Our Tips and Tales by The Kennison Family

Em and WIll

2011-11-06T10:32:00.000-08:00

Finally got to take the kids out for a photo shoot. The hills have been looking so beautiful I couldn't wait to get out there and play! So we did their 4 year and 2 year shots finally. Emmy is looking like such a big girl and Will is getting so handsome too. What a fun day!

Boys Love Bugs!

2011-09-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

One thing my daughter and I agree on is bugs are yucky. I am not so lucky with the little guy who thinks bugs are toys, fun to squish and play with. This freaks me out, just a bit. Now, I am not one to hide from my fears, but face it head on is not my normal way to do things. But as we mom's go through motherhood, we do things for our children and get used to things we don't like, purely for the sake of making them happy. The Bug Museum Insect Lore is just such a place. Not a place I would go willingly on my own, but with a happy child in tow, I am game.
Lindsay and I headed out to Insect Lore this weekend for a look around with our boys and my sweet girl. We saw pretty lady bugs and butterflies, ugly hairy tarantulas, and enormous disgusting beetles, yes all alive, thankfully in cages. My limit was the beetles, I would have run screaming out of the store if one even looked like it could escape. The true value of the trip was the boys having a great time together.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

A sweet afternoon feeding the ducks.

Dirty Thirsty... I mean thirty!

2011-08-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Last week it turned 30. (Gasp) Breath! I know it's so un-lady like of me to reveal my age, but there it is. Back when I thought 30 was old, I was convinced I would hate my 30th birthday. Now on this side of the big day I am so happy. 30 is a good age, and I am looking forward to this point in my life. 30 will be an awesome time, with my children and my husband by my side, there is nothing to worry about.

My birthday did turn out to be pretty amazing too. We took our friends out for a kid-free weekend of wine tasting. We had a blast in Paso Robles going through winery after winery. We visited some of the best California wineries: Rotta, Turley, Proulx, Cypher, Clautiere, and Tobin James. All had such great wines! The best part was the great company that went with us, our life long friends, Sam and Tara and Greg and Keri. We love you!

Baby girl is 4

2011-08-10T14:50:00.001-07:00

I can't believe how fast the time has gone. 4 years went by in the blink of an eye. I still feel like I just had this little punkin, and now she is growing up.

For her 4th birthday this year we were on our Kennison family vacation, this year was camping. We did a lot of fishing while camping. So we got her her own fishing pole for her birthday and went to the lake and she caught her very first fish! Two casts with a lucky lure and she caught a brown trout. So sweet! She was all excited for a minute and ran back to her snack. That's a kid for ya.

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Does it take the Village?

2011-08-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

I find one of the most enjoyable parts of parenting can be the friendships made with other parents and their children. The old saying "it takes a village" is one that I completely agreed with. We had some pretty amazing families we were friends with, they were our village. We would have dinner together, travel together, have holidays together. We had lots of kids to enjoy and friends to laugh with, a shoulder to lean on and a listening ear. Over the last several months some particular friendships have died away leaving gaping holes in our circle.
As I am trying to figure out what went wrong, I find truth in the old breakup line, "it's not you it's me". Our "friends" needed to focus on the family, leaving the social aspect of parenting to become a stronger unit. In our little family unit however, that is not something we need. We have lots of time together and we have a great relationship. We are all close and loving, and we love having others we love around us. In the end we have no understanding of our friends needs for seclusion but can respect it. I just wonder why leave people that only want to help and support you?
Are you social parents or seclusion parents?

On a trip to the Grand Canyon

My Little Lollipop Girl

2011-07-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

The dance season ended in June and our little ballerina had a recital to end the year. The studio had a big show at the biggest theater in town, the historic Fox Theater. Emmy was so excited for the show so she could finally show everyone her great dance routine. She danced to Lollipop and did a fantastic job. My once shy girl took to the stage like a natural, not even the slightest bit frightened. She rocked the routine and shined!

A Never Land Party

2011-07-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

This year we decided to have a big party for both kids. A great idea in theory, but can be difficult in theme to keep both kids happy. We decided on a Never Land theme which can deffinitly satisfy all.

The party went perfect with pirate lessons, a sword fight with Captain Hook, and a treasure hunt through the neighborhood. The kids all had a blast!

The house was decorated into parts of Never Land. Pixie Hollow in the playroom was decorated with large blades of grass and big flowers. That way our flittering fairies would feel so tiny. We had Pirate Island for all our pirate friends, including a ship banister! Peter, John, Micheal and Wendy were flying overhead working their way to the clock.

We had an amazing cake made by Whisk Me Away. She made us an amazing creation-a perfect treasure chest cake. It looked amazing an tasted great too!

The kids all dressed up in their favorite Never Land character. We had Tinkerbelle, Rosetta, Tiger Lilly, Peter Pan, Hook and lots of pirate boys. They all looked so cute!

Rosetta

TinkerBelle

Tiger Lilly

Pirate Peyton

Pirate Riley

Captain Hook

Our Little Jake The Pirate

Peter Pan

Pirate Princess Paisley

Little Hook Sean

Following the Treasure Map

There's theTreasure!

Our Whisk Me Away Cake

Sleepy boy

2011-05-05T20:38:00.001-07:00

We never have had kids that fall asleep in random places. They are always in their room, in their beds and with their blankets. Today after a hard day of playing at the MOPS play-date at the park, afternoon with friends and evening on a slip and slide Will was pooped out.

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We are Diaper Free!

2011-05-01T20:48:00.001-07:00

I have had some quality time off for the last 2 weeks. The time flew by since we were so busy at my moms and then home potty training. Will is about to hit 22 months old. I cannot believe he is almost 2! Throughout the last few months he has been showing signs of readiness to potty train, telling me he has to go, refusal to wear the diapers, and asking me to change him. So since he was ready, I was more than willing to give it a try.

The method I used with Emily and Will was the 3 Day Potty Training method. I loved the step by step instructions so I didn't have to second guess myself. I followed to the T every instruction in the book and it worked like a charm for both kids! 3 (albeit miserable) days at home, and they were finished! We are now diaper free!

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Playing with Germs

2011-04-22T11:22:00.001-07:00

I always have been a bit of a germ-a-phobe. When I became a parent my phobia worsened.

I have gone through almost 4 years as a parent and my kids were completely unaware that Chucky Cheese exists or fast food restaurants have play places.

This week I caved and during a visit to McDonalds with their cousins they played in a play place for the very first time. I sat with my friends having a nice lunch as they played away. They had fun, I washed their hands afterward and two days later have no signs of being sick! I think they may survive the germ factory play place!

Maybe the play places are not so bad after all. l still don't think I will make this a habit.

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When do we leave????

2011-04-13T19:44:00.001-07:00

I made the mistake of telling Emmy that we are going to Grandmas for Easter. She has been so excited to go see Grandma for weeks. Everyday she has been asking when we get to go see her. So this week I decided I was tired of telling her "not today, in 6 days".

So today's craft was all about making the countdown to Grandmas easier for me. We made a countdown! Every night we will tear a paper off our countdown to Grandmas. That way I can tell her to go look at how many days we have left. Monday will be our last paper! Tuesday we will be there!

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Letting go... just a smidge

2011-04-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

Things have been a little busy here at the Kennison house, without hope of slowing down for a little while. I had taken on a second job as a nursing instructor at the local community college. These last 6 weeks have been so busy for me and the kids. They have spent more time in daycare these last few weeks than I ever thought I would allow.

I never thought me or my kids would be able to manage that schedule. However, I was proved so wrong. The children did amazing and had fun. Emily made new friends everyday and has addapted better than I would have ever dreamed she could. Will had the harder time, he was awakened two hours earlier than he normally would wake most days. So he had less sleep than normal, but otherwise learned to become more social. The kids came out happy and well taken care of.

I have been learning to let go just a little. The kids don't need to be under my constant supervision at all times. They are learning independence and learning to listen to others. I have to be pleased with the result!

My teaching assignment will be over soon, as the semester is almost over. I'm not sure what next year will bring me, but I loved teaching!

Bakersfields Blooms

2011-03-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

Spring in Bakersfield is beautiful in its own way. The city is surrounded by almond farms, fields and fields of almonds. During the beginning of March they bloom so beautifully, white blossoms covering the trees and ground. They are impossible to resist stopping and walking through the fields.

We took advantage of the beauty one fun morning. The kids loved it and enjoyed running through the shade.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

2011-03-17T18:59:00.001-07:00

This greeting made with Smilebox

What's New on My Sewing Table

2011-03-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

This week Andy bought me a sweet just because present. It was a Silhouette! I was so excited to use this amazing machine to cut out fabric, which I have learned to love! So I have been making lots of onsies for baby presents, matching with a soft minky blanket. People love receiving them and personalized baby gifts always turn out to be a favorite! With the Silhouette I can now do even more and faster! So I have been working away to get more onto my etsy shop! Check it out!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

The signs of spring are coming!

2011-03-08T15:55:00.000-08:00

Today was such a beautiful day here in sunny Bakersfield. I loved that I could open the windows and the back door and let the kids run out and play in the yard. The weather was warm, the sun was shining and the turtle has emerged!

Our sweet little desert turtle has been in hibernation since October and has since been renamed, Four (formerly known as Princess Turtle). She is our own little reclusive version of the ground hog, a private predictor of the coming of warmer weather. Her emergence today gave us hope and joy for the end of our bitterly cold and wet winter.

Welcome back, Four!

Photo by Emily!

Best Friends

2011-03-07T14:13:00.000-08:00

As we grow up we all had best friends, the ones we remember fondly forever. For me it was my best friends in elementary school. They are still friends of mine today and I love them dearly. I have pictures of us when we were little that I treasure. For Em, her forever friend will be her bestie Izzy. These two were destined to love each other, friends from the day they were born. They have grown up together, almost as sisters. Three and a half years later the bond continues to get stronger. They adore each other, talk about one another constantly, and wait anxiously for their next play-date. They dance together side by side at dance class and make trouble together too. This picture will always be a cherished memory for both of them to keep as they grow. I adore it!

I am so thankful to have this sweet little friend for my girl! Thanks fro catching this precious moment Allison!

Happy Platypus Day!

2011-03-05T08:48:00.000-08:00

Although I am just about convinced Disney made up a national day for a platypus, I am sure glad. Around our house Phineas and Ferb are a pretty awesome duo. I think that the show is the funniest thing on Disney Channel and it's a favorite of my youngest, Will.

So Platypus Day, what have you to offer me, a big fan of one Perry the Platypus? A SALE! Happy Shopping!

My little grown up lady

2011-03-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

One of Em's iPhone Barbie's

My Barbie girl

The last few weeks Emily has been growing up fast. She has catapulted her self straight into the Barbie years, singing Katy Perry's Fireworks as she plays, taunting her emotional and flabbergasted mom (me) as I sit mouth agape at all the new things she loves. We are no longer satisfied with Playhouse Disney or Disney Junior or whatever they want to be called. We have moved on, unwillingly on my part, to begging for Hannah Montana (not a chance there!), Barbie movies (not again!) or Phineas and Ferb (Um yes please!). Music is now a must in the car as long (as its fun girl music, mom)! It's only Taylor Swift, no Rascal Flatts.

*Big heavy sigh*

Why must they grow up so ridiculously fast. She is only 3 going on 14. Slow down little lady, I can't keep up!

Starting Fresh

2011-02-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have been really distracting for me and my writing. I have been on the prowl for a new job. The county has proven difficult with both mine and Andy's union which makes me feel uneasy. So I decided to see what the world of nursing had to offer me. I am now teaching through the community college while a friend of mine is on maternity leave. I will be sub-ing her classes for the next 6 weeks and I am so excited about the opportunity to teach. I also have another offer that will be part time of which I am struggling with. As I work now, I only work about 4 days a month. The rest of the time I stay home with my sweet little ones, teaching and nurturing them. This job offer will take me out of the home for 3 days a week leaving my kids to be in the care of someone else.

I have really be struggling with the decision to make this leap back into a work routine. I love being at home with my children but also feel a responsibility to help with providing for them. My time at home has been amazing and I have learned so much about myself as a mom and as a person. I have found that I love being a mom and I love writing. The two things are by far my passions in life and I have been through amazing things since being at home.

As I write all this out I sense a decision presenting itself on my "paper".

Surf City Run

2011-02-06T19:02:00.001-08:00

The Surf City Half Marathon was today in Huntington Beach, CA. We were running among 20,000 athletes. It was a busy but fun coarse. This was my second half marathon here and I did manage to pass my personal record but was still disappointed with my time. My husband and cousin and I finished in 3 hours 15 minutes. They were both so amazing to stick with me throughout the race. My knees have been sore and my left knee very swollen. So I started the race not sure I could even finish. Throughout my training I was hoping for 2:50.

As we passed the 9 mile mark my knees became pretty painful and we were forced to walk out a good amount of the last of the race. The last half mile was awesome running through the cheering crowd. It can be such a high running through those crowds. It was fun spending time with friends and family throughout the race and after in the beer garden.

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Run weekend

2011-02-04T21:41:00.001-08:00

This weekend we are heading out to Huntington Beach for the Surf City half marathon. We will be running on super bowl Sunday in the morning.

I am especially nervous about this run because I have had a cough for the last week as well as a very sore and swollen knee. So instead of a great run like I was hoping for, I think I will be doing a brisk walk. But I hope to do what I can and try to get as far as the end. This has been a big disappointment for me but I hope to still finish the race.

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The badge is on!

2011-01-30T17:18:00.001-08:00

This week we were finally given the opportunity to celebrate Andy's promotion to Captain in the fire department. He has been in the position for almost 6 months, but the pinning is still a big deal. The pinning ceremony is when the family recieves the badge from the cheifs and gets to pin it on.

I was so excited for this one because he worked extrodinarily hard for this. I was so proud of him and continue to be everyday. I have never known someone to love their job quite like he does. So thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate. It means so much to him and to our family.

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