Making memories

I promised a post dedicated to Alexa Hope and (drumroll) here it is! I am horrible at Facebook, but I’ve noticed people posting things for which they are thankful. I am going to do my best to devote this week’s posts to gratitude. One thing for which I’m always thankful – much more so now – is making memories, especially with my family (i.e. – precious Alexa Hope). We’ve made some pretty special ones this Fall from pumpkin patches and pumpkin painting to exploring at the Children’s Museum in Houston and packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child.


Fair warning: this post is oozing with images. After all, this was what our blog was about before cancer entered the picture and these images would have been spread out over several postings. Now, you get a binge viewing of happiness. Why, you might ask? Because Alexa Hope not only lives out her middle name (which I need a lot of these days), she exudes joy. You can’t help but smile when you see those bright eyes and quirky grins. She is one of my greatest reasons to give thanks!!

OKC MYRIAD GARDENS – PUMPKINVILLE
Alexa and I joined our friends Miss Brittany, Grace & Faith for a day of pumpkin fun!! It was frigid at first but then the sun broke through the clouds, and we had a glorious picnic.

I love that Alexa wasn’t satisfied with a spare. She had to kick a strike.

OU HOMECOMING
Alexa enjoyed checking out the homecoming artwork while Mommy & Daddy enjoyed the damp & chilly victory. I ended up getting sick after this game but I kept telling my sis as rain was drizzling our faces, “This will be a great memory!” Of course, we were winning, so it made the sogginess totally tolerable. Don’t we look like dorks in those parkas!? BOOMER SOONER!!




TG FARMS PUMPKIN PATCHIt was the perfect fall day to enjoy pumpkin fun, corn mazes and animal petting with our friends from church.





How eerie is this shot!? I mean this corn maze was serious and a bit spooky when we couldn’t find our way out.




PUMPKIN PAINTING
What do you do with the spoils from a pumpkin patch? Why paint it, of course! Enjoy the video. This is our Alexa in full color. She sings anytime she is doing something, and yes, it is normally something totally made-up. We love music and singing (and dancing) at the Kennedy home.

Her singing fills my heart with joy.

FALL FESTIVAL
Alexa wanted to be Doc McStuffins for Halloween this year. If you don’t know Doc, she’s an animated character on Disney Junior. Alexa enjoyed a beautiful evening of fun, games and candy at our church’s Fall Festival.





This is Miss Carol. She adopted Alexa (and Mommy) over the summer when I was undergoing chemo. To say Alexa loves Miss Carol is an understatement!! Alexa still goes to her home once a week to play, play, play. Mommy loves Miss Carol too. We both think she’s pretty great!! I know she’s a gift.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON
I decided on one of our last visits to MDA that I was going to devote one day in Houston to my family & fun, not doctors & appointments. We decided on the Children’s Museum and it didn’t disappoint. We had a blast and wished we could’ve stayed even longer.





If you can’t see it, Alexa is creating a vortex by spinning the red wheel. She could make it tall and slender or short and squatty.



OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
This is Alexa’s fourth year of helping Mommy pack shoeboxes. It’s one of our little traditions. At the onset, Alexa had a difficult time wanting to share the items we’d purchased for the girls, but as we explained “the why” behind the shoeboxes something clicked in her mind and she joined in with a happy heart.