Derek's Midievil Days at school

Derek and David made the shield and the helmet. David got a small metal trash can and fashioned this incredible helmet for Derek. He involved Derek in the process. Derek got to pick out the color, he helped pick out the design and put the tape on to paint the design. The kids at school were in awe of Derek's shield and helmet that he and his Dad made together.

Derek looks fabulous!

Derek had a great day. Everyone in the 6th grade dressed up in medieval costumes and acted out fun activities. The boys cheered the girls on when they stitched stitches on to a cloth, and the girls cheered the boys on in a chariot race. They had some scooters. They played a game called "The Black Plague" They had a toy stuffed mouse that they passed around as a hot potato. Derek said, "it was a cute mouse though". This was a day he looked forward to since 1st grade.

More updates on remodeling

Wow, it's really comming along! The new tile is down, and the cabinents are in, we just need the counter top. We also still need to pick out the back splash, paint the house, and carpet. But so much is done and looking great! We love it!

Here is another view of the new kitchen slowing coming together.

I LOVE the cabinent over on the right. We have so much more room. I (well we) are all so grateful.

Derek loves the kitchen so much he said that he could just look at it for entertainment! I think a part of the reason why he loves it so much is because of the involvement that he had in getting it to this point. Thank you so much to all that helped it sure looks great!

Remodeling

Well, almost a year and a half later it is finally coming along. We are so excited. We CAN'T WAIT for the cupboards to be put in and the counters, yeah!

Hannah and Derek have helped so much with this remodeling project. It truly has been a family project. Derek, Hannah and I would pick up all the tile after David jack hammered the tile up and put them in a big garbage can careful not to put too much in at a time because tile gets SO heavy. Then we walked them out to the big truck outside and dumped them in the bed of the truck to take to the dump. Derek was such a gentleman. He kept rushing over to me to take the tile or the garbage can or whatever he saw that might me too heavy for me. Hannah and Derek both had GREAT stamina and stayed with the project and kept asking how else they could help until the project was done. We couldn't have done it without them.

Some of the inbetween stage... Old cupboards out waiting for the new.

Derek learning how to do home repair/remodeling projects. What a handy kid! I am so grateful that he is so willing and anxious to help.
He has a gift of helping hard work seem lighter with his great attitude.

Taking more of the cupboards out. Yeah! We are so excited to see the finished project.

Derek and Mom getting the cupboards ready to yank out. Thank goodness David gives us the proper equipment to help make the task easier. Without these gloves Derek is wearing it would have been a lot harder. Especially when we were taking all the tile out. Our hands would have been ripped to shreds without these types of gloves David got us.

Getting everything packed up from the old cupboards. It's a great way to get us to throw out or give away duplicates or things we don't use. It is great to get the kitchen cleaned up in preperation for a new way of storing things that makes it much easier to keep organized and clean. I can't wait. It has been a wish of mine for a long time.

We just couldn't resist taking this picture of our "Curious George". She is like a curious toddler that is a close relation to Tigger. She is quite bouncy and we love her and the excitement and easy joy and gratitude that she is so quick to show. She is a great example to us of being quick to show gratitude.
She wanted to be with us the whole time of our remodel. I could tell she was nervous because of the loud sounds but she stuck "literally" right beside me. She was very brave. I think she could also tell by the way her humans were talking to eachother that although the lound noises were fightening to her, that everything was ok.

Derek and Daddy taking out the old counter top. It's a good thing they are both strong. We are all so grateful for our good health and knowledge that makes it possible to be able to accomplish these kinds of projects.

Family time with both the Elys and Smiths

One of the kids (who am I kidding, any kids) favorite things to do. Play with their cousins and play on the X Box Kinex. It is pretty cool. You don't have to have any controllers. It senses your movement. The kids were doing an obstacle course and it was great just to watch them! This is at their very fun Aunt Debbie and Uncle Tony's house. They were playing with their cousin, Lizzy.

Here is Hannah giving her cousin, Victoria a kiss through the window. To have so much happiness with family members is heaven on earth. It is so wonderful to see them.

We had to get a picture of this scene. It doesn't or shall I say, is not supposed to snow in this part of Washington much but I think that they have gotten more snow this year than we have in Salt Lake. We were SO blessed. We got out a day or two before the Seattle airport was SHUT DOWN for at least a day. My sister, Janna, was without power for almost a week. Debbie's poor yard (as did many others) got damaged with all the weight of the snow that kept piling up.

We did enjoy the snowmen though because, this was pre-crazy snow fall.

Three of the 5 Ely grandsons together. Derek, Brendon, and Christopher. We came out to visit my family and also to be there for Christopher's homecoming from his mission in San Jose. Unfortunately the church services all over the stake were canceled because of the anticipated snow fall. We were sad to have it cancelled of course.

Some of the beautiful and very sweet granddaughters. Lizzy, Hannah, Katie, and Cassandra. I have always thought that Hannah and Lizzy look like they could be sisters. It was a great family meal together. We had meatloaf, green beans, and great jello. I got both Delilah and Roma's recipe for their wonderful meatloaf. I have already made it for our family. It was so good. We also got a great idea from Debbie to get chargers to make the place settings look nicer. I have already gone out and bought metallic gold chargers and metallic red with white crystals around the rim for our home. We have used them along with some nice napkins and napkin rings and it makes the meal that much more fun and special. I am really grateful for the great idea from the Ely sisters.

Here is Uncle Dave, Lizzy, Aunt Delilah, Aunt Debbie, Christopher, Katie, and Aunt Roma. It is so amazing to be able to be around people like this, and it is definitely a bonus to be related to them. They sure know how to have fun!

In Aunt Debbie and Uncle Tony's living room having a great time together as a family.
This trip was especially great. We got to see both sides of our family and many of the Aunts and Uncles that could make it came out so we had little mini family reunions, sheer heaven for me!

This is everyone in my family except for Uncle Eric and Aunt Kelly and their family. They are out in Iowa and can't come out as often as everyone would like them to. I don't think I will try to name everyone that was in this picture, too many smiling awesome faces!

Some of the cousins playing Disney's Apples to Apples. That is Hannah, Claire, Adrienne, Micha,
Stephanie, and Gavin.

More of the crazy, crowded, fun, times together.

Before the Uncles and Aunt came with all their children, Hannah and Grandma made some cinnamon bread. Mmmmm, yummmm, it was so good. Grandma is the best at making bread. She ought to be, she made homemade bread for us every week for my whole time growing up. I sure do appreciate that now. I wish I could have realized how much she did for us when I was younger and showed more appreciation to her.

The beginnings of yumminess

Derek and Stephanie doing an "experiment". They wanted to make their own hot cocoa. They used chocolate chips. It was great to see the very imaginative Stephanie and Derek working their magic together. I hope so much that the kids/cousins will remember these times together when they get older. If not, I hope this blog will help.

Great Sunday with my family

We had a great day together. Derek was able to go do fast offerings this morning before church. I am so glad that he wants so much to do what is right. I love t0 see him pass the sacrament each week. He has a genuine love of doing what's right & love & kindness.

I am the 6 & 7 year olds in Primary. I sure do love them. I brought cookies for one of the little girls birthday. We got cookies that had words printed/frosted on each one. They said, ” happy 7th birthday to Addie”. I also got a bunch of great toys from a local dollar stores. Hannah & Derek helped me to wrap them. We also made a great poster with glitter witting to tell her happy birthday on it. We went together & hung it on her family's garage door. I am so grateful Derek & Hannah love to help me.

We had a great dinner together too. We had pork chops with stuffing & cream if chicken soup gravy. Hannah & Derek love it & Hannah is becoming quite the cook. She really loves to cook. Just the other day wert had another great dinner that we got the recipe from my sister-in-law, Kelly. It is chicken curry over rice.

ok, back to today. We played a great new game we got for Christmas. It is a spin on the game Clue, it's called ” Kill. Dr. Lucky”. Hannah beat Derek & I twice!

Hannah's 15th birthday

Hannah is so unique in so many wonderful ways. She wanted to have a birthday pie instead of a birthday cake. I love her so much. Here are her friends, Faith, Alison, Savannah, Hannah, Taylor, and Destiny. Happy birthday my dear sweet daughter and my dear sweet friend. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

Here are all the princesses back at our house playing games together. This one is called, "Word on the Street" We love this game. We got it for Christmas this year from our dear friends and neighbors, the Schmuhls. They are very into board games and this one sure was a hit! The girls giggled quite a bit which is a good way to judge how the game is being received.

Here is the owner, Pancho with the girls. They sure did have a great time. I am so impressed with Hannah's friends. They are so nice and respectful.

Some of Hannah's very best friends, Destiny, Danielle, Taylor, Savannah, Alison, Hannah, and Faith. Hannah chose to have her party this year at the restaurant, Tios. This restaurant has been one that we, as a family have been going to for almost 20 years. We have known and loved all the owners (three different ones) and have gotten close with them. In fact, we just went last month to the owner's daughter's missionary farewell.

This was our family birthday party. Hannah got two wonderful books about Chinese culture, one from each of her Grandparents, great minds think alike!

Hannah and her bestest of best friends, her amazing, fantastic brother, Derek.

My wonderful Goldie with her presents. Hope all your birthdays are great ones honey, you deserve it. I hope happiness follows you with people in your life that help you to enjoy your life and love and accept yourself just the way you are as you continue on your amazing journey of becoming the daughter that your Heavenly Father wants you to be. Love, your Mom.