A Water Park & a Football Game

The new year is off to an exciting start! We have packed a lot of fun into the first three days of 2026. We rang in the new year once again at the Houstons' with the Williamses and the Whites. I've lost count how many years we have had this tradition of celebrating the new year together. As in years passed, Zack made his low country boil, and we all chowed down on the delicious food. Zander organized a ping pong tournament, complete with a bracket for the kids and the adults. There were only a few tears from the youngest Kennedy, when he was beaten by his big sister. Around 8:30PM, we counted down to the new year using a Youtube clip from Sydney, Australia, and we all toasted to 2026. Happy New Year!

On New Year's Day, we hit the road around 11AM heading toward Concord and Great Wolf Lodge. We stopped along the way at Waffle House in Salisbury. Given that it was a holiday, several restaurants were closed, but thank goodness for the Waffle House; we can always count on them to be open. We arrived at Great Wolf Lodge a little after 1PM, and to our surprise, our room was already ready. We got our wolf ears and our bracelets and headed to the room to change into our bathing suits. With our one-night stay, we were able to use the water park on the day we checked in and on the day we checked out, and between the two days, we spent about 10 hours total going down all the slides, splashing in the wave pool, standing below the big bucket in Fort Mackenzie, and playing basketball in Chinook Cove. We did it all! The kids were the perfect age for enjoying all the rides and thrills. A crowd favorite was River Canyon Run, which we could all ride together in one big tube. Daddy's favorite ride was the Mountain Edge Raceway, which you rode down on your belly on individual mats. The most exciting ride was the Howlin' Tornado, and both days, the kiddos got their bravery up to the do ride one time. It's similar to River Canyon Run with a single tube for four people, but it has a big drop into a spinning drain. We all had to catch our breath after that one. Around 7:30PM on the first day, we headed to the room for showers and pjs, and then we went down to the Main Lobby for storytime and the dance party. When we got back to the room around 9PM, it didn't take long until we were all asleep. After more time in the water park on Friday, we left Great Wolf Lodge around 3PM. We stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at Talkin' Tacos and then checked in to our hotel in downtown Charlotte. Even though the kids were excited for another hotel, we enforced a little bit of rest time before setting out into the city around 7PM. Our hotel was within walking distance of Bank of America Stadium, and we met up with our friends Matt and Virginia Olson just outside the gates. Kickoff was at 8PM, and our group of six was excited to cheer on the Deacs as they took on Mississippi State in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. We watched the 1st Quarter from our seats, which just so happened to be in a MSU section! In the 2nd Quarter, we moved to a section with black and gold and watched the rest of the game there. It was an exciting game, and Wake led for most of it. In the last few minutes, MSU came within 3 points, and we thought for sure we were in for heartbreak. But luckily, Wake held strong and pulled off a 43-29 victory. Go Deacs! We arrived back at our hotel around midnight, with two very tired kiddos and two tired adults too. From a water park to a football game - what a full day! We came back to Kernersville today and have been enjoying the time at home. With school starting back again on Monday, we are preparing for the return to routine and schedules. We are sad to see the Christmas break end, but we have loved 2026 already!

Last Post of 2025

We've been enjoying the days at home in between Christmas and New Year's. We mostly have the house back in order, and the kids have had fun playing with their new gifts. In our cleaning and rearranging, we moved Emmy's desk from the play room into her bedroom. She has been very excited with the change and uses the desk to do Legos and write in her journal. On Saturday, we were able to go to the Kaleideum one more time, this time with Daddy. Beforehand, we had brunch at a spot in downtown Winston called Young Cardinal & Co. The chocolate chip pancakes were a hit, as were the omelet and hashbrowns. On Sunday evening, we had the last of our holiday traditions: the post-Christmas Tanglewood lights. We packed a picnic to eat in the car: sandwiches for the kids and sushi for the adults. The sushi was a last-minute addition, to go along with our usual Starbucks drinks, and now I proclaim it an every-year staple. Our timing was perfect, as we joined the line around 5:30PM and were entering the park just before 6PM. The kids, hopped up on hot chocolate, were quite silly and loved sticking their heads out of the sunroof. On Monday and Tuesday, Boomer had to work, but the kids and I filled our time with a trip to the Science Center. We spent almost 4 hours there between the inside and outside exhibits. On Tuesday afternoon, we went to Asheboro to watch Trivett's team play against Wheatmore. It was an exciting game, with the Cougars coming back from a 17-point deficit to win 62-46. Trivett had a big 3rd Quarter with two 3-pointers and 12 total points. Watching the game and being in a gym again made us all excited for the upcoming basketball season. Emmy and Eli's games will begin soon on January 10th. We can't wait!

On December 26th, after much wiggling and cajoling, Eli finally lost his first baby tooth. His two bottom teeth have been wiggly since the incident in September with the railing at school, but he wasn't too concerned about getting a visit from the Tooth Fairy. In the end, it came out on its own. He was rough-housing with Boomer when all of sudden, he ran to the bathroom and spit it out in the sink! Luckily, Boomer made a quick dash to save the tooth from the drain. The next morning, Eli was rewarded with a whole dollar! 

As we close out 2025, it has been a year of new experiences and wonderful blessings. We look forward to 2026 with hope and anticipation for more fun memories with our loved ones!

Merry Christmas 2025

Our Christmas season has been very merry and bright! By now, we have a fairly ironed-out routine with the blending of the Kennedy and Bakewell traditions. The days surrounding Christmas follow a predictable and festive rhythm from year to year. How blessed we are to have family so close to share the holiday. On the Sunday before Christmas, we had the Candlelight Service at church. It is the only time all year that we are together as a family during the service, rather than the kids in their own "Kids Street" children's service. It was a beautiful time of carols, communion, and the lighting of the candles. That evening, on the drive home, Emmy brought up in the car that she would like to be saved. It has been a conversation for several months now, and Boomer and I continue to ask deeper questions to probe at her understanding and intention. We didn't lead her in the sinner's prayer just yet, but we are hopeful that it will be soon. We are glad that God is working in her heart, and we pray that our church and home lead both kids to accept Jesus. The Candlelight Service is a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. It was nice to pause and remember the birth of our Savior.  

On Christmas Eve, we had a relaxing day at home and then went over to Mom and Dad's for yummy appetizers and a Christmas movie. With Elf playing in the background, we tried our hand at constructing a gingerbread village. Needless to say, the kids were more interested in eating the decorations, rather than adding them to the houses! All five structures were standing upright at the end, so I suppose it was a success. However, the jury is out if we will add 'gingerbread houses' as a new Christmas Eve tradition. The adults exchanged gifts, with a particularly funny comment from Boomer about Dad starting a TikTok with Mom's new make-up mirror, which resembled a ring light. After gifts were opened, we rushed home to put out our letters for Santa. Emmy threw in a last minute request for a treehouse with a slide and a snow day. Hey, it doesn't hurt to ask! 

On Christmas morning, the kids woke up around 7AM and patiently posed for a photo while Daddy surveyed the downstairs (and started the coffee!) The temperature was unseasonably warm (in the 70s!) so unfortunately Emmy's request for a snow day was not granted. Both kids were excited to find the microphones they asked for under the tree. From Mommy and Daddy, they opened a shoe box with tickets to the Wake Forest bowl game, along with a night in a hotel in downtown Charlotte. I'm not sure what they loved most - the game or the hotel! In their stockings, they found gum and other candy. There were special homemade presents too, like the gingerbread ornament from Eli and The Three Trees book written and illustrated by Emmy. Once it seemed that everything was opened, Boomer noticed an envelope tucked into the higher branches of the tree. Inside was a clue, and off the kids went on a scavenger hunt around the house. The last clue was in the microwave with photos of water slides and wave pools. Santa brought tickets to Great Wolf Lodge! The kids were very excited. The night at GWL will be just before the Wake Forest bowl game, so we will spend two total nights in Charlotte over New Year's. Now that all the presents were in fact opened, we went over to the Houstons' for breakfast. Grandpa was feeling under the weather, with a cold that seems to be going around (Boomer has had it too!), so he was not able to join us. Grammy and Grandpa got both kids new Crocs and some new clothes. Eli got a Lego excavator, and Emmy got some jewelry and a butterfly ornament from Dollywood. We returned home to change out of our pjs. We then headed to Star for our Christmas with the Kennedys. This year, there were 17 of us, with baby Asher joining us for his very first Christmas. Before it got too dark, the kids enjoyed riding the side-by-side around the property and putting out corn. What a new experience for our two suburban kids that live in a cul-de-sac! Presents were opened, and what was meant as a gag gift, turned out to be the best one of the night - a giant squishy block of cheese. Eli was thrilled with his present from Aunt Darby and Uncle Goosie and proceeded to say "Cheese Louise!" no less than 200 times. As Aunt Darby said, Eli sure knows how to love a present. After all the gifts were opened, Granny and Paw Paw made a delicious meal of chicken, steak, mac-n-cheese, potatoes, and corn. We pulled back in at home just before 10:30PM. What a full and fun day!

As I write this post on the day after Christmas, I hear Emmy singing in her room on her new microphone and Eli racing cars on the hardwood strip at the front door. Earlier we took down the tree and packed away all the decorations until next year. It may seem a little hasty, but I do like the feeling of getting the house in order again. We are thankful for another year of Christmas memories, and we are most thankful for God sending His Son to be born. Merry Christmas from the Kennedys!