Not wanting to Boast but....

We have an OTTERIFIC OTTER at our house!

Each 6 weeks every teacher in Kaitlyn's school chooses 1 student who is displaying outstanding academic achievement, citizenship and otherwise good things and recognizes them in a special award ceremony with the principal and parents. Kaitlyn was chosen and we are so proud of her!! The morning included a nice note written by Kaitlyn's teacher that was read to everyone, some obvious photo ops and then muffins and juice. Stephen and I were both able to be there (which was a treat) and Kaitlyn was so proud to have us all to herself!!

Here's Kaitlyn with her principal (our camera was REALLY REALLY low on batteries so we were glad to get the shot we got)

And here's Mom & K enjoying the refreshments!! YUM!!! Way to go Kaitlyn!!

Christmas Newsletter 2009

Merry Christmas 2009!!!

We hope this letter finds you well and happy. We’d love to update you on our busy 2009!! 2009 brought a few big changes to our family. WE MOVED!!! We were quickly outgrowing our 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home, mostly because it didn’t have enough “living” space and we were in desperate want for a playroom. The Lord blessed us amazingly to sell our home in 1 DAY this May and move into a wonderful move-in ready foreclosure in early July just a few miles up the road. We’re really enjoying the space to spread out and even have a guestroom upstairs so if you’re ever in the area let us know!!

We also couldn’t set aside the repeated impressions that our family wasn’t done growing and so in June Melissa got pregnant with baby #4 (gender is a surprise for once) and is due March 31st. And since she always goes over, this will be a great addition to our already full April Birthday calendar but we like to say “Let them eat cake!” so what if it’s 4 times in one month?!?!

This fall we also decided to finally bid farewell to our trusty red little 1995 Toyota Tercel (that was perfectly in running order—but a deal too good to pass up came along) and got a 2009 Toyota Corolla. Melissa is probably most excited about it and Stephen is adjusting to his new ride—I’m sure our neighbors appreciate not having to look at it anymore!

Stephen has had a busy year. He enjoyed a 10 day trip to Switzerland in February to visit his brother Joseph and went skiing and took in some of the sights of Rome and other glorious things. This summer he championed the task of becoming a rock climbing instructor so he could take the teenage boys from church on a high adventure activity—and can’t wait to go back! About the time we moved he accepted a new position (and promotion) at Raytheon—sure he doesn’t travel 2-3 times a month like his former job, but his new responsibilities require him to work longer hours. The trade off is he’s home every night—but sometimes it’s after the kids are in bed, we’re just grateful for a job in this time of instability. He completed a 2 year Leadership Development program through his work as well. He serves as Ward Mission Leader in our new ward which keeps his Sundays pretty busy!

Melissa: Is pregnant (easiest one yet!!), LOVES a treadmill some neighbors who were moving gifted to her. She works on the Public Affairs Council for the Allen Texas Stake and just helped to coordinate a 25 year anniversary celebration that included 800 members donating over 3000 hours of community service to the city in one morning—it was quite the event! She loves her role as home economist trying out new meals, couponing for low grocery bills, and keeping the family in budget. In her spare time she loves scrapbooking (she went on a retreat in October only to come home early because swine flu hit her kids!!), blogging, and coordinating a monthly Girls Night out for her ward!

Kaitlyn (5 ½) is officially a Kindergartener! She LOVES school and is thriving! She was just recently chosen as the “outstanding student” of the quarter in her class. This summer we started teaching her to read and she doing very well. She just lost her first tooth and has another loose one. She loves to play with baby dolls, do art and craft projects and shows a flair for the artistic like her Grandpa Lewis.

Sam: (3 ½) is potty training with great anticipation for the day of mastery so that preschool can begin (okay so mom’s anxiously waiting), loves playing baseball outside. He’s a creative story teller and has a vivid imagination. He’s very excited about the new baby and hopes for a brother to share his room with. He is a sweet big brother to little Lindsey and enjoys playing with trains, blocks and tools.

Lindsey (2): Our wild and crazy girl. She finds the fun in any activity and is fiercely independent. She gave mom multiple panic attacks this summer in the pool with her lack of fear of the water. Her vocabulary grows exponentially every week and is easily frustrated by the fact that she’s not as big as the other kids and her attempts to do what they do end up in injury and tears. She’ll be transitioning into a big girl bed (bunk beds with KP) in a few weeks and SHE’s excited about it.

So that’s us in a nutshell. We’re doing so well and have so many things to be thankful for. Most of all we treasure our relationships with you and send you all our love this Holiday season. May you remember He whose birth we celebrate, our Savior Jesus Christ. We are so thankful for Him and His gospel and what it offers us. Love, The McKneelys!

Christmas Dresses

Remember when you had a new Christmas dress and how fun it was to get pretty? This dress is especially fun because it came with a matching one for your doll! KP is pretty thrilled with this!!!
And while we did get a matching one for Lindsey, she took one look at Kaitlyn's old Christmas dress and fell in LOVE so we took it back.

Thanksgiving 2009

Was a busy time for us. Kaitlyn enjoyed her first "class party" of a Thanksgiving Feast and I was thankful enough to have my other kids cared for while I went and attended. Kaitlyn dressed up in all her garb (see below) and then had a sweet program of memorized poems and songs with her class!
Thanksgiving Day was spent feasting with the Lewis' and we had quite the spread:and Aunt Summer added her perfect touch of helping with a beautiful table:We feasted much and enjoyed the day. Of course the festivities HAD to include the traditional game of Croquet in the great back yard!!

We had a great day!!

Then the very next day we hopped in the car and drove to College Station to spend the rest of the weekend with the McKneely clan as they had all gathered and were not to gather so much at Christmas. We enjoyed visiting and the gorgeous weather that allowed us to spend a lot of time outside. I wasn't the one with the camera so if I get my hands on some great photos I'll post them later!!

we have a loose tooth

Ladies and gentlemen......

My first child has her first loose tooth!!

She mentioned it to me on Sunday as we're walking into church. She's been working her tongue on that thing and by the end of the day had really made some progress......

No tooth fairy visit needed yet, but it'll be soon!! So fun!!

Where I've been

I've just had a whirlwind of a weekend and a crazy 3 months preparing for it. My assignment at church (a calling) has me working with the Public Affairs Council for my Stake (group of congregations in the area of Allen).

We celebrated 25 years since the first church building was dedicated in our city and with that came a commitment to the city to give 2500 hours of community service in one morning.

The weekend began with a silver celebration where a 30 minute video of the history of the church in our area had been compiled (again one of the projects I'd worked on with a committee for MONTHS) turned out fabulously--I was so honored to have played a role. It was beautiful!!

Then the next morning to the service: I was one of those helping to organize and mobilize 7 congregations worth of volunteers (our goal was 650 people) working on 11 different projects throughout the city. To say the least it's been a part time job coordinating and trying to communicate and organize all these projects to make the weekend a success.

The morning went off beautifully in spite of last minute stress that it would all fall apart. We had MORE than we needed at almost every work site and from our estimations we had nearly 850 volunteers working throughout the community and gave over 3000 hours of community service that day.

It was truly humbling to watch as the members of my church came and served, there was never a lack of willingness to work and work hard--each person giving of their own time and talents. I worked coordinating 2 indoor projects--one was making fleece blankets for cancer patients and the room was FILLED with the sounds of women chatting, sewing machines whirring and each person felt needed, worked with a purpose and truly touched my heart.

Thank you to the Allen Texas Stake for letting me be a part of this landmark event!!

Lindsey is 2

I was determined NOT to have a baby on Halloween (it's my least favorite holiday)--or in October for that matter so I was grateful when my OB allowed me to wait until November 1 to be induced to have Lindz......but what that's created is a CRAZY SUGAR FILLED time at our house celebrating both things literally back to back!
So in honor of my ELMO loving girl we had an Elmo themed birthday party. It included the Elmo cupcakes, (seen in the previous post---side note--I'm really not that creative there are a bunch of ideas for these online and I totally stole them)

A game of Pin the nose on Elmo,
(A thank you to our resident artist Grandpa Lewis who made magic appear on a red poster board.)

I made goldfish bean bags (Dorothy) and we threw them into the "fishbowl" or box decorated like a fishbowl.

And we ate Elmo's favorite (and Lindsey's) meal--PIZZA!! It was yum!

We were grateful to those family members who could come: Grandpa Lewis, Uncle Ben, Aunt Summer and Baby Elenore and Aunt Rachel! We had a blast!!Here she is with the new set of dress up shoes that our home desperately needed--she's really getting into dress up and has always had a shoe fetish. (disclaimer--this is THE SMILE we're getting from her these days--it's intentional and she thinks it looks FABULOUS!)
And yes she is modeling a new dress up skirt that my AMAZING sister-in-law Summer just whipped up in a couple hours with some left over fabric--too cute!
And here the birthday girl is with candles in one of her cupcakes! I can't believe she's already 2! What a big girl!!

Boo!

Halloween--whew! What a weekend!! Here's a snapshot:

Friday dawned and there was a tri-ward Halloween play group activity at the church. Sam dressed up as a RACECAR DRIVER and Lindz was her Dorothy--she didn't really have a choice--it was the cutest of her options.Then that night was our ward (church congregation) Halloween party with a carnival, chili cook off and traditional trunk or treat-- our kids got a TON of candy and we passed out 3 bags in 20 minutes. I guess that's what you get with 145 kids in primary--whew! Kaitlyn got to come to this one and while originally she wanted to be a baby and we had the costume all worked out--at the last minute she changed her mind and wanted to be a fairy--good thing she also informed me that her friend Sydni had THE COSTUME she wanted to wear and would I "please call miss Tammy and ask to borrow it"--thankfully it wasn't an issue and she got to be her fairy!The DAY OF Halloween was great. Sam changed his costume idea and wanted to be Bob the Builder, so here are the Three Crazies!!

Kaitlyn the Fairy

Sam the "Bob"

Linz as Dorothy--with her todo (which by the way she insisted on carrying along with her bag of goodies--which was fine until you needed to hold her hand--then things got interesting)

We enjoyed a block party with our neighbors--most of whom we were still trying to get to know where we enjoyed socializing, food a pumpkin carving contest and a bounce house. Then we got ready for trick or treating.

Our kids really made a haul with the candy--we threw out the not so good stuff and were left with 2 HUGE bowls of stuff. But I'm the one that primarily eats it so I throw it out after a couple weeks--please my belly is getting big enough!

Dad was WONDERFUL and took them trick or treating while I stayed home and made these:

Yup, it's a teaser for my next post!

Ode to Tercelito

While I was on my mission, my parents probably made the best car buying decision they've ever made by getting this 1995 Toyota Tercel. When I came home it was given to me and I took over the payments and paid off the balance, thus making it THE CAR Stephen and I had when we got married in June 2001.

See, not a bad looking ride right?Little did I know, that car's membership in our family would last quite awhile and an unusual attachment by my husband (though he will deny it) to this car would develop. He thought this car was great--and I don't disagree. We've changed it's oil and bought it new tires and had one other minor repair in the YEARS we've owned it. That's it.

It has been dependable to say the least. And one of the things that I love MOST about my husband is his lack of vanity--he could care less that it's appearance over the years deteriorated to shabby--it was still getting 40 miles a gallon and it was Summer of 2008 when gas was over $4.00 a gallon--it was practically making us money!

In December 2001 we were driving it to Colorado for a skiing vacation at Christmas when it fell victim to a 4 car collision and was "totaled"--so what? We thought the damages were minor, bought it back salvage from the insurance company and paid less than our settlement to get it fixed and pocketed the remaining cash--we LOVED this car!

Our plan was always to trade it in when we upgraded to a family van but as luck would have it, 4 days prior to having Sam we were in an accident in our other car and it was totaled beyond repair and the Tercelito was spared.
The teenagers in our congregation at church wouldn't be caught dead owning his car (yes we had a family tease their kids that they'd bought it for their teenagers to drive and they were mortified!) and he was recognized by our friends simply by his car.

But the time had come, a program in our state was trying to get older more polluting vehicles off the road and we qualified for a sizable voucher towards the purchase of a new-er car and we had to do it--we wouldn't get $500 as a trade in for this car.

Stephen dragged his feet-there was NOTHING wrong mechanically with this car--it still ran great. And look at this:

YUP! We'd gotten it to go: 240, 672 miles!!

Sure the driver side door handle was broken and required a "special touch" to get into it.


Sure the paint was two toned where the sun had bleached it and the repaired part was looking better than the rest.

Sure we'd lost 3 of the wheel covers over the course of owning it and just took the 4th one off to make it look uniform--it wasn't worth it to replace them (though we had a neighbor joke he'd get them for him for Christmas one year)

Sure it leaked oil so we didn't dare park it anywhere but the street--which our neighbors LOVED I'm sure.

BUT we subscribe to the principle--wear it out, eat it up, make it do or do without. I think it really HURT Stephen to give up a car that didn't need replacing but the voucher program wouldn't last forever and we couldn't pass up the opportunity....

So late last month we said our good byes to TERCELITO and said hello to this little number:


A gold, 2009 Toyota (hey our last one went 240 thousand miles--we plan to do it again!) Corolla. Stephen is getting used to it I think. It does have a working door handle and a CD player (a bonus) it has a lot of life left in it.

And the kids like it too--the day after we bought it. Sam was riding home from church with dad and said, "Dad, I like your car....the furniture is fuzzy!" what more can we say? I'm thrilled!!

General Conference Weekend Traditions

First off I need to give a HUGE shout out to my wonderful husband who let me get away for 2 days and go scrapbooking! I had a WONDERFUL break from my kids and I got to scrapbook to boot!! So I was gone from Thursday night until Saturday evening--it was General Conference Weekend and I really ENJOYED being able to listen without distractions to Saturday's sessions before heading home to a sick Kaitlyn.
As a side note, I talked with a fevering, seal coughing Kaitlyn Saturday morning and tried to smooth the waters by explaining to her on the phone that because she was sick she may need to rest in a different room from the rest of the family for the day. She BURST into TEARS!! "But Mom! I HAVE to watch Conference!" Who is this kid?!?!?! My kids LOVE Conference, we make it fun with bingo cards, games identifying the Prophet, his counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve.


But Sunday I was home and we were in Conference Weekend Tradition mode. Here's what we do at our house:

#1: I ALWAYS make Cinnamon Rolls to enjoy!

#2: We build a tent like the people in the Book of Mormon who listened to their dying prophet, King Benjamin. Usually the tent is constructed such that we can see conference from it, we had to watch on the computer so that didn't happen, but we constructed it anyway.

And Dad even got in it and enjoyed "napping" with Lindz and Sam!!

All in all, we really enjoyed conference and all the powerful messages taught there! Can't wait to review the counsel in the Ensign next month!!

An Evening with the Lewis'

We hadn't seen the Lewis' for a bit so we invited them over for dinner. These are my kids waiting "patiently" for them to arrive....

"Guys, what are you doing?"

"Caught you!!"

And when they got here, Kaitlyn enjoyed holding her baby cousin Elenore! so sweet!

It's official, #4 is on the way

(ULTRASOUND PHOTO COMING SOON--computer is having issues)

We're THRILLED to announce that McKneely #4 is officially on it's way. Official due date of March 31st--I guess my body just really likes being pregnant at this time. KP was born April 1, Sam was born April 12 and with Stephen's birthday April 16th let's just make the party a bit more rowdy!!

I'm almost 13 weeks, through my first trimester. This time it was fun to keep it a bit of a secret for a little while. But we told our kids this morning so the secret is no longer safe.=)

My belly is poking out a bit earlier than usual--I guess when you've already had 3 your muscles are tired and get back into the same old routine. =) I'm over the feeling sick and being exhausted part so that's great. Now it's to the in between wardrobe issues.=)

An "BRIEF" Story

So Sam is not potty trained for #2 yet. We've been working on it but he's just not ready. We've tried EVERYTHING but he's just going to do it when he decides he wants to. We've even been wavering a bit on going #1, which he so can handle so for the last week or so we're back in a focused plan getting at least #1 mastered and hoping that we'll get #2 eventually. We're saving $$ on diapers and I'm practicing patience.

So we're into day #3 of focused intensity potty training. Sam has a diarrhea type diaper. (what timing right?) I'm rinsing it out in the toilet when I start to wretch and dry heave. I flush the toilet to get the smell gone and I accidentally let go of the underwear. Shwoop! They're sucked down the toilet. Sam's favorite Red Diego Underpants are in the toilet plumbing. I tried to reach down with my hand but their further than I can reach. So that's totally a Stephen job to tackle when he gets home.

I do have the forethought to try and rummage up a snake (plumbing tool not an animal) from a friend to assist my tired and handy husband later that evening.

Stephen gets home from work, Sam's at the dinner table and he announces, (complete with hand motions by the way--hands open and in front of him enphatically punctuating his statement) "Dad, something really bad happened today. My Diego underpants got sucked down the toilet. But we got a snake so you can go get them out."

Needless to say the pants were not so far into the plumbing and with some elbow grease (thanks hon!) and a plunger we were able to flush them out of the system. We then checked the other water appliances further down the water line of the house and so far so good.

But now Sam is in mourning that he can't have his pants back--we haven't explained to him that he really wouldn't want them back at this point. I've assured him that there are no animals under our house that will get them, and I'm sure that they'll bring a smile to the sanitation worker who finds them.

Kindergartener Kaitlyn

The day has finally come, we have a child in regular, everyday school. It's week #3 and she's LOVIN IT!!

First day of school was a bit hectic as it's new for all of us. We have to get up earlier than usual (which I thought was early before!!)

A healthy breakfast of left over cinnamon rolls, a banana and milk.

We had a new backpack and lunch bag packed and ready to go! I know you're shocked that she chose pink.

Say c-ya to big sister!! Loading up the car with all the kiddos (thanks to my friend Kim who took the younger 2 for about 30 minutes for the first few days while I could focus on just KP)

Olson Elementary is a BRAND NEW SCHOOL this year and so it was new for every parent too--mass chaos in the parking lot both for the drop off and pick up. We were almost late getting there as we had to park quite a ways away. We could walk them into their classroom (it's the only day they allow that--after that it's into the cafeteria to wait with their class for their teacher)

We found her desk, (at the green table next to a sweet girl) did a worksheet, mom had to do a couple things and then I said to Kaitlyn, "It's time for me to go." She whispered, "I'm not ready for you to go yet." I said, "Okay I'll go stand by the wall for just a minute." After a minute I walked over and said, "It's time for me to go, I'll be back to get you after school is over." "Okay mom." Hugs and kisses and I was out the door! (totally shocked by the way!!)

Now on the 3rd week of school, I am amazed at her growth. For a few days I walked her with 2 in tow into the cafeteria to find her class and wait with them. After about 4 days I suggested that she could walk into the cafeteria by herself and say good-bye to me at the door. On day 5 she wanted to try it. We did that for a couple of days and then I suggested that she could find the cafeteria by herself from the door of the school. She didn't think she could, so I asked her to show me the way and see if she could. She could and the next morning she announced that I could leave her at the door of the school. Then after a couple days of that she announced that I didn't need to escort her to the door, I could just drop her off in the carpool line and she could find her way along the sidewalk into the school and to the cafeteria where her class waits. We've done that for about 2 days now and I have to admit it makes me more nervous than her. I always sit and watch her until I can't see her anymore just to be sure she's made it. I can't believe how independent she's become and how she instigated it! What a girl!!

STAY-cation part 3

So we had yet another Dinner party on FRIDAY night too-this time with Aunt Rachel and her boyfriend Nick, Laura's dad came again and we ate AMAZING HOMEMADE PIZZA!! I know our group ate 4 larges, but I am still craving some and can't wait to make more.

Friday didn't get any photos taken, we played at the pool--Sam had a scare when he fell through a tube and wasn't wearing his floaties, but he's recovered.

SATURDAY also was another day of water fun but this time at NRH2O! We'd never been to a water park with the kids. Stephen was busy helping some people at church move and my options were either to stay at home with the kids or go with the whole McKneely clan (yup, even Grandma, Grandpa, Joey and Sarah were going--along with Uncle Doug, Aunt Debbie, Mary and Katie!!) to have some fun.

I was really busy keeping track of my kiddos so I didn't take the opportunity to snap some pictures, but my mother-in-law did and I will try and snag some of hers to put HERE.

I was surprised at how well my kids did. They were amazing at trying new things. Sam and KP did and loved the water slides, trying the smallest then going to the next biggest, then the next--so long as they went with an adult. At one point Sam pointed up to the sky at the largest one that is typically only for adults and said he wanted to do that one next!! KP LOVED the wave pool and felt very confident once she had a life jacket on. Lindsey's just a fish so she loved all of it as well. And I am so incredibly grateful for all the cousins that volunteered and happily followed my kids around the park letting them have the fun--it's so selfless of them and a HUGE help to me.


We left shortly after lunch so we could get in good naps because our Day wasn't over!!! We had purchased a great deal of Family Pack Tickets to see the FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS (minor league baseball) that night for the 7:00 game. I need to brag on this deal just a bit. $30 for 4 tickets to the game, 4 baseball hats, and 4 certificates to eat at McDonalds--DEAL right?

Our kids LOVED the baseball game. They had "fun crazy stuff" (KP's words) after each inning that was as entertaining to them as the game, and they learned some of the rules of the game. Lindsey loved dancing to the music in the isle and she shrieked with pure pleasure whenever this big bird looking masco came onto the field. Kaitlyn loved learning what to shout and when (CHARGE!!) and when to clap. Sam liked watching the baseball men hit and catch!

Being Silly

Being as normal as can be expected!

We'll do this again for sure! All in all, our stay-cation was a HUGE sucess. So glad for all the fun memories!!

STAY-cation part 2 (the Dallas Zoo)

So we doubled our house occupancy and things were wild and crazy and FUN!! Last week was 1/2 price all week at the Dallas Zoo and we decided to head out!!

To add to the excitement we took the DART down to the zoo because it drops you off RIGHT THERE. Plus because of the DART passes (which we also had to purchase) we got an additional $1 admission to the zoo. Our family got in for $13!! What a steal huh?

We were quite the crew! 4 adults, 2-5 year olds, 2-3 year olds, a 1 year old and a 5 month old. When we got there we met up with Stephen's sister Rachel and Stephen's two cousins Katie and Mary. They were a HUGE help!

It was so HOT!!! Seriously, we stayed really hydrated, found airconditioning to eat our picnic lunch and enjoyed a spray bottle regularly! Our last stop was this splash pad for the kids and we got them all in their swimming suits and I just soaked my feet--it felt good!

Around 2:00 we were totally pooped and headed home. But not before a wonderful ride on the carolsel!! All 3 of my kids LOVED it! Kaitlyn rode on the most beautiful horse, Sam rode a gorilla and was standing right by Lindsey and I don't remember but I think she was on a Rhino or a Hippo!!

We'd seen amazing animals--the Gorilla was right against the glass of the observation deck and we sat and watched him awhile! We saw elephants and giraffes, Rhinos and monkeys, Tigers and crocodiles, Birds and lemurs--we were FULL of animal fun.

AND it was time to go home and get dinner ready for Aunt Laura's family to come over and hang out! I am so excited to finally have a home that can host get-togethers like this! Fun!