Introducing...

~ Bennett Tyler Kearl ~
7 lbs, 13 oz.
20 inches
2:54 am, 12.28.08

Ava and Christian were excited that Bennett brought each of them their own little baby to take care of!

Family of 5! Ty and I are officially out-numbered...

Ava and Christian love, love, love their new baby Bennett!

After a false alarm the week before, out little baby decided to finally come. Labor started during our post-Christmas shopping. By 8pm I was sure this was the real deal and we went to the hospital. The labor was worse than it was with Ava Mae and Christian, but eventually my favorite friend pinched me in the back and my lower extremities thankfully went numb. Thank heaven for modern medicine... Things went fairly quickly once I was ready. All-in-all it went really well. We still haven't been able to figure out whether Bennett looks more like Ava or Christian, part of each. As you can tell, the kids really love Bennett. Ava wants to hold him all the time and can't wait to help at home and Christian is quite possessive of his little brother and insists that his name is "baby" not Bennett (as you can see in one of the videos).

Ty and I can hardly believe we have a family of 5!

For more pictures and video (PG rated) you can go to http://www.kearlfamily.smugmug.com/ (if you don't know my maiden name, leave a comment and I'll email it to you, also, you must capitalize the first letter)

Expect some more posts in the future!

San Fran for Christmas

We've been trying to fit in some last Christmas festivities before it's too late. So we spent the day in the City, which was a lot of fun. We went down to the wharf first to see the sea lions, eat sour dough bread bowls and Ghiradelli sundaes...yum. Then we headed to Union Square to see the beautiful Christmas decorations. It was crazy and crowded, but a lot of fun.

You can't tell in the picture, but Macy's has a huge wreath in every window.

The beautiful Union Square Christmas Tree

Lastly, we found this gem of a Griswald house...I think they had to have multiple generators to run all this stuff. My kids were going nuts seeing this one.

BABY UPDATE:
...

Still no baby.

...

I was pretty confident the baby was coming this past Sunday morning. I had contractions all night. They even got to 3 minutes apart. I swear by the 3rd time around you should know what's going on. Well, about 3am came around and we were about to walk out the door to the hospital when they started slowing down. By 5am I was sleeping soundly. I had them occasionally throughout the day, then they stopped, major bummer to say the least. So now we are still waiting. Now I am just hoping to make it through the next 2 days without a baby...I'm jinxing myself I am sure. I do think he has gained a full pound in the last few days, I get bigger (and more uncomfortable) by the minute. Oh well, he'll come when he wants to :)

BIG Thanks!

I possibly have the best sister in the world. She busted out some seriously cute stockings for herself for Christmas this year. Well, after hearing how much I loved her stockings and that I wanted to make them, but of course didn't have time to whip them up, she called asking if I wanted her to make them for me. Then within a week I not only have stockings but adorable stocking holders as well. I love them. She did such a good job. I can't wait to use them year after year. It was so nice knowing I couldn't manage making them myself and having a sister who wanted to do something so nice for me. So, thanks Mand, Love you!

Now, check these out!!

(look close and you might be able to see what baby boy kearl's name is going to be...)

Christmas Cards

So Tyler and I had an interesting conversation the other night after dicussing the cost of Christmas Cards...

Ty: "I am so glad you are not one that has to send out Christmas cards each year. Actually, we are 5 for 5 on NOT sending out cards."

ME: Really depressed, furrowed brow look... "yeah, I know" as I consider the intentions I had each year.

Ty: Realizing EXACTLY what I was thinking, "Well, I guess I am just glad that by the time Christmas comes around you have no time or energy to do Christmas cards."

ME: Even more depressed.

So, to those we call friends, don't be offended at the lack of joyful tidings sent your way. Consider

this our

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

with love

Tyler, Lindsey, Ava Mae, Christian and Fetus Kearl

More December Fun

My kids just loved seeing Santa ;)

Last night was Tyler's work Christmas party...always a fun night.I'd like to think I'm not quite as big as the muumuu sweater picture a couple posts back made me look when I am in normal clothes...close, but not quite. BTW- if I haven't gone by the 29th I will be induced. That is 2 weeks from tomorrow. I have some serious stuff to do before then.

Lastly, this is what happens when we leave our kids with a babysitter. Ava scheming a way to sleep in bed with her brother. At least they went to sleep...until about 1am when they both came wondering out.

Green, Cheap, or Crazy??

I haven't decided which one I am. Maybe a little of all three.

I am doing cloth diapers...yikes. Luckily we have moved forward in the world and no longer keep our children's "business" put together with sharp, pokey objects. I am kind of excited. I'll report back. Wish me nothing but odorless, speckle filled, yellow poops.

THE PAR-TAY!

For the last few years Tyler and I have thrown mini gingerbread house contest parties. This year we stepped it up and invited 40 more people. After changing our backyard into a living room (Christmas tree and all) as well as a campsite and then likewise changing our living room to have prime gingerbread making conditions, not to mention a 3 minute Goodwill trip where the oh so UN-flattering on a pregnant body, 2XL, knit sweater was found...we were set.
Here is a run down of the festivities.

A few ugly Christmas sweaters...

complete with gold leggings...sweet!

The winning couple. His zip-up woman's sweater had the 12 days of Christmas and each day's accompanied item (i.e. turtle-doves). Way to shop for this one!

So after socialising over food, hot drinks and the cozy firepit, the real competition began...gingerbread houses! I have to admit, my pictures don't do justice. We have some creative friends. The bar is set, I'm pretty sure people will come with floor plans in hand next year.

The Kenney/Pickett Compound, complete with all resort amenities.

I loved the Parkes "house" or rather ark.


The clock tower

Way to be creative with a failing house Bennetts ;) I think it is awesome.

Quaint little house.

Pharris' campground was awesome...loved the little fire.

And the Leeflang's winning house. The details on the house were awesome, the fire with roasting marshmallow, the car parked in front, the stack of fire wood, it was great. I guess it wasn't a fair game, they've had a little more practice than the rest of us on their real house.

Three of the many pregnant women there. Erin is due the 28th and I'm the 29th. Alie, although you cannot even tell she is pregnant, is due a few weeks behind us. Fun little friends our boy will have.

We ended the night next to the fire. All in all it was so much fun. Thanks to all our fun friends for coming and making it great! On our smugmug site is some video of the sweet lighting decor that Ty did in our backyard.

What I missed...

Oh yes, the annual cookie swap/contest that my friend puts on every year.

A full night of treats with plenty to take home. What could be more important you might ask? An Accounting team party...no, I didn't have much say in the issue. Kidding, it was fun, and I probably saved myself 10 lbs and a third chin for the holidays :)

Poker Night Birthday

The weekend started with a very Happy Birthday Party for our friend Brian. He turned 30 and we all celebrated with a night filled with POKER. Once I learned how to play and was slightly advised (in the tutorial round only...of course!) I did quite well. I then had a huge pile of candy to bet away at my own free will. Unfortunately, we had to cut our night short and I decided at the top of my sugar high to donate my winnings to a couple in need, which I was sorely regreting the next morning when I was ready for more.

Alie and Hayley (with her sorry stash).

Just before doing our good deed of donation...what are the holidays for anyway.

The birthday boy!

The lovely POKER players. We had a blast. Who knew poker was so fun? Thanks for having a birthday Brian.

Gone Fishing...

Could life get better than this...

My boy had his first fishing trip. He wouldn't let go of the fishing pole. He would swing it back and try to throw it in, just like his daddy. And everytime he saw that green little squirmy thing on the end of the string (the bait) he cheered like he just caught the biggest fish ever. So you can only imagine his reaction each time Ty pulled out the real thing. We sure love this little guy!

Ava fished from the dock, she wouldn't come into the canoe with us. But boy did she get excited everytime daddy caught a fish. She would yell from the shore, "Daddy, I see your fish. Good job Dad." We had a such a fun trip we had with good company and wonderful surroundings. The dad's took Ava and her friends turkey hunting. There are a lot of videos on our smugmug if your interested.