Winding up 2009

A picture of the kids next to Santa at the Museum

What a wonderful Christmas season we have had. The kids have been out of school for a week and life is still good. We went down to Salt Lake for Christmas and my whole side of the family was there. It was quite the feat to have my sister and her family come in from Texas, another sister and her family drove in from California, one sister flew in from Arizona, another sister drove the five or so miles to my parents house, and we drove down from Idaho Falls.

We were there for three days, but Hyrum was sick so I only left the house once and that was for family pictures on Christmas Eve. Hyrum had burned his hand about three days before and I think he caught a bug from the doctor's office when we took him in. He was not the happiest of campers for the pictures, but over all, we had a good time.

Christmas morning was interesting in that some of the cousins had their Santa stuff there, where as others and us had to wait to get back to our houses. Molli was very upset that she didn't get to open very many things. As it was, when we got back to Idaho Falls, I drove the three oldest kids around for five hours while waiting for "Santa" to set up our stuff. We went to Blast Off and played some miniature golf, then over to Burger King for lunch ( I think I saw Santa there, but the kids wouldn't believe it was him :) ) , then over to the library (but it was closed), and we ended up over at the Museum to see the Nativity display and gingerbread houses. I was ready to go home by now. I had the kids wait in the car so I could go in the house and make sure everything was ready. Robert had been working to get things set up from the moment we left five hours earlier. It turned out just fine. The kids got a train table, a cranium fort, and a few other things.

For New Year's we had planned to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Hyde Park, but Hyrum being sick and Evan not so much a good traveler, our plans have changed that Grandma and Grandpa and Ben will visit us instead.

Hyrum is doing better with the burn on his hand and really does a good job at the Wound Care where they put stuff on it and wrap it up for him. He actually stops crying when we get in there and the person wrapping his hand always comments how good he is.

Well, have a Happy New Year and may all your goals become realities -- mine, too :)

Hyrum is not cooperating with the pictures. He is behind us with his blanket.

This is about the best one that we got, but Hyrum still wouldn't smile and Michael was acting weird, but it is still a picture.

This picture shows Hyrum's bandaged hand, but Evan sure looks cute :) as do the rest of the kids.

The Whole Kirby Clan

Merry Christmas!

Well, almost. Knowing my history of posting, I may not get around to posting anything again before Christmas. I love to say "Merry Christmas" as opposed to "Happy Holidays." I have decided that if I offend people by saying Merry Christmas, which I don't think I ever have offended anyone, then they can wish me a Happy Kwanza and I will not be any worse for the wear.

The last weekend in November Molli and I took a trip to SLC with my parents to go to Temple Square and see a concert that my cousin was the director of. It was so fun to be on Temple Square and see the lights and the Nativity. Molli really enjoyed her one-on-one mom time and the concert was great as well. We took the Salt Lake Express shuttle back to Idaho Falls and Molli loved to ride in a big bus.



We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, my parents were able to share it with us here in Idaho Falls. We are not doing much else except trying to stay warm in this crazy weather. This morning it was -8 degrees when I was taking Molli to school. Warm houses are such a blessing and I am thankful that we have one.

Here are some more pictures of some random things, but life is good and there is not much more to say besides that. Have a great Christmas season.

The kids decorated a gingerbread castle.

The kids made a fort in the front room.

Sorry this is so dark, but this is a picture of Michael and Evan playing the piano.


And Evan playing the piano by himself.

October in a nut shell

What an October we had. We headed down to SLC the first weekend to spend some time with my parents for Conference and to go to the Hogle Zoo to see the new baby elephant. I forgot to bring my camera so I decided it would be fun to let the kids use disposable cameras and take whatever pictures they wanted to. It actually turned out quite well. I did take a few pictures, but I am glad they were excited to take the rest.


This is the baby giraffe. He was cute, too. The kids had a good time and I am glad we were able to go.


I added as many pictures as I could for now, but other things in October, Evan started walking near the beginning of the month and turned one the day before Halloween. He got very in to his cake and enjoyed every bite of it.

Molli was a princess for Halloween, Michael was Captain Rex from Star Wars, Hannah was Sleeping Beauty, Hyrum was an elephant, and Evan was a giraffe.

Robert had to postpone his PE exam until April, so he will start studying again after the new year. He got a new Stake calling - stake assistant clerk over membership - or something like that, and still has his other callings except for Ward Web Master. (He still teaches in the primary and is the financial clerk.)

We also got to go to Hyde Park in the middle of October to go through the temple with Robert's youngest sister, Rebecca. Some friends of the family were able to watch all seven (5 of ours and 2 of Shennie's) kids while we were in the temple. Rebecca got her mission call to Indiana Indianapolis and entered the MTC on October 28th. It was so much fun to be all together at Robert's parents house and enjoy a few days there. They had 18 people sleeping at their house for at least two nights in a row. Kudos to my mother-in-law for staying sane with all of us there and for the delicious meals.

That is our October- busy, but rewarding. Hopefully I will be able to post some more pictures soon :)

September Already?

Wow, August zoomed by. Now Molli and Michael are in school and their first day off is tomorrow. In August we visited Robert's parents and there was a full house. All the kids/ grand kids were there and it was a good time. We hoped this would be a trip to see Rebecca (Robert's sister) go through the temple, but alas, she didn't have her mission call yet, so we will go down in October for that. However, she did get her call a few days later and she is heading to the Indiana Indianapolis Mission and she is excited. I think she enters the MTC on October 28.

Molli turned 7 and had a fun party with four of her friends. Michael is doing well on his bike. He just needs a bit more practice and he'll have it down. The kids took swim lessons this summer and Well, here are some more pictures from August. I taught my first violin lesson last week and it was so much fun and Braedyn did great. Life is good. Oh, Robert was ordained a high priest last week. I feel old, yet I am only 31. He still teaches in the primary and is still financial clerk, despite the fact that everyone thought he would get a new calling because of this ordination. We are happy.

Molli in swim class

Hannah at swim class

going down the river at Lava Hot Springs
with Celeste and Molli

Robert and Michael
Molli's birthday party
Molli. Rachel, Lydia, Kennedy, Kennedy
Michael, and Hannah

My attempt at a cute birthday cake

Hyrum helping me decorate the cake

Molli's first day of 2nd grade

Michael's first day of Kindergarten

because I didn't have a picture of Evan, yet :)

Michael learning to ride his bike

Lava Hot Springs

Yesterday we went down to Lava Hot Springs with my mom's side of the family and had a good time. We rented a double tube and ended up taking it down the river 7 times. I went with Michael, then Celeste (my sister) and Molli, and with Hannah. Robert and I went down together once as well. The hardest part is getting in and then getting out when you are supposed to. Robert went down with Hannah, and Michael twice. He tipped over on all three of those times. Michael thought it was great, and I guess Hannah didn't mind too much because she went again with me. I bruised up my behind pretty good, and Robert bruised his leg. On his last ride down, Robert was with Michael and they had two pretty good spills and unfortunately Robert lost his spare pair of glasses (luckily they were his spare) and, not realizing until this morning, he also lost his wedding ring. I know he feels bad about that. I told him now we get to go wedding ring shopping. He wasn't thrilled about that either. He said, "Well, life goes on," and I told him that is very true. They weren't in danger of losing their lives on the river, but I am glad it was only his wedding ring and not his life. (I also told him better his than my ring, his was less expensive).
I will post some pictures of us coming down the river later.

My sister, Celeste, called us when we were about half an hour from home and told us that her car broke down on the side of the freeway. There was nothing much we could do at this point but give her a few phone numbers. I felt bad for her, but I knew it would all turn out.

In another post I mentioned I would show a video of Evan learning to crawl so here it is.

Randomness in July

I decided I want to post some pictures to facebook, but it didn't work so well, so I am putting them here with captions instead. Here's for trying a 4th time :)

Molli had a party for us and we did a craft of picture frames.

Michael the Missionary

What is this, you ask? It is a baked potato looking ice cream, of coarse. I live in Idaho, what do you expect? I didn't make it, but apparently only a few people legally can.

After the open house of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

Enjoying a Sunday afternoon with Aunt Andrea

In a club house, so fun!

Susi, Matt, Ashton, and AnnaBella on AnnaBella's blessing day

Matt and AnnaBella

Waiting for the 4th of July fireworks with Andrea, Molli, and Celeste

Having a tea party. They set it up and cleaned it up all by themselves :)

Molli at her cheer camp

Michael on the field. I have no idea why he is covering his face.

Molli and Michael wearing their "Summer activities" shirts. T-ball for Michael and cheer camp for Molli.

Some Goings-on in the Esplin Days

I guess it is time to update this blog again. We have had a few things take place in June and they are somewhat notable, I guess. Last Saturday I finally ran the To Bone and Back relay with people from Robert's work. I ran the last 5 mile leg and boy am I glad that I am done. Silly me, I will probably run another 5K on this Saturday.


Evan learned to sit up and crawl in one week. There is no stopping him now. He loves to pull himself up on the furniture. I think he will be walking by his 9 month birthday. I hope to post a video of him learning to crawl. It was quite cute. In the mean time, I will just post pictures that were taken in June. Life is good.



Here is a rainbow after a good storm



Here is a sunrise the next morning


Here is my new baby, with Evan sitting in front of it :)



And here are some cute random pictures of Evan.