Merry Christmas Everyone

At this time of year, we are grateful for our Savior- His life, and the blessings He gives us through the Atonement. We thank you for the ways you influence and bless our lives.

We did not get out Christmas card or a family letter this year, so we do apologize. Our life was just a little too crazy during the normal time to do so. With moving right before Thanksgiving and finding a place to live just a few days before the actual day, we have spent all our time unpacking and getting settled in. Luke and Autumn have been very sick for the last week and half, they finally went to the doctors on the 22nd and both had to be on antibiotics. Both of them are not feeling very well, even on Christmas Eve. We just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We love and miss you all!

Love,
The Shearer's

Last night we went out and got a Christmas tree. We have the tradition of getting a fresh cut Christmas tree every year. I love the way they smell, and the smell alone make Christmas real for me. Luke was very excited about this, and he told us that Ho Ho come. We got the lights, the star, and the garland up before he went to bed. He kept pulling out the ornament's and putting them on the tree, but I told him he had to wait until we got all the lights and garland on. First thing this morning he ran down stairs and pulled the lid off the tote and starting looking for the ornament to put on the tree, when he discovered his Santa hat. He has been wearing it all day and tells me that Ho Ho is going to bring him Polar train. Which means, he thinks Santa is going to bring him a Polar Express train to go under the tree. I guess that means we need to start looking for a train to go around the tree!! This year is so much fun with Luke being so excited about everything and wanting to help. Luke and I had fun decorating the tree today. He helped put on all the ornament's, even the glass ones. I let him know that some can break and we must be careful. He did soooo good and we did not break anything!!

Our address

Our address is 130 - H Tide Mill Lane, Hampton Va. 23666. We are moving in today, and we hope to get all of our stuff out of the truck by the end of the day. We will probably still stay at the base hotel a few days until we get most of everything put away.

We are in Virgina Now

Sorry, I have not updated our status!! We got to Virgina Monday November 17th very late. We had to take back roads through the mountains from London Kentucky to Virgina. Lets just say it took longer than we thought!!!!! We are currently staying at the base hotel right now; while Keith does his in-processing and checks on our off base housing. Luke keeps asking us to go to his new home, and we keep telling him soon. We are pretty much adjusted to the two hour time difference from Arizona to Virgina, but we feel like the days and nights are really long. We will let you know when we move in somewhere. Just so you all know the daytime high is in the 40's with a wind chill of 25 so it feels like its in the 20s. I dont want to hear anyone complain its cold!!!

Currently on our Big Adventure

Ok, we got into Nashville Tennessee around 2am and boy were we ready for bed!!! So, it spit rain in Oklahoma the whole time, and it slowly progressed as we drove through Arkansas. From Arkansas to Nashville it rained even more, and we had to slow it down so we could see the road. Today, November 15th we are going to drive to Knoxville Tennessee and then make a slight detour to London Kentuky to visit my Grandmothers grave. We will spend most of the day in Tennesse and then drive to Virgina.on Sunday. I was worried Luke would have a hard time with driving in the car for so many hours. He is use to being in the car for 6 hours at then most, as we made many trips to California from Arizona. He is doing so good, I think he has been doing better than us adults!!!
Thats all for now!

We started our Big Adventure

We left Arizona late afternoon on Wednesday November 12th and we drove to gallup New Mexico. After a good night sleep we headed off through the rest of New Mexico, the top part of Texas, and stopped in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Friday we left Oklahoma and went through Arkansas and spent the night in Nashville Tennessee. There will be more to come later!! We will keep everyone posted on our journey to Virgina!

Luke's Halloween costume

Ok, we been so busy and I have not really had much access to the internet that I did not get a chance to put up Luke's pictures from Halloween. If you cant tell he is a train engineer. We couldn't of found a better costume for him. He went trick-or-treating to about 10 houses and got a little scard.

Keith comes home today!

Keith arrives at Orange County airport at 8:30pm today. We will stay in California until Sunday, and then we will be heading home to Arizona. We will spend three days in Arizona, and then we will be off for our long journey across the US to Virgina. We will let everyone know when we get there and our new address. We will miss everyone and wish you all well until we see you again. We love you!

We found a place to live

We found a place 2 miles from the base in Hampton. I was so happy about this since we only have one vehicle at the moment. Through this whole process I told Keith that I didn't really want to live on base, because I wanted some kind of normal life. As time has gone on we have talked about it, and base housing would not be so bad! I was all for it knowing we would not get into base housing, because there is usually a waiting list. To our surprise they are tearing down all the base housing at Langley to rebuild new housing accommodations. Lucky for me!!!!

New words

Luke has had an explosion of words from spending time around his older cousins and watching baby sign and time Dvds this summer. Now, if he hears a word he is trying to say it. I have reminded everyone to choose your words carefully. I have said shoot a couple of times when I have dropped things and now, Luke has said it when something falls or he drops it. I am happy he is talking and communicating with us and letting us know what he wants. In March his Dr. had him and his hearing tested to see if there was a problem. His hearing came back normal and he tested high on the charts, because his nonverbal communication was so high. I was worried because all the children his age and a little younger were saying so many things and Luke was not. He would say things and then regress and not say them ever again. They had suggested to teach Luke sign laugage to help him communicate what he wanted better. I have to say thanks to my nieces and nephew and baby sign and time DVDs for helping Luke talk better!

Luke and I are in California

I am in California now until the beginning of November sometime. We are here to play and have fun. Those of you in Cali give me a call and we can catch up or do something while I am here!! Who knows when the next we will be coming to visit. Love you all and call me if you need to get a hold of me!!!

We finally cut Luke's hair

It's not the first time we have cut Luke's hair, this is his 3rd hair cut since he turned 1. Everyone was bugging me to trim Luke's hair. I decided to give him a trim right before family was coming into town. I did not like the way it was laying after that, so off it came. We gave him a regular boy hair cut. Now, everyone tells me it is too short. I wish people would make up their minds!!! Luke is happy and thats all that matters. He loves it because not everyone is touching his hair.

Our base location is....

Langley Air Force Base in Hampton City, Virgina
Keith got his base assignment yesterday. We will be living on the east coast, and not too far from DC. It was totally not what we expected!! We were hoping for somewhere on the west coast. We were are a little sad to be so far from family, but I am always up for a new adventure! We look forward to seeing all the historic sites and visiting a few distant relatives not far away. On a positive note, we can take Luke to ride a few of the steam locomotives that are still running in the surrounding areas and see the train museums. Boy, will be going from one climate extreme to another. Can you say cold during the winter. We will be relocating sometime in November. Yeah, just in time for the snow!!

Luke and Grandpa all dressed up

Sam and Lori Murphy- My brother and his new wife

Keith Graduated Basic Training

Yes, Keith graduated basic training on Friday the 18th. He was awarded several coins and his flight group got Honor Flight, which is a big deal! On the 19th he got his cell phone back and now we are able to talk as much as we want. Well, we can talk during his free time and I can leave messages. He is now at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo Texas. There he will do his technical training in fire protection until mid October. We will be able to go and visit Keith in 30 days. It will work out just perfect, my brothers kids go home at the end of August. Luke and I will be able to go visit Keith and he will be able to stay with us in the hotel and go see the sights.

Luke wanted his face painted on the 4th. He told the lady he wanted a "meow"

We got Luke a suit for my brother's wedding on the 20th. It makes him look so grown up.

Keith finally was able to call on Saturday the 28th. I talked to him for about 15 minutes, before he had to go. Keith is doing great, and he can not wait for graduation from basic training, which will be on July 18th.

We will be off to California for the 4th! The 1st of two trips for the month of July. We will be going back to California on the 17th for my younger brothers wedding on the 20th. This will be another busy month of traveling back-n-forth several times to Cali!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

We are back in Arizona

We got back to Arizona on the 20th. We will be here until we go to California for the 4th of July with my brother and his kids for a few days. We will be going back to California the 18th of July for our brother's wedding on the 20th. We should not be doing any more traveling until the end of August, unless something comes up. We will be going back to California the 28th of August. We will stay there until Keith comes home in mid October. Boy do I need a vaccation just from all the traveling back and forth!!!

Luke

Luke turned 2 in Feburay, and boy does he keep us busy! He does not say much, but he sure does understand a lot. His comprehension is amazing, which gets him into a little trouble sometimes. Since we have been in California Luke has said and is using new words: Paul,Play,Pull,Prayer, and round. His is very into trains, no he is obsessed with them!!! When he does decide to say something it is usually all about choo choo's. He wakes up talking about trains and goes to bed talking about trains. He has been in this faze since he was 18months and its still going. Needless to say we have lots of trains and train stuff. Luke's latest thing is he likes to go on the timeout chair. He is always willing to go when he gets into trouble.Sometimes when he is upset or frustated with something or us we ask him if he needs a timeout, and he shakes his head up and down and points to the chair Luke is doing better with Keith being gone. We can mention Dad now and he does not cry. While we were in Ca. we went to knotts and rode the trains, and the beach. Luke did not like the water very much.

Keith and the other LDS Airmen and Women

A missionary Couple assigned to the base sent me this picture of Keith today. They let me know his address and that he will be able to call in about two or three weeks, depending on if his unit earns the right to call. For now we can write to each other. Keith is in the last row on the left end.

Keith left for Boot Camp today

Today was the last time I was able to see my husband for the next little while. I got to see him for a total of 15 minute before they made us leave. I don't think things have really hit me yet. I am doing good so far, but Luke had a problem tonight. After we read scriptures and I was saying our night prayers, Luke kept saying Dad, Dad, Dad through the whole prayer. I made sure we blessed Daddy extra good tonight. Things seemed to be going good when I put him down to bed, and then he realized Dad was not around again to help cover him up and give kisses. Night 2 of no Dad did not go so well. I am hoping when we go to California tomorrow for the next 2 weeks it will help keep Luke from missing his Dad so much, and things will be easier for me. Let me tell you, it was not easy hearing my child cry for his Dad tonight! What makes it hard, is knowing he does not understand what is going on, and where his Dad is.

Keith's last day home with us

Keith spent the first part of the morning doing Air Force stuff, then we spent the rest of the day together. Luke was all about Daddy today!! He would crying when ever Keith left the room. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to the next couple of days!!!! A few days ago we found out that Keith would not be able to spend his last night home with us. So.... not happy about this!!!! The Air Force put him up in a hotel close to where he will have to go tomorrow. I had to take him to the Shereton in Phoenix before 7pm, where he was briefed and told what and where he has to go. It was so not fun saying good bye to my husband, and then listening to my child cry because he wants to go with Daddy. The last time I get to see Keith will be tomorrow at 8 am for the next 5 1/2 months. Keith and I decided it would be best if I do not take Luke with me to see him off tomorrow.

We are all moved

Well we are all moved into my brother's, and all our stuff is in storage. Currently, we are in California until May 30th. We are visiting family and friends before Keith leaves. Keith is just about ready to leave. When we get back to Arizona he will have a few days to make sure he has everything before he is off to boot camp in Lackland, Texas for six and a half weeks.

Shearer Family

We will be moving in with my brother May 22nd. He lives in Mesa off the 202 and Dobson. Luke and I will be staying there June, July, and August to help watch my brothers children. When the kids leave, we will be off to California to stay with family until Keith comes home.

Keith's count down

Keith leaves for basic training in the Air Force on June 3rd and does not return until mid October. He will be working until May 24th, and then we will go to California for a week to see family before he has to leave. He has been very busy getting ready to leave and getting into physical shape, not to metion I have been keeping him busy moving boxes to the storage unit.