Sisters & Best Friends

I know it has been some time since the last blog post. Life has a way of escaping us, especially with two spunky little girls leading our every move! This post, though, isn't an attempt to catch up on all of the happenings, because, quite frankly, there have been too many and time just doesn't allow for an exhaustive post. This post is, what I hope to be, the beginning of short excerpts from my daily interactions with Emma and Kaelyn. As they have grown, their vocabulary has expanded immensely, and the conversations that have occurred as a result are nothing short of amusing.

No promises, but I hope to journal more frequently the things they say and do as they are happening. This is more for them than it is for anyone who chooses to read this. I want for them to be able to look back on these posts when they are older and get a glimpse into the absolutely loveable, witty, smart, and precious beauties they are and to read each entry knowing the amount of love we have for them and how much they have truly blessed our lives.

First, though, here is a most recent shot of them in their superhero costumes...

Regrettably, I can't start from scratch and share every little thing that has lit up my world, so I will start with most recent. In previous posts I have shared my delight in having two girls who could grow up to be best friends just as I have with my sisters. This week I have had the chance to really observe and appreciate how lucky we are to have two amazing little girls who genuinely love one another and get along tremendously.

The other night, as I was getting the girls ready for bath, I had asked them each to take off their super hero costumes while I switched out the laundry. Kk obliged, no questions asked because she likes bath time, and she prefers to be naked. Win-win. Emma, however, begged and pleaded to put her super hero costume back on after she had finished bathing. I simply told her no, we needed to wash it and she needed to be in pajamas for bed time. "But mommy, just pretend the super hero [costume] is pajamas, just pretend!" she pleaded. I let her know that I understood she liked the outfit and wanted to keep wearing it, which I didn't have a problem with, after I cleaned it. In the meantime, traditional pajamas it is. She proceeds to run into the bathroom, climb in the bath where Kk had already begun to rinse herself off, in tears. As I load the washer up with clothes, I over hear Emma crying to Kk, "Mommy won't let me wear the super hero outfit and I wanna wear it to bed...." There are few moments when a toddler is upset, crying, border line tantrum, and a parent is filled with joy over it. I paused and smiled, my heart filled with joy... Emma was telling her best friend her woes and "crying on her shoulder" for comfort. Funny thing is Kk responded with "huh Emma?" ;)

Fast forward to last night, I was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Emma and Kk were sitting at the kitchen table coloring in their coloring books. I hear Emma say "Kk", to which my ears perk up because Emma does have a tendency to "mother" her or tell her what to do/not do (at which point I must intervene with the "you worry about you" lecture). Kk says "what?" and Emma says "I Love You"... my heart explodes with happiness just retelling the story! To which Kk reciprocates with "I Love You too".

Does it get any better? I have seriously considered a home video system so I can show them these interactions when they are older and fighting to help them remember the love they have for each other. I guess blogging them is second best :)

Keeping Up with the Powells

It's been a few months so I thought I would take the chance to update the blog ;) Matt and the girls are in Thousand Oaks this weekend while mommy stays home to get the house in order and try to find some 'normalcy' again! ha!

The Winter/Spring has been quite hectic. Before we became pregnant with Emma, I was attending school and in the process of applying for nursing programs. Naturally, being pregnant, I had to put that on hold. Soon after falling absolutely-head-over-heels madly-in-love with my bundle of joy, I decided nursing school was no longer in the cards. I couldn't sacrifice the time away from her. I wouldn't. So I made a SLIGHT career goal change and have been taking classes to get into Healthcare Administration/Management. With a goal to start the BS program at Loma Linda next year, this year has been a busy class schedule. The wonderful part about it is that the classes are online so I don't have to spend time away from my babies (with the exception of one class this semester, but that should be it!). So, many nights are spent studying after the girls are tucked away comfy in their beds. I still get my time with them every night and can pursue my education when they are dreaming away. It's a perfect fit and I am so excited for our future. This is the primary reason the blog posts have been on hold so far this year.

With all of that, plus two full time working parents, the house tends to get a tad neglected. Laundry gets washed/dryed but only on rare instances can I actually get it hung and put away! ;) Hampers have become my friend. So this weekend, while the kids are away, mom will... not play, but clean! Oddly enough, I think I get more enjoyment out of accomplishing this than actual "playing"... maybe not, but at least it's getting done! It's a difficult balance, but for the most part we have learned how to handle it...kind of. So amidst the chores and to-do's, what perfect time to update the blog?! So here goes...

Now on to what is most important, the girls. Emma, now 3 1/2 is coming into her own in a very beautiful way. She is smart, sometimes too smart for her own good, silly but can be reserved/shy, quite the talker and story teller, a leader, compassionate, nurturing, a great big sister, and so much more...truly everything great bundled into one! To watch her interaction with Kk is a beautiful site. She guides her, she comforts her, she calls her sweetie, she tends to her and she embraces her. Granted we have our moments where sharing and sibling frustration become a problem. But luckily, those moments are short lived. I truly and genuinely hope that this is the way their relationship will continue as they grow up together.

Emma started a new daycare last July, and Kk just started going 2 days a week as of recent. On Kk's first day, I requested that she get to sit with Emma in the big kids' class while they eat their breakfast and then they can take her to the "baby room". The school obliged, and as I said my goodbyes that day, anxious and nervous for Kk (thinking she would just breakdown in tears), I walked out and Kk just waved goodbye to me as if she'd been going there as long as Emma had. Being the pestering mom that I am, I called a couple of hours later to check on Kk and was told she was doing great! When I picked the girls up at the end of the day I got an update from one of the administrators - Kk didn't once shed a tear, but Emma did! At first I was confused. Emma never cries when I leave. Well come to find out, after breakfast, the teacher went to take Kk to the "baby room" and Emma cried because she wanted to stay with her sissy. The teacher gently explained to Emma that Kk had to be in the other room. So throughout the day, anytime Emma saw a teacher come out of the baby room, she would ask if her sissy was ok. The teacher would reassure her and Emma would ask if she could go in there. Unfortunately, she couldn't. So the teacher brought Kk over to Emma for a few minutes so she could see that Kk was ok. After that, the rest of the day consisted of Emma periodically looking over to the baby room door hoping to get a glimpse of her sissy. This moment, this day, HAS to be documented because the love, care, compassion, and bond that is so apparent in that one day is what Matt and I get to see on a regular basis. We absolutely love their interaction and feel so blessed by it.

Kk, now 20 months, is talking more and more every day. She is a little comedian, anything for a laugh, she is fearless which prompts us to have arnica on hand at all times;), she is stubborn, loveable, affectionate, smart, active, a mommy's girl, and absolutely a joy. Once we get home from work/daycare every day, she refuses to allow my attention to be diverted from her to any degree, which makes dinner prep fun :) She loves to get into whatever Emma is doing. Emma is a great role model so I encourage this. Every night the bedtime routine consists of reading or nursery rhymes. When we do nursery rhymes, Emma helps me sing them to Kk. Most recently Kk insists on us singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" over and over and over again. She does the hand gestures and everything. She also loves "The Wheels on the Bus..." and does the hand gestures for that. Even though the girls are headed to bed, I look forward to this time with them every night. They thoroughly enjoy it and I soak up their joy and the bond and memories being created.

Both girls love to dance, we sing and dance in the car every day. Matt puts music on the TV every night and they dance all over the living room. They love the outdoors. Kk seems to enjoy the soccer ball, Emma has recently tried the jump rope, hula hoop and t-ball, bubbles are always a hit and the swimming pool is one of their favorite pastimes.

Here are some pictures just from our everyday adventures...

Emma had "Spirit Week" at school for Dr. Seuss' birthday:

Colorful Clothes Day

Crazy Hat Day

Kk wanted in on the fun

Crazy Hair Day

There is a place in Irvine called Pretend City that Emma loved, and now both girls love...

In March we went camping for the first time as a family and I think Emma found her element. She came completely out of her shell during this trip:

And here are just day to day shots. Emma doesn't like the camera much these days so I capture what I can of her ;)

Just looking at these pictures brings a smile to my face!

Merry Christmas!

As usual, it was a busy holiday season. And as today comes to an end, I can't help but reflect on all of our many blessings. The girls had a fabulous Christmas, not because they had the toy store delivered to them (almost literally, including the clothing dept), but because they are surrounded by so much love. As the holidays approach each year, it's easy to get tired of the hustle and bustle from planning Thanksgiving to planning Emma's birthday then turn around and prepare for Christmas. As if the day to day grind isn't enough to squeeze in to a measly 24 hours, now we have to plan Thanksgiving feasts, shop for presents and plan Christmas Eve/Day, all the while working against everyone's schedules? It's enough to tire anyone out! But at the end of the day, we remind ourselves of the gratitude we have to be able to have such a "problem". To have so much family to spend our time with and to share the holidays. So much family whom we love, and who love us, and most importantly, our daughters.

We were able to spend Christmas Eve with the "Powell" side (now the "Powell-Thomas" side) :) Matt, the girls and I went to [Auntie] Jenny's and [Uncle] Robbie's where Grammie and Faaja were visiting... and Grammie was making a delicious Christmas Eve dinner. Everyone had a part to play in the dinner prep, teeny tiny parts, so I'll give all the credit to Grammie ;) I got to steal Riley (Jenny's baby, cousin to Emma and Kk, 4 months old) for a little while and hear his sweet laughter. He is so precious. Absolutely the sweetest little guy. After dinner, we gathered around and opened presents. Kaelyn and Emma helped Grammie pass out each present to its respective recipient. It was quite amazing how well Kaelyn did in taking the gift from Grammie, the direction to where it went and how well she followed the direction. Such a proud little elf she was ;) Being that the tradition is "oldest to youngest", the girls had to wait a while before they got to open their stack of presents, but they waited so patiently, I couldn't be more proud. Riley too...he was a trooper! As the night got late, we came home, opened up Christmas eve pajamas, left cookies and milk out for Santa, and went to bed. Well, the girls went to bed. Santa still had a lot of work to do... and cookies to eat. YUM!

Christmas morning we all four came downstairs together and Emma and Kaelyn saw their gifts from Santa; Emma got a scooter, and Kk a tricycle. They opened their stockings, and then more presents from Santa and Mommy/Daddy.  Grammie and Faaja came over and spent a couple hours playing with the girls and their new toys before heading back home. And then later in the evening, Matt and I took the girls to see Disney on Ice at the CBB Arena. The show was beautiful and filled with talent, great effects, music, costumes, and lighting. Emma loved Ariel. When she came out, Emma's face lit up and my heart melted and filled with so much joy. To see the girls smile is all I need in this world. I couldn't ask for more. Kk, well she was a bit restless throughout the show so I had to take a few trips outside to distract her. She is still too young I guess. But I would still consider the experience worth it.

As we wrap up Christmas Eve/Day of this year, our Christmas festivities have not ended. We still have two more gatherings to plan for which will continue into the beginning of January. This coming weekend will be with my brothers and their families (more adorable babies!!!!) and my stepmom and next weekend will be with my sisters and their families. So, the shopping has not ended, and the love and feasts will continue. As we fight the day to day grind, it's easy for our days to slip away, and time with our loved ones to pass by us in a blink. So we are grateful for holidays, even in the chaos, to be able to spend QUALITY time with our loved ones. At the end of the day that is all that matters anyways; presents and food are just icing on the cake. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday season, for a more amazing family or for more beautiful, bright, and loving daughters.

Here are some holiday pictures to share. Merry Christmas!!

Riley... I'm including this pic because he is too darn cute!!

Cousins!

Kk didn't really care for Santa...

Kaelyn's First Birthday Party (better late than never right?)

I have been super busy and unable to maintain the blog but here are some pictures from Kaelyn's first birthday party!!