Kaylyn celebrates being 10

We celebrated Kaylyn's birthday with friends on Saturday Jan 26th. She chose a Minute to Win It theme. We played a few of the games before opening presents but I didn't get those pictures. Kaylyn really enjoyed her presents, and as our tradition, we took a picture with each friend and their present.

Kaylyn with Ashlyn - a bejeweler and also an eraser maker kit

Kaylyn and Maddie - a new puppy to cuddle with

Kiara made Kaylyn a ruffle scarf and she LOVES it!

Rylie got Kaylyn this fun shirt - change the direction of the sequins to change the color of the star.

Kaylyn was well stocked up on candy thanks to Hannah

Amber gave Kaylyn a fashion stencil book.  Kaylyn loved it so much she got one for her sister for her birthday.

Lilly helped Kaylyn to be able to keep her nail polish organized.

Kaylyn was being shy when it was time to blow out the candles.

One of our games - you had to hold the spaghetti in your mouth and use it to pick up the penne pasta.

Stack Attack Game - just like cup stacking at school.  Lilly was amazed at Ashlyn's speed.

How long can you keep the balloon up?

The next day we celebrated with the Du Brul side of the family.

Morgan attacking Uncle Sandy with her cousin Thomas

Kaylyn took a big breath before blowing out her candles.

Proof that I was there too!

Go West - 4th Grade Performance

Kaylyn's 4th Grade Class Music Performance (in January 2013) was titled "Go West" and Kaylyn was assigned the part of "Pioneer Woman". By the time of the performance, the songs were already stuck in all of our heads.

Kaylyn with her classmates singing one of the first songs

Kaylyn as a "dancer" for the song Steamboatin'.  All the girls had boas (Kaylyn used a fun ruffle scarf she got for her birthday from her friend Kiara)

A full view of the "steamboat" with all the dancers.  Kaylyn is on the far right

As Pioneer Woman, Kaylyn had a speaking part.  We were blessed to borrow this pioneer dress from my friend Beth who's daughter had used it the year before for the Living Museum.  Braiding her hair completed Kaylyn's pioneer look.

Kaylyn and Addison during the speaking parts.

As Pioneer Woman, Kaylyn got to sing with a group - here she is with Ashlyn, Seth and Alex from her class.

Close up of my Pioneer girl :)

The 4th graders did an awesome job on the set so we HAD to take a picture of Kaylyn in front of the "wagon"

And what is life without a BFF - here's Kaylyn with Rylie.

January St Louis Trip

Every year we set the goal of getting to the Temple often which means that we almost always schedule a Temple trip in January. Most years, the trip gets rescheduled several times due to bad or potentially bad weather. This year we ended up with great weather for our trip. Our St Louis trips generally mean getting to catch up with one of my BFFs from college - Denise. Our kids have become great friends as well! After heading to the Temple in the morning, we headed to Jayna's basketball game.

Jayna is the tall girl in the yellow jersey.  These are 1st Grade Basketball teams.

Our 3 girls - Kaylyn (2 weeks shy of being 10), Jayna (7) and Morgan (5).  Isaac and Luke were back at the house with Jim.

Me with Denise - over 20 years as friends!

Morgan cuddling with her "Happy Husky" from Build-A-Bear on the drive home.  She almost always crashes on long car rides.

Kaylyn relaxing on the 3 hour drive home.