Kyle's Poem

Hershey Park! When it's time and hot, I like to be there early in the morning, to hear the rides going and the rolling rollercoasters, to watch people scream and get soaked while I wait for my turn and talk to my family I will be back again soon and that makes me smile. Kyle 3rd Grade April 2011

Kids say the funniest things

After dinner Mike and I were talking about how awesome President Monson is. We would like to buy his biography and read it together. Well, Kyle heard our conversation and said,"His goal is to grow up and become an apostle or even the prophet someday!" Mike and I said, "Great goal what are some attributes you need to have to become this?" Kyle said, "Be married in the temple, go on a mission, CTR, and always be good." Mom said, "When you get married in the temple you have to make sure your wife is perfect!" Kyle said, " MOM I WILL PICK SOMEONE JUST LIKE YOU!" After that, he said, "I only have one problem that will prevent me from becoming an apostle or prophet." Mike and I said, "What is that?" Kyle said," I can't beep in the public any more or around anyone. That is going to be my hardest part!" Mike and I laughed so hard because if only you knew Kyle than you would be rolling around the ground just like we were! But what a wonderful experience we had with Kyle and how much he looks up to President Monson! He is truly a special spirit and so in tune with the gospel! What a great goal for an 8 year old boy to want to be an apostle and the prophet of the church!

Regional Leotard

At State she qualified for Regionals so afterwards she went to a back room to try on a Leotard for Regionals! They had tons of sizes so she was able to take it home with her. She was super excited to do this and she loved the purple leotard with Rhinestones on the front and North Carolina on the back! Way to GO GIRL!

She will be able to way this Leotard and always remember her wonderful Level 8 season! At Regionals she retired her floor , bars, and vault routines. But looks forward to working toward level 9 and new routines!

After her Regional Meet in Atlanta, Georgia!

We had so much fun with Kallee and super proud of her! So Mike and I surprised her with the shirt she wanted! We wanted her to always remember this special day. That all her hard work paid off! Through hours of tough committed training day after day she had done it! We wanted her to know that she can accomplish anything she can put her mind to it alongwith including her Heavenly Father and Savior! She didn't compete one time on Sunday for the whole season. There was only one meet she had to scratch! The coolest part was STATE and REGIONALS were both not on Sunday Congratulations Kallee and remember to Never Give Up!

We are so PROUD of you and thanks for teaching us the power of hard committed work! We will always look up to and learn through your dreams and courage! WE LOVE OUR GIRL!

THE BIG REGIONAL DAY

Kallee and her Brothers after the meet!

Kallee with her 5th place All Around Metal!

Kallee's Hair Mom did for her!

Mom wanted to do something special for Kallee so she tyed dyed shirts for her and her brothers! She had a blast doing this and they all looked so cute at her meet cheering for Kallee!

Soooo KALLEE'S BIG GYMNASTIC DAY! The day she has been waiting for! Hours and Hours of hard committed practice 6 days a week for 4 hours a day! She has been trying to make it to REGIONALS and she did it! Now it was her time to shine and see what she could do for her Level 8! She did soooo great and we are super proud of her! She placed 5th All Around out of 8 STATES!!!! Congratulations Kallee and 3rd and beam and 5th on beam!

You ROCK AND ROLL!

Regional HOTEL

Kamden looking at the FISH!

Kamden being SILLY!

Kallee the gymnast!

Big SISTER and little BROTHER!

KYLE'S FAVORITE PART OF THE HOTEL BASKETBALL COURT

We had a wonderful Hotel at Homewood Suites! Our favorite part was the outside because of the cool basketball court, fish, and swimming pool! Inside our room was beautiful and the breakfast was scrumptious! We enjoyed the nice comfort of the hotel and most of all Kallee had a good night rest before her big day!

Hike

The Kerestes Hikers

Kamden just being CUTE!

Civil War Cannon

On TOP of the Mountain

More pictures of our hike and then finishing our suppose to be picnic up at our hotel! Mom packed a picnic for the mountains but just as we climbed down it started raining like crazy. It was close because of course we didn't bring rain jackets but we all piled in the truck and headed to the hotel. But we will never forget all the fun memories we made together as a family!

YIKES a SNAKE

OK so MOM knew this was going to happen sometime or later but you never expect it when it does happen!

So on our way up we started to get tired so we saw a bench up ahead. Kyle was first in line so he plopped down on the bench and I never saw him plopped up so fast! He said WOOOOW! A SNAKE! Sure enough about 2 feet away was a long black snake slither away! We all froze and couldn't believe it!

Mom was super proud of herself because she didn't panic. She actually stayed calm. Probably because she was last in line to see it! I think she also thought they were all teasing her which they all love to do when hiking!

Hike at Regional 8 Gymnastic Meet

KODY with his new camel pack from Grandma and Grandpa Cottrell from Christmas! Let me tell you this came in handy! Not one time did I hear I am thirsty! But we paid for it later! He drank so much after the hike he fell asleep in the truck and wet! Then at night he woke up and wet again! I know it was from the camel. It holds lots of water and he entertained himself the whole hike by drinking TONS of water! I guess Kody the camel finally had to let all the water out! So let me tell you it did!

YEAH!!!!! Kallee has made it to another year of Regionals for Gymnastics! But this year she made it in with flying colors! Usually, we always have one of her meets near the beach but this year we didn't so Mom thought we should do something else fun like go HIKING! So near our hotel we found Kennesaw Battle ground national forest up in the mountains. So we did it! We left early Friday morning did our 5 1/2 drive and began our hike up the mountain!

It was really cool because along the way you saw real cannons, trenches, hills, and other things from the actual civil war. The hike though went straight up the hill so it was tough. About 1/4 way into the hike Kamden had to go to the bathroom but he waited to long to tell us! By the time I tried to help him he went all down his legs. Of course Mom didn't bring a change of clothes in her bag because he hasn't done that forever!!!! So Mom ran down the hill to the truck grab some fresh pants and ran up the hill! WOW.....that was exhausting. So thought she was in some kind of shape but this definitely proved her wrong! She was out of breath and sweating like crazy by the time she caught up to the family! But....I bet she never hikes again without a change of clothes!

But it was so fun and the kids did great hiking up the mountain! There is nothing sweeter than watching four kids hike up the mountain. Hearing them encourage one another and telling each other we can do it! Of course, the top is the most rewarding of all!

General Conference

YEY!!!! It is GENERAL CONFERENCE TIME! Mom could hardly wait because this is one of her favorite times during the year! Talk about a special treat each time! This year in Primary Mom made all the children Conference Packs to take home and do during conference! So the kids had fun coloring, answering questions, and playing games while listening to conference! We also made fudge in a bag which is a recipe from Great Grandma Pete. She sent it to KODY because he is a FUDGE lover! So we all passed the bag around until the fudge was ready to eat! We enjoyed this special weekend as a family together and especially hearing all the wonderful messages for us! WE LOVE CONFERENCE!

Rose Cupcakes

Mom was going to be out of town for a girl's Baptism from her primary so she made her rose cupcakes for afterwards! Mom isn't the best chef and not her favorite thing either but she had fun and they didn't turn out to bad!

Kody and Kyle's Guys

Kody and Kyle have been making these really cool paper guys with paper and staples. I am super impressed so thought I would take a picture of one. They have made over 30 and they battle with them to see who is the strongest and the winner! They have a great time together doing this!

Mom's April Fools

So Mom got a great idea to TRICK the Family on April Fools but she got the biggest trick of all! She made an angle food cake for dinner. The boys couldn't believe thats all they were eating for dinner was cake. WOW! They couldn't believe mom was going to let them feel up on cake! But to MOM'S surprise she dumped the cake and what a crummy mess she had. She just laughed and scooped it up the best she could and mended the cake! To everyone's surprise it was a PIZZA CAKE!!! The boys thought it was pretty cool but had the biggest laugh at MOM!

New Ford 150

Well after 8 years of having our mini van it was time to let it go! We bought our Mini Van in Knoxville TN used but we loved our van. It was the best van we could have. It ran great and we didn't have to put much maintence into it. We were super blessed. But after it being a 2001 along with 160,000 things started to finally give. Our ABS breaking system was failing along with a lot of other problems. So, after a long time of pondering thinking Mom finally found exactly what she wanted.

You might ask that doesn't seem to be the TAXI CAB MOM type of car but.....here is the BUT.....Mom loves the outdoors. So it was time to get something she could use up in the mountains to pull, carry, and have some fun. She thought of a small SUV but that would hardly hold a little suitcase let a lone a family of 6. So, she thought of a Large SUV but that was WAY out of her price range. She new exactly where she wanted to be and wouldn't go over a penny. So, she thought she might have to go back to a mini van but that just wouldn't do what she wanted it to do. So after many months she saw a F150. Climbed inside and said WOW this will work. So she began her long hard search of finding the perfect one! It wasn't easy. After many negoting PAINS and several dealership trips so finally got exactly what she wanted. So here it is a brand new FORD 150. Now, she can't wait to put it in the mud and do what it is meant to do!

We were super blessed to have patience and have her Mini Van put along until we worked something out!

Marble Fun

On Saturday mornings the kids love to go garage and Yard sale shopping. Well, Kallee found this Marble Maze you build and bought it for a buck! The kids love it and played with it all day long. They made a lot of really neat and different tracks! I was impressed that they all worked together and had a fun time creating together!

St. Patricks Day

Look's like the Leprechaun Man made a golden trail leading to treasures for the kids! The boys thought it was pretty cool to have lots of gold coins!

Kallee has even been fooled! Tricky Little Leprechaun man!

We even had a St. Patrick's Day Party at our house! We played lots of fun games, made rainbow hats, ate lunch, and had a good tricky time!