The Kanner's: March 2008

Christmas Day Festivities

This year was all about change, so instead of going to Scott's parents house on Christmas morning we invited them to come to ours. It just made sense...there is only two of them, Scott's siblings were already at our house, and loading up 9 month old twins and a car full of gifts and getting out the door before noon is nearly impossible! We also invited Scott's Grandfather Neeno to join us this year as well so he wouldn't be alone on Christmas morning. After a yummy brunch we opened gifts, gifts, and more gifts. Infact, there were so many gifts Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret were exhausted and had to take a nap. They continued their gift opening after a much needed intermission!

Some of the family enjoying Kanner Christmas Brunch

Molly Margaret opening one of her many gifts!

Daddy helps a very tired Bonnie Kay with one of her gifts.

The Girls loved their rocking chairs from Uncle Jon and Aunt Shawn!

Now that the weather is warmer Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret love

rocking on the front porch with us!

Molly Margaret wasn't so sure about her rocking butterfly

from Papa and Cece, but she soon got the hang of it!

Christmas night, Scott, the girls and I went over to Davina and Danny's house. Danny's Mom, Ms. Sallye and Danny's brother Kenny joined us and we had a wonderful dinner together. After dinner it was time for you guessed it....more gifts!

Bonnie Kay and Aunt Banana laughing it up!

A 60 piece set of plastic play food.....this was Uncle Danny's way of paying Scott and I back for the millions of pieces of plastic that we've given Addie over the years. If you're a parent you'll know what I'm talking about....nothing makes a kid happier than 100's of pieces of brightly colored plastic!! That's ok....Scott and I still got the last laugh....we gave Addie a guitar!

The girls loved their Raggedy Ann dolls from Aunt Davina and Uncle Danny!

Bonnie Kay getting into the Christmas Spirit!

Poor Molly Margaret was so tired, she kept falling asleep sitting up while opening gifts! As you can see, Bonnie Kay was still going strong!

THE END!

Christmas Morning

Scott and I were excited and up early. We just knew Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret were just as excited as we were and would be up early as well, so we waited, and waited, and waited... then finally we heard the girls jabbering in their crib! We're not sure, but they must of been talking about all of the goodies that Santa had left for them under our tree! Scott and I rushed up to their room and quickly put Uncle Jon to work on the camcorder and had Aunt Shawny take over the snapshots for us (she really should of been a photographer!). We carried the girls down the stairs and it was true....everything that the girls had been jabbering about was true....Santa had come and left many gifts under our tree....all for Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret! Being good girls really does pay off !!

Honestly, I think Scott and I had more fun this Christmas morning than the girls did, but we know that it will only get better for Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret over the next couple of years and Scott and I can't wait!

The Girls very first Stockings! Santa sure filled them full!!

Mommy and Molly Margaret taking it all in!

The Girls loved the Baby Einstein puppets that Santa left.

Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret couldn't wait to go for a ride in their red Radio Flyer!

Looks like Santa enjoyed the cookies that we left out for him and the reindeer loved their carrots and apples!!

T'was the night before Christmas....

I have always loved Christmas Eve, so full of magic and wonder and so full of many wonderful memories for me. I have to say, I was dreading it just a little bit this year, it was going to be much different than the Christmas Eves of my past. When I lost my Dad the first round of Holidays were hard, but I had my Mom to keep some sort of normalcy to them. This year I felt as if I had no one from my past to help carry out and see to it that Davina and I stuck to our traditions...it was an odd and empty feeling. Thank God for Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret! They helped to fill the void and helped to remind me how important family traditions are. The girls gave me the will and the desire to keep the traditions that I had been raised with, as well as create new ones for our family.

Scott had to work, it's one of the most busy days of the year for him. I too stayed busy all day cleaning, wrapping gifts and cooking...some of my very favorite things to do! The girls and I made some cookies for Santa, well I made them while the girls watched....I figure they'll be more help with the cookie making next year! Scott's family was having a get-together at his Aunt and Uncle's house on the north side of town that evening. In the past we've gotten together at Scott's Grandparents house on Christmas Eve and I usually go without Scott, as he always has to work until who knows when. However, this year I felt as if I needed to go to church to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Something different for me and something new for the girls. Bonnie Kay, Molly Margaret, and I planned on going with Davina and Addie, but at the last minute Scott came home and was able to go with us. The service was beautiful and I'm so glad that we went. After church we came home and got the girls ready for bed. We put out cookies and milk for Santa and some snacks for Rudolph and the rest of the gang. After getting the girls snuggled in their crib Scott read T'was the Night Before Christmas from the beautiful book that my Mom had given the girls last year, before they even entered the world. The girls went right to sleep with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads! Scott and I were certain we heard Santa's sleigh drawing near, but it was just Aunt Shawn, Uncle Jon, and Uncle Jason returning from their family get-together. Shawn, Jon, and Jason always spend the night with us on Christmas Eve and we stay up way too late talking, eating, and usually having a little Christmas cheer! This is a tradition that began the first Christmas that Scott and I were married.

Enjoy these pictures of our little elves getting ready for Santa's arrival!

Molly Margaret reaches for the fruit and veggies that we left for the reindeer....

and Bonnie Kay reaches for the cookies!

You better put those back, they are for Santa!!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

Christmas Plays and Programs

December was full of Christmas plays and programs for us this year. The month started out with Addie's Christmas Dance Recital, of which I forgot to take my camera and we had front row seats! Addie did an awesome job with her tap dance number to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer...she was the only one in step! Afterwards she wanted to celebrate by going to eat "Fancy Mexican" as she calls it. Fancy Mexican is most any mexican restaurant other than Taco Bell!

December just wouldn't be the same without going to see Anna in the Nutcracker, I believe this year was Anna's third year! Anna had two parts this year, she was a Party Girl and an Angel. This was a very big year for the Nutctacker, Jill had her big debut, she got to be a Party Girl too! Well, actually she was a Party Baby...she had to pretend to be sleeping and was carried across the stage (perfect role for our little Jilly) by a Party Parent that was played ever so perfectly by her Mom, Shawn! That's right all of the Jackson girls were in the Nutcracker this year. Jon even got in on the action and helped out backstage with props and all that fun stuff. Without him, there would be no Nutcracker...or atleast that's what he says! Molly Margaret enjoyed the show, she slept through the entire thing! Bonnie Kay on the other hand was a little more interested and wanted in on the action. She was able to score a back stage pass from Aunt Shawny....I guess it really is who ya know!!

Bonnie Kay backstage checking out Anna's makeup

Bonnie Kay still isn't too sure about Anna and her makeup!

We are so proud of our little ballerinas!

After the Nutcracker we headed back down south for the children's Christmas play at our church. All sorts of barn yard animals filled the sanctuary for Sleep Over at the Stable. Addie had an Oscar winning performance as a chicken! That's her, sitting, or nesting next to Mary. It was a really sweet little play and reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas. All of the children really enjoyed taking part in it.

Santa Comes to Friendship

On the Sunday before Christmas Santa made his way to church!

Christmas with the Gores and Stanfields

The week or so before Christmas we got together with the Gores and the Stanfields for a little Christmas gathering. This was Bonnie Kay and Molly Margarets first "official" Christmas party/gift exchange and they loved every minute of it! I'd say the rest of the little elves and adults had a great time as well! It was great to be able to enjoy an evening with two of my oldest friends and watch all of our kids experience a little excitement and wonder of the Holiday Season.

The suspense is killing me....

We love our new pink bus! It's much better than the yellow one McKinley was letting us play with!

McKinley takes a spin....

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S
The serious look is a must on the catwalk!

Happy Anniversary To Us!!

On December 7, 2007 Scott and I took a break from the hustle and bustle of the Holidays and celebrated our 5 Year Anniversary! Uncle Danny and Aunt Davina kept Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret so Scott and I could have a night to ourselves. We ended up staying close to home and went to dinner at The Farmhouse, it's a fairly new restaurant located at Serenbe, the bed and breakfast that's not too far from us. Our meal was amazing! They have a limited menu set by the chef that changes about every 5 days, depending upon what's in season, availibility of items, etc. Our meal was amazing! Another neat feature about the restaurant is that you can take in your own bottle of wine or order off of their wine list. Scott and I have collection of wines so we were able to take in a bottle that we had been saving for a special occasion, and 5 years of marriage is certainly a special occasion!! It was nice to be able to have a fine dining experience 10 minutes from home! If you aren't familiar with it, you should check out the Serenbe community!

http://www.serenbecommunity.com/links.html

The traditional gift for the 5th Anniversary is wood. I gave Scott a Japaneese Maple Tree that we could plant to mark the occasion and Scott surprised me with not one, but two pink Weeping Cherry Trees. I love these trees and have always wanted one, little did I know I was getting 2! They are just now starting to bloom, so I'll have to post a photo of my trees in full bloom....I can't wait and I know that they will be just beautiful!!

Time certainly does fly, before we know it we'll be celebrating our 50th Anniversary!

I decided to post a few photos from our wedding. It was such a memorable time and one that I will cherish always!

Scott with the Bridesmaids...some of my oldest and dearest friends!

One last look before walking down the aisle...

The Happy Couple!

My Mom and I hit the dance floor.....

The girls cutting loose....

Ms. Brenda and my Mom and their annual Rocky Top performance.....Becky and I have some big shoes to fill one day!

and we lived happily ever after!!!!

A Visit To Santa

Davina, Scott, and I took Bonnie Kay, Molly Margaret, and Addie to see Santa and ride the Pink Pig at Lenox Square. Addie, she's an old pro at this Santa thing, but we weren't too sure how Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret would react. As you can see, they were completely amazed by him!

Addie whispers a secret....

After visiting with Santa it was off to the Pink Pig! Riding the Pink Pig has been a family tradition for me for as long as I can remember, so I could not wait for Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret to ride for the first time! All of the girls did so well that Scott agreed to take all 3 of them off of our hands so Davina and I could get a little shopping in. Scott and the little ones hit the Varisty, while Davina and I hit the mall!

Off to the Varsity....

Oh Christmas Tree......

For as far back as I can remember picking out the perfect Christmas Tree is and always has been serious business for me, and this year was no exception! We must find the biggest and most beautiful tree in the forest, none of this artificial pre-lit business will do!! Luckily for me, Scott feels the same way....even if Scott and I end up in a little snit by the time it's all said and done we always have the most beautiful tree! This year we wanted it to be extra special, as it was Bonnie Kay and Molly Margaret's very first Christmas Tree!! We ventured out to several tree lots and tree farms before we found the perfect tree to bring home.