We have been blessed with the most beautiful weather this week! 70 degrees and sunny! What else can you ask for in the first week of March?? We spent almost everyday this week outside! Kennedy was in heaven! She would throw a temper tantrum every time I brought her in the house, I'm sure that will wear off by the end of the summer! Unfortunately it is back to 45' and rainy but those few days of sunshine really did us some good! Kennedy is only 3 months away from the big #2 now! Kinda scary! We are super excited about Kendal coming home, another week closer~ only 32 more days!! I am planning all sorts of things to do while he is home & even booked a little one day get-a-way for the 2 of us in Amish Country and I can't wait!! This is Kendal's last week of working 12+ hour days. Back to a regular schedule, YAY! He can't wait to get a little break from that place. Other than just counting down the days, its life as usual for us! Hope everyone is doing great and staying healthy! Here are our pictures from this week, enjoy!

On a Walk With Grammy!
(not as cold as it looks)

Another "nature walk" with Grammy

Daddy bought us a bike trailer/jogging stroller last week and had it shipped to the house!
Testing it out for the first time!
SHE LOVES IT!

Side Walk Chalk with Aunt Carli:)

My Dad and I took her to Chuckee Cheese for the first time for dinner tonight!
She was fascinated by it all~ and LOVED Chuckee! She was begging him to hold her! haha!

"WHOA!"

Driving

Some how we hit the jackpot...
We didn't even know how to play the game.
Kennedy was just facinated with putting the token in the machine~ all of BIG kids swarmed around us and
wanted us to show them how we did it!
Thats my girl!

SUGAR HOUSE...my Mom wants me to put in a disclaimer.
My child does not only eat sweets she does eat healthy things too
but everytime I post of picture of her eating,
she is eating junk with the help of Grammy!
Next week I will post a picture of her eating a carrot (which is no fun!) lol

Aunt Carli is the most guilty of them all!
Ice cream!

And YES! We are sure to brush her teeth, each and everyday!
Don't worry! lol

Spring Is Near!!!

I LOVE THE SUN! I am so excited, spring is near! The sun has been shining brightly everyday this week. The temperature has been in the high 40's! The snow is melting!! We have been able to play outside~ And we have so much to look forward to season! Kendal will be home in just 40 days!!! "Nana" & "Pa" Tripp are coming to town for 5 days~ (longer, if I can convince them!!) and we only have 22 more weeks until we move back to Charleston!!!! Life is certainly starting to look brighter!
Since the weather was so nice we stayed very busy this week! I included a bunch of photos! Hope everyone is enjoying the turn of the weather as much as we are! Lots of Love!

Last weekend when it was still super cold out! Papa pulled her up and
down the driveway in the sled!

All Bundled Up...
Running down the sidewalk...had to get out and burn some energy!

We went to the local Nature Center with some of my girlfriends earlier this week!
She loved looking at all of the animals!
Checking out a Lizard with Lindsay and Baby Aubrey!

Looking at a skunk with her buddy, Brayden

They are so cute together!

Potty Training is underway. We are taking it very slow. We try and go every night before getting our PJs on for bed. We sing songs and read books and sometimes I sit there for 45 minutes entertaining her. Tonight I decided it was Kendal turn. After just 3 minutes on the potty she went. GEEEEEZ! Daddy always get the easy way out!!

Back to the Nature Center. This morning we went to a 20 minutes class called Twinkle Tots. The show was in the planetarium and was very fun! We will definitely do it again when daddy comes home!

Touching a Snake for the very first time

After class we went out to lunch at one of my favorite childhood restaurants, Friendly's! (Guaranteed ice cream) Kennedy got a Sundae and kept saying "yum" after every bite~ so funny!

I tried to take it from her when she was finished and of course she screamed. She had to lick every last bite out of that dish and then she left with out a fight! LOL!

Flu & Snow

GRRRRR! When is all of this snow going to stop! We have been getting snow non stop for a week now! The weather was looking like it was going to take a turn for the better last weekend but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Oh well, that's Cleveland in February.It's probably the last time I will be living in snow for quite sometime so I better enjoy it while I can! Everyone in the house had the flu except my dad last week, however the bug finally bit him on Sunday night. He was home Monday and Tuesday with us. He got it worse than anyone, Poor guy and Mom got it again Wed and Thurs... Needless to say, we've been watching a lot of tv, taking a lot of naps and on the bright side, we have all lost close to 10lbs! lol! Since we haven't been doing a whole lot I don't have much to tell you about. Hopefully next week I will have something to report! LOTS OF LOVE TO ALL OF YOU!

All of the "sickies" in bed reading a story

Sick Smoochie and Super Sick Mommy...

The only healthy one in the bunch...LOL!

Celebrating Mardi Gras!
Happy Fat Tuesday!

Lindsay & I (and our friend Ashley) went to the Melting Pot (fondue resturaunt) on Monday for "Ladies Spa Night" we ate some yummy food, had a back massage and arm & hand massage and then some DELICOUS dessert! Our reservation has already been made for next month!!! Such a fun night out!

"Winter Wonderland" aka our driveway
Kennedy stands at the front door asking "momma, pease oh ou-side?" (please go outside?)
I just can't bring myself to it...I hate the cold!

RALEIGH!!!
He's 13 years old, we've had family discussions about having him put to sleep because he is miserable, but then he goes outside, rolls around the snow and acts like he's a puppy all over again~ guess he's still got it and we still have a few more years with the ole boy! Love you buddy!

My Winter favorite...perfect to warm me up!

Happy Valentines Day!

Just wanted to post a few pictures from our weekend. Everyone in the house is sick with the Flu and I was so tired of laying on the couch watching reality TV~ I just had to get up & do something! Enjoy~ hope you are all staying healthy and warm!

Everything sugary and sweet! Sharing a Malley's Chocolate Covered Twinkie with Papa!
Malley's is a Cleveland Candy Company that is to die for!!!!

Making Cupcakes with Grammy to give to our Valentines!

Good Bakers always taste before serving!

Passing out our cupcakes!

Having another Taste!

Dancing in her Valentine Tutu Mommy made for her!
(it looked super cute until she ripped it and destroyed it) lol

Snow, Snow Go AWAY!

Well, I just spent almost 2 hours writing a blog and uploading photos and sure enough something failed and all of the work was gone! Grrr, so I'll try again real quick! LOL
I can't even begin to tell you how much I want all of this snow to melt already! I am so sick of Winter! Today was the first day I have started my car in over a week!
I can't help but dream of the warm sunny South Carolina Sun and the smell of the ocean breeze! I can't wait to get back home and spend our weekends sitting on the sandy beaches. But in the meantime we've found plenty of fun things to do inside to keep us busy! Kennedy turned 20 months yesterday! Time is going by so quickly! Which is a wonderful thing because we can't wait to have Daddy back home, but at the same time, I wish it would slow down so I could have more time with my little girl! Kennedy gained one pound from last month. She is now 26.2lbs, she loves singing, dancing, coloring and reading. Her new favorite word is "NO" which drives mommy crazy, she is insanely shy (I know, weird for a kid with me as a mom) she knows 8/10 colors, can count to 3, and is OBSESSED with Elmo! We have successfully ditched the pacifier as of last month and plan to be in full potty training mode next month!!! Where did my little baby go??
As for Kendal, well he's hanging in there. He is still working 12-14 hour days, he is taking a 2 week break from classes and is focusing on studying for his Tech Sgt promotion testing that is coming up this month! April can't come soon enough for either of us!!
Well, thats about it this week, I have included some pictures as usual! Enjoy!!! Love and miss you all very very much!!

Playing with Baby Aubrey or as Kennedy calls her
"Au-bee"
We still watch Aubrey every Tues and Thurs and Kennedy LOVES playing with her

Working on a Valentine's Day Card for Daddy

Say Cheese!

Working on another project for Daddy

Reading stories with Uncle Bubby (Cody)

Watching the Super Bowl with Grammy and Papa

Grammy gave her one of her Valentine's Day presents early! She wasn't sure what to make of it, since it kept Growling and giggling!

Then she decided she loved him afterall!

Grandma Tripp sent us a box of Valentines Day goodies last week! Inside was a cake mix for Kennedy and I to do together! She LOVES cooking with Mommy

Patiently waiting...

Frosting our cakes

Just one lick, mom! Okay maybe 2 or 3!

Grammy cleaned out our enclosed sun porch and turned it into "Smoochies play room!"
We call it playing outside since it is surrounded by windows! We flip on the heater and she plays out there for hours!!!

Still loves the swings the most!

I took her to get her pictures taken this morning which turned out to be a total bust. Kennedy is extremely shy and just wasn't interested in being photographed today. She would just stare at the woman and every so often look over at me and say "Mom??" like the lady was crazy or something! lol...then I told the woman I wanted to take some "I love you Daddy" photos. Well, of course the woman doesn't know our situation and started saying "Smile for Daddy" " Look! Daddy's over there" (to get her to look at certain place) and kept saying "daddy daddy daddy" to get her to smile! Sure enough Kennedy got all excited thinking daddy was there and my heart broke:( She started crying and picture time was over:( Oh well, better luck next time! Here is what we did get!

Blank Stares

Shy Grins

One decent shot!

And some happy ones because Mommy Jumped in the picture!
This one is for Daddy=)
We Love you, hurry home!