap per day 1.5-2 hrs
• Sleeps from 8:15pm to 7:30am
• Loves to play, read books, watch for birds and dance
• Wears size 6 shoe, 18 month clothes and 4 diaper
• Favorite foods: MILK!, mac-n-cheese, turkey, beef, pasta, pears, peaches, peas, cookies

Cali has such a sweet personality, we are so enjoying this time with her!  She is just so much fun to be around!

Cali with Teddy.  She loves him! 

Merry Christmas

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace."  Luke 2:12-14

Merry Christmas from the Jordan Family!

Cali's Christmas Program

Cali's playschool was supposed to have a Christmas program last week but it was canceled due to the snow.  We have been practicing the songs for a while now so Cali has gotten pretty good!  We didn't want you all to miss out on the adorableness.  So here is Cali's Christmas program.

Sorry about the signing, it's not my spiritual gift!

Anniversary Trip

Nick and I were able to get away for an anniversary trip this past weekend.  We headed to Winston-Salem Friday afternoon.  We stayed at an adorable Inn that used to be a cotton mill.

The Brookstone Inn

Friday night we walked around downtown and enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a little restaurant called Mozella's.

My grilled meatloaf wrapped in bacon, mac-n-cheese and veggies!

Nick's fried chicken, mac-n-cheese and cheese grits.

Enjoying our yummy dinner

Saturday we had a relaxing morning.  After breakfast at a local European bakery we headed west to Elkin, NC.  Surprisingly this was a very fun little town.  We had an elegant lunch at 21 on Main.

My triple decker grilled cheese and salad.  The sandwich had pimento cheese - amazing!

Nick's burger and potato salad

After lunch we headed off to two wineries.  We made it home in time to have dinner with Cali.  The trip was wonderful!  We laughed because we spent a lot of time just hanging out with each other.  With a toddler, work and church there isn't much "us" time.  It was a much needed retreat from life and allowed us to enjoy being together.

One of the wineries

Cali was in the capable hands of Chelsea and the rest of the Dickey family.  She had a blast playing with Landon, eating, and hanging out with Chelsea.  They said she did great and only got upset when Chelsea would leave the room.  Apparently Cali knew who was supposed to be in charge of her and didn't like it when Chelsea went outside to get the diaper bag.  Smart girl!

The girls eating dinner Friday night

Breakfast fun!

Ray Vitkus' Burial Details

You are invited to join us for a celebration of Ray's life and burial January 5th, 2011.

Burial Details:

Arlington National Cemetery

1 Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA 

The service starts at 9am but you need to be there no later than 8:30am.  If you aren't used to DC traffic, make sure you give yourself LOTS of time to get there.

When you enter the cemetery tell the guard that you are there for the Ray Vitkus funeral.  The guard will then direct you to the Administrative building to line up.  From there we will all process behind the casket to the burial site.  He will be receiving a full military burial with the platoon escort, gun salute and band (weather permitting).  Please dress warmly as it will be outside and cold. 

Reception

Columbia Baptist Church

103 West Columbia Street

Falls Church, VA 22046-3482

A reception will be held at Columbia immediately following the burial service (Around 10:30am).  This will allow us all to gather in the warm and share stories about Ray.  Hors d'oeuvres will be served.  

Please RSVP to Kerry at vitkus72@hotmail.com if you plan to attend by January 1, 2011.

We hope to see you in January to celebrate an amazing man!

Love,

Kerry, Mary and Pam

8 Years

Yesterday was our 8th Anniversary!  Amazing how time flies.  So much has changed and happened in 8 years.  We have come a long way in our relationship and are more in love now than 8 years ago.  I would marry that man over and over!

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Jordan 12-14-02

8 Reasons Why I Love Nick:

1. We can do more for God's glory together than apart
2. He loves me like Christ loves the church and puts me and my needs first
3. He is a fabulous father to our daughter
4. He is my best friend
5. He has amazing integrity 
6. He cares about other people
7. He sacrifices for our family and works so hard for us
8. He makes life fun!



You may kiss the bride!

Last night we had a low key dinner out with Cali.  And then drove around town and actullay ended up driving by the place where we had our reception.  It was fun to talk about what we were doing 8 years ago.  We have a mini-getaway planned for this weekend just the two of us.  I can't wait to get away with my handsome man!

We look so young and happy!

Christmas Parades

Christmas means parade season!  My company participated in two parades this season.  Cali and Nick both joined us on the first one.  We all sat on the bed of the big truck and waved.  The second parade was an evening event so it was super cold.  Cali and I road in the cab of the truck and waved out the windows.   Nick was at the church office giving out hot cocoa for the parade.  When Cali saw Nick from the truck she got super excited.

This is what Cali does if you say "Praise the Lord"

Cali getting excited about the parade

After the first parade, Cali knew what to do.  She went from window to window of the truck waving and saying "Hi!"  

Cali and I in the cab of the truck getting ready to wave.

Horses and Goats

Friday night we went to a Holiday festival in downtown.   It was pretty cold so we all bundled up and headed out.  The event included horse drawn carriage rides, music, vendors and holiday goats.  The holiday goats were just goats with Christmas bows.

Cali and I enjoying some Christmas music

Cali enjoying the view from Nick's shoulders

Cali watching the horse carriages.  Notice the cookie in each hand!

Cali got her picture taken with the Holiday Goat.  She is actually petting the goat in this photo.  Shortly after this photo the goat bite her hoodie and pulled her off the wheat straw bale she was sitting on.  She was startled but was ok.  It was really very funny.

Photo from The Times News

We had a great time walking around and it really got us in the Christmas spirit.

Hair and Snow

Cali had her second haircut today.  Once she realized where we were she refused to take her hat off.  You can tell from the first photo that she wasn't happy.  She did calm down and just sat there after a few minutes.

After the hair cut eating a treat.

Today, December 4th, it SNOWED!  We got 1.5" at our house.  While we were gone Nick decided to attack the leaves.  Halfway through the front yard he started getting snowed on.  By the time he got to the back yard it was full on coming down.

The leaf conquer!

Cali woke up to the snow.  She was super excited and kept saying "water!".

Cali and I watching it snow