Happy Half birthday!! (on Sept.20/2012)

I just LOVE this little girl!! She is such a sweet, funny, spunky little girl. I love the way her arms and legs have rolls upon rolls of skin. I love the way she smiles and the way her eyes glow when she does. I love the way she has brought our family together in a way that no one else ever has or could. Elliot has so much love for her, and I never thought I would ever see him be so nice to anyone like he is to her. He sure has calmed down in the last couple of months and I am sure it is because of her.
At times I feel defeated, having 4 children is not an easy task, but when I look at Lydia I am reminded why we have 4 children and I couldn't imagine life without her. She is truly a blessing.

I love this age. A couple of weeks before she turned 6 months old she started getting up on her knees and rocking back and forth, like she was about to just take off. I just pick her up and sit her down on the ground and she is happy as can be. She doesn't know how to get out of sitting, and I'm not sure she cares to as she is so happy just sitting there with toys, laughing and chatting away.

 Ready to go home from the hospital, less than 4 hours old

It's hard to believe that my little bity 5lb 11oz baby has turned into such a plump 6 month old.

I am so thankful for my best friend Alysha who has taken photos of all my children for their major milestones. It is such a blessing to have these stages documented. These are some of my favorites from Lydia's 6 month photo shoot with Alysha.

First Day of School - Sept 3, 2012

It was the moment I had been waiting for since we moved here, both my kids being excited about starting school. While I knew I wasn't ready for them to leave me, I also knew it was going to be a good year. Both of them are in great classes with fantastic teachers. Donovan knew one boy who was in his class and thankfully his mom and I have become friends so they were comfortable around each other when school started. Clara is so lucky to have all but one of her best friends in her class, including our neighbor and a lot of girls from her dance class.
Both of them were put in split classes this year. Donovan is in a 1/2 split which I think will be a great challenge for him. He needs to be challenged and so I am relieved that he will see that this year.
Clara is in a 3/4 split, which is also good for her. She strives to be challenged and being in this class will help her be successful, I'm sure of it. Of course, only if she can keep herself applied, having so many friends in her class may become her biggest challenge.

She is so grown up, I can't believe she's in grade 3 already.

Donovan wanted a mohawk and of course his hair is way too long for that, so I spiked it for him. I know it isn't his best look, but it made him happy.

I am so grateful for these two kids. They are such a delight to be around and help me so much. I am thankful that they are both well above their grade level in many areas of their academics. I know they are both going to be very successful in life and I can't even take credit for that. They just naturally came by their talents and it makes me so happy that they both enjoy learning and reading and challenging themselves. I am thankful that Clara has made some amazing friends here and that Donovan makes friends so easily. He has such a bright personality and other kids just seem to gravitate towards him. I love these two so much and hope that I can continue to provide them with the support they need to become successful and happy in life. I often wonder if I have taught them enough and then I remember, they are both so smart and so driven that anything I haven't taught them, they will figure out all on their own.

Block Party - August 4, 2012

This was the first year we were around for our street's annual block party. It was a lot of fun for everyone. I feel so fortunate to live in such a great town with such great people. The block party was technically part of our summer, but I thought it deserved it's own post. I just love living here, I know I said it already, and it won't be the last time I say it. We have met some wonderful people, made some great friends and really enjoy our ward. It was tough moving here and I remember fighting back my own tears as I watched Clara cry about how she missed her friends on a daily basis, but I am so grateful we ended up in this town.

The block party started with a bike parade and my sister in law, Stacey, who grew up in a small town, gave us some great ideas for our kids. I wasn't sure how much people put into the bike parade, but it turns out, our neighbors really go all out for it. Lucky for us, we had a baby to use for our contribution to the parade which may have slightly given us unfair advantage. We had Clara dress up as a zoo keeper with a sign on her bike saying "Kearl zoo" and we attached the wagon to her bike. We built a cage over the wagon and dressed Lydia up as a zebra and Elliot as a giraffe and put them inside. We had Donovan on a tricycle trailing the others with a sign on the back saying, "Don't feed the animals". The kids won the bike parade and got a trophy filled with candy for it.

The kids with the trophy and one of our neighbors, Donovan's good friend.

There was a magician, water balloon fight, street hockey, a few minute to win it type activities and lots of great food. Donovan won a donut eating contest. Whoever got their donut off the string first one. I'm pretty sure Donovan did it with one bite. He was done long before anyone else was, and he won his own trophy filled with candy. We got told by a few people that no one family has one two events before. Guess they haven't met any Kearls before!!

Elliot wanting to be like his big brother and play some street hockey in between outfit changes.

What a great day we had and I look forward to enjoying it again next year.