Friday, September 4, 2009

Six years ago... Christopher entered this world!

Happy 6th Birthday my little man! 6 years ago you made me a Mommy for the first time! 6 years ago you showed me how big my heart can be! 6 years ago you made Daddy such a proud Daddy! Our live is so much richer with you in it! You have such a calm nature about you. Your smile simply melts every inch of my heart! It amazes me that you are already in 1st grade and that you are 6 years old. It really feels like yesterday that we welcomed you into this world. I remember that day so clearly. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest the very second I saw you! We love you so much little man!!
From Christopher's 6th Birthday

Friday, August 28, 2009

Craft Time for Carissa

Today Carissa and I had the perfect opportunity to have a little craft time just her and I. I loved watching her in such deep thought while she was painting the caterpillar (aka egg carton). This was such a great craft for her. She surprised me with her patience and she followed direction so well. We are definitely going to plan to make craft time during our week. She showed that she is more than ready to do it and is capable of following direction and it will allow her to get in touch with her ever growing creative mind. All that know Carissa know how creative and busy that mind is! I hope that you enjoy these pictures of our craft time!

First we painted:
From Craft with Carissa


Then decorated:
From Craft with Carissa


From Craft with Carissa


And here is our finished project:
From Craft with Carissa

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

1st Day of 1st Grade Update

Christopher was full of smiles when he he opened the door from his class room and saw that Mommy was standing there waiting for him. It was too cute when he had asked me if I waited outside all day for him. His teacher seems to be a wonderful lady and I introduced myself and asked how Christopher was. She said he was an absolute pleasure and she is sure that that they are going to have a great year. Christopher was eying this Kindergarten teacher so we had to say hello to her as well. Mrs. Hofmann is an absolutely amazing teacher and I am so glad that she lead Christopher's first experience of grade school. She really paved and awesome path for Christopher and I am sure that Mrs. Blacke will too. Cheers to an amazing school year.

On a side note I am extra excited as I am only working part time and plan on volunteering for the PTA this year. I want to be "that Mom". I am so thrilled to have this opportunity and I am sure that I will fully enjoy it as well Christopher as atleast while he is young.

First Grade here we come!

How is it possible that Christopher has headed off to 1st grade? It just amazes me that my oldest is already in first grade. I know that doesn't seem like a big deal to those that are sending their first born to high school or college but let me tell you it is! I asked Christopher yesterday what would he like for breakfast and he decided on pancakes. So pancakes it was! He ate great and was just so excited to go to school today. I think i was just as excited. I love to see the smile on his face and I love to see him interact with all his friends. Christopher is such a clone of my Mom and it makes me so happy. He makes friends with everyone he meets. Puts a smile on his face and will say hi to everyone. He is such a calm-natured loving little man and for that I am so proud.

Enjoy a few pictures of his first day of 1st grade!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Happy 4th Birthday Carissa!

My sweet Carissa is 4 years old! Where has the time gone? I mean seriously! It feels like just yesterday I was walking in the hospital ready to have her!!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Cailynn has her 1st TOOF!

During one of my many exploratory feel of the gums I finally felt was I was looking for! A TOOF! Cailynn got her first toofer! It does not even seem like she could possibly be old enough to have a tooth already! It was her bottom right. Unfortunately the little booger will not let me get a picture of her pearly edge of a tooth so this picture of her just being extremely so stinkin' cute will have to do!
From Happy Girl Cailynn

Monday, April 13, 2009

Happy Easter 2009

If I had only one word to describe our Easter it would be WONDERFUL! Staying up until 3:00 A.M. that morning probably wasn't the best idea but the Easter Bunny had to wait until all the kids were soundly tucked away (which happened to be about 11:30 P.M. due to Christopher's excitement) and then the filling and dividing of the basket fun began! Before my eyes even began to get use to being shut I heard the morning commotion of "The Easter Bunny came! The Easter Bunny came!" So back up it was to see what the sneaky Easter Bunny left.

It only took about 2 seconds for the kids to take everything out of the baskets that had been so carefully put in them but all was fun!

After all that excitement it was time to get ready to go to church. Christopher was really excited to be going to church. He is an amazing little man. At the age of 5 he already has such a strong relationship with God. He really inspires me to get a better relationship with him myself. We met Terry, Kristen and Amberly at church and it was a really nice, fun service. I definitely see this as a new spiritual journey our family is heading down. Here is a picture of us outside after services.


After church we all came back to our house and the kids thoroughly enjoyed the Easter Egg Hunt! I don't know which one had more eggs but they enjoyed the hunt so much! After all the excitement it was time to sit down and enjoy our Easter Feast as Christopher called it. It was all mouth watering from the Honey Baked Ham to the Strawberry Pie!

We really had a wonderful 2009 Easter!

To Enjoy the rest of the pictures of our wonderful Easter CLICK HERE!!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Green, Yellow, Blue, Pink Purple, oh my!

As the kids get older it seems like the fun just is beginning. Christopher always has this look of excitement, Carissa can't wait to do the next fun thing, and Cody just smiles and goes with the flow. We colored eggs today and I can truly say that it was one of the most fun times we have had doing a project with the kids. It could have been because there was extra help. It could have been that the kids were really into it. Whatever it was we had a BLAST!
CLICK HERE for all our Easter Egg Dying Pictures!




Friday, April 10, 2009

Bad Boys! Bad Boys!

We got home yesterday and unloaded the kids. When we went around back the edivence of the Boys doings was APPARENT! Gary tells me to go around back and look at my rose bushes. So I go and ofcourse the boys (Tank and Gunner) follow like nothing is wrong. I took one look and gasped! All my beautiful bloomed roses are GONE. Poof Gone! There were a few petals of the missing roses on the ground.
Gary and I turned around and asked them which one did it. Neither fessed up at first but then Gunner let out the pee works. When he gets nervous he just pees! So I knew right there and then that he was the guilty one. We told him no and that these were OFF limits and he just peed some more. LOL
Every plant I have gotten these doggies have eaten. I wouldn't have thought roses taste good but apparently they taste as good as they smell. We have a few roses getting ready to bloom on each bush. So we will see what happens to them. My poor roses didn't even know what they had coming for them.

Bad Bad Boys!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Carrots for Cailynn

We tried carrots and YAY! Another one that agreed with her! I think our days of her getting extremely gassy are OVER! I say that with such a relief. Now don't get me wrong the girl can still pass the loudest gas out of all my children but now she does it with a smile on her face! I see her taking after Daddy already!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Giddy Up says Carissa

Today Carissa had her first ride on a horse! A can see this being the start of a new addiction for my sweet little princess. She is going to be the kid you ask "What did Mommy and Daddy get for you for your birthday little girl" and her reply is going to be "A New Horsey"!

I knew she was going to have NO fear and that is exactly what she had. She was so eager to just jump on the horse not caring how wild or crazy or big it was to her.

She wasn't too fond of the helmet but told her without it she wasn't riding. So the helmet made it through the whole ride! Her she is sporting the cute little helmet.
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She was in heaven just going around and around.
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Look at my very proud girl! She makes me so proud.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Our Crazy Little Monkeys

After Cailynn was done with her yummy bananas all of the monkeys came out and wanted a picture together. I thought how fun. I haven't gotten a good picture of ALL four of them in awhile. Well, apparently I wasn't going to get one tonight either. Click after click and all I got were funny faces! It was pretty funny and I couldn't help but laugh at their cute little funny monkey faces!

Attempt #1
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Attempt #2
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Attempt #3
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Bananas for my Little Monkey

Well, tonight Cailynn tried bananas and Cailynn loved them! I try to introduce a vegetable and then a fruit and then another vegetable and then another fruit. Cailynn was super gassy as an infant so I try to take things slowly with her. I waited a little longer for bananas. It was always a first with the others but the thing with bananas is that it is a favorite around here no matter what the form! I tried to make sure I was feeding Cailynn while the other kids were playing their little hearts out. Cailynn was on her last few bites and here comes Carissa. She gives me that look like I know what those are and say Mommy I want some! Reminding you this is a 4 year old that wants to eat her itty bitty baby sisters dinner! Carissa just blinked her pretty big eyes and I couldn't help but give her a bite. Cailynn was not thrilled with that because it meant I wasn't shovelling it in her mouth fast enough! Needless to say the whole banana size 1 container was gone! As always there is a picture of Cailynn trying her first bananas!

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Monday, March 30, 2009

And Who Thought Pink was pretty?

Who ever said pink was a pretty color never saw a 2 year old and an almost 6 month old with pink eye! Today when Cailynn woke up I took one look at her and couldn't help but feel so sorry for my poor little girl. She could barely open her eyes but she still thought that we were the funniest things she ever saw. I made her an appointment to see the doctor and sure enough when we went to pick the kids up there they were both Cailynn and Cody with booger eyes!!!

So seeing my kids with these horrible boogery pink eyes just gives a whole new meaning to "Pretty in pink"!

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Sunday, March 22, 2009

Squish Squash

Cailynn hasn't made any of the funny faces the others did when we have introduced the different baby foods. Carissa was my major sour face baby making the worst gag me faces ever. Cailynn just takes them in and eats them. No questions asked or funny faces! But she actually had this eagar feed me attitude with her Squash!!! She LOVED them! We found a favorite!
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Thursday, March 19, 2009

First Peas

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Can you tell what is on Cailynn's face? Yep! She was a good girl and ate all her yummy peas!!! I was expecting this face letting me know that they tasted as horrible as they smell (this coming from someone that hates peas and to think I am making my little defenseless baby girl eat them! Atleast she enjoyed my torture!

You want to see more of the Cailynn-Bean eating more and even holding her fork CLICK HERE!!!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Just Hangin' Around

This weekend we didn't really do much but hang around like a bunch of monkeys. I managed to do about 5 loads of dirty laundry. Did I manage to put it away is another story. The kids played with their battery powered cars/trucks and stopped for a quick second for a picture
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Yesterday Michael and Liz came over to just hang around with us and brought Bruiser over. Gunner and Bruiser played hard! Cailynn for the first time fell asleep in her Mei Tai! It felt so nice to have her sleep on me like that. She is not a real big cuddle bunny so I definitely snuggled her up!
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Liz took a family picture of us just lounging around on the front porch. Of course Gunner had to have his big white butt in it!
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Today we were cleaning up the yards and Gary managed to get the 50 year old forklift stuck in the dirt (ok it isn't 50 but looks like it). It was pretty funny.
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Good thing Michael and Liz were here again to help get it out. Liz arranged wood planks and we were able to push it out! It was definitely a funny moments. It would have been a great picture the 4 of us pushing this 3000 pound fortlift out of the dirt.

Ofcourse it is 9:30 Sunday night and I am not ready for Monday. I am never ready for Monday. It just comes way too fast! I still have clothes in the dryer. I probably won't get those put away either but hey... atleast they are clean right!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Just Horsing Around

Yesterday Liz and I went horseback riding courtesy of her friend Michelle. We had an absolute blast! I have never ridden a horse before. Only pampered and fed them. How am I going to wait until I own my own property to buy myself my own horse? I had not had that much fun in so long! I just can not wait to do it again! Carissa loves horses just like her Grandma Terry does so I will be putting her in lessons as soon as possible. I just know that she is going to have so much fun and I just know she is going to be that child that gets her own pony for her birthday!

Let me tell you about the experience itself. The horse I ride was a young 3 year old most well behaved little boy ever! He must have known how much I was going to need him to listen to me because he followed my every command. Thanks to this little fellow I want a horse of my own and I can not wait until that day comes. Until then I am going to have to settle for other peoples horses! Michelle is going to have to beg me to stop wanting to ride him!

Here are a few pictures. Enjoy. So see the rest of them CLICK HERE!

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Monday, March 9, 2009

Apple a Day...

Keeps the doctor away! I have always waited about 5 months to introducing solids to my little ones and I really wasn't as ready as Cailynn was. Can some one please explain to me how 5 months has already gone by? I mean really! So tonight I decided it was time to branch off the rice cereal meal and introduced our little Cai-bear to Applesauce. Surprisingly no give me give me give. But she didn't stop me from feeding her either! She was able to eat about 3/4 of the jar before she had enough and started to play with her food.

Here is the Cai-bear enjoying!
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and more pictures HERE!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Family Hike

Today we went on a family hike up to Corriganville here in Simi. It was really nice to get out and hike trails that are challenging, and being surrounded by nature with a bit of history in it. Corriganville was used as a western setting for hundreds of movies and TV shows in the 1940's and 50's, and the park wreaks history of the old west in Hollywood.

It spawns 190 acres and it offers visitors several recreational activities, hiking trails, picnic areas, park benches, restrooms, and drinking fountains. Some of the trails and open areas have old foundations with plaques that describe what once stood there.
There are several trails to choose from. You will see lot's of trees, rock formations, small creeks, caves, amazing terrain and of course wildlife. Of course I brought the camera around to catch some of the fun we had on our hike! Hope you enjoy!

To see the whole hike CLICK HERE!

Picture of the Gang!
(left to right - Christopher, Grace, Carissa, Elizabeth and Cody)
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Christopher stopped for a quick snapshot!
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Carissa where else but in the dirt!
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Cody and hims CHEEESE!
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Cailynn enjoying the fresh air!
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Cailynn in Mommy's Mei Tai
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Saturday, March 7, 2009

Driving School Update!

I did it. I started driving school or as Christopher says "Mommy went to boating school" (Thank you Spongebob Squarepants). I was so nervous! I really thought I was going to be too nervous to drive. My instructor which Christopher noted did not look like Ms. Puff came promptly at 3:15. I got in the driver seat and stayed there for 2 hours! It was so liberating to drive! I really felt good! Of course my heart was in my stomach at all times especially because it was a beautiful day and everyone in town took the opprotunity to go for a walk with their Fido. But amazing y I didn't run anyone over! It was a good driving day and everyone lived! I was so excited with my new skills I asked Gary if I could drive us to PetSmart and I did!! I am going to attempt to drive us to Best Buy today! Fun Fun!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

No Rhyme or Reason

So of course Mommy got the kids cold. On Wednesday I absolutely had no voice. Everyone just thought it was hilarious that the chatter box Nicki could not talk. By Thursday I had no voice, my throat felt like it was on fire and my head felt like it was about to explode and I was about to have an out of body experience. Needless to say work was just out of the question. So I had Gary take the kids to Oma and went Christopher to school. I managed to sleep until 11:00A.M. Boy did I need that. I took a long HOT bath after and just lounged the rest of the day. Gary called at 4:00 to see how I was going and it was the first time I attempted to talk and my voice was coming back. He didn't mention anything about surprising me. I guess that is the point now isn't it. Gary picked up the herd and went to the store to buy dinner and came home with a fun surprise of red roses! Is he the best or what!
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Sunday, March 1, 2009

Weekend Recap

It was pretty much a nice relaxing weekend here in the Volkmar house. We cleaned (ok ok Gary cleaned) the kitchen a few times, I cleaned the livingroom a few time and right now ofcourse it doesn't look like it but that is the joy of having 4 kids 5 and under! Saturday the kids were all battling this nasty flu/cold bug. It got the best of Christopher during the week and got the best of Carissa on Saturday. Cody and Cailynn have the cold now. This is Cailynn's first cold. My poor little girl.
Today, Sunday we had a pretty productive day. I started preparing my first Spring area project. Pretty much got the weeding done and that was the hardest part. Now need to mulch it. Then the sweet sod and flowers will come. I am hoping to do that next weekend. While I was weeding and raking the kids were helping me and also doing bubbles. Well, actually they were all over the place. Front yard, back yard, side yard. Everytime I looked they were somewhere else. I did happen to get a few cute shots of them and the dirty ol' doggies. One time I was looking for Cody and it was so funny. At one point he decided to go in the house and take his VANS off and put Christopher's old cowboy boots on. Cody has taking ownership of these boots and they are Cody Blake from Tennessee's boots now.
Before I go to clean the livingroom (yes, it is 9:00P.M. now) I will leave you with the weekend pictures.
My friend Bekah made me this awesome Mei Tai and Cailynn have her first try in it!
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Cody enjoying hims new bike from hims Nina!
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Cody on the old nasty lawn mower with his boots!
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Christopher blowing bubbles!
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Carissa blowing bubbles!
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Carissa teaching Cody how to blow bubbles!
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Our three crazy dogs: Shyla, Tank and Gunner!
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Gunner is 8 months old today (well he was born on June 30th 2008)!
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Friday, February 27, 2009

Who is that lady with glasses?

So I am not one to wear glasses but I figure with allthe change I am doing like getting my permit, got a new cell phone, why not get glasses when I was at the Optometrist. Of course I got more contacts too but now my poor little eyes can rest!

Check me out!
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Jolly Jumping Cailynn

Last night I had a ton of laundry to put away and Cailynn has become quite the spoiled little princess. But how do you not spoil the little thing that just smiles from ear to ear when you make eye contact with her. So I decided why not try the jumper? I put her in her and it was way to low. Poor little girls knees folded under her. I get Gary to help me adjust the dang thing and then she starts to go boing boing (is that even a word?)! Loving it! She stayed in there for an hour while the other kiddos decided it was who can make the most funniest face time. Here are pictures of last night.


Happiest little girl in her jumper!
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Ofcourse I had to take a bunch of her first time in her jumper. To see her jumper fun CLICK HERE.

Even under the weather Christopher wants to make a funny!
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Crazy crossed eyed Carissa with her juice mustache!
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Big Eyed Cody in on the fun too!
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All three crazy kiddos!
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So that was last night. Well tonight I was changing Cailynn and she was just laughing at me so I decided to pull out the camera. She was cracking up! Boy, is she a ticklish little lady!