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!

Wedded Bliss

Exciting news....I'm a wife....again! Steve and I got married on November 26 at the Salt Lake County courthouse. Not the most romantic of locations but due to time constraints with the house, had to make do! We are planning a much more exciting trip to Las Vegas in May where we can have some family time and celebrate. My friend Melanie came to the ceremony and I am so glad that she did! It's strange to have someone go from being a complete stranger a year ago to someone you consider one of your best friends. Love ya Mel! We spent the day with the kids and then went to dinner that night with my sister and her husband, Robb, to Lugano's. It was really good food and good to spend some one on one time with my sis without a gaggle of children around! We then went to Liquid Joe's for our version of a "reception". No need for a traditional reception when you're marrying the same man for the second time! It was fun to hang out with my
good friends and just enjoy the company and the band! Nothing says love and romance like a good ole fake hair band doing cover songs from the 80's! Good times! We are going to dinner with both families tonight for further celebration. Can't wait for some good food and to spend time with both families!


Thanksgiving was great for us this year. I have so much to be grateful for this year. My boys are awesome. They are healthy and happy and provide me with infinite joy. I have a great husband who loves me and whom I love. I am excited to start our lives together again! I have great parents who have let me stay with them while I worked on my degree. I could not have done it without their help. I live in a great country that proved how great it is with the election of Obama. I feel like the United States nows lives up to the statement that it is the land of opportunity. I am thankful for all the members of the service who protect us and keep us safe. God bless them and their families who sacrifice so much.



School is going okay. I have a MAJOR deadline coming up December 15th and then I have the next two weeks off before I start my student teaching in January at Cottonwood High School. Between the wedding, school work, and moving into a new house my life has been very busy but I wouldn't have it any other way! I love where my life is heading and am looking forward to a very exciting future! I'm also wondering how many times I can use the word exciting in one post!



Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Finally.....

Finally....some good news on the house shopping front! Someone was kind enough to accept our offer on a house in South Jordan. Some kind person must have sensed my frustration somehow and thought "I'll throw this girl a bone." And then.....the bank did the same! Wonders never cease! Just when I was ready to throw in the towel and start crying myself to sleep at night. We are supposed to close December 2 so we should be in and maybe not living out of boxes just in time for Christmas. Tanner is struggling with the move which is breaking my little heart. And Landon, true to Landon form, is excited for a new adventure. Due to some financing issues dealing with child support Steve and I may have to do a quickie marriage at the courthouse. Nothing says romance like getting married by a complete stranger at the county courthouse! And since I'm demanding a new ring we will not have it by our drive by wedding date! But love is love and I don't need a fancy wedding (again) or a ring on my hand to prove that Steve is my one and only.



Here's a picture of the new house that I lifted from the MLS website....shhhh....don't tell. I'm sure there's something illegal about that.

I will post some more when I actually get to move into this beaut!

We recently had pictures taken of the cousins (Tanner, Landon, Lanee, & Zach). Quite an experience with a two year old. Makes me so grateful my kids are of the age where they can be cooperative for this yearly experience. And by experience, I mean EXPERIENCE. Trying to coordinate outfits for three boys and one girl is more difficult than it sounds! Here's some pictures of my little heartbreakers.....

My lil angels

I am sitting here thinking about my boys and want to share a couple of my favorite things about each of them: some funny and some serious.


Tanner is my oh-so-serious child on the outside but is such a goofball once you get to know him. He suffers from such severe anxiety that only those closest to him get to see the REAL Tanner. He has an amazing sense of humor and loves to joke around. He is such an angel to his brother when he doesn't think I'm watching because heaven forbid he get caught being nice to him! My favorite funny thing about Tanner is that he is afraid of the tooth fairy. Who is afraid of a little winged creature who leaves money under your pillow? I know I wouldn't be! He thinks she has a big, bad boyfriend who is going to yank him out of bed and drag him off. So, everytime he loses a tooth he has to sleep with me so that I can protect him. I love that my big kid is afraid of something so small.

My little Landon is my goofball on the inside and out. He is the life of our family. He has so much personality stuffed into such a tiny package. Landon is very generous and loves to give, give, give. He has given away many of his toys, stuffed animals, etc. Anytime he has money he will spend it on something for his brother or his cousins, never on himself. My favorite funny story about Landon is that while riding bikes with his brother through their dad's neighborhood they rode into a circle. Landon was lagging behind and didn't see Tanner exit the circle. My son, God bless him, got lost in a circle. He sat there on his bike and cried until Tanner came back and showed him the way out. He couldn't figure out to just stay on the sidewalk and it would take him out the same way he came in. Oh...I think that kid would get lost trying to find his way out of a paper bag. I sure hope his sense of direction improves with time!

Both of my boys are cuddlers, which I love. We have movie night once a week where we all pile into my bed and watch a movie together. I love this time with my sons to just hang out with them and talk. I have learned so much about my sons during these times. I feel that by being a single mom to them and having to rely on each other more, we are more than just a mom and sons. We are also friends and I wouldn't change that for the world. My boys are also each others protectors. When the neighborhood bully was picking on Tanner, Landon stood up to him and got in his face. Those of you that have seen my little one know that he's about as big as a flea and probably as easy to flick off as one but that didn't stop him from acting like a pit bull and sticking up for his brother. That gave Tanner the courage he needed to stand up for himself.

My favorite story of late is that when their Dad and I told them that we were talking about getting remarried they asked if they could both walk me down the aisle. That warms my heart and makes me smile more than anything else. I love my boys so much and know they love me. I am a very lucky mom indeed.

Tagged by Lindy!

Here's my first tag...ever. So....here goes.

8 TV Shows I Like

1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Eli Stone
3. Any football game
4. Life on Mars
5. The View
6. Desperate Housewives
7. The Hills
8. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition


8 Things I Did Yesterday

1. Worked
2. Went to Old Navy
3. Took Landon to McD's
4. Went out with Melanie to my friend Stephen's house
5. Had a GREAT time with my friends
6. Worked some more
7. Got a Pepsi from P66
8. Tried to be spontaneous and go to Vegas for Madonna concert with my friend who I haven't talked to in 15 years but found thanks to Facebook


8 Favorite Places to Eat

1. La Frontera
2. Chili's
3. Italian Village
4. Cafe Rio
5. Barbacoa
6. Noodles & Co.
7. La Puente
8. The Pie


8 Things on My Wish List

1. See my boys grow up to be happy, healthy, well-adjusted men
2. Find a house
3. Adopt a baby girl
4. Finish school
5. Visit all 50 states, do a history tour
6. Do an internship for Pacific Whale Foundation
7. Meet Kenny Chesney
8. See a MLB game & Indianapolis Colts home game


8 Favorite Songs

1. "Strong Enough" by Sheryl Crow
2. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zepplin
3. "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney
4. "Read Em and Weep" by Barry Manilow
5. "Stay" by Sugarland
6. "Stupid Boy" by Keith Urban
7. "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
8. "Baba OReilly" by The Who


8 Things I Miss about Childhood

1. Thinking bubbles were fascinating
2. No stress
3. No gray hair or wrinkles
4. Knowing the whole world was mine to conquer
5. Playing softball
6. Sleepovers
7. Unconditional friendships
8. Toilet papering



Now, if you read this, you must do it and add your own category of 8 at the bottom!

Halloweenies

Although I'd like to take full credit for the originality of the boys' costumes this year, I cannot. They came up with this idea all on their own. I did, however, make the Hot Dog Stand box. I'm thinking of giving Martha Stewart a run for her money. Those of you that know me well know that couldn't be further from the truth! I don't have a creative bone in my body. I find this very disturbing because I see images in my head that I can never bring to fruition due to this little problem of mine. The boys decided to go, obviously, as a hot dog stand and a hot dog. Or as I call him, my little weenie. In my very humble opinion, they had the best costumes around!

October has come and gone, and still no house. We have an offer in on one right now in South Jordan that I'm really hoping will happen. Both Steve and I like this house, which is rare! I am finding this whole process to be disheartening. It makes me wonder why oh why we cannot find a house that someone will agree to sell to us. I shouldn't complain though. All in all, we are lucky. We have each other and we have two great kids. I need to remember to be humble and grateful for what I do have. But darnit, it's so hard sometimes. And as you know, patience is NOT one of my virtues.

The boys are doing great. Both are doing really well in school and both like their teachers which makes getting them up and ready to go in the mornings so much easier. Getting ready to get back to the grind for baseball for Tanner. Last season they started practicing in November but I think they're going to push it back some this year. Starting in November makes for a very long season. Landon has decided that he wants to stick with soccer. I have to admit I'm a little disappointed, but only because I don't understand the rules. Guess that will come in time! I'm already trying to figure out how I'm going to juggle student teaching, Tanner's baseball practice three to four times a week and Landon's soccer come spring time. It's stressing me out and we're not even through Christmas yet! I can totally sympathize with those Calgon commercials from my childhood. Calgon....take me away....

House Hunting Woes

So...as you all know, we've been searching high and low for a home. We've concentrated mostly in the Herriman and Riverton areas for two reasons. One, we like it out there. And two, Tanner's baseball team is based out of Riverton so it will make those 3 or 4 times a week practices not quite such a chore to get to. We've put in an offer on a short sale home. It was such a high on Thursday to find out that the sellers had accepted our offer and it was now on it's way to the bank for the final approval. THEN we got the call on Friday that said that someone had upped our offer. And, my high was gone as quick as it came. For those of you that don't know how short sales work, let me explain what I know. A short sale is a house that is very near foreclosure and the bank has stepped in and said you have to sell. I compare this process to buying on ebay. For example, we make an offer. It has to be accepted by the sellers first, then onto the bank for approval, which can take weeks, months, who knows. We can be outbid at ANY time by another buyer up until the signing of the papers. We could be in our car, on the way to closing, and they could get a higher offer and we'd be ousted for the higher bid. Such a headache. I love, love, love the house we put the offer in on but it STINKS!!! It definitely needs new carpet and paint. We're grappling with the issue now of whether we up our offer, knowing that we need to sink about $5000 into this house right out of the gate to make it liveable or move on and hopefully find something that doesn't need improvements right away. Can I just say that I hate not having disposable income to spend at my leisure?!

I am blessed

I heard this morning that one of my sister's best friends little boy passed away last night. I don't know them well, I've hung out with them a couple of times at my sisters, but my heart aches for them. He was only five years old. He was diagnosed in June with cancer with a good chance of remission. He received his first bout of chemo which shrunk the tumor so quickly and so much that it perforated his bowel and he got sepsis. He never recovered from that and he continued to spiral downward, just one thing after another. It causes me to reflect on my children and how incrediby blessed I am to have overall healthy children. It makes me put into perspective the day to day things with my kids that I think are so horrible. They may drive me crazy some days, but they're here. I can hug them and kiss them whenever I want. I can yell at them when they're being naughty. But still, they're here for me to yell at. I can't imagine having to take your five year old off of life support and hold him while his heart stops beating and I pray to God that I will never have to know. I know that I am going to hug and appreciate my children a little more today, and everyday. I guess sometimes it takes a tragedy to make one appreciate and put into perspective their lives. Life is not about having money, or the best house on the block, or the nicest car. Life is about family and memories and love.

I'm a sucker

So...I've been suckered into starting a blog! Let's start with the basics. I'm a single mom to two great little boys. Tanner is now 10 and Landon is 7. And nooo....I'm not old enough to have a ten year old. Tanner is my sports/four-wheeling/fishing loving kid. Landon is my tenderheart. He loves animals of any shape or size, much to my disliking. Landon currently has (and by Landon I mean me, because I'm left to take care of them!) a cat named Dexter, a frog named Sizzle and a fish named Bella. We are a zoo in the making! I'm blessed to have two smart kids. They both do very well in school and make me a proud parent. Landon was the first grade spelling bee champ last year and loves learning to spell new words. Tanner plays on a super league baseball team which took us to Colorado, Arizona and Nevada last year for tournaments. He usually plays first base but also plays some outfield and has one mean bat on him! I will be doing my student teaching in January at Cottonwood. I've been back to meet with the teacher and it's surreal being back in the halls of CHS. I am currently dating my ex-husband and we are shopping for a home. It's a task I love and hate all at the same time! Steve and I are doing amazingly well. I think it took both of losing what we had to make us realize how much we do indeed love each other. Now that you're all up to date, I will try and keep regular blogs so that my friends can stay in touch with me and vice versa!