Thursday, December 24, 2009

Cookie Decorating

The Kyllos and us go way back. We knew each other before we had any children, now they have 6, we have 5. They recently moved back to the area, and we have had a chance to catch up and enjoy their company. The kids are 10, 8, 8, 6, 6, 4, 4, 2, 2, 6 mo, and 2 mo. Our kids are very close in age and get along great. Thanks Melinda for inviting us to decorate cookies, we had a great time!
The Wilkinson and Kyllo clans

Look at those beautiful cookies


Ellie showing off her candy cane



Sarah and Audrey


Grace with a BIG smile


Olivia, Ellie, and Clara


Cookie decorating in action.








Josh's birthday








Josh turned 34 this week. We celebrated at breakfast, lunch, and dinner....breakfast was at home: eggs, bacon, toast, Starbucks coffee. Lunch was teppan yaki, this was our girls first time and they really enjoyed watching the chef and eating all that yummy food. Dinner was just a few friends at Daily Grill. My favorite part of Josh's birthday was when he told me, "Man, I'm the luckiest man alive!"

Merry Christmas 2009!

I thought about not writing a letter this year, as nice and easy as that sounded I just couldn’t do it. I know you would probably give me enough credit (having 5 kids seems to give me a free pass on almost anything) for just getting the picture out but the over achiever that I am (NOT!) couldn’t do it. I’ve come to love the process of thinking over the year and its’ highlights.

In June, we welcomed Joel Robert into our family. Having a little boy around has been so much fun. He is definitely outnumbered but seems to fit right in. There is never a lack of arms to hold him. Audrey and I had bets he would be crawling by Christmas but as it gets closer I don’t think that will happen. He is a chubby, happy little boy, he rolls all over the place, drools like crazy (no teeth yet), smiles and giggles.

I am enjoying my life as a full time mommy. Managing the household and kids keeps me plenty busy. I sometimes get to end of the day and wonder what I have accomplished, but I’m constantly reminded that the kids grow up fast and before we know it, the house will be clean and quiet, the laundry won’t be so daunting, and I will miss it ALL. In my free time I do enjoy hanging out with friends & family, helping in the girls’ classrooms, hosting life group in our home, going to the gym, reading a good book, trying a new recipe, blogging, and facebook.

Josh still works for Kaweah Construction Company as a District Manager and Vice President. Old Pops (Josh’s grandpa) lives just a few miles from us so we enjoy frequent visits and dinners at San Joaquin Gardens.

Audrey started 3rd grade this year. She turned 8 in July. This summer she cut her hair and donated it to Locks of Love. She continues to really enjoy school. This fall she decided to go out for the cross country team. She successfully ran in several meets and made it to the City Finals. She loves reading and writing, playing teacher, cooking with mom in the kitchen, and playing with our 2 dogs, Gabby and Scout (we call her our dog whisperer).

Ellie turned 6 this year and started 1st grade. She enjoys school too, and really loves her teacher. She is almost as tall as Audrey and gets lots of attention for her height. She is anticipating the loss of her two front teeth sometime in the near future. She is sweet, sensitive and loves routine. She is a good listener and such a good helper. She loves to do her homework next to Joel in his bouncy seat. She is an early bird, always the first one up and ready for the day.

Olivia is almost 5. She started pre-school this fall. As excited as she was to go to school like her sisters, she would really rather stay home and play with mommy. She writes her name beautifully. She loves anything her big sisters are doing, but has a very independent spirit about her. I really have to keep tabs on her because she would change her clothes 6 times a day if I let her. She is very loving; her big brown eyes have a way of sparkling when she talks. She was acting goofy the other night and I told her I wanted her to calm down, and she quickly responded, “Mom, don’t you want happy kids?”

Grace just turned 2. Last year when I wrote our Christmas letter she wasn’t walking. At 17 months she FINALLY started walking. She started talking right around her b-day this year and she hasn’t stopped. She is learning new words and expressions everyday. She was doing something the other day and I heard her say, “Oh man!” She loves: her baby brother, trying to keep up with her big sisters, wearing any pair of shoes she can find, swinging, singing, and praying (especially the “amen” part).

We rejoice often for incredible family and friends, God’s amazing grace, and the hope, peace, and joy only He can bring. We pray this letter finds you and your family well, Merry Christmas!

Love,
The Wilkinson Family



Friday, November 20, 2009

My birthday

Audrey
Olivia
Ellie, grrrr!

Grace



The girls and all my presents




Ellie and Addie acting silly in the double stroller.





I had a birthday last week. I turned 34 and spent the weeks leading up to my birthday in and out of the chiropractor and vein doctor offices. 34 felt significant because my body is proving it's not as strong as it once was. Oh well, we all get old, I'm feeling better and have vowed to try my best to take care of myself not just because I hate going to the doctor but because I have 5 small people who really need me (and one big person). I had a good birthday, Josh and Addie cooked me a fabulous dinner (filet and shrimp) and we had a quiet (not really) evening at home. The girls bought me new gym clothes, Josh framed some new family photos for me. It was a good day!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Halloween and Grace's b-day

As we got ready for Halloween this year, my sister, Lesley came to visit and eagerly volunteered to do the pumpkin craving with my kids. Geeezzzz she's awesome! She helped each girl carve the perfect pumpkin, the only problem was there was still a week til Halloween. The jack-o-lanterns took center stage on the front porch but unfortunately had to be tossed before Halloween because they were ozzing weird liquids :) Grace's birthday was October 25th, so after pumpkin carving we celebrated with Famous Dave's take out and an ice cream cake. Our friends, the Clarksons, also happened to be in town for the festivities, so Ian, Joanna, and their 3 children helped us celebrate. This weekend was so much fun... Grace is so happy to be 2!

Her yummy ice cream cake.

The Wilkinsons and The Clarksons (visiting all the way from England)


All the kids and their jack-o-lantern creations.



Sam and Joel


My sis, Joel, and me

Grace digging into her lil pumpkin, she wasn't afraid of the goo.


Lesley and Olivia

Audrey cleaning out the seeds, we roasted them afterwards, yum!


Ellie is happy as she finds more and more seeds.










Fall decorating

I'm not all that good at decorating, but here are a couple projects I did this last month to get ready for fall... a berry wreath hanging from a mirror

not a fall decoration but a crafty little way to dress up a kid's present, we rarely buy cards anymore

Grace's b-day sign I made for her on a friend's cricut machine. I will use this for all my girls b-days, I hang it over the fireplace and when they wake up and see it they get so excited!


I did this using scrapbook paper and huge letters made on the cricut and 3 old frames that were just lying around my house. I loved the way it turned out.



BOO


Ellie's field trip to Scout Island

Ellie's first grade class went to Scout Island last week on a field trip. The weather was beautiful and the kids had lots of fun activities. Ellie's favorite had to be the leaf rubbings. She loves first grade!







Family Pictures

Anjie, Josh's sis, took some family pictures for us in September, here's a few, I didn't want to include them all since that would spoil our Christmas card.






Wednesday, September 30, 2009

September Happenings

September finally brought us some cooler weather. The cool temps waited til the very end of the month to arrive, but they have arrived and that's all that matters.

We spent September getting back into the school + one more baby routine. It has gone pretty good.

This month 2 friends had babies and holding their babies I realized how big Joel is getting. He is cooing, smiling, and giggling. He has settled into his own routine and started sleeping thru the night months ago. He is an easy baby for the most part, it's just juggling one more plus keeping up with all the girls that leaves me frazzeled some days.

The laundry overload is a constant, I even included a picture.

I've enjoyed getting back to the gym, and I've found exercising really seems to help with my stress, productivity, and my patience.

The big girls ran their jog-a-thon this month. Ellie was so excited to call our family and get pledges, she is really good at asking for money. In the end, Ellie ran 7 laps, and Addie ran 9. Ellie earned $129, Ad earned $132 for the school. Audrey's class was the top class (in donations) in the school so they won a Bounce U party for the class in Oct. Exciting stuff! Here are a few pics I took this month:

Joel at 16 weeks. Today he rolled over for the first time (back to tummy).





Laundry, laundry, laundry all over my bed



Grace taking a quick bath in the sink.




Audrey

Haley and Audrey

Ellie getting ready to run with her class

Ellie










Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Sidetracked

Well it seems like forever since I last updated. I have to admit I have been a little sidetracked. I finally gave into the peer pressure and got on facebook so now I spend all my blogging time on there. I'm having a lot of fun, but for somebody like me who has a difficult time setting limits it can be very addicting. I'm enjoying getting reacquainted with all sorts of "friends" but I'm afraid my blog has been left behind. I'm hear to let you all know I will be posting pictures and an update very soon. Here goes the update, the pictures will have to wait for now... Joel is already 15 weeks old, he is smiling and giggling and pure joy. Grace is starting to say more and more words, her fav this week is "STOP IT!" She is so much fun. Olivia started pre-school and is getting used to "school." She writes her name beautifully and adores her teachers but would probably love to just stay home with me. Ellie and Addie are in school and loving it. They are both growing up so fast, I can almost see the time drifting away. I'm loving being a stay-at-home mom although I can never seem to get a handle on the laundry or messes around here. I better run, til next time....and by the way, if you're on FB look me up.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

weekend trip

We spent the weekend in southern CA visiting my parents and my brother and sister. We had fun, although it was super hot. Here are some pics from the weekend...
Swimming at Uncle Stan's
Isn't she patriotic?

My sis and Goose

My sis, Lesley

My bro, Kevin

Ellie is happy to be visiting Grandma & Grandpa

Ready to go to the Angels game.

A quick pic before the game (the girls stayed w

Our rally monkey

Ellie showing off the scarf my mom made for her.

Grace and me hanging on the couch

The aftermath of a popsicle.

Audrey and Lesley

Joel, he is getting so big

Driving to southern CA (yes, we took Scout with us)

Big smiles from Liv in the back seat