The Earl Family

Earl Christmas Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:55:00 +0000

Jeffrey with his cousin Stephen who is three years old.

Essie and her cousin Gordon riding the skidders together.

Daddy and Rulon running and chasing each other outside.

Me, Laura, and Julie together! Julie and I our pregnant so we thought we would sandwich Laura.

Handsome and beautiful Grandpa and Grandma hosting the Christmas party!

Some of the children getting ready to perform the Nativity for us adults.

Essie playing Mary, the mother of the Christ child with her cousin Joseph playing Joseph.

Damian performing the Drummer boy for all of us, it was so inspirational!

Essie singing "Oh Christmas Tree" for all of us, she did perfectly!

Grandma told us the story of Grandpa during the depression and how poor his family was and one Christmas all Grandpa got was a chair for the table, it was really for everyone and it always made him so sad but he never complained. Grandma has decided to display it in her house to honor him and help us remember to always be grateful! We all went around taking pictures with Grandpa Hansen to remember this tearful story.

Grandma did a really cute lunch bag filled with yummy food for all of us this year and we sat around outside and ate together it was a blast! What a wonderful Christmas party!!!

Manner party in honor of....

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:34:00 +0000

The children have been working on their manners for the past six weeks and earning stickers at the table to add up for the manner party. We invited Grandma, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa over for a special dinner in honor of the children. We ate some fun Mexican food and cinnamon rolls with hot cocoa for dessert. We all went to hear the First Presidency Christmas message. What a fun night I was so proud of the each of the children.

Utah Trip Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:26:00 +0000

Of course lots of our family, my side, all live in Utah. except for Great Grandpa Hansen, McKay's Grandfather. Grandpa with Damian and Essie. He is almost 90 years old and so much fun.

Here is Grandpa Hansen's fish pound in the back yard, isn't it beautiful with all those lily pads. He is a master gardener and can build anything. Damian fell in the pound that day, everyone says he was the first grandson to fall in and Grandpa always wondered who would be the first. Way to go Damian.

Damian with his cousin Dan, who is 13 now and Joseph or Jo-Jo who is 7.

Rulon up in the Heber mountains. We all played where the trees were full of Autumn colors and picked a bunch to press in books to later take back home.

We always go to Leatherby's Ice Cream Parlor right down the street where I grew up in Taylorsville, Utah. It is the best ice cream on earth and I am not kidding. The taste gets better every time we go back. We got one big sundae, 1/2 a gallons amount and each of us picked our favorite topping. Jeffrey liked the cheese fries more than the ice cream, I think. Just talking about it makes me wish I was there!

A funny picture of us in front of the LDS Salt Lake Temple, isn't is beautiful, no one could do anything like a smile we all felt like being silly.

This is Damian giving some two hundred dollars he collected to give to someone in need. He had been keeping it for the past few months not knowing who to give it to. Than the night before we left I got this e-mail that one of my dear friends' daughter was going in for special treatments and they were raising money because their insurance did not cover the treatments. When I told him about it he knew right away this is where the money should go.

Rulon at the the Lion House, Brigham Young's home in Utah. It is quite the tour. His wife Lucy made 24 loaves of bread and 24 pies each day. Wow! As busy as a bee, BUZZZZZZZZ!

It's a GIRL!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:00:00 +0000

We had a ultra sound party! Sounds like fun...well this great guy comes over, very professional, and hooks everything up to your TV right there in your home and leaves you with a DVD of the whole experience with all of our voices and reactions all recorded! He sends in the report data and that way its just as good as the hospital ultra sound everything is check for your baby's health. By the way it cost less!

So McKay and I thought it would be fun to have over some family and friends and of course the kids were there and lots of fun food.

We found out we are having a Girl and she is "Perfect"! We are naming her Suzanne Marie Earl and we are so excited. We are expecting her to come the first week of March.

Hailstone Reunion

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:44:00 +0000

The joy of family! There are 40 of us and counting for the Hailstone family bunch and we are proud of it! There is nothing like just beginning together, I love reunions.

This is Essie and her cousin Heidi, so cute!

We are all about to play base ball and thought it would be fun to line and in height for fun. Base ball was a tradition growing up in my home. We never played cards really just ball and races it seemed. I hit a home run and ran around four months pregnant! WooHoo!

You always got to have a three legged race at every reunion.

Another tradition we experience was The Great Scavenger Hunt. My mother seems to put these together for one reason or another. She would have you going all over town and doing the craziest things. So split up in three groups and race! I was at the Cougar Stadium in a grass hat and skirt waiting to give the next assignment of singing a cheer as loud as they could and than get the next clue. Uncle Marty's group won but some say it helped a lot that he grew up and lives in this area. McKay raced Uncle Brian for second!

Scrabble of course, and always hearing from somebody "that is too a word" and "get the dictionary".

Aunt Shannon, baby Nellie, Ruth's last baby, and Essie holding up her egg in a bag that later we dropped from the roof of the Sipes to see who's would survive, yes another classic tradition.

McKay and Rulon making something...

I had to include this picture...we ended one evening with having grand kids tell us something about Utah and Damian chose the Ute Indians. He talked for about 10 plus minutes with this look on his face, not forgetting any detail he had studied. He is so cute and intense! Happy reunion--we are in charge of this years.

Gibert LDS Temple

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:14:00 +0000

"This is the place" were Brigham Young's famous words for spot were the building of the historic Salt Lake City, Utah temple would be built. So "this is the place" were the Gilbert, AZ, LDS Temple will be built. It is about 12 minutes from our home and we thought we would take a picture of the ground before and after it is built. In two years we will have the after photo.

This is at the actual ground breaking ceremony. We all attended and felt very honored to be apart of such an event. We know great blessing will come to this area because of the "House of the Lord".

Here is a picture of what it will look like when it is done in less than two years.

Lots of people get a turn to "break the ground" with these pretty shovels.

Jeffrey was hot and mostly stayed on the ground in the shade, it was funny to see everyone come in their warm Sunday clothes, because it was in Nov. but it was still a high of 85 degrees. Us Arizonians can only where are cute sweaters and boots for a couple of short months.

Victory!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:52:00 +0000

McKay's first Olympic Tri...swim, run, and bike race to the finish line!

He trained four months or so for this race and it payed off. This race of St. George Utah was much more hot, a lot more up hill, and a real test in the open waters. But he finished and is training for his next one in May. He's my inspiration!

This is where Essie jumped in at the last 20 yards to finish with Daddy, she pushed him! McKay had lots of support, Mom and Dad Hailstone, my parents came out to cheer him on and of course all of us! It was a hot day full of great times for all of us.

McKay enjoyed eating all week long to refuel his body, he must of burned some 4,000 calories.

10 Years of love!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:34:00 +0000

McKay and I have been married for 10 years and I can honestly say they have been the happiest years of my life I never thought life could be this sweet and memorable!

Dating while attending George Wythe College!

We knew each for one semester as friends dated for 11 days and had a three month engagement, way to long. Fast I know but it has always been like that we have always felt we have known each other it just took a while to find each other again.

Married for all time and eternity and the Salt Lake, Utah Temple. I love him so much!

Damian, being our first child was so life changing. We love doing things in the out door together.

In Washington D.C. for a couple get away with our friends the Jensen-Nels and Suzanne. I am pregnant with Essie.

Our precious Essie came into the world and our family became a family of four!

When Rulon joined us we knew our little family had just gained in so many ways!

Our family grew in a special way when Taylor and Laura came and lived with us for two summers!

And number four came, Our Jeffrey, and life has just been wonderful and I wouldn't want to do it with anybody but McKay!

Learning how to be forever is a joy with this man, my darling McKay. Happy 10 years.

Damian is NINE!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:42:00 +0000

Damian has turned nine and we are so happy to have him as our oldest! He is a great leader in our home.

HE is about six months old here!

He loves to study anything about military operations and the history of warfare. He is gifted in art, namely drawings with the pencil, and he loves to think!

He is willing to try new things all the time which is always so much fun!

He loves to hike anything, riding his bike anywhere, and organize groups of people into clubs or service projects! This past year he had a Chess and Basket ball club and put together some special welfare projects.

He is almost always building something or thinking of what he wants to build next. He has become quite the master with swords he has probably made around 50 this past year.

We know he will keep dreaming and become all that his Father in Heaven is needing him to become.

Temple Service Project!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:07:00 +0000

Our church, The of church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, has a temple in Mesa AZ and we got to do some yard work. Okay more like grounds work. It was amazing to see so many people get soooo much done and to feel the power of the temple the whole time even though we are all in our "grubbies".

Before we left the grounds they had all the of us touch the Temple, as our prophet Pres. Monson suggested, it really was sweet and tender to watch the children and talk about it on the way home. We had the best church breakfast at our church building after wards!

Aunt Genny's Surprise Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:51:00 +0000

Okay so if you know me I like to surprise someone if I can with birthday party and Aunt Genny was my next victim. We got her good! Thanks to everyone helping out with plans and food. I made homemade wheat crust pizza, all types, and two low calorie desserts. Julie made a yummy summer salad and mom helped with balloons and set up. It all turned out because she had no idea and seemed to love it.

We are getting ready to jump and say surprise!

Easter!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:33:00 +0000

Easter is a wonderful time of the year, in so many ways its my favorite. The world is so fresh and everything is feeling new, sometimes I think that if I had anything to do with when the calendar started I would have picked the new year to start in spring!

What's the most important is the fact the why we are here is really all about Easter. That Jesus Christ atoned for mankind and he did rise again. God the Father really did send his son and make this beautiful plan of happiness for all who seek it. I love his plan and his son and this is why I am here and do all that I do.

We painted some hard boiled eggs and hide them for the kids and than watch General Conference, a bi-annual world wide church meeting for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. Totally awesome! We played and ate at McKay's parents house.

We all had fun painting and learning from "Palm Sunday" to Easter Sunday what happened each day to our Savior and those who where apart of the scene.

Essie Rides a Two Wheeler!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:15:00 +0000

Essie thought picking up a bike and riding without her training wheels would be hard but one night she jumped on a bike about the same size as her "trainer" and she starter to take off a bit! So we ran across the street to our park, even though its 7:30pm and dark, and let her try it with some space and grass. She took off! She only needed help with the initial balance and first couple of pumps. Within the next two days she could do it all herself.

The next day I took the kids for a two mile bike ride, some of the route included dirt terrain, she did great! I wish I had more pictures of her, they turned out a little blurry.

Happy Birthday Jeffrey

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:28:00 +0000

So my baby is two and I can't believe it. Jeffrey holds up his two fingers and says "me two" and he really is two. What I mean by that is all of the sudden he looks all grown up. He wears his big boy shoes and his whole appearance changed.

So we did something different but wonderful we had Jeffrey at home, yes a home birth. To be honest after experiencing a home birth I wish all women could have this experience. We had the best doctor/mid-wife she has been delivering babies at home for 24 years. She is the calm of a storm she never seems stressed or nervous or even bossy just completely confident and relaxed. In fact most of her work comes in with all the prenatal care. She put me on a special diet and exercise program and had me reading many books on how to have a healthy baby, I learned so much. Due to all this, and much more, prenatal care she has only had to transport to the hospital a dozens times or so, that's pretty amazing for any doctor. She lets your body do its best and is close by if you need assistance but really its just quite peaceful and simple.

But personally I gained the most from the experience. I had never felt better being pregnant or post delivery and I had some special moments that made me grown in some personal ways that I will be forever grateful for. Anyway Jeffrey is two and I just love being his mommy!

Jeffrey and Ella at Disney Land. Jeffrey is about two months and Ella, his cousin, is three months.

Essie and Jeffrey!

Damian and Jeffrey!

Jeffrey and Rulon! Happy Birthday Jeffrey! We love you.

Happy Birthday McKay!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:26:00 +0000

He had to up-date his photo for his web-site and I love all of them

So I thought I would share a little with you.

Happy Birthday McKay!

I think if I had to sum up McKay in a little sentence it would be

"Heaven is the consciousness of having made the world a better place to live in."

McKay is not only totally a blast and really loves all people but he treasures the ideal of

giving his best and taking no credit for it.

Valentine's Day and visit from Grandma

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:41:00 +0000

Grandma Earl came by and brought the kids cute little stuffed animals and heart shaped suckers. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

She also finished and gave Rulon his quilt. She makes each of the grand kids an adorable quilt, Rulon

was so excited! Half of the horse tails have yarn tied on to look like the horses tail is flying in the wind!

Mom and Dad gave McKay and I a little puzzle that when put together read dinner for two

on them, so sweet. Thank you.

McKay and I did a special Candlelight dinner for the kids and sang a song to express our love for them.

Unfortunately we didn't get but one picture of this dinner.

"We Make History" Civil War training

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:30:00 +0000

"We Make History" is a none profit that holds all types of American history balls and battles that the whole family can get involved in. We are wanting to sign up and get some costumes for acting but mostly we just love to go and watch them bring history to life! They are ten years old and do tons all over AZ including a large, thousands come, history fair in the fall.

We went to a civil war battle and they let all the kids learn by having a battle and fireside afterward in the fashion the soldiers would have had after battles and at their camps. They are Christian, not any denomination, we just loved our experience with them.

Essie playing "Mouse Trap"

Damian getting instruction from his Captain

The kids at full charge against the parents

Essie was chosen to be the General of the last battle, she was pretty proud

Rulon and Jeffrey loved shooting everyone

They taught the kids some pretty intense march drills and learning to follow orders!

At the end we had a little testimony meeting and sang some hymns. It was a great experience to be

a part of the community outside of our normal church group and make friends.

LEMI Training

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:10:00 +0000

Home-Schooling has never been so exciting! There are so many "trains" to jump on that you never feel alone or lost as you press forward through the hills and valleys of raising a family in this intimate way. I just love Home-Schooling for so many reasons but I would be lying if I didn't say it is the hardest challenge I have ever tried to accomplish. I am so grateful for wonderful Home-School groups, higher education training, so many families that have done it that I can learn from, books and my favorite Leadership Education seminars centered on true principles of great education. LEMI is one of them. LEMI stands for Leadership Education Mentoring Institute. I just loved the class I attended...can you tell!

Brenda, one of the trainers

Anelodee, She is one of the founders

Austin, a sweet friend of mine came along!

When I came home I of course was tired and full of stories and thoughts to share with my family

but normally I come home and the kids are missing me and needing Mom again. This was one

of the longest training I have ever been to, two all day long classed. But I came home and the

kids with McKay were dressed in their "fancy" clothes and had made me a candlelight dinner!

They massaged my feet and wouldn't let me clean up! Thank you so much McKay and kids.

I love being a Mom!

Friends and Sweet Neighbors

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:50:00 +0000

So we have the nicest neighbors in the the whole world! Stacy, a neighbor of ours, found this awesome telescope and gave it to Damian just because she is totally sweet. The telescope is an antique, it must be 50 plus years old and it beautifully placed on it's original stand. We look out all the time on the reservation not too far from us and will be doing star gazing soon.

Essie had a group of her cute little friends over to sell Cookies and Lemonade!

After the girls eating half of what they all brought and only being outside for one hour

the still made $22.00. They all split it up and can't wait to do it again.

This is one of my dearest friends Austin, she is an amazing mother of four, the two

youngest are twin boys, and she is going to be homeschooling this fall!

She and I went to an awesome training together for two days and learned so much!

Damian's Pine Wood Derby

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:28:00 +0000

At last its here the famous Pine wood Derby came into Damian's life. He worked hard and learned a lot!

Damian and his friend Nate

Ben and Damian

Loading the "Fluke" on

Not first place but he did the Cub Scout motto

"Do My Best"!

The Pecks! Fabulous parenting seminar

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:59:00 +0000

Okay, so I don't know if any of you have ever of Nickoleen Peck but she has been teaching parenting seminars all over the country for the past ten years. HIP, my homeschool group, hosted them to come and speak to Arizona and I learned so much! What she teaches is self government principles and helps you not only learn how to get your kids to do what you need but how to have a vision for your family. The self Government concept are loaded with everything from tantrums of a three year old to husband, wife, and children relationships. I learned so much and what made it even better is McKay, my wonderful husband came too. So much better than having to explain everything!

Okay it gets even better Nicholeen's husband Spencer, who also was a total high light of the seminar, came along and they both STAYED at our home for two days! We got to host them and what a treat that was! We stayed up till 1:00 am and just talked and talked and they were able to give us some personal pointers, as Rulon is squeezing his corn muffin in disgust, they got to see the real Earls in our full glory! I loved every moment!!!

Julie, my darling sister in law, came to watch the kids all day from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm so that we could do this! She brought her husband Dan and their two cute little boys Stephen and Lincoln! Than our neighbor needed some help with her dogs while she had a baby shower at her home that afternoon, so we had the dogs over and than a friend of ours was extremely sick and needed help with her son that day and so Julie ended up with that too! She saved us, our neighbor, and our friend that day! Thank you Julie...you are next! I owe her three days worth.

Here is a link to the Peck's experience of one of the biggest TV shows in the UK called "The World's Strictest Parents" They had two OUT of CONTROL kids come and stay with them for eight days while being filmed the whole time you can watch and see a lot of experiences. These principles have changed our lives forever!

Rulon is now a SUNBEAM!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:38:00 +0000

Rulon has moved up from nursery to be a Sunbeam! Thanks to all his sweet teachers in nursery. He wasn't to sure about this new class in fact everytime I said "you get to go to your new class in primary" He would say "NO, NO, No". But no worries his new teacher found the way to his heart...a CTR (Choose The Right) ring and a shinny blue balloon just for him! Now he goes and loves it:)!
She also had a little getting to know you party at the park! Good job Rulon!

Beautiful Grammie!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:37:00 +0000

So my mother, Grammie, came to see us this past weekend and what a blast we all had! She brought presents and joy for all of us to remember thank you for coming! She gave all the kids adorable PJ's and fun toys like legoes and crafts she even took Essie on a date!

Everyone wants to sit next to Grammie and tell her all their thoughts and plans. Sometimes we had to take turns just to talk!

We missed Grandpa and hope he wasn't too lonely.

Love you Mom and Dad.

Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:13:00 +0000

So we finally went to go and see UP and of course loved it and cried! McKay took us all on New Years Day, the kids loved it and can't stop talking about all their favorite parts. Here are some pictures of us all right after.

After the all the energy from the movie we wanted to see more and found this funny Pixar "UP" music video, enjoy!

Welcome our new CATS

noreply@blogger.com (Summer Earl) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:39:00 +0000

So one of the Christmas presents all the kids received are some new cats. Two of them, named Chloe and Emma. They are cute but nervous so we are giving them some space; and its working they are coming out more! We decided to get older cats instead of kittens because, its sad to say, but Rulon and Jeffrey are scared of anything that jumps on them. So we thought that going the cat route may warm them up to the whole animal kingdom...and than we will get some dogs! So far its working they both love the cats!

Chloe

Emma

"Come here kitty, kitty, kitty"

So...as you can see from this last picture the cats felt a little too much of the love but they are warming up to us now.