The Kearls

Just Life!

2011-06-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

Not much is going on around here. Although the days seems full - there is always either meals to be made, diapers to be changed, kids needed to be cuddled and rocked for naps, fights that need to be broken up, thirsty kids, lego to be built and played with, parks to be visited, cartoons to be watched, tickling to be had, etc. So even though our life isn't busy with school and other stuff - there is ALWAYS somthing that needs to be done!

Tonight, Jack fell asleep watching cartoons at 6 pm and then willow just fell asleep while me and dave were talking - that was at 7 - so 2 kids in bed (grayson is at my side asking me what I am doing - he is next to go to bed!) I fear Jack and Willow will be up by 5 or 6 a.m. not my favorite hour! But it is nice to have them in bed early.

(**Side note - what I thought was going to turn into a lovely evening for me as the kids were in bed, I guess willow just wanted a 20 minute nap and wasn't really ready for bed!! love that!) but it is almost 9 - all kids are in bed and I guess I get an hour before I need to go to bed! - oh what is that - I hear Willow again!!!! - off I go....!)

my computer got stolen by Crazed Chicken Pirates....

2011-05-14T13:18:00.001-07:00

Okay, you might have wondered what has happened to me! No, I have not been abducted by crazed chicken pirates. I think I have just been too lazy to blog. But seeing that I have a new baby I am going to use the excuse that I have been too busy!! Plus, we have been reading "Henry and the Crazed Chicken Pirates" book non-stop. Jack loves the line "but what if a parrot poops in my eye and I can't see". He's got the book memorized. I recommend you get this book from your library, it is hilarious to read!

Willow is now 4 months. Time flies by. She is such a good and easy baby! I love it! Makes having 3 much easier. She is rolling around all over the floor. She already is moving her legs and knees and is never in the same spot that I put her down in. She spits up like crazy and seems to miss the blanket she is lying on and gets the carpet. She is a great sleeper which makes mama happy and must more patient with all the kids (which I am sure the kids appreciate!) She laughs hysterically when the boys jump in front of her. She loves watching Jack! Her hair is growing and is crazy looking everyday. But I love that hair!

Jack has just got a new bike with training wheels. He saw this Hot Wheels bike on a commercial and fell in love with it. The handle has a handlebar that you can rev like a motorbike. He just rides his bike around - revving the handle. He has had a few spills but is learning how to use his brakes to stop! We have 2 boys who live beside us the same age as Jack and Grayson and they just ride bikes all day! Jack is also loving Lego right now. He loves building things and just plays and plays with the planes and cars that he builds. And he loves Lego.com.

Grayson is mama's boy. He does not leave my side too much. At playgroup he stands right beside me. He hates going to nursery but slowly enjoys it when he does stay. He sits with me when we are outside playing with neighbors. He is so shy around strangers. Oh, but he loves Jack. Sometimes they play so nicely others not so nicely. Mostly, it is Jack getting upset because Grayson isn't doing what he wants and Grayson just doesn't understand what to do. A 4 year old trying to communicate to a 2 year old how he wants to play a made up game or have a race - the 2 year old just doesn't always get it. And then they both get frustrated! or mostly Jack.

As for me and Dave, nothing is too new or exciting. Dave started working on getting our raised garden ready for planting as well as getting things ready so we can get our back fence finished next weekend. Can't wait for our fence to be done!

I am just enjoying being able to take the kids outside to play everyday! Sunshine and parks make for happy kids and happy mom!

I couldn`t just pick a couple photos of the kids so here are a few.

More pics to come later, we just created a family band this morning - jack was on piano, grayson on drums and willow the lead singer...I`ll post pics soon!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-02T20:56:00.001-07:00

So Grayson's new word now is "treat". He looks at me numerous times throughout the day and says "treat?" He know where his bucket full of candy is and wants it. He has a sweet tooth like his mom. Luckily he opens up a little chocolate bar, takes one bit and says "all done" or opens a sucker, licks it and says "all done". So at least he isn't eating too much. Jack is much more sensible about his bucket of candy. Its easy for me to say "just one" and he'll listen. He doesn't have such a sweet tooth. Grayson would eat candy all day!!

We went to our Ward trick or trunk activity on Saturday night. Jack was dressed as a knight and Grayson as Batman! Grayson was sooo excited to put on his costume. He loved it. It must help when you have a brother who is excited to get dressed up. Because I remember Jack at Grayson's age and he wanted nothing to do with getting dressed up and going out trick r treating. Grayson, on the otherhand, once he saw that if he walked up to a car trunk, someone would put candy in his bucket, he was all over it. He didn't stop, he just kept going, didn't care where we were. Jack, had a great time too, but some of the cars were decorated pretty scary so after doing about 1/4 of the cars - he was done. Grayson just wanted to keep going.

On Sunday night, Dave took the boys and they went and did just a couple houses in our neighborhood. Our neighbors went all out and decorated their houses and lawns this year. Daily, me and the kids would walk or drive by and look at all the houses. Again, Jack was pretty scared of most of the houses - I would be too at that age! But Grayson, he knew if he knocked he would get candy. And he was so cute saying "trick or treat"! But quickly their buckets got full and they came home to indulge in what they got.

Brothers!

2010-11-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here are just some random pictures from the last few weeks. Grayson loves following Jack around lateley. Whatever Jack does, Grayson wants to do. Whatever Jack eats for breakfast, Grayson must have too! It is so cute! Grayson has started talking quite a bit too! So cute! These guys love to hang out! Their favorite is to hide under covers and have me look for them. And before Grayson goes to bed he has to climb into Jack's bed. He wants to sleep with Jack so bad. He hates it when we take him out. Soon they'll be sharing a room and Grayson will be so happy!

Just thought I'd share some random pics!

Cabin 2010

2010-08-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Ryan wants more pics of the kids. I know, I am a lame blogger. So, here are some pics from the cabin this year. The kids had so much fun at the cabin with all their cousins and grandparents and cool auntie Robin!

We're Back!

2010-08-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

WOW, Can you believe it? I am actually sitting here writing on this blog which hasn't been touched for such a long time!!!

Summer has come and is almost over! I can't believe it - it just flys by. I guess when you are sick for so many weeks - it would just fly by. We had our ultrasound for Baby #3 (which Jack calls Baby Brent from the movie "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"), everything looks good. Dave and I both guess that the baby is a GIRL so that is our prediciton!!! He/She is due January 2011.

Grayson is now 19 months. Loves to play with cars. Jack when he was little lined up cars all day long - he would have parking lots of cars but Grayson is a zoomer. He likes to drive the cars everywhere. Up the stairs on the chairs, anywhere and just makes car sounds! He has started over the past month nodding his head yes and no when I ask him things. Which I love. Communication is so much easier. Plus it is so cute!

Jack is 3 1/2. He loves cartoons! Loves puzzles! and cars and building dams and rivers in the backyard dirt pile we have. And loves swimming!

Okay, so here are some up to date pics!

(these two pics below are from FHE last Monday - we talked about missionaries and missions and then we dressed them up to look like missionaries - Jack loved it!)

(grayson dressing up in Jack's batman costume!)

(jack is AMAZING at puzzles - this is 100 pieces -
he does it at least 3 times a day if not more - and all by himself)

(the boys watching them pour concrete in front of our house - I came by to see what they were doing and it was so cute to see jack put his arm around grayson and was explaining what they were doing!)

Boys Will be Boys....

2010-04-14T13:36:00.001-07:00

What boys like to do at our house:

1. WRESTLE - ALL DAY LONG!

2. WHERE COLANDERS ON THEIR HEAD.

3. SEE BROTHER WEARING COLANDER AND MUST GET ONE FOR HIMSELF!

4. GIVE HUGS!

5. AND PLAY ALL DAY - - - THANK GOODNESS FOR BED TIME.

Grayson is almost 15 months now. The past few months have flown by. He walks, climbs the stairs, can say a few words (apple, mama, mine [which he says to jack often]). He wants to do everything and be everywhere jack is except when he is out in public or somewhere new then he just wants to be with me. Which I love! Right now I think he is going through a growth spurt - he loves to sleep. He sleeps all night, sleeps in, takes long naps, goes to bed early...I love it! He is so much happier now that he sleeps well! He is at such a fun age - I really love this age. He can understand some things like "go get mommy your shoes" or "where is your milk".

Jack is happy and crazy as usual. He is constantly batman or spiderman. He is going through a stage where he has to change his outfits a million times a day. He will jump off anything, couches, ottomans, beds, etc pretending to be a superhero and always is asking me which superhero i am and grayson is. He puts on Dave's socks and pulls them really high somehow he turns into a superhero that way. He just loves to play with kids and play and play.

Thought I'd better post some pictures of the kids since I haven't for a while and Grayson is growing so fast and is so super cute!!

Robin.

The Best of Friends

2010-02-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to put some updated pics on the blog. These guys play together so well. They love to wrestle and love to ride around on this car together. Grayson loves it when Jack jumps on the couch, he laughs so loud.

The last picture is of Jack in his cowboy gear - he found some old pajamas and put them on and then needed the cowboy hat to be pulled out to complete the outfit.

Jack is now potty trained - yaaaa - it was so easy - but I guess that what happens when you wait until he is 3. So its nice to just change 1 person's diaper per day.

Grayson is getting bigger (25 pounds). He is walking more and more each day. Talking more. He loves any toys with buttons that he can push and make sounds with. Likes to dance with us! And loves to eat. He out eats Jack at every meal.

That is it for now I am off to RD for the weekend as Dave and friends drywall the basement.

And Off He Goes!

2010-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

It has been a long January. The kids got sick right after the New Year and then of course I got sick with whatever they had! No fun! How can you avoid getting sick when the kids cough and snot and saliva all over you! Its inevitable! But my cold lasted over 2 weeks. I have been feeling so so so awful. Counting down the minutes until Dave would come home at night so I could just go to bed! But now we are all healthy - let's stay that way.

On a happier note, last Saturday, January 16, 2009, Grayson turned 1. I can't believe how fast this year has gone. I have to say I have said many many times over this past year, I can't wait until Grayson is 1. He was not an easy baby for me especially for the first 6 months especially compared to Jack. I just was not prepared for it and knew that once he was bigger he'd be happier. And is he ever. He is so happy and loves to play. His favorite time of day is after Jack goes to bed and we get to play just him and me for a while! He is so funny and cracks us up. And Jack is amazed every time he walks. Jack will say..."look mom, look, he's walking". He still prefers to hold on to walls or crawl but he definitely walks around quite a bit lately.

Grayson's birthday was a quiet one! No big party. But we still had lots of fun. We invited a family over who have a son Jack's age and a baby a few months younger than Grayson (both boys). I made a Mexican Fiesta with Shredded Chicken Soft Tacos, Chips, Guac and nuggets and fries (okay the fries were for the kids and not Mexican!). We ate, opened presents and just hung out. It was quiet, but fun.

Since its a new year, I put Jack into some new activities. He takes a swimming class (all by himself - no mom). He has lots of fun, although last week he wanted me to swim with him in his class and wouldn`t let me go. But after a few minutes he was fine and was off swimming like a fish. Its so fun to watch him in his own class. Grayson and I get to swim and play while Jack takes his lesson. Grayson loves to swim too. I have to say swimming is one of our family`s favorite activities. We go swimming quite a bit (waterslides, baby pools, wave pools), we love it.

Jack is also in an indoor hockey class. This is a hilarious class. They really teach the boys to play hockey. They start out with stretching and a running game warm up and then they practice different stick handling and puck handling drills and then the boys split up into 2 teams and play hockey. It`s hilarious because the dads who bring their boys are so into the game. They are yelling when the boys have the puck `go go go, take it to the net` or whatever hockey dad`s yell. Then there are the boys who just stand there running but not usually in the direction of the puck just running around...Jack falls into that category. He is just too sweet and soft to push kids away and steel the puck. Jack loves it. Dave got Jack some indoor hockey sticks so they practice downstairs in the basement.

That`s what we`ve been up to the past couple weeks!

Enjoy the video and pics!

(dad and grayson - hang out time!)

(We made donuts and donut holes.

Jack loved making them and eating them! So easy to make!)

(The boys looking very eagerly at Grayson`s new birthday toy)

(Brothers!)

More Christmas Activities

2009-12-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

In terms of our 25 days of Christmas activities things went a little wonky this last week as I was sick for the first part of the week and then the boys caught the cold the last part of the week and are still getting over the runny nose, cough, cold. But we pushed through and tried to do somethings. Not many pictures were taken but here is what we did.

Day 8 - Letter to Santa. Well we attempted this. Jack was not too interested, perhaps when he can write it will be more fun. He drew on the page for a few seconds and then was done and I didn't push the activity. So poor Santa will have no letter from the boys but at least the boys saw Santa at the mall!

Day 9 - Make a Christmas Craft. What we actually did: Drove in a snow storm to Cross Iron Mall to see cousins and Grandma. Played there for the afternoon. Drove Home in a Blizzard. Left the mall at 3:30 and arrived home at 8 p.m. due to traffic.....THAT WAS FUN! NOT!

Day 10 - Make cards for cousins. We did start these but Jack was more interested in putting the stickers and stuff in his coloring book than what I had planned so we went with that!

As you can see the week wasn't going as planned! But I knew all 25 days would not get accomplished!

Day 11: Shop for a toy for Grayson. On Friday morning we ventured out to Zellers where Jack was to pick out a toy to give to Grayson for Christmas. He was more interested in playing with toys then getting something for Grayson but he did eventually pick something out for Grayson which he was excited about! Although we did not leave the store without Jack having a tantrum and lying down on the floor by the enterance not wanting to leave. But I am pretty used to that! I think I bribed with him McDonalds if he would get up! What a great mom eh?!

Day 12: Make Gingerbread House. Okay well we didn't actually get that done but we did make a christmas craft for a couple of his cousins which Jack was very into and had fun and grayson was happy to hang out and watch! (see pics below).

Day 13: Nativity Lesson. Well I wasn't able to get the nativity for this lesson but that was okay we had the missionaries come over and give a little lesson on what the meaning of all the Christmas things are like the meaning of the tree, candy cane, presents, star, etc. Jack was actually pretty interested and listened well.

Day 14: Christmas Mom and Tots: Today we just went to the church and played with his nursery friends. Jack did not end up going to bed until midnight last night and woke up at 7:30 so I was a little terrified to see how he would behave at the play group but he had fun. Only melt down was that he didn't want to leave. But he was so tired and needed bed! He fell fast asleep as soon as he got home - so did Grayson. Love the afternoon naps!

I promise more fun things are planned for this and next week.......and I will take pics but that summarizes this last week.

Birthday Party and Christmas Day 7

2009-12-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day 7: Visit Santa at the Mall

Today, we got bundled up and trekked to the mall even though it was freezing outside. Jack was very exicted to see Santa and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. Grayson on the other hand was not so excited to see Santa, as you can see from the photo. But I think this is a typical Santa photo. Surprisingly Jack smiled so easily not like family photos the other day where he cried the whole time. Grayson is just at that phase where all he wants is his mom no one else.

Jack is totally getting into our Christmas countdown. Every morning he starts off with a chocolate from his advent calendar and then asks where the envelope is. So that is nice that its not just me enjoying it.

Jack turns 3!

Jack is now a BIG BOY! As I repeatedly tell him. Big boys dont whine or fight and they listen to their moms! I think he had a good birthday. I hope he did anyway. He got to spend it with grandparents, lots of cousins and a NEW cousin!!!! (Jody you know what I am talking about!!!shocker!!!) Auntie Lisa made him a cake which was very impressive and it was a lot of playing and having fun! In the morning Jack woke up to balloons at his table for breakfast and presents. He got a submarine which he was eyeing at Walmart for a long time and he was so excited to get it!

I am so grateful for Jack in our family. He is really just a good boy! What an easy easy baby he was. Just played and slept and didnt really fuss! Loves to play! Loves his brother! Loves to sing. We sing all the time as we drive around town doing errands. We love him!

25 Days of Christmas.

2009-12-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

So I thought I'd do something fun with Jack and Grayson this year or maybe it will turn out to just be fun for me but we'll see how it goes. We are doing an activity advent. There are so many ideas out there to do this but this is what I came up with. Something easy for me to put together. I came up with 25 activities for me and the boys to do each day for 25 days! I put each activity in an envelope and then in this vase I had. Each day, Jack takes out the envelope for that day and there is an activity listed inside. Things like bake cookies, visit Santa, write a letter to Santa, buy a toy to give away, etc. Hopefully, I will capture lots of those activities on film and post them here. So is what we did for December 1 and 2, 2009.

December 1 - Put up the Christmas Tree and Decorate.

Today, December 2 - was nothing too Christmasy - it was to go to the church mom and tots group christmas party. Jack was very excited to find out he got to go to the church and play!

Jack is getting very excited for Christmas - it makes me so happy - the other day we were walking through Michaels and i could here him singing "Santa Claus is coming to town" The Polar Express movie has really got him excited for Christmas. All he wanted to do while setting up the Christmas tree besides sit in the tree box (he loved that - it was his train) was play with the bells and he wanted me to be Santa and I would give him the FIRST GIFT OF CHRISTMAS. So cute! Grayson - well all he wanted to do was tear the tree down. Our tree is very light and pretty small. He could easily with one hand pull that tree down so after the kids went to bed we had to baricade the tree. Ottoman, exercauser and toy bin are now surrounding the tree - it seems to work!

Off to wake the kids from naps - or else they'll never go to bed tonight!

Robin.

This Is What Happens When Your Not Looking...

2009-11-30T14:07:00.001-08:00

The other day I was getting dressed for the day and Jack asked to play with my mascara. He wanted to use it as a wand. So I went ahead and gave it to him to play with. I then mistakenly went downstairs for a while and left him alone up there to play. Later he started calling me and came downstairs for me to see this......

What a mug shot eh?!!! so funny. I don't even know how he knew there was make-up in there to use as I NEVER wear mascara but he had gotten it open and thought he'd color his eyebrows. So cute! I said "Can I take your picture" and he was very willing. He was very proud of his job!

Lots going on around here - we have been super busy lately with photobooth. Getting ready for Christmas. Getting ready for Jack to turn 3 - I can't believe it. This Thursday he turns 3. Now its time for potty training!

robin.

Grayson - 10 months

2009-11-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, I wrote out a whole bunch of cute info about Grayson but some how my text was deleted....now I am to lazy to retype and I have to run so you are left with some cute pics of Grayson and Jack.

(Grayson, I found him sneaking juice from jack's cup he found on the floor - his favorite hobby is to track down jack's cups and sip from them - he knows he was caught here!)

(Jack loves loves to drag Grayson by the feet - I know sounds mean but Grayson loves it and Jack is gentle - or tries to be - I keep telling Jack that soon Grayson will be as big as he is and will be able to get back at Jack!)

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

Halloween was a busy week for us. We had a play group Halloween party. Jack had so much fun. It is the first Halloween he was totally into. Last year I remember he didn't want to get his costume on and go out trick or treating but this year he was all into and knew exactly what it was all about. We practice trick or treating in our closet door the weeks coming up to Halloween. So we had a play group party, a Ward party that was truly AMAZING! and then Halloween night. Jack went trick or treating with his neighbor friend.

Our Halloween day started very early. Dave went at 5 a.m. to get in line for the H1N1 vaccine shot. Doors opened at 8:30. People slept over night just to be early in line. I got there with the kids at 9:30 a.m. and we still waited until 11:30 until we got in and everyone got their shots. After the shots we went to Toys R Us as I promised Jack and new toy train for being brave and getting his shots. Really he had no idea what we were standing in line for. He sat down, got poked, looked at the lady like what did you do to me (not happy) and then the next second was like okay lets get out of here - he wasn't fazed at all! After the shots it was Toys R Us, McDonalds, Missionaries and then trick or treating. Sadly we only got like 4 kids at our door and I had candy for 100 so I made Dave take all the left over candy to work or destroy it as I didn't want to eat any more of it! Jack has pretty much forgotten about his candy (which secretly makes me happy - he does not need the extra sugar. These days he is soooo emotional!

Anyway, we are gearing up for a busy November with photobooth taking up all our weekends which is sad but also very GOOD!

Here are some pics of Batman and Penguin below.

Grayson - 9 1/2 months

2009-10-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

Just some cute pics of Grayson! He has the best smile. Loves to play with Jack or just watch him. He is always looking up at Jack and smiling.

Happy Birthday To Me!

2009-10-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

Okay so I have really been slacking on the blogging thing. My excuse....my computer died and was getting fixed, luckily nothing was lost this time so that makes me extremely happy!

Lots has been going on - well lots of stuff but really just everyday ordinary stuff that keeps us busy. Now that Grayson is older we get to go out more and do fun stuff. We've been going swimming, jack's sports class (grayson in babysitting which he loves!), play places at the mall (jack's favorite). We listen to the Polar Express music all day whether we are at home or in the car! Jack loves it. Grayson puts up with it...ha ha!

October has been fun since we had no photobooth events. We have had weekends to be free and do anything which Dave has LOVED and so have the kids! Grayson is now 9 months old and a child who WILL NOT sit still. When changing his diaper you have not seen such a squiggly kid. He thinks its funny too! I tell him to sit still and he'll slide away and laugh. It takes me forever just to get the diaper on cause he is just moving. I need a belted changetable for him (menatl note**!) But he is a good kid. Loves to hang out and watch Jack and MUST be in bed by 8. Its an internal clock for him....he is cranky and tired by 8. He is kinda sleeping through the night. He wakes up a couple times but just needs his soother and is back to sleep so I can pretty much sleep walk into his room, put in a soother and walk out! Still I feel unrested in the a.m.

Sidenote***They are both napping right now! AHHHH! So nice to get them down for a nap together - that doesn't happen too much anymore I love these days!

As for my birthday - it started out playing a dirty trick on me as I woke up thinking well I am only 31 today - not bad - I still have 4 years until I am 35 I can still squeeze in a couple more kids (I know what I am thinking!). Then a few moments later I realized Dave is 37 this year, I am not 31, I am 32. Not funny! I guess I can't squeeze in anymore kids!!!haha

For my b-day we went to Butterfield Acres a petting zoo in Calgary. We had tickets for a pumpkin hunt. It was lots of fun - Jack LOVED it! Especially the pumpkin hunting. We got to ride on a wagon pulled by a tractor. Jack loves tractors. Then we headed into the trees and Jack got to get out and go search for a pumpkin to bring home. He was like "I see one, I see a pumpkin" and ran to it. After we got back we decorated the pumpkin and then played for the next little while. They had lots of playgrounds and lots of petting animals to see. Jack was fascinated, I mean really fascinated by the goats poo. They pooed alot in front of him. He still talks about it today! Funny kid! After we got home, we were so stinky and dirty from the Farm that we bathed the kids, and got them ready for bed. I picked up our babysitter - YAAA! (our first YW babysitter) and Dave and I headed out to a movie and dinner! It was fun although I did stress about the babysitter getting the kids to bed. After all the stressing she said it was so easy, Grayson fell asleep drinking his bottle and Jack fell asleep reading books. This never happens for me and Dave. We must have tired them out all day! So it was a pretty fun day! Fun to go somewhere we haven't been before.

Now we are gearing up for Halloween. Jack and I (and grayson although he is usually sleeping) drive around alot and look at all the houses and their Haloween decorations. I think Friday we are going to decorate our window and porch. He'll like that. Jack has 3 Halloween parties to go to. So he will get some good use out of his Batman costume which he loves. So cute! Although I think he will be overloaded on candy! Grayson sadly will have to wear Jack's first costume a penguin suit(the downfalls of being a second child - hand-me-downs - no new costume this year....when he is bigger!)

I think that is it for now - too much to do while the kids are sleeping....enjoy the pics.

R.

What a Boy!

2009-08-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

Grayson is now 6 1/2 months old! What a boy he is! He is all over the place and even sitting up by himself. A whole new world to him which makes him very happy! One morning last week, I just sat him on the floor and to my amazement he sat there for like 3 minutes playing without falling. I was amazed! I took the video below in excitement. Me and jack just sat there watching him - how long could he sit up for?!

AND he is also somewhat crawling. Not up on all fours but army crawling everywhere! Which isn't surprising jack never crawled at all he just army crawled until he walked. But if Grayson gets his eye on a toy he can make his way over to it.

The boys play so well togther. Although now that Grayson is crawling he wants to eat everything jack is playing with. So jack has resorted to playing on the stairs (his new favorite coloring place or on the couch). You can hear jack saying "no, no, grayson, that is my toy - here is yours" so nice - jack doesn't often freak out at grayson - and if grayson ever cries he is so quick to give him a kiss and say "its okay grayson". Jack is such a good big brother! And it is so fun to see them play together!

So much to do this weekend, Dave is off to Canmore and Edmonton doing events and I am home packing to get ready for the Lake! Jack everyday says "are we going to the lake today" and so we count down the days until we go. He will LOVE playing with his cousins ALL DAY EVERYDAY! I am so excited for the sun, boating, swimming, relaxing, eating, Target, movies, etc....fun fun!

Off I go to start some laundry and pack....I'll leave you with these pics and video!

(date night - mommy and jack)

(August 1 - Swimming at Sikome - right near our house)

Always a Smile!

Sweet Brothers (and the day jack got his haircut!)

A Post By Dave - Father's Day

2009-07-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

Robin has actually let me give blogging a try. Luckily I have something really good to talk about since I had an amazing Fathers day. With all the work to do with a new house Jack has been helping out a lot. With our little garden Jack helped me build the wooden frame and plant, he loves to hammer and of course water the plants so it was very appropriate that he made me a little tool box with a hammer, saw, wrench and screwdriver each with a little message on them.

It said,

"Although you are as big as can be, you still need lots of help from me. Just pick a tool with a job to do and you will see how much I love you. Happy Fathers Day '09"

He even signed his name.

Robin made me breakfast, forget egg Mcmuffins homemade is the way to go. So we all had breakfast and then we went on a scavenger hunt for another gift. The fun just didn't stop. Jack and I followed the clues all over the house.

I asked Jack to read one of the clues. It was a big heart that asked where Mommy puts the pots and pans. I asked him what it said and he said,

"I love Daddy." That was so cool. That's what a big heart means, so he was right.

We had so much fun running from clue to clue. We found my fathers gift when Jack found the pots and pans. Food is always good on fathers day and in the cupboard were cupcakes with the most icing I have ever seen. When Robin ate them she shaved half of it off, not me, I love the icing, almost as much as whipped cream. We often got our cupcakes at Crave, but with all the icing these ones were so good.

Then we found the panini maker. Robin always comes up with the best ideas. I don't know how she knew that I would love it, but it's the coolest gift. We couldn't use it though because it was time for church.

Check the video of Jack and I searching for my other fathers day gifts.

I was a little distracted during church just waiting to get home and try that baby out and I wasn't disappointed. Robin had prosciutto, basil and mozzarella ready as well as nutella and bananas for desert. The prosciutto was so good we didn't even have room for the desert panini's. The sandwiches were awesome and what we found out later was that you could put anything into the panini maker and it was better. We haven't tried anything crazy like peanut butter and pickles but so far we haven't gone wrong. I ended up having the nutella and bananas for supper a few weeks later when I was left all alone and I absolutely recommend them as a main course.

All in all it was a great Fathers day. It lived up to all the hype. Robin had been priming me for the last few days about how good the food was going to be. I'm not one to get my hopes up but I was pretty excited. The panini maker and cupcakes were really good but what really made it special was my gift from Jack and to actually hear Jack wish me Happy Fathers day. Considering I just had Jack colour Robin a Mothers day card and that was it, I was pretty lucky, it's supposed to be the Mom that gets pampered. I better make up for it next year.

Brotherly Love!

2009-06-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

It is so adorable and cute and amazing to me how much jack and grayson love each other and love to play with each other. Or rather jack playing with Grayson (which sometime involves jack lying on him) and Grayson watching so intently at jack. This morning jack was jumping on my bed. Grayson just sat there watching him and laughing hysterically. Everytime Jack took and jump - Grayson would smile and laugh. Jack thought that was hilarious so he just kept on jumping. I love how even though Grayson is still so young - they really interact with each other. It really does amaze me. Grayson is pretty tough too whenever Jack gets a little crazy with grayson - grayson just smiles - he loves it. And if Jack is watching cartoons, he'll go find the bumbo chair and tell me to put Grayson in it beside him so they can watch together. Jack will sit there holding Grayson's hand. So cute. They are going to be best buds!

Dave and I have also been discussing how funny it is that our idea of sleeping in has changed so much in just the last few years. Sleeping in with no kids is like sleeping until 10 a.m. or later. Then when jack arrived sleeping in until 8 a.m. was a highlight if it happened and now with Grayson who is such an early bird. He awakes at 5:30 or 6. So now I say if I sleep until 7 a.m. I am sleeping in! If I sleep until 7 a.m. I am so happy!

We are loving summer here. Hopefully, we get some grass put down in our yard in the next few weeks! We go to the park by our house everyday. Our friends have a little motorized quad that they bring to the park so jack and his friend share playing on that. And while Dave was at a photobooth event last Saturday, I took the boys to the splash park near our house. So awesome. I am so glad it is so close. Lots of playgrounds, splash pool, lots of grass - it was so fun since it was so hot!

Last weekend we also went out to Okotoks to this big rock - jack had fun although he did want to climb to the top which we would not let him. After we went for ice cream cones. Jack got a cute baby cone! I think that was his first ice cream. Poor Grayson just got to watch us eat ice cream.

Here are some recent pics!

PS - Mom Jack loves that stereo - he has memorized so many songs off of it. We sing them all the time. He always has to have it near him (as you can see in the last 2 pics). What a great gift!

Grayson On the Move!

2009-05-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, well he's not moving far - but here he is rolling over. He is constantly rolling over now. If you put him on his back - seconds later he is on his tummy! Funny though he doesn't like to roll back over so he will just sit there on his tummy until he is tired and then will cry for help. Such a cute kid. More pics of him below.

He did an amazing thing on Friday night - slept through the night (7:30 p.m. - 6:30 a.m.), I woke up at about 6:15 a.m. and asked dave if he had gone to feed grayson that night and he said no and we just sat there - like should we go check on him?? But minutes later, we heard him cooing in his crib. I love waking up to hearing grayson coo and talk to himself - it just means he had a great sleep and is a happy boy. Compared to waking up screaming and won't go back to sleep, which has been the story for the past 3 months. I had to do a little sleep training with him - crying it out - he was waking up at least 5 times at night and would only be settled by a bottle - he was eating as much at night as during the day - and he is a big boy so there is no need for that. Anyway, he is awesome now - I mean he still cries, but at least I am not spending a hour trying to get him to sleep and then having him sleep for 20 minutes and that would happen 3 times a day - I started to dread nap times. He's doing really welll and only waking up once usually between 3 and 5. I am a happy momma when I get my sleep. But really its just way less crying and fussing around this house because he is actually getting sleep.

Dave is off to Seattle this weekend to learn about a new business idea he wants to get into....more about it later - if it actually goes through.

Anyway, it is nap time around here so I better get some actual work done here.

Robin.

(jack helping dave make our row garden)

(our beautiful dirt pile beside our house!)

(jack's new shoes thanks to Target and new church outfit, thanks to grandma)

Mexican Hat Dance!

2009-05-06T14:32:00.000-07:00

Poor Jack - learns his dance moves from his parents!

Target Here We Come!!

2009-05-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

So its been a while since I have posted -All is good at the Kearl house. We are trying to get out and enjoy the nice weather. It is very handy to have a park across from your house when you don't have any grass on your yard. Although with all the dirt Dave did create a sandbox (dirtbox) for Jack - which he loved driving his cars through - but then this week some workers came to do some work on our yard and they dug up the sandbox.....jack wasn't too impressed to see his sandbox gone. Oh well, we'll have to make another one. We have enough dirt on our yard to make many.

Grayson is 3 1/2 months old - almost 4 months. He loves to smile. Anyone can look at him and he will just smile away forever. That is a nice change from screaming all the time. He is not the best sleeper during the day - he doesn't sleep for long which makes him a little cranky but he is pretty good at night. We have been battling his eczema for 2 months now. Finally, we got referred to a dermatologist who gave us some medicine as he had an infection in his eczema. It cleared up perfectly for a couples days and then wouldn't you know it - it came back. Now we are trying to clear it up again. At a follow up with the dermatologist she just he'll probably have it for a while. Oh thank goodness for genes!!!

Grayson's Milestones:
- coos and talks all the time for long periods; people thinks its so funny - he just talks away!
- lots of smiling;
- face recognition;
- can hold rattle or little things in his hand if handed to;

- holds both hands up in the air and stares at them;
- can sit in his jolly jumper, just doesn't jump yet!
- is trying to roll over onto his tummy;
- can change his own diaper...ha ha, I wish!

Jack is as always Mr. Happy! I just can't believe what a little man he is growing into.

What Jack is up to:
- He is now in his own big boy bed;

- soothers are gone as of the last few days. He finally chewed through the 2 he had - and he showed me them with the rip in them and I said - okay - they aren't safe anymore - we have to throw them out and he watched as we threw them away. Now he knows he doesn't have any soothers as they are in the garbage. Pretty easy - only took a while to chew threw them!
- loves to play in his room with all his toys, especially his train track (he'll even close the door and tell everyone to get out - he loves his quiet time);
- no more scheduled naps per se, he just has quiet time in mom's bed and watches cartoons and usually falls asleep;
- loves, I mean loves letters. He reads letters on on all signs and books, etc.
- loves books. Last night he was up til almost 11 p.m. reading his airplane book over and over to himself (11 p.m. bed time that is another story - since moving him to a big bed he doesn't go to sleep until super late...i don't know what it is...well its probably all the toys in his room - very distracting but at least he doesn't come out - but he'll be in there from 8 until 10 or later until he falls asleep....)
-plays well with grayson - today I heard him say "Its okay" and patted him on the head when Grayson was crying.
- loves nursery - can't get him in fast enough and he is the last to leave. Dave and I both have such a hard time getting him to leave - the nursery teacher has to nicely tell him to go home and he is not happy to leave!

We are gearing up for a busy photobooth season. We are pretty much booked up until October and then we'll be busy with Christmas parties....exciting but very busy.

So we are taking advantage of the weekend off and going to Lethbridge/Magrath. We are going to stay at a hotel with a waterpark (for Jack!) and then drop the kids off with their grandparents and Dave and I will continue on to Montana or shall I say directly to TARGET! We have a routine down pack when we take our road trips there. We always hit the Mexican restaurant beside Target before so we can fuel up plus its so good - then we go to Target and we first must get a fountain pop to keep us replenished as we are usually in there for a good 3 or more hours....its just so fun to wander. We fill our carts with everything we see we like and then at the end we go through our carts and usually just buy a few things but that's our tradition to fill the carts up with all the cool things we see and show each other what we find. I am sure the Target workers love to find our cart we abandon with stuff we don't buy.

That is about all that is going on with us!

Check out the recent pics below!

Kisses!

2009-04-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

Raver Jack!

2009-04-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

Jack the Reader!

2009-04-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

2009-04-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

Not much going on around here. Grayson is almost 3 months old already. Wow has that time flown by. The last three months are pretty much a big blur but he is getting so big. He smiles all the time and yesterday jack and I had him laughing a lot. He also loves to talk alot. He is always just cooing. He'll coo for a half hour straight - just talking away. So cute. He is also trying very hard to roll onto his tummy and he loves to stare at his hands and arms. He hold out his right arm and just stare for the longest time.

Jack is doing well also. He loves the alphabet. Any words he sees in books or letters or on tv he spells out the letters. I can't believe how smart he is. He pulls out his books and just sits there and spells out the words or points to things and tells us what they are. Unbelievable.
Jack also loves his baby brother. He always wants to know where he is and loves to talk to him and kiss and hug him. So adorable to watch. Jack just can't wait for Grayson to be big enough to run around with him.

Here are some new pics and video for your amusement.

Random Happenings While Hanging at Home!

2009-03-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

I just thought I'd post some recent pics of the boys - we've been hanging at home at lot - I haven't really ventured out with both boys since the arrival of Grayson. Its tough hauling both of them around. Especially since Grayson hates his carseat. He screams the minute he gets in it until he is out of the car. Its like he somehow instinctively knows when he's being put in his car seat - its time to scream. Car rides are fun!! Although we did venture out into our new neighborhood today - although it is extremely muddy! But Jack loves the puddles - I got him some rubber boots - so cute - they are fish rubber boots so they have eyes and a mouth and a fin! There is a park just across from our house so we played there and jumped in the many puddles. Grayson in his carseat/stroller - of course screamed for a bit but finally fell asleep.

We are loving and enjoying our new house. I love the space. Jack gets so much energy out just running from the kitchen to the living room. And we have created a jumping area for him in the basement with a mattress and cushions from the couches. He jumps off the couches into the mattress, or slides on the cushions or we make "houses" (his new favorite word).

Dave is off to San Diego for a couple days on Sunday. We have a photobooth association meeting. I am sad I have to miss it - it would be fun - well not fun but informative!!

I have just finished reading this book. I absolutely encourage everyone to read it. It is amazing. It is a fast read. I believe the author is Mormon (Glenn Beck)!? Its an amazing true story! How one little choice can change the direction of your life! Its a story about forgiveness and redeption, etc. Very interesting read. Go to your library and get it - or buy it and pass it on - so worth it!

Enjoy the pics!

(this one below cracks me up. We had had McDonalds for lunch and I went to put Grayson upstairs to bed and Jack was playing in the kitchen. I saw the fries on the table and thought - he is going to pull those down but then dismissed the thought and thought he is distracted with other stuff. 5 minutes later as I come downstairs, I see Jack on the floor with his fries which he obviously pulled off the table and his mcnugget sauce (not spilled!!) for dipping. Just sitting there hanging out - snacking!)

Hanging Out!

2009-02-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

Okay - I have been meaning to post some updated pics of grayson and jack - I have 6 minutes and counting before LOST starts and I have been on the computer for the last 2 hours so I want to get off and go relax and watch LOST - so this is a quick post - enjoy the pics! (I love the one where jack is chilling in my boots!)

(mommy and grayson - what a cool dresser eh!!)

(the boys chilling - see how jack pays no attention to grayson -it cracks me up - i kept putting grayson beside him and jack just kept watching the cartoons!)

(jack in my boots - waking around - he thought it was so funny! so did we!)

(jack holding grayson's hand - he loves his brother)

okay its on - gotta run!

Our First Major Tumble and Our First House!!

2009-01-31T14:57:00.000-08:00

We officially own a HOUSE!!!! ....we got the keys to our new house yesterday!!! So exciting. We actually own! I have posted some pics here of the new house. Hopefully everyone will be able to come down and visit and see the new house. Today we moved our new couch into the house and a few other pieces we bought.....next weekend is our big move. I can't believe I have been in this house for 12 years and finally moving - I didn't think I'd ever get out of here...although it will be sad to leave (so many memories.....and roommates!)

Check out these pics of Jack - we had decided to go for a walk on Thursday night and Dave and jack were running up and down this wheelchair ramp - well as could be expected - jack tumbled down the ramp - I wasn't too close too see it - I thought his hands would be all scraped but Dave lifted him up and says to me "your not going to like this". There was blood everywhere - I thought his teeth were knocked out. But he just scraped his lip and nose. Here are two pics - the night it happened and then the next day all scabbed up. jack is pretty brave - he didn't cry at all - but these past couple days he is trying to pick at it and is complaining.... His first fat lip and scrape......

Baby Grayson

2009-01-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

Well as you all know our new baby "Grayson Oliver Kearl" was born Jan 16, 2009 at 12:58 a.m. I have been on the phone for the past hour trying to set up home insurance and change all our utilities, cable, etc. in preparation for our big move....we get possession on Friday! And will move the next week. Anyway, so I thought I'd multi-task and while I was put on hold, I'd post some recent pics.

Jack is doing great with the baby - he really just stays away - he'll go and touch his head or watch me change his diaper but other than that he is more interested with his toys or cartoons.

Ryan and Jody - I have been thinking about you lots today as you are flying to Australia - we are going to miss you lots. Jack is going to miss Osh especially since he walks around the house saying his name.......email us when you get there and tell us how it is......here are some recent pics for you.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T16:31:00.000-08:00

We want to wish everyone a merry christmas and happy new year. We are off to go look at Christmas Lights, eat Chinese food and relax before Santa arrives tonight!

the kearls.

Random Stuff

2008-11-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

Man I feel cooped up today. I need to get out of this house. Dave took the car to work today so I have no vehicle. We have been inside all morning since it was kinda cold and now I am waiting for Fed Ex to deliver our 2nd booth. Jack is sleeping right now and I am sure the big Fed Ex truck will be here anytime just in time to wake him from the middle of his nap - always fun!!.

I just thought I'd post some recent pics of Jack and some pics of our house that is currently being built. So exciting to be able to walk through it now. But it will be way more exciting once I see all the carpet, cupboards, etc. done.

I am also sitting here trying to come up with ideas for Jack's b-day party. He turns 2 in one week. We are having a small party Tuesday evening. Not sure what to make for snacks and stressing about how I thought I could ever decorate a dinosaur cake - - !!

I am also thinking I need to start getting clothes ready for the new baby - I started cleaning out a closet since we don't have another dresser yet - and now I need to go through the bags and bags of jack's old baby clothes and wash them and put away. I am finally trying to also get a plan together about what we are going to do with jack once I have to go to the hospital - it is hard if we don't have family close by. But I do have one friend already lined up - better get more back up just in case. lots to think about and too much to do - I also need to start getting packed to move or at least purging things, etc. It looks like hopefully we may be able to move in February now instead of March - here is to hoping. More room would be nice.

And I've only started to think about Christmas. I did order my Christmas cards - I felt very organized and accomplished when this got done last week. Finally not scrambling at the last minute for those. Can't wait to get those in the mail! I at least know what I am buying everyone - now just need to find time to go out and shop!! Which is the fun part!

Okay - seeing how much I have to do I better get off my butt and do something eh!!! ....or I can just sit here for 20 more minutes and wait for Oprah's Favorite Things episode - can't wait to watch that!!!

Happy Halloween 2008

2008-11-02T15:59:00.001-08:00

This year jack was an Elephant! Jack wasn't so sure about his elephant costume. He was kinda scared of the big nose on this costume. For weeks and days we talked about him putting on his costume and he always said "no". But we practiced knocking on everything in the house and then saying "Trick or Treat". Finally on Halloween night, I brought his costume down and he did not want to put it on - he just wanted to play with his toys. I suggested we go outside and play and he agreed but I said we need to put something warm on since it was so cold - and he agreed - and out of our astonishment he put on the costume no worries! And he loved it!

We did not go out long - he initially loved going door to door and getting candy but it was getting dark and many of the kids in costumes were scaring him - plus some houses were decorated really scary which he didn't like - so we didn't go for long - but he did have a fun time and his parents were appreciative of him getting dressed so we could have all his candy!!

enjoy the pics!

We are Still Here!!!

2008-10-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

I know - I know - don't say it - I have been such a slacker - - in order not to overwhelm myself and bore you all - I will just start with what is new today and not bore you with the last 6 months.

Here are two pics of Jack from our recent walk - we have been taking lots of walks in the afternoon - enjoying the leaves and weather.

Jack had art class this morning so I thought I'd share what we did today. I love going to this class cause they have all sorts of craft stuff to use - each week they provide stuff to make a few different crafts and then there is paper and paint for them to paint anything they want. The best part is they can slap paint and glue on the floor on the tables anywhere and its not a problem and I don't have to clean it up at the end of the day. Some days I end up doing most of the craft - he just wants to run around but some days he is very into it. Here are some of his Halloween art from today.

Jack and I also made some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins today - they are so good - he even likes them - the recipe made like 5 dozen muffins so I am not quite done baking them yet...i need a break.....but so yummy - I love anything pumpkin this time of year!

Dave is off to Edmonton for a couple days for a photobooth event. We are keeping super busy at that - we have got lots of xmas parties lined up for Nov and December - Now with it being so busy - Dave has practically 2 full time jobs - I am sure he LOVES that!!

We (Lisa, Mom, Dad and I) are off to NYC in 3 weeks - I can't wait. Although I hope I can keep up to Lisa and her shopping as being 8 months pregnant might slow me down.

Anyway, that is it for now - we'll see when I post again!!!! ha ha
- robin.

2008-04-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

It is finally Spring! YAAA!

Jack and I had a great morning. We went to his tumbling class and he didn't scream or cry (that is a first). Except we walked into the class and he saw the teacher and screamed and ran out the room. He really doesn't like his teacher much! I am not sure what it is. I think she is just a little overbearing. But once he saw that there was some balls to play with he was right into it. However, at the beginning and end of each class we sing some songs and he does not want anything to do with it. If I make him come he just screams and kicks his feet and lies in the middle of the circle. So I usually let him do his own thing - and then there is me singing in the circle with no child and all the other moms' kids are singing. Jack definetly doesn't like to be doing what everyone else is. He is just usually facinated with the balls. Today he played mostly in this tunnel you can crawl in. He took a few balls in the tunnel and then would throw them out and in.

What's new with the Kearls?:

- right now jack is loving cars: he takes all the cars he can find - he loves to roll them along the floor or on the stairs. He'll sit on the stairs for a good long time playing and making car sounds, Vroooom. So cute.

- He is getting his back molars in but it doesn't seem to bother him too much - he just always has his hands in his mouth.

- jack loves the book "The Wheels on the Bus" he always turns to the last page and sits there and just laughs. its hilarious.

- We had a home portrait party at my house the other weekend (a photographer comes to the house, you invite friends and their family to come have their photos taken - each family gets 30 minutes with the photographer - there is no cost - you just have to pay for any photos you want to buy - they upload them onto a website and you can go online and order pics. We set up our living room as the photo studio and then the guests just waited downstairs for their turn. Our pics didn't turn out too well - jack would not sit still at all - he was up running around - we got a few cute shots but not too many. But the event was lots of fun - just to visit with friends.

- This last week we worked on an ad that will be in the Edmonton/Calgary Wedding Bells magazine. I love this magazine and hopefully it will get the company name out there. I also just wrote (actually Dave wrote it) a small article for a event planner newsletter. That comes out May 1. I think the magazine comes out in June.

- I just bought this book. All I need to do now is actually pull out my sewing machine and buy some fabric.

- I just downloaded from itunes onto my ipod this new cd - love it!

-We are off to Hawaii in a week - CAN'T WAIT - although after church on Sunday - Dave said to me in the car - "how are we going to sit with jack on the plane for 5 hours when he can't sit for one hour" - I just laughed and said - "this just occurs to you now!" I thought about this the minute we bought our ticket. At least our flight is at 6 p.m. - so we'll bring cartoons, books, new toys maybe and then hopefully he'll sleep for a bit of it (hopefully!). I just can't wait to sit on the beach, snorkel, try surfing and body surfing, we're going hiking, have shaved ice and oh ya - hit the massive mall with 260 stores!!! That will be a day when I leave Dave and jack at the beach and I hit the mall! We are also going for a Luau dinner at the Polynesian Cultural Centre - can't wait.

here are some of the latest pics of jack:

(jack and his big boy pjs)

(jack in mom's shoes)

(jack loves to play with the cookware)

(jack laughing at his "wheels on the bus" bok)

(cutie pie)

that's it for now,
robin.

nice write up!

2008-04-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog. She did an awesome write up and the pics look great. Just thought I'd share.

We are having a Home Portrait Party this weekend! Can't wait! I am going to make chocolate covered strawberries for the guests!

Have a good weekend. Hopefully we'll see the Audenart family this weekend - if we can make it through all the snow!

Welcome Spring!

2008-04-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

Happy SPRING! Jack just turned 16 months old. Almost 1 1/2. What a boy. He is starting to say a few words. He loves to take the telephone or any toy and put it up to his ear and pretend its a telphone and say "hi". So cute.

His favorite thing is to watch the birds and squirrels in our back yard. We look out the window many times a day and watch all the birds and the squirrels eating from our neighbors bird feeder. Jack points up to the birds and ohs and ahs.

Since I work twice a week I try to take jack out each day that I am at home - we go swimming, to play places in the mall, library, parks, the gym (well he plays in daycare when I workout - I think that is a win win for everyone!). So we are always having fun doing something.

What else is new:

- Dave started a new job for a new oil company;
- Our business is going well (our second event is this weekend);
- I got a blackberry (so fun!) (only because Dave let jack play with my cell phone while doing the dishes and jack dropped the phone into the water);
- I signed up to take an Event Management certificate course (Intro to Event Coordination) - can't wait to start that;
- One month till we take off for Hawaii - CAN'T WAIT! (which means we have one month to start working out and get our flabby bodies in shape)
- I am reading the new Sophie Kinsella book "Remember Me" - makes me so happy - her books are so fun!
- jack is starting to play with crayons, loves going down the slide at the parks and loves yogurt!

Not much else is going on. This week jack is starting a Tumbling Tots gym class and then we have swimming with playgroup. So lots of fun stuff for us to do and get us out of the house.

Below are some adorable photos of jack. Can you say "CUTIE PIE"!

(jack loves his yogurt)

(i found a bin of clothes Lisa gave me a while back - perfect timing - they all fit him now - and lots of great summer stuff - this orange shirt is adorable and jack would not let us take off this hat!)

(jack loves to help me sweep!)

- Robin

Can't Wait for Girl's Night Out!

2008-03-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

It was a rough week last week for us. Jack came down with a terrible cold. He was miserable. Didn't want to eat and just sat on my lap and watched cartoons all day. And then of course wiping his snotty nose all the time, there was no doubt that I would catch it. I hate having a cold and trying to take care of jack when all I want to do is be in bed. We took lots of naps last week.

So that was the start of the week then suddenly on Wednesday my boss at the law firm went into an afternoon meeting and all of a sudden his heart stopped and he died - you can image what went on in the office during all of that. I was off that day but had to go in the next two days and deal with that loss and all that arises from that. It was so sad. He was young and the nicest guy ever to work for. It was so hard to be at work those days. I think every time I answered the phone I broke down to whomever I was talking to. Not to mention that Dave has been gone for almost 10 days now in Houston. See here to read about my boss.

On a brighter note, jack and i are doing much better now. We are finally at the tail end of this cold and we had a great day today shopping and playing outside. Although he completely melts down and has a temper tantrum everytime we go inside cause he just wants to be running around all day outside. At leat our backyard is fenced and he can run around there as much as he wants. I can't wait for the warmer weather when we can get some outdoor stuff and he can play all day outside. FUN!

I am so looking forward to this weekend. Karla and I are going to Tal's Girls Night Out. We are so excited. GIRL TIME! I am just sitting here getting all my photos ready!

Check out Jack's pic on this website. The lady who took some family photos put a picture of jack on her website....who wouldn't want to show off this cutie!

I think that's all - we have our first wedding for the photobooth biz this month - so that exciting and we've got the next few months booked up with stampede events, weddings and other parties. I am still just working hard at trying to get the word out there that we are here.

Have a great week.

Out Cold!

2008-02-26T18:55:00.000-08:00

This is Jack out cold after church on Sunday - he has such a hard time staying awake at church as it is from 2:30 - 5:30. So he usually always crashes in the car on the way home. We moved him from the car to the living room - he was out cold - What a cutie!

Who are You!

2008-02-22T11:12:00.000-08:00

Take the Quiz here!

(Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.)

This is a cute quiz. I figured when I was doing it that I would be an Elinor Dashwood. And its fitting that I came across this quiz as Dave and I have just watched "Becoming Jane" and "The Jane Austen Book Club". I think Dave learned more than he wanted to about Jane's life. But both movies were good. But I loved "Becoming Jane". Such a great movie.

January 2008

2008-01-29T20:20:00.000-08:00

Can it already almost be February!!

We have been hibernating in our house for the past couple days. It is just too cold outside to venture out. You freeze within minutes! I think Jack and I are both getting a little stir crazy! We need some warm weather to go out and play!!

We have had some busy weekends lately - the wedding fair - which was exhausting but fun - met with lots of people and had our booth up and running. Then Fairmont. Then Dave was off to Toronto as someone had rented our booth and so he flew out there for 2 days to deal with that and set it up. Now we are off to LA this weekend. I can't wait! It started out that we wanted to go to a photobooth association meeting which is much needed for us to get some education on our booth but we are also going to get tickets for Wicked. I can't wait! I have been dying to see this musical. Jack and I listen to the musical on my ipod everyday at lunch and sometimes dinner too! I entertain jack with dance moves while he eats lunch! I am sure he loves it!!! Since its always playing dave knows the music too- so we can't wait!! It will be a fast busy weekend there but hopefully we can fit in some shopping, etc. I CAN ALWAYS FIT IN SHOPPING! TARGET!!!

Speaking of travelling - we just booked our flights for Hawaii in May. We are taking Jack. I can't wait to play at the beach with jack. We are going with another couple and their boy who is close to jack's age. I'll fill you in on more details as we make them. We are trying to find a beach house to rent. How fun is that!

Below are some pics from our skating day with friends and then last weekend in Fairmont with our friends, Kristine, Dave and Abby. Dave went skiing at Panorama while Kristine and I hung out with the kids and went for a short hike up to the Fairmont Hot Springs and we also went swimming. Lots of fun!

(love the dorky hats, right?)

Christmas 2007

2008-01-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

Just a couple pics from Christmas 2007.

And The Big Boy Turns ONE!

2007-12-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

Man I can't beleive we survived last week! Jack, the poor guy, came down with some stomach virus on his birthday and decided to give me a present instead, vomit all over me and my couch! He was sick all last week and then of course, mommy caught it Wed. right before I had to go to work, I was sick all night and then got a head cold - not the funnest week. Luckily, we had Dave to take care of us.

But on a happy note, we had Jack's b-day before he got sick, on Sat. Dec 1, 2007. It was lots of fun. And so many people came to celebrate. Lots of Jack's friends came to play with him. We need a bigger house, because we were jammed in there - but it was lots of fun! The best was Jack's cake - Dave and I spent all night the night before the party - trying to create the perfect cake. I think it turned out great. We had lunch with all his friends, opened presents, played with the toys and had some cake.

Glady, we are all better this week, we have so much to do. My work Christmas party is Thurs. night, we also are in charge of the Ward Christmas party on Friday night and then we are having a Christmas party at our house Sat. BUSY! Plus Jack's got his shots and one year dr.s appt. Plus, I need to finish my Christmas shopping, I can't beleive I am not done yet! I am really having trouble finding great gifts!

Enjoy the pics of Jack's b-day! (Now that I look back at the pics, I realize I didn't take many - I'll have to get copies from Jack's grandma)

Almost One!!!!

2007-11-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

Well only one more week and our little boy turns 1, I can't beleive it - he's not my little baby anymore. When he drinks his bottle, he takes it and drinks it himself and I say, "mommy will hold it for you" and he just yanks it out of my hands. He wants to hold it himself, no more help from me. So sad! But he is so fun! He is so funny. If I laugh, he laughs and then we just laugh back and forth - he thinks its hilarious.

Now that I am back at work a couple days a week, he is having so much fun with his grandparents. They spend all day just playing with him. And he loves it. When dave and I get home from work, he isn't even interested...he just wants to keep playing.

The past couple of weeks his one front tooth has been coming in, and he has been sick with a runny nose, cough and congestion so he had a few weeks where he was up every couple hours, which just reminds me how much i am not ready to have a tiny baby again and be up all night!!!! Finally he is sleeping through the night again. It feels good to sleep and be refreshed in the morning.....okay enough of me talking about how I love sleep but really - its finally nice to sleep through the night.

So this week we are just going to get things ready for jack's birthday party. We are just having a few people over for lunch and cake and saturday.

We also have a Bridal Vendor party this week. Where all the vendors with respect to weddings will be there - so we'll have our business cards ready and try to get the word out there about our photobooth business. Our first official marketing event!

Just a few random pics of Jack over the past few weeks.

The one picture of him lying down is hilarious. Lately, at night, when he is getting tired. I'll say "Jack its time for bed" and he'll head up the stairs to his bedroom and get his blanket (although sometimes on the way to the stairs he gets distracted by the toys and just ends up playing). He has also been taking his blanket and putting it on the ground, then he'll lie down with it and snuggle. Its hilarious. He is in love with his blanket. In the morning when I go in to get him and bring him out - he won't come out of his crib until he has ahold of his blanket. Too cute! May not be cute when he is 20 and still wants it. ha ha.

I was trying to get a picture of jack sitting on the chair but he would have nothing to do with sitting on the chair - he kept crawling off of it. So this is the only pic, I could get with him looking at the camera. So funny what we do to get pictures!

More Halloween Pics

2007-11-26T09:10:00.000-08:00

I just thought I'd post some more halloween pics I came across. These are pics of jack trick or treating in our neighborhood and the stash he brought home for mom and dad to eat! What a good boy!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

Boo!
Well Halloween is coming to a close! Jack had fun dressed up as a Penguin. We went to the mall this afternoon and he got to see all the kids dressed up getting candy. He wasn't quite sure what was going on. Later, Dave took him trick-or-treating to a few houses in our neighborhood - he got some good candy for his parents! Then Jack helped me hand out candy. We didn't have too many trick or treater's but he had fun! Anyway enjoy the pics!

Fall is Here!

2007-09-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

I snapped a few picks of Jack yesterday morning before we headed out for a walk. He loves playing with the crunchy fall leaves and loves watching the leaves fall from the trees. He is just getting over a cold that he had. His nose was running all the time and he would just wipe it all over his face - poor guy. But he is on the mend. He also has his 3rd tooth now. He has the two front bottom teeth and now one on the top. I didn't even notice a third was there until he started biting my finger and I felt it. Enjoy the pics and enjoy fall.

More Recent Pics

2007-09-13T21:29:00.001-07:00

The Zoo

2007-09-13T21:04:00.000-07:00

Jack has been to the zoo a few times this year - now that he is getting older he is showing more interest in some of the animals. The ducks, flamingos, fish are some of his favorites. We have gone a few times with our playgroup and then we took daddy along one day to show him Jack's favorite animals.

More Cabin Pics

2007-09-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

What a cutie - taking a bath in the sink at the cabin!

Friends at the cabin - fun times and lots of game nights!

BC Pics!

2007-09-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics from our family reunion in BC.

Bathing in the trailer!

What a great summer!

2007-09-13T15:40:00.001-07:00

Well its been a long time since I've blogged. Which means summer must have been fun and busy. The cabin was so much fun - as expected. I love going there and i think jack loved it too. Its where he got his first tooth and swam like a fish all the time. We also went to Nanaimo, BC - which is soooo beautiful. I could for sure live there. Jack was a little sick there so we ended up coming home early but we had a good time camping and meeting family.

Not much is going on here. We start swimming lessons tomorrow. I am so excited - hopefully Jack has fun - I hear you get to take them down the waterslide - how adventurous is that! Other than that I am just chasing after Jack all day - he loves to get into things! He can climb up on anything and on Sunday he actually started crawling - not that he wasn't crawling but no more army crawl. Although I am going to miss that - everyone always laughed and thought it was so cute. Now he only army crawls if he wants to get somewhere fast. But I guess he is just growing up.

Here are some pics from the summer at the cabin.

I miss these evening swims!

How adorable is he!!!

More Random Pics!

2007-06-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday Dress! (thanks grandma)

dad and jack at Elbow Falls.

The family near Elbow Falls.

jack loves to eat but he's kinda messy!!

2007-06-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent pics of Jack's first meals - he loves bananas!!!! He loves to try and take the spoon and feed himself.

father's day!

2007-06-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

Well I have been house bound for the last few days due to a cold that I caught somewhere. Not fun! Plus this hot weather - I can't sleep at all - not fun either! Hopefully this cold will go away soon so I can get out and enjoy this weather. Jack is getting bored playing inside all day too. Wow has it been hot here in Calgary - so nice - hopefully it stays like this all summer! Jack is definitely growing up - he loves to play on the carpet rolling back and forth on his stomach and back - squirming up and down and around to reach for different objects. He is laughing and smiling all the time. He seems like such a little boy now! Can't wait for Montana and Vancouver !

Waffles for father's day! mmmmm.....
(dave like the whipped cream so much - when i went to put some on my waffles it was all gone!)

The pizza plate Jack and I made Dave for father's day.

Jack wanted some of dad's waffles!

cute pics!!!

2007-05-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist not putting these cute pics of Jack on here for all to adore. He is just so darn cute sometimes.....enjoy!

Day Tripping!

2007-05-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone - summer seems like its finally here - except for the freak snow storm we had last week. Jack will be 6 months old in a week. Were did the time go. He is getting so big and smiles all the time. Everyone comments on what a smily baby he is. We've done a few day trips the past couple weekends. We went to Troll Falls in Kananaskis one night. It was suppose to be a short hike (which turned into a 2 hour hike since we took the wrong trail and kinda got lost!!!) This was our first hike with Jack - we wanted to test out our MEC backpack. He seems to like it. He is perfectly happy just sitting in it and hanging out.

We went to Drumheller during the May Long Weekend. Did the whole museum thing and a drive out to the badlands looking for fossils. I think the adults had more fun than the babies.

And then Saturday we did a hike near Canmore - Grotto Canyon, I think it was called. Just another short one with Jack. Seems Jack likes the outdoors and has seen 2 waterfalls before he is 6 months old.

He is sitting up by himself but tumbles over and bonks his head on the carpet which he doesn't like. So we will just have to sit with him until he is a bit stronger. And he loves his Bumbo chair that I got for Mother's day from grandma and auntie lisa.

Oh ya, we also went to the Calgary Zoo and saw hippos, giraffes, gorillas, etc. he was much more interested in his toys than the animals but I had fun.

We are going to RD this weekend - hopefully some of his cousins from Edmonton will come up and play with him.....

TROLL FALLS

DRUMHELLER

GROTTO CANYON

Jack's First Haircut!

2007-05-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER

Well on Sunday, we decided that Jack had some wild long strands of hair that needed to be cut - so we got out the sissors and cut Jack's hair - okay - its not a huge haircut - but I think it even makes a difference. What a big boy Jack getting to be.

Hanging out!

2007-05-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

Here's babe (one of my many nicknames for Jack - others are "bear" "baba" "booboo bear") hanging out in his diaper and bib (we go no where without a bid - he is the drooler king)!! He was just hanging out before bed.

2007-05-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

Well, we are loving that it is springtime now and the sun is shining. We love our flip flops and sunglasses and shorts!! Jack and I go for a walk almost everyday. Luckily the grocery store is not too far - so we walk there once a week and pick up groceries and we have a park near by - Jack loves to go in the swing. He just laughs when I push him.

Other than that we haven't been too busy. I got called as Young Women's First Counsellor so I'll be busy with activities on Wed. nights. However we only have 2 girls right now so I hear its pretty laid back. And I've been busy planning our trip to Vancouver Island for the Murphy reunion. I've been busy just trying to figure out where we are going to stay - hotel, tent (I don't think tenting for 5 days with Jack sounds fun to me) - we finally decided on renting a trailer - I can't wait to go there. There is so much to do - Kayaking, canoeing, beach, hiking, Tofino - surfing, etc. Should be fun!

Jack will be 5 months in 2 more days. He is so wanting to eat adult food. He just watches me and reaches out for whatever I have. He loves drinking from my waterbottle and can even sip from his sippy cup....He will really love food - but not until he's 6 months.

PLAYTIME!!

Mom and Jack

2007-04-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

This is just me and Jack hanging out at home playing with the camera - - -

JACK AND MOMMY LOVE THE EXERSAUCER!!

2007-04-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

Grandpa bought Jack an exersaucer a few weeks ago - and Jack is loving it!

Four Months Old!

2007-04-11T09:24:00.001-07:00

Again just some random pics of Jack over the past few weeks. He is getting pretty big. We have a doctor's appt. today - so we'll see how much he weighs - I am betting almost 16 lbs.....

We are just waiting for spring to be here so we can get out of the house and take walks outside and on the City pathways. Can't wait for this snow to be over. We start a Baby and Mom class at the public library on Friday - we'll have to see how he likes it.

Jack loves his dad, baths and his warm bear towel.

Jack loves getting cards from his Grandma and Grandpa Kearl.

Jack just laying around.

Could He Get Any Cuter!

2007-03-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

These were taken when Jack was 10 weeks old - I finally picked the photos up from the photographer's studio. It was pretty fun to get a professional to take some photos although Jack was kinda fussy the whole time - and it was super expensive but oh well - he's only this little once - right?!! Here are a couple of the photos.

More Random Pics!

2007-03-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

Jack's Growing Up!

2007-03-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

Jack is now 3 1/2 months old an 15 lbs. I have finally gotten over my flu/cold which lasted almost 2 weeks. It was aweful. Dave had to stay home from work one day and help me out with Jack. Mind you I didn't mind that Dave got up for the early morning feeds. Nice to have a week off and sleep in! Anyway, here are just random pics I've been taking. Jack is doing really well. Doesn't cry much unless he's tired or hungry or just wants to be picked up and loved. He is sleeping lots at night - so we are getting good sleep - thankfully - he usally goes from 8 p.m. to 5 or 6 a.m. without waking - nice! He likes to sleep like his parents! And he loves to laugh - its hilarious!

Jack's first time swimming! We went to the Collicut in RD.

Cute shot of Jack at 3 months!

He's getting stronger - looks like he wants to crawl!?!?

Jack's FIRST Valentine's Day Card that he received from the neighbor kids!

Back online!

2007-03-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

I can finally post again! We had some virus on our computer that was not letting me log into Blogger. But dave fixed it last night and now I can blog again.

I have been wanting to put these pictures on the blog for a few weeks now and here they are. Dave, Jack and I went to Magrath a couple weeks ago to visit Dave's parents. Jack loved visiting his grandparents. He was so happy the whole time. But who wouldn't be. They paid so much attention to him and Jack loved it.

P.S. Jack is now 3 months old!

Married One Year!

2007-02-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

Well Dave and I celebrated our one year anniversary on February 10, 2007. We didn't do too much. Lisa babysat and Dave and I went for dinner. And of course I had to try on my wedding dress....I have to say - I could put it on but whoa was it tight - not too comfortable. Then Mya and I put on mom's wedding dress. Check out the photos....hilarious.

Kedan's 4th B-day Party

2007-02-14T08:31:00.000-08:00

Kedan had his birthday party on Saturday at the Collicut Centre - check out some pics - see the one where his friend is giving him a nuggie....too cute.

Happy Valentines Day!

2007-02-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone - happy valentines day! Hope you all have a great day. Love to you all. Here are some recent pics of Jack hanging at the house.

Photo Shoot!

2007-02-06T12:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I don't profess to be a photographer but I had to do a little photo shoot with cutie Jack. These were taken when he was a month and a half. He was so good for the shoot. Just sat back and relaxed and looked so cute.

The Cutest Thing!!

2007-02-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

Okay so I was shopping in Williams Sonoma the other day and came across the cutest invention ever - the Cup-a-Cake. Its just a cute little container to hold one cupcake. And it has these little spikes inside to hold the cupcake in place so the icing doesn't get rubbed off. Who wouldn't have liked to go to school with one of these instead of their cupcakes in a plastic baggie and the cupcake is squished by the time you get to eat it. So cute!

2 Months Old!

2007-02-06T12:25:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it - Jack is two months old. Although it does seem like he's been in our family for longer than 2 months. He is growing so fast and loves to smile all the time. I can sit around all day trying to get him to smile and sometimes he smiles so big its like he wants to laugh out loud but just doesn't know how to do it yet. I have to say he is such a good baby. He is really only cranky when he is over-tired. Last night I put him to bed at 10 p.m. and we didn't hear a word from him until 7 a.m. - He's been pretty good lately - all last week he slept until 6 a.m. - its awesome to be able to sleep again - lets hope he keeps it up! I am not sure how much he weighs right now - we go to the doctor in a week but he has grown lots. He also loves his baths. We moved him into the big bathtub as he didn't have enough room in the little one to kick his feet - now he loves his bath - just plays and kicks and moves around. He is ready to go swimming, I think!