OH HOW SHE WILL BE MISSED!

This is Ariel.  I think she has become the kids most favorite person in the last six months or so.  Anyone who knows us well, knows it is hard for me to find a good babysitter.  Mostly, because the kids are quite a handful and I have a hard time trusting that all will be well while I am gone.  (I know I need to let go!!)  

Well then we met Ariel.  A fabulous young lady!!!  She started out as the kid's piano teacher.  They loved her so much we asked her to babysit.  She agreed!  I was a bit nervous that after one time she would not want to ever come back again. But she did.  So for several months the kids have seen her weekly for lessons and usually twice a week as we have had a lot of social events for base. 

She had accepted a call to serve a mission for our church previously and the time has come for her to leave.  Monday is that day and she will be gone for a year and a half.  As happy as we are that she has made this decision....... we are so very sad that we will be saying "see you later.". 

A week ago when it was her last day for piano, Bryan struggled to get through the lesson.  He had to go and get a drink because he was in tears and so upset.  Jayson loved to great her at the door and even remarked once," I have waited my whole life for you."  Yesterday after getting some pictures of her before he heads off Bryan and I walked her out front, as we turned to return to the house he took my hand and said, "I am sad already!!".  How sweet and precious!!!  Ariel, we are very proud of you and what you are going to do.  You have touched our lives in a very special way and you have left a mark with my kids that will last a lifetime!!!  Thank you for loving us and accepting our weirdness!!!  Salt Lake City is lucky to get such a wonderful person!!!  "Until we meet again!!" (and thank you Ibarra family for sharing your wonderful daughter with us!)

Sad Day!!

Today we had to bury Princess.  She was our bunny.  We have had her since August of last year. The kids loved her so much.  We are not really sure what happened.  She was completely fine and bouncing around the yard.  She did love her freedom!!!  We put her in her cage for a little while and when we went to check on her she was gone.  As a mommy I must say this is the worst part of the job!!  Not only can I not take the pain away but I can not give them any answers.

Luckily, they know she is in heaven and watching over them!!!  I am so proud of them.They are such sweet and tender hearted little ones.(well... that is except when they are chasing and beating each other! :>)  They dug the hole, placed her ever so gently in the hole, and we all put our hand on the box while one of them prays.  They then get a piece of wood and write nice little notes on it to her.  (This "funeral" is all their plan.  I don't tell them what to do they do it.) 

Whew.... what a week!!  Glad we had pack meeting tonight to distract them.  We sang silly songs around the campfire and made smores.  Hoping that some much needed sleep will ease their troubled little hearts!

Honestly, need I say more?  The Kearl household has been hopping since Oct. when I lasted posted.  Hoping to slowly but surely get caught up over the next few weeks.  A teacher took this for me and sent it to me during lunch recess.  I spent the evening mending the torn jackets.  I begged the school staff to leave them there but no luck.

Hope all is well with our "peeps"!!!
 (I have missed blogging, it is such a fun way to look back at the crazy memories.  My new goal is to do better! )

Happy Halloween!!!

Trick or Treating had to be postponed at my house this year. On Monday I got a call from the health office at school. Bryan had thrown up and I had to go and get him. I could see the sadness in his little eyes when he asked if this meant he could not trick or treat. Well what in the world is a mother to do?!?!?!?! I was not sure if he had caught a "stomach flu" or if a migraine from his jaw expander had caused the "incident". So of course ,I did the most reasonable thing I could think of........ postpone Halloween. Bryan ate soda crackers and rested all afternoon and by evening seemed "fine". However, still not wanting to push the limit we took our baths early, cuddled up on mommy's bed and read a Halloween story. Then off to bed we went.

Saturday night with the help of some wonderful friends and my "favorite" uncle we had Halloween. We put on our costumes, loaded into the van and off we went. I think the kids scored better on a Non-Halloween day than they would have on the real deal. They had a blast and I think that when they are all grown up and remembering Halloween's past they will remember it the way I do...... a really fun day getting dressed up and making memories with family....... but not really remembering the year they almost didn't get to"trick or treat"!!!

We Love Disneyland!!!

Jay had his annual Disneyland conference about 3 weeks ago. However, now that commander is in his new job title...... he did not get to "sneak out" and "play" much with us the way we were used to. Which meant it was me and the kiddos. We had a blast!!!! Truly one of the best times I have ever had at Disneyland. The kids were great, the weather was great and the rides were fun. We made some great memories and this picture was captured by the Disneyland photographer as we were going from Tomorrowland to Frontier Land. I am going to try and get a slide show made soon with so many more fun pictures.

Just have to say it one more time, "WE LOVE DISNEYLAND!!!!

As a side note and funny story...... I did get in an argument with some obnoxious man who was 100% convinced that I had "tons" of help. Apparently, if you have a herd of children then "help" is automatic. After telling him more than once I did not have help, we were a military family and that we did not even live close to family ...... he once again told me how much "help" I had. I looked at him, looked at the kids and said , "right, I am here at Disneyland , alone with all of my children...... where is the "help" now!!! Perhaps they just ran away! "

Happy Baptism Day!!!!

Happy Baptism Day to our Crew!!! We are so proud of you!!! What a sight it was!!!


Of course, it was such a crazy event that we forgot to get pictures of everyone all dressed up and spiffy!!! The minute they made it through the door....... off went the dress clothes and directly on the floor they went. There was eating and playing to do. It was a fabulous day!!! Thank you Grandpa, Uncle Adam,Uncle Bert, and Uncle Bill for helping with the baptisms. Thank you Grandma, Elizabeth, and Connie for helping with food and fun. Thank you Sue and Deb for picking up sandwiches. Thank you Heather and kiddos for coming and sharing our special day with us. We love you all and appreciate all you did and how far you came to make this a wonderful celebration!!!

Oral surgery at 10?

Today was a rough day for "little" Tanner. (You know sometimes it is easy to forget that 10 is still "little". ) A couple of weeks ago our orthodontist was concerned because Tanner was missing some molars that should have erupted and they have not. He decided to do an x-ray to see what was going on. The discovery...... his wisdom teeth were blocking the molars and had pushed the molars sideways into the teeth in front. It was decided that we needed to proceed with oral surgery to remove them. If we waited the roots of the molars would fuse to the jaw bone and then that would be more problems in the future. Poor kiddo was so nervous (and the office was running about 15 minutes behind) he was hopping around the reception room. I tried to get him to sit still but there was going to be none of that. (if you look closely you can see nervous written all over his handsome "little" face).



It was extremely successful and they were able to get all four removed along with up-righting the molars. He struggled a bit coming out of anesthesia. (He wanted to keep sleeping and tried to convince the entire office that there were more fish in the fish tank than any of them could see!) The doctors and staff were fabulous. They took such great care of him and, of course, loved my "little" brown eyed man!!! They warned me that when he gets older I am going to be in big trouble. (he will be a big ladies man) I think a couple of the nurses would take him home now if they could. I am so proud of Tanner he did great and as always did his best to smile through whatever comes at him. Sleep well our "little" man!!!