Kyle's Birthday

On Nov 10th, Kyle turned 9 years old.  It was an exciting day for him!!

I decided to start a new tradition and I checked him out of school and took him out to lunch.  His 3 youngest siblings also got to tag along.  We went out to Wendy's and he got to pick whatever he wanted!   We had a great time!

We had a great time that evening with our family.  My parents came up and we all went to Bear River  bowling and had pizza while we played.  It is such fun watching the little kids roll the bowling ball and get so excited when they knock any pins down, regardless of how many there are. (This is with bumpers and the metal frame you roll the ball down on.)  Simple pleasures!  

Instead of a birthday cake, Kyle chose a cherry pie, which was a first for me on a birthday.  But hey,  I didn't mind!  It was a lot easier than decorating a cake!  For his gifts, Kyle got mostly legos because that is what he is into right now.  

The Saturday before his birthday, Aaron took Kyle fishing up to Devils Creek.  

  The weather was surprisingly warm.  They caught a few fish and had a good time together. 

Kyle is growing up so fast and I am so proud of the wonderful young man he is becoming.  He works hard at school and likes to have fun.  We love having him in our family!

Kyle's Basketball

On February 8th, Aaron and Kyle had the opportunity of going to the Jazz game with Aaron's brother Dave.  Dave is so blessed to get tickets with his job at Hoopes vision. Thanks Uncle Dave!!!

The Cheerleaders all wanted Kyle's name and number! :)

Yeah that's Lebron....During the game we could have reached out and given him a fist bump. So cool!

Once in a lifetime opportunity...Row 1 Seat 1!!!!!!!!! Can you say dream come true!!

Kyle also had the opportunity of playing some basketball with Garland City in January and February.  He still has a lot to learn, but has improved a lot and we're just glad he's having fun doing it!!

Future Lebron in the making. :) 

Kyle's Baptism

Kyle was baptized on November 30th, 2013.  Aaron had the opportunity of baptizing him.  It was a very special day for our whole family.  This was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we had just spent two nights up at the cabin at Strawberry with my family.  Aaron's parents came and spent the night Friday night.  It was great to have such wonderful family support!   

Our family in front of the Garland tabernacle where Kyle was baptized

We had been trying to help Kyle prepare for his baptism for several weeks before the big day.  He got a new set of scriptures for his birthday.  We had a really special family home evening the week before, when I got out his little baby blessing outfit and talked about how much (and how quickly) Kyle has grown from an infant to a boy.  It sure flies by!  It has not been a cake walk, and I suspect there will be some challenges along the way, but just as quickly I will turn around and he'll be a man, dressed in a suit and ready to go out into the world.  Scary thought!!  I have heard said before that once a child reaches 8 years old, they're pretty-much the person they are going to be, meaning they've developed their personality, many attitudes and ideas about life that they will carry with them.   I hope that we have prepared Kyle enough to approach the teenage years.  (Not to say there still isn't time to teach and progress...)

Anyway, as I held up that little white infant outfit and compared it to the white jumpsuit he would soon wear, it was a real eye-opener for all of us to see the comparison, and there was a sweet spirit there.   I read a few entries from Kyle's journal that I had written when he was a baby.   It was really touching to think about how sweet and small he was and how much we have grown to love this boy.   We are grateful to have Kyle in our family and love him so much!   We are also so proud of Kyle for his decision to be baptized and know he has desires to choose the right and follow our Savior.  

The following day after Kyle's baptism was fast Sunday and I was pleasantly surprised when Kyle got up to bear his testimony!  This was his first time.  I am glad that he is growing in the gospel and has righteous desires.  

Kyle's 8th Birthday

Kyle's "Skylanders" cakezx

Kyle had his 8th birthday on November 10th.  It was on Sunday so we had a nice day at home together.  We had the primary sacrament program that day at church and my parents came up to visit.  

Kyle has been really into "Skylanders" lately.   It is a video game with fictional characters, creatures with different super powers.  Although we don't feel he is old enough yet to play the game, he wanted to collect a few of the characters so we got him some.  He also got a really fun dragon lego set.  Fortunately, Kyle is really into Legos, and we are happy to let him play those as much as he wants.  

The finished product!

Because it was his big "Number 8", Kyle got to have a party with his friends.   We had 8 boys and one girl come over for a pizza and Lego party.  We had games including lego building with partners, twister, and a fish pond.  Of course, they also got to hit a piñata.  Since Legos was the theme, each kid got legos on their cupcake and lego accessories were the prizes.  It was a lot of fun for the boys!  After about 1 hour and 45 min, I was pretty worn out!  Having that many boys over at once is asking for a lot of energy and craziness!  (Two things got broken before they left, to prove my point...)  But, I am glad that Kyle and his friends had fun!

The Return of the Glass Slipper

Right after school let out, Erika and Kyle had the opportinity of trying out for the play "The Return of the Glass Slipper" with the Garland Children's Charity Theatre.  This would be Erika's FOURTH time performing with them.  I was really happy that Kyle decided to try out and see how he liked it.  He and Erika both ended up being townspeople this year and it actually worked out really well that way.  I was glad they got to be together most of the time.  The practices were pretty intensive throughout the summer, I guess because the townspeople were in most of the scenes.  They practiced twice a week from 9-12 almost every week!  It was good for them to have something productive to do during the summer and with the nice weather they were able to ride their bikes to and from practices. 

What a great experience!  I really enjoyed watching the two of them perform.  They were fantastic! 

I signed up to help with the cast party this year, and that was fun! 
I got to play some games with the kids and hang out with them backstage. 

Kyle's 7th Birthday

Kyle had his 7th birthday on November 10th.  It was a fun weekend for him!  The night before, Oma and Opa came up and spent the night.  We went out to dinner at Pizza Hut and then bowling at the Bear River Bowling Center.  

The next morning, we opened presents and Kyle had a good time playing with them with his brothers and sisters.  

I made Kyle a "Lego" cake because he loves playing Legos and can make some very creative things with them!  The cake was a lot of work, but also fun, too.  ( I always call it play-doh for mommies.)  

Kyle is such a great boy and we love having him in our home.  He tries hard to be a good brother and is always game for trying something new and exciting.  He keeps our lives interesting and we're thankful for his energetic and fun personality.  

Kyle's 6th Birthday

What a handsome boy, if I do say so myself!  

We celebrated Kyle's 6th birthday on Nov 10th.  It was a fun day for him.   He wanted a "Batman cake" so I spent over 3 hours that day getting his cake decorated.   I think the part that took the longest was kneading the black food coloring into the fondant- it had to be black, not dark purple.  Thank goodness for the internet, too, which provides so many helpful ideas.  This was the finished product:  

The funny thing is Kyle knows he likes Batman but he has never even seen a Batman cartoon or movie before so on his birthday I let him watch one that we found at the library.  Of course, he loved it.   

Kyle had a pretty simple birthday this year.  We don't do a birthday party every year, and he had his 5-year old party last year.  (His next one will be at age 8.)  So, we woke up in the morning and daddy made french toast for his birthday breakfast at his request.   Then, he opened all his presents. 

Kyle found a salamander in the window well back in September and it was a very exciting thing for him.   We had kids coming over from all over the neighborhood to see him.  I let him keep it in a tupperware container with sandbox sand in it.  He was responsible for taking care of him.  He feeds him bugs- flies, crickest, worms, etc.  Well, we told him if he kept it alive until his birthday, we'd buy a real aquarium for his pet.  And he did, so that was one of his gifts.  Kyle and I got it all set up and his salamander was very happy in his new home.  

Kyle showing off his hunting playset from Opa 

Kyle got a Lego building set from grandma and he just couldn't wait build it.     The next day, He and Erika put the space shuttle together.   I was amazed with how well they did on it!   I helped them get started, but then the two of them followed the instructions and figured the rest of it out on their own!   This was Kyle's first Lego building set.

We are so thankful to have Kyle in our family.   He is a great son and brother.  I have grown to love his fun personality and excitement for life.  He is adventurous and motivated.  I have watched him grow a lot this year in his ability to be on task and in his interactions with others.   He has become a lot more sensitive and helpful.  I love him so much- what a sweet boy!  

That night after dinner (spaghetti- Kyle's request) we all went swimming as a family to Crystal Hot Springs, which is about 10 min. from our house.  We had a nice time swimming there- the water is so warm so Jared even enjoyed it.   It was a great day.  

Jared enjoyed the batman cake, too!  

The perfect Father-Son Weekend

I think Aaron has been waiting for the day to arrive for years- when Kyle could finally be his "outdoors buddy".   The weekend of October 21st, they went out and made some memories.

It was Fall break so school was out on Friday.  Aaron took Kyle out all day to Devil's Creek up by Malad, ID.  Aaron had gone up there the weekend before with his dad and brother and they had done very well.

Well, it was a dream come true for Aaron and Kyle.  Kyle absolutely LOVES fishing and hunting, I guess it is just "in his blood".  He was so excited, he got up so early that morning and was ready to go.  Out on the lake, they caught over 20 fish and Kyle kept saying, "We're going to catch a monster fish!"   They did end up catching 3 very large "monster" fish and brought some home to eat.  Kyle had the time of his life and didn't want to stop.

The next day, Saturday, Aaron took Kyle out hunting.  A friend in our ward showed him a good spot where his family hunts that was only about 15 min from our home.   They ended up getting a little spike, just perfect for Kyle's first hunt.   It was quite a hike to finally get him, and Kyle was a trooper.  He kept up with Aaron for the most part, and didn't complain.   He was so excited to come home and show us what they got.   We didn't get much meat from him, but it was a good starter.   I was glad that Kyle and Aaron were able to have such a successful weekend together, and to have such a good time together.

Kyle's Preschool Graduation

Kyle with his teacher Mrs. Francom

On May 26th Kyle had his preschool graduation.  (Yes, this was his second time).  We put Kyle in preschool for two years, mostly because we felt like he needed it.  Looking back, we really think it has benefited him a lot.  He has absolutely LOVED school, which makes us so happy.  In Kyle's first year of preschool, it just seemed like he wasn't quite getting things.  I also just don't think he really cared as much.  This year has been a whole different story!  He has just taken off and been so motivated to learn.  

This year in preschool he has learned all of his alphabet and letters, also writing.  He has also learned to read at least 25 sight words and is doing simple math, beginning sounds, and rhyming.  This may not sound like much for some kids, but I am very pleased with his progress this past year and look forward to his excitement for learning in kindergarten.   After the program he kept telling everyone, "Now I can go to kindergarten!!"  

Kyle's preschool graduation was just a little program where the kids sang and did their parts.  

We were so proud of how well he did! 

Kyle's 5th Birthday

Opening presents at 6:30 am on Kyle's birthday.   (Showing off his new remote- control car from grandma).

On November 10th, Kyle celebrated his 5th birthday.  It was actually more like "birthday week" for him, though, because we were celebrating it almost every day.  On Monday, for family home evening we went bowling for our activity, which was Kyle's choice, and kind-of for his birthday.  Tuesday I went to Kyle's preschool with him and brought cookies for his class and they sang to him.  He got to be the "helper" and wear a special birthday hat.   Wednesday was his actual birthday and we sang to him in the morning.  Daddy got up extra early and made everyone french toast, which was Kyle's choice for breakfast.   He also chose spaghetti for dinner that night.

Erika quizzing my parents with flashcards on their Vietnamese

Heidi and my Opa have a special bond.  
She loves to cuddle up to him. 

Erika with her great-Oma Erika

Later that evening, Oma and Opa Michel came to visit, as well as "great-Oma and great-Opa" (my dad's parents).   They stayed for dinner and played with the kids.    My parents have accepted a call to serve a mission in Vietnam.   They put their papers in this year and many of us were expecting them to be called to Germany or someplace similar where they both speak fluent German and were born there.   So, the call to Vietnam came as a surprise for most of us.  It is actually part of the Cambodia mission.

It is a welfare mission (no proselyting) and they are 2 of 8 missionaries in the entire country.  This will be  a challenge and adventure for them.  We will miss them a lot, but we are also so proud of them and thankful for the example they have set for us of service and obedience to the Lord's will.

Kyle trying out his new fishing gear he got from his Opa.  
He  just can't wait until he can go fishing with it!!

On Thursday we had a birthday party for Kyle with a bunch of neighbor friends.  I have found age 5 to be a fun age to do a party because the kids have made a few friends from the neighborhood and they get so excited about the smallest things.  It was a lot of fun!   We played a few simple games-  pin the nose on the clown, musical chairs, bingo, a pinata, and we also had cake and presents.  I love it because you don't have to do a whole lot and the kids have fun.  

Go, Erika!  She is really getting into it!

The birthday boy trying to hit the pinata.

I made Kyle a "Mater" cake, which is what he requested.  It was a little
tricky, and I only had limited time to do it, but it turned out okay.   

Blowing out his candle

We sure love our little boy!  He is growing up so fast and so much fun.  It is fun to watch him learn and make new friends.  He loves life and brings so much joy to our family.