10 Good Things

I feel like I have been overly negative, or maybe justifiably negative, about my boys this summer. I don't know if it's the age, if it's because they're both boys, or what, but all they do is fight and it is driving me crazy. So, to change my frame of mind regarding my boys I am going to list ten positive things about each of them.

My Tanner


1. Is a love-bug. Loves to cuddle and be a Mommy's boy.
2. Gives whatever he is doing 100%.
3. Is the first to help out in the yard or house when asked.
4. Will still tell me he loves me in front of his friends.
5. Is a good student.
6. Has the biggest heart. His teacher gave him award for that. He is a friend to everyone.
7. Is making huge strides in overcoming his anxiety disorder.
8. Is an amazing athlete....any sport, but particularly baseball.
9. Loves to dance even though he cannot, and possibly shouldn't!
10. An amazing personality when he lets it shine through. Quick witted and sarcastic!


My Landon


1. Is such a goofball. The life of any party.
2. Loves all creatures (some to my great disliking!).
3. Loves to read and is such a sponge when it comes to soaking up information.
4. Can spell anything! Left 2nd grade reading and spelling on a 6th grade level.
5. Makes friends anywhere and everywhere.
6. Is a devoted brother....will travel in good spirits to numerous sporting events for Tanner.
7. Gives the sweetest kisses and hugs and knows just when to say "I love you, Mom".
8. Started a club at school to pick up trash to keep his school clean. Tried to sell seashells from a stand in the front yard. Has such an entrepreneurial spirit!
9. Lives in la-la land but will gladly invite you to visit. He says it's pretty.
10. Is not ashamed or embarrassed to be himself, which is a goofball with an amazing, funny, crazy personality who at one time claimed Barbie and Pretty Ponies as his favorite toys!

Instead of harping on the negative all the time, I am hoping to be able to find the good in any situation regarding my children. Like when they're throwing coasters at one another I can focus on the amazing arms and aim that both my children possess instead of the fact that they are trying to beat one another!! Not sure if I can be that positive, but I'm going to give it one heck of a shot!

Summer Time

Our summer has been busy, but fun...so far. There are days I wonder if the kids, or I, will make it out of this alive, but so far we're all still breathing. I don't know how stay-at-home moms do it. I always thought that that was what I wanted but now that I've been home all summer with my boys, I'm not so sure! Landon set up a stand to sell seashells one day and I got a picture of him and T out the window looking bored as business was non-existent. Guess there's not a big market for seashells! My little Landon is FINALLY growing taller and putting on a few pounds, while his brother has passed me in the tallness (or shortness) department. I now officially look up to my 11 year old.


Baseball has come to a conclusion for the year. Tanner had a great year despite some setbacks. He strained his MCL which required him to take some time off of baseball. Try telling an 11 year old boy that he needs to stay off his leg for 4-6 weeks. Didn't go over too well. He took a few weeks off and then went back to baseball as usual. He ended up the season with a .400 batting average, which is great considering this team kept stats like they do in the pros. He did an awesome job at first base with some great digs. Couldn't be prouder! He's been off for 5 days now and is already going stir crazy but he needs to give his leg some time to heal so no fall baseball for him this year. He played with some amazing kids and we met some amazing parents this season. All in all, it was a good experience for us.

Landon has quite the grasshopper collection living in our dearly departed frog's tank. He also has two fish...started out with three but we've already had to bury one! I was so proud because he had named the two fish Barack and Michelle. I am doing something right with that boy!! He continues to read and checks books out from the library on the most random stuff. Last week it was planets and geometry. I'm convinced he is some kind of genius in the making!




I was offered a job teaching this fall at a brand new charter school named Hawthorn Academy. I will be teaching 7th grade Utah History and 8th grade U.S. History. I am the only history teacher there so I'm going into a new job as a new teacher in a new school as the department chair. Scary!!! I'm also teaching art history which is frightening seeing as how I'm not so artsy myself. Art history is going to be completely new to me but I'm excited to learn right along with my students. The job market was looking bleak so I feel very blessed to have this job, especially since they had over 200 applicants for my position! Both boys will be able to be students at the school and next year I will have Tanner in class. That is something to look forward to!!




My aunt came to visit from Iowa and we took a trip to Moab with her, my sister and her family, and my parents. It was perfect weather and a good time. I got my butt kicked by the hike to Delicate Arch, but I made it! Looks just like the license plate! Don't know if I'll do it again, but I can say I did it once!

I was hoping to make a trip back to the midwest this summer but with school meetings and everything it's not looking too hopeful. I miss my home! Guess I will have to settle for a summer vacation to Moab this year. Speaking of home, our new house is great! The boys are finally making friends in the neighborhood and have had some friends over from the old neighborhood and the baseball team. I still get a kick out of yard work, because it's MY yard that I'm working in. I'm sure that feeling will fade faster than Steve would like!


Off to do some lesson plans. I'm quickly learning that teachers really don't have their summers off. It's all an illusion so that they can catch crap from their husbands for having a "part-time job"!

Let the insanity begin....

Baseball season has now officially started for the Kearns household. March Madness was held last weekend in St. George. Tanner's team did very well. Especially for a new team that has never played together. They went 3-1 for the tournament and apparently made quite a name for themselves with the other teams in their bracket. But I cannot say for sure as I was not able to be there. I left Friday at 2:10 sharp. I was out the door with my students and on the road after a short stop at the 7-11 for a Pepsi and a snack to keep Landon's mouth occupied so he would not chitty-chat me to death on the way there. I made it in 3 hours and 45 minutes, not too shabby of a time, but still not in time to see any of the games. Of course, with two games a week and doubleheaders every Saturday there is plenty of baseball yet for me to see. But this teaching thing has really gotten in the way of my being an involved parent! On the upside, as of today I only have six days left until I am finished. Then I just have to wrap up my portfolio and I will be a graduate. Can you believe it??? I can't either. This has been a long time coming and I cannot wait for someone to just give me that piece of paper already!!

But I digress....according to Steve Tanner did really well in the tournament. His coach compares him to Charlie Brown with the way he continually hits line drives up the middle. I'd love to see one get over the fence one day so he can take a leisurely stroll around the bases and his momma wouldn't have to worry so much. His batting average is the tops for the team right now at .500. He's got a mean glove at first and he's the best first baseman I've seen. Of course I'm not at all biased either!

We did get to spend some time in St. George with some of the teammates and parents from last years team. It was so nice to see them and hang out for a little while. I sure do miss the old team. It's hard to go from starting to feel like you finally fit in and are part of the "family" to starting all over again. Tanner's coaches this year are great and we really like all the kids, it's just the starting over part that none of us like much. Such is life. I'm sure it won't be the last time that we will have to do this during Tanner's baseball playing years.

Landon has decided he wants to do martial arts and gymnastics. Not sure how I feel about my son wanting to take gymnastics but we will see. I'm pulling for golf and tennis but so far it's a no go as far as he is concerned. I'll be sure to keep you updated on his sport of choice.

Where has the time gone?

Who knew this blogging thing was going to be so hard to keep up with? So much has happened since my last blog. We've moved into our house, which is WONDERFUL! I love having my own place to call home again! We were able to spend Christmas here as a family, still in boxes, but it was great! The boys each have their own rooms which is good for them, and me. They each have their own "space" and get to have some time apart from each other. And when they're naughty, they each have their own place I can send them to which is even better! The boys got a Wii this year for Christmas and I have to admit I like it just as much, if not more, than they do. I can say that I am not smarter than a 5th grader but I am a mean bowler and tennis player. Now if only I was in real life.

I've been doing my student teaching since January 5th and am LOVING it. High schoolers leave something to be desired some days but for the most part I enjoy them and love when I see a concept stick. The only thing I can think to compare it to is watching your own children succeed. The sense of pride you feel....it's amazing. I have about a month left and am already feeling a little sad about it. My host teacher says I'm doing great, which is always nice to hear. Guess being an educator runs in the family! I was able to quit my data entry job about a week ago which has been a huge blessing. I was feeling so overwhelmed with everything that was on my plate that I felt like I was drowning. My lovely husband realized this and told me to quit and concentrate on getting my degree done and out of the way. What a relief!

Steve and I are happier than ever! He truly is my best friend and the one I can count on for anything and everything. I'm a lucky girl to not have only married him once....but twice! He has had to pick up some of the slack since I've started my student teaching and I'm so appreciative. There's no way I could have made it through this without him or my parents who take the boys in the morning and get them off to school. I have the very BEST family!

The boys are adjusting to the new house, one better than the other. Tanner is struggling with making new friends. He misses his friends from the old neighborhood. He's just so shy that he struggles in approaching kids to play. There's plenty of them in this neighborhood, many his age. I'm hoping that when the weather is warmer more kids will be out and it won't be such a big deal for him anymore. Landon has a couple of friends....two little girls to be exact. I don't know what it is about him and the girls, but they sure seem to like him and vice versa.

Baseball is in full swing. We've had a tournament in Vegas, one in St. George and another one in St. George coming up in two weeks. The bad part about doing my student teaching is that I've had to miss some of the games. I missed the whole first tournament in St. George thanks to school and my first ever (and hopefully last) kidney stone. I've never felt so much pain. Not even when delivering Tanner's big old noggin. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Thank goodness for Lortab! Tanner's having a great season so far with a batting average of .528, second highest on his team. He's such an amazing player and a complete joy to watch! I am a very proud mom! And Landon...what a trooper that kid is. He spent his birthday in Vegas watching six baseball games of his brothers....with minimal complaint! Such a good kid and his brother's biggest fan!

I was hoping that I had pictures to post of the house but I apparently haven't taken any yet! I will get on that in the next few days....or weeks. You all know how I work!! The only thing I ask is that you not laugh at my lack of decorations. Turns out the stuff I've had in storage for five years now is HORRIBLE! I will not ruin my new house with early 90's decorations! I am open to any suggestions or any interior decorators out there that may want to help!