Happy Birthday Boys!

I thought that after the trek my life would slow down some, but it seems busier than ever. Last week we celebrated two birthdays. Nathan turned four and Gary turned...well let's just say he got a year older.

After I finished decorating his cake he wanted to take a picture. I know there are more than four candles on the cake but we decided the race track needed lights.
After he blew out the candles he asked if he could race the cars. Of course he is the last child so I said "whatever you want cutie".

This is one of his favorite presents, a Lightning McQueen hat from his brothers and sisters. You'd think he would outgrow his Cars obsession by now but he still loves them more than ever.

And then here is my other birthday boy. I can't believe he is getting so old. We celebrated our 14th anniversary a few weeks ago. Have we really been married that long? Seems like yesterday we were footloose and child free. I can definately say it's been a long road, but also a very happy one.

I also have to give a shout out to Nathan's birthday buddy, Michael. Hope your finals are going well. Can't wait to see you and your family.

Two Busy Weekends

Saturday, February 28th we started at our Stake Baptisms. Andrew was asked to play a piano duet for the musical number. I am so proud of this kid. He chose 'I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus' and we practiced a lot that week. At the baptism he did a great job. He said he was a little nervous but the song sounded wonderful. (All that hard work is finally paying off)

Here we are after it was all over.

Then Gary and Andrew headed out for Monster Trucks. This is the second year they have gone with our friends the Owens and the Johnsons. They said it was super fun. Andrew's favorite truck is Blue Thunder. The other kids and I went to my niece Sarah's baptism. Luckily she was the first of the ten kids to get baptized. My brother took Katie and Nathan to the dinner and Emma and I came back to watch the Young Women Conference. Her first one. It was great.

Last weekend we drove up to Salt Lake and went to conference. This was the first time Emma and Andrew have been. We had tickets to the Saturday and Sunday morning sessions. It was amazing to sit and talk with our kids about the prophet and apostles. They both said they loved it but I think Andrew had more fun when we went shopping with Melody and Carly while Gary was at the Priesthood session.

In back of the Salt Lake Temple. We walked through the two visitor centers and looked inside the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall.

And now I am frantically preparing for our next busy weekend. Gary and I were asked to be a pa and ma on our Stakes Pioneer Trek which starts tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have some good pictures to share from that, maybe we'll even be smiling in some of them.

I Just Can't Wait!

Gary called me this afternoon to say he'd ordered my plane ticket to L.A. The past few years Gary's sister Kami and I have flown down to LA to spend a weekend with his other sister Melody. It is so much fun and I am so looking forward to this years trip.

Here we are last year at the Revlon Run. We worked the VIP booth. It was crazy fun. We got to meet some famous people, eat tons of food and go home with a lot of free samples and t-shirts. It was so much fun we are doing it again this year. (The gorgeous blond girl is my niece Carly)

The day before the run we went to Newport Beach and shopped. We had to take a picture holding our gilatos (my first time ever trying one). They were so yummy! We always eat well on these trips.

Two years ago we went to Solvang. It is a little Dutch community with great shopping. I know this picture didn't turn out but I loved the little windmill in the background.

Of course we had to take a picture surrounded by all our shopping treasures and then e-mail it home to our husbands.



The best part of the whole trip is Melody's hospitality. She tells us we can do whatever we want, whenever we want. Even if that's nothing. We've relaxed on the beach, done pedicures and laughed until I thought my checks would fall off. I can't wait to board that plane and do it again!

Springtime Flowers

I walked out my front door the other day and this was what I saw.

My iris' had bloomed.

I love the color of these plants.

And I love this time of year when everything seems so much brighter and more colorful. Gary always takes such good care of our yard. This last weekend he planted our garden. I can't wait, fresh tomatos, summer squash and zucchini.

Tag

I was tagged by my friend Heidi. Here is the sixth photo from the sixth folder.

Nathan was 18 months old. I was teaching a piano lesson and he wanted me to come see something. When I told him just a minute he got mad. As he ran away he tripped on his blanket and slammed his face into the side of the coffee table. As soon as I turned him around blood came spilling out from under his bottom lip. I took him to Urgent Care where they stitched him up which was no fun because I had to hold him down. And the medicine they used to numb him up didn't work. The nurse said it should make him sleepy but Nathan was wide awake watching everything the doctor was doing. It was crazy but it healed well and he was left with just a small scar. I should feel lucky, he is my only kid that has ever needed stitches.

All About Andrew

At our elementary school they have flag ceremony every Friday. Each class gets a turn to be in charge. A few weeks ago it was Andrew's classes turn. The kids love participating.

Andrew was excited to carry in the Nevada flag.

That Saturday the cub scouts went on a hike. Gary was able to go and they had a great time.

Andrew, of course, had his walking stick that Grandpa Paul made for him.
This last Saturday Andrew competed in his first wrestling tournament. He didn't place but he did great and learned a lot.

The writing on his arm is from the weigh in the night before.

Here he is waiting for his turn. (He's to the left of the ref.) He had to wait 90 minutes before his first match. Sorry no pictures of his match, I was too busy with the video camera.


I ran into an old friend, Tony, that used to wrestle with my brother David when they were Andrew's age. It was good to see he's doing great. Watching Andrew brought back memories of all the tourn. I went to as a kid. I felt as nervous now as I did then. I am glad Andrew has this opportunity, he is learning discipline and confidence and he's having fun.

The Beach

Today winter has returned to the valley. The last few weeks we have been enjoying some springtime temperatures. When I finally had to put my sweater on today because it was cold in my house, I started thinking of Gary's sister. Melody lives in So. California and she always tells us that the best beach days are in January. How I wish we could be there right now!

Here are some pictures from the last time we visited the beach a year and a half ago.

This was Nathans first real experience with sand.

Emma stayed in the water almost the whole time.



Katie and Andrew spent a lot of time building tunnels in the sand.

Gary's so good to play with his kids in the water, especially since their mom would rather stay in her beach chair and read a good book. (I must say he is the sexiest man alive!)