Emma brings so much joy into our home. Harley refers to her as a happy little vegemite. The month of May we spent a good deal of time traveling in the car. On one trip to San Diego, we only stopped once each direction to change her diaper. She took her bottle in the car seat and slept the bulk of the way. She is a trooper! 
One of my biggest challenges during the year is summer vacation. Luckily it is a time when we have Adam and Luke with us half time. But trying to keep them productively busy and happy is always a hard task. We started off the time by making a list of things they would like to do at home and outside the home. I was surprised by the length of the list and the thoughtful ideas they had. We put together a calendar outlining the days they will be spending with us. Then we began planning the first week. Highlights of the week included: going to see the movie Epic at the Wofford Heights theater, swimming and bowling with the Bunting children, a road trip to the Cat House Museum in Rosamond, and finally a trip with the entire family to the Trail of 100 Giants.
Harley has wanted to take the boys to the Trail of 100 Giants for a few years now. Saturday the temperatures were predicted to hit 108-110 degrees. We decided it would be a great day to go up into the high country and enjoy some of the beauty and cooler temperatures there. Also 1 1/2 hour drive from home, we found ourselves 
We also set some goals for the summer which include reading and completing a book each week they are here visiting. And today they will finish their first books. Thanks to our great neighbors Bob and Jacque they have taken an interest in the Hardy Boys series.
The boys have been particularly helpful with Emma also. Adam has a way with her that always results in laughter. Luke is very protective of Emma and never wants to hear her whine. They are happy to play with her and give her a bottle. It is sure nice to have more helpers!!!!!!!!!!
Since I work outside the home two days a week, the children are subject to daycare. Luckily we have some wonderful solutions! On Tuesday, Sandy Yunt come into our home to babysit. All the kids LOVE her! This makes leaving for the day easy for a mother. On Thursdays, Adam and Luke go to Pat Harker’s home for child care. They love it there because it is a never-ending fun house. They swim, play tag football, basketball, video games, and play with newly acquired friends. Emma goes to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Emma’s excitement when we arrive is adorable. A few times when the front door is locked and we can’t get in immediately she gets a worried look on her face. That look is instantly changed when she spots Grandpa coming to the door through the window. What a blessing it is to have so many people that are willing to assist in nurturing and loving our children.
Looking forward to lots of fun adventures this summer. NEXT UP: Weekend away in San Diego and Los Angeles
My mom, my sisters, and I hosted a bridal shower for Krissy. We held it at my family’s favorite restaurant in Bakersfield… Rosa’s. We had about 15 close friends and family their to honor Krissy. 
The following weekend, I was able to take out my endowments at the Los Angeles Temple. My lovely family accompanied me and my Mom was my escort. It was a very special day for all involved. Thanks to Tori Hogue for watching Emma outside the temple that day for us. From there, my parents jumped on an airplane to St. Kitts for the week.
A few days before my parents returned, I learned that my Uncle Ray had taken a bad fall and was in the hospital in San Diego. He had broken five ribs and punctured his lung. I desperately wanted to go be with Farris but was stuck in Lake Isabella helping with Nicole and Kelly. I also realized that taking a 8 month old to hang out at the hospital probably wasn’t the best idea. The day after my parents returned, my Dad, Emma, and I drove to San Diego to see Ray. By the time we arrived it was determined that his condition wasn’t improving and that he probably wouldn’t live another day. We were able to visit with him and both Emma and I got kisses from him. It was a bitter sweet visit for us because Ray passed away the following day. I will always cherish that visit and the memories made throughout my life with him.
Ray was a wonderful man is so many ways. He was extremely charitable and willing to help me when I lived in San Diego. I stayed in their home for about 2 months while waiting for my apartment to be available. He and Farris couldn’t have been more accommodating of me. They taught me to play Scrabble which I think they beat me every single time. Ray tried to teach me how to ballroom dance but like many others decided it was hopeless. He always complimented me and said if he was younger he would have married me in a heartbeat. 
Childhood memories of Ray are plentiful. Some of my favorites include times spent at the beach in Carpinteria. Ray was the master chef and spent hours cooking for all of us. He also taught me how to play bridge and progressive rummy….both games I still love. He pitched the ball as slow as possible in hopes of making it so I could hit it when we played family softball. He instilled in us a love for the Padres and was ever hopeful that they would make it to the world series again. He and Farris always brought a container of Red Vines and See’s candy for the adults. Most Thanksgivings they came to Lake Isabella for a visit. I can still remember the excitement as a child awaiting their arrival.
Ray will be missed but he leaves behind a legacy of love for his family, his country and our church. I know he is rejoicing with loved ones on the other side. Ray’s funeral was planned for the following Saturday (the day after our next celebration…)
On Friday, May 24, 2013, Krissy married Daniel Schultz in the Fresno, California Temple. It was a simple wedding with immediate family and friends. We stayed Thursday night at Krissy and Daniel’s new home in Tulare and put together the flowers for the event. Following the wedding, we had an intimate luncheon at a restaurant fifteen minutes away. Dessert was cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory!
We also celebrated Elle and Kent’s birthdays a few days late due to all the craziness. 
Highlights of the week included: 1. Going to the movies on free popcorn night for Jenny’s birthday. We saw the “Croods”. It was a perfect movie for the whole family. 2. The twins met Sandy and absolutely loved having her babysit them. She was willing to play basketball with them and enjoyed playing tricks on them. 3. The Bunny Run at Yokuts Park benefiting FARA. The boys ran the whole way and Adam finished fourth and Luke 7th. Emma loved the Easter Bunny!!! 5. Dental appointments…..with no new cavities! 6. Dinner with our dear friends the Stingels. 7. Two days of bowling. Video game rentals 8. Easter Egg Hunt at Kissack Ranch(where Krissy and kids have been living for the past 1 1/2 years).
Adam and Luke spent their Spring Break with us this year. It ended up being 11 long days packed with fun! Emma was delighted to have them around and they were very helpful with her. For days after they left so seemed to be “looking for them".”
What a true joy Emma has been over the past seven months. My mom reminds me often of what an excellent baby she truly is. A few weeks ago a lady at church said she needed a new name GOGO! She has turned into a quite active and wiggly little girl with an emerging personality.
A few milestones:
* She wants to stand all the time!
* She is beginning to crawl and goes from sitting to the crawl position and back without any trouble.
* She hates having her face wiped,particularly her nose. With a cold that is no fun!
* She loves to babble and babble.
* Her face lights up when she sees her brothers. They love to make her laugh.
* Her favorite toys are: balls, wooden spoons, anything she can fit in her mouth.
* She loves feeling the texture of things by scratching them!
* She is still happy in the car seat but even happier in the stroller. She wants to see everything. Some have called her a busybody.
* She loves her babysitter Sandy and waved goodbye to her for the first time.
* Spent two days and nights without Mommy and didn’t seem to be bothered at all.
The only real problem with Miss Emma is that she seems to be growing up to quickly. I am amazed by how quickly the last seven months have gone. She is a wonderful blessing in our lives.
The third graders at Norris Elementary School are all required to do an animal project in the Spring. Adam’s class did theirs first and Adam choose to research and learn about deer. Somehow I didn’t get any pictures of his finished mobile but it was awesome. We hung the homemade deer from a Manzanita branch with targets in red and white hanging around the deer. Adam said the teacher loved it and he got an A!
Luke decided he wanted to learn about Kangaroos. Since Kangaroos are only found in Australia and New Zealand the project took on an Aussie theme. Harley cut out the boomerang and Luke insisted on painting it exactly like the one hanging in their bedroom. Here’s the finished project!
One of Harley’s Birthday requests, was a trip to Paso Robles to see his dear friend Hugh. So we picked the boys up from school Friday afternoon and drove to Paso Robles. We arrived just in time to meet Hugh and Michelle for dinner at Chili’s. Emma enjoyed sitting in a high chair for the first time but seemed stressed about by all the noise and things to look at. The boys went to Hugh’s hill that evening to enjoy a fire and some ginger beer. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which I purchased on Priceline for an incredible deal. Adam and Luke love staying in hotels and were so excited for the breakfast buffet in the morning. 
The following Monday morning, Emma and I took off on a road trip to Vallejo to visit two of my dear friends from college. Its about a 5 1/2 hour drive and she did amazingly. We spent two days visiting with Anne Connors and her family and Nancy and Jarrod Phelps. It was a truly a relaxing few days. We didn’t really do anything particularly exiting other than chat and then chat some more. One night we drove to Napa and went out to dinner with Nancy and family. Emma was a 
For Harley’s 42nd Birthday, I had planned a party at my parents. The theme was American stars and flags to celebrate his newly acquired citizenship also. Early in the day he was surprised by a birthday visit from Hugh and Riley. By late afternoon he wasn’t feeling well and by dinnertime he had a fever. The following week was awful!! He had a fever for four days and missed two days of work. Not a good thing when you are still doing your probationary time as a new hire. And Emma came down with something too!! She had a 
Nancy sent us a gift box in the mail with lots of fun clothes from Gymboree. A few milestones for Emma this month include:
* Reaching our for everything…including Mom and Dad (a few favorites include Mom’s hair and Dad’s glasses).
* Sitting up extremely well without support. Trying to sit up on her own.
* Feeding herself the bottle, picking up Gerber Puffs to feed herself.
* Loves to ride in the stroller and play in the Baby Einstein stationary walker.
* Rolling over finally!!
* Laughs and laughs. Such sweet sounds.
* Wakes from naps happy!
