Year End Review

Thought I would try something new. Not that I am all that great with technology, but I am trying to keep up. Maybe this will be my new way to keep up to date with everyone. Now I have some catching up to do and will give you an update on 2009.

Kevin: The biggy for Kevin was changes at Klaassen Realty/Sibley Realty. We purchased a building to relocate the present Sibley office. If you are familiar with Sibley it is the old Subway building on the west end of Main Street. After completely gutting it (floor included)in early spring, the plans started coming together as far as design, etc. We have been able to tap into some great advice from family and friends (thanks esp. to Erin & Chris!). The last check the wall studs are up, the cement floor is stained, ceiling painted, wiring done (I think), we have HEAT, new attached garage has it's doors (will house the clerk trailer, semi truck, and other storage as needed) and the insulation inside is being put on, so that mean the sheet rock is next, brick is installed on north side and the south side of the garage. Somehow Kevin is able to keep this all going with the various construction workers we have hired.
Farming this year was interesting as far as the late fall and the concern with the extra moisture. We were blessed with a bountiful crop and the moisture contents were okay for us.

Laurel: Busy with family and school. Still working as the Elem. Counselor at S-O and enjoying it very much. She is busy keeping the school active in Character Counts. Enjoyed going to a week long conference with a friend through work to Las Vegas on Relational Aggression (Mean Girls!). Thought it was one of the best she has been to as she deals with this on a regular basis. Has started a new blog (http://mommakeover.blogspot.com) to help her stay on task for getting healthy and fit before 50! Enjoys co-leading a Sunday School class for women at our church called Proverbs 31 Woman. Lead a couple of Love and Logic classes this year which keeps her in practice for the homefront too.

Hannah: Is enjoying her last year of middle school. Hannah keeps quite busy with band, youth group, choir, and school. Her new passion is "make-up" which means hours spent in front of the mirror. She loves to find make-up tutorials on You-Tube and try them out on herself or sister Ellie. She enjoyed doing a room make-over using a Twilight theme (a book series if you are unfamiliar with Twilight). She did this with help from a family friend while mom was in Vegas--it turned out great and made a great State Fair project too. Her favorite accomplishment was getting her driver's permit now that she is 14. She is learning that the radio is NOT a priority while driving--she is learning quite quickly and doing a great job. Mom and dad are finding that having chores and band practice done are a great way to allow driving privileges!

Ellie: Loves being connected with her latest technology device. Both her and Hannah purchased laptops in January which have been handy for school work (as well as time wasting). Ellie discovered the importance of remembering her password after spending time with tech support on the phone and taking it to the Geek Squad at Best Buy to be told they couldn't help her, she would have to send it into the company! (Let's see, would Toshiba be located in JAPAN?) Of course the rest of the family tried to help her out by suggesting trying the names of every boy she has liked or even possibilities like "moms-a-crab". Mom even suggested being hypnotized which Ellie thought was a good idea. Well, miraculously she remembered it when she stayed home one night by herself--the password was "DOG"--which will be changed, written down and given to mom and dad for safekeeping! Elle also did a room makeover with a PINK and purple theme. Both girls traded in their beds for bunk bed futons so they both have real teen hangouts! (when you can find the floor) She keeps busy at school with band, choir and also tried out volleyball this year and really enjoyed it.

Natalie: Nat is a busy little 2nd grader who enjoys being in Aunt Lindsey's class (I mean Mrs. Helmers). She loves school, reading, playing with her Littlest Pet Shop and helping her dad with farming and auctions. She makes a great secretary for mom after school too doing any job that is given to her while mom finishes up her day at school. Natalie has become the favorite chew toy for our newest family member, Lucky. Her favorite movie, Cars, became the theme for her room, even though she couldn't part with her purple walls, we made it work. Natalie loves going to the Helmers to do dog chores and the Travailles to help with sheep. All she wants is a horse but we haven't figured out where we would keep one yet, so she has to settle going to friends to ride theirs. She is working on growing her hair for Locks of Love, which has helped her in the detangling process.

Family News: As mentioned above, we became the owners of a LhassaPoo (half Lhasa half Poodle) puppy in June. Appropriately named Lucky (because of the girls luck of finally getting their wish to have a house dog) he has been quite an addition and learning experience for all of us. We consider him potty trained but aren't taking any chances as he is confined to the kitchen and bathroom while we are gone. Mom keeps saying "How long does this puppy stage last?" as he loves to chew on EVERYTHING--at least we were able to recover 99% of the $20 dollar bill he dug out of mom's coat pocket so it could be replaced by the bank. Even though we are anxious to pass through this puppy stage, we are enjoying him alot. We will definitely have to keep him on this blog with all the adventures he decides to go on.

We enjoyed a couple short trips this year. In May we were able to go to Lincoln, NE to see our neice Erin graduate from the University of Nebraska. She is still there working on her masters in Interior Design--gives great advice when trying to rearrange furniture or helping pick out details for Kevin. We found plenty to do in Lincoln and enjoyed the trip. In August, Laurel took the girls to the State Fair and also spent a day at Adventureland. We were able to stay with mom's cousin (the Vaden's) in Johnston, IA and had fun catching up with them. We had fun at the State Fair watching cousin Allison in the Fair Queen contest and hanging out in the sheep barn with the Travailles and their sheep.

Well, as 2009 comes to a close, our prayer for you is for health, happiness and to feel the love of the Reason for the Season upon us, Jesus. Keep checking our blog site (http://K-family5.blogspot.com/)--hopefully someone from the family will keep it up to date in 2010!