Christmas Letter 2013

Once again the holiday season has snuck up on me, but this year I think we have a better excuse than most!! Sorry the cards are so let- since it says "holiday" can it count for Valentine's Day??! LOL!!!

Here's our our year in highlights:

1.) Bayer party of FOUR!! That's right, as all of you know, we added another member to our family, Cayden Bayer born in June and what a CUTIE! Last year we chose not to announce his coming because of some complications in the pregnancy but praise GOD he is here! Healthy, happy and absolutely perfect.

2. I'm going to Miami.. err… Missouri?? Approximately 2 weeks before Cayden was born the San Onofre power plant announced its closing and we found ourselves looking for a job. Fast forward a couple crazy months and in late September we found ourselves moving to MISSOURI! We rented a house, then bought a house, then moved again, we live outside of Jefferson City, approximately 2 hours from Brett's parents and 4 ½ hours from a large portion of my family as well. I think a month where we DON'T have to move is a GOOD one!! 

3. Home Sweet Home: Did you see that? We bought a HOUSE!! This is our first home purchase and we are so excited, God opened the doors to the right home, in the right neighborhood with the right schools. We've only been in the home a couple weeks, but already feel so at home! We are currently remodeling the kitchen which has been a little crazier than we thought it would be and are learning new ways to cook without a stove.

There's a guest room downstairs that's just waiting for you to come visit :) 

4. WHO is that girl? Ariella has grown so much in this last year, so many times Brett and I just look at each other and ask- WHO is that little girl?? Where is our baby girl?? Ari is just blossoming into such an amazing girl, she is very outgoing and friendly and really knows NO stranger. She loves singing, dancing and being in the spotlight whenever possible. She has been handling the transition really well, we found a new preschool and she has started making a few friends. I can't wait to get the house a little more in order so we can have playdates with the new friends we have met. She LOVES her little brother, and the feeling is mutual, Cayden is pretty sure she hung the moon. 

5. Hey baby!!! It seems like yesterday we found out we were pregnant and now look who's 6 months old!!

Cayden is the PERFECT addition to our family, he is laid back and chill- a perfect balance for Ari. Already I am noticing a difference between girls and boys, this little guy wants to GO GO GO!! He wants to crawl and move SO BAD but hates tummy time, so he sits and rocks and hops trying to get across the room. He loves his sister, paper (he's like a ninja when he spies a sheet laying round), and anything that's round, ESPECIALLY soccer balls! Does it really start this young? Can you believe he was this little only 6 months ago??

6. There's no place like home, there's no place like home….. Brett has returned to his home state and he is pretty happy. He started his new job with Ameren Nuclear Power in Fulton, MO along with a few other workers from San Onofre and is planning to be part of the 2016 Senior Reactor Operator class. He is planning on transferring his Navy Reserve unit to either Kansas City or St Louis. He loves the chance to live so close to his parents, they are a blessing to us and the kids.

7. NEW NEW NEW……  Well in my life (Michelle), this is a time of new beginnings, new friendships, new home and even a new baby!! I have made some amazing friendships in California and miss them daily but look forward to what God has in store for me in this new area, already I've joined MOPS and a women's Bible study on Wednesdays. I love spending time with my kiddos and really enjoy seeing Ari as a sister and watch Cayden grow to be the cute little man that he is. I'm hoping to keep this blog a little more updated this year so stay tuned!

May God Bless and Keep you!!

Love,

Brett, Michelle, Ariella and Cayden Bayer

Christmas Letter 2012

Well it’s that time again!! Our Christmas cards are in the mail so you all have hopefully gotten them or will be receiving them in the next few days, just in time for the wonderful holiday that celebrates our Christ’s birth! This year has passed so fast, it seems like yesterday we were writing our Christmas card for last year. This year has been so much fun, and once again we are so very thankful for the blessings God has given us and most of all to have family and friends like you!

This year has been the year of the travels! Here are some highlights:

ü  We traveled to Oklahoma City in June to see Brett’s youngest brother (Ryan) get married to the lovely Meredith. We are looking forward to watching Brett’s last single brother Scott marry Amy Seed this spring.  Ari and I also visited family and friends in the Midwest for a few weeks.

ü  Brett did his Navy reserve time in Hawaii and I flew out there for a week and checked Hawaii off my bucket list. It was wonderful to have some time with just Brett and I in a place that he knew so well. Some of you may not have known, but Brett was stationed in Hawaii when he was active duty Navy. We went paddle boarding with friends (Mike and Brenna, Hawaii residents), saw the Dole pineapple plantation, snorkeled at Sharks Cove, visited Waikiki and spent a lot of time on the North Shore (my favorite).

ü  Brett’s WHOLE family (except Scott who is currently on deployment) visited for Thanksgiving, so we had 19 people here! It was a crazy fun time J and so neat to be able to spend time with family that lives far away. Ari really enjoyed playing with her cousins (Michael 2 ½ and Nathan 3 ½) every day.

ü  We ran as a family in a 5k at the Vista Strawberry Festival.  Ok, Ari rode in the baby stroller that Brett pushed.  I ran as well and we all enjoyed lots of strawberries at the finish line. 

  

ü  Brett’s parents Bing and Sherrie visited in March and we went to Disneyland for 3 days!

ü  We went to our first Angels game, Ari did REALLY well after we got out the IPad! J After about two pitches she said that she was all done, but we managed to stick in out until almost the very end.

Ariella: The cutest is always first in the letter right? Ari (as we call her almost always) is defiantly that! We have watched our baby girl grow through the toddler to preschool age this year and it is QUITE a transition! Ari is blossoming into such a wonderful little girl, she loves to draw, read books (more pretending at this point), play pretend, and “help” with everything. You can tell she’s her happiest when she starts humming or singing or a combination of the both J. Ari started attending preschool this year and she LOVES it! She attends a Montessori preschool, which is a little different than a regular school (here’s a link about Montessori), and she has made so many little friends. Ari turned 3 and we celebrated with a pirate themed party, complete with a dancing singing pirate! Papi (my dad Ron) visited and was a HUGE help with the party (2nd year in a row!), he even showed Ari how to "treasure hunt" aka metal detect at the beach. She enjoyed it so much that she still breaks out in a pirate song pretty often. Thankfully Ari has been blessed with wonderful health and we have managed to stay out of the hospital.  She’s been growing so fast we cant seem to keep up. We post lots of pictures and stories on Facebook on my page so keep checking there for updates and news throughout the year.

Michelle: This year had been a WHIRLWIND (have I said that once? Twice?) I have been so blessed with amazing Mommy friends who have become like family to me, I am always amazed at how God can grow and develop relationships, refining you as you grow. I am still working as a stay at home Mom, taking a few pictures on the side, and doing my blogging (www.justamomma.com), really I call those hobbies because I don’t even have time for that! It is such a joy to be a stay at home Mom and be there with Ari and watch her grow and learn. I was very motivated to get back in shape this year, FINALLY get rid of that baby weight (after 3 years I guessed it wasn’t coming off) and did a 12 week body makeover where I worked out 5-6 times a week and ate extremely healthy, it paid off and I felt healthier and in better shape than I have since …… well… ever!

Brett: This summer Brett was selected for promotion to the rank of O-4, Lieutenant Commander, and will officially pin on the new rank this upcoming February. For his two weeks of active duty service, Brett went to Pearl Harbor, HI to support the world’s largest multinational naval exercise RIMPAC 2012,

which is also highlighted in the movie Battleship. In September, Brett qualified as a Shift Technical Advisor, another watch station, at San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station. He still continues to enjoy his job as a Senior Reactor Operator and being in charge of one of the big white domes for his twelve-hour shifts.

Christmas Letter 2011

What a crazy, busy, and FUN year it has been in the California Bayer household!! Every year it seems like a rollercoaster with its up, downs, twists and turns.  It never ceases to amaze us on how fast it goes.  At the end of each year we write this letter and have time to reflect on how absolutely wonderful the time is together and how much we love and appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for being part of our lives.

Ariella: This year we saw our little baby turn 2 (October)! We just can’t believe it, it seems like yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. Ari is just a fun little girl, very outgoing and friendly, hasn’t ever met a stranger and likes to pass out hugs and “lovings” wherever she goes. In this last year we’ve seen a language explosion, from just a few words to stories that begin with “once upon a time” and usually end with some rendition of the Wonder Pets theme song (she’s a HUGE fan). She loves to sing, and even makes up some of her own songs like “Pumpkin Man” sung to the melody of “Do You Know the Muffin Man?” She loves spending time with her little friends, her “super daddy,” and cooking with Mommy. Thankfully this year has been pretty uneventful health wise for her, we were so happy to have no hospital visits this year! Yay! They continue to monitor her Urinary Reflux and will probably have the Deflux procedure to fix it early 2012.

Michelle: I’ve been pretty busy as a stay at home mom, and think that the phrase should change because this is one Mom who doesn’t stay at home very often! Ari and I love go to the zoo, Sea World, swimming lessons, Mommy & Me Preschool, Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), MOPS,  and lots of play dates with friend . I continue to organize a mommies group, exercise a little, bake, and have lots of fun taking pictures of family and friends. In mu very little free time I love spending time doing some of my favorite hobbies, blogging, baking, and lately have a fascination with making cake pops for just about any occasion. Ariella is one of the biggest joys in my life and I can say she is the best employer I’ve ever had.

Brett: In March, Brett transitioned to the Navy Selected Reserves and serves as the Admin Department Head for a Submarine Support Detachment at Point Loma Submarine base in San Diego.  He drills one weekend a month and two weeks a year, it’s a nice chance for him to reconnect with the submarine community. Thankfully this year he was not on the deployment list so we are safe for a year of no deployments, each year there’s a chance he will be selected. Brett just finished an 18 month training program to get his Senior Reactor Operator license at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. This is a VERY exciting event, he’s been working very hard for this and we are so proud of him. He is excited to be in charge of a nuclear reactor for his twelve hour shift, and finally get to do what he’s been training for.

Family: We had a whirlwind summer this year with a visit from Auntie Cheryl (one of my best friends), Grammy and Paca Bing (Brett’s parents) followed by a vacation. We decided to take our first “real” family vacation this summer to Cancun Mexico, where we learned LOTS of lessons on parenting. It was beautiful, but we know now that Mexico and toddlers are probably not the best mix. Right after we returned we moved. Our neighbors next door moved away so we decided to rent their townhome from them, it was a pretty smooth transition since it’s the exact same layout as our former townhome, that and we had about 20 friends show up to help out.  God has really blessed us with amazing friends- we are so very very thankful for them.  Papi (my Dad) got a chance to visit us for Ari’s 2^nd birthday in October and we got to go to Colorado for Thanksgiving, and Kansas/Missouri for Christmas so the travels continue!

From our house to yours we wish you a very very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

And always- Please COME VISIT! We would love to see you all in 2012!

Love,

Brett, Michelle and Ariella Bayer

Happy big 02 Ariella!!

Hi Everyone...
Im ashamed its been SOOOOOOOOOOO long.. I will post soon (already midnight and I've already done 1 blog) but for now check out Ari's birthday party on my Money Tree blog.
http://aordinarymommy.blogspot.com/2011/10/happy-birthday-2-bug-tastic.html

Christmas Letter 2010

Dear Family and Friends,
As you can see it's been awhile since we've updated the blog, that probably shows you how incredibly busy we've been lately!! :) Well along with all the busyness, we've experienced a roller coaster of a year, with many ups, a few downs and even a couple twists and turns, but at the end of the ride we are so thankful to have each other and the many blessings of family and friends that God has given us.

Brett
Brett continues to work for Southern California Edison, in this last year he transferred from the training department to operations (YAY!) and was selected to begin the Senior Reactor Operator training program (double YAY!). He is doing very well in the program, however it can be demanding at times with the swing shifts (some day’s nights 6pm - 6am) and rigorous testing. He spends any spare time he has playing with Ari and teaching her new words, it's amazing how he can teach her something so quickly- he is her favorite teacher and best friend. She knows when Daddy shows up its time to PLAY! Brett continues his interest in stocks and investing and does an excellent job of managing our retirement and helping others.

Michelle
Well I have to say being a Mom is a full time job, I'm constantly impressed with Moms with multiple children (like my Mother-4, and Brett's Mom-4 as well), their sacrifices and hard work make it hard to complain with my one little one, even on the roughest day. I can honestly say I LOVE my job and that I have the best bonuses of sloppy baby kisses and an occasional REAL hug! In the last year I started a money saving-freebie blog (http://aordinarymommy.blogspot.com/), joined and help start a Mommy's group for Moms in my area, got a Cricut die cut machine that I love (not a scrap booker YET), and continue to take a TON of photos. This week I will actually get to display my photos for the first time in a local businesses lobby. I've made MANY wonderful Mommy friends in this last year, I am very blessed and thankful for the strong support group that has developed, it REALLY helps if Brett has long hours or Ari is sick, their kindness and caring reminds me daily of Christ's love for us and how great it can be.

Ariella

This is what you REALLY are looking for right? Ariella (or Ari, as we call her) is constantly changing, growing and learning new things. Her interests include long walks to the mailbox (she can walk YAY!), reading (mostly board books and ANYTHING with a cat "meow" or dog "gog" in it), and animals (BIG favorite is "gogs" followed by "meows" if she can catch them). As you can tell this little one is TALKING, so so so much, she says "gog", "meow", "heddo" for hello, "papa", "dada", "momma", "bobble" for bottle, "book", "Elmo", "ug" for hug, "uppie" for open, and the list goes on. She celebrated her first birthday in October and celebrated with a REAL Elmo, 2 chocolate fountains and an apple cider fountain (all borrowed), it was incredible to say the least and we've both been cured of the desire for big birthday parties!! :) Ari's is cutting teeth very very slowly, but that doesn't stop her from eating anything she wants. This little one had inherited my love people and can make friends with anyone she meets, when she gets impatient while shopping I just walk by a crowd and she's happy making strangers into part of her fan club- she's VERY easy to love.

Unfortunately it hasn't been completely sunshine and roses this last year, Ari was hospitalized in November for dehydration from some stomach bug, followed quickly by a double ear infection which has proven resistant to all antibiotics. We've also found out that she had bilateral urinary reflux which makes her susceptible to urinary tract infections which we've had our fair share of in the last year. She's currently on maintenance antibiotics that she will continue to be on until she grows out of it or has surgery to fix the reflux. We are hoping growing out of it will happen sooner. Please keep her health in your prayers. Brett and I both lost grandfathers in the last year with my grandfather passed away in March and Brett's grandfather passed away in November. We miss them so much, but are thankful Ari had the chance to meet them both. I fell down some stairs and injured my ankle in October and continue to do physical therapy. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as it could have been and Ari was safe (she was in my arms when I fell).

Brett's brother Scott was living with us up until September when he was deployed to Afghanistan. Please keep him in your prayers as well as he plans to return in March and stay with us. Ari's excited to see "Unca Scott" again. My mother and step father moved in October to a RV resort about an hour from where we live. It's so nice to have them closer and they LOVE the California weather. They say if we ever move they will stay.

Well that is about all the rollercoaster for now, I promised to post to this blog at least once a month going forward so you can keep updated with the events as they happen :).

Love and Best Wishes for the Holiday Season!!

Brett, Michelle, and Ariella

I discovered the wipes and how to unpack them? Lol

Secret shopping is yummy!

I could watch these ducks all day! I love the zoo

My first glimpse of live music i'm enthralled!

Now how does this work?