New Year's Eve + Kristi's 30th Birthday + Obama!!!

Charlie, Hunter, and I celebrated New Year's Eve at Karen and Kevin's house with their boys, Aidan and Sean, and some of Kevin's O'Malley siblings. Was a lot of fun! We stayed over the night so we didn't have to worry about driving..... check out the cousins the day after on the sofa together watching cartoons! Awwwww.

Then, Charlie and I got the grandparents to babysit so we could celebrate Krista's team teacher and good friend Kristi's 30th BIRTHDAY with her! We went to a couple of bars in Reston Town Center; was loads of fun... we hadn't had a night on the town like that in a good long while! (Usually when we get a sitter, we do dinner out and that's all we have energy for... besides, we sorts prefer to chill at home when we're sans baby! Does that make us old!?!!)

Anyhow, last but not least, Krista was able to "play hookie" from school to do something very cool! -- That is, I taught my 1st period seniors from 7:25-9:00, and then was able to put in offical leave and not get a sub b/c my awesome team teacher Kristi covered the junior classes the rest of the day (thanx again, Kristi). The very cool thing I got to do was to GO SEE PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA SPEAK IN PERSON at George Mason University! My dad, Tom, a.k.a. the cheif-of-staff @ GMU hooked us up and put myself, my sister Karen, and my nephew Aidan on "the list"! There was an amazing amount of security and his speech was rather short (20 min) for the all the "lead up" (Poor 7-yr-old Aidan was like, "What?! We have an hour to wait until Obama comes on stage?" ~ but it was an amazing experience, one that I will not forget soon. Obama spoke eloquently about both hope and our current reality. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. THANKS, DAD!

Enjoy the pix, and have a great rest of January!

Hugs,

Krista, Charlie, and Hunter

Christmas at Lisa's House!

We all had a GREAT time celebrating "A Jacks Christmas" at Lisa's house in Mathews, VA with her kids Lauren and Kelsey! (Lisa is Charlie's sister and Hunter's aunt.) Hunter LOVES playing with the girls and there certainly is PLENTY to do and have fun with at Aunt Lisa's house. And, of course, Grandma and Grandpa Jacks were there too; we had a grand time! :)

Enjoy the photos! BTW, Hunter still likes the swing, but he LOVES the slide now, as you can clearly see from the pics of Hunter and girls playing on the playground. Oh, and be sure to catch one of my favorite moments: After Kelsey dutifully shows Hunter how to blow bubbles, he snatches the bubble blower wand and tries to EAT IT. That's my silly little monkey for ya!

Hugs,

Krista, Charlie, and Hunter

Christmas @ the Hennessey's/ Nana & Papa's

We had a great time hanging out with Mimi and Grand Bob, AND Karen, Kevin, Aidan and Sean AND Kathy, Tim, Samantha, and Kara AND Dave and Lyn (Charlie's folks) at my mom and dad's house, a.k.a. Hunter's Nana and Papa's house on the 26th.

Check out the photos! In one photo, Hunter is like the double-fisted-Xmas-cookie-monster! Too funny! He LIKED Grandma Lyn's cookies for sure! One in each hand!

In another photo, Hunter is "kissing" his cousin Kara, albeit it's difficult to tell... but I know what he's doin'! He's repaying the kiss she gave him at Aunt Karen's house the week prior -- but, alas!.... NO ONE had a camera at-the-ready for proof! BUT... lil petite Kara's kiss knocked Hunter right on his tookus --- hee hee! ;-)

Enjoy the pics and have a great day,
~ Krista

Christmas Day!

This year was WAY cooler in terms of Hunter and his particpation in Xmas activities. Hunter knows what it is to open up gifts and is really attentive to each one he opens... it's so cool! This year Santa brought him a soft saucer snow sled, a snow suit, snow boots, and a puffy snow vest -- can you pick up on a THEME!??!?!!? Momma NEEDS some snow days off from school to be HOME with her little guy! I miss him soooo much when he's at daycare! Mommy and Daddy got Hunter a sit 'n spin, books, a monkey blanket, and cute lil red 'n black house slippers! <-- Hunter loves 'em!

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Well, Christmas morning was a great morning... we sang happy birthday to baby Jesus in the nativity manger and then opened stockings and then... we ate our hearts out: we ate our now traditional egg 'n sausage 'n onion casserole (compliments of my friend Brig) and gutta (which is a meat dish and Hennessey family recipe) and cinnmon rolls (compliments of Pillsbury Dough Roll -- you gotta cut corners somewhere!) ... YUM! Then, we opened gifts and Hunter went down for a nap, while we showered, getting reading for THE GRANDPARENTS!

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You see, later that afternoon we had ALL the grandparents over for dinner! (Truth be told: they prepared all the food; we provided house, good china, our good company, and CLEAN UP!) Krista's folks and Charlie's folks and Krista's grandmother Mimi, who is Hunter's very cool Great Grandmother and her husband, Great Grand Bob, were all here! Oh my, Hunter just LOVES Grand Bob! Hunter hadn't seen Bob since Easter, but he immediately reached out for Bob to pick Hunter up!

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Hope all is still merry and bright for you all, even in mid-January!

XOXO........................ Krista, Charlie, and Hunter