Christmas Pictures

Christmas Time

We had a very busy Decemeber. Kennedy was full of excitment even though she really didn't know why. Maybe because Mommy and Daddy were so excited. We started the Holiday season with a trip to see Santa at the mall with our cousin Hope. The closest we got to Santa was the Christmas tree behind him. Hope was not really favoring Santa that day, so neither was Kennedy. We couldn't even get her on his lap. So we thought we would try again later, maybe once she had seen him a couple more times on TV or in books. We would talked about Santa and how he would bring her special treats if she was a really good girl. Every night in December we would load up in the car and go look at the Christmas lights in our neighborhood and the ones around us. Kennedy would get so excited and say lights, ho ho and frosty. We let her sit in our lap up front and she thoug ht it was so cool. The week before Christmas Kennedy had her Christmas party at school. She attends Carrington Academy at Windemere. She shared special gifts with Ms. Janna, Ms. Sondra and Ms. Kala. Kennedy also has had a special friend join her class. Anna Lane Norton. Anna Lane is the daughter of one of Mommy's sorority sisters from school. Kennedy is about 3 months older than Anna Lane. Anna Lane is so precious and looks so much like her mommy Lisa.The week before Christmas we visited so many fun Holiday places. We rode the pink pig at Lenox and saw lights at Lake Lanier. Mommy thought we would try Santa one more time. We were not really prepared to see Santa (Daddy was still in his sweats from practice) But at least we made it on his lap this time. Christmas eve eve we spent the night at granny and poppy's in Dahlonega and spent time with the Rider side of the family. Aunt Gail and Aunt Kathy were so sweet to KK. Santa even made an early stop at Granny's to leave Kennedy some things in her stocking. We then came home on Christmas eve so santa could visit Kennedy at our house. She must have been a very good girl because Santa was very generous. Kennedy was so cute on Christmas morning when we came down stairs. Her eyes got really big and she made that noise she makes with her mouth when she gets really excited(mmmumm). Kennedy got presents under the tree from Mommy and Daddy including a potty. She has been pottying in the big girl potty at school and on Mommy and Daddy's potty at home. This potty is so adoreable it sings when she tee tee's. She get's so excited and is getting really good. The way she is telling us she has to go, is by grabbing a diaper out. When we see this we take off running to the bathroom. Christmas Day we went to Grandmommy's and Grandddaddy's to spend time with the Day side of the family. Grandmommy and Grandaddy got Kennedy a great rocking chair and cute clothe's. She chased all the big kids around and they were so sweet and kind to her. We are still enjoying time together and trying to fiqure out where we are going to put all the new gifts. It seems as kids get older presents get bigger. We are very fortunate for all the incredible gifts that have been given to us.We thank god every night for Kennedy. (We do Now I lay me with KK at bed time. That is what we grew up on) Kennedy is the best gift that Lee and I have ever gotten. We are so blessed that she is in our lives!

Friday Night Play Dates

As I have explained before. Lee coaches football with guys that have little ones as well. Friday nights are our play dates near the end zone. The Moody's have 3 little girls and the Jarvis's have 2 little girls. Isn't that great! 3 coaches all with girls only. Kennedy loves to dance to the band! That band gets going and she gets moving. I had to give a shout out to my Hoya girls and say thanks for so much fun on Fridays!

It's Been too Long....

I know it has been a long time since the last update. So many new things going on. Fall is in full swing in the Rider house. Kennedy is 18 months and going 100 miles an hour. She is growing like a weed and is so much fun. Some updates about the doodle bug. She is starting to talk alot! She can say a couple words that you can understand. But she has great conversations with herself:) Kennedy has started going through a hitting stage which we have worked on very closely. Now when she goes to hit or bat at you, we simply say gentle and she wants to be gentle. It's actually working. The other major event is, Kennedy has started expressing herself with her teeth. This has been a hard one. She doesn't only do it when fulstrated but also excited and happy. So we say kisses not bite, it hasn't caught on as quickly. Luckily, we have not had an episode in a couple weeks. (fingers crossed) Kennedy loves to run around naked and it is the cutest thing ever. We chase her before bath time and say I am going to get that toodie. She thinks it is so much fun.
She hasn't gotten into the tantrums yet. She is really well behaved. We try to say 10 more times a day Thank you and you are such a big helper, than NO. She has visted time out a couple times though for the behavior mentioned above.
We have alot of exciting things going on this month. Kennedy got her first hair cut last week. She did so good and got to pick out a special treat afterwards. She and Hope went to her school festival. Kennedy didn't want to get her face or nails painted, but Hope particpated. Maybe next year. Halloween is next week. We carved our pumpkin last night and Kennedy decorated hers with her bath tub crayons. She also decorated the patio,chairs and her hands. I have posted some pics. I hope to update Halloween pics next week.
Update with Mommy and Daddy. Lee's football team is having a rebuilding year, but hopefully we can pull out the next couple games with a W. Mommy has decided to leave Snyder's-Lance and go back into the beverage industry. I have accepted a director role with a large alcohol supplier in which I will be in charge of Walmart's East Coast business. I am super excited and start next week.

Rider Family Vacation- St. Simons GA 2011

We took our first family vacation last week to St. Simons GA. We went to Gulf Shores last summer with the day side of the family, but this was our first family vaca by ourselves. (3 muskateers) We met up with our good friends the Moody's at the beach. They stayed at this hotel last year and told us what a great time they had. We packed up on Tuesday (the day after the 4th and headed out early). The trip was not bad with Mickey movies and naps. It seemed to go pretty quickly. (I wish we had all this technology when I was younger) We got down to St. Simons around 2pm. The Moody's stayed in the room down the hall. They have 3 adoreable girls, Mary Madeline (4), Hendley (3) and Clara Jack (1 1/2). Lee coaches with Matt at Harrison. We took Kennedy onto the beach later that afternoon and needless to say she loved it! As I have said before Kennedy loves the water. She has no fear. She takes off running to the waves and jumps right into the pool. Its almost scary because she doesn't realize any fear. Went spent most of the mornings at the beach and afternoons at the pool. Kennedy was getting some more teeth. (Actually it just broke through last night) So she was a bit cranky. She always seems to be very irritable and moody 1-2 weeks before the teeth break through. Anyways she still had a blast. Whenever she saw the waves or the water she had to be in them. She got tumbled a couple times, because she would sit right down in the water. The first day she ate some sand and licked the shovel a couple times. I think she finally realized she didn't like that gritty taste. We ate alot of seafood, relaxed by the pool and rode bikes. We also met up with our friends the Slattery's for dinner one night. They now live in Camden County which was really close. Kennedy got the cutest little tan (even though I coated with her with 50) By the end of the day she was so worn out after all the excitment. She did not really dig sleeping in the pack in play 5 days in row and towards the end was letting us know in the middle of the night. I also think the teeth had something to do with that. Luckly we were able to nap a bit when she did during the day. The hotel was the perfect location. Walking distance to resturants and ice cream. Which we enjoyed on a nightly basis. St. Simons is such a quiet and friendly place to vacation with kids. On the final night we rode bikes that we rented. Kennedy thought that this was great. Every time Lee stopped she started kicking him or grunting for him to keep going.We came back on Sunday. KK slept majority of the morning and then returned to watching Minnie's boutigue upon awakening. We had a great time and think we have found our family vaca spot for future trips. I took a ton of pics, since this was Kennedy's first time at the beach. I can't believe how independent and big our little doodle bug is getting! Hope you enjoy!

Kennedy enjoying Milk and Cheerio's-The hotel had Disney Channel. YEAH!!!BEACH TIME!!!!

Walks on the Beach

Tried to take Family Pic...Kennedy was not having itRiding BikesGoofing Around Before Bed Time

July 4th 2011

We laid low on July 4th. Went over to Ashely's for BBQ and fireworks. The next day we headed out early to St. Simons for our family vacation. So much fun!!! Next entry...

ROUND 2-Tubes & Tear Ducts

As many of you might know or I think I have posted before. Kennedy had tubes put in her ears and her tear ducts opened back in January. Well since that surgery we have been going to check ups at the ENT.It seemed that her right ear tube was clogged. So after months of revisits and ear sound checks we decided to do tubes again. As if that wasn't enough, her eyes started watering really bad again. So last week Kennedy went back to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and we redid both. The ENT said that her right ear had completely kicked her tube out and the ear drum had closed back up. Basically it was just hanging out in there. The left ear tube was starting to work its way out. The eye doctor put 2 stints in her tear ducts to keep them open. We have to go back in 8 weeks to get them taken out. The doctors said some children's bodys react this way. The body does not like foreign objects and rejects them. Anyways, it was so hard putting her to sleep again. I loose it every time. She had a harder time coming out of the anethsia this time too. I think since they had to put her alseep for a tad bit longer. She was not a happy camper. We came home and she pretty much slept all day. She had a runny bloody nose and some bruising under her eyes, but by the next day she was fine. So far everything seems to be working. (fingers crossed) She is such a little trooper and is never unhappy. We are so blessed that this is the most of our worry's. Childrens Healthcare is great. We are fortunate to be so close to an excellent pediatric hospital!

Pool Time

We have been frequent pool goer's recently. We let her ride in our laps on the way up to the pool and daddy even lets her drive sometimes. Now she thinks whenever we get in the car she can drive. We might have created a problem. Kennedy loves the water and has no fear. She will not think twice about stepping off the edge. We can't take our eyes off her. She is a great kicker and is starting to blow bubbles. Except when she sucks the water in and it goes up her nose. She hates that. At night we eat popsicles on the back porch and let her play in her backyard pool before tubie time. She loves to run through the sprinkler and giggles when it catches her. Here are some pics of pool time.