Summer/Fall Projects at Home

refurbishing more kayaks!

Jared built a wall in the playroom between a new bedroom and storage room.  

We had the garage mudded and textured and then we painted.  

Here's the bedroom with finished drywall and painting!  Yea!

Grandpa came to lay the carpet with a great team.  

I painted the old bed set again. :)  It has rotated from Grandma's house to Amy's to Renee's.  

The girl's moved in around Christmas and we have more things on the walls, etc.   

Reorganized garage after painting.

And I got a lovely and amazingly wonderful storage room out of the deal too!  

Since all these photos Grandpa volunteered to help finish an office/bedroom in the basement.  

So we are grateful to be able to jump into home improvement again!  The storage room now has floor to ceiling shelves to pack more in and free up space in the other rooms....    

Dates with Daddy

a Sunday drive with Dad and kids in the canyon

Rock climbing in Draper with the boys

and with the girls

Festival of Lights in the rain

Then later in the Winter Wonderland

Giving Thanks

This year Thanksgiving meant Grandma and Grandpa would be home.  

The welcome at the airport

We also got to celebrate and eat tasty thanksgiving victuals with the Clarks.

Over the weekend we spent some time at the cabin with Grandma and Grandpa and cousins.  

Darren made a turkey rice soup with mushrooms. 

cousins playing a variation of mafia

two rascals

first snow play of the season

Michael meets 12

Michael had a big year and a big birthday.  He prepared to receive the priesthood and be able to go to the temple.  He finished up 5th grade with flying colors and jumped into a new routine for 6th grade with homeschooling.  He has been working hard and making the best of all his opportunities.  Michael does such a great job being the oldest in our family.  He paves the way for the other kids and breaks in his parents easy.  He is so responsible and helpful.  Michael is very thoughtful and has great life goals.  He develops and shares his musical talents.   Michael is funny and fun to be around.  He is a great kid, growing into a great young man.  

First temple trip with Fisher

Some birthday fun with cousins and friends

weekly mutual and scouts now!  

Jordan turns 10

Here's Jordan.  He turned 10 at the end of October and was ready to leave 9 behind.  He had a great year doing things he loves.  This year Jordan participated in some political activism programs with Jared and loved them!  He had a goal to read and study the Book of Mormon with Michael and Jared.  He really grew a lot in understanding and loves to recognize the Spirit and develop his own testimony and ideas.  

Jordan worked hard with Michael to get the Game Day Flag business going and save money for his mission.  Jordan loves to be active in sports and the outdoors.  He continues to learn everything he can so he can be an expert about animals.  He is excited for the future and works hard.  Jordan can make friends with anyone and everyone, because of his confidence and readiness to share his ideas.  He enjoys being with little people and big people and he may talk your ear off if he finds an opportunity.  Jordan is a leader because of his zeal and his ability to focus.  It is so fun seeing Jordan grow and make progress.  This will be a great year.

This is the serious photo Jordan may have to grow into.  He has some quiet moments, but he loves to have fun!

Jordan with a birthday breakfast crepe

birthday treats with cousins and a couple friends 

the nerf war with four siblings 

7 year old Tessa

Tessa was our other September birthday.  This year, she got to plan her first official birthday party with friends, pinata and games etc.  She absolutely loved being a host and the special reason for the event.  

It's a big deal to be 7 now, because it means 1st grade and becoming more independent!  Tessa is very social and her strengths help her to make friends with everyone.  In the past year, Tessa has had opportunities to perform on stage with Sunshine Generations and to become a better gymnast.  She does well overcoming her fears and working hard to do her best. 

Tessa has developed her own beautiful style.  She is growing up and has decided to take charge of doing her own hair and dressing herself.  She loves to be neat and organized and has a lot of intuitive sense about what needs to be done every day.  She also has lots of energy and good ideas.  I love having her as my biggest girl!

  

At the end of August, Tessa and Jordan auditioned for the community play, Aladdin.  Jordan chose not to continue, but Tessa was cast in the chorus in several scenes and as a tumbler in Prince Ali's procession.  She loved every rehearsal and especially every performance!

Here she is on the left front row with the tumblers.

I think Tessa was the youngest in the cast.  She is on the left front row again here in a red and tan tunic.  

after the show greeting the cast
It was so much fun to have her in the show!  I think we all had the entire soundtrack memorized from listening to Tessa sing it for two months. :)

Leisel and Birthday letters

Last week we recruited Grandpa and Grandma to help us get some updated photos of the kids for posting and printing.  It was a lot of fun and I think the kids enjoyed having the spotlight on them.  I love the new photos to show how they have been growing!

Leisel did a lot of growing this year.  She started primary as a super sunbeam and is definitely a big kid now.  She grew several inches and now we often remind her to eat more so she doesn't turn into a bean pole.  Her favorite foods are "meat" and any fruit.
Leisel was so proud to have her own preschool class, but then decided soon after that it was a little TOO childish for her.  So she pretty much signed herself up for the class with bigger girls in our Commonwealth Family School.  Her attention span is often longer that the other 5, 6 and 7 year olds so it works out fine.
Leisel loves to work hard in her workbooks while the other kids do their homework too.   She loves to write her name.  She is a smart girl and she told me that she is thinking about being a doctor when she grows up!
As always, Leisel is very loyal and loving.  And she is very fun and brave.  Four Years Old is sure to be another great year!