Mrs. Kenney

I love my new job. I really do love going to work each day. But the problem is that I loved my old job too. As everyone gets ready to head back to school after summer break I am realizing just how much I will miss my students, my co-workers, my school and my ministry there. 

I'm no longer Mrs. Kenney all day long. I'm Rylee now and it's a real adjustment. To all of my students who are reading this, you have touched my life in more ways than you could ever know. You welcomed me into your community with open hearts, you were gentle on me as a first year teacher, and you challenged me daily. My life is so much better because you were in it. Thank you for your presence in my life those two short years and you need to know that I am praying for you every single day. I'm Rylee to you now too and I'm pretty excited about that.

Last Bostonian Life

In our last week in Boston, we treated ourselves to a date night. Babysitter and everything (thanks Jessica!). A night on the town with the man that I love in a city I had come to call home. It was bittersweet in every, single way. We enjoyed dinner in the North End, meandered through the city, enjoyed the lights of the city at night and even went to the top of the Hub. It was a great night and a crazy school night at that!

A long, long time ago

I can still (barely) remember...

I figured after posting Gemma's fake 8 month update, I should post some pictures of what she actually looked like at 8 months. Digging back I realized we actually went to the beach that day. (A nod to you, cell phone technology.) It ended up being a freezing memorial weekend beach trip but the company was the best and that's all I'll ever remember. Even now as I write this I am getting emotional missing these fine folk, can everyone just move to DC now?

We had to head to the car after a bit to warm Gemma up but we made good use of the time. And in the end she was just as zonked as she would have been from a warm beach day, I know it! But next time bathing suits instead of sweatshirts for sure!

Gemma- 8 Months

Gemma Brigid turned 8 months old on May 26th. For the record for those of you hold pause all clocks in the summer, it is July 16th. Whoops. And even more absurd is the fact that I made Gem pose for her 8 month pictures the day after she turned 9 months old... Zoops. And worst of all is that we really struggled to get a smiling one with the headband. So sue me.

 Gemmas favorite toys are things she sees mom and dad using; dishes, cell phones, keys, combs, etc. It takes a lot to get one of the million toys we own to entice her.

 Believe it or not, she's a really happy boog. She babbles more than anything in 8 months and has become so expressive!

 This picture is wildly deceiving. Before she turned 8 months she could barely pull up on all fours, and when she did she would only use it to look around and then lunge forward. Don't take this to mean that she wasn't mobile because this girl is a force and if she wants something, she will find a way to get it. But in 8 months she was doing to cutest thing, she would get to something with a mixture of rolling and flailing until she could finally reach. It was a painfully slow, but adorable, process.

 Gemma grows increasingly less interested in this headband each month. Dad tried so hard to keep her from pulling it off but she is far too curious and stubbornly independent. At this point we have devised a few tips and tricks to get her to keep a bow in the hair but it's only still 50% successful.

 She is able to pull herself up into a sitting position and get back to the floor as well.

 More than anything Gemma loves the phone and FaceTime. 

 Her hair is fluffy and never lays flat.

 She's tried lots of homemade baby purees at this point and loves apples the most. Bottle or baby food, she is the most distracted eater, such a mess. 

 This sweet girl of ours learns something new every day , and loves Raffi more than mom and dad combined. Thank God for Raffi in the car.

Gemma Takes a Dip

My mom sent a summer care package our way and inside was the best treat, a Gemma sized pool! We were so excited to give it a go and finally put that watermelon goodness to use and cool off in this awful DC heat.

So she was excited about sunscreen and then altogether unsure about the water and then decided to give it a try and was pretty content and then seemingly out of nowhere she hated the fact that we wouldn't let her pull herself up on the side (worst parents ever) and was excited to be out, naked, and wrapped in a towel. 17 minutes of a day in the life.

Old Town

It's been a million years since I've tended this blog and it's time for me to wipe the cobwebs and trim the bushes so we can spruce this place up a bit. So much has happened in the past month keeping us incredibly busy in an emotionally draining way but those things that kept us busy provided so much joy too. He gives and He takes away, you know? I've been struggling to go back and post all that's happened, it felt unnatural to jump back in at the beginning. So instead, here's a current post from last weekend, Torey and Meredith stayed with us for the 4th and we went to Old Town Alexandria for the day on Saturday.

It was a day spent wandering in and out of shops with an iced coffee in hand. I love the charm of this town; the brick sidewalks, old row homes, and flags on every door are to melt for, on the water at that! Aside: buy a stroller that doubles as a mini-van so you can shove it full of all your purchases.

Since I've last blogged this one sprouted two teeth!

 Missing you Stephen.

Perhaps the best part of moving further south is that Aunt Torey can drive up for a weekend!

 Thanks Old Town, you can count on us to be back very shortly.