Thanksgiving Break

We started our Thanksgiving Break with the kids' annual check-ups. I did not have to work on Wednesday, and Boomer took the day off to spend with us. Little did he know what fun he was in for! Luckily we have not had to go to the doctor recently, and both kids were generally happy throughout the appointment. Emmy weighed 40 lbs 12 oz (57%) and measured 3 ft 8 in (78%), and Eli was 26 lbs 1 oz (26%) and 2 ft 10 in (43%). They were so tough when it came to the shots: Eli got two, and Emmy got three! I did not realize that the appointment would also include the hearing and vision screenings for kindergarten. Emmy did great on the vision screening when she had to tell which direction the "E" was pointing. She was a little confused by the directions for the hearing test. Perhaps I should have prepped her better on what she would be doing. I told the nurse that I did not have any concerns with her hearing. Although it is selective at times, she can hear pretty well! I was so thankful that Boomer came along; he makes everything more fun.

After leaving the doctor, we headed to the Science Center. We spent a little under two hours going through the aquarium, the reptile section, and then for the first time, we caught one of the shows in the Omnisphere. Both kids were very attentive through the 30-minute show. Emmy happily posed for photos and even touched one of the lizards called Tazo, a uromastyx.  

On Thursday morning, we hit the road around 9AM to head to Virginia. It had been three years since we last made the trip to Woodstock for Thanksgiving, and we were looking forward to seeing all the Kennedy family. Despite our limited travels over the last two years, we seem to have made up for it lately, and the kids have become very good travelers. Both took naps along the drive and entertained themselves throughout the four hours. When it was time for lunch, we stopped at the same truck stop that we have stopped in the past, and we recreated a photo in front of the sign. We arrived in Woodstock around 2:30PM. Since the temperatures were in the 60s, we met Granny and Paw Paw at the park so that the kids could get some energy out while there was still sunlight. We checked into the hotel and then had dinner over at Aunt KK's and Uncle Doug's with Kayten, Shawn, Kolter and Ashlee and their kids Annabelle and Knox. It was not your typical Thanksgiving menu; instead we had hot dogs and ham- (and deer) burgers. We returned to the hotel around 9PM and feel asleep quickly. 

On Friday, we woke up to much colder temperatures and even a few flurries of snow! You can just see the flakes through the hotel window. We ventured out around 10:30AM to drive by the farm and see Tall Man. We were able to introduce him to Eli for the first time. We then went to downtown Woodstock for lunch at the Woodstock Cafe. We returned to the hotel for nap time, and then we met the rest of the Kennedy family for the large gathering that evening. Since our group has continued to grow, we are no longer able to meet on the farm. This year we had dinner at the fire station in Edinburg. The fellowship hall was perfect for our big group, and there was also an open area for the kids to run and play games without breaking anything. One of the aunts brought along craft supplies and coloring table cloths, which were a hit. It was so wonderful to be together with family again. After Eli's birth in 2019 and then COVID concerns in 2020, a lot has changed since the last Woodstock Thanksgiving. Boomer's dad gave a beautiful blessing before the meal about the branches on the family tree and how blessed we are to see the tree grow. At the same time, we are saddened by those family members that are no longer with us, like Granny Kennedy and Uncle Bubba. I wish they both could have met Eli. With all the little ones running around, it is a reminder of the passing of time and the younger generation that we are raising. 

While both kids wanted to stay at the hotel for a few more days (ha!), we headed back home to Kernersville on Saturday. We arrived to the Houstons' around 3PM for our final Thanksgiving meal. Much like in Woodstock, there was the absence of Gma and Gpa, and we miss them even more at the holidays. Megan still made Gma's broccoli casserole, while Zack made the turkey, pork chops, mashed potatoes and fixings. My mom made her sweet potato casserole - a favorite of both of my kiddos. After dinner, we watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation while eating dessert: apple and pumpkin pie. Heading back to work tomorrow, I am not feeling too sad. Instead, I am looking forward to the many things we have planned in the month of December. It will be a special holiday season with Emmy and Eli. 

Eli's Birthday at...school!

 While his big sister celebrated her birthday at Disney World, Eli's birthday was a little less extravagant. He went to school as usual, wearing a shirt that said 'birthday boy.' For dinner that evening, we went out to eat just the four of us at Don Juan's where we got a special dessert of churros and ice cream. Eli definitely has developed a sweet tooth, and he will often ask for 'tweets' after a meal. The birthday celebrations continued into the weekend, with dinner at the Houston's house. He got a Little Tikes basketball goal and basketballs from Aunt Megan and Uncle Zack. Luckily, Aunt Megan thought to buy two basketballs because it has proven to be a hit with Emmy, who will be starting Upward basketball soon. We had one last birthday celebration after church today at the Loop with Grammy, Grandpa, the Houstons, and the Williamses. From Grammy and Grandpa, he got a soccer goal, along with some clothes and new shoes. In addition to potty training this year, based on his gifts, Eli will also be playing a lot of sports!

In other happenings, my school's theater department held several performances of Frozen Jr. this past week, and of course my little Frozen fan absolutely loved it. The performance was amazing! Emmy loved coming to Mommy's school, and she was very attentive during the show. She even posed for photos afterwards with some of the characters. The play was a wonderful highlight to the week. My school sadly lost a student a couple of weeks ago, and it has been a very sad time. I am still sorting through my shock of the tragedy. With each day, we are finding ways to mourn and to remember the student, who was a phenomenal young lady. 

We are getting into the Christmas spirit at the Kennedy household! I'm always ready to decorate right after Halloween, but Boomer insists we hold off until closer to Thanksgiving. We will once again be traveling to Virginia for the holiday, so the compromise is decorating the weekend before. Emmy was my little helper with putting the tree together, and then Daddy put the finishing touch with the star on top. 

In the excitement of Disney, I didn't do my usual birthday posts for each of the kids with a recap from the year. I know that I will love looking back at these letters in the future, so I'll keep it short to carry on the tradition. 

Emmy - You have blossomed into a curious, vibrant, silly, contemplative little girl. Your teacher always gives a wonderful report about your behavior and your abilities. My heart fills with pride as she tells me that you were kind to a classmate and that you are moving quickly through the preschool curriculum. While you are reserved and mannerly at school, you have a wild side at home, as you make up games to play with your brother and run laps around the downstairs. You still love to narrate Eli's every move, and the two of you have started to develop a special sibling bond. You are very loving towards him, and you help retrieve his toys or reach something that is too high. I love the times we do things just the two of us, and I also love the special relationship you have with your Daddy. Your newest thing is falling asleep on your bedroom floor so that Daddy will come in to move you into your bed. (He's forgotten a time or two - oops!) The year ahead will bring kindergarten with new friends and a new school. I am excited to see how you take on this new adventure. I hope that you continue to love reading and helping others. You make your Daddy and me so proud!

Eli - This past year saw your first steps, your first words, and so many other 'firsts.' After a whole year of Grammy Daycare, you started school in August with your big sister. Sometimes there are still tears at drop-off, but your teachers say you are so sweet and very talkative. Daddy and I marvel at the way your vocabulary has expanded. Even at dinner tonight, Daddy asked who wanted some leftover cake for dessert, and you said "Eli does!" with the biggest grin. We often laugh at your ability to string together words and phrases to now make complete sentences. You often refer to yourself in third person as "E-I" and it will be bittersweet when you finally pronounce the 'L' in your name. You are showing me that boys do tend to eat more than girls. You will shovel in several bites at once so that your cheeks look like a chipmunk. Earlier in the year, I stopped nursing, and it was a sad moment as I accepted that you are no longer my little baby. You are becoming so independent with a fork and spoon, and you can even drink directly from a cup. Like your sister, there are moments that I want to squeeze you so hard because of all the love I feel for you. I hope that you will always let me. 

We love our November birthday babies! Happy birthday, Emmy and E-Guy!

Love, 
Mommy & Daddy

Emmy's Birthday at Disney World

We have returned from our trip to Disney World! What a magical, memorable, exciting, and exhausting week it was! We last went to Disney World in 2016 when I was newly pregnant with Emmy. Our group of 8 then has since grown to 10. It was such a special time to take this trip while Zander, Maddox, Emmy, and Eli are at ages where they can soak up all the Disney magic. We tried to capture the trip through many, many pictures and videos. Here is a day-by-day recap. 

Day 1 (Saturday, November 6th): Traveling to Florida

Our trip began early last Saturday around 5AM. My dad rented a 15-passenger van, which allowed us all to ride together plus had room for our luggage, the pack-n-play, the stroller, and snacks. Eli dozed a little bit and was in good spirits when he was awake. We used Megan's DVD players to keep the kiddos entertained for the long drive south, and they (and the adults!) did great during the road trip. I sat in between Emmy and Eli, and aside from when Emmy was using her straw to comb my hair, the hours went by fairly quickly. We stopped along the way to visit my grandparents in Hawthorne, FL. We had a late lunch with them and stretched our legs for a bit before finishing the final few hours of the trip. We arrived in Orlando around 7PM, donned our magic bands, and settled into our rooms by 8PM. Emmy loved the Murphy bed that pulled down from the wall, and Eli loved all the Mickey decorations. We went to bed excited for our first day in the parks the next morning. 

Day 2 (Sunday, November 7th): Magic Kingdom

For our first day at Disney, we of course headed to Magic Kingdom so the kids could see the castle and ride all the classic rides. By staying at one of the resorts, we were able to enter the parks 30 minutes early. However, we were a little rusty that first day with figuring out the bus transportation and the mobile app, so we ended up getting there at the regular opening time of 9AM. Each day, we got better and better and took advantage of the early access. Once inside Magic Kingdom, we headed first for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which Emmy claimed "was a disaster!" because of its speed and fast drops. It was a true roller coaster, but we didn't really tell her that ahead of time. We then went to some slower rides like Under the Sea and Winnie the Pooh. She liked these two much better and forever compared rides to these first ones: "Is this like Snow White or Ariel?" One of the highlights of the whole trip was our lunch that day at Cinderella's Royal Table. It was a special reservation that had to be made several months ago, and Emmy and Eli both were in awe of Cinderella as she made her appearance throughout the meal. The adults were mostly in awe of the food: delicious beef tenderloin, scallops, and seasonal pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. After lunch, my Aunt Glenda joined us for the afternoon. She brought Mickey gifts for the kids, and she was very helpful in navigating the park. We rode the carousel, and then Eli napped while we rode Big Thunder Mountain and watched the Country Bear Jamboree. Unfortunately we hit a bit of bad luck with two rides back-to-back that shut down just as we were about to board. Our spirits were renewed with one of the Mickey and Minnie pop-up parades, and we pushed through with three more rides: It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion, which Emmy declared her favorite. We had dinner at the Columbia Harbor House and then found a spot for the 8PM fireworks. It was very crowded, but we were able to squeeze in to see the graphics on the castle and along Main Street. The fireworks were set to music and scenes from all the Disney classics. It was a truly magical ending to the day. 

Day 3 (Monday, November 8th): Epcot

Our second day started with riding the Skyliner from our resort to Epcot. The Skyliner connects a few of the parks, and it was a fun way to move from one place to the other. Between buses, the Skyliner, and the Monorail, we were able to get everywhere we wanted to go without using the van. At Epcot, we headed first for Norway to ride the Frozen Ever After ride. We then moved toward the "ooh big ball" as Eli called it, for Test Track and Spaceship Earth. After eating lunch in one of the cafeterias there, we rode Nemo, Land of the Living, Soarin' (a personal favorite), and Figment. We got a sweet mid-afternoon treat from Karmell Kuche in Germany, and we ended the day with the newest Ratatouille ride in France. We couldn't quite hang in there for the 9:45PM fireworks and light show; instead we headed back to the resort around 8:30PM. My favorite thing about Epcot was the surprise princess and character sightings. We would just happen to stumble upon them, and although they would keep their distance behind fencing or on a stage, they would interact and pose for photos. Emmy wore her Elsa dress the entire day, and she loved seeing all the other princesses. 

Day 4 (Tuesday, November 9th): Hollywood Studios

The original plan was for Tuesday to be our "rest day." However, we made a last minute swap and pushed our rest day to Wednesday when we would have breakfast at Chef Mickey's. So instead of resting, we took on Hollywood Studios. Once again with the early access, we arrived to the park before it opened, and we headed straight for Tower of Terror. Much like Mine Train on the first day, Emmy was not a fan, but I was so proud of her for riding it even though she "did not love it." She and Maddox were not able to ride Rock-n-Roller Coaster because of the height limit, so they took a breather, while the adults and Zander rode. We then headed to Toy Story Land for more rides and for lunch at Woody's Lunch Box, with the holiday specialty pop-tarts. After lunch, we went to the Star Wars area to ride Millennium Falcon. Boomer got one of the "blue milk" drinks (I guess a Star Wars thing?) We then headed back to where we started the day for the Beauty and the Beast live show. After staying awake all day, Eli took a nap on Aunt Megan, who still managed to snap the funny picture of Emmy, Boomer, and me watching the show. I am not sure if we are tired or in awe, but like mother, like daughter, we both have our mouths open haha! Unfortunately the last part of Hollywood Studios did not end so well. After waking from his late nap, Eli was all out of sorts and got sick while Boomer was holding him at dinner. It was quite a mess, on Eli and on Boomer. Zack literally gave Boomer the shirt off his back (Zack also had on an undershirt ), but then Eli got sick a second time! We hustled to pack up our dinner and head back to the room so everyone could get some rest. We are still not sure if it was a bug or just tiredness, although whatever it was seemed to spread to Boomer and then Zander by the end of the trip :( 

Day 5 (Wednesday, November 10th): Emmy's Birthday

Wednesday was a much needed rest day, and it was also Emmy's birthday! When Grandpa started planning the trip over 18 months ago, it was a nice coincidence that it fall during the week of Veteran's Day (a day off from work) and during Emmy's birthday. What better way to celebrate turning 5! Boomer surprised Emmy and me both with a special video for her birthday. Much like the video he made for our 10 year anniversary, he included photos spanning the whole five years and set it the country song "Lady" by Brett Young. Of course I cried! It was so sweet to see all the pictures of our precious Emmy. Our plans for the day included a special breakfast at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Hotel. All the characters stopped by for pictures, and the food was delicious. The birthday girl even got some special cupcakes...cupcakes for breakfast, why not?! After breakfast, we cruised around on the Monorail, stopping at the Grand Floridian to see the gingerbread house and other Christmas decorations. Everyone took naps that afternoon, and then in the early evening, we went to Disney Springs for shopping and dessert. The kiddos received some money from Great Grandma Nancy to spend, and after much deliberation, Emmy chose a Minnie figurine and a charm bracelet. The weather was a bit rainy, so we didn't stay too long before heading back to Pop Century. 

Day 6 (Thursday, November 11th): Animal Kingdom

After our rest day, we powered through our last two days, going next to Animal Kingdom. With as much as the kids like the Science Center, I knew they would especially like Animal Kingdom. However, our first ride was a bust for Emmy. Although she was tall enough to ride Avatar Flights of Passage, she backed out at the last minute once she sat down in the seat. (Luckily, they let Boomer stay with her and then ride in the following group.) Everyone rode the next ride, Na'vi River Journey, and then a crowd favorite, the Animal Safari. We had our last dining reservation of the week for lunch at Tusker House in Africa with a flavorful family-style menu. Once again, the four cousins loved the characters, and the adults loved the food. We caught the 2PM show of the Lion King, and as we left the theater, the Florida rains returned. It didn't rain long, but it was enough of a downpour to soak everyone's clothes and shoes. The rest of the weather during the week was so wonderful, mid-70s, so it is hard to complain. We fit in a few more rides before taking our soggy selves back to the resort for bedtime.  

Day 7 (Friday, November 12th): Magic Kingdom 

Our last day - a second trip to Magic Kingdom! There is just so much to do at this park that it is really impossible to do it in one day. Luckily the kids woke up fresh and ready to take on our last day. We wore our matching shirts again and posed for photos in front of the entrance and the castle. In our haste on the first day, we forgot to stop! We then headed to Tomorrowland for Space Mountain, the Speedway, the Carousel of Progress (I always like this one!), and the Peoplemover. For our last day, we splurged on the additional fee for the Lightning Lane, a version of the Fast Passes that Disney used to have before COVID. We booked slots for Peter Pan's Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Jungle Cruise, rides that had long waits otherwise. For lunch, we had chicken and waffles from Sleepy Hollow, and then we watched the Hall of Presidents nearby. Boomer and Eli headed back to the hotel for naps, while the rest of our crew rode again all the rides from our first day. We stayed through the fireworks and soaked up the last of the Disney magic. 

Day 8 (Saturday, November 13th): Returning Home

The ride home yesterday wasn't as fun as the ride the previous Saturday. Without the anticipation of Disney, it seemed to take quite awhile before we returned to North Carolina. Once again the kiddos were great travelers, especially Zander who wasn't feeling well. We pulled into our driveway around 6:30PM, and Boomer and I got right to work on unpacking and laundry, while Emmy colored and Eli went through the toy box, rediscovering his toys. There wasn't much time before bed, but Emmy made a wonderful drawing of Mickey and Minnie in front of the castle. I feel sure she is going to be talking about this trip for a long time. We especially want to thank Grammy and Grandpa for taking us and always being intentional about spending time together. We are so blessed to make these family memories. And while I now know the meaning of "Disney Tired," I am so thankful for this week we shared.