Daisy

5 weeks old
We are getting a new puppy next week and we are going to crate train so wish us luck! We have already named her Daisy. She is so CUTE!

Christmas Card

This is our summary for 2009. We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a great New Year!

Christmas Day

We had such a fun Christmas. We had Secret Santa's (whom we figured out) and lots of fun. It was such a special Christmas and we are so grateful for those who love us and shared their friendship with us. We really love all our family and friends. We felt really special this year and really felt the Christmas spirit! Thanks for EVERYTHING!



During the day we were able to go to the Laub's. We had fun tearing through paper there and enjoying food and each others company. The kids especially liked these books. We hope everyone else had a great Christmas too!

Christmas Eve

The kids had fun dressing up for our family role play of the birth of Jesus. We even wrapped lights around the piano bench for the manger. We decided to read the story to the kids and have them color the nativity as we read. They were only allowed to color the people and animals when they heard them read from the scriptures. We were hoping they would get more out of it that way. It worked out really well and I think this may become a tradition.
It was neat because Samantha is getting older and really starting to connect things together about the gospel. She asked how the atonement worked and we were able to explain and she understood that Christ came to earth and was the only perfect person. Since he was the only one perfect he was the only one that could ask Heavenly Father to give everyone's sins to him so he could pay for them for us. He prayed hard and felt everything, our pain, sorrow, everything and he bled from every pore because it hurt so bad. Jesus did that for us and became our Savior, meaning he saved us so we can return to Heavenly Father again. Otherwise Heavenly Father could not let us back in to him. If we don't use the atonement it will make Jesus sad since he already paid the price. This experience was really special and we look forward to more.

Gunlock Christmas

The Gunlock Christmas party was eventful for me this year since I lead the music. I am the Primary Chorister and so I picked the music and lead it for the town program. Samantha was an angel and Derrick was a shepherd who almost looks like Spock.

The story of Jesus was told and then Santa Claus came! This is a very awesome tradition we will always be happy to be a part of. The big change for the program is that Santa was only available on the 23rd (not the 24th) and only has time to schedule the 23rd for future years as well. It is a great adjustment for us but not so much for some of the older residents in town. Either way, the tradition was kept and it was still wonderful to be a part of.

30

Yeah! I'm 30! Now I can tell people that say I look too young that I am OLD! Although 30 isn't old at all but it sounds better than being in your 20s.
I had a great birthday. We did cake and ice cream with the kids and Rachel, and then Kevin's sister Mandy took the kids to his parents for the night and gave me a break. Kevin took me out to eat and then we helped my grandparents fix a light in the garage and then went home to watch a movie. It was wonderful to only get myself ready for church the next day. After church, we went to the Laub Christmas party and had a nice time there.

Christmas with Erickson's

We drove up to the Hollingshead Christmas Reunion and for the Erickson Christmas party and to have some time with my parents during the holiday.
Obviously, EVERYONE had fun with the train. Eventually we will get one but we sure enjoyed this one for a few hours. We had such a great time with everyone throughout the weekend and we are so grateful for all the fun gifts, especially the portable DVD player we used to get home!

Wildland

Do I look good in YELLOW? I took the Wildland Fire Fighter class in November and December. This was me before I showed up on the last day to do field testing. I did better than I thought I would and really enjoyed it. Kevin and I used this experience to practice supporting each other. Kevin did a great job taking care of me and all the stuff I couldn't do during the class. It worked out really great and now I can get my red card.

Gingerbread House

Derrick was the only person to make a gingerbread house this year and he put on enough candy to make several gingerbread houses.
So I didn't put together that the frosting should be white, but we must say that this gingerbread house was the best one I've tasted from a kindergarten class. His sisters didn't mind the chocolate or the abundance of candy either!

Amazing Funeral

This was the most amazing funeral that I have ever been to. My sister-in-law Chari's dad passed away and we went up to the funeral. He was the Fire Chief of Springville and Kevin even had a chance to work with him when he was on their department. He was a great man and had done so much good in his life and his funeral reflected it. The most amazing part was when they gave the last page and the two men escorted a man in Chief Whitney's turnout coat through a mist of water as a final goodbye. It was so touching.The kids had the chance to get in a Springville Fire Truck. We drove up with my sister LeAnn and only took KayDee since the other kids had school. It worked out really well and we were so grateful to attend.

Spotlight on Derrick

Derrick made wings! One of his inventions.

Derrick wanted his hair "done" so we were having fun with gel and hair spray. His sisters always get their hair done and he was so pleased to have that hair attention.

Derrick's Birthday

Derrick has turned 6! We are so HaPpY! He is such a good boy and has such a good heart. He loves to invent things and received legos and an erector set to further his progress. He loves his kindergarten class and claims he can't read but he is sounding out words really well. He even writes to his Grandma Laub about once a week. We just need to keep boosting his confidence. He loves riding his bike, playing games, doing puzzles, coloring and pretends with his sisters really well, making sure he is the prince or the male role. He has been taking music lessons and does really well playing the piano. Derrick is helpful and considerate, and makes sure I don't forget things. We feel so blessed to have him in our home and love what he brings to our family.

Science Family Night

The elementary school had a family night and they did science projects.

Samantha writing with invisible ink (lemon juice and then you heat it to make it show up)

Derrick was being held up by Samantha's one finger. Fun balancing trick!

KayDee was stabbing potatoes with straws. Straws are stronger than we thought!

The one they liked the most was a candle they put underwater and it still burned. They used a mirror box and the kids were so amazed.

Halloween

Just trying to catch up... Here is Halloween!

Sam's class

Derrick going around to each classroom for his kindergarten parade. KayDee got to go too, privilege of being little sister.
Kevin was the Cat in the Hat and KayDee was a PINK fairy
Derrick was a SWAT guy and was content to wear just the vest.
Samantha was a vampire princess.
And I was a witch but I had the camera so there are no pictures of me (typical)

Good-Bye Kyler

The kids wanted to make sure we didn't forget Kyler so here is how he fit in our lives and what we loved about him.
We had Kyler since March 2009. He was a "drop-off" as most dogs are in our town. The kids were impressed because he listened to them, and Kevin chased him out of the yard because that is what we do to all the dogs. When I came home and saw him, I just about chased him out but then I realized he was the color, size and personality of dog we wanted. He adopted us since he immediately made himself at home on our back deck.He cowered at us for about two months, suggesting he was beaten by a previous owner, and when we would throw a ball or stick he would duck and hide. We found out he was not a needy dog but he did like to chase sticks and shread them. He loved to be pet and scratched anytime/anywhere and loved it so much you would think he was being massaged by a professional.
We only heard him bark once, because there were racoons in our nut trees. He found 6, which were taken out by Kevin soon after. He chased birds and squirrels, and loved to go on walks with us. Kyler was a great camping dog and very good at riding in the back of the truck.My favorite thing about Kyler was when we would get home and he would be so excited to see us, he would "talk" to us with his "wow owow" howl. It was so sweet! We enjoyed and loved him while he was with us, and he definitely loved us. The only thing we did not like was him leaving our yard during the night. Kyler was found dead yesterday morning, Dec 8,2009, next to our neighbor's house, with a bullet hole in his head right between the ears. We aren't sure who shot him but we are really sad he isn't here anymore. We loved our Kyler and we were glad to give him a good family for a little while!

Red Mountain Trail

We attempted to go on the Red Mountain Trail but were unable to finish since Justin and Rachel's jeep kept overheating. We did make it to the Snow Canyon overlook and had fun camping anyway. This just gives us another excuse to go again so we can complete the trail next time. A souvenir we drug for a while.

Justin and Rachel pampered us with some soda.

Our Camp

Kevin enjoying our camp.

Kids waiting for the mirror to be put back on. A branch swiped it off.

Why play with Toys when we have a BOX!

Fun Kids

Samantha lost her first tooth and then number 2 the next day!

Derrick is happy!KayDee wanted to use my curlers.

Princess Boo Hoo

Samantha played the goose girl in Princess Boo Hoo for our ward party. She did a fantastic job and remembered all her lines and kept character really well. She has always performed well.