We Interrupt

this regularly scheduled weather...for a 65 degree day in December. 

I was going to post about our last Christmas celebration with the Mehmen side today...but, you don't get to talk about spring-like weather on the last day of the year in Kansas too often.  So Christmas talk will have to wait a day or two.  Today has felt like a gift.  Especially from the week of traveling, nasty colds, a peanut allergy scare with a night visit to urgent care and a few sleepless nights.  We needed a day like today.  We played in the backyard like it was spring and we have the windows open.  So as we bid "adieu" to 2011...let us not forget that every day is a gift.  Here's to a blessed and happy 2012!

Christmas Catch-Up

A little catching up is in order...

Our "Christmas Day" occurred one day early this year (on Christmas Eve Day).  Luckily we have some connections with the man at the North Pole and were able to pull a few strings to have our gifts delivered early.  We headed to Iowa on Christmas day...but more on that later.

So anyway, we spent the eve before Christmas Eve hanging out as a family.  We went out for pizza that night and then came home to prep for Santa.  We set out some peanut butter cookies and sprinkled reindeer food on the driveway.  We even allowed the girls to open a few gifts early this year.  There were no complaints.

The next day, Jackie was actually the last out of bed...but woke up with a glimmer in her eyes.  She lead us down to see all the goods Santa left.  We had a great Christmas Eve Day (but Christmas Day to us....are you confused yet?)  We spent most of the morning setting up toys, putting batteries where they needed to go and watching movies.  After naps, we headed to Joe and Angie's (John's brother) for appetizers before Christmas Eve Mass.   Enjoy the pics!

Merry Christmas to all

and to all a good night!

Cookies for Santa

Word on the street is that Santa likes peanut butter cookies......

A Kennedy Christmas

Last weekend we gathered to celebrate with the Kennedy side of the family!  As you might know, the Kennedy side has grown to the point that it is almost impossible to do a celebration at someones house...so this year, we rented out a gym!  The day was filled with a Christmas pageant (starring all the grandchildren), food, basketball, presents, coloring and a gingerbread house. 

Gwen, an angel in training...the costume lasted all of 1 minute.  Maybe next year, she'll be bumped up to the real deal!

Jackie, always a perfect little angel!

Angels we have heard on high....plus a little shepherd swinging his cane.

The older kids told the Christmas Story, while the younger ones acted it out.

All the grand kids(minus two).  Gwen was screaming her lungs out at this point...

Jackie loved playing with, Faith, the second to the youngest of the grandchildren.

Big guys at a little table.  Somehow these guys ended up sitting at the little kid's table with Gwen...it looked quite humorous.

Present time.  Jackie "helped" Gwen open her gift.

Jackie and Jordyn sat very patiently, waiting to have their names called to open gifts.  Whoever was opening a gift here..it must have been a good one!

Thanks Lizzie for picking out some great gifts for Jackie!

The girls ended the day with a little gingerbread house making.  I have to say, Stephanie (the older grandchild) was SO patient with the younger ones.  I was very impressed!

Jackie's turn to squeeze some frosting!

Of course...last but certainly not least!  Mom and Dad Kennedy!  Thank you for everything!

The Real Reason for Christmas Joy

Last night Jackie had her Christmas program at her preschool!  It was called "The Real Reason for Christmas Joy."  It was a cute program with songs and narrations about the story of Baby Jesus.  This was really the first time we've seen Jackie do anything like this on stage and she was quite the "performer!"  See for yourself in the short video below.  One thing it didn't show, was her taking a bow and blowing kisses after every song.  Oh my!  (P.S.  You might want to scroll down to the bottom of the blog and shut off the background music, for optimal viewing!)

Jackie and her classmates.  Jackie is in the red...front and center!

This is what Gwen thought of the show...haha, kidding!  I was just happy to see her tongue hanging out because she was happy and not for reasons of being sick :)

Before we left, we tried to get a picture of Jackie all dressed up.  We got the "eye-roll."  I guess she IS almost four, and we are sooooo embarrassing!

Picturesque

It's been a less than picturesque week or so around here.  But from the picture above you can hardly tell, right?  Well, except for maybe that Gwen isn't wearing any pants...oops!  Jackie actually snapped the picture above.  We had about an hour of time the other night when everyone was feeling really good and we partied in the basement like it was 1999.  The girls are pretty much over the bad stuff...well, except Gwen is having a few issues still.  I won't go into detail.  Trust me.

Anyway, instead of doing fun Christmas things this last week, we've pretty much been holed up in the house.  Is it bad that I was jealous of Jackie, when she went to preschool on Tuesday, ha!?!  Gwen and I tried to get out a little.  It involved getting a minor thing fixed on the truck.  It also involved running out of wet wipes at the car dealership, while changing Gwen's diaper WAY too many times in an hour.  Oh yea, and they didn't have a changing table in the bathroom, which made things interesting.    Oops, that's right...I wasn't going to go into detail.  Sadly, most of my life this week has been revolved around bathroom talk.  Even when I talk to John on the phone during the day, we end up talking about it for at least half the time.  Then I think back and say..."Really, how did my life get like this?"  Oh yes, and then I remember all the joy those little stinkers bring us :)  Love you girls!

Rebuilding

We are having a bit of a recovery and rebuilding weekend here.  Let's just say our week included lots of vomit....lots and lots of vomit.  So on that note, I leave you with a few pictures of Gwen and her new obsession of building with Mega Blocks.

A Little Christmasing

Last weekend we took the girls to the children's Christmas party at our church.  It was a great little party.  It included a pancake breakfast, crafts, Santa Claus, singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and even a birthday cake!  Jackie had a blast this year, and she was Miss "Social" as usual.  Sometimes we'd lose track of her for a minute, only to find her hanging out with her friends.  Gwen had a good time as well, but was a little hesitant of all the people at first. 

Last year we skipped the "sitting on Santa's lap" altogether.  This year, she was all for it.  She even whispered something to him at the end about Rudolph.  I'm not exactly sure what was said..but she must have been content with what Santa told her, because she nodded and left with a smile.  We didn't even attempt it with Gwen.  Even at the sight of him she had a death grip on my arm.  Funny, because she actually did sit on Santa's lap at Bass Pro shop a few weeks ago.  However, we were like the only ones in the store...I think that made a difference.

Jackie was listening to this cute kid read her a story.  What a nice boy..he was so into it!

My little angel and shepherd.

Gwen wanted to show us she was an angel too!

While Jackie did crafts, Gwen played with stickers.  She enjoyed sticking them to daddy's face.

Later that day we were hanging out at home and that's when I realized we don't need to get the girls any toys for Christmas.  Sippy cups are just as fun.  Seriously, they played with these for a good half hour or more.

This is what Jackie did with them.  Yes, that is an angel and Joseph inside the cups on the far left and Elmo on the right.  Somehow during this we managed to lose baby Jesus.  I keep searching random things for him.  I know he'll turn up somewhere.  Maybe just in time for Christmas....

"It's beginning to look..."

"...a lot like Christmas." As promised, a little tour of our Christmas Casa de Kennedy.   Let me please point out, I am not...nor will I ever be a professional decorator.  This is just what works for us around here :) 

Our family Christmas tree...with it's light all aglow.

Christmas stockings and the "reason for the season" up on the mantel.

Stairway and big red bow!  This is my new and experimental Christmas card hanger this year.  We typically hang them on the fireplace...however, I have a certain someone who spends lots of time on the hearth and was sure to pull them off this year.  I'm using red paperclips to hang the cards with...we'll see how this goes.

Last but not least..our Jesse Tree.  This is mostly for Jackie...so as you can see she added some of her own touches.  Each day of Advent we read about a story of Jesus and then she gets to hang a corresponding decoration on the tree.  We started this last year and it was more about hanging the decorations.  This year, she actually listens to the bible stories and prayers!

So there you have it..sweet and simple.  Now, as I also promised I have my top three items that make "Christmasing" a breeze.

1) A light timer.  I'm horrible at remembering to plug in the outdoor lights and unplug them for that matter.  Also, nothing is worse than going to all the trouble to put lights up outdoors and not turning them on half the days.  What's the point, right?  I purchased a handy dandy light timer a couple years ago for about $10-$15 and my lights go on at 5pm every day, and turn off while I'm sound asleep in bed.

2) Mail labels.  No writing out addresses for Christmas cards for me.  I have addresses stored on my computer and all I have to do is throw in my labels, prints, and stick.  Christmas cards are done in a flash!

And my final Christmas must have:

3) Command hooks.  These have been my new investment this year.  And when I say investment...I mean a couple bucks.  They replaced my stocking hangers this year for a safer than the "heavy, get a huge gash or bump on your head if pulled down from the mantel, stocking hangers."  They have also been great to attach extra cord from extension cords, etc to the wall.

Little Elves

My little elves were hard at work the weekend after Thanksgiving, doing a little decorating for Christmas.  One little elf in particular, worked very hard....

With such care and diligence, she placed each and every ornament on the tree..

We won't mention they were all about 4ft high, and in a perfect horizontal line...

Below, a close up of her masterpiece. 

The other little elf...well, she was more interested in pulling out tissue from the box and blowing her nose.

And while the little elves rested from all their hard work, one mommy elf went ahead and did a little rearranging. 

Stay tuned for the Casa de Kennedy Christmas Tour and a few of this mommy elf's "must haves" for making Christmas a breeze.
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