Violet Crawling

Violet has started crawling finally. She is doing a pretty fast army crawl, but hasn't quite figured out how to use her knees. This video is about a month old but she is still doing the same movements just a little faster.

If you want to see pictures of Hawaii, you'll have to check out my facebook profile because there are so many pictures it would take a week to download all of them on my blog.

Summer fun!

McKenna is out of school for the summer so we have been finding activities to keep us busy and not bored. The girls made binoculars or opera glasses out of toilet paper rolls and chopsticks. A local bowling alley is allowing kids to bowl for free for the summer and give parents a discounted summer pass so we will be bowling this summer. Next week we will drive to CA to visit my mom and the girls will stay with PoPo while Dan and I go to Hawaii for our 10 year anniversary, which isn't until August but who cares! We will be gone for one week and the girls will enjoy the week at the pool and with cousins. Violet has been army crawling backwards and in circles so one of these days she will crawl forward, I hope. She has learned to clap and eat. She loves any food we feed her. She may turn into another Ryleigh (a cookie monster!). Ryleigh is doing great potty training. Stays dry all day and only occasionally wets the bed at night. She's a trooper. McKenna had an insect project due at the end of the school year. She chose Katydids. Did you know that Katydids can come in pink, too! Crazy!

Haircuts and other stuff

Ryleigh got her first haircut last month. She looks so cute with short hair. She even lets me curl it on Sundays for church.
Chocolate covered strawberries for my Activity Days girls and their moms.

Hail in the middle of April! Boo!

So ready for sun and warm weather.

Violet learned to sit up without help and is now army crawling in circles on her tummy.

I think she will be moving forward soon.

Violet's first bubble bath with her big sisters. She loved it.

Our California Adventure!

Actually we went to Disneyland! Our spring break California trip went really well. We left Friday afternoon and drove to SLC and stayed overnight at Grandpa David and Grandma Wendy's house. The girls love their Grandma and Papa. Saturday morning we left to drive to So. Cal to visit Popo and the Aus and Wongs. The drive was uneventful (which is a good thing) and we arrived in Ontario to visit with cousins and aunts and uncle from the Au side. The girls had a blast getting reacquainted with cousins and it was so much fun seeing how big all the little ones have gotten. Sunday we visited my mom's Chinese branch and listened to three hours of church in Mandarin. McKenna and Ryleigh were able to go to the other ward's primary and nursery so they enjoyed the last two hours of church. It was an interesting experience and everyone was so nice. I was asked to give the closing prayer in Sunday School and I said "but I don't speak Chinese!" They didn't care and I gave it in English, thank goodness! Sunday night we had a Wong gathering and family pictures. Monday was a day of rest and letting the girls catch up on some sleep. They woke up early anyway but it was nice to relax and not have to go anywhere. The weather was in the 80s so we went swimming and Ryleigh loves swimming! She kept getting out to dry off and warm up and then would head back in even if no one else was in the water. She is my water baby. Tuesday Dan and I took McKenna and Ryleigh to Disneyland. We had a blast and ate and ate and ate. Ryleigh had to learn the concept of waiting in lines to go on rides. She wanted instant gratification. One time we reached the front of the line and the worker closed the gate on us before we could get on. Boy was she mad! I thought it was going to be a long few minutes to wait for the next turn, but luckily there ended up being one spaceship left and we were able to go on. Whew! We rode the carousel four times and McKenna and Dan or I rode Thunder Railroad twice and Space Mountain. Thanks goodness for fastpass. Ray and Catherine joined us in the evening to ride the train and Winne the Pooh and have dinner. It was nice of them to take time from their busy schedule to come play with us! Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we ate and ate more! I am pretty sure I gained five pounds on this trip. GongGong came home Friday to see us and then went with my mom to China on Saturday. We drove back to SLC on Saturday and home on Sunday. Dan and I were even able to squeeze in a trip to the Conference Center for the afternoon session of Sunday Conference. Seeing the prophet is amazing! What a trip! I need a vacation from my vacation!

Since we have been home, it has been back to normal. I am working lots of extra hours in April so it will be crazy, but thank goodness I have Dan to help me out.

February

Thought I would let you all know how we are doing over here. The girls are doing great!

McKenna started dance class once a week and is having a great time learning ballet, tap, and jazz. She is doing excellent in school, reading at a fifth grade level and loves recess and lunch. She has learned to jump rope and is a great help at home. McKenna loves to play with friends after school.

Ryleigh is learning so many new phrases and songs. She hides under the table and says "be right back." She likes things done just the right way and is my tough girl. She tries to do everything McKenna does. We had one incident at her two year appointment. She had an abscess on her stomach and had to have it cut open to drain the infection and she did really well. After it was all over we put her shirt and coat on and she was out the door. She is doing much better and on two antibiotics. We have put potty training on hold because the side effects of the antibiotics, but I have found a method to potty train in three days and will try it out as soon as possible. Here she is drinking melted ice cream from her bowl.

Violet has been growing and growing. She had her 6 month appointment last week. How time flies. She weighs about 13 pounds and is short with a big head. Both she and Ryleigh measured in the 97th percentile in head size. She had her first taste of rice cereal this morning and she is still not sure what to think. She is starting to sit up almost on her own and loves to play with toys. She is so happy and content unless she is hungry. She is such a sweet girl!


I loved my Valentine's Day flowers from Dan and the girls. We had a sweet Valentine's Dadinner at home with crab legs. McKenna loves crab legs and learned how crack them herself.

I will leave you on this note of Ryleigh singing part of the wheels on the bus.

Ryleigh's Birthday

Christmas pictures

Ryleigh loves Kenna's new rain boots I took up knitting

PJs made by Grandma Wendy

Violet missed all the morning fun cuz she was sleeping in, but she loves her play mat!

Books from Grandma Wendy

Opening gifts from Santa

Gifts from PoPo

Ryleigh wouldn't let go even for breakfast

Christmas Eve PJs!

Cookies for Santa! Dan made the girl in the green dress. It took him FOREVER!

Happy Violet :)

Grandpa David says she is just opening her mouth really big :O

Cookies made for a cookie exchange. I won a prize for Most Creative!