The Earl Family

Lorie Grace

noreply@blogger.com (McKay Earl) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:31:00 +0000

3 Lg Pizzas for $20 with Damian's Fundraiser

noreply@blogger.com (McKay Earl) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 02:45:00 +0000

Damian has received an extension on his fundraising efforts to attend the BSA National Jamboree, so if you like pizza, you've got more time to get a great deal!

Updated details with a new bonus price for multiple card orders:
1 Pappa Murphy's pizza card (comes with a free large pizza) is $10
3 Pappa Murphy's pizza cards (so that is three large pizzas) is only $20

We also discovered that even though the cards say you can only use one coupon per visit, every Pappa Murphy's we have been to has allowed us to use as many coupons as we wanted -- with the only limit of one coupon per pizza. So when we go for pizza, we usually use three or four cards because we have so many pizza lovers in our home.

FAQ:
Do the cards have an expiration date?
A: Great news -- there is no expiration date!

Where are the cards good for?
A: All Pappa Murphy's locations across the country.

How do I place an order with Damian?
A: You can e-mail McKay: mckay at theearlfamily dot com or send a text: 48o 268 o34four. If you live close to us, we will drive the cards to your house. If you live out of state we will mail them and you can in turn send us a check.

How many cards can I buy?
A: There is no limit on the amount of cards you can buy.

Damian's Pappa Murphy's Fundraiser

noreply@blogger.com (McKay Earl) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:33:00 +0000

Calling all pizza lovers! Damian has launched his fundraiser for his 20-day Boy Scout adventure to the 2013 National Jamboree in West Virginia this summer. He's under the gun with his big deadline on April 1st, so we thought we'd bring out a crowd pleaser -- pizza!

We settled on the Pappa Murphy fundraiser cards (not to be confused with Pappa John's). We've always been a fan of their pizzas, especially with the take and bake model because you get a lot more pizza for your buck, with lots of toppings and higher quality ingredients.

These cards are really a great deal. For only $10 it comes with a free large 1-topping pizza right out of the gate (most Papa Murphy's charge 10 for a large one topping pizza), plus over 30% off with the other coupons on the card. The great part is these cards work for the Pappa Murphy's chains around the country.

To order a card simply shoot me an e-mail with your address (fundraiser at theearlfamily dot com).

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (McKay Earl) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:45:00 +0000

2012-- a quick run down

McKay: Boy Scouts! I had such a great time with the 11 Year Olds and even had the pleasure of being Damian's Scout leader for about half of it before I was released in the late fall.

Summer has been busy mentoring a classical education class for adults called 5 Pillars. Another major news item for Summer is she is expecting our 6th little cutie March 12, 2013.

Damian has officially falling in love with . . . reading! At first Summer or I would do our best to read the books he was reading, but the guy consumes books like he's drinking water. No way we can keep up now. Just a couple of days ago he started War and Peace. Yep, he's on his own on that one.

Esther is our little musician finishing her third performance with the community choir, EVMCO (East Valley Mormon Choral Organization). Not only does she love the big performances, she's been a great asset in singing our little Suzzie to sleep at night -- even singing for over 30 minutes some nights (yes, Suzzie milks that just a bit).

Rulon told me to put that he is a really fast runner, likes to ride his scooter and is becoming a really good artist-- we couldn't agree more. He is also a great older brother. He and Jeff are inseparable and he is so sweet to our little Suzzie.

Jeffrey has become my little right hand man when it comes to home improvement projects. So much so that for this past Christmas he got some wood, nails, safety glasses and his very own hammer. That could have been a real downer gift for some boys, but for Jeffrey, he was in heaven.

Suzanne is our little darling. What can we say, she is a perfect little angel.

Lorie Grace Earl is on her way on or around March 12, 2013. We are all so excited!

Damian's Scouting Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (McKay Earl) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:40:00 +0000

Damian has his sights set on West Virginia for the big Boy Scouts of America 2013 National Jamboree in July. 10 days of Scouting fun at the new Summit Bechtel Reserve and 10 days touring American and LDS Church historical sites including Washington DC, Gettysburg, 9-11 memorial, Palmara NY, the Hill Cumorah Pageant, Kirtland Ohio, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Personally, I would have been scared stiff do leave home for 20 days, go to the other side of the country, with boys and leaders I hardly knew and be among the youngest in attendance -- but Damian is so excited he can barely see straight.

The 20-day adventure, as you can imagine, has quite the price tag, but Damian is committed. He will be joining 35 other Boy Scouts in his provisional troop, most of which have been preparing for this event for the past 2 years (and 2 years ago, Damian was a Bear Scout in the Cub Scout program -- so we had no idea about this Jamboree back then). Being late in the fund-raising game is a challenge to be sure, so as soon as January hits, Damian will be in full out fund-raising mode. Wish him luck!

San Diego Tri!

noreply@blogger.com (McKay Earl) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 04:26:00 +0000

Thanks to the encouragement of my younger, and very athletic brother Taylor and his equally athletic wife, Laura, I completed the San Diego Olympic Triathlon. They were the best support I could have ever had. No way I would have done this one on my own. You guys rock!

This was an Olympic tri, which means it was a mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.2 mile run. I came in at 3 hours and 37 minutes and as you can see from the photo below -- I was one happy camper to be done. But even though it was tough, I actually loved it and can't wait to do another one.

Esther's EVMCO Christmas Concert

noreply@blogger.com (McKay Earl) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Esther performed in her first EVMCO (East Valley Mormon Choral Organization) Christmas concert. It was such a great experience for Esther and for our family. Damian loved it so much that he is signed up for the next semester.

Summer and Suzzie dressed up to help backstage

The new Mesa Arts Center

Rulon with Grandpa Earl

Update Dec 2012: Both of the MCO choirs (there's another one in Orange County) released a Christmas CD. I have to say that this is my favorite Christmas CD of all time (I'm not really partial, because both Damian and Esther were included in the recording -- but even still, it's amazing music!).

On their web site, http://www.mormonchoralorganizations.org/albums/ they have links to itunes or Amazon. I love #8 -- Jesús Nasciera (Ríu, Ríu, Chíu). Incredible!

Damian's Triathlon

noreply@blogger.com (McKay Earl) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:30:00 +0000

Damian completed his first Triathlon in Anthem (just north of Phoenix). Great job Damian!

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 the spot of where the building of the historic Salt Lake City Temple would be built. So "this is the place" where 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 part 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 November, but the high was still 85 degrees. Us Arizonians can only wear our cute sweaters and boots for a couple 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.