End of the Year 2015

2015 brought quite a few changes.  We started out the year in our new house in Texas, which we moved into the last few days of December.  The Texas winter was snowy and cold, worse than we were having in Utah before moving.

This year's biggest news is that we are expecting again, a surprise baby boy due the beginning of March 2016.  This has been a complete surprise to us and we are still adjusting and reeling from the changes that will be coming.

Corey's work has been busy and he's been working a lot to get his store how he wants it.  Jenna works hard trying to keep up with all the kids.  In her spare time (ha ha!) she is teaching a preschool, or trying to get one started.  So far it is only Jonah and his cousin in the class (and Annmarie who tags along) but it is going well.

Westley started junior high here (7^th grade) and is still playing the trumpet.  He also turned 12 and received the priesthood, which is something that the boys in our church do at that age. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with LEGOs and posting videos on Youtube, and his channel is Royal58 TV.

Caleb started intermediate school in the 5^th grade.  He has earned his Arrow of Light in scouts this year.  He spends a lot of his free time reading Harry Potter and has finished the series.  He also likes to play around on Youtube with Westley.

Travis is in the 3^rd grade.  He made it into an advanced program at school for academics.  He also enjoys reading, playing with friends, and doing cub scouts.

Eliza is now in 2^nd grade and also in advanced academics at school.  We haven't been able to put her back in dance but she is trying out gymnastics and seems to enjoy it.  She turned 8 this year and got baptized in our church. 

Jonah started preschool (with me).  He has really grown a lot in the last few months.  He has become less shy and more willing to try new things.  He is also doing really well with learning writing and letters and math. 

Annmarie is a saucy little thing.  She is very stubborn as well as very verbal, so she always has something to say about everything and she really likes to do everything herself, which is both good and annoying.

We hope you all find joy in this Christmas season in remembering that Jesus is why we celebrate. 

Love,

The Kings

Corey, Jenna, Westley, Caleb, Travis, Eliza, Jonah and Annmarie

Kids' Gift to Each Other

Last Christmas, we started a tradition of when the kids give each other their secret Santa gifts, they give them something homemade. These are the gifts they made this year.

Westley gave Caleb an instruction book for origami and origami paper.

Caleb made Jonah a car out of a cardboard box.

Travis made Eliza a picture frame.

Eliza made Annmarie an Umizoomi coloring book.

Jonah gave Westley a mug he painted himself.

Annmarie gave Travis a mug she painted herself (with my help).

Christmas 2015

It was fun celebrating Christmas in our new house Keeping up with tradition, we lined the kids up on the stairs and marched them down in age order past the front room covered with a sheet and into the family room and kitchen to open up stockings and eat the mini cereal boxes that came in the stockings. Then we go in to open presents.

With their gifts from Nana...hats, gloves and card games

Lining up to march down the stairs.

Stocking candy and goodies all on their plates.

Lining up from stockings to go to the tree.

Out to the tree and the gifts.

Random December Fun

 Preschool lesson on space.  They made astronaut helmets out of paper plates.

 Annmarie refused to nap and then fell asleep on the couch.  Typical.

 Ward Christmas breakfast.

 Annmarie showing off her beautiful long hair.

 For preschool we made candles out of melted crayons

 Caleb cleaning up after dinner looked just like Grandpa in his church clothes and In-N-Out apron.

 The weather the week of Christmas in Dallas...warm enough for shorts and T-shirts.

Annmarie and Grandpa doing little piggies.  Annmarie just adores Grandpa.

Eliza's Baptism

We are so proud that Eliza chose to be baptized. She was baptized with another boy in the ward. Grandma and Grandpa came from Arizona and Nana came from California. It was nice to have so much family around here in Texas too. And I made her dress and felt very proud of the detail I put into it. It was a wonderful day.

Eliza's 8th Birthday

This beautiful girl turned 8 today!
We just love all the joy she brings into our home. What a delight that the surprise pregnancy I had so soon after having Travis brought us her!

Happy birthday beautiful girl!

Creche Festival

I haven't felt very good with this pregnancy, so we haven't been out much for holidays this fall but we did make it over to the Creche Festival put on by the Allen Stake.  The stake center was so beautifully decorated with wonderful musical numbers playing the whole time.  They also had this fantastic display of old Bibles.  The kids enjoyed it and I look forward to making it a family tradition.

Gymnastics Showcase

Eliza has been taking gymnastics with her cousin Maggie for several months. She got to participate in a showcase that the gym did to show off their skills.

Waiting in line for the showcase to begin.

Skills on the balance beam.

Floor exercise

On the podium