UNDER CONSTRUCTION....

WORTH WATCHING....I PROMISE.

{turn up your volume first}

that is...if you want to see what happened at our house this weekend!

{and be 'in the know'}

FLASHBACK FRIDAY!

wish I could figure out how to make this picture bigger.

Click on the picture...that works!

It is hilarious!

WINNER WINNER VALENTINE'S DINNER!

OK...well maybe not Valentine's Dinner, but the music to listen to while eating dinner!

KATIE J. you won!

Random.org picked lucky commenter 19.
Please email me at davenapril(at)aol(dot)com.

I need your address and also need to know if you want me to decorate the CD cover and case, or if you want to surprise your sweetie and decorate it just for him!

Congrats!

Tomorrow.....Flashback Friday.

Do I have a picture from the past that will make you laugh.

DEAREST DAVE......{second post today}

Dearest Dave,

Thank you for the love note stuck on my laptop "Have a Great Day. Love, D" that I found upon returning home from dropping the kids off at school. It was so sweet of you.

I'm pretty sure it is going to be a great day. I'm eating a cream horn from ButterCream Bakery right now for breakfast and picked you up a little treat too. A decorated sugar cookie heart that says 'true love' on it. I love that we were both thinking of each other at probably the exact same time.

loves & kisses,

{ps to the rest of you....last day to enter Valentine CD giveaway is today....scroll down}

HOW CAN YOU TAKE A MAN SERIOUSLY...

.....while he is wearing a turtleneck.

I am a self-proclaimed reality show junkie. Not as much as I used to be though. I have watched every season of The Bachelor. And there are a lot of great Bachelor re-caps each week on other blogs, but I could not pass up dishing on this week's Bachelor.

First of all I read somewhere that Vienna looks like Big Bird. Perfect! When asked what her expectations of marriage are she said she wanted to act like she was a 16 year old everyday and so in love. OK...let's get real. Not happening Vienna. Grow up sweetheart. You are pathetic in your current state.

When Tenley and Jake talk marriage expectations, I honestly can say that I was impressed. Tenley has been there/done that and really knows what to expect. I loved how she reminded us all to stop what we were doing at the end of the day when our spouse walks in the door from work and greet them with a hug and kiss. Let them know that we missed them. And Jake's response to what his expectations are for marriage. He says that he knows no marriage is perfect but that he does expect his wife to 'ALWAYS HAVE HIS BACK'. I loved this. I was ALMOST brought to tears when I thought of it....and then his turtleneck got in the way. Really....a turtleneck. I didn't even know they still made those for men.

My mom gave me really good advice one time. She told me that a husband and wife should never 'correct' each other in front of other people. If one has the story wrong, let them look like they have it right! Always have their back. So important in so many ways.

I'm off now for my daily G.T.L.S. Not a Jersey Shore Fan.....that stands for Gym, Tan, Laundry and I just added Sewing. Still at it trying to get the shop stocked. Except I don't tan. But the boys of Jersey Shore do....that was their daily motto. Makes me and Dave giggle every time we hear it. And have I mentioned here that Dave calls me 'Snickers' now? If you didn't watch Jersey Shores, some of the episodes are worth a little watch...if just for a good belly laugh on a re-run. Although you might not think it as funny as Dave and I do. It took us 5 times watching The Office to finally laugh out loud!

{Don't forget to enter the Valentine's Giveaway a few posts below if you haven't already!}

SOME BIZNESS plus a SNEAK PEEK.

{looking for the giveaway....it's below this post}

{aprons will be going on etsy this week...I'm working on finishing five of them}

Need to get some business out of the way and since business is really no fun, I thought if I said it like 'bizness' it might make it more fun. Oh c'mon you know you just said it out loud!

A few changes will be happening here this month. All good! And I am excited for them. First you might have noticed that my url has changed up top there. Never fear though...this is the same 4kennedys with the same quirky updates of our family life, but I will be mixing business with pleasure here on this blog. Keeping you all up-to-date on my craftiness too with Funky Vintage Kitchen. In fact a new blog banner will be coming soon too with that title on it. But you can still reach me by typing in http://www.4kennedys.blogspot.com/ or you can use the new one. Either way you will be taken here to my personal/family blog with the old link.

See, I've been doing a bunch of reading and if I want to get my etsy business serious I need to be easy to find. Everything should point to my business name....so that is what I am doing. Hope you stay for the ride. I'm kind of excited for it. Plus I have some fun new Funky Vintage Kitchen items I will be letting you all know about FIRST!

Also, I need your help. When changing my url, my blog layout pretty much transferred over EXCEPT for my blog roll. I have tried to recreate it, but need your help. If you were there and you aren't now...please comment so I remember to come find your blog address. I will miss you terribly if you don't.

Next item of business....Blake's home today. Doing a bowel clean-out. Not fun. Pray for us both. Enough said. Thanks!

600th POST....A VALENTINE GIVEAWAY!

Remember this post from last Valentine's Day?

My special handmade gift to my sweetie.

A CD with favorite love songs.

I'm giving one away to help you celebrate love this Valentine's Day.

Remember the playlist.....

Bizarre Love Triangle....New Order
There is a Light That Never Goes Out....The Smiths
Lovesong....The Cure
Love Vigilantes....New Order
La La Love You....Pixies
I Wanna be Your Boyfriend....The Ramones
Friday I'm in Love....The Cure
Somebody....Depeche Mode
Let's Go to Bed....The Cure
Modern Love....David Bowie
Love Shack....The B52s
Groove is in the Heart....Deee-Lite

I'll even decorate the case and CD cover for you

with yours and your sweetie's initials if you want me to.

Or I will leave it blank for you to decorate!

Enter in the comment section!

I'll announce the winner Thursday morning.

Happy February.

kisses,

JANUARY IN PICTURES.

Happy last weekend in January....already.

I HAVE NOTHING TODAY....

I'm still working on the rest of my to-do list from yesterday today. I ended up not taking a nap yesterday afternoon and was grouchy as hell. Dave came home and I told him I needed a little nap (it was 5:00 pm) and could he make dinner. He obliged. The sloppy joes were great and the tater tots crunchy! But we did all agree during dinner that Sonic truly has the best "tots". Now I am craving a Cherry Limeaid and I REALLY REALLY want to make a homemade Sonic-type commercial while we are there one of these days. They always make me laugh.

This is my 598th post. 600 should involve a giveaway....don't you think? Something Valentine-y because I heart Valentine's Day. I've already bought the conversation heart candies...but they have changed and I hated them and threw them away. Have you tried them yet? I can't find anywhere the Necco brand. The Originals. Please let me know if you find them. Until then....I will continue to eat PEZ candies with no dispenser. Really a dispenser just takes too long to fill and then I feel a little silly trying to wrap my mouth around the dispenser like I am peforming CPR to get the candy out. Oh...you are supposed to use your fingers to take-out the candy from the dispenser? No one ever told me!

Dave is going to be here and there this weekend. Ok...maybe more 'there' than 'here' but I hate advertising that I might be alone at times for fear of stalkers or crazy men. I have my house alarm and guard dog though...and my maglite flashlight! One time Dave announced on facebook that he was sitting at an airport on his way to Denver for a business trip. I called him and thanked him for announcing to all our "friends" on facebook that I was alone and vulnerable. Because really we all know that there is at least one person on our facebook list of 'friends' that we really aren't sure who they are right?

Ok this little post about 'nothing' has gone on long enough. Please answer my questions that I have posted in this 'nothing' posted because I have 'nothing' officially on my calendar today and when I finish my to-do list, will be checking email over and over again looking for answers to all my questions!

BIG NEWS FOR BLAKE TODAY....

I pulled up to the school...parked. He JUMPED out on his own and waved good-bye. I told him that if he did it today, he wouldn't have to do it everyday. Plus I told him I would make sloppy joes for dinner tonight. I was hoping I didn't have to get out of the car....I crawled back into bed this morning at 6:15 planning on just waking Dave up and slept until 7:45 am.

Dave woke Kaia up at 6:45 and asked her to get Blake ready for school so that mommy could sleep a bit. She not only got Blake cathed and kept him moving getting dressed, but she also made both of their beds and fed him breakfast! It was truly a heavenly morning.

I'm adding ground beef and hamburger buns to my shopping list today! Sloppy Joes for dinner is what it will be. I love my little family!

4:39 AM

Yes, I am blogging. I've been up since 3:00 am. Woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. Decided to be productive again today. I have completed (including folding and putting away very quietly in each respective bedrooms) 2 loads of laundry! I have also unloaded the dishwasher, watched two episodes of COPS...and caught up on my blog reading. I'm off to watch the news to see if sunshine is in the forecast any time in the next 7 days. I'd like to wash the car....which by the way we are still enjoying.

Also on my to-do list today......get 1099's and W-2s out as well as quarterly payroll reports and sales tax reports mailed! A trip to the grocery store is also a must. All before 12:30. It's a short day at school today. Nap is on the list too. Bed is already sounding good again.

My designer friend confirmed my design ideas of taking out the wall in the office and opening up the space into the family room, but suggested turning our work station to provide two spots that will open to the family room. Yay! We replaced a 10' beam with a 14' beam two years ago when we did the first little remodel. Now that beam needs to be 16'. Dave scratched his head and said, "I nailed the crap out of that beam thinking I was never going to be replacing it....it will be hard to get out." That was after I said, "Is there any way to get that beam out again without requiring three different walls to need sheetrock repairs and painting?" It was kind of a joke...he did have a customer request wall studs to be changed without disrupting the interior sheetrock on that same wall. Nearly impossible, but he did it. I was just trying to be his "toughest customer"! Plus...we are on a very tight budget for this little change. BUT if it is going to happen, it needs to happen BEFORE the rest of the hardwood floors go in.

Oh...there goes the unlock button on the washer...time to go switch the laundry again.

I AM DETERMINED TO.....

...be productive and positive today.

As I mentioned yesterday, the Napa Register is coming today

to take some pictures of me with my FVK product.

I think I'm going to wear the sweet upcycled yellow apron I made

up there on the right.

It will hide every new roll around my middle section.

But then again the beauty of the half aprons is that

the wide waistband holds all the rolls in too.

I will be trying on several outfits today.

I'm sure of it!

Wanna come over and help me stage my product?

And one more thing.....

Wanna see something pretty I'm working on?

Well my friend Lyndsay is working on it too!

It's been a thought for a year now...

a work in progress....

because it is what I do when I'm feeling overwhelmed and stress.

I add more to my plate!

click here for a sneak peak.

it's still under construction but we can all use something pretty

to look at every once in awhile.

Happy Day!

and, thanks for all your encouraging and supportive thoughts yesterday.

I really, really do appreciate them.

I AM FEELING....

overwhelmed.

out of space.

unorganized.

jumbled in my brain.

unfinished.

sad.

we had a water leak last year that ruined part of our hardwood floors.

beautiful new hardwood floor was ordered.

installation just started in the bedrooms where dog pee stained carpet was removed.

in blake's room I put in a small 4x6 throw rug.

Zoe pee'd on it yesterday.

Thank goodness I had been checking everyday or it would have ruined

the new hardwood floors left unattended.

i guess this means either no dog or no area rugs.

i don't know what to do.

i don't want to check area rugs daily.

dave says to call the dog trainer back.

not sure i have the energy to try to retrain her.

but don't have the heart to give Zoe up.

Funky Vintage Kitchen is needing my attention.

Lots to be loaded in the etsy store.

Local newspaper photographer coming tomorrow

to take pictures of me with my product for a local upcoming article.

I've gained 7 pounds....all jeans are too tight.

Nothing to wear.

Creating space is cramped and quickly becomes unorganized and messy.

I have several sketches for Dave to build some

cabinets for different areas of our house.

Kitchen, family room and bathroom.

So lucky he is a craftsman.

Feel bad to add to his list of to-dos

when he still has the whole rest of the house left to install hardwood in.

I'm still wanting a wall removed in our little office to open up our family room.

We are trying to figure out the logistics of that

since that wall holds up our roof.

Lucky again he is a contractor.

Designer friend coming tomorrow to help with suggestions.

Planned on coming straight home from drop off at school today

to work in the construction office and load up Etsy.

Decided to turn right instead of left and went to

visit my brother instead of coming straight home.

Started working on a puzzle while I was there that my dad started.

I didn't think I really liked puzzles.

Seriously.

Worked on it for 3 hours.

Dad should be happy.

He was having problems with it.

Enjoyed watching my brother play wrestling men

with my nephew that was there because my sister

was at jury duty.

we texted back and forth.

She was stuck there with a guilt trip

of not using the excuse of kids or money to get out of it by the judge.

I told her to just start crying.

My great aunt lorraine is staying with my parents also during the winter.

Maine winters are too cold for her.

We love having her here.

She is like a grandmother to me.

I asked my nephew why he picked aunt lorraine to watch him

instead of me while mommy was at jury duty.

he said aunt lorraine was more fun.

I texted her again.

my sister consoled me with.... she didn't give him an option.

she knew I didn't have any kids at home on a Monday.

Aunt Lorraine told me that the doctors think her cancer is back.

In her liver.

I am sad.

And what to do with my blogs, my branding and combining them all.

Do I keep 4Kennedys and add FVK shop undates.

Do I rename my blog to incorporate all.

If I'm wanting to grow FVK (Funky Vintage Kitchen just so you know)

do I become recognizable as that.

I don't know enough about social media and what 'games' I should be playing.

I just want to be successful and follow my dreams.

I am confused.

And to top it all off....I feel silly being confused about such a

silly thing as blogging!

It's not like I'm gonna be famous one day.

I just want to own a successful handmade business

and share it all through blogging.

Oh and by the way....it is still gray here today.

Maybe that is why I am feeling the way

I am today.

Do I dare say.....

Happy Monday!?

THIS I KNOW....

Eve was a smart, smart woman!

I had the privilege of leading a lesson and discussion in Sunday School today on the Fall of Adam and Eve. I have to say, after crying, no more like bawling, over my new calling as Gospel Doctrine teacher a few months ago, I am relishing the opportunity. I am not doing it on my own though. I am relying heavily on my Heavenly Father to help me understand the Old Testament as I study it and prepare to teach and discuss it with our class. I have not updated my blog/journal regarding this church calling/job because honestly at this point I cry just thinking of the privilege that it is to study and prepare for these lessons. I look forward to sitting to prepare the lessons because I feel the hand of the Lord in my life as I write and prepare the lesson outline. It is a special and sacred time for me. And, it is important for me to document it.

I challenged our Sunday School class to personal daily scripture study and personal prayer as we started the new year. I even made a general star chart for our class to return and report our progress! Some find it childish I know, but returning and reporting is so important to me. It holds us accountable. And sometimes we need that push to be accountable to succeed. Also, I felt that when we are joined in a common goal, I believe that we feel more united and there is nothing more than I want for our Sunday School time to be a great time for us to unite to discuss and learn of the scriptures. So far so good. I have, for two straight weeks in a row, not missed a day of personal scripture study and prayer. There is such a difference in my soul when I make these two important things a priority in my daily life. I am more in-tune with the Spirit and have more of a desire to learn of spiritual things. I find myself going to church on Sunday ready to be taught and filled. I am falling in love with the scriptures and studying them. I am writing notes of inspiration in the margins of my scriptures and finding new favorite scriptures versus that I hope I can remember and turn to often for comfort and direction.

What a blessing already this calling has been in my own personal life, in my marriage and in our family. That new Bishop of ours really did know what he was doing when he encouraged me to accept that daunting calling of teaching Gospel Doctrine. I am positive that my calling is not for the class to learn from me, but for my own personal growth and I am looking forward to this journey.

I found a beautiful paragraph about Eve while studying this week in a book titled "Unlocking the Old Testament" by Pinegar and Allen (a very thoughtful gift given to me at Christmas from my in-laws)....

"Indeed, "our glorious Mother Eve" (D&C 138:39) was a child of God and the epitome of eternal motherhood--wisely discerning, willing to sacrifice, industrious, prayerful, receptive and obedient, compassionate and concerned for her children, and a great educator. Such a "glorious" and noble personality is an abiding example for her posterity through all generations of time. "

How grateful I am for this journey on earth. A time to be tested and "prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" (Abraham 3:25). I hope I pass. I am trying every day.

JUST KEEPING IT REAL THIS SATURDAY MORN.

What it means to NOT have your telephone ring at 8:01 am on Saturday morning.....

1. You get to sleep-in a bit. And....

2. All your bills/creditors are current!

Awww....it's a great feeling. The joys of being self-employed in the construction industry in this horrible economy.

On a separate note, I see blue sky and a peek of sunshine this morning! I'm ignoring the ominous grey cloud off to the west. Happy Saturday. We are heading to Ikea for meatballs and gravy this afternoon for lunch/dinner!

ESCAPE ARTIST.

{this is an old photo, but when I saw it this morning it just made me want to kissie kiss all up and down that soft side of his cheekie}

Today Blake has a substitute teacher. He was warned yesterday by his sweet teacher who knew to prepare him. We were just a tad late getting to school today, which is what Blake prefers actually. He doesn't really like the hustle and bustle of shuffling through the classroom door and trying to hang up his backpack with the whole class pushing to get a certain hook. So we are always just a few minutes late. It works.

Back to the substitute teacher today. Blake was really hoping it was going to be a boy. I thought about telling him to pray for a boy substitute teacher last night, but me of little faith, or maybe just being smart to know that the ratio of male to female substitute teachers was not in the males favor, I opted not to suggest it.

We walked into class this morning and the substitute teacher, a kind female, was calling attendance. As we walk in she calls Blake's name. The kids get excited that he walked in at perfect timing and one little boy says loudly, "There is Blake. Be careful, sometimes he tries to escape!"

I considered that fair warning for the substitute teacher!

Happy Weekend my lovies. Maybe it will stop raining and we will see a little sunshine.

BROWN WITH BLACK...MY NEW FAV OBSESSION.

My go-to boots for the season.

Mixed with black.

Loving it.

{now I just wish I had photoshop to do a little nip/tuck!}

{I don't edit most of my pictures....just so you know.}

{and yes...those are teal colored tights...I got brave that day with color combos}

AND ADAM KNEW EVE.

Dave and I have been reading our scriptures. Every. Single. Night. We are reading in Genesis.

Dave called this afternoon. He keeps hinting that Dave would like to know April. That man of mine. He is funny!

Now the question is....to begat or not begat?!

FAV SONGS.

My music is back on my blog. Hope you don't mind. I've missed it. These are my two fav songs right now!

Speaking of music, there is a huge bowling tournament going on in heaven right now. You should hear the thunder rocking our house. Blake told us he was excited for the thunderstorm to come because he can't remember ever hearing thunder. I just opened the door for him to really hear it and he asked me to quickly close it and to lock the door! Not sure what's going through his head right now.

I think I will turn my music up louder now and dance to the lightening strikes and pretend they are disco balls and strobe lights! Those angels must be scoring some serious points...maybe even bowling a perfect game. They are in heaven...you know!

COMING TO A BLOG NEAR YOU SOON....

april kennedy's almost famous

We are cleaning out our closets again!

Kaia has outgrown 4 more dresses...darn her.

They were cute ones too!

And, I have clothes I thought I would wear this winter but haven't yet.

Time to move those treasures out.

I'll keep you posted on when and where!

ASKED AT CHURCH TODAY....

Q. How do YOU know there is a God?

A. His undeniable hand in my life on so many different occassions. I know there is a God, without any doubt.

ONE REASON WHY DAVE AND I HAVE SUCH A GREAT MARRIAGE....

.....we don't have gender specific household duties.

I take out the trash when needed

and

he unloads the dishwasher when needed,

or folds a load of laundry, makes dinner, dusts, wipes down the bathrooms.....

I do occasionally clean out the garage, but maybe I should be mowing the lawn more too.

Love that man. Love our relationship.

Glad I get to spend eternity with him!

MY VIDEO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCMENT TO ALL CALIFORNIANS.

Trust me...you will thank me. Dave's ticket that started out as $200 quickly turned into $466 when we didn't get the ticket in the mail and it took me a few weeks to figure it out and call on it.

HOW WE RANG IN THE NEW YEAR! {illegally}

...with sparklers!

FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT....

....we had an old favorite we had forgotten about. Black bean and BBQ shrimp burritos. Super simple too. Thaw already cooked and cleaned medium sized shrimp. Heat black beans. Saute shrimp in pan on stove until hot. Warm tortillas and fill with black beans, shrimp and cheese and drizzle your favorite barbeque sauce (we love Sweet Baby Rays) over all of it and wrap up like a burrito and serve with spanish rice on the side. Blake made just a bean and cheese burrito, but Kaia tried it for the first time and thought it was super yummy!

If you want to add a veggie to it, the restaurant we copied the recipe from used spinach. I don't like cooked spinach....so I leave it out. The BBQ sauce and black beans together is seriously a little taste of heaven!

WHAT WE DID THIS WEEKEND....

...took our master bathroom from drab...

....to fab!

A little silvery blue paint (Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage) on the walls was just enough of an update to keep this wife happy and it didn't cost us a dime.

The paint was left over from Kaia's room!

The boys spent Friday night playing with a new lego set Blake got for Christmas!

Saturday morning found those same boys helping out the Boy Scouts

with their annual fundraiser....Christmas Tree Pick-Up!

We went to the dumps as a family.

We had 1000 pounds of Christmas Trees!

Future Boy Scout of America!





And finally this weekend, I purchased, for the first time in a long time, fresh flowers for our kitchen table. They warm my heart during this very very cold winter spell we are experiencing in Northern California.

More on the very sweet, very old, flour and sugar shakers in the picture here!

EXCUSE ME WHILE I.....

{for a little brother and sister}

{for three little sisters}

{for five women in one family}

....clean my house this morning. The local newspaper is coming over to interview me for an article they are running about local Etsy shop owners! Yippee.....hope I make the actual article.

And speaking of Etsy, go here to see a picture of the fabulous pillow I snagged yesterday on Etsy!

In the meantime, the photos above are aprons that left the shop right before Christmas. Hope the receipients loved them. I did. It was hard to let a few of those go.

And....this weekend, I am working on a public service announcement that I will air on this here blog next week. Listen up all you California people....it is for you!

Until then, Happy Friday!

TWENTY TEN GOALS.

I'm keeping them short and sweet so that I can succeed!

1. Work on more consistent daily prayer and daily scripture study.

2. Drive slower and less aggressively so as to get better gas mileage and baby the older engine so it lasts longer.

3. Have Kaia help make one dinner a week.

4. Grocery shop more regularly so as to not find ourselves at a restaurant because there is nothing to eat in the house.

5. Start exercising again.

I never start my goals on 1/1....always a little before or a little later. I don't know what my aversion is to 1/1. I guess I feel like if I do it the cliche way, I might fail. I have yet to start goals 3, 4 and 5. Next week will be the week once the kids are back in school. Yes, that's right folks....our kids in the Napa Valley Unified School District are STILL on winter break and it's just about killing me!

What are your goals you have made for this new year? I'm curious.

LOVE GETAWAY. COLLAGE STYLE.

When the appointment was made for the Mazda to be turned in on Thursday at noon, we immediately made a telephone call to the man that had the Land Rover is Santa Monica for sale. "Will you promise not to sell the vehicle out from under us if we purchase airplane tickets for tomorrow to come look at the car," I said over the phone. He promised and we trusted him. It was a little ironic that I had just mentioned to Dave earlier that week that we were in need of a little alone time. This was the perfect opportunity. We booked our flight Thursday night with Jet Blue and their awesome $39 deal tickets and were on a plane Friday morning to the LA area.

On Friday afternoon, after eating lunch at Panera Bread (which I have to say I was a little disappointed after hearing so much hype about how good it was....I mean it was good, but I'm not dying to return....not like Pinkberry), Dave surprised me with a little drive into Beverly Hills. We drove down Rodeo drive, the hills of Beverly Hills, into Hollywood and into the Hollywood hills trying to find the HOLLYWOOD sign....hoping to spot Spencer and Heidi driving down the hill from their house. We never found the sign up close....and we didn't spot Heidi and Spencer either. But we had a great time. We drove 130 miles that day in our rental car. Crazy huh. Have I ever mentioned before that whenever we are in a new location on vacation we spend most of one day driving around checking out the houses in the area. I don't know what it is....but it intrigues us.

Next, we headed into Santa Monica where we were staying the night and getting up early the next morning to check out the car. The Pier was pretty and so crowded. We opted for the drive-by both during the day and at night. We ate breakfast in a little outdoor shopping center, where we were entertained by a lovely girl with long dark brown hair singing and strumming on her guitar. We bought her CD for $5. She had a rich beautiful voice. I took phone video and sent it to Kaia with this message, "Just bought her CD for you. She is a beautiful girl with a dream....just like you." We are all enjoying the CD.

We purchased the car and almost strangled the bank teller because she was wanting to put a two day hold on our CASHIERS Check. Hello, cashiers checks are guaranteed funds lady. After I tracked down our local branch manager back in Napa, the funds were released immediately and we purchased the car. We drove to Redondo Beach to have the car inspected by the local Land Rover Dealer and got "this is a solid car." We walked the boardwalk at Hermosa Beach again with our eyes on the homes that lined the beach. Not the surf and sand. We were most thrilled though by the picture above of the family of four....all on wheels! Check it out. Dad on bike, baby in stroller, toddler attached to stroller on wheels and mom on roller skates! Classic. Our kind of family.

We drove through Malibu that evening and spent the next morning in Santa Barbara and then continued our drive home on Scenic Route 1 for awhile and then hopping on 101 north for the remainder 5 hour drive. It was the perfect little love getaway with ample time to talk and share dreams.

OUR NEW OLD RIDE.

WHAT I LOST.....

navigation

back-up camera

heated seats

push button trunk closure

keyless everything

auto lights

auto windshield wipers

blind spot monitoring

WHAT I GAINED......

a cassette player

well, and $600 a month back in my pocket

and imo incomparable style!

It really is amazing we found such a great used car in our price range. Although I did spend countless hours searching autotrader.com and craigslist.org for it. I should consider being a car broker. It is a 2003 Land Rover Discovery that seats 7 passengers. So far so good. We enjoyed our ride home from Southern California without any problems. Pictures of our little 'love getaway' tomorrow.

A CONVERSATION WITH BLAKE.

In the new old car last night right after we picked up the kids from my parents home, waiting while Dave and Kaia ran into the market to get some milk.

Me: Blake, did you have fun this weekend with grandma, grandpa and your cousins?

Blake: Yes, but I don't like it when you leave.

Me: Mommy and daddy needed to get the car, plus mommies and daddies need little love getaways so they stay in love and happy.

Blake: Ya, I know about divorce.

Me: Well mommy and daddy aren't going to get divorced. That's why we go away....to stay in love.

Blake: I know your not going to get a divorce, but if you did......I would live with daddy and come visit you on the weekends.

Me: nothing. absolutely nothing came out of my mouth.

Luckily, I am not easily offended. I smiled and finally offered, "well glad we aren't planning on getting a divorce because I would miss you terribly during the week."

Dave and I had a good laugh later last night down the hallway where Blake couldn't hear us. Dave did a champion arm pump in the air and actually said, "I knew he liked me better!"

A peak inside the new old car.
{april}

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A little pinkberry fro yo for the drive home. I heart Santa Barbara and my hubby!
{april}

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Jeans rolled up. Flip flops on. Enjoying 75 degree sunny weather. Driving new old car thru Santa Barbara today and home to our kiddies. They are going to love the third row jump seats with personal radio and headphones back there plus their very own sunroof. Pictures of our Pope mobile (dave's nickname for it) coming soon when we get home! Any guesses on wat we got?
{april}

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Eating here while in Redondo Beach. We have a new old car. Driving it home tomorrow. Yes, we are that crazy. We flew to LA for the perfect used car!
{april}

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WELCOMING 2010 WITH....

.....OUT with the NEW....IN with the OLD.

That's backwards, I know. But I am loving it.

Remember this post? Our new car was in the shop for over a month with brake issues in July. The brake issues are back. Squeaking, grinding, completely bothersome, not to mention a safety hazard. And, this is the car that costs us the most each month in payments.

When I was reassessing our financial obligations a couple of months ago, (remember the housekeeper and landscaper were part of the "reducing" we did in our home....we are surviving) the next big thing I wish could go away was our car payment, but it was a lease. Almost impossible to get out of a lease early without paying all sorts of early termination fees. Enter the California Lemon Law. To make a long story short, we qualified due to the lengthy stay of our car in the shop during the repairs and Mazda is re-purchasing our vehicle today and reimbursing us a hefty portion of our monthly car payments for the last year and a half. THAT WAS A HUGE PERK. I was just wanting out of the car payment and this has completely worked out in our favor. I guess part of the blessing of trying to "live within our means."

We are shopping this weekend for a used car. One that will come with no car payment. So when I say, "Out with the new, in with the old," I really mean it. I might be lost for awhile without navigation and I definitely know that my bum will miss the warming that came with the heated seats, but I am welcoming the old with fewer financial obligations.

With the changes we made in the last few months we have reduced our monthly expenses by.......$1124. Can you believe it? We changed our phone to a complete digital package with a downgrade in our cable TV services together with no housekeeper, no landscaper and no car payment we are well on our way to even more savings. Insurance and registration should go down too.

Welcome 2010! Wish us luck finding a new old car this weekend. And, here's wishing you a very happy New Year! 2010....I think it's going to be a good one. I'll share a few of my goals with you next week.

WHAT'S KEEPING US BUSY THESE DAYS.....

A whole lot of this.

Band Hero.

The whole family has been involved.

Countless hours since Christmas actually.

We have even got Dave singing as of last night!

And, a whole lot of this.

Besides baking cookies,

we have been busy making Belgian Waffles from scratch.

Egg whites beat to firm peaks is the key to the best tasting belgian waffles EVER!

Thank you, Aunt Lorraine, for the flip over waffle maker.

We are flipping out over it!

And gaining a few pounds in the next couple of weeks from it too!

And tomorrow,

Dave and I will be off to the Oakland Temple

where we will celebrate our 14th anniversary

of being sealed for time and all eternity.

We were married in July of 1994

and went to the Temple to be sealed for time and all eternity

on December 29, 1995.

We are lucky,

we have two different anniversaries

to celebrate our love for each other.

I'm looking forward to our date tomorrow!

{December 29, 1995}

xo,

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL....

.....and to all a good night!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY TWELVE.

**Merry Christmas, Kelly! Random.org picked lucky #14.**

My dad didn't believe that Jill really won yesterday, so I had him watch how Random.org works.

I wish I could gift all of you at this time of year. Blogging is something I really enjoy. Recording our family memories for our posterity is important to me. Sharing with all of you makes it really fun!

On the twelfth day of Christmas April Kennedy gave away......a handmade vintage button ring especially made for you! A pretty black flower cab mounted on a grey vintage button. Don't be scared by it's size in this picture....it only measures approx. 1" and is oh so lovely on. Plus it is mounted on my new comfort wide adjustable band. Who is going to be the lucky winner of the last of the 12 Days of Christmas? It's been a fun time.

You know the drill to enter! Remember three chances. For the last time.....Good Luck! Winner will be announced sometime Christmas Day.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY ELEVEN.

**Congrats to Jill....my sister, who has been cursing me for not winning anything yet!**

I tried to copy random.org's winning number block so you would know she really did win. But I would never be less than honest on this giveaway. I hope you all know that.

You better be taking me with you when you go!

Make sure to scroll down and check yesterday's Day Ten to see if you won!

Hint...hint....there are as many winners as was the day!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, April Kennedy gave away......a $10 Starbucks gift card so that you can try her new favorite drink....a Caramel Brulee Hot Chocolate (because I don't drink coffee). Make sure you ask for lots of the yummy topping! And $10 will let you go back two more times that week, because you will want to!

Three ways to win. 1. Enter first "general" comment. 2. Follow this blog and enter "fan" in second comment. 3. Tweet, link or FB the giveaway to share the love and enter "shared" in a third comment.

Good Luck! And, make sure you come back tomorrow for the last giveaway....a FVK vintage button ring I made just for this giveaway. I will even be announcing the winner on Christmas morning. You just might find a gift for yourself on this here blog on Christmas Day!

HOW THE SEIBERTS SAVED CHRISTMAS FOR THE KENNEDYS!

As of yesterday, we still didn't have a Christmas tree. We usually buy our tree the first weekend in December. December got away from us this year. When I drove through town yesterday I noticed that ALL of the Christmas tree lots had closed up after this last weekend. I called my sister and said, "I don't whether I should laugh or cry....we still don't have a tree and the lots are gone." Later, while visiting at the Seiberts' home with a fun family visiting from out of town, I mentioned that we still don't have a tree and I wasn't sure we were actually going to get one. Mr. Seibert volunteered a tree from their backyard. He said, "take any one of those....seriously." We had already decided that we were going to end up with a charlie brown tree having waited so long to buy one, that I took one look at the group of trees and said, "SOLD! We will be here tonight to cut one down."

We showed up as a family to "The Seibert Christmas Tree Backyard Farm" and Tree Farmer Paul met us with shorts and rainboots on and chainsaw in hand.....complete proper attire for walking a family out to see the trees to choose from. We had a choice of 8 trees....and we picked number 4 after much discussion! Here is the story in pictures.

Uncle Richie came for moral support!

Tree Farmer Paul in proper attire cutting our tree down to size!

The tree is being trimmed as I type! Lights and the lightest of ornaments. It is a flimsy tree!

And this is Zoe, our "and a dog" part of 4 Kennedys and a Dog. She doesn't get much posting time, but isn't she sooo cute. We got her 4 Christmases ago.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY TEN.

**TEN LUCKY WINNERS FOR DAY TEN FRIENDS! **

Because I am feeling generous.
I really wish I could have each of you win, but my hubby would not agree with me spending that much money on a blog giveaway....and we are really good right now and I don't want to mess that up over a blog thing...if you know what I mean.

So...Random.org picked lucky comments #1, #4, #6, #12, #14, #17, #25, #27 and #39. Not in that order though.

And I picked the 10th winner based soley on her comment.

I chanted it all day long and I loved it!

Michelle-y said...
"F to the A to the N."

So there are the ten winners....

Ok, I won't make you go count comments to see if you are a winner.

The winners are...Lisa, Kirsty, Amy, Molly V., Sarah Lane, Brandy, Ingrid, OFamily, Kelly and Michelle-y! You lucky girls you.

And I couldn't believe there weren't any duplicate winners in this go around.
I need addresses for Michelle-y, Kirsty, Molly V., Ingrid, and OFamily. Please email me them at davenapril(at)aol(dot)com and then please be patient with me spacing out shipping charges! You will get them sometime in the next few weeks.

On the tenth day of Christams, April Kennedy gave away.....an adorable monogram Christmas ornament from Anthro! Let's keep our fingers crossed they still have available either the winner's first or last name initial.....if not, I will pick out something equally cute for your tree. This gift will come after Christmas so you will have all year to look forward to hanging it on your tree next Christmas!

Three ways to win. 1. Enter first "general" comment. 2. Follow this blog and enter "fan" in second comment. 3. Tweet, link or FB the giveaway to share the love and enter "shared" in a third comment.

As always.....Good Luck!

And a little later on this here blog....'How The Seiberts Saved Christmas for the Kennedys!'

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY NINE.

**Congrats, Jeanine! Random.org picked #2**

jeanine said...
"I'm a fan!"

She's been entering since day 1....like most of you! So glad you all keep coming back to enter. Jeanine email me at davenapril(at)aol(d0t)com with your address!

On the ninth day of Christmas, April Kennedy gaveaway.......yet another treasure from Funky Vintage Kitchen.....a sweet pair of itty bitty bobbies for the hair.

Three ways to win. 1. Enter first "general" comment. 2. Follow this blog and enter "fan" in second comment. 3. Tweet, link or FB the giveaway to share the love and enter "shared" in a third comment.

Good Luck!

REMEMBERING THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

Turn your volume up!

I saw a video like this last year on Design Mom. Her ward made a video using pictures they took of the primary children acting out the Nativity. I thought, a little nervously...."I think I can do that." In October, I got a new calling at church....Ward Activity Committee Member and it was then that I knew that I wanted to try to put one together for our Ward Christmas Party. It took a lot of work and countless hours gathering costumes, taking pictures and putting music and narration to all of it but it was so worth it. {I learned how to do it all through Google!} It debuted at our Christmas party and I wanted to share it with you.....so that we all remember the true reason for this season. I hope you enjoy this handmade (very amateur) video I made.

**Today's Giveaway Below**

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY EIGHT.

**Congrats, Brittani! Random.org finally picked lucky #1.**

Rich, Brit, Nugs, and CK said...
"heheh! I am first!"

Email me your address and I will pop it in the mail to you!

And just so you know, Brit totally deserves this. She is a midwife and did a little ob-gyn procedure for me totally free of charge while she was home for Thanksgiving! Thanks again, Brit....consider this your payment! haha

On the eighth day of Christmas, April Kennedy gaveaway......another handmade banner in a cute green and white stripe with red letters that spell "JOY"!

Three ways to win. 1. Enter first "general" comment. 2. Follow this blog and enter "fan" in second comment. 3. Tweet, link or FB the giveaway to share the love and enter "shared" in a third comment.

Good Luck!

CHRISTMASTIME AT MY PARENTS!

**Giveaway Below**

The house is decorated to the hilt. Inside and out. Lights dance to music and almost every inch of the lawn is covered with something. It's all for the grand kids. And the grand kids love that the house known as "The Griswald's House" in Napa belongs to their Grandpa and Grandma! Every once in awhile someone comes by in the middle of night and "moves" the reindeer. They are normally side by side. Today we are having a big Christmas party with all the family at my parents. We are all eating in the great room, when my dad looks out the front window and exclaims, "What happened to my reindeer?" We all look, grand kids included, and burst out laughing. One of my nephew's friends, who is 13, says, "Yeah, I saw that this morning and didn't think it was right, but thought maybe you wanted it that way." That got us laughing even harder.

I ran outside to snap a very blog worthy picture, all while my dad is scratching his head saying, "Now who would think this is funny?" I replied, "Half of America, Dad, and it's going on my blog right now."

Chuck and Molly, does this bring back memories? Makes you miss the neighborhood, huh!

{april}

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY SEVEN.

**Congrats, Molly P! Random.org picked lucky #5.**

Molly P. said...
"I am a fan "fo sho", ha ha! Have a great weekend chicky!!! I'm going to go play in the snow."

Molly P. email me at davenapril(at)aol(dot)com with your mailing address and I will get this cutie in the mail to you tomorrow!

On the seventh day of Christmas, April Kennedy gaveaway.....another treasure from Funky Vintage Kitchen! A beautiful red carved rose ring attached to a wide adjustable silver toned band. A very fun ring to wear!

Three ways to win. 1. Enter first "general" comment. 2. Follow this blog and enter "fan" in second comment. 3. Tweet, link or FB the giveaway to share the love and enter "shared" in a third comment. Good Luck!

MISSING BLOGGING.....

**12 Days of Christmas Giveaway - Day 6 below....with winner announced!**

I am missing blogging with all this giveawaying going on. Boy that was a lot of 'ing'ing going on in that first sentence! Blake has three special people in his life that we are so grateful for. Today he will give to them his most favorite holiday treat.....Peanut Butter Balls. They are all wrapped up pretty. One for his teacher, who is absolutely one of the sweetest people on earth. Really, she is that sweet and so tender with Blake even though Blake has tried to wrestle her to the ground during a morning getaway a time or two. Just last week I turned around while going to get in my car and saw Blake chasing after me, with Mrs. E chasing after him. I tried not to laugh. And then I told Blake, "Never to do that to Mrs. E ever again. Imagine how scared she probably was." She is a petite woman and although looks to be in really good shape, I think Blake could run way faster than she could. She was glad I was still there to stop him. So she deserves these peanut butter balls, Blake's very favorite dessert.

The second batch is for Mrs. S, who works on campus and has become Blake's morning muscle....I mean morning buddy. She meets Blake in the classroom just as I say good-bye to help him get to his seat and off to do his morning job (turning on all the computers for the school), a job that is helping him say good-bye easier in the morning. She is also the muscle involved when morning good-byes go bad. Blake absolutely adores and loves Mrs. S. and we love and adore her and her muscles too!

And the third package is going to Terry, his aid at school. Terry is someone that Blake goes to whenever he has a cathing/changing need. He knows which classroom she is in and he goes as needed. With Terry, it has allowed him to feel some Independence at school with his special needs. She chats with him and they laugh all while doing the dirty changing deeds. Without skipping a beat, Blake and Terry chat through the whole process making it so comfortable for Blake, and for that we are truly grateful. She has a dirty job some days (well dirty when it's not your kid) and she is always happy to care for Blake.

In other Christmas news, we DO NOT have our Christmas Tree yet. I'm not sure where the times has gone. And, every evening we have great intentions and then something else comes up. This weekend! This weekend it has to happen. Although Dave and I have joked about just not messing with one this year. The kids freaked out about where their presents would go and we laughed and said we go do without those too. Just Kidding! Tree trimming it will be this weekend, as well as family carolling in the open trailer around Napa and gingerbread house making. Oh and Giveaways....more giveaways.

And stay tuned on Sunday for a little video I worked hard on to remind us all the reason for the season!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY SIX.

**Congrats, Keri! Your diligence paid off!**

Anonymous said...
"Too cute again! ~ Keri"

He really is the cutest Santa ever!

On the sixth day of Christmas, April Kennedy gave away.....a one for you, one for me....very cute Santa dish towel from Williams-Sonoma. {OK...it came in a set of two...and I'm keeping one. Do you blame me?} Trust, me....this towel is darling, great quality and this picture does not do it justice! Mine looks so cute hanging in my kitchen.

Three ways to enter....1. Enter general comment. 2. Follow this blog and enter "Fan" in a second comment. 3. Tweet, FB, or link and enter "shared" in a third comment.

Don't get discouraged if you haven't won yet.....there are still 7 more chances. Yippee! Good luck!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY FIVE.

**Congrats to Emily! Lucky number 13.**

Emily said...
"FAN!!"

It pays to be a FAN!! Emily, I need your mailing address asap so EJ&T can get your package in the mail today! Email me at davenapril(at)aol(dot)com.

And to everyone else, remember.....7 more days of giveaways...you can still be a winner!

On the fifth day of Christmas, April Kennedy gave away.....a sweet set of "now and later" gift tags from the cutest Etsy store Every Jot and Tittle. The set of reindeer tags are for NOW and the clever set of sarcastic tags are for LATER!

Love these! They are hilarious.


Three ways to enter!
1. Enter a general comment in the comment section.
2. If you follow this blog or start following it, enter "fan" in a separate comment.
3. If you have tweeted, linked or FB'd the giveaway to share the love, enter "shared" in another comment for a third entry.


These gift tags will be mailed directly to you from ej&t so I will need the winners mailing address first thing in the morning. Check back early! Good Luck! This has been so fun so far!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY FOUR.

**Congrats, Kami! Random.org picked lucky number 11!"**

yota_96 said...
"Beautiful!! I want to win this!!! Yee haw. Entry, fan and shared!!! You are just too gifted. Thank you for sharing with all of us."

You didn't even need enteries 2 and 3! Email me with your address!

On the fourth day of Christmas, April Kennedy gave away.......a handmade vintage style "Santa" banner that matches her "Jolly" banner hanging on her mantle!

Three ways to enter.

1. General comment in comment section.

2. If you follow as a fan, or start following, enter "Fan" in a separate comment.

3. Tweet, blog or FB about the giveaway to share the giving and enter "Shared" in a separate comment for a third entry. One one tweet or link necessary for the whole 12 days!

Good Luck!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY THREE.

**Congrats, Jen @ The Jorgensen's! Random.org picked lucky commenter #31!**

The Jorgensen's said...
"Too cute! Pretty sure I need those to spruce up my christmas outfit."

Email me at davenapril(at)aol(dot)com so I can ship out your earrings today!

On the third day of Christmas April Kennedy gave away.....two pair of earrings from her Funky Vintage Kitchen Trunk! A sweet pair of carved red rose earrings and a pair of my very favorite turquoise bubble flower earrings. You can either keep both or give one away. And for your information, I will be working hard today and tomorrow to fill my Funky Vintage Kitchen shop with lots of new earrings, rings, cake plates and aprons....all in time for last minute shopping! For FREE SHIPPING on all rings and earrings, enter "12Days" in the "notes to seller" and I will refund your shipping!

Remember, three ways to enter.

1. Leave general comment for first entry.

2. If you are a follower, enter another comment "fan" for second entry.

3. If you blog, tweet or facebook about the giveaway, enter another comment "shared" for a third entry.

Good Luck!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY TWO.

**Congrats Amander (lucky number 34)....you won the pretty flower clip!**

Amander said...
"I love this. I want to come to your house while passing through and just drool--from a safe distance--at your goodies. Busy on Sunday? -Mandy"

Amanda, Email me so we can chat!






On the second day of Christmas, April Kennedy gave away......this darling flower hair clip that I just whipped up to match the one that I wear! Last Sunday I even tied a ribbon around my waist and clipped it on that for a belt around my sweater. Oh the possibilities.



Remember three entries possible per person.

1.. Enter in the comments section for first entry.

2. If you have linked to the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway....enter "linked" in the comments for your second entry.

3. And if you follow this blog, enter "fan" in the comments for your third entry.

Good Luck. Winner will be announced tomorrow morning at the top of THIS post! Come back and see if you won, and enter for tomorrow's giveaway! Oh the fun is just starting.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS...DAY ONE.

**Congrats Rachel! You won the two bars of soap.**

Rachel said...
"is this 3 entries or did I do it all wrong? that's okay, I don't use soap anyway :)"
hahaha too funny....I bet after smelling this one, you will!

Email me, I need your new address!

On the First Day of Christmas April Kennedy gave away.......two bars of triple milled soap from Trader Joe's in her most favorite scent.....Lemon Verbena! Why two you ask? Because I am nice like that, and a giver....my thought...keep one for yourself and give one away to a friend when you win!

Enter in the comment section for your first entry. Link to Giveaways on your blog for a second entry good all 12 days. And, become a follower on the right hand side of the blog, for a third entry good all 12 days. Enter in comments "linked" and "fan" for your second and third enteries each day! Good luck!

ONE THOUGHT THIS MORNING LEADS TO EXCITING NEWS FOR YOU!

I was laying in bed AWAKE this morning at 5:30 am (on the one morning that we declare "our sleep in morning") thinking about my Gospel Doctrine lesson that I need to get finished for tomorrow.

Then my mind drifted to The Ellen Show. I love her. I've said it before....she makes me laugh. She is in the middle of her 12 Days of Giveaways and giving away some fabulous gifts. I have entered online to try to be one of the lucky 25 people that wins also! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I mean, c'mon, how cool would that be? Then I had another thought......

Maybe I should do a 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways on my blog! How fun would that be? I thought of all the little jewels I could giveaway that wouldn't cost too much but still are covet worthy. I have my list!

Then I thought that I needed a little banner for it. Lucky for all of you, my very talented, very busy, graphic designer, Lyndsay.....found here and here, squeezed me in with a little banner. And the reason I say "lucky for you" is because honestly if I didn't have some cute little banner to post each day with the giveaways, I was considering scrapping the idea all together.

Then I had to think of a name for the giveaway. Coming up with a name was pretty easy actually. "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways.....April Kennedy Style" because lets face it.....I'm no Ellen. Plus I have been considering condensing all my blogs into one. One that incorporates my life, my family, things that give me butterflies and my little store Funky Vintage Kitchen. One place to post it all. I've been thinking of using the name "April Kennedy Style"....because really I have my own way or 'style' of doing things.

So without further ado.......here are the guidelines to the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways....April Kennedy Style. The giveaways will start tomorrow and go through Christmas Eve. One item will be given away each day. Giveaway will close at midnight and a random winner will be announced the next day. Comment on that particular giveaway post (on the blog for you facebook followers) to enter. Link to the giveaway on your blog and come back and post "linked" in the comment section for another entry and to spread the Christmas cheer. Become a follower on this blog that will be undergoing a redesign soon and enter "fan" in the comment section for a third entry. Be sure to check back each day to see if you won the previous days giveaway and to enter in the next giveaway.

Good Luck and see you back here tomorrow!

MAKING MY LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE.

{tag found here at Every Jot and Tittle}

I checked my list today and I just need a few more things to be ready for Christmas. Have I mentioned that a TREE is on that list still? Hopefully that and Christmas decorations will go up this weekend. I'm looking forward to crossing everything off the list so that we can relax and enjoy the rest of the Christmas season.

I REALLY HAD NO BUSINESS BEING UP THERE.....

BUT I HAD A LOT OF FUN......

AND I'M PAYING FOR IT WITH A SUPER STIFF NECK!

We had our First Annual (which I am boldly adding First Annual....because I expect a 2nd Annual....it was that much fun) Chicks in Aprons Christmas Couples Party last night. And, don't worry, we didn't make our men wear aprons! We had a very festive, fun evening. We ate wonderful food and had a super fun Christmas gift exchange where many gifts were stolen over and over again. It was a hoot. Towards the end of the evening, it was made known that Paul and Lynnette, our hosts, had a fun contraption (aka homemade carnival ride) in their backyard that promised 100 mph spinning with serious G forces.......5 feet off the ground. A few of us crazy ladies (totally sober mind you) climbed on for the ride.

HERE ARE THE PICTURES......

PLAY BY PLAY

Me....stuck in the air. I was hoisted to that position and couldn't get myself turned around into a sitting position. Really I had no business! There wasn't much to grab onto and I was laughing really hard which makes all muscles go weak.

Ok...up on the bar in proper seating position and for some reason it was decided that my weight could withstand TWO other girls on the other side. NICE! But really when Carla and Lynnette both got on I went higher in the sky. Phew!

Carla on....Lynnette being hoisted up into sitting position. Lucky girl!

Ready for our ride. Paul was our designated spinner. And boy does he have mad skills in the spinning department!



The spinning begins....see the rope being pulled and the smiles still on our faces?




Holding on for dear life. Still being pulled for maximum spinning all while Lynnette is screaming "STOP!" (Now we had a deal....if any of us yelled "Stop", the RIDE was supposed to be stopped. I asked Paul why when Lynnette yelled stopped, he didn't stop. He answered, "Everyone yells, stop!"



The reason I have a stiff neck. And my butt being pulled through the bar from the G-forces.


Seriously, over 100 mph. And we stayed on.
And I didn't notice until now, that we were all in uniform...black tops, dark jeans and black shoes!

This picture was the hit of the party. And all I have to say about it is this.....The triangular shape of the bars does not help the triangular shape of my butt being sucked by the G-Forces. Really, is my butt that wide....hunny? But because I am not that vain, I promised to put this one on the blog. Even though the whole group was looking at it and laughing at it before I even got down from the "RIDE".

Ride over. Get me off of here!

Did I mention that Bryant has some mad photography skills. He picked up my camera and got these great photos in seconds. I only wish someone had pulled out their phone and got video of it. We were really flying.

Now I am going to get the rice bag, heat it up in the microwave and drape around my neck and shoulder for the day. Ouchie.

SWEETEST HUSBAND EVER!

I had a picture to post today. Really I did. I had it all set up to take before leaving this morning to take the children to school and when I came back home the 'picture perfect layout' had been cleaned up. But there is a story behind the picture.

You see I have a new infatuation. It's a Starbucks infatuation. I love flavored hot chocolates. Because I am not a coffee drinker I make up all kinds of new hot chocolate drinks at Starbucks that leave the baristas scratching their heads while trying to write my order on the cup and then them finally getting it and saying, "that sounds really really good." Um....yea it is!

So there is a new drink out. It is called a "Caramel Brulee Latte" with burnt sugar pieces topping the whipped cream in the picture. I instantly know that I want the hot chocolate version. So I order. The barista is confused....."You want chocolate added to the latte?" "No, I don't want any coffee, I want a caramel brulee non-fat hot chocolate," I say. To which she responds, "Oh I get it. That sounds really really good!" "You should try it," I say and then think....now get to work and put extra of the burnt sugar pieces on top of my whipped cream please.

A couple of weeks into this new obsession, hubby figures out that something has taken his place. That I have a new infatuation. And, so while he quizzes me about why I am so in love with this drink I tell him all about the burnt sugar pieces that really make the drink and I tell him how sad I am that I can't get Starbucks to sell me a jar of those burnt sugary 'take me to heaven' pieces. He responds all manly, "I can make you as much of those burnt sugary pieces that your heart desires." And I think, he probably can......but really....buying the jar would just be easier.

Last night I went to a little Christmas party. Upon my return home I found a blow torch, sugar and tin foil sitting on my kitchen island. What was once a slab of burnt sugar is now all broken up into little pieces of heaven waiting for my approval. Let's just say that my hubby is my new obsession once again! And, I have been licking that piece of tin foil all morning trying to get every last piece.

I was so excited to take a picture of the blow torch, the sugar and the tin foil, all left perfectly out on the counter before I left for school this morning only to come home and find that before my sweet hubby left for work.....he cleaned up his mess from last night.

Hunny, don't put that blow torch away for too long. I need more bits of heaven....stat!

{So I lied about not having a picture for you. I ended up taking a picture of what was left because the story is just too sweet to not record for posterity.}

YOUR LEVEL 4 STATE VAULT CHAMPION! - video working now

Actually it is the video of all of her routines. She did a great job at States considering the nerves of competing at such a high level. She had her first fall on beam for the whole competition season and she fought hard to save it. Big bummer, but she jumps right back on the beam and picks up where she left off with a smile on her face. We talked a lot about enjoying this competition instead of being worried about scores and placement. She did just that. And, when she placed 1st on vault and jumped on top of the podium, she was thrilled! She also placed 7th on floor with a 9.125 score. She performed beautifully and we have had a fun competition run hanging out on the weekends as a family at different gymnastic venues. Congrats, Kaia! You are a beautiful performer and always a pleasure to watch (except for daddy who has to close his eyes while he videos bars and beam because he is so nervous for you)!

LAZY MOM OR GOOD MOM?

It is Monday. A school day. 12:15 pm. Kids are home playing Sorry. We had pancakes for lunch. Still in pj's....all of us....with curtains drawn. No one is sick. It feels good.

Yesterday Kaia had a big gymnastics meet. State Championships. She took 1st place on Vault!Video to come later today. We got home late last night and this morning it just felt right to let the kids sleep until they woke. I had every intention of bringing them to school today after they woke, but when I heard them sneak into Kaia's room around 9:30 am and crawl into her bed and giggle and talk I decided we would just stay home today. I even crawled back into bed. The only thing on my to-do list now is grocery shopping. Everything else was thrown out the window when I didn't open the blinds to say we were welcoming the day today.

I believe these are the kind of days that my kids will actually remember when they get older.....the day mommy let them stay home from school to play together when neither of them were sick....not the morning I should have dragged them out of bed after a late night, yelling at them to move faster and rushing them out the door to go to school.

YOU'RE A SLAVE TO YOUR HAIR.

While eating dinner with two good friends before the preview party of New Moon, we started talking about hair. Because that is one of things that girls talk about when we go out on 'girls nights out'. When I said that I had to wash, dry and straighten my hair EVERY DAY because of excess oil my girlfriend said with a gasp in her cute English accent, "Oh my gosh, April, you are a slave to your hair!"

I was taken a bit back, but instantly thought 'YES I AM' and this needs to change. So we talked and talked about shampooing, no shampooing, dry shampooing, second day dirty hair (but still showering) routine, third day dirty hair (but still showering) routine....to which I quickly blurted out, "I could never go three days. NEVER. I am too too oily." To which they responded that the oil starts decreasing and your scalp starts producing less oil because you aren't stripping it away everyday.

On a side note, I had a similar conversation during our camping trip in early November with a sweet girl named Angela that I got to know better that weekend. I guess hair has been on my mind lately. At the end of day two while camping, I was desperate for a shampooing and did so by standing in our trailer shower and having Dave deliver me hot water off of the stove to wash and rinse (our water heater had problems this last camping trip). Angela said that she goes two, three days regularly without shampooing and that she too was really oily before starting this routine. She swears that the oil goes away after a couple of weeks on the new routine and that I should try it. I enjoyed listening to her ideas but wasn't quite ready to grasp it.

But on this night when I was accused of (and agreed to) being a "Slave to my hair" it hit me. Somethings gotta give and can I live with some oil while I put this "the oil will go away over time" trick to the test. So here I am.....shampooing every other day (but still showering daily, because I just think that to not shower everyday is gross....unless you are camping or sick or just having a really lazy weekend on occasion). At first I was rinsing my hair on day two in the shower and using just a little bit of conditioner. I was surprised to find that my hair was not any oilier when using only conditioner, but I was still having to blow dry and straighten my hair on what was suppose to be my "day off." Now I am washing my body but keeping my hair dry on day two. All it needs is some re-straightening to it. I like day two....it is so liberating! But here is my dilemma....when I wake up on day 3.....almost no touch up is necessary and if my scalp wasn't so darn oily by that morning it would be my quickest 'get ready day' of them all....but I can't go three days. I just can't.

So I want to know......what is your shampooing schedule and how does it work for you? I'm interested....really really interested. I don't want to be a slave to my hair any longer....but I also don't want to smell oily either. I also would love product info that you love to help get through the less shampooing method! I can't wait to hear. Happy Friday!

REMEMBER MY LAWN BOYS.....

....and how after they were finished mowing our lawns they went and surprised the neighbor by mowing his lawn? Well that neighbor is now mowning my lawn and I couldn't be more touched. He knows Dave is hurt and with the crazy winds we had last weekend, all the leaves from the whole court came to rest in our front yard. As I pulled into my driveway just today I thought, "I hope Dave is feeling better by Saturday to get some yardwork done." Now he can just rest and get well. We are blessed with good neighbors! Receiving service feels just a good as giving service.

I have been busy working on a special project for our church Christmas party coming up this Friday night. I can't wait to share. Although it is a copycat of something I saw last year...it is requiring a lot of work and I am so pleased at how it is coming together!

HAPPY DECEMBER TO ME!

I can't think of a better way to start December than winning Design Mom's first giveaway! Woot!



"Congratulations to {april kennedy}! You are the lucky winner. Happy Holidays!"

I won a bunch of goodies ($150 worth) from Stubby Pencil Studio. I can't wait to go shopping! Thank you, Gabby. Thank you, Kate. What a wonderful surprise gift this will be for my children under the tree.

Happy December 1st to me......and you! Now click on the red banner above and go start entering to win something for yourself. Her giveaways are fabulous and I will refrain from entering so as to share the love on the rest of the giveaways. Good Luck!

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS?

I love having a warm protective body next to me in bed. There is something about a 'protector' in our home that brings me comfort at night. A nice big strong protective hubby. With that said, it is also nice from time to time to have the bed to myself. All.to.myself. I can sleep right in the middle with the covers all wrapped up around me. No snoring, no rolling, no stealing the covers in the middle of the night to wake me. Problem is....when I'm loving being in bed by myself from time to time it usually means I don't have my 'protector' in our home and I miss him.

Tonight for a minute I considered myself lucky. Getting the best of both worlds. Tonight the above recliner (borrowed from my dad) will be hubby's bed. Probably for the next few nights actually. I get the bed to myself, but my protector still in the house. We returned home from the WFO with no dirt bike accidents, but Dave went riding again on Saturday and wasn't so lucky. I actually would rather a warm whole body next to me in bed, sharing our space rather than a bruised body sore, hurting and needing his own space. Plus I won't be able to hit him gently nudge him when he starts to snore in the middle of the night. Wishing him well soon so we can share our bed again.

THOUGHTFUL THANKSGIVING.

Some of my random thoughts around this Thanksgiving......

::Hubby decided that we should start the Thanksgiving holiday with a movie night, complete with popcorn since the kids could stay up late since there was no school today. We went to Target early last night and bought a movie and popcorn. Came home, cuddled on the couch together and enjoyed lots of laughs. The only problem....neither of us checked the rating on the movie Four Christmases. It was PG-13. Most of the PG-13 inappropriate went over Blake's head and we were covering Kaia's eyes and ears at times. The inappropriate was mostly in the beginning then it cleaned right up and got darn right funny but hubby still whispered in my ear towards the end of the movie that this one should disappear after tonight. I smiled at his sweetness and agreed. Does anyone want Four Christmases? I will mail it to you! Even though daddy deemed it a 'stay up late night', we were all in bed by 9:00 pm.

I am thankful for his impromptu family movie night and for the wonderful husband and father that he is.

::Kaia has a shopping list for today. She wants to make a chocolate mousse torte recipe from the Vanilla Wafers box that she and daddy picked up last night while shopping for movie night. She and I have also talked about her learning to cook one night a week with me. Her first recipe.....our homemade pizza dough. I told Dave that her roommates will love her in college when she shows up with a Kitchen-Aid mixer and makes them all pizza on Friday nights. So will the boys....I added and then told hubby it will probably get her married off early. Daddy decided that the mixer will stay at home!

I am thankful that her grandma Toni taught her to follow a recipe and that I have a desire to follow-up on it and teach her to cook family dinners.

::You are reading the blog of the new GOSPEL DOCTRINE teacher at our church. My new calling. I am overwhelmed, intimated and down right shaking in my cute patent leather black boots! Most Mormons say that is the one calling they would never want. The calling is to prepare and teach the general adult sunday school lesson each week. There are a lot of smarty pants in that classroom and for me it is a daunting class but I survived the first lesson last week. Hopefully each week will get easier or at least more comfortable. I cry every time I really think about what I have to do. Really....I cry. And I haven't had anything to blog about lately because ALL I can think about is my lesson preparation. I did receive a beautiful blessing and promise from my Bishop when I was called to this job and I am already seeing them fulfilled in my life.

I am thankful for this opportunity that will draw me closer to my Heavenly Father as I plead for his guidance and spirit while preparing and teaching.

::My children have their Christmas lists complete. A WANT, NEED, WEAR, and READ all picked out. I should be done shopping for them next week.

I am thankful for our simplified Christmases the past couple of years. They just feel a little more special.

::I am enjoying miniature chocolate and powdered donuts while I am blogging this morning. Remember we started Thanksgiving holiday. No school today which means fun breakfast...usually sugar cereal but the kids picked donuts last night and I happily said, "YES"!

I am thankful for food to feed our hungry bellies and the feast that will be shared tomorrow with family.

I think I just might continue with these random thanksgiving thoughts the next few days. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

MY LAWN BOYS.

Remember my house boy?

Well it looks like I have two new really cute lawn boys too!

Dave and Blake enjoyed mowing our lawn on Saturday and then went and mowed the neighbor's lawn to surprise him when he got home from work.

WE WENT. WE WATCHED. WE LOVED IT! *no spoilers

Check out our picture in the post below with our VIP passes! We had so much fun and New Moon was great. Better acting. More money in the film making. Better sparkles. Too much spinning though. I had to close my eyes a couple of times to not get sick....but then again we were in row 2. The beginning was amazing. And, if you weren't equally in love with Jacob as you were with Edward after reading the book, you will be after watching the movie. Not because he is hot and runs around with no little clothes on but because of how sweet he is to Bella. Oh...it was just so good. Really. I won't say much more because I promised no spoilers!

Happy Friday. Happy Weekend. Happy New Moon Release Day!

THE ONLY 30 SOMETHINGS IN THE WHOLE THEATRE!

(Ellie, Lynnette & Me)

Waiting for new moon to start with our special passes on!

{april}

GUESS WHERE I'LL BE THIS AFTERNOON?

At a pre-release party and viewing of New Moon. That's right baby.....I'm getting to see it before it is actually released. My girlfriend scored 3 tickets to a pre-release party and viewing of New Moon hosted by Nordstroms in Walnut Creek. The actual movie will start at 9:30 pm with a pre-party before! Ok...so maybe it is only 2 1/2 hours before the actual release time, but I will be seeing it Thursday night. Not Friday morning at 12:01 am. I am so excited! And to think.....I almost wrote off The Twilight series thinking Vampire anything was dumb. Boy was I wrong.

WE INTERRUPT BLOGGING.....

....to work in the office. You know....my real job! Kennedy Construction hasn't looked this good in a long time. Catching up feels so good. I can actually see the top of the desk and the pile of to-do's is getting smaller.

....to take care of a sick child. Blake has had a cough and our no-coughing school policy this winter season has kept him home the last two days. Plus he had a bad cavity filling done yesterday at the dentist office that had him screaming and thrashing in pain last night when the numbness wore off. Two hours of it. The decay was to the nerve. He finally fell asleep in my arms last night. He just wanted his tooth to go to sleep again. He woke this morning and let us all know his tooth felt awesome. Thank goodness.

....to prepare for a new church calling. Otherwise known as job or responsiblity at church. We have no paid clergy in the Mormon religion. Our Bishop calls us into his office after much prayer and inspiration received and asks us to do a certain job to help teach and inspire each Sunday. Let's just say that I cried much while in his office a few weeks ago saying that I am not qualified. He assured me that it was where the Lord wanted me to be and where he knew I was suppose to be. I am scared to death, but I do believe that where the Lord calls the Lord qualifies. I am begging for His support and guidance for this new responsiblity and looking forward to my own growth spiritually. It should also cure my bad habit of procrastination as there is no room for that in this new job. And for all you Mormons, please don't try to guess it or ask! I will announce it next week and probably be talking all about it in a post or two!!

WE GET TO CALL HER SMARTY PANTS TOO!

Kaia's report card came for her first trimester in 7th grade. She is continuing her tradition in middle school. Maintaining a 4.0! She even got a few A+'s. Way to go Kaia!

We just returned home from our annual dirt bike club camping trip. Remember....it was the trip from H.E.double hockey sticks last year. See story here and picture here. I am happy to report that there were no major injuries this year. Not during the actual race and no injuries for my hubby. Thumbs UP!

WE'RE CALLING HER BRACE FACE......

.....but we think she looks really CUTE!

She went with black and green rubberbands to match her competition leotard for State Championships in gymnastics coming up in December. She is excited to also try purple rubberbands, black and pink ones, blue ones....well all of them she says! She will have two years to try on different colors. Right now she is in pain. On Motrin, but still moaning. I remember that pain all too well. Never fun.

I have made her homemade chicken noodle soup. I hope it helps!

Guess who's getting braces today?

MY VETERAN.

He served his country for 12 years in the Air Force.

I married him in year 4.

He was actually separating from the Air Force when we started dating. He had no one to support him while serving. The person that had said "I Do" before me had decided that while he was serving a tour in Saudi Arabia she would find herself a new guy.

My Veteran was heartbroken. I healed his heart. Fixed it all up and kept it like new.....for 16 years now!

His Sergeant pulled some strings and he received orders to Delaware. We were married 3 months later and found ourselves stationed in Delaware among wonderful people.

We celebrated our 2 MONTH anniversary and by or 3 MONTH anniversary he was on his way to Uphold Democracy in Haiti for 3 months. We were apart for our first Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We had a most wonderful Christmas celebration on January 20th when he returned. Presents filled our whole family room. I had shopped all through December to ease the pain and then all through the after-Christmas sales! I didn't mind shopping for and wrapping my own presents. He had already given me a beautiful gift that year we married. He had healed my heart also.

I passed his test. He needed to know. Would I be there for him at the end of a tour? I didn't know it was a test. I didn't know he had volunteered for that tour to Haiti because "he had to know". I understood.....completely though. And, I passed.

He missed most of my entire pregnancy with Kaia. He left for Kuwait when I was 4 months pregnant and still not showing and returned when I was 8 months pregnant and looked like I had a basketball stuffed up my dress. He brought home a necklace that he placed around my neck that had the inscription "Kaia" on it. We did not know what we were having and he hadn't liked the name Kaia at first. But while in Kuwait he knew it was a girl and he knew he wanted her name to be Kaia. I was beyond thrilled. And, we had a girl!

We wrote a lot of love letters while he was on tour and serving in the Air Force. I have them tucked away. They are precious to me.

He also wrote love letters to Kaia while he was away from us most of her first year. He was sent to Korea for a whole year. Unaccompanied. Meaning 'no family allowed'. He left when Kaia was 4 months old and came home to a 16 month old that didn't like him. For the first four months of her life....they were inseparable. Now he was trying to win her heart again. He passed.

My Veteran is an amazing daddy.

In January of 2001 we felt confident that it was time to leave the military. He was due out in October of 2001. We prayed about it and knew it was time for a different life. One that would allow us more time together than apart.

On September 11, 2001 we watched America being attacked. I received a phone call early in the morning from My Veteran telling me to stay home and to not go out of town today. I watched and cried. He waited for his next assignment. Torn. He was ready to serve his country once again, but scheduled to get out in 3 weeks.

We followed our heart and our answer to our earlier prayers and Dave started terminal leave (meaning early leave with saved vacation time) on the last day of September. Our plan all along. Stop loss went into effect on October 1. Anyone who had not started terminal leave before then was halted from getting out of the military. We were still torn, but felt peace and relief at the same time.

That was 8 years ago. If he had stayed in, he would be retiring this year. And honestly probably in Korea again for one last unaccompanied tour. Blake would have not survived a year without his daddy. I would not have survived another year without my husband. I'm happy with our choice. But do miss the Air Force from time-to-time.

He still loves his country. LOVES his country.

And I am glad he is MY Veteran!

And my heart goes out to all our Veterans today and their families. And my prayers too.