Adam starts preschool

On Thursday the 7th Adam had his first day of preschool at Little Learners Academy. I was a little worried that he would be upset when I dropped him off, but he didn't mind at all. (the 2nd and 3rd time didn't go as smoothly) :) Both Sarah and Steven went there, and we were glad that Adam was able to attend as well. 

We went a few minutes before class started so he could meet his teachers. (I forgot their names, oops) They have some pet frogs and lots of toys to play with, so Adam was happy. One of his classmates came in crying so Adam went over and gave him a big hug so he'd be cheer up. It was a little uncharacteristic of him, but I'm glad he made a quick friend. 

He got some play time in before the rest of the kids arrived. 

They have two way glass in all the rooms so parents can peak in on them. I went a little early to get him so I could watch and he was enjoying drawing and making crafts.

I don't usually get sentimental about my kids starting school, but when Sarah's teacher greeted when I came I realized how quickly time really does fly.  

Visiting Erik

Last Saturday we visited Erik's grave for the first time since his burial.

One of the things we liked about his burial plot is that it is next to a little girl named Lillian that passed away the month before. It seemed kind of fitting to have them next to each other. We stopped at a flower shop on the way and got enough flowers for Erik and Lillian. We thought it would be nice to leave some flowers for her as well. When we got there we saw that her family had the same idea about Erik. Next to his temporary marker they had left him a small pumpkin.

The kids took some time to decorate each of the graves. They took out all the "girly" colored flowers and put them on Lillian's grave and arranged the rest  on Erik's. Then they took some red berries off some nearby pushes and decorated them further. I think it was good for them to be able to add their personal touches.

I am grateful we were able to bring him home to Utah so we can visit him. It was a sad visit, but one I am thankful we are able to make. We all miss him, but we continue to take comfort knowing that our separation is only temporary.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW!

After Kevins funeral service my niece Amelia spent the night. The kids love their cousin and they had a lot of fun playing together. In the morning the kids ran in shouting that it was snowing. We dug out the winter clothes and took inventory of what we did and didn't have. For example, Amelia, the guest, got to wear Sarah's snow pants. Steven wore his old 4T bibs and Sarah and Adam each wore 2T bibs. Sarah's were capris. :)

Catching snowflakes on their tongues

Even Mosey went out to play

Steven doing the loving thing...pelting his mom with a snowball

Kevin Matthew Starley

*Since I make my blog into a book each year we wanted to make sure there was a post about Kevin. I feel inadequate to the task of writing a post worthy of him. I didn't know him well on a personal level so I'm going to write about his funeral service and relate some of the stories others told about him.

In the evening of Thursday, October 24th, we got the terrible news that Mike's younger brother Kevin had passed away. He died sometime during the night and his roommate found him in the morning. His death was a huge shock to everyone that knew him. He was only 30 years old, has a beautiful daughter, fiancee, great job and a family that loves him. His passing was too soon.

When Mike found out he was crushed. He and his family are really close and his brothers are his best friends. He went into work the next day and asked for permission to leave. His commanders gave it to him and arranged for him to finish his last two flights with his unit in Utah. We packed up our things in record time and left Altus the next morning.

Kevin's service was held the following Saturday. I think that it was a service he would have approved of. Mike's family thought of what he'd like as they made the plans. Rather than a shirt and tie Kevin wore a polo shirt, which was the most he dressed up. His flowers had pine cones and cattails in them. A painting that his daughter did, and that he got tattooed on his arm, hung over his casket. During the viewing they had a slide show of pictures they had collected of him. They showed his amazing mustache, his love for his daughter, the fun times he had with his family, his fiancee, his dog, and so many more that showed the type of person he was.

Here is his obituary and the program from his service

His service was simple, but nice. Mike spoke first. He was emotional in the beginning, but as he started to rattle off story after story about Kevin the tears dried and everyone was laughing. He told the story of when he and Mike were 3 and 5 and Mike coerced him into dropping multiple raw eggs on the floor and then Mike telling on him. He told the story of Kevin, Shannon and Andy cutting up hundreds of pictures of men's groins in underwear from a catalog and hiding them in obscure places in his bedroom and possessions to be found for years to come. (like the one found by a coworker in his Listerine Mint holder) Kevin's work allowed ppl to dress up and he decided to wear a Batman costume...made for a six year old. His company changed the policy the next year. :) He told stories of them goofing off with fireworks and others that squashed all my worries about my sons being mischievous. One story that he left out on accident was from Kevin's wedding. Their five year old nephew Aaron wanted to stand in the line with them and asked what he should do. Kevin said you shake the persons hand and them smacked their behind. Mike roared with laughter when he did it to a random lady from his wife's side.

His brother Andy also talked and told more funny stories. He elaborated on the underwear story, letting everyone know that the crotches had been meant for him until he caught them doing it. He told about Kevin making fireworks secretly in the motor home and then lighting them off in other neighborhoods in the middle of the night to wake people up. Like Mike, everyone could tell that he not only lost a brother, but a best friend as well.

Kevin is going to be missed by everyone that knew him. I feel silly for even stating something that obvious, but he is. Kevin could always be counted on to help. The week before his death I bought some furniture for Sarah off a site in Utah like Craigslist and Kevin picked it up for us. He was always willing to help. He was quiet and would have been happy living as a hermit in the woods, but could be counted on for everything.

As in-laws we talked casually but the first time we had a one on one was shortly after he and his then wife separated. I was taking the kids to see "Santa" and invited him and Amelia to join us. I was surprised when he said yes. While there he opened up to me and confided in me more than I ever thought he would. I finally felt a bond with him that hadn't existed for the previous seven or eight years. I'm grateful for that experience because it helped me to appreciate him in a way I hadn't before.

Here are some of our favorite pictures from the service. Mike's parents have most of them so I'll add more at a later date. Some need to be scanned.

The Boys

Kevin and Amelia

Kevin holding Amelia the day she was born

He's holding Adam

The Amazing Mustache- It should be stated that Kevin changed his appearance on a regular basis. His head would be bald one minute and then long and shaggy the next. He could grow some serious facial hair.

His Fiance Colleen got him to dress up for her brother's wedding

Kevin in Nature doing what he loved most next to spending time with Amelia.

Kevin and his fiance Colleen

Kevin's tattoos- All of his tattoos have interesting stories behind them. One of his arms was dedicated to Amelia. When she was little he had her hand print tattooed on his arm. Then he had her write her name in preschool or kindergarten and got that tattooed. Then there is the one I mentioned before of a piece of art she painted. It looks like simple wide lines in multiple colors, but he made it permanent. (I have to find some, but you can see them in some pictures above)

And Kevin with his immediate family

This was the day we brought Sarah home from the hospital

Thanksgiving 2008

Mike expressed a sentiment that explains their loss best. He'll never celebrate a holiday, go camping, fishing, hiking or light off fireworks without thinking of Kevin. I'm sure his Grandma Sybil, Grandma Mona and our little Erik are taking good care of him until we can see him again.

The kids start school...again.

The day after we arrived we walked across the street (literally across the street) to the kids elementary school to enroll them. Apparently I'm a space cadet, because I only took pictures of Steven. I meant to get a picture of them in front of the school, but that will have to come later.

Steven and Adam playing on the kindergarten playground before class starts

 

Steven lining up for class.

There are a couple things I am looking forward to about their schooling. The first, is year round school. I wasn't much of a fan before, but after not having it, I really missed having these middle of the school year breaks with my kids.

The second thing is half day kindergarten. Steven gets to spend the morning with Adam and me and then we walk over after lunch and Adam goes down for a nap until the kids get home. I love the schedule.

Another reason it's good to be home.

From Oklahoma to Utah

On Saturday October 26th we left Oklahoma and started our trip home. We weren't planning on leaving for at least another week, but when we found out about Kevin Thursday evening Mike went into work Friday, got permission to leave and we packed and cleaned in record time.

When the kids went to school on Friday we didn't know yet that it would be their last day. They both had great teachers that loved them. Steven's teacher Mrs. Burgener was a blessing. After Erik passed away Steven didn't want to be separated from me. He was fine until it was time to go to school and then he would throw emotional fits with lots of tears. Mrs. Burgener would gently take him and comfort him and he'd be fine soon afterwards. (The same thing happened after I ran the Ragnar. He would cry hysterically at preschool even though he usually loved being there. It took a couple weeks for him to be okay.)

Mrs. Burgener with the kids

Sarah has loved reading since she started and Mrs. Huckaby did a lot to inspire her further. In Mississippi Sarah liked to read but wasn't fond of the required testing. In Altus Sarah's teacher motivated her in a way that she loved it. In her 1st nine weeks of school she had 150% of the points she'd earned in all of 1st grade.

Mrs. Huckaby and Sarah

We try and visit every temple on our road trips and this time we got to visit the Albuquerque New Mexico temple. The grounds were apparently open, but we didn't realize it until we were driving away.

Sometime while living in Mississippi the kids learned about the Four Corners. We decided that when it was time to go home we would take the southern route so we could stop for a quick visit. Although there's some debate as to the exact location the kids ran around enough to ensure a visit to each state.

Adam in each state

Steven

Sarah

The kids wanted to do a family dogpile but I would have crushed them. 

I've noticed that it's always the small, natural things about a place that the kids like best. i.e. on our Disneyland trip their favorite part was the 2 hr trip to the beach. At Four Corners the kids found a hill next to the parking lot. They started by throwing rocks down it and then took turns sliding down it over and over again. It was one of those times I ask myself why we ever spend money on outings/gadgets when the kids are so happy with sticks and rocks. :)

After 18 hours of driving with three kids and two cats we finally made it home to Utah. We enjoyed our active duty adventure, but are grateful to be home.