Just Playing

 Samantha took some pictures of the kids playing in our backyard with Dani. They have so much fun together.

 We finally got a picture of Charleene with us. For some reason we forget when we get to see her nearly everyday. We love the privileges of living next to a newborn! We don't mind holding her while Bree has things she needs to get done.

 Dani has developed different relationships with each of the kids and enjoys them for different reasons. Dani absolutely loves to giggle at Derrick. He is the worlds best comedian to her.

 KayDee is someone she can play, color and blow bubbles with. And Samantha likes to sing and dance and do all sorts of silly things with her.

KayDee is 6!

 KayDee is 6 and we are so happy she is, but her dad will probably tease her that she is "sick" instead of six the whole year. She will keep reminding her dad that it has an "X" not a "K". This birthday means a lot to her. She gets to start 1st grade and go to school all day like her brother and sister. She gets to eat at school and just be BIG! She loves to play outside and play with little toys and dolls. Those princesses still make her world magical and she loves to dress up like them too. She loves legos and kinects. She folds her laundry, wipes off the table and loves to mop!

She plays the piano and is reading really well. She just learned how to ride her bike without training wheels and is still working up the courage to ride on the dirt and rocks.
She is very helpful especially when mom is baking in the kitchen and loves to share. She helps dad at work and gets to move her very own wheel line sprinkler. She has been patient while we have been in transition moving to the farm and finds happiness in the little things. She loves to go to church and carry her own scriptures. Her prayers are always individual and genuine. She keeps track of the rules and gives hugs when we need them. We love our KayDee and are so happy she is part of our family. She is so special and makes us smile.

KayDee's Birthday

We celebrated KayDee's birthday with cousins who lived close. We went to the morning movie and then went to the park for cake and then swam at the pool. Aunt Mandy and Bree came with Dani and Charleene to the movie and the park. Then Aunt Roni with Shebli, Scott, and Chloe joined us at the park and swimming.
We had a great time and enjoyed the time with family. KayDee had a great birthday!

Derrick and Shelbi

KayDee

Chloe

Derrick, KayDee, Samantha, Shelbi and Chloe

Fun in Vegas

 We were able to go to Las Vegas to visit my sister LeAnn's family. Maryn had her birthday party and a dance concert. The kids have so much fun together and it was fun to visit! We went out to dinner and they sang happy birthday to Maryn and KayDee (her birthday was in a couple days) and got ice cream and balloons.

End of School

We moved with a couple months left of school left. The kids adjusted well even though they miss many things from the old school

Derrick was immediately in a Shakespeare play and was able to perform with his class at the Shakespearean Festival

KayDee had her Kindergarten program

Samantha played the recorder with her class the last Wednesday of school at the flag ceremony. Her Grandma Laub and Uncle DJ and Aunt Whitney came to watch too. They did a great job!

Music

 Samantha and Derrick have been taking piano lessons from me once a week before school and worked hard to memorize their recital pieces.

 We had the kids play just before KayDee's Let's Play Music recital.

 KayDee finished her second year and has one more year left. We are not able to find a teacher in the area so I will have to do it with the help of Samantha and Derrick since they have done all three years.

 KayDee did a great job and remembered all of her parts. All went well except for when her piano wasn't working. It really upset her since she wanted to play what she had learned. That was fixed quickly and she performed great!

We are so happy she loves music and has done so well playing the piano. We will start again in September!

Easter 2012

 We dyed eggs with Aunt Bree and Dani this year. We colored with crayons first and then dipped them in the dye. The kids love it!

 We went back home to the town Easter Egg hunt and were joined by all the Laub cousins.

 Three cousins stayed the night and were able to play a little longer.

 We had to pack up stuff since we decided we needed to move to the farm where Kevin is working now. We just can't be apart anymore. Travis and Bree helped pack and load and we went to join the rest of the Laub's for the Easter Basket hunt at Kevin's parents.

 We did our own boiled egg hunt on Monday just in the grass next to the house.

The kids counted and sorted the eggs together after and Bree and I were excited to make deviled eggs!

Dandelion Crowns

 I've been busy with little girls lately. When KayDee gets home from school we love to play with Dani outside when her mom is at doctor's appointments.

 They collect dandelions and give them to me and in turn it turns my jeans yellow. I'm not interested in yellowing jeans so I made a crown out of them. KayDee was doing a dandelion wedding march.

Roof

I finally remembered to take a picture. This is our house with the new pitched roof on it. I wish I would have taken a picture of the before flat roof because the comparison looks amazing. Kevin's parents were able to get the roof on our house in amazing time. We are so grateful they made this priority to help preserve the house. They were so gracious since their house needs some updates too!

Pinewood Derby

 Derrick went to his first Pinewood Derby and was so excited.

 Dad, Mom and Derrick worked on the car. Dad got it cut to the right shape. Derrick sanded it down for a couple of days and Mom helped paint it.

Derrick won every race except for one. That one track had a little more friction on it. But after racing the second place scout a few more times, we were sure he was first. He got first place overall and was able to go to the big race a few weeks later where he got a second and third place for the two he raced. He also was awarded best paint job.

House Work

This is where we go every weekend. We have come a long way since we started at the beginning of the year and we are close to getting the inspection done. We have moved walls, put in new windows, pulled out the old water pipe and replaced it with new pipe. We've put in new electrical boxes and moved wiring.
Fortunately we have had help from our families. My parents have come down a couple times to help with the electrical boxes and stringing new water pipe. DJ has put in our new braker box. Travis comes in now and then to help with whatever we may be doing at the time. We are so grateful for their help!
It's starting to look like a home and makes me more excited to move. We plan to finish the plumbing and the electrical so we can do the inspection. Next comes insulation and sheet rock.
The kids have done so well while we've been working long days. They spend their time watching movies, playing video games, playing outside, flying kites, digging in the dirt and doing dishes! We appreciate their help in keeping themselves busy and getting along so well with each other so we can concentrate on the house.
I'll post more updates as we go along.

Farm Weekends

 We have been going to the farm to work on our house every weekend and this weekend Samantha got a cut on her head. She and Derrick were helping their Uncle Travis wind up some line and the handle flipped back under strain and hit her in the head a couple of times. It was more scary than anything and she healed really quickly.

 We haven't taken pictures of our time over the weekend so we took some snapshots during dinner.

I just keep forgetting the camera so I took these with my cell phone so we would have a few.

 Yes, they have chipmunk cheeks full of dinner.

The kids do have fun while they are there and their cousin Dani is always thrilled to be with them.

Kevin's Birthday

 Kevin celebrated his birthday at the farm. The cell phone's camera had to do this round. I love how he uses those candles to warm his hands. We were at the farm for the weekend doing more work on our house there.

Kevin does such a great job providing for our family and meeting our needs. He's a great dad and husband and we are so lucky we get to be with him!