Grandparents

So many Grandparents, Kennedy didn't know what to do with herself as she got to see all of her Grandparents in the same week. And what made it more exciting is they all came baring gifts!!!


Grandma and Grandpa Pollock cam Thursday and took us out to lunch at Las Palmas and it was tasty.

(L to R) Great Grandma Barbara, Grandma & Grandpa Heredia. Got to play with them at the Gage family reunion. They made sure Kennedy didn't run out the door!

Great Grandpa Ben, cousin Elle and MacKenzie. One lucky grandpa with soo many beautiful babies!

Grandpa & Grandma Phillips with sour faced Kennedy. She was even worse when they left. She thought she was going home with them and was pretty upset when she realized they were leaving without her.

Santa Claus

Well at least Santa Claus was looking. These are 2 of Kennedy's friends Taylor and Justin Snow. They live close to us and we love to play together. Sometimes when we drive down the street Kennedy will just blurt out, "Justin and Taylor!!!" as we go by their house. Smart girl. Anyway we went to see Santa Claus at the mall and all the kids we worried about was how to open their candy canes! And Kennedy thought she was sitting next to Jesus as all men with beards are "Jesus".

Kaweah Oaks

Justin took us to a fun hidden preserve here in Visalia that has California natural habitat. There was a trail we took the girls on and they loved it. Kennedy was having a great time picking up leaves and playing in the dirt. Here we are in front of one of the many oak and sycamore trees.


Justin had fun with this one and even got Kennedy to jump off (okay slide off) to him. She was a little nervous being up in the tree.

How to hug a porcupine

I'm reading this book loaned to me by my friend Sue called, "How to Hug a Porcupine" by Dr. John Lewis Lund. It is soooo good! He describes so much about relationships and how we can treat each other (spouses, kids, friends..). He has a challenge to go an entire month without criticising anyone! If you mess up you have to start the clock all over again. I want to try it, but I'm afraid because I know it will be a challenge and then I think, "man, I must criticise a lot... how sad". SO the challenge is on. In the words of the author, "If criticism worked we would have changed the world long ago." I've got nothing to lose!

It's Christmas Time!

So I have been home the last few days batteling strep throat and pink eye. No fun at all, but it has been nice to get sleep. Kennedy has been at my dad and Pennie's since Friday and Saturdy morning Mom and Manuel let me hang around their house and made a way fancier breakfast than I would have made. I am so grateful for my parents and all they do for me and my family!

This is a weird picture, but it's the only one that turned out half way decent at the big Christmas parade! It was started at 7pm which is Kennedy's bedtime so she was wondering what we were doing in the car with our friends the Snow's. We had a great time watching the floats, bands and dancers. We saw lots of snowmen and tons of lights.

The next morning Kennedy learned how yummy hot chocolate is... and made a mess.


Thanks to Cami and my mom we just inherited some totally fun Christmas decorations! Here are some Santas and our stockings that Justin doesn't like. I guess it's okay that they didn't turn out super great so we'll be making more in the years to come.

This is a first! Little Christmas mouse! So cute from my friend Cami who is totally on top of celebrating this year. This came with lots of chocolate pretzels and fudge, yummy yummy.

Hair bows!

Well we had a great Thanksgiving and without fail we have managed to visit Derby Acres without taking any pictures again! Justin and I even went for a bike riding tour of his home town... what an opportunity to snap a few shots. Better luck next time.
Anyway when we got home from Thanksgiving I decided to buckle down and finish a few bows I have been thinking about making for the past few weeks. Kendra (cousin) invited me to a bow making night, what like a month or two ago, and we learned how to make the biggest bows ever! They are so huge they are hilarious and cute! So I have some ribbon and now that I've started... yes, I need more ribbon to make bows that go with every outfit although that probably won't happen anytime soon. So for now we will just have to wear out the ones we made.

Here are MacKenzie and Justin with the first one. White and pink, so cute!


Yes bigger than her head and sooo cute on her! Just maybe not with the slobbery onsie and burb up blanket. What was that about the 80's coming back in? =)

 

Diving @ COS

Justin went diving with Jordan at the jr. college here in Visalia. They both dove there 4 years ago. Justin was so excited to get back on the diving board so we all went to watch... but Kennedy didn't want to be left out, so here she is on her first one meter jump!


Don't worry, Uncle Jordan was there to catch her.


This is their "spa" because it is super cold when you're standing around wet waiting for the diver in front of you to go.


Here MacKenzie and Deedra (coach) are watching all the fun!

 

Standing

Look how big I am standing on Daddy's hand!


Morgan, one of Mommy's piano students, gave his old drum set to Kennedy. We don't know if Kennedy or Mommy is more excited about it.


Kennedy and her friend Austin. He comes over to play 3 times a week while his Mommy teaches a class. Then Kennedy goes to Austin's house while her Mommy recuperates. =)

 

Our Flowers

Here MacKenzie is by our flowers we planted. Kennedy assisted in the planting process and is slowly learning we aren't supposed to step on the flowers after we plant them.


Our little pumkin with the pumkin (that is still not carved). :)



This morning was a monumental one. Kennedy didn't wake up until 9:00!!!! That's the longest she has slept in ever! She wanted to get right to playing with her sister.



Justin, Kennedy and I made cinnamon rolls... from scratch and it was so much fun. They tasted great thanks to my friend Cami's recipe. Justin made sure the frosting was sugary enough and it was!

 

Beautiful Baby Elle

MacKenzie and I went to visit Crystal's little baby Elle. She is sooo beautiful!!! Looks like Aunt Darlene is now the happy Grandma Darlene. =)


Here MacKenzie can see some of the Halloween candy left over... yummy!


Kennedy got her nails painted and they are so pretty.


The case of the traveling pumpkin. Justin got this the day after Halloween to carve with Kennedy. It went to Dad and Pennie's house for the orchestra weekend as they watched Kennedy... then it came back to our house. This pumpkin may never be carved.

 

Playing some music

So exciting to get back into the music scene. Here is MacKenzie with most of the percussionists. (Joey, Derek and Kevin).


My mom, Manuel and Grandma Barbara came to the concert. Without their help and my dad and Pennie taking Kennedy for the night, I would've had a tough time leaving the house to perform. I am so grateful for my family!!!




Some one is always so quiet when they are up to no good. Whenever I hear Justin yell for me to come look at something... I know I should bring the camera along!



This is the face of someone that would've been helping out with that lotion if she could only start crawling... and then crawling up the stairs =).

Fun pictures

MacKenzie and her happy little smile. We love it when she is awake and ready to play.





Justin and I actually got out on a date with some of the couples in our ward. We went to a Mearle Haggard concert and it was soo fun. I didn't know him or any of his songs, but we had a great time =).



This is Kennedy as we know her in the morning. Messy face. She loves it when it's chocolate. I think this one was a little black bean surprise.




Somebody got into the lotion on mommy and daddy's bed.... when we came to find her she started crying as if something had happened to her and not that she had done anything. We're gonna have to watch out for her.

 

Our little family

Here we are as a family in the hospital.


Justin and Kennedy on her first bike trailer ride.

2 little babies asleep. My favorite time of day. =)

Birthing Day