I’m not sure if Kenna will remember this, but I know we will.   Kenna rode her first chair lift on the day before Christmas.

With no fear or trepidation, Kenna enthusiastically scuttled her little legs into the lift line.   After working her way through the line, she stopped at the load marker waiting for the next chair.  It was if she had been riding chair lifts for years.  Watching the chairs circle around, she properly pointed out our chair and when it was coming to ensure I knew which it was and that we were prepared load.

About to load

Once it was our turn, we moved out onto the blue loading line and waited.   Still showing no concern for her situation,  Kenna patiently waited for the chair to swing around and take her to the next level of skiing.

Swoosh, the chair swings around, slowly moving underneath Kennas butt.  I pick her up, rest her on the seat as her little legs stick straight out with her little ski tips pointing straight up in the air.   Off we go, up the hill.

WOW!   Kenna is on her fist chair lift.  She scoots forward, leans against the safety bar and peers below, watching all the skiers glide underneath her feet.   Conspicuously absent; fear, concern, anxiety, discomfort, or any sign that it was a new experience.

Look at me Mom!

Kenna is an amazing young lady.  It is hard to believe she turned 3 only 3 months ago.   She has a passion for life.  Riding the chair with her was a magical moment.   We are thrilled to have 100’s and 1000’s of more lift rides together.

(To Kenna, you will read this some day and you need to know.  You were a little stud getting on that lift for the first time, boy we were impressed . . . pizza, french fries, pizza, french fries.)  We love you!

Ellen and I are starting a holiday tradition of skiing on Christmas day. I thought celebrate it by blogging from the slope. Yup, we are slope side, in Buffaloes at Vail. Kenna is in ski school and doing awesome. Elle is in day care and hates it. The snow is amazing. Ten inches of fresh new in the last 48 hours. The trees are covered. It’s a winter wonderland. A good tradition, we think.

We have a new addition we would like to introduce you to . . . Betty.  Betty is our new puppy.  She was my Christmas present from Ellen.

Hello, I'm Betty

The girls love her.  She chases them around the house nipping at their heels.   She lays with Kenna on her lap while she sits and watches TV.   Elle follow’s her around the house saying, “here dawggiee”.   Jeffrey and Lexi are enjoying her as well, well maybe not the early morning potty’s.

She is a beauty, with cinnamon fur and cool green eyes.  It’s nice to have a family dog.   It’s a little like having another baby.   The 3 a.m. walks are a little rough.  Especially in the mountains, where it is 10 degrees or colder. Brrr!

Ellen and I went to Mexico last week and had her brother Chris stay with the kids.   While we were gone, we would check in using video chat (iChat) so we could see the kids and they could see us.  It makes it more fun than just a phone call.

During our first call, Chris was sharing with us how difficult the girls were to put to bed on the first night.   He said they were pretty much a nightmare; crying, screaming, putting up a fuss and not listening.  He said it was total mayem until he finally “put his footdown” to get control of the situation.

Planning her strategy:

Just as he was finishing his description of Kenna’s blatant disobedience, Kenna marches down the stairs, looks into the computer at Ellen and I and says: “Uncle Chris hurt my feelings last night”  Yup, no hello, no hi mom, no hi dad, just right to the point: Uncle Chris hurt her feelings.

Brilliant!   Kenna is 3 and she already knows how to subtly play peoples emotions.  No remedial manipulation such as denial of her actions, or smoke and mirrors, like “what do you mean” or “not exactly” or “I don’t know what he (Uncle Chris) is talking about”, she just went straight to her feelings and how Uncle Chris is the one we need to be upset with, cause he hurt HER feelings.   Man, that is some serious upper-level manipulation.  You don’t normally start seeing that level of manipulation from kids until they are at least in double digits.

I’ll tell you what, if this is just the beginning, we’re in deep trouble.   Kenna is a ball of energy, with a mind that doesn’t stop.   So, now our challenge is staying one step ahead of that mind of hers.

We’re surprised she hasn’t told us Santa isn’t real, and that she is disappointed we have undermined her trust of our family by perpetuating a lie of a holiday fictional character and therefore owe her more presents for participating in such a deceptive hoax.   Ugh, were in trouble!

Not having been to the Cape for years, and missing it, I convinced the family to make it this years vacation. Aggie, came with us, that made it that much better.

We went spent a rainy day in P-Town, ate 6 dozen Dunkin Donuts, (at least), did the Sunday School Ice Cream thing, twice. Had some good Chowda, spent tons of time at the beach, Kenna loved it.  We went fishing, Geoff had a big one hooked, it just got away, (thanks Mark, Katy, and Mr. Ahearn) and we spent some time on Barbara’s Island.  What a beautiful place.  All in all We had a blast.  I think the kids liked it too.

We will definitely do again.

Mr. and Mrs. Keenan ready to grub!

We’ve had a lot to give thanks for this year, especially the full house we had for Turkey Day!  We had 11 people sitting around 3 tables, all of us stuffing our face.  Aggie was in from St. Louis, Mia (Grandmom) was in from Carbondale IL.  Aggies sister, Michelle came down from Vail with her daughter Johanna.  Ellen’s Mom, Meagan, her son Ryder and Jeffrey and Lexi rounded out the packed house.

Ellen and Aggie did it up right.  We had a all the favorites; turkey, sausage stuffing, fresh homemade cranberry sauce, fresh mashed, sweet potatoes with brown sugar, broccoli casserole, ham, Jello mold, coconut cake, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and Grandma Haynes famous Hermit cookies.  It was a total old school Turkey Day!  It was awesome.

Can we go eat now? Geeze um.

Besides stuffing our faces and enjoying the Turkey Day libations, the entire family, including Elle and Kenna, volunteered at the Volunteers of America helping hand out Thanksgiving Day food.  It was a great experience for everyone.   Kenna helped pack the bags, Jeffrey and Lexi helped pass them out.  It felt nice to give back.  The kids really enjoyed themselves.  We’re making it a Family Tradition and will be doing it for Christmas as well.

It was a fullhouse; filled with lot’s of laughter, tons of energy, screaming kids, drunk relatives, the expected bickering, but most of all it was filled with love and that made it one of the best Thanksgivings I’ve had in a while.

Bring on X-mas!  We’re ready!