Emalee Autum Kennaley's Blessing 7-9-2011

It was a 4 + hour trip down to Orderville this weekend but worth it in every way. The trip was to join up with Matt and Tera and their children as well as Lucy and Terrie and their families for the blessing of Emalee Autum Kennaley. The weather was fantastic as was the scenery. Emalee wore the same dress that her big sister wore for her blessing 10 years ago.



Emalee was so very cute as well as full of smiles and looking for anything and everything to chew on.

The Great Competitor

Yes it appears that there is a new wind of competition blowing in the family, Melissa told me a story of how Calvin was playing baseball (he plays for the METS) the other night when the batter hit the ball back to the pitcher. Calvin was playing third base and one of the base runners was going to go from third to home but the pitcher got confused with several base runners and did not know to throw the ball home for the auto out at home, sooooooo Calvin ran up to the pitcher (and being a gentleman and not wanting to rip the ball from his glove) picked him up and carried him and the ball to home and placed the pitcher on the plate and the runner was called OUT!

Way to go Calvin and a lot safer then chancing a through to home. OH and then he chased the Raptor away.

Introducing EmaLee

Well she arrived a few days early (about 11) and she was 19 1/2 inches at 7 lb 2 oz, and mom and EmaLee are both fine.

Now in Disneyland

Well I am here to say Disneyland is well and I mean very well under reconstruction you can not go 100 feet in any direction with out seeing a wall surrounding some form of construction. The construction is going hard and fast in both Disneyland and California Adventure.

I hope that anyone that is visiting is not a first time visitor as they would miss a good 1/3rd of either park; but the folks at Disney are still charging full price for the tickets. As far as the crowds go they have been very manageable, and yes the rides still have lines kept longer then needed by running less cars, trains, or boats as they could. Yes as much as I love Disneyland I am twice as frustrated by their operating practices. The parks will be all but new when the current reconstruction is completed and that should be sometime in 2012.

DISNEYLAND:
Critter Country; completely closed including Splash Mountain
Main Street; in-front of Train Station, parts of track along Main Street, 2 stores on Main Street
Fantasy Land; one store is under construction as well as one ride is being refurbished
Tomorrow Land; Star-tours
Frontier Land; the Mark Twain is in dry dock

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE:
2012 The new entrance will be named Buena Vista Street a 1920's look and feel of LA complete with the Red Car Trolley
Paradise Pier - 2011-2012
Toy Story Mania! – Opened Spring 2008
Games of the Boardwalk – Opened Spring 2009
Mickey's Fun Wheel – Opened Spring 2009
World of Color – Opened Spring 2010
Silly Symphony Swings – Opened Spring 2010
Goofy's Sky School – Opening 2011
The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure

Car Land - 2012
Yes all our friends from CARS will be found here Lightning McQueen, Sally, Mater, Doc and their friends. Along with three new attractions like floating on Luigi's Flying Tires, dancing to Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and rocket through the desert on Radiator Springs Racers.

The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure - 2011

Goofy's Sky School -2011
Goofy will be our flight instructor,so you know that were in for a wild ride! Inspired by Googy's madcap "How To" cartoon series of the 1940s and 1950's.


So now you see there is a lot going on at Disney California but it also limits the things you can do at the same time; so yes we are looking forward to the end of construction that is currently under way.

Till later see you on Main Street USA

What is happening in Disney Land??

Those of us that remember sitting in front of a small black and white TV in the early 50’s and falling in love with the Mickey Mouse Club and The Wonderful World of Disney. We also remember those appearances of Walt Disney himself telling us of the future and a little place called Disney Land those that are running the place now are going to change the entrance to the California Adventure to a more nostalgic look. The future look will be one that Walt himself would love because in August of 2011 the storefronts’ and entrance will take on the look and feel of the 1920’s of Los Angeles.

When the construction starts in August the entrance will temporarily be relocated to an entrance/exit by Soarin’ Over California. The projected completion of the retro era redressing is set for 2012. For those of you wondering about the shopping well let’s just say you will have to find somewhere else to spend your money as all shops in the area will be closed.

So starting in August 2011 the construction will take about 16 long months and in the end we will all enjoy a fun through back to the Roaring 20’s of L.A.

Calvin has moves

Well May 21^st at about 6:30 pm found me sitting in a very warm Woodscross High School auditorium; waiting for the premier performance of Calvin BARYSHNIKOV Stoneman and his amazing interpretation of a "spur”. The anticipation was long and well worth every second Calvin was HOT! Never in the history of dance has there been a mental image of the rugged western spur portrayed with such soul! Calvin we are not worthy to be in the same auditorium as you ever!

I hope you find these pictures one one-hundredth as cool as his performance.

It's the New Year?

Christmas is over New Years came through without a scratch and Jimmy Buffett released a new album/CD all in all not bad.

Pam and I are doing OK for a couple of Old People (as we are spoken of by Melissa) our bodies are sore and we make all these cracking noises when we move (sometimes when I sit still) I have about 100 gray hairs and a white chopper mustache, there are times that Pam talks to me and I can't hear her - she says I am selective and I way "WHAT?"

Cooper (mini dachshund) still get's too excited when we come home and pee's on us or the floor. Make's ya not all that anxious to come home at times, but he is fun as can be.

Well time to call it quits and go take pills and crawl into bed. I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow bring.

Here are my words of wisdom for 2010" When you wake up DO NOT open your eyes NO open one very small if it doesn't look right fake a moan and roll over and go back to sleep."

6 or 66 Just depends on who is telling the story!

Ethan is now 6 year old!

With a hardy round of Happy Birthday in its not so melodic rendition Ethan was welcomed to the grand old age of 6 years old. Everyone was there with the exception of his dad who is serving in Iraq but Dave did call during the festivities and wished Ethan a happy birthday.

“ E " had a great time getting several fun toys and lots of cake and ice-cream.

Supper "Cooper"

Well this is to announce the newest member of the Kennaley Clan; he is an 8 week old little boy long haired Piebole Dachshund.

He likes to sleep in his crate (travel case) chase anyone that will go slow enough so he can keep up, he enjoys a rub on the belly. Cooper came to us very close to house broke.

The Wonderful World of Family

The past week Pam and I had the pleasure of going to Disneyland and meeting up with my niece and her husband as well as there two daughters. We had a totally great time meeting T and her family we also got to meet some of Dennis' family.

Waiting for the Monorail

On the way for the magic

On the Monorail Pam is riding with two princess's

We could not have asked for better weather we had blue skies and temperatures in the 90's this all added up to full days of family and Disneyland.

Day -

and Night-

Yes there where some rides - - - -

some parades

and some fun foods too.

The Buffett way of life!

The Buffett way of life! (Jimmy not Warren)


When life is moving too fast and everyone is looking for a way to prove their worth in life daily stress and anxiety all too often jumps up and bites you like a shark. You have fins to the left and fins to the right. It’s time to get out of the water.

Jimmy helps us see that life has its ups and downs but for the most part it is and adventure, “Some of its magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.”

I am a happy man as I have a great wife and five wonderful children with five loving spouses that have blessed me and Pam with thirteen grandchildren, so far. Rich with money I am not but you could never have enough coin to buy the joy my family gives to Pam and I.

So if the stress of life is getting to you slip off your heavy old shoes slip on a pair of flip-flops change your daily clothes for a pair of knee length and an old comfy shirt (one with palm trees and parrots if you’ve got one). Sit in a shady place and watch the clouds go by and listen to your dreams. Oh and watch out for that drink at your side one of the kids will come out to see what your doing and most likely kick it all over you.

Well till later …….. take it easy and I just can’t wait to see you again, Come Monday.

Big D

Here come the babies ! !

Well May was a very buisy month with two new grandchildren being born one very petit little girl and a very full bodied little boy. So how bout a few pictures?




Lilly seem an bit sleepy.

Lilly says I'm this big!!

Now for part two....

Introducing

"The baby named Henry"

Henry loves to cuddle, his brothers think he will make a great Mr. Gibbs!

And now part three..... say hi to Madison, this little one brings the count up to 13 grandchildren. She loves to snuggle and has a smile that takes her whole face.