Christmas 2011

This year has sped by for us at an incredible pace. Already we're 2 weeks from Christmas and 1 week from Kal's graduation (a day we thought might never come). 2011 has been a busy and blessed year. Our family has grown in stature and love.

We've thoroughly enjoyed watching our little Shaylee grow and develop. She is still a bright light in our lives. Her smile lights up the most difficult day. Her new achievements are less than fun at times. She loves to stand on the chairs, counter or table and yell "get down!!!" She then giggles as though she's done something clever. She's definitely going on 2. All the same, we still feel so grateful she is ours.

Karter (6) is our big Kindergartner! He's doing a great job learning to read and is really good at addition and subtraction. His new love is tennis. He loves wielding a tennis racket and running drills. As always he loves anything Kaleb is into and anything rough, tough and huge. He loves having a baby sister which is such a relief to us and is such a wonderful, loving big brother.

Our preteen, Sage (10), is becoming such a little lady. She loves attending achievement days and being with the girls. She's regularly painting finger and toenails. Like Karter she loves tennis. But her true love is dancing. For her birthday we bought her Just Dance 2 and we have a steady competition going in our house to see who is the best dancer.

We officially have a middle schooler, priesthood holder (deacon) and young man. Kaleb turned 12 this past October. He loves scouts especially since his dad is the deacon quorum adviser. He still enjoys Lego's, tennis and playing the guitar. Next Friday Kaleb will have his guitar accompaniment debut at the Silver Sands Montessori Holiday Festival at UNLV. He and his teacher will accompany his class while they sing "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing".

Kalvan is SUPER busy. His schedule keeps him hopping and at times sleepless. Besides his full-time job at the City of Henderson he's completing his MBA at UNLV. Fortunately as I previously mentioned graduation is only a matter of days away. His new calling this year is one he's always wanted. He's the deacon quorum advisor and assistant scout master. Hopefully, in January we'll be seeing a bit more of him in the evenings.

As for me, I'm still driving the family taxi, balancing the budget, nursing sick and bruised kids, the family shopping guru, cooking, cleaning and am Shaylee's acting best friend. In September I was released from the primary presidency then placed right back into primary as the CTR 5 teacher. Don't let anyone tell you other wise, primary is the place to be! The spirit of these little ones is so humbling. It never ceases to amaze me how much I can learn about our Father in Heaven while interacting with the primary children. His love for them is so undeniable.

At this Christmas season it's easy to get caught up in the busy work and abundant activities. In the quiet moments I'm reminded that it is because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who descended from his throne above that makes our lives not only worth living, but sweet. The love and gifts he gives us are so numerous our lives can be rich with joy if only we seek Him. The precious gift of his life is what this magical holiday season is all about. With joy and thanksgiving I share my testimony that He lives. He loves us and wants us not only to obey but to find joy in our journey. This Christmas season take a minute and reflect on His love.

With all our love,
Kalvan, Miki, Kaleb, Sage, Karter, and Shaylee Hone

Happy Easter!!!

To me Easter is one of those unsung holidays. It should be as big as Christmas. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of our Savior. His life and death are studied by Christians across the world. But the GOOD NEWS is that He Lives! Easter is when we celebrate that wonderful truth. That he lived and died is of monumental importance, but that He rose again on the third day is what makes life so sweet, so worth the struggles. Because He lives, so can we.

This year we had a BIG easter egg hunt with too many eggs before church. The kids got to sport their fancy new clothes and we're still eating (chicken rolls, twice baked potatoes, deviled eggs, artisian bread, salad, pound cake, & strawberries). Here are a few pictures from our day. Happy Easter!

Life with Karter

Have you ever had those moments when you knew you weren’t in the right place to laugh your heart out and yet you couldn’t help yourself? We had one of those experiences today. We were in a very spiritual, heartfelt testimony meeting. The children of the ward were doing such a fantastic job of being reverent. Shay was in my lap content with her pacifier. Kaleb and Sage were sitting at the other end of the bench with Kalvan. In between us Karter was fiddling with his shoe laces. In an instant Karter did a perfect roll right off the bench. He wasn’t hurt, but it only took a second to realize he couldn’t get up. He had gotten both hands stuck in both loops of his right shoe lace. He was lying on his left side looking up at us with a stunned “what the heck?” look on his face. At that moment I would have given anything to have a camera and I would have used it right there in the middle of sacrament meeting. Karter has done some pretty amazing stunts over the years, but I’ve never seen him so totally incapacitated. While trying to stifle a laugh, it took Kalvan at least a full minute to get Karter’s trapped hands out of his shoe laces. Poor Shay was bouncing up and down against my belly as I tried really hard not to laugh out loud. Our whole family was rolling with silent laughter and tears rolling down our cheeks. Life would be so dull without Karter.

1 Glorious Month

I can hardly believe that Shaylee has already been with us for a full month. Today she weighed in at 9 pounds 6 ounces! She is growing so fast and is such a joy to have. My older kids are doing fantastic with her. Sage can already boast that she has stayed up a night with Shaylee. Although, Kalvan says Sage has an unfair advantage, she can sleep right through Shaylee's crying.

We need to send a thank you to all of you who have so lovingly sent us warm wishes and gifts. Baby Shay is so decked out with her personalized pasifiers, bracelet, hair accessories, blankets, toys, diapers, wipes, and a couple dozen adorable outfits.

Also, a special shout out to my friend Corrine who is the baby accessorizing queen. Check her out at CC Baby Inc. Thank you for the box of adorable baby stuff.

2010 May

More fun on the range. We should think about putting the camera out of reach! But...nah, where's the fun in that?!?

2010 April

April was another busy and fun month. It started with a weekend trip to Sacramento for my parents 50th wedding anniversary party over Easter weekend. The entire family made it for the most part. It was sure fun to see everyone and visit and have our kids get reacquainted or meet cousins for the first time. Photo album:

Hone Family 50 Party

After we returned, we had a little Easter celebration and egg hunt of our own:



Cub Scout Day Camp:



Big wheelin:



And, while Miki went for a weekend with the women folk of her family to Women's Conference, the kids and I went camping and exploring at Mojave National Preserve in CA April 30th. We hit the famous "rings" trail at Hole in the Wall visitors center, Mitchell Caverns, Kelso sand dunes, the Kelso visitors center, and a very cool lava tube. It was quite windy and cold the night we camped, but I cannot remember the last time I saw so many stars at night or ate so many S'mores. We had a blast! Be sure to follow along in the photo album:

Mojave National Preserve

2010 March

March included a short hike to a valley overlook.
A visit from Aunt Cassie and Uncle Jason.
A space derby.
The usual horsing around.
And a visit from Grandma & Grandpa, which also included a trip to the Children's Museum and a hike in Valley of Fire.

White Domes and Mouse's Tank Hikes

2010 February

February included a family bike ride on President's Day to one of our favorites: the historic railroad trail.

Kaleb also had a science fair project for school testing a couple of his cool airplane designs to see which designs flew the furthest and the longest.

Other than that, just the usual funtimes around the house.

2010 January

So, I am officially half-way through the evening MBA program at UNLV and am thoroughly enjoying a short three week break before my summer class begins. While I have many projects around the house on the back burner vying for my attention, I am determined to help get the blog up-to-date...starting with January.

Apart from my usual, grumpy self when I force myself to study...



...we are up to the usual pleasantries, like a hike to the Sloan Canyon petroglyphs...

Sloan Canyon

...losing our front teeth...



...entertaining mommy with the Indiana Jones impersonation...



...Pinewood Derby races...



...and breaking in our fun, new toys from Christmas.



Stay tuned for more action on the Hone range.

Primary Water Fun

Yesterday afternoon was the water activity Miki planned for the Primary. The kids had a blast! Of course, after I got Miki with one itsy-bitsy water balloon, she had every kid there convinced that I was the enemy. I was surrounded on all sides. There was no escaping my soaking doom!

Last day of school

Kaleb and Sage had their last day of school on May 22nd. The family was invited to take part in the class parties and awards ceremonies. Kaleb received a reading award and Sage received awards for handwriting and fantastic improvement. They both completed the Reading Across America program as well.

We are so very proud of our smart kids and their love for learning. We are still loving the new school and are looking forward to having the summer off.

Don't get the genie mad at you

A few years ago, a very thoughtful friend of mine bought us the Disney Aladdin Special Edition DVD as a Christmas gift. It got watched several times at first, but eventually sat on the shelf with small collection of DVDs we have...that is until Karter discovered it! Aladdin happened to be the movie selected for the day and Karter just could not stop laughing at the part where the genie gets angry at Aladdin for insulting his genie power as played out in a trick to get them out of the Cave of Wonders. Karter asked to watch Aladdin everyday forever it seemed just to see that part of the movie...until he started using the lines on us. Thanks again Janice! Now you get to see it too...

The 16 second scene from original movie version as found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFfG8C9Ap9w

And Karter's rendition (April 2009):