Kenney Family Christmas

 We traveled to Scottsdale for Christmas this year 

and although we've made this trip many times before,
 it was a whole new adventure for us this time for a few reasons...

The kids are a little older now, so travelling was a little easier AND a little harder all at the same time.
(Maeryn is more helpful than before, but Johnny is much more difficult too!)

Also, with the boys (Mal & Drew) now living out of state as well, we all ended up staying together at a friend's house.  Definitely a fun few days for the kids having their uncles and Angela with us all the time!

The first night we were there Maeryn, Nana and I had a Girls' Night at the Nutcracker. 

The dancers were amazing and we all loved the show!

The next day was Christmas Eve and we had lunch at one of Phoenix's well known spots: Chompies!

They have been featured on Man Vs Food on the Food Network.

The food was really good and there were tons of delicious looking bakery treats and other goodies. 

Later that afternoon we all met up in the park and had a big family photo session.

A photographer that Drew has worked with before took the pictures for us and 

there are some really great shots from the day - I will do a separate post of those photos later.

Christmas Eve dinner at Pops' house,

Classic Kenney evening... tons and tons of food, a warm fire and lots of laughs!

Love this picture.

(nice photo-bomb Johnny...)

Showing off my freak-hands! :-)

The cute chilli pepper mini-tree back at the Nord House (where we stayed),

all lit up and ready for Santa to come! 

And he did! 

We had a small Christmas at the house before heading to over Nana's.

And guess who else showed up at Nana's on Christmas morning?!...

Buddy the Elf! 

Our last day with our favorite little guy. 

Christmas morning tradition,

Nana's Sausage Bread and Mimosas!

Needless to say we all spend a LOT of time in the kitchen on Christmas morning...  

Eventually, we make our way to the presents!

Maeryn was the lucky winner this year with the stocking scratch off tickets... $20!

Present time!

Even Melissa was loving this!

Maeryn and Johnny got to have a sleepover and spend some extra time with Nana and Bob

on Thursday while the boys and I made our annual snowboarding trip to Flagstaff.

Getting ready to hit the slopes.

Dad and Gretchen met us on the hill this year too and dusted off the 'ol skiis.

The old man's still got it!

The snow was a little icy that morning,

but overall it was a perfect day and I'm so glad we made the trip again this year.

We don't get to go snowboarding nearly as often as I'd like to, so it makes it extra special when we do.