Thanks Liz!

I'm loving how Liz has been updating our blog and making it such a fun place to visit! Thanks so much for keeping us all on the ball and so well informed.

Mom

Christmas Time

So I've been thinking what are our plans for the holidays while I am home? Are there any plans yet? If so what are they and if now I think that we should start making some.

I know that Jennifer and Tyson will be in Utah for a couple days and I am sure that Sarita and Ali will be spending time with their in-laws so I am thinking that we should plan ahead to maximize the time that we are all actually together. Not sure about Ricky's schedule either, or how long he will be home from school.

Like I said before, I will be home for almost a full week this year. I have not made any of my own plans yet so feel free to make some for me so long as they don't include babysitting. :) Just kidding . . . I might be willing to babysit a little bit.

Anyway . . . thoughts anyone?

WE REALLY DID GET THIS HOUSE...

After getting beaten out on our offers twice they finally took this one.

It's kind of out in the middle of nowhere but we love it and are really excited about making it our home! We can't wait for you all to see it!

Love you all!

Liz's Travel Plans

I just thought that I would update you all as to my plans for my two trips home this fall/winter. For Ali's wedding I will be flying in on Wednesday night the 12th and leaving on Sunday the 16th. So whatever gets planned in between, just let me know.

As far as Christmas, I will be flying home on Monday night the 22nd and will be leaving on Sunday the 28th. Not sure what everyone's plans are, but that is when I will be there.

Love you all!

Liz

Christmas...

I know, it is still early August but mom and I were talking on Saturday morning for a bit and decided we needed to start thinking about Christmas plans. The bigger we get as a family the harder it is to get us all on the same page. Regarding sibling gifts mom and I talked about the draw a name out of a hat idea. I love that we always get everyone something, but I'm not sure how possible that is now... Thoughts? Also, we need to make at least six new stockings this year, so when do we want to do that, Thanksgiving? Plus there is the whole who is going to be in town when issue. Again, I know that it is pretty far out, but lets at least begin the conversation. I know that Liz said she would be coming home and staying for about six days (very exciting) so it might be nice to know what the rest of us are all doing. I can't say for sure what our plans are until we know if Tyson's work schedule but I figured that if we started the conversation by December everyone should be pretty clear on what everyone else is planning on...

HELP!!

Ok, so this is kind of funny, but seriously I am asking for some advice here.

Don't know how many of you have seen the cover article for the Ensign this month, but it is all about how to cope with being single. Anyway, my bishopric feels very strongly that our wards need to really hear this message and selected a few people in the ward who they feel are living happy productive single lives to share their experiences with the ward in relation to this article. And for some reason they think that I am one of these people. Apparently they don't know me as well as they think that they do.

I honestly avoided the article like I do most articles of that nature because really I never feel like they say anything new and you know that they were written by either therapists or married people. But I gave in and read it last night knowing that I have to speak on this subject next week.

The article makes a few good points, but still nothing new. But it uses the word cope and dealing with loss in relation to being single and I guess that I have never really felt that way so I don't understand that. I don't fee like I cope, I just live my life and I don't feel like I have lost anything, just that I don't have something yet that I want. So I guess I have a hard time relating to people that do. Granted, I am not thrilled to still be single with no real prospects, but I don't see the point in being miserable about it either. I have bad days, but the good ones are much more frequent.

What they have asked all three of us to focus on is the first subsection of the article about acknowledging and dealing with the pain. Not sure what that means . . . but I feel like you acknowledge and deal with it by living your life your way and making goals besides just getting married and having a family.

Anyway, help please. Please if you get a chance read the article and let me know what you think or any insights that you may have. I am really not sure where to go with this.

Thanks, love you all!!

Lizzy

Jacob's Army Reserve Photo

On Monday, July 14, 2008, Jacob was sworn in as a member of the Army Reserve. He will be an intelligence analyst and has already received his first advancement as a result of earning his Eagle Scout Award. He will begin basic training on June 26, 2009 at Jackson Army Base in South Carolina for 9 weeks and then transfer to Huachuca?? Army Base in Arizonza for 15 weeks of job training. Then he'll go to school for one semester and then off on a mission. He has a busy couple of years ahead! We're pretty proud of him and excited for him!

Liz and Cletus

Ok, my friend just sent me this picture . . . this was at my new years party about a week after Cletus came to live with me. That night we put his BSU shirt that mom got him for Christmas on him for the first time. He was darn cute in it too . . . anyway . . . thought that I would share.

Happy Fathers Day!

I love you dad!! I hope that you have a great Father's Day!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!

I love you dad!!

Busy Week...

So, it looks like this will be a busy week, you know mom and dad closing on their new house and moving and also Sarita and Eric closing on their house...and I'm sure that everyone else has a lot going on this week as well.

I just wanted to say good luck to everyone with what they have going on. Let us know what you need and we'll be there.

Tyson's POST Academy Graduation

Tyson's POST Academy graduation was today. I'm pretty proud of him. He is excited to be done with the academy and get to work. I just thought that I would share a picture with you guys. I think that he looks pretty cute in his uniform...

Names . . .

First . . . thanks for making me a part of brunch this morning.

Second . . . since then I have been trying to think of other options for a middle name for the new baby and sad to say I haven't had much luck. So I thought that maybe it would be fun to open up the forum on here and see what ideas we could all come up with . . . maybe the boys have a good idea . . .

So the first name that I think that we all liked was Jackman. It was Great Grandma Harper's maiden name and what the J. stands for as Grandpa Harper's middle initial. It is unusual for a first name, but I really liked it . . . and we can call him "Jack" which I think is awesome!

Granted this name is not official, but I am trying to make it that way . . . was that subtle? In any case it needs a middle name . . . so feel free to post any bright ideas . . .

The one that I liked so far is Clark, but let's see if there is anything else that we can come up with.

Lizzy's Daffodils

Here is a picture of our newest daffodils. Liz sent me these bulbs last fall. She chose this variety because they're named "Elizabeth". I think they're beautiful!

Good luck!

I just wanted to with Jenn and Tyson good luck on their house closing today. I hope that everything goes as planned and there are no more detours. I'm excited for you to have your own little place! I can't wait to come home and visit and see what you guys do with the place. Also, good luck with the move, sorry I am not going to be able to help :).

Lizzy

Good luck!

I just wanted to with Jenn and Tyson good luck on their house closing today. I hope that everything goes as planned and there are no more road

Thought that I would share

Hey family,
I just thought that I would share a quick example of some of my spring work. I know that you guys don't really get to see what I do. This isn't one of my favorite ones, but very typical. I will have to post some more when I get the photos all taken. That is my project for the next week or so.
Talk to you all later.
Love you,
Liz

Summer Plans

I wanted to check in with everyone and see if there is any plan for all of us to get together this summer. I would like to come home at some point, but am not sure what is going on with everyone. It might be fun to plan something like a camping trip, or boating (since I have never been on the boat) or something. I'm not sure, I am looking for suggestions. Also, I know you all have your own plans so we kinda would need to coordinate. Anyway, everyone let me know what you think cause I know that you all have busy lives too.

Love you guys!

Lizzy

Happy Birthday, Eric!

Today is Eric's Birthday, FYI.

Family Pictures

Did we get the picture files back from Mary Jessica yet? I want to see them!

House Tour

Some of you have expressed interest in seeing the house that Tyson and I are buying. Well, I talked to my realtor and he will swing by the house at 4pm on Saturday and unlock it for us. So, any of you who would like to come and see it, we can go then.

Guess what!

I come home today!

Just thought that I would remind everyone . . . actually I get home really late tonight and with my luck my flight will be delayed and I will really arrive early tomorrow morning, but still . . . the point is I am coming home!

EASTER PLANS:
Okay so for Easter mom has asked that the big girls (I guess I'm one of the big girls now) plan everything so that she just has to show up and not be in charge of anything... so this is what I'm thinking...

Friday will just be a play day... Liz I work all morning and then I'm in charge of my branch activity that night so you're welcome to come if you want! It should be fun...

Saturday... In the morning we want to do that Easter Egg Scramble thing but we won't make it there till probably nine thirty in time for the egg hunt... and then stay for hot dogs and then bring the kids home for nap time. After naps, so around three of four, we'll decorate easter eggs and just all play in the back yard and have a fun night.

Sunday morning we'll go to church at 9, and then after church we'll do a small lunch for the kids and put them down for naps (if we miss naps we're in trouble... trust me!) and then after naps we'll do the family dinner, so probably like 4:30, and after dinner we'll do easter baskets and have an easter egg hunt in the backyard... During nap time the big kids could hide the eggs in the backyard and put together baskets so that I don't have to do it by myself! We could do pictures sometime around six, after dinner when the sun is setting, We'll just do them in the backyard rather than trying to transport this crew somewhere... it's harder than is sounds and it sounds hard so just imagine! Then just a nice relaxing candy filled sunday evening!

That's all I've got... and suggestions?
The kids are so excited for Liz and Rick to come and have been counting down the days till easter so it should be a really fun weekend!

We got the house!

Just incase I haven't told you already, our offer was accepted! We will close on April 14th if all goes well...

Easter Plans

So, Easter plans anyone? I know that we don't like to have things too scheduled out but I am thinking that a basic outline would be nice...just so that we can make plans as well. So, when are Liz and Ricky coming to town? Do we have anything planned for Saturday? (We can take the kids to the bid Easter egg hunts at the park orthe zoo) What is the plan for Sunday? What time is church, dinner, Easter baskets fun, egg hunts, etc? Also, are we doing the family picture on Sunday and if so what are we wearing for it and where is it going to be taken? Just basically I'd like to know where to be when and I'll make it work. So, who wants to write up our outline?

Update...

So, I realized that I'm not keeping you all up to date on our whole home buying situation. Anyway, the house that we put an offer on over and month ago (and waited forever to hear back on) was taken off the market earlier this week. So, we had to start over. We went out today and found two more houses that we just love and went ahead and made an offer on one of them. Good news, this time it is owned by a person, not a bank, so we should hear back on our offer on Monday. Plus, if this one doesn't work out, we already have another one all lined up. About the house, it is a 4 bedroom 2 bath (half of which are down stairs in the partly unfinished basement) with a living room and a family room. We really like it. It is right by the Fred Meyer in Nampa. We'll let you know next week when we hear back.

Sorry!

Mom told me today that we had to remove all the pictures of the kids off the internet. Including the blog. We're not allowed to have pictures of foster kids on the internet. So I'm especially sorry to Liz and Rick. I think Mom or Ali can e-mail you picture if you want. I also removed the slide show because I didn't know how to edit it. Anyone can feel free to put it back if they take out the pictures of the kids. Again, I am sorry!

Our new blog

Eric and I have a blog now. We've put the link on the page so you can all find it. Enjoy!

Easter

Ok, so I am still hoping that Ricky is going to be able to come up and be with us for at least Easter Sunday and Monday . . . so . . . what's the plan? Are we going to be doing Easter eggs and stuff Saturday afternoon? Schedule Mary to stop by and take the family picture for us at some point on Sunday, cause that is the only time that I think that it will work? Suggestions? Peoples schedules (Eric and Sarita, what are your plans with the Roger's family?)? Anyway, any feedback would be helpful.
Love,
Lizzy

Family Picture

I am thinking that despite our last family picture being taken in November it way out of date at this point. White we are all together at Easter (I am assuming Ricky will be there) I think that we need to find time for a family picture. It doesn't need to be all fancy, but one with everyone in it would be wonderful. That is if we can get all 15 of us in the camera lens. Not sure how to get it all set up, just an idea.

Hailey, Alex & Joshua

Hailey, Alex and Joshua came for a visit tonight. We had lots of fun.

I added all the birthdays today but they don't all fit... there are too many of us! But they're all there I promise! Liz, if you know how to make it work go for it!

Michael's first morning at his new house! He loves the camera!

Michael Has Arrived

Today we met Michael for the first time and he came home to live with us. We're so excited to have him as part of our family! We're sending along a few pictures so you can all get to know him.

Easter

With mom and dad's house filling up again and Easter coming early this year, I have decided to fly home for the Easter weekend to spend time with our growing family. I will be flying in late Thursday night and be leaving Monday afternoon. I have already talked to Ricky to see if it would be possible for him to come home too so that we can all be together. But just and FYI for the rest of you I would love for the whole family to be able to be together while I am home.

Love you all!!

Liz

Birthdays

Can someone please email me the birthdays for the little kids . . . I want to add them to our birthday list.

Thanks!

Pictures?

Does anyone have pictures from Christmas. I remember them being taken, but I don't remember who. If it's you will you please put them on a CD for me and then mail them. Also, anyone who gets around to it. I didn't get a copy of the CD with all of the Mexico pictures on it. Could someone send me that one as well.

Thanks! Love you guys!

We went to see Krystal tonight and we wanted to send you some pictures. Enjoy!!!

Photos

Ok, There are actually quite a few ways to post photos, we can have multiple slideshows via flickr, picasa, and photobucket. So pick which ever one works for you or you can add to my flickr account. Username: zilki1982 and Password: daisys. This photo is actually getting posted via picasa. I totally forgot that it was on my hard drive. Something that Jenn sent me once upon a time. But I love this photo because it answers mom's question of where all of the sarcasm and goofiness came from in her children. You can say blame dad, but per this photo I would have to say blame grandpa. He apparently started it.
In any case if you have trouble posting photos in your blog or adding a slideshow let me know. It took me a while to get this one up and running. I am thinking that picasa is going to be easier to use than flicker cause you can upload a specific album as a slideshow, not to mention it is a google program so pretty easy to deal with and works well with all things google, like blogger.
I also want to publish links to personal blogs or anything like that, if you have it you can add it or just let me know. I am going to add the section for my other blog. Jenn, I hope this helps a little, if not let me know.

Liz

How to question...

So Liz, how do we upload pictures and such to the family blog. Ali took some shots of Krysteal the other day and I was wondering how to put them up... I was able to add one into this little blog, but I was wondering how we might do an album.

Welcome Family

Welcome to our new Kesler Family Blog. I hope that we can all use this to share stories, thoughts, experiences, plans, or just random pieces of information. Feel free to post pictures, video clips or anything that you like. Sarita I did not have a specific email address for Eric. If you want to send me one I will send him an invite too.
With our family growing up and spreading out and new additions that have been made and will be made I just like the idea of a forum that we can all use to keep in touch. When something exciting happens we can let everyone know. Play around with the blog and if you have any questions let me know. I am by no means a pro at this, but I might be able to help you. I am going to keep working on our layout and getting it all set up. Any suggestions let me know.

Love you all!

Liz