my awesome family!!! :-)

We took these last Sept. while in Old Orchard Beach, Maine Finally all together after 3 years!!! :-)

Standing:
Micaiah, Kelly, Daniel, Derek, Dad (Brian), Mom (Debbi), me, Kurt, and Kevin
Sitting:
Caleb, Cody, Jacob
Renee, Madeleine, Gracie and Ivanya

Mom and Dad!!!
Married 27 years today!!!
<3

The older 4

the younger 7

Mom and some of her girls :-)

getting ready :-P

Some awesome, happy news!!!

Back in March Kevin started courting one of the sweetest girls around, Sarah Cook!!! Whoa are we excited about this!!!! Our 2 families have been good friends for several years now so this is absolutely perfect!!!! :-)

Hmmm......

OK, to whoever still keeps up with this thing. In the next few days I will be posting lots!!! I have a few friends and this is their only way of keeping up as far as pictures, etc. go. And I've been getting told that I'm not posting enough. So true!!! Time to give Facebook a little less of my time and get going on this. Sound good?? :-)

Photo links

Hey everyone! I know I promised pictures and......I haven't done it yet. Sorry!!!!! Here's some links to my photo albums on Facebook. Enjoy!!! :-)

New Mexico
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049098&id=1110158052&l=1daa7d196a

ABQ Zoo
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051103&id=1110158052&l=b7a5697e7c

Photo Creations
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049926&id=1110158052&l=d5bb2d3683

My nephews!!!

Big grin!! :-D

My awesome find at Costco the other for half the price I would pay at Wal*Marts!!!! I'm so happy!!! 3 of my favorite movies!!! There is nothing better then BBC!!

NM

Micaiah enjoying his hot chocolate

it snowed my first day there!!!!

Ci watching the snow come down....he loves snow!

helping MomMom make pizza!

cheese!!

Derek wanting to help

Bath time
"It wasn't me it was Caiah!!!"
showing Aunt Kacie-D how serious he can look. :-)

LEAVING!!!!!

The day is finally here!!! Flying out at 1pm today for ABQ, New Mexico!!!! Can't wait to get there and see my family!!!! :-) It's going to be one awesome visit! :-)

Until later my friends!
Ta!

Albuquerque here I come!!!

A week from tomorrow I head out to ABQ, NM to visit my great sister Kelly, awesome bro-in-law DantheMan and 2 adorable nephews Micaiah and Derek!!! I'll be gone for 4 weeks and will NOT miss the weather here at all!!!!
Looking forward to seeing my family!!!!! SUN!!!!! shopping, painting walls-ceilings-etc , ice skating (if I can convince them to go!!) the zoo...if it's open!, warm weather! OLYMPICS!!!!!!! hanging out at night - talking, laughing and fooling around, Lasolita's tacos!!!!!! going without a coat, introducing Kel to the wonderful BBC movie North & South, and whatever else happens!!!! :-)
I'll try and keep all you involved in my blog here up to date with pics!

These are from my last trip out

Happy New Year!!!!

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL!!!!!!!!

May you all have a blessed, happy, wonderful, exciting, peaceful, merry Christmas filled with joy and surrounded by love ones!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
VROLIJK KERSTFEEST!!!!!!

Believe by Josh Groban

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs!
And now youtube finally has the "real" music video for it!
Enjoy!!!!

Vrolijk Kerstfeest Kouwen Familie!!!!

This years Nativity

Last weekend marked our 3rd year doing a Live Nativity. We had some new cast members, my brother Kevin, Lydia T. and some of the Smalley family. Each year there is always something new added to the presentation. A new character, different ways to do a scene, new scenes, more added to the soundtrack , new props, etc. This year a young Jesus (played by Cody) was added along with the verses that talk about how "the child grew in knowledge..." This was after the wisemen visit and before the verses start about why He came. Mary and Joseph walk away from the stable/house with Jesus. Also instead of the cross already being set up 2 guys set it up and hammer it in place. VERY powerful with the verses being spoken at the time and the sound of the hammer.
We had an awesome turn out too!!! Totaling up both nights we had over 200 people!!! Sunday, the last night was so crowded we had to change a couple small things because the crowd was in the way! Instead of us walking up to the cross coming from behind and through the crowd we had to walk in front of them because there was no way to get through them! :-)
Here are some pictures from the weekend.

All the O'Connell cast.

Hanging around waiting to rehearse

Dad with Sassy the donkey
Gotta love the look on his face and that wig!! What a riot!!!

The Heavenly Host waiting their turn during rehearsal

kneeling at the cross at the end of the program

Kevin (Roman Solider)

Kevin and Kurt

Brothers

The guys

Kevin and Ben, the Director/lights/sound guy

Mary and Joseph

Shepherds

Angels

Wisemen

the whole cast

the whole cast in costume for the ending cross scene


some of the gang about to head home on the last night

Live Nativity coming up!

The poster for this years Nativity.
And in case you're wondering that's Dad with me...wearing a wig!!!!! :-)