Christmas 2008

warning... long post ahead! Reece is ready for Christmas in his Ho Ho Ho Shirt!

Christmas Eve

Growing up in the Parsons' house, we spent Christmas Eve day running around baking and shopping and wrapping. This year at the Kennedy house, it was almost the exact same. I went to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for homemade Swedish bread that we eat on Christmas morning, baked the bread and wrapped gifts. Reece hung out in his Santa shirt, crawling ALL over everything, including his saucer. Marley joined in the fun too! We were hustling and bustling to get to church for the 4:00 service. It was a great service and singing was great, but we had to bail early. I now know why there is Joyland. Reece threw his bottle top lid down two rows, talked to ALL of the people around us, and was trying to see if he could get Pastor Gary to hear him all the way up at the front of the church. Needless to say, we sung carols but didn't stay to hear the message. Good thing is that we already knew how the sermon probably would end. :) And off we were to Monty's mom's for dinner. Tamales and tortilla soup and bourbon slush are the Christmas Eve staples at her house. We had a great time opening gifts with all of the cousins and aunts/uncles. These are the pics of Christmas Eve...

Intent...

"Marley and me"

Reece opening a gift.

I love my daddy!

The family. ;) He's so sweet!!!

Reece looking at the picture of his daddy when he was a toddler. Resemblence?!?!

Christmas Morning

We had Christmas morning at our house this year. We opened gifts in our pj's which made it so much easier b/c Reece napped about 4 hours all before 3:00. He was just plumb tuckered out! Everyone (Jerm, Sara, Patty, and Duffy) came for presents and Mia and Duffy stayed for brunch. It was a great morning and it's so true that they love the boxes and wrapping more than the gifts! We went to Monty's Aunt and Uncles for dinner at 4:00 and had soo much fun. We watched old video's from their farm they had in Arkansas, played games, did the poppers, and ate an amazing meal!

Jeremy and Reece -- with Jerm's new Baylor Shirt and Reece eating his Uncles ornament.

Duffy and Reece

In the midst... new blocks from GJ and PK and stuff everywhere!

Hanging out in a box with some new toys.
An apple from the stocking~

The coolest wrapped present! from his Aunt Sara and Uncle Jerm

Daddy and Reece in pj's.

The fam for Christmas dinner



Uncle MR and Reece with the popper's crown!


Uncle Mike, Debbie, and Patty a.k.a Mia

Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Sara

So excited to be in the pic, huh babe?!



Cousins Clay and Chase

Reece and his buddy, Santa

Aren't they both so excited to see each other?!

Reece had a great time meeting Santa, or danta, as he says. Monty met us at Willow Bend yesterday and with an hour long milk and cookie break for Santa and a minor camera glitch, we were done with in an hour and half. It would have been about 45 without the break. Oh...and we had another sighting, Deion Sanders, in his mid length black fur coat. Good thing he didn't stand out or anything. :) The theme at Willow Bend is The Snowglobes of Polar Express. In order to get to Danta, you have to go through the engine and the snow falling globe.

In the "engine room" of the Polar Express.

About to enter the snow globe....Reece was infatuated with the kids crawling and climbing over the fence...not very well disciplined I might add.

Talking with Danta during the previously mentioned camera glitch. This Santa is from Florida and stays in a hotel here from November 7th until today. He builds double decker cars from January - October. He bleaches his beard and shaves it once a year, in January. His daughter is a Math and Physics teacher, but this year has a class of 30 targeted-needy kids. He makes a great bit of $ coming to Plano for his Santa gig but says that it's very lonely. And hard work lifting the kids and organizing the bigger kids on his lap. Did I mention the camera glitch was about 10 minutes and in fact the "elf"/ Santa security guard took Reece to play?! Santa says it takes quite a commitment all year, to be Santa in Nov/Dec. No kidding. 11 hours a day.

Deep in conversation... Monty was stealthily snapping a few pics.

Merry Christmas!!!

family photos

We hired a photographer while we were in Maui and got some amazing shots. They aren't on our christmas cards but we are so excited to blow them up and display them around the house~ I would like to share!

Reality

Reality came very quickly Wednesday morning. Math tests were given, sleeping schedules and the little guy were reaquianted, and pots of coffee were consumed. After a great wedding and family vacation all rolled into one, we are now consumed with Christmas shopping, laundry, a never-ending cough, and the excitement of the holiday season. We are venturing out to do a little shopping today and then to church for our annual 3 Trees event. With only 5 more days of school left before my 6th graders drive, we can't wait for Christmas week to arrive!!!

I thought you might want to see some of the photos from my cousin's wedding in Maui!

THESE are the BEFORE pics(b4 the steroid shot at the "doc on call" on wedding morning!)

Mom and the little guy - how he spent 70% of our trip. Snuggling with me

after a not so good night.

Outside of the doctor's office -
Inside the doctor's office- about to get a steroid shot to make the croupy cough all better!

trying to enjoying the sand

pitiful face.

THESE are the AFTER shots(Day of wedding and after)

the cutest ringbearer sitting in the back of the wagon!

The Ringbearer-playing in the grass

Finally...a happy baby!

Wedding party on the hills of the Kapalua Golf Course

My family

Enjoying the ocean with "cous-Aunt and cous-Uncle" Jules and Phil

Ali (the bride) and Reece having breakfast on our last day inMaui; We also sprinkled some of my grandfather's ashes while we were there. It was his favorite place in the world- he lived there for 2 months every year!

Our last sunset! sigh.

aloha!

We are still in Maui and having a terrific time. Reece has been having a tough time adjusting to the time difference and has a cough BUT waking up to the waves at 4 am is MUCH better than my house. I feel so thankful to be able to spend this special time with my family - in the most beautiful place in the world!