Kara McCall

Kara, you are beautiful! It has been so fun to watch you grow and mature from little girl to Young Woman.  You are very responsible with your school work and have straight A's.  You have adjusted so well to middle school and really love it. We are thankful that you have such a great circle of friends to hang with at school.  Girls who make good choices like you.  You have been playing the piano for 3 years, and you are still amazing us. You love to practice when you have fun songs, and you always like to play them fast. WE love the music that you bring into our home. You can play several simplified hymns, which brings the spirit into our home. Thank you for sticking with piano.
You would be a happy kid if we could have hamburgers and pizza every week. You are like your dad and don't really like to try new things... you stick with what you know.  You are a great help at home. Your room is always clean and picked up.  You are always good to help with sorting the laundry, and taking your turn with the dishes.  You are getting more comfortable with being home alone, and watching your sisters so mom and dad can go out.  Soon you will be babysitting for other families and you will do great!  You like your alone time in your room, but you also love hanging with your family. When you play with your sisters you like to be the "director" of their performances.  You have always loved music and have loved to dance in the family room.
You always seem to know when your mom needs a hug, and you are very mindful of her. She loves you for this.. There has been many times when your simple hug has really lifted her spirits. 
You have been working hard to finish your Faith in God program, and will receive your recognition when you turn 12.  Twelve! Seriously, where has the time gone. We are excited for you to move on into the Young Women's program in March. It truly is the best program out there for girls your age, and will truly help you in so many ways in your life. You have a testimony that Heavenly Father loves you, always remember He is there for you.  You are a blessing to our family and we are thankful for the example you set for your sisters. They look up to you and love you!

Aubree

Aubree, you are such a sweet young girl.  You have always been on more sensitive side and you can get your feelings hurt quickly, however, lately you are starting to fight back and stand up for yourself.  You are a very dedicated and smart student who loves school, and you always do your best work. You are top of your class and are a great role model for those around you.  Math comes easy to you, (you get that from your dad).  You also love to read and have sometimes read 2 books at once.  You have really liked the Geronimo Stilton books.  You love gymnastics and are really excelling in that sport.  You are at the level where you could be on the team and go to competitions, however you don't really want to be on team, so you continue to excel and work hard in your class.  You have a goal to be able to do a back handspring, and I think you are close.  The tricks that you do always amaze your dad, so when  he is home, he is the one that takes you to class.  Then after class you enjoy taking with dad about what you did. You are getting really strong.
You are our healthy eater, and are always willing to try new recipes that mom makes. You like helping in the kitchen and are great at making brownies.  You have been in orthodontic treatments for a while. You had a pallet expander for almost a year, that is now gone, and you recently had 4 baby teeth pulled to entice your grown up teeth to come down into place and not turn horizontal. You still have a crowded mouth, and we are doing the best we can to make it even more beautiful.
 You are a great sister and would do anything for your sisters.  You are usually quick to give something up, especially to Brae or Hallie, if it will help solve a conflict or situation.  You are a good friend and there are lots of kids that like you and look up to you.  You love going to activity days and are awesome for always wanting to invite and bring a girl in our neighborhood that is inactive.  Your Heavenly Father is aware of your efforts to be her friend, and blesses you for it.
You stellar in primary and set a good example to those in your class. You love to sing and participate in lessons.  You also participate in the ward choir, and are really enjoying going with your mom and Kara.  Aubree, you are an amazing young girl and you will really go far in life and accomplish much if you keep going like you do.  Thanks for your sweet spirit and for being the peacemaker in our family. WE love YOU!

Braelyn

Our dear sweet Braelyn.... You are in first grade and are loving it! It wasn't hard for you to adjust to all day school, but it was an adjustment for you mom and little sister who miss you.  First grade has given you confidence in yourself.  You have a darling smile, and a very contagious laugh, especially when you laugh really hard. You recently have lost a few teeth, a few on their own, and a few had to be pulled.  We have really struggled with your baby teeth and really hope for the best for your adult teeth.  You are a super star in the dentist chair. You are very sweet and strive to do what is right. Sometimes you are quick to get your feelings hurt, but bounce back and forgive quickly.  You say the sweetest little prayers, but sometimes need promptings on what to say.  You are learning to tell time, and always tell us what time it is.  You were really scared about having to learn to read. You even asked mom before you started first grade, "why do we have to know how to read?" You have taken on the challenge, and are doing great!  We love that you take time to write notes and things at home, as you are learning to read. It will be fun to see how much you learn and grow from the now until the end of first grade.
You are our kid that seems to get sick more than others.  I know you have seasonal allergies and we aren't sure if this attributes to you getting sick more often.  You love playing with your sisters and they love playing with you too.  This year is your last year of freedom from Satan... Once you turn eight, are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, he will try very hard to tempt you and try you.  As your mother, I know how very sweet you are and that you will always strive to choose the right and you will listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost to lead you and guide you.  You are a beautiful daughter of God and you have divine qualities.  We love you!

Here is one of your notes you wrote one day playing with your sisters...   In case you can't make it all out.. here is want it is supposed to say. 
"Today can you come and fix the ride at the water park Please! with your MAGIC!

Hallie

We are in a new year, the year 2013. Time seems to be going fast and it is hard to believe that you will soon be FIVE!  There are so many cute and fun things that you daily, that I just love about you... but for some reason, they are now lost memories. That is why I need to take the time to write a little about you.
You are loving preschool with Ms Janis. You have made lots of new friends and like to go to the door all by yourself. However you always stop at the door for one last wave or blown kiss.  You are doing great at learning how to write the alphabet and are learning the sounds each letter makes. You will be more than ready for kindergarten!  You like to play leggos, barbies, house, and you like to have books read to you, but you also like your popcorn and movie time.  You love watching the Disney channel.
You can be a big tease. Especially to your dad. You have found his weak spot, (on his collar bone) and love to stick your little fingers in that spot and hold your dad still... If he laughs, that only encourages you more. You love your sisters and love to play with them.  You always ask mom if you can comb her hair after she showers, and you are always so gentle. With you being the last one home, you get to spend time with just mom, or with mom and dad, when he is home.  Your mom loves this time with you. Sometimes you play games, or read, grocery shop, clean the house or even help with a vinyl project. You are always willing to help set the table and help with dinner, however, you aren't always the best eater, and are often the last one at the table.  You love gum, and will ask several times a day to have some.  You also are a snacker, which often leads to not eating your dinner.
You give the best monkey hugs and have such a sweet smile... You have a love for blankets. There is one in particular that you love and usually have to have with you at night. It is a yellow baby blanket that all of your sisters have used. It is fun that you have an attachment to something so sweet and soft.  Hallie, there is no doubt that you were meant to be in our family.  You have a special name.... You were supposed to be born on Grandpa Hal's birthday, and we knew your name should be after him, even before you were born.  You were born 3 weeks early, but we knew you still needed to be named after him...  Knowing that you were going to be the last, your mom gave your dad the choice of your middle name... and he chose to name you after him as well.... Because of the names you bare, you are destined to become great!  Hallie we love you and are so glad you are part of our lives. You are beautiful!... Here is a little tribute to you!

New Year's Eve....

 It has been tradition to go ice skating on either new years eve or new years day...

The girls were anxious to go, so we went on the 31st...

It was a lot of fun watching the girls confidence build and they skated and I loved even more to see them getting along so well and having fun with each other.

 Braelyn was a little nervous, and every once in a while would let go of my hand and give it a try for herself...

she did great!

 After warming up from being on the ice, we headed to Gma and Gpa's for dinner and games.

WE did our traditional countdown at about 9 and had the kids home and in bed at 9:30

Happy New Year!

2012 was amazing and memorable and we hope for the same for 2013!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day....2012

 Christmas Eve is always a fun and exciting day... It also seemed this year to be the longest day ever! 

The girls decorated sugar cookies, and begged and begged to open their sister gifts early...

 Then to pass the time, we took them to Big Al's to go bowling...

 Drew was a greatly excited for a prime rib dinner...

He cooked it on the grill, and it was so yummy!

Christmas morning....

 This year things were simple.

The girls asked for Leggo Friends...

So the morning was spent following directions and putting together leggos...

(Drew may or may not of had fun too)

 Drew got a big kid toy too...

A track set that attaches to the wall.

 Oh, and Santa thought since the girls hadn't asked for barbies or baby dolls, that maybe dart guns for the whole family would be fun...

Family Dart wars was pretty fun...

But where in the world are the 7 missing darts???