7 QT- End of June {2017}

1. Moved OUT of our Rental Home

I'm sorry I don't have pictures up yet of the new place, but it's a disaster in a few rooms and I want to give a nice blog "home tour", so you'll have to wait a few more days for that.  

BUT at the end of June, we packed up the biggest size Uhaul truck and...waited because we couldn't move in until July 1.  

 

2. Chick-Fil-A Treat Date

I took the kiddos for a special treat the day of Kayla's dance recital.  We needed to get away from packing and packing and more packing and we had a fun time and some yummy treats. 

 

 

3. Local {and FREE} Museum 

Also to take a break from packing and during Kayla and Elise's Totus Tuus program (similar to a VBS), I took the other three kiddos and met up with some friends to go to a local museum.  It has farm animals and buildings and houses from the 1860's and 1890's.  Volunteers dress up and share information about the area during those time periods and it is really fascinating.  

 

 

Like stepping into Little House on the Prairie...but not quite.  :)

 

And there was an inside portion too.  You could put together newspaper articles to make a front page.  There was a kitchen area for the kids and a little "library".  

 

 4. Last family walk around the old neighborhood and "close park"

 

5. Game Night and Family Movie Night

A few Saturdays ago we were invited to a friend's house for a game night.  The kids all watched Moana and the adults played a game called Secret Hitler and drank pina coladas.  

the following evening we watched Moana as a family (so Chris and I could see it too) and the kids had twinkies.  Kolbe totally just reached over and snatched some of Sophie's and stuffed it right in his mouth.  Ha. 

 

6. Swim Lessons and VBS

It was Ava's first ever swim lesson

 

 

She and Elise were in a beginner class together.  Kayla was in a beginner class too for her age group, but she graduated this session, so she'll be moving on to the next level up for her next session starting at the end of July.  Ava and Elise were both a bit timid, but have made some great improvements and overcome some fears this session.  Great job, girls!

{the cheerleaders}

And we spent some fun time in the pool too, not just lessons.  

The girls also did VBS the same week that swim lessons began (and the last week before our move!!).  It was a very busy week, but I'm glad I planned some fun for the kids otherwise they would have been so bored just hanging around while I packed all the time.  And it was good for me to get some breaks and enjoy watching them swim.  

7. Random

 

Elise wanted a picture.  So I took one.  Kayla and Sophie practicing splits.  

Kayla used the camera on my phone one day....

So I got a few random shots...ha

That's kind-of how I was feeling about all the packing too....

He didn't mind as long as he got fed.

So there you have it.  Totus Tuus, VBS, swim lessons, packing, packing, cleaning, and more packing.  Bye, June!  Hello July!!

A Christmas Interview with the family Bissonnette- 2015

Merry Christmas to all our very dear family and friends!

This year we were interviewed by the talented and exuberant Matilda Maloo from Channel B News.  

In addition to this segment which was filmed and aired on television last week ;) we were also interviewed by Life in SoCal magazine and you can read that interview below.  

Q: What are you most thankful for this year and why?

Chris:  Spending time with family and visiting them on their home turf (Porterville, Spokane, Cincinnati, Virginia, Foresthill, Bakersfield, Arizona), the two most special probably being Spokane which I'd never been to yet and getting back to Virginia where we hadn't visited in 4 1/2 years.  People scatter and you have to enjoy it while you can. 

{photo credit: some random tourist in Kings Canyon NP}

{photo credit: Nicholas Bissonnette and his tri-pod and camera}

 

(Paul and MaryAnn in Spokane, WA)                   (Great Grandma Cruess-Foresthill)

(Chris' aunt and uncle and their boys- Phoenix)

(Robbie and Christy's families- Thanksgiving in Bakersfield)

{photo credit: Chris Bissonnette} 

(Finian's baptism- Sean and Scott's families in VA)

{photo credit: Danny Anderson}

{photo credit: Tracy Cruess}

Laura: I am most thankful for the wonderful community (Chris, the girls, dear friends and amazing family) that God has blessed us with.  I have received so much encouragement from others and it has been an incredible support.

(Chris' 30th Birthday Beer Tasting party)

(OktoBEERfest at the Bissonnette home)

{photo credit: Melissa Babasin photography}

Kayla: Jesus, because He died and rose for us.

(visiting Jesus at the Mission Basilica)

Elise: I liked my Hawaii birthday because I liked the hula and the pineapple.

Ava: Meeting Elsa, because I like to hug Elsa.

{photo credit: random Disneyland cast member}

Q: God gives us all special gifts and talents.  How did you use yours this year?

Chris: I moved us almost single-handedly using my Herculean strength.  I also re-upholstered the dining room chairs using my DIY skills (or is it skilz? ha)

Laura: I believe God gave gives mothers a heart to nurture and take care of their family. I fail, but I do my best to nurture, love, be grateful, and attempt to "live holy the present moment" (St. Gianna Beretta Molla)

Kayla: I wrote notes and drew pictures for my cousins to brighten up their day.

Elise: I'm good at sharing my candy.

Ava: hugging people when they're sad

Q: What was your favorite memory from 2015?

Chris: I wouldn't say any single thing, but more the fact that we saw so many places and visited with so many people.

 

(Kayla's first backpacking trip-hiking Mt. Langley  /  Sophie's first backpacking trip)

Orange County zoo with Chris' family (their first time back out to CA since our wedding!)

(Chris' brother, Scott, visited in early January)

(Chris' brother, Nicholas, also visited in January--San Juan Capistrano Mission)

Laura: I really enjoyed the time spent hiking out in nature and taking in all the beauty of God's creation.  I also loved getting to see so many different extended family members this year!

(hiking in Orange County)                                  (Roaring River Falls- Kings Canyon)

(Joshua Tree NP- January)

{photo credit: Chris Bissonnette}

(Sophie's baptism- with Dad and Mom Cruess, godparents 'Uncle' Paul and 'Auntie' Agnes and Kevin's family) 

(Shannon's wedding shower)

Kayla: the Fresno Zoo- I liked the Dino Dig and the flamingos and the tigers pacing back and forth.

Elise: Going to Disneyland.  I liked going in the dark {she's afraid of the dark, BTW} on Peter Pan (ride) flying in the sky.

 

Ava: Putting dresses on me and going to Disneyland.

(first ride on the bumper cars)

Q: What do you hope to do with your family next year?

Chris: Relax....and tour National Parks in Utah, perhaps a longer backpacking trip with Laura, and my first camping trip with Elise who will turn 5!

Laura: I would love to explore some more National Parks in Utah and Arizona, and I'd love to add simple activities like reading aloud (chapter books) some evenings with the family to our routine. We LOVE reading. And bring back our evening family decade of the Rosary.

Kayla: Go to the Fresno Zoo and the new African Adventure with my family and all my Cruess cousins (she has 19 cousins plus 2 in utero on that side of the family).

Elise: Go to Disneyland and sing bedtime songs (several continued activities).

Ava: Play and go to Disneyland and ride on the tea cups (also continued activities).

(Disneyland with dear friends)

The family also enjoyed trips to the beach, tons of hiking, homeschooling Kayla (going through a charter school this year) for first grade, Elise's first VBS, Ava and Elise's first official trips to the dentist, Kayla's first ballet recital as well as her FIRST Nutcracker!

 

"Joy to the World!
The Lord is come.
 Let earth receive her King!"

A blessed and joyous Christmas season to you and yours!

Love,
The family Bissonnette