Cute kids

So I just have to share these cute photos of my girls.  They sure make me smile and bring joy each day.  Viv is super cuddly, and Emma has been in such a lovey mood lately.  She is always giving us hugs and kisses and telling us she loves us.  It has been wonderful.  I'm realizing that she is almost 5 and will be going out onto the big scary world.  I am terrified and I know I'm not going to handle it well.  I am such a control freak and know it silk bee hard to give over my control of her safety and education and influence to other people and kids.  Yikes!  I keep telling her that she need to stay my little girl but she continues to remind me that she's supposed to grow up, and that I shouldn't worry because someday she'll be a mommy and have a little girl and she won't be afraid for her to grow up.  (let's just see about that)  she is getting so big and smart and wise.   :-)

Birthday and family fun

I had a pretty fun and layed back birthday.  I went to time out for women with a couple friends from our ward and then came home and went out to dinner with mike. We were going to go to olive garden, but I was craving a good burger so we ended up at Carls jr .  It just hit the spot.  we then went and got some cheese cake.  Aunt Melodee was kind enough to come and spend her spring break with us and a had a great time with her.  We went out to an animal/nature preserve where they had some beautiful wildflowers out.  It was a nice little walk.  We also were able to go to the la Temple before she had to head out.  We love ya aunt Mel.

Other Winter News

O.K. so I was going through Mike's pictures and found some great ones that I never posted, along with stories to go with them, so I will try and give some extra information regarding what we have been doing the last couple of months. 

In December Mike's work had their annual Christmas party and for the last 2 years they have held it at the local ice skating rink.  They have a little kids section filled with "snow" for those who can't skate.  Mike got these great pictures of Vivian.  Mike is a super great Dad and took Emma out skating on the ice.  I used to LOVE ice skating, but as I've gotten older, as well as my knees, I thought better of skating myself.  :(  We were treated to some nice hot chocolate, pizza, salad, ice-cream, you get the picture.  It was a fun night.  Also, Emma was the Angel in her preschool reenactment of the Christmas Story.

Mom and Melodee came out right before Christmas and we went to the "Calm" to see the lights.  It is a really small zoo.  Here we are with Santa Clause.  The best part is we have a similar photo the last time we went to the calm for Christmas and Emma has the same reaction as Vivian. 

For New Years I was able to attend my Grandpa Cleons funeral, which I am so grateful I was able to be there for, and Mike stayed and watched the kids in Vegas.  Looks like they had a good time while I was gone.  Our sister in law Evelyn's mom came from China for a visit and we were able to meet her while we were in Vegas as well.  She is a very nice lady and although it was VERY difficult trying to communicate (she speaks only Chinese) she just loves children and thank goodness for google translate. 

 

 

 

These pictures were taken at our local park. We just had a fun family day at the park. I sure love this beautiful family of mine. They make me smile everyday. 

All done

So we have been planning on replacing our carpet in the dining room with tile ever since we moved in, but finally got around to it.  We spent a year looking at many different types of flooring, but in the end went to home depot and picked one out in 30 seconds or less.  We were just ready to have it done .    We had so much help from friends and knocked it out in 2 days.  So grateful to have it done, for the help we received.

Help!!!

O.K. everyone I need some serious help.  Our sweet daughter Emma really struggles sometimes and I am at a loss as to what to do.  Bedtime is at 8:00 p.m. in our house, and believe me I have tryed 7:00. So we have a nighttime routine and Emma gets in her bed at 8:00.  She is at the age where she likes to pull every trick in the book to get out of bed, and we try to be consistent with expectations, but it seems like she never actually falls asleep until 9:30 or 10:00.  This would be a problem in itself, but she will still wake up at 6:00, 6:30 every morning.  It doesn't matter when she goes to sleep she WILL NOT sleep in.  She will usually still take a midday nap for 2 hours, but she struggles going down for those as well.  I wouldn't be so concerned except for I KNOW she is not getting enough sleep.  She is cranky and irritable and easily emotional, especiallly when she doesn't get a nap.  We have done Baby Wise sleep training with our kids since they were little, and they have never co-slept.  They have always had a bedtime routine, but Emma just really struggles.  This past week she has also been waking up around midnight just crying and moaning.  I know she is overly tired and I just don't know what to do about it.  I have tried giving her melatonin, but haven't felt good about that since some nights she wakes up with night terrors when I give it to her.  If she's in a new place or gets riled up at all it takes her forever to wind down.  This is just one thing on my mind right now and I don't want to always be the mean mommy who forces her kid to stay in her bed for a nap, but at the same time I know she needs her sleep.  SUGGESTIONS please.  I know every child is different, but especially for those family members who have experience raising children with attention and hyperactivity I would appreciate some advice.  Sometimes it is just so hard being patient and I just want to do what is best for her.  O.K. so I am seriously rambling, but just needed to get that off my chest. 

Gone, baby, Gone!

So my hubby has been traveling a lot this past year.  We were lucky enough to get about a month reprieve, but he had to go out to Minnesota again last week and again this week.  What should have taken 3 days has turned into 5.  We can't wait for him to be home again.  Last week while he was gone his work had a family work party.  The families of the employees were able to take a "tour" of the pilot plant and offices, which are usually on "lock down", think Willy wonkas chocolate factory here.  So, I wanted to go and thought it would be fun for the girls to see where daddy works every day, but mike wasn't going to be home yet.  Anyway I decided to go regardless and I'm glad I did.  Everyone was aware that I was coming by myself and they were very helpful.  Emma made a new best friend in Mikes Co worker Mary.  They colored, got t shirts, pizza, and ice cream.  The best part of the night was that daddy came home right after we did.  Its not fun having him gone, but I am reminded of all those whose spouses are gone far more than mine and it makes me grateful for what we have.
Here are some pictures of us staying busy while dads away.

Here, there, and everywhere

So another thing that has been taking up my time/thoughts is the prospect of moving.  Nothing has ever been sure and isn't still but there has been a lot of speculation, on my part, as to this possibility.  Again, I get obsessed over things.  Well earlier this year Mikes boss approached him with a possible opportunity to get his doctorate.  There was talk that the company could pay for him to go to school and he would continue to work as well.  That job could've taken us to Maryland, Canada, or a few other places.  We still have yet to hear back on any details regarding that so for the time being that option is off the table.
So at the beginning of the year I thought we might be doing that. Then, because mike updated his resume on a job site, he began having all these recruiters calling him with job opportunities.  Let me back up and say that mike really enjoys his job and isn't looking to move, but was just keeping an eye out for interesting possibilities or places closer to home. Anyway, one of those options was in Florida and then another in twin falls.  Mike had wanted to progress in his current job and his bosses have been working very hard to help him.  In order to find the position he was looking for he thought he would have to move.  The options for that were Ohio, Chicago, France, or Switzerland.  By this point I was sure wanting to know what our life held in store.  We figured that we would be moving sometime this year until mike was told of another position of interest here at nestle in Bakersfield, so for the time being we are actually just planning on staying here.  We are hoping he gets this position, but he still has to go through the interview process.  We'll just have to see, but I have sure been on a roller coaster thinking of all the places we could potentially be moving too.  Some fun and exciting options, but we will be content where we are at if this is what the Lord wants for us.

Here are some funny pics of the girls.