So Much To Report

Erdner/McKenna Crew

So I have neglected our blog this month because life has been a little crazy and there are no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The beginning of this month was of course the beginning of preparations for Daddy's homecoming, Christmas and our upcoming move. We were happily interrupted when the wonderful Erdners stayed with us for about a week before their move to RI. Our dear friends are very missed but we enjoyed a lot of time together and the kids had a blast doing holiday things and enjoying sleepovers.

At the end of their stay Ms. Melissa watched Loganne so that I could go to the doctor's to have a mole removed. No big deal right? Well then the biopsy came back and it was a melanoma so I ended up having surgery on the 21st to have some tissue and a few lymph nodes removed for further testing. God is good and everything came back negative for any cancer. The Lord also provided amazing people to watch my children and accompany me to the hospital (daddy was still in Bahrain and quite worried at that).

Then we prepared for Daddy's Homecoming after being apart for almost 10 months. It was a very joyful time as well as emotional! It has been so wonderful having daddy home and discovering what the Lord showed each of us during our separation. Our God is so amazing and truly used this deployment to teach us and bring us closer.

Then we celebrated Christmas as a family and enjoyed a very relaxing day filled with joy, laughter and food! We are now preparing for our move to CA as the movers arrive in just 2 sleeps. We pray that the Lord has blessed your holiday season as well and you had time to enjoy your family and friends. We were so blessed this year and we are looking forward to what the Lord has for us in our next adventure. Texas and the wonderful people of Texas will be very missed and are very loved by the McKenna crew!

'Tis the Season

Girls decorating Kaleigh's tree

Matching dresses from Grandmere!

Our tree!

Kaleigh reading to Loganne!

Matching pj's from Mema!

Well The McKennas have decorated, shopped, wrapped and are ready for the Christmas season.  God has been soooo incredibly good these last few months and now we are in the homestretch!  I pray that we would all be reminded of His goodness and love as we prepare to celebrate His birth!

Kaleigh's Pre-K Performance

The day before Thanksgiving break here in the Gregory-Portland School District is always Grandparent's Day.  Unfortunately Kaleigh's grandparents live far away and were not able to attend (although I'm sure all of them would have loved to be here) so Mommy went to her very special performance instead and heres a taste of it!

Thanksgiving Week

Kaleigh's Thanksgiving craft!

Roasting marshmellows

Pre-Thanksgiving Campout with Lucas and Amelia

Our Thanksgiving feast with wonderful friends!

All I can say about this week and past few months is that we are SO BLESSED and that the Lord has been so good!!!!!

Busy

Loganne's fabulous picture of Amelia

Besties at Pizza Hut

The girls dressed to impress!  Love the UGGs on Loganne!

Loganne walking the dog around the house!  Yes this is a pretty regular thing now!

You ever have those days, weeks or months and you know you have been really busy but you can't really think of what kept you so busy????  That has been the McKenna girls the last few weeks.  We have been busy doing lots of fun things but now I can't recall what they were exactly and apparently my camera is no help and I have no pictures to prove all the fun we have been having.  We have received some exciting news though.  We will be celebrating Christmas as the 4 McKennas and then we will be moving to San Diego.  ROAD TRIP (with 2 small children and a very large dog...I'll let you know how that goes.)!!!!  

I just wanted to share some random pictures that were actually taken the last few days!

Houston Zoo on Sunday

So if you have not seen my last post you can read that first to hear about our trip in the right order!  Anyway....Sunday we went to the Houston Zoo and the kids really enjoyed it!

The girls especially enjoyed the animal carousel and the children's zoo that had a petting zoo, a playground and lots of exhibits that incorporated play equipment!

It was such a great trip and was especially special because we did it with such great friends!

Houston on Friday and Saturday

This past weekend the McKenna girls ventured to Houston, TX to check out some of the local activities with our dear friends the Erdners.  The girls did very well on the ride and were so well behaved that I never even got the DVD player out.  Upon arrival we went to the Children's Museum which was super fun!  It had a cute kid city, water fun, tunnels and towers and was a perfect first place on our vacation!

The next day after "living in the hotel" for one night we went to the Johnson Space Center.  It was very interesting and allowed for a once in a lifetime opportunity.  We were actually allowed to view an operating Mission Control room so Kaleigh was able to see an astronaut that was on the International Space Station.  This was also the roughest part of our vacation b/c Loganne had a 2 hour meltdown during the tour!  I apologize to everyone on the NASA 10:40 tram ride this past Saturday but after a good nap she bounced back.

After some sleep we headed down to the pool to dip our feet (well the girls on the trip dipped their feet but Lucas decided nothing was keeping him from swimming)!

Then we made the 25 minute drive to Galveston Island to eat at the Rainforest Cafe and enjoy the beach at night.  It was a really fun night and the fresh air certainly helped with a smooth transition to night night time!

Our Staycation

This past weekend the girls and I ventured to North Padre Island for an overnight trip at a hotel.  This was the view of the Gulf of Mexico from our balcony!

Both girls loved the balcony and spent a good deal of time there listening to the waves and watching the moth migration!

This is us on the beach late at night enjoying some silliness and our glow sticks!

Too Cute!  Loganne enjoyed the beach and was able to get over the fact that her feet were dirty!

They were so good during the day and played really well with one another.  Kaleigh kept referring to Loganne as "her best friend".

The hotel had a playground near the beach and it was perfect for some outside time without the sand!

Kaleigh enjoyed the arts and crafts we had brought including this paperoni that she made at 5:30 am!

Kaleigh collecting seashells!

It was a really fun staycation but I think we will all be happy to have our own beds back! HAHA!

Last Aquarium Visit

I absolutely love that they hold hands now!

Too cute!

All the times we had been to the aquarium this was the 1st and only time we saw the sea turtles fed!

Playing together!

And of course we conclude every aquarium trip by throwing pennies into the fountain.  

The Texas State Aquarium has been such a great place for our family and visitors!  

Fancy Nancy

Soooo posh!

This is when Loganne spotted "Sister"!

I posted the pictures from Kaleigh's Storybook Character Parade because I know these are the pics everyone has been waiting for!  She looked too cute and was adorable waving at everyone along the parade route!  She was so excited to go to school dressed up!  Loganne also enjoyed the parade and was very good!