Kelley Family Blog

Things overheard during carpool

2009-01-25T22:10:00.000-08:00

Sarah (after a bad day): I HATE school. It's so boring. They make us go for 7 boring hours! Class is hard and they make you do boring stuff, lunch isn't even fun!
Nate: Yeah, there's only recess to have fun and be with your friends!
Sarah (condescendingly): Nate! They only have recess to stop kids from boycotting school!

A Christmas Night, A Snowy Flight, One Year of Light, What a Sight!

2009-01-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Holiday season this year. Our Christmas Eve started out at Grandma Church's, where we had a fabulous meal and went caroling around the neighborhood. When we got home, all the children opened one gift. Can you guess what it was?

The next morning was chaos, as usual. I think the kids were pretty happy with what Santa and Mom and Dad (and Grandparents) got them.
Alex certainly looks content in the aftermath.

Nate got much-desired sparring gear for karate! (Not to mention, matching PJ's w/ everyone's favorite baby)

A side-ways view of stocking time!

The next day, we took a snowy drive to CO and then NM to visit Aunt Jenni, Uncle Ken and cousins. The roads were bad the first day. There were four accidents along one stretch of road, we felt lucky we made it. We saw a cool rock formation with an abandoned house on the second day of driving.

We stopped at a very chilly four-corners. Dave made sure to get lots of pictures, since we figured we spent $3 for every minute that we spent there!

My sister, Jenni, (the genius) planned all the meals ahead of time and prepared most of them in advance so she wouldn't have to constantly be cooking. We had some great food while we were there. She had also made Alex his own little cake and a big one for the rest of us, since we got there on Alexander's 1st birthday!

Alexander brings such joy to our family. This has been a wonderful year with him being in the world. He is so patient, happy and accepting of all us. We are so grateful to have him. You may notice that he is getting his teeth. I certainly have! Whoever coined the phrase, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you," did not have a nursing baby that was getting teeth. You also might note that he has a "fang" on the upper right side of his gums (I did consider calling him Edward). Hopefully those front teeth will hurry and catch up!

My sister's house in Albuqurque is close to several Native American petroglyphs that are fun to hike and see. Some date back to 1000 BC. Here is a cat and and man in the next photo.

Besides going to the Children's museum, all the cousins had fun hiking Boca Negra canyon to see the petroglyphs. At the top is a beautiful panorama of the city of Albuqurque. What a sight! Thank you, Richardsons!

Santa's an alias

2008-12-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

Aidan: (after visiting

Santa at the Children's Museum)

"Santa talks like a mad scientist."

Behind the Times?

2008-12-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

This morning Nathan was looking at a map and said, "I want to go to Africa on my mission, Mom."

"Wow, you would probably see a lot of sad things but it would really build your faith, I bet," I said.

Nathan replied, "Yeah, I heard some sad things that happen there. Like people go there and take brown people and bring them back to the United States to be slaves."

Krisi's Pics

2008-11-21T20:56:00.001-08:00

My sister took some fun pictures of my kids a year and a half ago that she just sent to me. They are so nice.

Aidan's World

2008-11-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

Aidan woke me last night because he'd thrown up in bed and "didn't want to lay in it". It was a fun night. This morning after he woke up ravenous, I had to tell Aidan to be careful what he ate because his stomach might still be upset. He looked at me quietly for a moment and verified,"It's mad?".

The night before the primary program I was laying in bed with Aidan and asked if he wanted me to sing something to him. He said he wanted me to sing "Awkward". Thinking he'd made it up, I asked, "Could you sing it for me?" He said yes, it went, "Awkward, ever awkward." It sounded alot like 'Called to Serve' so I sang that and he said that was it. The next day at the primary program I found that he did know that song when they sang, "Onward, ever onward...".

First Snow

2008-11-05T20:46:00.000-08:00

The kids woke up this morning and were so excited to see the snow. Because he didn't have to get ready for school, Aidan was the first to go out and play.

After seeing Aidan have so much fun, Stephanie got her coat and gloves and boots on and went out and built a snowman with him. Once they came in, Aidan had to light the fire and make some hot cocoa. I desperately wanted to stay home and play rather than go in to work.

Halloween

2008-11-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

Here is some of our Halloween fun!

We have the cutest baby!

The other kids weren't quite as cute so we'll spare you those pictures.

Family update

2008-10-07T13:56:00.001-07:00

It has been a big month for us.
Alexander has learned how to crawl, point his finger, click his tongue (alot), wave and clap his hands. He is growing so fast, but is only 15 percentile for weight. I guess he's too busy and works

off

all that fat. He loves being around his brothers and sister. He loves mom, but is fine going to other people too.

Aidan is still fighting preschool. He says it's boring and I'm starting to wonder if there may be some truth to that because he's a smart guy. He studies his map and talks about locations all around the world everyday and complains that he has to live in Utah and not somewhere more exotic, like New Mexico (his fav), England, China, or Hawaii. He told me yesterday that he is going to die while he is 3 so he can see Heavenly Father. I begged him not to, so hopefully he was convinced. The subject came up this way:
A: I touched the roof through my window.
M: Oh, don't do that. The roof is dangerous.
A: How?
M: Well, if you go out there you could fall and get hurt. Bad. Or die.
A: (Wheels turning) Would I get to go to heaven?
M:(sensing this could go in a dangerous direction)Uh... Uhh...
A: I could see Heavenly Father! I really want to see Him. I don't know what He looks like.

M: Please don't go to heaven until you are a really old Grandpa. I would miss you!
A: You can come too!
My mental capacity is not quite up to the challenge of having such conversations with Aidan all day, everyday. That is why preschool is a good thing!

Nathan is becoming a ninja and he loves it! He is so fun to have around and is great about doing his homework as soon as he gets home. He has been reading non-stop and we are having a difficult time keeping enough books to support his reading habit.

Sarah is our wonderful sister, daughter, and helper...when you can find her. Most of the time she is playing with friends at their house or in her room reading. She is also very diligent about her homework and usually piano.

Jameson is really doing well in Middle School. He is trying really hard to get straight A's and probably will suceed. He just started swim team and is loving it. He is also really doing well with piano. He has a phone, but no texting privileges. Let's see how long I stick to that one.
We continue to have Maddi (from across the street) over everyday and love having her around.
A creature has been taking up residence in our garden--a pocket gopher. I've been pretty tolerant in sharing my bounty with him--probably the best fed gopher on the block. But he signed his death warrant when he ate all my shallots straight to the stem. Jameson and I put an end to his short but guttonous life this last week. He was huge!

Dave has been pretty busy at work and we were able to go to a work retreat in Deer Valley last weekend (with Alex).
He is going to argue in front of the 10th Circuit Court next month in Denver. He's excited and nervous!
Love,
the Kelleys

San Diego Vacation

2008-09-17T18:52:00.001-07:00

This summer our family vacation was a trip to San Diego. We rented a small house on the beach and had an awesome time.

Here are some pictures from after church on Sunday. We went to the San Diego 6th ward and Aidan thought it was really cool because there was a parking garage under the building. I guess land there is a little expensive.

There were some old stairs off the back of the house we could go down to our own private beach. The waves were really strong at the beach, so we didn't go in too far while there at that beach. We headed up to Ocean Beach, which was about 2 miles away for our time.

Here are some pictures from Ocean Beach. This is Dave's kind of vacation. Laying on the beach with nothing to worry about but a bit of a sun burn.

Legoland

2008-09-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

Legoland was definitely a place for Nate and Aidan. Those two have the greatest imaginations and love to play with Legos. Here, Nate got to battle Darth Vader. And Aidan got to hang out with Bob the Builder!

The rides were not all that impressive, but it wasn't too expensive and made for a fun day away from the beach.

Here we took a little boat ride and saw some of the cool things they built out of Legos.

Kelley Family Update

2008-09-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

Here in Draper things are going pretty well. This was our first full week back at school, middle school for Jameson and preschool for Aidan included. Jameson likes his freedom in middle school--no more uniforms and he can even chew gum. We are hoping to get him in swim team and he started piano this last summer. This week will be his first day to bring his saxaphone to band.

Sarah is in 4th grade and after a let-down of a first day, she seems to be bouncing back in her cheerful way. She is trying to make new friends, as she did not have any in her class. She also started Jazz dance, which she loves, since she is not doing gymnastics, and continues taking piano.

Nate is in 2nd grade and came home with 2 kids phone #'s the first day. He is a friend magnet! He is lobbying to start Karate, in which he'll probably be successful.

Aidan has very mixed reviews on preschool, depending on the time and day. Sometimes is was fun and other times it was "boring". It will be a good thing in the long run, hopefully, especially for his mom. He goes Tues. and Thurs. afternoons. He has a strong obsession with his cousin Andy and New Mexico. He reminds us everyday he has not been to Albuqurque and is determined to go. He also has intentions of traveling to Hawaii, England, Washington, California, and Canada (where he says heaven is because he saw Jesus driving there the other day). We better get him a passport.

Alex is still the joy of our family and makes us smile, laugh, and go "Awwww" everyday. He has a wonderful temperment for an 8 month-old and we all are sad that he's growing so fast.

Temple Quarry Trail

2008-07-24T16:57:00.001-07:00

Sunday July 13th after Jameson and Sarah left with Grandma and Grandpa Kelley to visit cousins in Washington, Alex, Aidan, Nate, Stephanie and I went hiking with Grandma and Grandpa Church up the Temple Quarry Trail at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Grandma Church pointed out where the holes were drilled in the granite to cut it for use on the Salt Lake Temple.

Grandpa Church brought his binoculars to look for mountain goats. My zoom was not good enough, but with the binoculars we found a mommy and baby on the other side of the canyon. It was amazing how nimbly the climbed around the rocky cliffs.

Nate and Aidan loved going off and exploring whenever and wherever possible.

A Swimming Summer

2008-07-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite activities this summer has been swimming at the Treehouse Athletic Club.

Aidan loved swimming, but it always took a lot of energy for Dave and Steph because he wanted to jump in to us. Recently he found the joy of goggles and since then has been swimming like a fish.

Nate loves underwater acrobatics. We will have to get him into swim team for next year because he has taken to the water so much.

Sarah has always loved the water, our only problem with her is finding her at home for once. She is constantly playing with one of her friends. Every once in a while we get her to ourselves and love having her around.

Typically, while the kids are playing in the water, Dave and Stephane are laying out reading a good summer book. I'll spare you those images.

Summer has to be the best season of the year!

4th of July

2008-07-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

Dave loves taking pictures w/ our camera, but I've been waiting around for him to blog some of those awesome pictures and he's taking too long!

We spent the 4th of July morning and afternoon in Delta, UT--"The Best of the Best in the West", according to a shirt I had as a child. Also the place my Dad grew up and the hub of his side of the family. Partly because my Grandpa (a former Mayor of the town) still lives there.

We go every year for the parade and a picnic at Grandpa's afterwards. This year Brian and Mirien (my brother and his wife) and their children and Scott and Heather (same as last parentheses) and their baby, my sister and her husband, Krisi and Eddy, and my parents were there. We also were next to my cousin, Maria and her family. The kids love the parade for the candy and seeing cousins.

Aidan had some issues, though. He loves the color pink and decided he could not chase any candy unless it was pink. If anyone else picked up his pink candy he was inconsolable.

Scott and I had to get in on the action when the library float came by--they throw out books!

Alex hung out with grandma Church. After the parade, we all went to great grandpa Church's. He saw Alex for the first time. He could tell that Alex is a wonderful boy.

All the energetic people played a rousing game of frisbee.

The rest of us sat around.

That night we set off fireworks with just our family and our cousin, Grant. It was a great day.

A Walk in the Woods

2008-06-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

Jameson's first campout as an official 12 year old scout was a backpacking trip up to Alexander Lake.

Friday morning we packed up our packpacks, drove up as far as we could, and then hiked in just about two miles to the campsite.

The lake is located in the Uintas, approximately twenty miles up the Mirror Lake Highway outside of Kamas, UT.

Despite hours of casting and sitting, and despite attempts with power bait with floaters, and power bait without floaters, and spinners, the brook trout just weren't bitting. Nobody in our group caught any fish.

Fortunately we did not rely on our fishing skills for dinner, and we brought up some tinfoil dinners just in case. As you can see, it is always good to have a backup plan.

Jameson went up with his scout trop 1651, which included Scoutmaster Mike Sonntag, Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Haney, and from left to right on the log, Jameson Kelley, Alec Anderson, Ryan Anderson, Tyler Lewis (hidden), and Rhet Haney. I (Dave) am never shown because my favorite spot is behind the camera. I had a great time with Jameson on his first backpacking trip.

Police Blotter

2008-06-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

The culprit: a 3-year-old male

The crime: pencil scribbles in various spots on the walls all over the house

The instigator: Dr. Laura's book, "Why Do You Love Me?, which includes "Sammy" scribbling on the wall.

The lesson: In the future, do not read Dr. Laura's book as a bedtime story to a 3-year-old.

Firsts and Lasts

2008-06-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

We've had some transitions lately. Just to share a few:

Jameson passed the sacrament for the first time.

Alex had his first lollipop (I know, irresponsible of me). Jameson had his 2nd annual mohawk for crazy hair day.

Sarah and Dad had their first western Daddy/Daughter date.
Sarah had her first pony-hawk for crazy hair day (this was taken after she and Jameson got home from school. You can tell by their drooping hair and bodies).
Nate is leaving tomorrow on his first vaction without mom and dad when he goes to Spokane WA with his Grandma and Grandpa. He's wearing his favorite shirt.
This is the Dump truck that Aidan will recieve as soon as he goes #2 in the toilet for the first time. Forgive the pun.

Jameson's first piano lesson.

LASTS:

Last day of uniforms and elementary school for Jameson.

And last gymnastics recital for Sarah, because she is quitting. I tried to get a cool shot right when they were doing ariels, back-handsprings or back tucks, but the camera did not work right. I have some more last pictures, but I'm out of time, maybe later.

The Draper Temple

2008-05-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

Our Stake Conference today was all about temples, specifically the Draper Temple that is being built nearby us. We decided to go visit today with all the children. Besides being really hot and the children begging for drinks and a dog that almost bit us (I'm not kidding), I think it was a good experience for our family.

Dave had a good experience yesterday. Read about it here.

Aidan's World

2008-05-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

Aidan: "Mommy! Mommy! Where are you? Are you in the Center of the Earth?"
Mommy: "Almost; I'm in the Laundry Room!"

What Jameson Thinks of his Mom

2008-05-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Anticipating Mother's Day, it's nice to run across something that brightens your day as a Mom. Jameson just did an assignment for school that I accidently read (maybe he thought just his teacher would see it, I don't know). It goes like this:

M is for mom. My mom loves to quilt. She can never stop reading. She's very smart because she reads. She loves to scrapbook. Even though she doesn't like to, she cleans the house. She takes care of us and loves us. We all need our mom to keep us going. We love her.

Aidanisms:

2008-04-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

"no-makes"--no bake cookies

"rain-drops" --gumdrops

"pup-cakes"--cupcakes

"no-bodies"--chex muddy buddies

"black blacuum"--black vacuum

"blackyard"--backyard

"hick-up truck"--pick-up truck

"contagion"--invitation

"lah"--yeah

"lou"--you

"A Rose By Any Other Name..."

2008-04-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

Aidan is a nice Irish name that means "fiery". Dave and I knew this when we named our son and named him that anyway. The middle name I originally wanted to give him was "Rhys"; a nice welsh name that means "fiery". I decided to go for something more benign, like Douglas. He is 3 and keeps us on our toes. Unfortunately, Aidan does not have any interest in using a toilet. Sure, he'll give it lip service if we offer him a toy(he's pulling for a cement mixer), but really, he only uses the toilet if he has to pee when I'm changing him. Today I ran to the store and when I got home, the basement smelled like a sewer. I coaxed Aidan (who had been habitating the area for some time) to come upstairs and be changed. By the smell of things, I wondered how much time had lapsed since he had been done his thing. I asked, "How long have you had a dirty diaper, Honey?"

He replied, "Weeks, Mommy, weeks."

Another comment he made today was when he was speaking to his father on the phone. Aidan asked, "Can I go to Grandma's house, Dada?"

Dada said, "Ask your Mother."

Aidan: "She said no. Can I go to Grandma's house, Dada?"

That shows about how much he thinks about my authority in this house.

Dana Point

2008-04-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

Stephanie and I took a trip to Dana Point during the beginning of April. We had hoped that the weather would be totally hot, but it was slightly cold at times. Nevertheless, we had a great time. I left on Tuesday morning and had legal classes in employment law all day on Tuesday and Wednesday. Stephanie and Alex came down on Friday and made the trip a lot more fun!

On Friday, as we were looking for a good mall so Steph could do some shopping. While traveling aimlessly on I-5, we saw a sign for the San Juan Capistrano Mission. We decided to take a detour and were glad that we did. This is the oldest mission California, and we had a fun time touring.

These are more pictures of the mission. In the second, I am standing in the "Great Stone Church," which has also been called the "American Acropolis". Apparently an earthquake hit during church and 42 people were killed. There was a lot of fascinating history.

Stephanie brought Alex, who was wonderful as usual. Here he is chilling out by the pool in his styling clothes. Everywhere we went people wanted to stop and talk to us because Alex was similing at them. Most of the time people were really nice. There were times, however, when people coudn't resist lecturing us about the size of our family once we told them that Alex is our fifth. Stephanie tells the story quite well.