Christmas

Sometimes I wonder if I should keep up this blog but I always enjoy reading others so I figure I should!  Well life has just been so busy lately.   I have officially hit the stage where it is complete chaos in my house at times.  Trevin is so busy exploring everything and keeps me on my toes.  He loves climbing all the way up the stairs and is always bugging his sister.  He is definitely a boy!  I think we'll have our hands full with him.  He just seems like such a little rascal!  Kara is for the most part potty-trained, unless I'm lazy and leave a pull up on.  :)  She is getting quite the imagination and we enjoy the conversations we can have with her now.  She LOVES to talk!

This month, I've been busy making lots of Christmas cards and have really enjoyed doing it.  I take full advantage of my afternoons while the kids nap and work on them.  I am also really enjoying teaching Kara about Christmas.  I just love how excited she is about everything.  I hate how every cartoon she watches is all about Santa so we are working really hard at teaching her that it's about Jesus' Birthday.  So in light of all the public influence, she proved to me that she understanding.  After seeing all the presents under the tree she asked if those are presents for Jesus?  I said well, yes they are!  Then she asked if Jesus is coming to our house?  Well of course, he's always at our house.  (How do you explain that!)  Later Trevin was of course getting into the presents and she stopped him and said "these presents are for Jesus, don't touch!"  I just loved hearing this!  It's just so fun to teach these things and them actually grasp it.  It just shows how important our role as parents are!  

We are looking forward to spending lots of time with family and starting our own little traditions this Christmas!  

Well here are just a bunch of random pictures from this past month.  

We went to Dell Osso Farms the other night.  Kara was so excited... we got to ride a train around and see Christmas lights.   She even got to sit on Santa's lap which she didn't know what to think of him!  

Our little boy... growing up way too fast! 

It is impossible to get a picture of these two looking at the camera and smiling.  

Not the best picture.. but I made my own stockings!  I love them!  Thanks to my Mom for embroidering the names on them.  

Trevin just starting to climb up the stairs.  

We had Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year.  Just 6 of us...it was so much fun! 

Catching Up!

I know... I have been terrible at keeping up with this blog.  So I'll try to catch up with things a little.   Well Kara is so fun right now.  She talks so well and talks a lot.   I really enjoy having little conversations with her.   We still have plenty of meltdowns but she is understanding that those are not OK with me!  She loves to watch Barney and Dora on TV so I do enjoy those quiet times when she is watching them but have to definitely limit them or else we'll be watching them all day. 

 Trevin, he is just the best little guy ever.  He is so happy most of the time!  He's on a pretty routine schedule and sleeps better then Kara at night now.  He is really wanting to move but I think his weight is limiting his abilities.  At 24 lbs or so he has a hard time lifting up his body but he can sure get around just by scooting and rolling.  He got his first tooth the other day and it looks like there are a few more to come shortly.   He loves his sister and loves to watch her.  He is such a boy though and loves it when Kara plays rough with him.   We find Kara actually stepping on him, rolling over him, or pushing him down and all Trevin does is giggle like crazy. Just wait Kara!   

Last weekend we finally left the valley and drove down south.  It was a very much needed break from the daily routine that we are in right now!  We got to enjoy seeing Danny and Kristi; Michael, Colleen and Ryan; Grandma K; and Steve and Adri and the kids.  We had a wonderful time visiting each family!  It was a very busy weekend and a lot of work but it was totally worth it.  I can't believe how well the kids did.  A DVD player for the car is the best invention ever and well Trevin, he could care less.  He just looked out the window, took little cat naps and watched Kara pretty much the whole drive.   I know next time we travel it will be a complete disaster so I'm glad just this one time went well!  :) 

Adri and I loved watching Mya and Kara play together.  I'm sure our Moms would say they reminded them of us when we were that age.  

The girls playing Ring Around the Rosey.  So cute!

......................Playing Together.....................

I think one of my favorite things right now is watching Kara and Trevin actually play together.  I decided it was safe enough to let Trevin play in the playroom and those two played together for over an hour.  Kara just kept bringing him all of her toys and then reading him books.  Trevin giggles like crazy at Kara and I think she enjoys the audience.  Today she was jumping off the couch and he was just cracking up.  I know this won't last so I am just really enjoying these moments...

Trevin thought this was so fun....until Kara decided to go in there with him. 

Chaotic bath time. 

These toys aren't just fun for Trevin! 

July

Somehow summer has been going by way too fast.  We have enjoyed many fun swim days and Kara loves it.  She is a little dare devil in the water, going down the slide at Aunt Sheri's and attempting to jump off the diving board.  We've learned to always have her floaties on and she does really well with keeping them on so far!  Kara continues to make us laugh everyday, sometimes I think she knows way too much for a 2 year old.  She loves to carry on conversations and her new favorite word is "why?"  Last week she was talking and playing by Trevin and she looks at me and says "I talking to God."  So cute how at so young God is working in her heart already.  Later she told me that Trevin was talking to God too.  We can never eat a meal without praying and we even pray before we eat snacks too at times.  She never forgets!   I am so overwhelmed with joy when I hear these things from her!  

Trevin, well he just continues to get chubbier.  At about 20 lbs we are quickly going through his clothes and the poor guy had to go to church with his shorts unbuttoned cause it was too tight otherwise.  Elastic is the way to go now.  He is starting to roll all over so I'm sure the weight gain should slow down....we hope.   He is the happiest baby though and full of smiles.  He is growing up on me way too fast! 

We try to take a walk everyday, both kids love it.  

Eating his fingers instead of his cereal.  He is so messy when he eats.  

The Beach

We went with Tom's family to Manresa Beach near Santa Cruz.  Besides the freezing temperatures and extremely cold water it ended up being a really nice day.  Kara absolutely loved it and was so busy playing with her cousins in the sand.  

Trevin, Krista and Kylie all taking a nap.  They were all so good that day! 

The Koolhaas cousins!

Kara messing up the hole Dylan was digging.  

Our little beach bums! 

And Summer Begins....

Well I feel like summer has officially begun.  It has finally been warm enough to enjoy a few days at the swimming pool and we are looking forward to many more ahead.  I don't have pictures yet at an actual swimming pool but for a few days Kara enjoyed the blow up pool in the backyard.  Unfortunately it only lasted about a week, good thing it only cost $10.  She starts swim lessons next week which I am looking forward to.  I know she'll hate it but hopefully she catches on and is on her best behavior!  Trevin is still the happiest little guy and smiles and giggles all the time.  He just wants to see what's going on all the time and is so content when Kara is around him.  Although he doesn't like it when Kara cries because he will curl his lip and start crying too.  So sad but so cute!  

Enjoying the exersaucer these days.  

This picture was taken on Grandpa Prin's 99th birthday.  So special! 

Kara's 2nd Birthday and Trevin's Baptism

Well our little girl turned two last week! I felt like this birthday was fun celebrating because she actually had an idea of what was going on. She kept sing Happy Birthday to herself and couldn't wait to open presents. This year we decided to take her to the Oakland Zoo, Mommy probably wanted an outing more than anyone else in the family! We had such a fun time. Kara loved it and walked almost the entire time. Trevin slept almost the whole time so we really got to enjoy it ourselves. I think our favorite part was watching the Chimpanzees!

On Sunday we had Trevin baptized at Escalon CRC. It was a very special day and what a blessing it is to make that promise to God with friends and family by your side. Trevin did manage to scream the whole time which made it very stressful but we got through it! We had some of the family come over after church and then had a little birthday party for Kara since most of her cousins were there.

Trevin is 3 months now and we are really starting to see his little personality come through. He smiles all the time and Kara can always make him smile. It's so cute to see. He is still very chubby and getting very heavy to hold at times! I don't know how much longer I can use that infant carseat of his!

As for Kara, well I know I've loved every stage but this one is so fun! Besides the tantrums here and there she is such a sweetheart of a girl. She is always talking our ear off and picking up on new words/sentences all the time. She is a sponge so we have to be careful sometimes! She is also becoming very independent and wants to do everything herself. She is still always playing outside, almost all day! It's so nice but I feel bad sometimes cause it can be so quiet in the house which I am not use to! Sometimes when we check on her she is busy peaking through a hole in the fence watching the neighbors. Other times her and Bruin are just busy exploring through my flowers and trees.

Here a just a few random pictures of what's been going on at our house!

Baptism

Kara and the girls hanging out!

Kara's yummy cupcakes, we were singing Happy Birthday to her, I don't think she knew how to react.

Kara's birthday present from us. She loves it but always dumps dog food in it.

I don't think he is quite ready for the bumbo but it was so cute to see him sit in it.

Having a conversation together.

May

Well Trevin is already 2 1/2 months already which is crazy!  Kara turns 2 in two weeks which seems even crazier!!  Trevin is our little chunky monkey as he weighs 14 lbs 6 oz at his Dr. appt last week.  He is such a content little guy and I feel so spoiled that he is such a good baby so far.  He is starting to smile all the time and loves to watch Kara.  He even started rolling over from his tummy to his back!  I finally moved him to his crib a week ago at night and our nights have been sooo much better.  More sleep for both of us now, I should have done that in the beginning!  

Kara is still my little helper and insists on holding the bottle when he gets one and always puts a pacifier in his mouth when he's crying.  We finally have some warmer days so Kara has been playing outside all the time now in her sandbox and I am really starting to see her imagination take off.   It gives Mommy a nice break  too when she's out there!  She is also testing me quite often too now.  We started giving her "time outs"  meaning she needs to stand by the wall until I say she can leave.  She usually only has to do this when she hits Trevin.  Well now she has decided to hit Trevin and then voluntarily walks to the wall and says "Sorry  Trevin and Mommy."   Little stinker!  The joys of a toddler I guess!  

I started working again last week and I'd have to say it wasn't as hard as what I thought.  I probably enjoyed the break a little!  

Kenny and Erin's Wedding

Kara was the flower girl for her Uncle Kenny's wedding.  She was a very cute one might I add too!  It was a beautiful wedding up in Three Rivers and perfect weather.  Kara didn't quite make it down the aisle as she got a little stage fright when she looked up at the people .  She did really great for the pictures though so I guess that's all we can ask for from almost a 2 year old.