This and That

So this post will be a smorgasbord of things.  First, we love this cute video of Vivi, it just shows that she is finally learning some new words.  :) 

Last weekend we went camping with our ward.  It was beautiful being up in the mountains and seeing the Giant Sequoia's, but it was sure cold at night.  Luckily we were able to sleep in a cabin instead of our tent.  We have become such wimps here in California.  I think it only got down to 50 degrees, but we were freezing!  Granted it's a lot harder when you have kids that you are trying to keep asleep in the cold.  Vivian did pretty well, but Emma was up and down most of the night. Oh well, it was great to be able to be out and doing something different as a family.  Emma had a wonderful time playing with her new friend "Balyssa" aka Alyssa.  They were inseparatable the entire time.  Too cute. 


Here's some pictures of us on our drive. 

 

Oh, speaking of different things, I took the girls to see a movie in the movie theaters as well last week.  I was truly just in the need to get out of the house and since it was the dollar theater I didn't thin it would be to much of a hardship to just get up and leave if we needed too.  Luckily we didn't need to because both girls sat there throughout the whole movie.  We saw Madagascar 3 and it was a lot of fun.  Emma was the best because, as you can imagine, every time she wanted to say something she would talk at the top of her lunges, "Mom look, it's a Tiger", or she would laugh and explain something to me.  It's pretty impossible trying to get her to whisper when she is excited about something.  Hopefully the other people in the theater just got a kick out her exclamations. 

This past week we started up with our preschool co-op again.  We have a fresh new set of kids, and Emma has sure been excited.  I had the opportunity to teach the first week and it went pretty well.  It's always hard to know what to expect since most of the kids have never been in a structured "classroom" environment/routine.  I think for the most part everyone had a great time and we can't wait for the fun activities we have planned this year.  I hope all the other moms are as excited as I am.  I have sure enjoyed having this opportunity for Emma to be in preschool.  Although she will have experienced 3 years of preschool by the time she enters Kindergarten, I think it has been such a great thing for her.  I has helped her academically of course, but the social aspect, as well as learning to listen to someone other than her mom is so valuable.  It has also given me a chance to use my education as well so it doesn't seem like I am completely losing it. 

Vivian is getting so much better at walking.  She has been taking quite a few steps the last few weeks, but in the last few days she has just taken off.  I will have to get a video to show.  She gets so determined and excited.  Sometimes it seems as if she is surprised that she is still standing.  These kids sure bring us joy.  Gotta love em. 







On a sidenote I have been obsessed the last couple of days.  Mike has been gone on business for the last 3 days, and in order to keep myself busy I have been reading "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" again.  Love "Catching Fire", could do without reading "Mockingjay" again.  I should not ever pick up books because I get obsessed with them to the point of not getting enough sleep, hence why I am going to end this post and go hop into bed while I still have a chance and the girls are napping.  Oh wait, Vivian is stirring, Urgh, my nap will have to wait. :)