Dandi's Farewell Party

So, a couple nights before Dandi's big move to Colorado, we got together, just us 5 crazy Ely kids, for some fun at Hal O. Peno's.  Hal's has been a family favorite for Mexican food for years, and Dandi need it one more time before leaving.  

I love these photos!  If you look closely you can tell that Jessi's funny faces are because of Ben tickling her.  I love his smirk!  

 He wouldn't stop, it was just too funny!

This is me being sad that I wasn't in the pictures with all the fun. 

Ben said he could get one of us all together.  I thought he did pretty well.  Thanks, Bubba!

 Steph, Dandi, Jessi, Gavin and Ben

Just so there is no confusion (people have been kindly mistaken in my favor lately) I am the oldest, then Ben, Dandi, Jessi and baby brother Gavin.

Ok, so here is a brother shot, with Ben up to his old tricks again, surprising Gavin.  Hee hee!

Such handsome dudes!

It has been years since I have been to Hal's and it was as good as ever, complete with wonderful company.  It is never boring when the 5 of us get together.  I cannot even believe all the silly things we talked about.  It was a night to never be "unforgotten"!  giggle, giggle

The Best of Friends

The Klippels move to Ohio 1 1/2 years ago which took away two of my children's best friends, Travis and Turner.  Lucky for us, they came back for a visit.  Turner and his cousin Lilly, who is Sara's best friend came over to make up for lost time.  It was wonderful to see them all together like no time had past since the last hangout.  They are great kids!

I don't have pictures of Sam and Victor with Travis.  They were hanging out at Victor's.  It sounded like they had a wonderful visit as well.  We miss you Klippel boys!  Come back soon!

Halloween Season 2012

 Princess Sara

For a church class party two knights and a fair maiden

Nate, Sara and Drew 

 Just for fun, trying to figure out what to be:

Saraberry Shortcake 

and Laney

Laney and Daniel, battle of the dragons 

Drew??? 

Nate as Super Scout, for his WEBLOS meeting 

Sara, Sam, Tim and Josh got dressed up to go to the annual church Halloween Dance.  

Sara, our Super Girl 

Sam, the Nerdy Missionary and Tim, the Noble Knight

Josh and his friends Hallie and Matt went as Mario, Princess Peach and Luigi.  Super CUTE!

Tim found a lonely princess at the dance.

Halloween Night Trick or Treating Costumes

Drew and Nate, but especially Drew, wanted to be Jesters this year.  It was fun to make their costumes.  They were hilarious! 

Susanna fell and got a HUGE raspberry on her knee first thing.

Tim held the injured Suzu for the picture with these goofballs.

Our whole Trick or Treating gang.

Jessi and her buddy Krystal came with all their kiddos and Gavin, Cadie and Peter joined us too.  Later, Gram and Papa joined us.  Sam and Josh were gone to a party, the big kids went off on their own and the grown ups and the little guys went out together.  Every one had a great time and got back home safely with WAY too much candy!

Gram with baby Peter and Gwen

Daniel, Gwen and Heidi

"I Dream of Jessi" and Steph

Cadie, Gav and Peter 

Susanna passed out while sorting her candy. 

It was a great Halloween season; it's always so much fun to dress up!  (and get candy!)

Ely Family Sleep Over

My mom and dad like to have a "Camp Out" at their house every fall.  Those who want to can bring tents and  sleep outside, everyone else sleeps all over the house.  It is a great time for the cousins to bond and for the adults to get in some deep late night conversations.   We ate nachos and pie and watched silly internet videos, played games, laughed and talked and later the kids watched a couple of movies to settle down for the night.  

Watching Merlin with Papa

Tyson, Drew, Lucas and Nate

There was lots of snuggling.

 Gwen and Josh

Some coloring with Nellie and Daniel.

 Ryan- such killer eyes!

 Stratego with Madi, Laney and Heidi

Wrestling with Wilson and Tim

Chess with Justin and Lilli

 Jonah

Tim and Ryan

 Baby time with Emmett, Dandi and Josh  

Emmett is such as cutie!!!

It was a wonderful night, but sad that it may be our last one with everyone there.  Dandi and Aaron have moved to Colorado in the last week and will be gone for a few years.  And Sam and Josh maybe on missions when they move back.  I love that we are all so close and have such tight relationships.  Family is what it is all about!

Native American Dwellings Project

Nate and Drew have the beloved Mrs. Heck for their teacher this year.  They worked hard on their Native American dwellings projects.  They came up with the most original displays of all my kiddos so far.  I was really proud of their creativity and all the thought and planning they put in to them.  

 Drew

Nate

We set them outside to dry over night before they brought them to school.  The next morning we realized that Nate's had several new residents.  Some crickets had moved in to his, because of the flour in the paper mache I would guess.  We thought we got them out, but when he presented his display and gave his presentation on his research, another cricket popped out of the crack between the mountain and the back ground.  Surprise!

Great job guys!!

Elder Alger? Already???

For homecoming week, one of the spirit day themes was Angels vs. Demons.  Dysart High School's mascot is a Demon.  Sam decided to wear his suit to school and borrow his dad's old missionary tag for school.  He was an Angel.

I can't believe that in as soon as 1 1/2 years Sam will get his own missionary tag and be off serving the Lord in some other part of the world, Nebraska, Ireland, China, Guatemala etc ...  

He will be amazing where ever he serves. 

 I am so grateful for him and all my children and for their love of the Savior and others in this world.  Though they are far from perfect, they are quick to serve and love those around them.  

What more could a mother want?

Susanna, aka Miss Smarty Pants

Susanna surprises me several times a week if not daily with some new thing she has learned.  A few weeks ago, I was trying to get somethings done and she kept stopping me and asking me questions.  I decided she needed something to do so I could get my chores finished.  I gave her a composition book and told her to write a story.  She looked at me, confused.  I told her that since she was so good at writing and sounding out words that she could put some together and write a story with a picture.  I told her that she had to write some words before she could draw the picture.  She was SUPER excited that she could write her own story and got right to work.  She asked me how to spell a couple of words, but mostly wrote on her own.  She had some creative spelling, which I love, but really did a great job.

Deciphered: One day fat cat did slide and her name is Lizzy.

The slide is on the far left, blue with red boarder.   Lizzy, the fat cat is on the bottom right.

In the last couple of weeks she has surprised at different times by playing songs Daniel taught her on the piano from his lesson book, counting to 100 by 10's, counting to 100 by 1's (perfectly, only one hesitation at 79, but without help she moved on to 80 and finished), adding any combination of 2 numbers that add up to less than 20, subtraction with numbers 10 and under and reading more and more every day.  I have never had a 4 year old that was so driven to learn and was doing so much at such a young age.  I am sure that it is because she has 8 older brothers and sisters that want to teach her everything.