Jan. Stoke School Meet

Raquel had another stroke school swim meet and did a great job. She really enjoys her swimming and always has a fun time and does her best at the meets.

Raquel socializing with friends before the meet starts.

(She is the 3rd from the right with the maroon swim cap)

We sometimes forget to acknowledge the cheering support group in the stands at every swim meet. So here are a few pictures of the cheerleaders.

Natalya

Marcus

and Dad.

I Scream, You Scream Mmmm Ice Cream!

Natalya, Raquel and Marcus enjoying their ice cream cones.

Marcus is very proud of his very own ice cream cone.

Statesville

Mike has wanted a truck for a long time and he finally got it. He found a good deal on a new one in Statesville, North Carolina so we made it into a mini family vacation. We drove down in the Chrysler and traded it in for a new Nissan Titian Truck. After getting the new truck we spent the rest of the night enjoying the nice warm pool in our hotel. You would think that after a nice long soak in the pool the kids would sleep well. They fell asleep at a good time but were up at around 3:30am which meant we all were awake. They did finally fall back to sleep 2 hrs later but it made for a unrestful morning. After enjoying a good breakfast and a little fun in the pool we headed home in Mike's brand new truck.

Marcus and I waited in the Chrysler while Mike and

the girls checked out the new trucks.

We had some fun in the pool after making our new purchase.

Marcus wonder if he really wants to get in.

Raquel enjoying the warm water.

Natalya ready to get in

All the gang enjoying the pool.

Marcus loved laying back in the tube and hanging out in the pool.

Marcus loved to spin around in the tube and watch the lights on the ceiling.

Mike's new truck

We had to take a picture,

neither of us has owned a vehicle with so little miles.

Raquel and Natalya getting ready to head back home.

Fun Days

Raquel was off of school for the past 5 days and so we took advantage and got some work done around the house along with lots of fun projects and play dates.

I finally got our room painted, it only took about a year and a half.  Now I just have to spruce it up with new bedding, wall art and nightstands.  Any suggestions?

The kids really were good to let me paint most of one day, so we needed to make our other free days chalked full of fun activities we have been meaning to do.  First, we made cookie snow globes, then soap from a soap making kit and then lastly we did an experiment with soap and the microwave.

The girls had fun making the cookies, icing and painting the snow globes with edible paints.

Natalya showing off our yummy honey almond soap we made.

Our soap experiment! First we made a hypothesis, what did we think was going to happen if we put a piece of Ivory soap in the microwave.  The girls both thought it would melt.  Were they right?

Here is Raquel showing off a little piece of soap before it went into the microwave.

After about 90 seconds in the microwave here is what our little piece 

of soap now looks like. They couldn't believe that is what happened to their little bar of soap.  The best thing is the soap is still usable, the girls just brake off a little piece to wash their hands.

Mike

Mike came home with very few pictures of his time in Afghanistan. When I say few I mean like none, so when a fellow doc sent him a picture of his buddies he hang out with while there I thought it necessary to post.

Mike with his fellow army docs

Every friday at Raquel's school they send home a paper that they call the orange notes that tell about the happenings past and future at the school.  This past friday this is what we read in the notes.

Mike was also featured in the paper on Saturday 1/14/2012.  What a handsome doc! Anyone would be crazy not flock to his practice after seeing him in the paper. Welcome home Dr. K!

Outside fun

Marcus loves his little red car and wants to play with it whenever he can.  Its parked in the garage and if he can sneak out and get in it while someone has the door to the garage open he will, even if its freezing outside and he has no shoes or coat on.  After a week of dealing with sickness we all needed a little fresh air and so we took the kids outside to kick a ball around and play with Marcus' little red car.  Marcus was willing to share his car with his sisters for a while but soon took over and wouldn't get out.  

Marcus riding in his little red car

Videos of the kids playing in the little red car.

Natalya

Marcus

Our New Car

With our new addition expected in April we have been looking into bigger vehicles to accommodate our expanding family. After looking at and test driving a few this is what we got, a new Nissan Armada. Its great it seats 8, has a heated steering wheel which I like and a DVD player which the kids like and can't wait to use on our next road trip.  I did have to give up my sporty Rav4 but I think after a while I'll get the hang of this beast and enjoy all the comfort and room of our new car.  Thanks again Mike for letting me get the new car while you stick with the old used ones.

Christmas 2011

We had a fun Christmas with just our family this year. We played all Christmas break long, we enjoyed baking goodies, lots of swimming and decorating a gingerbread house.

On Christmas day the kids got up early as usual and we were done opening presents by 7am and spent the rest of the day playing with our new toys. Christmas Eve we were able to attend our friends annual Feliza Natividad celebration and for Christmas day dinner we went over to our friends the Brian's. Not having to cook for two days made it a nice relaxing Christmas for me and the family.

Our best picture of all three kids in their Sunday Christmas outfits.

Gingerbread House

Natalya, Raquel and their newly decorated gingerbread house.

The kids quickly devoured the newly decorated house.

Marcus helped himself to the treats by getting up on the table.

Christmas Morning

Natalya helping Marcus unwrap his new dump truck

Raquel opening her new doll from Santa

Marcus got this monkey and loves having it hang around his neck.

He actually will bring it to me so that I can put it on him to walk around with.

Raquel showing off the kids new pellet gun.

Hopefully no one will poke their eye out.

Raquel with her new toys.

Natalya with her new baby doll and toys.

She loved the baby that sucks on a binky and makes noise and cries.

Marcus and his new trucks

The kids got The Hungry Hippo game and loved spending the day playing with it.

Merry Christmas

Swim Meet #3

Raquel had her third swim meet and last of the year. We were happy that daddy was home to be able to come watch her swim. They switched things up and had them swim twice as far as normal and Raquel did really good keeping up with all the other kids.

Stoke School Swimmers

(Raquel is on the far right, second row on the end with a white swim cap)

Raquel getting ready to swim

Here is Raquel swimming the backstroke

It's starting to show!

Its starting to show. Its true we are having another baby, #4. We were surprised to find out the news ourselves a few days before Mike left for Afghanistan. I'm excited for our new little baby so I guess I'll forgive Mike for leaving me sick and pregnant with three kids to take care of by myself for 4 month. Our little one is due April 12th. We are very excited about our new addition and happy to find out that we will be evening out the boy to girl ratio. We are busy trying to decide on a new vehicle that will fit our expanding family before the big day.

Baby Kennedy at 13 weeks

Baby Boy Kennedy at 22 weeks

Santa Breakfast

We had a fun Saturday going to Raquel's school for their annual Santa breakfast. The food was what you would expect from a school cafeteria but Raquel had fun showing us around and seeing her friends.

Santa with Raquel, Natalya & Marcus.

(This was a very nice Santa and the kids weren't scared of him at all)

After breakfast the family headed to VT campus to watch a Horse's Christmas. It was put on by the equestrian club of VT. The horses were all dressed up in bows and ribbons and they read and acted out the Grinch. The best part for the kids was when they got to feed peppermints to the horses and pet them.

Mike and Raquel trying to stay warm while waiting for the show.

Marcus & Mike

Raquel feeding a horse a peppermint

Raquel, Natalya and Andrea petting the horses

Bringing Daddy to School

Mike, Natalya, Marcus and I joined Raquel at school for lunch. Then Mike was going to give a little presentation to Raquel's kindergarten class after recess. Our lunch was interrupted by the school being locked down because of shootings on VT campus. So instead of going out to play Mike entertained the kindergarten class with tales of Afghanistan. The kids all enjoyed hearing about what a army doctor does, carry each other on a litter and wrapping up in bandages. Mike brought all the class members a piece of Afghan money and presented Mrs. Brooke with a plaque and flag that flew over Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan on Thanksgiving day. The kids all enjoyed Mike and all the things he brought to do. After he was done we snuck out of the school while they were still in lock down. I wish we would have thought to bring Raquel with us because she ended having to be at school well passed 4:30pm and I had to go pick her up anyways because the buses were going to be even later.

Mike showing the class where Kabul is on a globe.

Raquel knew right where Afghanistan was.

Presenting Mrs. Brooke and the class the plaque and flag.

Its now in the trophy case at the school.

Raquel and Natalya getting ready to help hand out the Afghan coins.

Raquel getting strapped into the litter.

Helping bandage up classmates.

Raquel and her bandaged head.

Mike and Raquel's Kindergarten class.