Even more pics...

More pics from 1st weeks in Bakersfield

The Move to Bakersfield

With the help of the Wongs, the Speers, Annie, and some beer-guzzling neighbors, we got everything packed up and made it to 12503 Hawaii Lane, Bakersfield CA.  Moving ourselves was utterly exhausting for everyone involved. Although, in a way it was sorta fun. There were two more trips to be made up and down California to retreive more belongings, such as the Eurovan and the chicken coop.  Gene and I are still waiting on our mattress...but atleast the hens are cozy!  The first week was confusing for the kids.  The big girls were excited one minute and in tears the next.  The littles were just bewildered. They still don't understand that we are here to stay.  Kaia stated, " I miss our old house! It was a RARE TREASURE. Our new house is just...common. Also, the bathroom is just too far to walk to from my bedroom. It hurts my feet!". Gabby spent much of her first week drawing pictures and writing letters to Mrs. Riley, Gammy and Madison. "I miss my house! I miss my friends!" she said many times.  Kaleb has been convinced that the woman he met, that lived here previously, must still be here somewhere. He is constantly reprimanding me for using her personal belongings.  Penny says," I don't like the new house. I want my old house. I lib in bakuhsfield now.".  

They got quite creative in their first days here, amongst mountains of boxes and packing tape.  Without tv, internet or Wii set up, they took to building things out of the boxes that were being emptied.  They made turtle shells to wear, secret hideouts with codes, double decker castles, and much more.  Kaleb just liked violently stabbing boxes with a butter knife.  One night they colored tatoos all over eachother.   They enjoyed dining on their new table from the Deli.  One day, we drove to LA to visit with Grandpa on his birthday.  They got to spend time with Baby Ava, hang with Nani, play cards with Grandpa, and spend the night at Grandma's house.  Kaia got very enthusiastic about card games.  She especially enjoyed Crazy Eights.  She loves to narrate her every play. For example, she'll say," I can't do anything about it! Draw a card!"  We also went to a local spray park to cool off and run around. It helped with the cabin fever quite a bit.  

The big girls are really bonding and playing together more. Kaleb misses having boys around.  He had been enjoying spending so much time with JonJon during the moving days.  He needs some friends ASAP! When Uncle T and Gampy came to bring the chicken coop and spend a couple days with us, Kaleb followed T around like a puppy.  He enjoyed having a guy to play with.  The first thing he asks Gene in the morning and when he gets home from work is, "Wanna wrestle wit me???".  We barbaqued and cooked some of Uncle's freshly picked yukon gold potatoes and green beans and enjoyed their company greatly. The next day, we went to Moo Creamery for lunch.  Penny has been quite interested in potty training since we got here.  Well, more so interested in not wearing a diaper, because," it huts me!". She has been doing fantastic, peeing every 20 minutes as dicatated by a timer and never growing tired of a purple star sticker.  

The house is still in shambles and I am slowly getting important things checked off my list, such as setting up phone service, paying bills, kids doctor appointments, and school registration.  I have so much to do before homeschooling starts in September, it boggles my mind.

Saturday morning breakfast (trying to keep up with Gammy's House!)

Visiting LA

Uncle T and Gampy boy come to town!

Chatting with Penny before nap

Pen: Mama, what is "olduh dan you"?

Me: Daddy is older than me.

Pen: No,no. What is "olduh den You"?

Me: (lightbulb) Ohhh. It means that someone was born before you, and that they are bigger than you. Like Megan and Kaia are older than you.

Although...you are going to be older than baby Benny.

Pen: And Benny is gonna drink milk from yuh boobies?

Me: Yes.

Pen: And my baby is gonna drink milk from my boobies! Mama will you help him?

Me. Yes.

Pen: Mama..I like talking about...people. I lub you so mutz.

Going Away Party

We had some friends over on a gray and rainy day at the end of May for a Going Away Party.  Gene made great Mexican food which was enjoyed by all. Noah showed up in a brand-spankin' new outfit (size stickers still adhered), and enjoyed seeing friends and eating.  The adults were greatly outnumbered by children.  The kids all jumped on the trampoline for hours in the sprinkling weather.  Amazingly, there were no major injuries, and no fractured friendships.  We were lucky enought to enjoy the company of Ryan Swartz, Noah Frank, Jessica Miller and Gabe and kids, The Babasins, The Fiests, the Gaumonds, The Johnsons, The Cases nextdoor, the Russels, Dallas & Megan, Steve-O and Jennifer, The Kochs, and the Tarrs. Troy and Cary brought us the most wonderful gift, that being 5 children's Deli chairs and the promise of a BH deli surfboard table, made just for us, from the Feists and the Russels. They wanted us to have a little bit of the Deli in Bakersfield!

Oh yes... and when someone asked Kaleb what his favorite dinosaur was, he told them it was a "Vaginasaurus".

Kaleb's Family Birthday Celebration

We went to the Cheesecake Factory for Kaleb's birthday dinner. He opened a few gifts there from Gammy and Gampy (spiderman in a spiderman car, a Thomas book, a Cat in the Hat book, a Spiderman mask and a Bumblebee Transformer mask). We then went home and opened a few more on the front lawn; Trio blocks, a Geo track set, and an airplane with 24 parts that can be disassembled with a drill--so COOL!!

Kaleb's 4th "McQueen" Birthday Party

Kaleb looked forward to his "Lightning McQueen" party for atleast a month.  He enjoyed helping me plan the decorations. We both decided that "Mater", "Dinaco" and "Lightning McQueen" should be highlighted...but not "Chick"...He's mean.  He couldn't wait to "put the blankets on the tables" and coordinate with each cars theme.  We discussed who was invited for weeks.  The guest list included all the boys from his class and Brody from Kaia's soccer team last fall. All members of the "wolf pack" were present (Sim, Guy, Wesley & Kaleb) as well as Brody (even though "he libs at soccer").  We held the party on a thursday morning at Royer Park. The boys ate cheetos and pizza and ran wild on the playground. I had some great moms there to sit and chat with, while devouring some Beachut sandos. Gammy even stayed home that day to help out.  When she arrived, Kaleb ran out to the playground, screaming, "SIMEON! Gammy's here!!!".  His buddies showered him with lego sets, tractors, trains, and even a backpack that transforms into a police station.  We sent them all away with their own "McQueen playdough" and racecar cutter.