The Tripp Family: Kendal's Visit home

Well, that dreadful day has come yet again. This morning around 3:30am we loaded up the car and Dad & I took Kendal to the airport to see him off. I have to say it was much easier letting him go this time around because we now know what to expect. Certainly no shortage of tears, its still really tough knowing we will be living 7 more months with out one another. Being able to spend the past 12 days together was such a blessing. I feel so fortunate that we have the opportunity to have 2 visits during these 12 months...while many families don't see each other at all! We made some great memories while Kendal was home...I'd like to share a few....
The day Kendal arrived~ emotions were running high, I had a nervous feeling all day in the pit of my stomach, I couldn't believe the day had finally come!! My whole family headed to the airport to welcome Kendal home! My brother was in charge of the camera and my dad in charge of the video camera. Kendal's plane was delayed about an hour so we had a good 30 minutes to spare. Of course,Kennedy had no idea what was going on so we spent the time chasing her from one end of the terminal to the other. With about 15 more minutes until his plane was due to land, Kennedy and I were at one end of the terminal while my family was at the other. I heard my mom yell "Carrie, he's here!!!" and I looked up and said "Where?" ( now it was pretty far away) she yelled "right there" and I said "thats not him" OH MY GOSH I didn't even recognize my own husband! LOL! After about 2 minutes of arguing back and forth with my Mom (what else is new lol) I realized it was him! I swooped up Kennedy and went running for him! His plane landed earlier than expected and they hadn't updated it on the monitors so needless to say none of us were prepared. My video camera man caught nothing and my brother only managed to snap a few pictures. So much for planning this grand homecoming~ haha! The minute Kennedy realized who it was she yelled "DADA" and was laughing and giggling! It was the BEST!!

The next few days we just hung out at home~ it gave Kendal the opportunity to adjust to the 14 hour time change. We baked Christmas cookies, wrapped gifts, and we even had Thanksgiving dinner since Kendal missed out on the real "turkey day"

Bed time stories with Daddy

This just cracks me up!

Baking cookies

Tea party with Daddy

Ready for some turkey

"Thanksgiving" Family picture! lol

The first weekend Kendal was home we headed to Kalahari Resort which is about an hour from where my parents live. Kalahari is America's largest indoor waterpark. It is A BLAST! They have arcades, minigolf, shopping, spa, resturaunts, and all sorts of other stuff! My whole family came out, we spent the day splashing in the water park which Kennedy LOVED! Around dinner time my parents and sister took Kennedy back home for the night and Cody, Elizabeth, Kendal & I grabbed some dinner at one of the Resorts resturants. After dinner Cody & Elizabeth went home and Kendal & I enjoyed a quiet and relaxing evening to ourselves. We even went to the spa and had a couples hot stone massage, which was just what the Dr order for both of us!
I have to admit that I completely neglected taking any pictures on our trip. I was afraid the camera would get wet so unfortunately Kalahari will just be memory in our minds

Our suite~ complete with a hot tub and fire place!

I stole this off of Kalahrai's website lol! But I wanted to show the slide that Kennedy spent over 2 hours going up and down! Poor little girl was covered in bruises in the morning and her muscles were very sore the next day!

View from our room!

Family picture day was next~ I, of course, drug the Whole family out once again! lol I think they turned out pretty well~

This is my absolute Favorite!

Then we went to see Santa. Which I knew would be a total bust because she freaks out when the mail man walks up the drive way! Now Kennedy and I have matching 18 month old Santa pictures!

Christmas could not have been better! Having Kendal home was the greatest gift of all! But we sure had a lot of fun on Christmas day! With Kendal away for the past 4 months I had plenty of time on my hands to shop! Kennedy had 32 presents under the tree so we opened gifts in shifts. We would open 5 then have breakfast, 5 more then take a nap, 5 more then dinner ETC! We were opening gifts until almost 7pm! SO MUCH FUN!!! UNTIL...the adults passed out their secret santa gifts and my husband decided to use that time to admit to me that he had gotten himself in the gift exchange. He thought it was so funny and laughed it off but I was devestated~ thank god I bought him 5 gifts even though we said we weren't doing presents for each other this year and Christmas was saved! lol!

Leaving out our cookies and milk for Santa

Reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

My Dad will probably kill me for posting this but it cracks me up! He is such a jokester!

Santa, his Elf, and Reindeer...setting out presents!

Opening gifts in the morning

Santa brought Kennedy a water baby for Christmas which is all she cares about now. First thing she wants when she wakes up in the morning and it is attached to her side the entire day! She is such a good little mommy!

Trying out her new bowling set!
*STRIKE*

I surprised Kendal with tickets to a Browns game! It was his first NFL game ever and he loved it! Our Brownies even beat the Raiders which made it all the more fun!

We sat right behind Mom & Dad and froze our buns off!

Yesterday was our last day together and we had gotten about 8 inches of snow so we bundled Kennedy up and took her out to play in the white stuff for her first time! She loved riding on mommy's old sled up and down the drive way! Then we came in, helped daddy pack up and had a family pizza party!