Quick Update & November 2016

I can't believe that it has already been 5 months since the last time I wrote.  Life keeps going and things keep changing.  At the beginning of December, I was asked to take over as church librarian, which took quite a bit of my time at the beginning.  I am really enjoying it, although I do think that is probably why I haven't found time for blogging in that time.  However, I am determined to start blogging again as I really like keeping track of our family activities.

The biggest highlight of our family right now is that Kyle started a new job this past week as Controller of a local hospital/therapy center.  It is only about 30 minutes away, with no freeways, so the time shouldn't change much from day to day.  His previous job in Orange was taking about 1:15 each way, so this will be a huge improvement for him.  In addition, this role of Controller is something he looks forward to and overall we hope it will be a good change for our family in many ways.

We are also house hunting right now.  We are looking for something close to where we are, but maybe a little bigger and there are a couple of things we want different (such as no power lines hanging over our house).

I don't like leaving gaps in the blog, so my plan is to due monthly posts until I get caught up and then go to every-other week for posting family updates and pictures.  I was looking at my last post and I can't believe how much the kids have changed already since then.  Hopefully I will be able to remember why I took the pictures. 😊

Kyle has been working with Brooklyn for a while to bike without training wheels.  She is doing well, it is more a matter of not getting out often enough for her to build on her skills.  She still needs to learn to stop (in April), but her are some pictures of one of her first times trying it out.

Pretending to take the training wheels off by herself.

The big girls had a fundraiser at school in November where they had to run and see how many laps they could do.  Katelyn ended up with 11 laps and I think Brooklyn was maybe 1 lap less in the 30 minutes that they ran.  Madison, Kyle & I were able to go watch them.

Brooklyn is in the center behind two boys waving as they wait to start.

An excited Katelyn.

Brooklyn running with Auntie Lisa (aka the music teacher)

Madison also ran with Auntie Lisa.

We went to visit my cousin who lives on a dairy during the week of Thanksgiving when there was no school.

Brooke & Madison on my grandparents old swing-set I used as a kid.

Madison looking at the cows.

And here are a few random photos from the month.

Date with Mom & Katelyn.  We went and spent some of her birthday $, including a trip to In'n'out.

Brooklyn & Cousin Micah climbing on my Uncle Kenny when he was visiting from Michigan.

Katelyn & Kyle working on a puzzle.  Photo Credit: Brooklyn

Photo Credit: Brooklyn  (need I say more?)

My heart is so full.

Halloween and Katelyn Turns 7!

This was the week that I had been looking forward to and dreading for a long time.  Monday was Halloween, Tuesday was Katelyn's birthday, Friday we were throwing Katelyn a birthday party and Saturday we had family pictures with my side of the family.  Way too many things going on compared to our normal pretty low key schedule.

Sunday afternoon was the best time for us to carve our pumpkins.  As usual, we pulled the cars out of the garage and that was our workspace.  The big girls drew their own faces which they then had Daddy cut out for them.  Madison just colored on her pumpkin.

Monday, the girlies got dressed up and then we headed over to Grandpa & Grandma's house for dinner and trick-or-treating with cousin Micah.  We had a Snow White (Madison), Fancy Nancy (Brooklyn), and detective (Katelyn).  Fancy Nancy is a popular book series for those of you who might not have young girls.  She dresses super 'fancy', which might appear to be a little outlandish to adults.  The girls all really ended up liking their costumes.  I made Katelyn's cape - she really enjoys reading mysteries.

My mom, Me, cousin Jessie (the Unicorn), and sister Laura walking around the neighborhood with the kiddos.  (Kyle was behind the camera, no hat)

Jessie & the kiddos.

My little blur of a princess.

After Trick-or-Treating, the kiddos all got asked to be a part of Jessie's wedding next summer!  Three flower girls and a ring bearer!

Tuesday was Katelyn's 7th birthday!  We celebrated in the morning and then took the girls to school (rather than taking the bus) because Kyle had to work in LA that day and usually get home later on LA days.  The first thing the big girls did when they woke up the next morning was check out their candy buckets from the night before.

 

Birthday breakfast!

  

The girls ended up matching for school that day.

Madison needed to be in a picture too.

 Madison and I also made a trip up to my sister's salon that day so I could have my hair done before family pictures.

She enjoyed her time playing on the i-pad and eating gummy bears.😊

The following Friday night, we threw Katelyn her first Birthday party with school friends.  She invited all of the girls in her class and a couple from last year.  The party was a 'pretend' or 'almost' sleepover, with a 'Night Owl' theme.  The girls came for dinner, games, dessert and a movie and then headed home after the movie, already dressed in their pjs.  We ended up with 8 girls, plus our 3.  My mom also came to help out.  I have included some pictures below, but I generally try not to post pics of other kids faces.

Making owl masks.

Madison hanging out with Daddy

Game time (Saran wrap ball with candy that needs to be unwrapped)

Cake!

Movie time - they 'watched' The Parent Trap.

The finished masks!

Saturday afternoon we had pictures with my Mom & Step-dad and Sister & her family.  Madison decided that naps are no longer necessary that day, so pictures went ok, but not great.  I might post some another day.  After pictures, we went out to dinner at Chick-fil-A, in part to celebrate Katelyn's birthday with the family.  We ordered ice cream as a special treat.

She is so cute.

But she makes huge messes.  There was ice cream everywhere.

That night we went to bed early.  I was exhausted after such a busy week.

October 2016 - Weeks 3 & 4

Tuesdays are currently the only day that Madison and I are home just the two of us.  Kyle works from home usually three days a week and Brooklyn is also home two days a week.  Madison and I get to enjoy relaxing days at home.  When we don't have errands to run, we often go for bike rides or walks. 

One particular Tuesday I needed to run to the store, but my car battery was dead, so we ended up walking.  Madison walked (or ran) almost the entire way there and back.

Playing chalk why we waited for the battery to be replaced.

We have been invited to quite a few birthday parties lately.  We went to an indoor playground for a party of one of Brooklyn's friends and the girls had a blast.  Katelyn didn't have school that day, so she came along too.  I think we will definitely be making it back to this place.

These slides were fast

Brooklyn in the middle, Madison top right

Katelyn playing in the net.

I took all the girls to the dentist and Brooklyn really wanted to pose by the windows outside.

Brooklyn had pumpkin day at school. Each month there is a themed day at the end of the month where they rotate classrooms and do all sorts of fun activities.  I was able to go for a couple hours in the morning before I needed to work.  If you ask Brooklyn what her favorite thing about school is, she always says "art."  I think it shows in these pictures that she loves it.

Always with the tongue out when concentrating.

The week following this was crazy for me as we had Halloween and Katelyn's birthday and we threw Katelyn a party.  I will try to get the pictures up for that in later this week.