Everyday Paradice

I have tried to keep up on the big events, but I don't do a lot of the everyday blogging. So here is some of what has been going on when we are just at home.
Our Zuccini plant now that we took out a squash plant.

My princess still loves to dress up. And she loves her crown!

We planted an artichoke this year. And it's kind of different and fun. It has done great in our heat!!

This one of Todd's tomatoe plants. It is taller than he is. Our little container garden has done very well this year.

Kaylyn playing dress ups with her sisters. She loves to put things over her head.

Unless she is absolutely exhausted, the only way for me to put Kaylyn down is to put her in her crib with a bottle and walk away. But my mom has a talent for putting babies to sleep. And Kaylyn goes down for her when Grandma rocks her. They really do have a special relationship.

We got hair cuts! Kylee came home and within a few days decided it wasn't short enough. So she cut it some more. But I think it is so funny to watch her wear her birthday crown--with her hair sticking up behind it. Karla looks cute in her hair cut too.

I was playing baseball with Karla and Kylee. So Kaylyn got the other bat. She is wanting to be involved more and more.

Kaylyn loves to slide and swing! She even goes up the stairs and down the slide at the park now. I'm glad they have a slide she can go down without sliding to fast!! She is growing up. Kylee loves to help her. Here you can see Kylee is getting pretty good at carrying Kaylyn--although soon Kaylyn will probably way to much. As it is--Kylee weighs 38 lbs and Kaylyn weighs 18lbs. (For the record, Karla weighs 35.)

Isn't this just a rock star picture of Kylee. Karla's friend Courtney gave the girls guitars. And they have loved them!! "Momma look at me I'm a rock star." The funny thing is at Kylee's party I found out that Karla gave her nice tea set away to her friend without me knowing. I'm glad she is so generous. Then courntey gave the girls two guitars without her mom knowing. So it came full circle right? We did talk with courntey's mom before we took the guitars home.

Before they call me on a mission

Grandma and Grandpa Cook are going on another mission!! They are in Salt Lake City Utah serving in the Family History Center. We are so proud of them. We miss them too. But before they left, we went out to visit. Here are some of our pictures. We can't wait till they come home again.

Todd and Grandpa talked about how Grandpa made the merry-go-round. Todd is planning on taking a welding class this year. We are hoping that Todd can make us one too. The kids love Grandma and Grandpa's!! And Kylee learned to walk by pushing Karla on this. We miss thier company. We love living close enough to visit more often. Truth be told, we miss living in Basin City, but we like living in West Richland too.

Garth turns 21

After Kylee's party--by about a half an hour--the Mann family met at Old Town Country Buffet to celebrate Garth's 21'st birthday. He had his party with graduation. So we kept his birthday smaller. It was fun to be together, eat good food, and laugh. Happy Birthday Garth!!

Kylee all dress up in her new birthday get up to go to Garth's party.

Jonathan, Aunt Dot, and Karla at Old Town Country Buffet.

Garth is excited about his new portable DVD player. He thinks he has died and gone to heaven these days!!

Todd with the Birthday Boy!! Look at those good looking guys. They didn't even plan on wearing matching shirts.

Princess Tea Party

Sydney and Sammy Crosier pose with our frog prince.

Blowing out the candles.

Kaylyn loved the necklaces!!

Aunt Dot's custome made Dora Cake.

Apple juice anyone?

Our princesses!!

Our princess opening cards.

Karla posing with our frog prince--I still have wet nails!

Musical thrones

Aunt Dot's princess beauty boutique.

Kylee shows off her pretty nails with Sammy Wakfield.

Kylee blowing out her 4 candles.

Natalia posing with our frog prince. And Eva getting ready to pucker up.

Sammy after winning musical Thrones
Pass the poisioned apple

Eva and Ella posing for our beauty shot.

Kylee has been planning her party since Karla's birthday party in Feb. She stuck by a princess tea party. So all the girls came in their Princess gown. And Aunt Dot did their nails and got them a necklace, a wand, and a ring. They decorated these foam crowns. We then played kiss the frog prince. Although it's more commonly known as pin the tail on the donkey. But we put lip stick on each girl, blind folded them, and send them in the right direction. Kylee kissed the frog right on the lips! Yuck!! We then played musical thrones to disney music: our winners were first Sammy Croiser and then Karla. We then played pass the poisoned apple (or hot potatoe). They giggled and had a blast. We played several times. Ella was the first one out every time. But the older girls were always good sports. It was then presents which everyone was so nice. Thank you all!! And then we moved on to the tea party. I enjoyed listening to the girls giggle. We had apple juice, Dora Cake (decorated by aunt Dot herself), celery sticks with peanut butter, popcorn, and chocolate chips. It wasn't what we had planned, but that's okay. I think it turned out anyway!! And I think they all had fun. I love this video. I also have to give a shout out. Thank Bobbiejo, Mom, and Aunt Dot for helping so much to make this a success. They came early and helped clean my house, set up, and helped maintain a fun but slightly orderly place. Thanks a bunch!

And Kylee is now officially 4. She has grown up so much!! She is so ready for preschool. Kylee has never cared what others thought. She not easily birbed or threatened. She does what she feels is right. Which will be great as she gets older. She is okay playing by herself. And she enjoyed the time while Karla was at school. That quiet time was good for her. She loves to sing at the top of her lungs! And it's fun as we hear more and more snips of primary songs in her made up songs. She does everything at the top of her lungs--especially cry. If I'm going to bother to cry, you should know I'm doing it. She is still working on thinking of others. But she is very conserned about her baby sister. And she is good to include her and tote her around where ever Kylee happens to be going. She gets her up out of the crib, puts her in the pool, helps her on the slides at the park. She trys to be a good big sister. I have been telling her to put the baby down for a year now!! Kylee is spunky!! And I love the glow and happiness that radiates from her. I was asked what my favorite aspect of Kylee is: It's her ready laugh. I love to listen to her laugh. She loves to tease and joke. It's taken me 4 years to adjust to her style. She use to drive me nuts! She loves to swing, climb trees, have short hair, big puffy princess dress, she dresses up 3 times a week, color on everything, play in the water, play ponys, barbies, pet shops, and other make believe games.

Aunt Cyntha and Grandma K sent cash in their cards. She was so excited "Mommy I have money, lets go to Monkey Dooz." Monkey Dooz is a fun place that cuts kids hair. You get to sit in a barbie jeep, watch on the princess tv, and then they put sparkles in your hair and give you candy. Although with both girls older--they are far to over priced!! Karla finally got tired of always having knots and decided to cut her hair. You could see Kylee's wheels turning. She finally said "I have money. I'll take you to Monkey Dooz." I was so proud of her for being willing to spend her $3 on an $18 hair cut... but that she would give her present to her sister. I told Grandma Mann. And Grandma Mann took them both. Next time I think we will go to great clips for $11 hair cuts though. But they so enjoy it.

Nef Family Reunion 2010

I am trying something new with the Nef Family reunion--these are most of everyone's pictures.

Friday, we had a pine wood derby. I'm afraid Todd couldn't miss class--but it looks like everyone had fun!! They also decorated sugar cookies.

Saturday, we went to the 4th of July parade. The kids kept going further and further into the road to get the candy. They didn't throw nearly as much candy this year. And there were some bigger kids right before us who weren't the most considerate. So they almost got out the center line as we pull them all back again. Devin had float there promoting his Ulitmate Idol that his IBC class are doing. We then went to Mom's house for Emily's baby shower. We made bows. It was so fun!! I made a dragonfly and a ribbon flower. I want to make many more. And we chatted about baby girl names among other things. The boys took the kids down to the pond. We then had an Easter Egg hunt. It's my first Easter Egg hunt in swimsuits. Trevor got the special egg!! And everyone got a bag of candy. We then loaded up and headed down the Rodney's house for a picnic. We played there until Fireworks. The boys played football. The young kids loved the swings. We enjoyed just being together. We then went to Melaleuca's firwork show. It is the most amazing show I've seen. I love fireworks on the Columbia, but Melaleuca's show was like the finale through the whole show!! WOW! On the way, I was following Julie and Devin. And the ditched me. There was a little while that I, with my three kids, and Grandma Nef were lost. I really didn't want to just sit and watch it. I wanted to be with my family!! But Devin came and found us. Yeah Devin. All in all it turned out okay.

Sunday, we got to go to church with mom. It's nice that Mom wanted to show off her whole family. My mom is the same way. We then went back to mom's for dinner and Christmas in July. I love being able to be together as we exchange gifts even though we don't all get together anymore for Christmas. Aunt Julie got Kaylyn a wood stacker toy that she LOVES. She also got Polly Pockets for the older girls that they LOVE. In fact, Kylee got another one for her birthday. And Grandma Mann just bought each girl another one to even out their collection. So now they have a nice set. They LOVE THEM! Aunt Julie did great! And Todd and I are looking forward to our date night when Todd gets out of school. We have Trudy who couldn't make it because of work. So we will send it when she is no longer camping in NM. (To be honest, I'm still debating between two gifts, but I have till September right?)

And then we packed up to go home--and we downloaded all the pictures which took longer than it should have. And then we had to go back three times to get things we forgot. Atleast we remembered them within two minutes. And then our car seats went to Grandma Nef's house with Uncle Rich. It ended up being later than I had hoped. And we didn't get to stay up and play games with Devin and Emily :(.

On the way home, we got to stop in Boise and visit with Dad. Then it was back to school and work on Tuesday. It was so fun to celebrate the different holiday's with out family!! And we love our reunion shirts. Can't wait to see what Emily comes up with next time she is in charge. And we can't wait till next year with Trudy either. We just love getting together with our family. We have been richly blessed to be related to you. What a wonderful wedding present Todd gave me--to be related to the Nefs!! We wish we didn't live so far away, but we are grateful that we are a forever family--and we work to be worthy of that blessing.