Kyler!

Kyler had the opportunity to play baseball for the middle school's B team and the county recreation department this year.  Even though his school team was kind of like the "Bad News Bears" that never quite got it together, Kyler worked really hard and had a great time with both of his teams!

Kyler turned 12 years old in May - WOW!  To celebrate "the boys" - Kyler, Layne, my dad, and 3 of Kyler's friends (Griffin, Owen, and Keaton), went to IHOP and the movie Thor in 3D on the eve of his birthday.  Then on his birthday my dad took Kyler, Kavan, and Layne on a fishing trip.  They had so much fun!

Then we celebrated with cheesecake and presents after showers.

It's fun that Kyler still gets so excited!

Kyler loves card tricks, magic tricks, diabalo tricks, etc...  So Kenzie got him a "magic hat."

And being 12 he got to go to Boy Scout Camp in June, so he got a new pack for his birthday!

Also being 12, he received the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday May 8, 2011.

What a neat day! Layne and I are so grateful for Kyler and for the choices that he makes - and for the excitement he has for life!

After church, we celebrated Kyler's and Kirk's birthday with lots of family.

Kyler got an afghan from his Grandma Mitchell!  Love it!

Kirk and Kyler are enjoying their cake - cookie and ice cream!!!

There have been several areas devastated by storms lately and Alabama was one of them.  Layne, Kirk, Collin and Kyler along with many others were able to go help with Alabama's relief effort.  What a great opportunity for service!  I think seeing the devastation was quite an eye opening experience for the boys.  (Kyler also thought it was pretty crazy to go to church without a shower in his dirty jeans and t-shirt, and to be able to set up camp right there on church grounds.)  A neat experience - a great memory!

Kyler really enjoyed middle school and had a great school year!  The end of the school year brought band concerts and...

Kyler and the bassoon!  :)

honors night.  Kyler missed honors night because of a baseball game, but the two trophies left sitting on the table were his.  He said his homeroom teacher (Ms. Nash) was very excited to give them to him the next morning.  He received the trophies for obtaining the highest average in his pod for language arts and social studies.

We love this boy!

2005                                                               2011

Karlee Ann!

Karlee had the coolest recorder concert ever!  Layne and I were dreading having to listen to 200 third grade students give a recorder concert (I know great parents, right?), but we were pleasantly surprised!  They "rocked out" with their recorders.  That Ms. Perry (the music teacher) is quite clever!

Karlee's class took first place at field day!  They were excited!

 Karlee and her buddy, Alaina.  [The night before the last day of school, Karlee was heard crying after we had said goodnight.  When asked what the matter was she replied with many tears,  "I don't want school to end because I will miss my friends."  Although sad at the time, she too has adjusted quite well to the summer break!]  :)   

Karlee started piano lessons with Ms. Aubree this year and loves it!  She had her first piano recital the end of May and played The Snake Charmer.  She had memorized it and played it very well!  Big smiles all around!

Ms. Aubree also has all of her students (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) compose a song of their own.  They are then judged.  Karlee won first place in her group for her song The Farm.  She was very surprised and very excited - as she got a whole jar of Skittles!  :)  The talent of these young kids is pretty amazing!

Ms. Aubree and Karlee - we love Ms. Aubree!

And we love our silly Karlee who always keeps us on our toes!



Really?



Kavan!

My mom is patiently awaiting updates (sorry)!  I am a bit behind so I thought I would start with a Kavan update...

Kavan was the cutest fish ever in his school play. 

He was pretty excited to learn how to "handle" the trail bike all by himself!

He played soccer again and loved it!  Had a great season, a great coach, and can't wait until next season!  (I love soccer and I loved watching Kavan play.  He gets right in there - so much fun!)

He had a great school year!  They had a fun last day with a cookout, games, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk.  He told me he was going to miss his teacher, Ms. Holmes.  Ms. Holmes is a great teacher and a great person - and we are so thankful for her time and effort and all the extra things she did to make this a great year!  (She even came to watch Kavan play ball.)



Ms. Holmes has the water gun.

Ms. Holmes got Kavan!  :)

Kavan also finished up another baseball season.

He decided that baseball was a "little boring" and that he would stick with soccer - for now!  :)

Although Kavan was a little sad about school being over, I think he has adjusted to summer quite nicely!  :)