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

Attempt #2

Attempt #3

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!

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"!

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!

First Peas

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!!!

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


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!

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!


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.

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!

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!

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!


and more pictures HERE!

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)


Christopher stopped for a quick snapshot!


Carissa where else but in the dirt!


Cody and hims CHEEESE!


Cailynn enjoying the fresh air!


Cailynn in Mommy's Mei Tai

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!

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!

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!

Cody enjoying hims new bike from hims Nina!

Cody on the old nasty lawn mower with his boots!

Christopher blowing bubbles!

Carissa blowing bubbles!

Carissa teaching Cody how to blow bubbles!

Our three crazy dogs: Shyla, Tank and Gunner!

Gunner is 8 months old today (well he was born on June 30th 2008)!