Christmas Morning!
But I had to post my very last picture taken with my glasses! You won't be seeing them on me anymore! Sad...this is how they look now!
We were taking family pictures for our Christmas cards. We were all ready for the picture, Gerry pressed the timer and came to sit by me, we heard a crunch, Gerry said, "there goes someones present!" and we all smiled. Well after the picture we found it wasn't someones present, which probably would be cheaper replacing. It was my glasses that I had taken off just before we took the picture. Oppse! Oh well I was over due for new glasses. However I loved these ones, they were nice and strong for when the kids got rowdy and when Lauren throws her normal melt down in the store, she always reaches right for my glasses! Oh well. We did however get some cute pictures. Which I guess I will have to say it was worth it! 
I have to laugh, because I guess I am just used to it, but Gerry always tells him to get some clothes on. Especially if we are sitting down to eat. I don't know why it doesn't faze me! It does make me laugh! Zach would die if he knew I post this! He gets a little embarrassed if people other then the family see him, but I couldn't resist! 
He is a year old, potty trained, has an adorable under bite, hyper as can be, weighs almost as much as Lauren, and is adorable. My mother-in-law's pug is the mommy. The original people who bought Tobi from my Mother-in-law can no longer keep Tobi. So we are adopting! It's been a little crazy! I have only had a pet 1 time before, and that lasted a week. So it's some adjusting. The 2nd day we had him, I wasn't sure I was up to being a pet owner! Tobi started puking and wouldn't stop. So I had to take him to the vet. They thought I was crazy, because I have no clue on dogs. I told them my 2 kids have survived, so I can't be that bad. Of course they tried to get me to buy all these medicines. It's funny because I would have done anything a few weeks ago when I had to take Lauren to the ER for the same thing. They had nothing to really help Lauren. However at the vet they had a million of things that cost a fortune. Anyway, Tobi is all better. He is so cute. Lots of work. I am not a fan of the dog hair all over my house. I honestly thought it was nothing taking care of a dog. My mother-in-law makes it looks so easy. I have no idea how her house is so clean with a dog. So I am learning. Of course Tobi is Zach's "best friend!" Lauren is getting better with him. We drove the dog home from Utah and it was in between the kids, and Lauren would scream every time Tobi looked at her. She kept saying "caca" (sick). Remember the drive is about 12 hours with kids. Long day of screaming! It will get easier...let's hope!! We are happy to have Tobi part of our family!
*In the pictures, Tobi's eye's look crazy from the flash on my camera. He isn't crazy, just a hyper little thing.
This past weekend was a very sad one. One of Gerry's closest friends, Clint Hill passed away from cancer. Gerry met Clint back on their mission when they were companions and have continued to stay close since then. I met Clint about 5 1/2 years ago when Gerry and I were dating. We had some fun times with Clint. He was such a sweet, fun, and kind guy. He always had the biggest smile and could make you laugh. Him and his wife Catherine lived in Idaho and Arizona, so we haven't been able to see them like we would like to. Our hearts have ached since March this year when Clint was diagnosed. We were looking forward to seeing him and Catherine at Christmas, but unfortunately Clint passed away November 26Th. Clint never let on that he was in pain and continued to stay strong. We are deeply sorry for the loss of such a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Catherine and family. Although it's such a sad thing, I am so glad we were able to go to Idaho to attend the funeral services. They brought much peace and comfort knowing Clint is no longer suffering. We are blessed to know Clint, he was such a great friend to Gerry. Clint and the great memories will never be forgotten!
Tonight after Zach had said his prayers he came in the living room and said, "Mom, I prayed that the bums could get a cheap job so they can have money." Then asked if that was nice. What a sweet little boy. His prayers always remind me of the little things, like being thankful for our furniture and clothes. He is too sweet and makes me laugh!
So I have said before that Lauren's speech has been delayed due to having 11 ear infections the 1st 18 months of her life. Once she finally got tubes put in her ears and we started her in speech therapy, her vocabulary has started to develop. As she is still learning, her speech is sometimes a bit hard to understand. For the longest time she has said "ssss" for yes. We have known that meant yes, however just recently she has started to say "nah" which sounds like nah for no. But what she is trying to say is yeah. So instead of saying "sss" we now get Lauren's version of yeah. Funny little thing. I thought I would share a few more of Lauren's vocabulary.Hello= telephone
awhile driving around to finally find a park. But we did! These pictures I took with my cell, so they aren't the best. But I had to take a picture of this warning sign. The sign says to beware of bears and rattlesnakes and how you should not disturb them or they will defend themselves. Insane. I honestly questioned if we should keep driving to find another park. I tend to be a little paranoid. but I really couldn't believe what I was reading in LA county. Do people actually put their kids in this kind of danger....I did! I just thought this was a crazy sign. Zach also thought it was a bit crazy and told me that I better stay by him. He quickly got over that. He is just a slight mama's boy! We did end up safe and had a great time at the park. However I haven't quite got used to the weather being so warm in November. My poor kids I dressed in long sleeves and Lauren even in a turtle neck. We quickly noticed it was shorts and T-shirt weather. However we still enjoyed the warm day at the park!
Okay so I have to share my funny story. Well at least I was laughing inside. At church on Sunday, one of the counselors in the bishopric stopped Gerry in the hall and said he needed to talk to him. We have been expecting to get callings, so it was no surprise. I then went to relief society and the other counselor in the bishopric came in to announce that they have now called someone to the ward Liberian. I almost started laughing out loud. Not that Gerry wouldn't make a GREAT Liberian. I just can't picture him handing out chalk. (I hope I am not offending any liberians, I think it's great, just a funny thought of Gerry being one!) And maybe this isn't funny to anyone but me. I don't know why but I am still laughing about it! Well then about 5 mins later the counselor that originally stopped Gerry in the hall, grabbed me out of relief society and talked with me and Gerry and asked if I would support Gerry in his new calling....a counselor in the young men's! Not the Liberian, but the young men's. I am excited for Gerry and his new calling. I think he will be so wonderful with the young men! I guess there is only about 14 young men. Our ward actually is really small. The ward covers 1 and 1/2 cities and still there is hardly enough members to hold all the callings. The ward we last moved from was quite large, and at 1st coming from Utah it felt small to me, but now I realize how big it was. Gerry also got his home teaching assignment, which consists of 6 families. That is a lot, I think. And the other crazy part is there isn't enough people to have home teacher companions, so he is on his own. I guess a lot of them are single women, so I will be getting to go visit with him. (Not sure how that will work out with our kids!) I also got my visiting teaching assignment which is only 3 women, but I also have no partner. I tend to be the person no one wants for their partner, because I am a slacker. I better get on the ball. The counselor said they are still trying to figure what calling to put me in. It will be exciting. I think change is fun. I thought I would share Gerry's new calling, I am excited for him!
A week ago from today, my Mom flew in to stay with us. She stayed until just a couple days ago. Of course time flew by way too quickly. It was so great to have my Mom here! The kids were thrilled to be with Grandma and kept her busy playing the entire time! My Mom wasn't into sight seeing or anything, she just wanted to spend time with us. I feel bad that it probably wasn't that exciting for her but we enjoyed every minute. If you know my mom she is a goer, my house has never been so clean, and we have never had so many cooked meals. She helped me so much. I am so thankful to have such a great mom and friend! Thank you Mom. I love you and miss you already!
(By the way these pictures were taken the same day as "Brotherly Love" post picutures. Every picture I post they are wearing the same thing! I swear they really do have more then 1 outfit! :) )
What a great brother! I thought maybe he didn't like it. but he said he hasn't even tried it! I am so happy to have such a sweet little boy. I thought about it and I still don't like to share my cookies! What a tender little guy! I am blessed to have my 2 little sweethearts! They teach me so much! And today my the lesson was 
on sharing!!
Our Wicked Witch!
Our Fierce Ninja!
Then the games began! They had a big blow up bouncer things and all sorts of games, that the kids loved! Then they decorated paper bags and then started the trunk or treat! Lauren couldn't say trick or treat, it came out more like..."MORE!" We better practice that for Halloween night. Because the thank you part isn't understandable either. Zach made some new buddies and had a blast running around with them! What a fun night we had!
"MORE!"
Zach and his new friends!
On Monday Gerry took me and Lauren (no babysitter in the day) to lunch in Beverly Hills. Gerry had seen this yummy restaurant on TV (I think it was on Rachel Ray) so he thought we should try it out. When we pulled up and I saw Stinking Rose Garlic Restaurant I thought that it was an odd name, but if it was on Rachel Ray it better be good. 
When we got inside, I realized it is probably somewhere you would go on a date night without kids, but we figured for lunch we couldn't ruin too many peoples romantic meals. The atmosphere was so cool. It was all lit by candle light and the walls were painted in all sorts of garlic themed pictures, hence the name. 
Many of the tables were under their own individual tent. It was so fun. With Lauren it wasn't very romantic, but it could have been. Anyway being the garlic restaurant, we were served yummy yummy garlic rolls. And then our delicious meals came. I got chicken asparagus with spinach noddles. It was so good. It had so much flavor. Gerry got short ribs which were also very tasty. After we stuffed ourselves we thought we should try out their garlic ice cream. We usually never have room for dessert, but we thought we better try this one. Our waiter also said it was very good and lots of people like it. The menu said it was served with carmel sauce. So I thought that would take away the garlic flavor. The 1st bite I almost couldn't breath, it was so strong. I couldn't believe the waiter had lied to us. 
No one in their right mind could like that. I thought Lauren would like it because it was ice cream. After her 1st bite she said ew, caca and grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth, then went quickly for her drink. She refused to try another bite. It was the funniest thing to see her so grossed out by it. Gerry on the other hand had to keep eating and said it's not that bad after the 1st bite. I told him I rather pay $7.00 to not eat that! That was after he realized I didn't care if I hurt his feelings, I wasn't eating it. He quickly agreed how fowl it was. This picture they had on their website looks so good. Very deceiving!
Anyway I thought I would share our lovely lunch. Other than the ice cream the place was YUM O! (Isn't that what Rachel Ray says?) If you are ever in Beverly Hills you should give it a try! Also if you are in Beverly Hills, you better be visiting me too! 