Thanksgiving-birthday-athon

Wow this last week was INTENSE!! Saturday we went to Salt Lake, sunday eric was sick, monday was Carter's birthday,Tuesday my girlfriends and i went out to celebrate Sarah Jane's birthday, wednesday was my birthday, thursday was Thanksgiving at my sister-in-law's, friday I participated in my first frantic and disturbingly early black friday and today was one of my closest friend's (Hayley) baby shower! Just amazing! On top of that, my dad booked my flight to go out to see him - a 22 hour trip with three connections each way - I am very excited!!

Carter's birthday turned into an impromtu party - at the last minute, literally, we invited some of our closest friends over with their families to have cake and icecream, and it was quite the celebration! I unfortunately did not get any pictures on my camera but Eric's dad did. Afterward, we played volleyball late into the evening, men against women and it was such a blast! Carter really enjoyed his cake but I think that the cookie crumbles might have been a little bit of a texture issue for him. he and I also received some birthday cards and gifts and I would like to thank Grandma and Grandpa Kennedy for the birthday money, aunt susan for the card, and Grandma and Grandpa Avery for the package of birthday gifts for Carter - the clothes are a perfect fit and he loves the toys! It is so touching that the people that I love the most were thinking of Carter and I this week for our birthdays!! I would like to finish this post by sharing some pictures of our family.

You know you're getting old when...

Your mom calls you 4 days before your birthday to wish you a happy birthday and honestly believes she is right! I have had some quirky birthday karma these last couple of years, not last year but the two years before that, my father also forgot to call me on my birthday - his typical and anticipated routine - so last year I made sure to remind him what day it was and he fixed it. Now in his defense he does live very far a way and its at times a different day there so that is going in his favor but for my mom, well that was just funny... at least it wasn't 4 days late! Today Eric took me to see the Body Worlds exhibit in Salt Lake City - it was amazing! They use this method of preservation called "plastination" on donated bodies and then they are able to display them and pose them and fillet them, all very interesting! They have a display showing fetal growth from a zygot to a fully developed baby (all dead from natural causes) and it was amazing! seeing that, I wonder how the heck I was showing at 9 weeks with Carter?? Afterward we went to eat at the Red Iguana - way good! Speaking of Carter, Monday is his first birthday! Wow! My baby is growing up! He walks everywhere and is getting pretty fast these days and he says "dada" "mama" "hi" and "up". He is so expressive too, he has started making this face when he is upset and wants me to react, it looks like he is going to cry and he just holds it there - with out sound or at least crying until I react. Its really funny. Taylor spent the night over at Eric's parent's house with Cam's boys - she loves her cousins so much! She is such a socialite too. Anyway the count down is on to thanksgiving and I have much to do to prepare, I am very excited also to make the cake for Carter's birthday - a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, crumbled up oreos and gummy worms to look like worms in dirt - perfect for a little boy! Wish me luck!

October is shaping up to be a great month! Taylor is doing great at preschool, Eric has put most of the finishing touches on my new fireplace and my sister in law just had a baby yesterday! We are so excited for our new niece and can't wait to get to know her! school for myself is going well and this week is fall break. This weekend a friend and I have plans to go on a shopping adventure to Park City at the outlet mall -once a year in october we stay in a hotel, and shop for winter clothes for our kids - practical and fun! I am usually in charge of making the dinner reservations and she is in charge of getting the hotel room - done and done. This year our trip will be a bit short as we are only staying friday night - I cant be away from Carter that long especially because he is still nursing regularly and is a very big momma's boy. Eric has been so sweet to commit to taking him and tay for the two days while I am gone - which is a big deal because Carter will most likely be crying the whole time and if it gets too hairy he will drive him up to me. We are crossing our fingers that all will go better than expected and in return I will be bringing back a much deserved thank you gift for Eric.

RE: Ode to My Spouse

Eric thought he was being funny and on his personal blog he posted a poem titled "ode to my spouse". He made some somewhat humorous jabs at me - the link is here - http://cragmonkey.blogspot.com/

So I thought that this deserved a response and for that here goes (Clearing throat)

How is it I love you after all of your tricks?
You like to poke fun at me to get your kicks,
yet day after day with your hair getting stubbly,
you make my lips smile and my heart still feel fluttery

you talk endlessly of your X-box and Mac,
Its really not if but when will I crack.

You think that you're funny,
you think that you're cute -
but my guts turn inside- out
every time that you “toot”

I'd love help with the laundry and even the dishes
but despite all my pleading those thoughts just stay wishes

Yet there's something to be said for a man that plays dress-up
with his little girl in all her pink get-up.
You prance 'round with pride and sometimes say 'nay'
when you give her rides on your back everyday.

And don't forget there's the little man too,
that picks up all the bad habits you do!
That's why he's a stinker and you know its the truth,
he's a hairy little guy with stinky loud farts just like you!

So regardless of faults and virtues to match,
to me you will always be my perfect catch!

I am by no means a poet, I don't even like poetry, but this is my best effort in all of 10 minutes, I hope you have enjoyed this ode to Eric as much as I have!

Fall is here

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. The weather cools down but is not too cold, the leaves are changing colors that are equal in vibrancy and beauty and it is the start of the holiday season. My favorite (pagan) holiday is in the fall - Halloween. This year I have decided to push my sewing skills to the max (which isn't very far, Im not that good) and make Tay's costume this year. Since she is already fair with blue eyes and blonde hair,I thought I would make her an Alice costume from Alice in Wonderland... we'll see though, time is a-tickin' and I have done little to start it. Carter on the other hand will be sporting a store bought costume - a puffy little skunk!! I find this especially humorous because he is such a little stinker, and thats what it says on the bum. The start of school traditionally begins in the fall and for our family this is no exception. I am back at it as always and Tay has also started preschool! I can't believe how big she is getting and its just amazing to see her start this new chapter in her life. While Carter may not be starting school, he is however getting his fifth tooth and is on the verge of walking. He has already taken a few steps and cruises along furniture and walls. Eric is also doing great, he is working on the house more and its so nice to see those improvements.

Ya BABY!!

Well Eric did it... He finally updated the fireplace and put up my mantle that has been sitting in our garage for nearly a year now!! He told me he would 'pencil it in for august' many months ago and on the last day of the month we tore down the old brick, plastered and sanded and textured and he built out the step and covered it with hardy backer and tiled and then painted the wall and hung the mantel!! Wow thats a lot to do in just one little weekend!!I took many pictures along the way to document the project because it really was a lot of work and really dirty at points too, like during the whole thing! Anyway here are some pictures to show Eric's labor day project!!(the first picture is from when we bought the house, before we ripped out the shag carpet)

The Kennedy family Reunion!

We are finally home from a whirlwind adventure in one of the most beautiful places in the world - Hood River, Oregon. Eric, Tay, Carter and I flew in to Portland monday afternoon, we wound up being on the same flight as my sister and her friend and so there was plenty of conversation in the airport to keep us busy until the plane left. Carter had a bit of a rough flight because he was so tired but other wise it was an enjoyable flight! Once we got there and said our hello's and hugged a few times we were off to pick up a car rental for Eric and I and then from there we were more or less on our way to the family reunion held at the Panorama Lodge in Hood River. after settling in and getting the run - d0wn for the week, we headed to bed. The next day we woke early and left for Bremerton, Washington, where my great-grandma lives to visit her and have a picnic. the drive there was around 5 hours and was the longest carter had ever been in the car at one time and it was a frustrating drive because he was so miserable but we were able to see a lot of beautiful sights along the drive and remember things like stopping in Kelso as we did nearly every time when my sister and I were kids. After the brief visit with Great grandma, we left for Tenino, WA where my Jenn's parents live. It was wonderful to see them again and to introduce them to Carter but the best part was something little that they said to me as we greeted - "welcome home" for whatever reason that really struck a cord with me. We had a wonderful time and Lew made an amazing dinner for us, and we got to take Taylor and Brenna out on the 4-wheeler they keep for Brenna. Taylor was a hoot because she wouldn't look where she was going and would accelerate awkwardly. afterward we made the last leg of our trip back to Hood River. the next day we went on a hike as a family to a waterfall, and it was FREEZING but some of the prettiest greenery around. that night our family made dinner with Eric manning the grill, and the next day we spent time at my grandparents house and in Hood River, wandering the town like tourists. Eric absolutely loved it there and the weather that day was much warmer. The following morning we packed up and headed for home. The trip was such a whirlwind adventure that its all blurred together in our minds but I am so glad to have had the opportunity to reconnect with my family!