Dear Emmi,

I don't know where you came from, but you are such a little ham.  It was reinforced to me as I uploaded these pictures of you over these last few months.  Your Aunt Abby said it perfectly a couple of weeks ago when you slept over at her house during the school break.  You ended up coming home early, having come down with strep throat.  Aunt Abby said, "I knew she was sick.  She was not her usual bubbly, happy self!" The K-3 director at your school said to me just this Friday, "I just have to say that your little Emmi is just adorable.  Every time I would look at her today she would have the biggest smile."  She went on to ask if all of my children are always that happy, and I said yes but the more I thought about it later, I realized that you are definitely the most bubbly and happy of all my children.  It might be partly your gender or just plain your personality, I don't know, but it is so fun to have your infectious spirit in our home and I am so proud to be your mom.

Last week you came home from school with a "card move" for being disruptive.  I saw it on your learning plan and said "Em, what is this for?"  You looked at me, broke out in a big grin and and exploded in this sinister giggle that only you could do.  I said, "No, really Emmi, what did you do?"  You said, "this IS what I did" and starting laughing again.  Ha ha.. we had a good laugh about that.  I can see why you got that card move.

You are no stranger to a "card move" here and there, but overall you are doing so well in school, and getting very good grades.  All I hear from the other teachers is that you have lots of friends and like to chat, but that you are a very good girl.  Now that I am there at your school full-time, it has been so fun to see you in the halls and out at recess.  I see you way more than I see your brothers, and I always look forward to being with you out on the playground, sharing snacks, jumping rope and chatting with you and your friends.  I hope you like me being at the school as much as I like being there.  I hope to be there for years and years.

We had such a great time in Disneyland back in December with our family and you were such a good sport driving to and from, with having Grandma B's dog, Baby, with you in the back for part of the trip.  You do love animals, especially dogs and I knew you would take good care of her. 

You and your friends love to play school and I can hear you in your room trying to teach your friends (would do not go to APA) how to teach APA-style.  You were so excited when I started substituting and let me practice my group instruction with you, and you helped me when I needed it.  You say you want to be a teacher and I do think that if you want to, you could be a great one.  I also played school and wanted to be a teacher when I was little.  For Christmas, Santa brought you an easel so you could stop playing school with markers on your mirror (arrrgh!) and a kid-friendly tablet.  Over the break your big brothers finally taught you how to pay Minecraft on the Xbox and now it is also a favorite thing of yours to do (to your brother's dismay).  I love to hear the three of you playing in our new game room together though, laughing and having a good time.

Unfortunately, I had to pull you out of piano lessons.  I could never remember to have you practice and when I did ask you to practice, you never were willing.  It is too expensive if you are not going to practice so we had to pull the plug on it.  I hope that one day you will have the desire to play and practice on your own.  You were just starting to get good.  So right now you are not taking any lessons, which is nice for me as I am still getting used to working a full day, but I hope to put you back into something soon because you were born to entertain.

I love the funny faces you like to pull, the way you like to look at yourself in the mirror, your continual obsession with gum, and how you have to have lip gloss if I am wearing any.  I love how you memorize things so easily and sing the Articles of Faith all the time.  Me and your Dad love you oh so much.  I can't wait to see all the good things that you will see and do in your life.

Love,
Mom

Dear Jack,

First day of 2nd year of preschool

You are such a handsome devil.  The above picture of you has to be my very favorite.  After having a rough first year of preschool with Miss Amy, I decided a change was in order.  This year I put you in "I Can Do It Myself" which is more in downtown Payson, but I have heard for years of how good it is.  We are now one month in and you tell me all the time how much you love your new "big preschool."  After not learning one thing last year, you are already saying letter sounds left and right this year.  Maybe it is just with age, but I am a believer in this preschool.  I wish I would have put all my kids in for 2 years, but oh well.  You have homework pages every week (which you are actually loving and want actually want to do each night) and I can already see a difference.  It is so exciting and I am so grateful I was prompted for the change.

You are still a stubborn little guy when you want to be, and are learning to be more independent.  You like to help the kids unload the dishwasher and actually do a pretty decent job.  You want to put on your seatbelt and pour your own milk.  You can entertain yourself for the most part and get yourself a snack from the pantry without problems.

Since our cancellation of Netflix, you have discovered the video clips on NickJr.com and you have just recently learned how to use the computer mouse.  Needless to say, you love to watch shows and play games on the kids' computer while I am beside you working on my computer, and have lately told friends you don't want to play so you can keep playing.  Speaking of friends, you still like to play with Christian, Matthew and Adam, but we have found out the hard way that three's a crowd and you have been opting to stay home instead more and more.

At Mapleton's 4th of July celebration, your name was the first one called out of your age group to win a free bike.  I was so shocked because we never win anything and you just plain didn't know what was going on.  I had to carry you kicking and screaming up to claim your bike.  The announcer even commented, "He is crying he is so happy."  ha ha ha..  Once you settled down enough for me to tell you what was happening you were very excited, as I knew you would be.   In fact, you are getting very good use out of it, riding it about every day.  

A few weeks ago when as a family we went to through the Odgen Temple open house, they wanted to put booties on over our shoes and you threw a fit and ended up kicking down on the ground.  The ushers kindly told us you could just take your shoes off and wear socks and so that is what we finally did to calm you down and get you happy again.  You sure are particular about some things and I never seem to know what will set you off. 

You love Emmi and she is your favorite of your siblings to play with.  You also seem to be hers right now and I love how kind you are to each other.  Your other favorite pal is of course Birdie, and she sure does put up with a lot from you.  You like to act like she is your pillow and constantly try to lay on her, even though she usually ends up trying to nip you.  

You have picked up phrases such as "What da heck?" and "Oh, my gosh" which usually gets a good chuckle from any adult who hears you, but my favorite has to be your word for shoelaces... "shoe-tails."  I have no idea where you picked that one up, but I love it, especially in your little raspy, lispy voice.  You have fallen in love with the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" from school and you want your dad to read you our copy at least once before bedtime. I love you buddy.

Love, 
Mom

Boating with Grandma and Grandpa Hunsaker

BYU fall scrimmage

Children's Museum

Dear Keaton,

First day of 6th grade

I hope you know how proud I am to be your mom.  When we walked into Mrs. Thurston's classroom on "meet-your-teacher-night," Mrs. Thurston said "hello, Keaton!" and gave you a big hug.  I said something like, "she already knows your name" to which Mrs. Thurston replied, "Oh, yes, I know Keaton.  Last year I would always see him in the halls always doing what he was supposed to do and being so kind.  I knew then that I wanted him in my class this year."  It was so nice to hear that as a mom, even though I have stopped by the school many times enough to have seen for myself how good you are.  In fact, I can barely get you to smile and wave at me, you are so focused.

You are a wonderful student and were probably the most excited of all my kids to go back to school this year.  This year you also got to take band or orchestra, and you decided to learn to play the trumpet.  Luckily your Grandpa Hunsaker played the trumpet and he let you borrow his.  I let you take a break from piano in order to focus on the trumpet, although I am grateful for your piano lessons and how much they are helping you with it.  I can't wait until you are playing songs and we get to come watch your concerts.  I think it is awesome that APA starts both choir and band/orchestra so early.

Thanks to your awesome PE teacher (Mr. Winget), you asked to play soccer this fall, and I happily signed you up.  You are happy to be there and happy to play, although you do not necessarily want to go outside and practice all day.  I am just glad that you tried soccer this year and you were always a very good sport.

In any spare time, you are still asking to go play with Landon, and you guys are likely to be found on the Xbox or computer, playing Minecraft.  You are an 11-year-old scout and you and your dad are trying to start working towards becoming an Eagle, albeit very slowly.  Since we just found your scout book that you had misplaced a couple of months ago, we are going to have to kick that into gear.  

I love how independent you are, getting ready in the mornings, doing your homework, even making food or snacks for yourself and doing chores.  I love that I can leave Sam and Emmi with you for a quick errand around town and know that you will watch them.  You are earning my trust very well and becoming such a terrific young man.  I love you so very much.

Love, 
Mom

Shooting with your Dad and Grandpa Hunsaker

Children's Museum with cousins

Odgen Temple Rededication

Boating with Grandma and Grandpa Hunsaker