BEACH!!

My favorite part of Cali is the beautiful beach!! I just can't enough of it! Although we have lived here a year and a half, it still feels like a vacation (The whole beach part that is) . Growing up in Utah, palm trees and beaches are things I only found on vacation. I don't want to make anyone outside of Cali jealous, but it's hard not to!! Anyway Sunday afternoon we went with a good friend to the beach to get some family pictures. (Thanks Laisa) I am happy with the results. Lauren wasn't really into the photo shoot, it was nap time! but oh well. Anyway thought I would share the beautiful Cali with the rest of you. Enjoy!

You all should come visit! Us that is!! Love ya!

LA County Fair!!

Saturday we hit the LA County Fair. I think all of LA had the same idea. It was packed with lots of people. Which meant lots of traffic. But once we finally made it there, it was well worth it!
At 1st the kids weren't sure what to think as you can see by the look on their faces (top pic). but as soon as we made it through the crowds to the farm animals. They were so happy! It was fun! Zach was surprised that roosters really say cock-a-doodle do. Lauren, as many of you know has been delayed in her speech, due to all the ear infections she had the 1st year of her life. and since she finally got tubes in her ears, and about 6 months of speech therapy, she is now talking a lot more. However she is so stuck on naming everything either dada, mama, or baby. It's hilarious. I can repeat the name of the animal a million times and she still insists on calling it a dada, mama, or baby. I was called a cow and pig! She is so funny.They had tractors for the kids to ride around on. Zach and Lauren loved that. Zach thought it so nice of the fair to have free tractor rides! It makes me laugh how big he is getting and that he is so aware of those things.
After that of course we had to enjoy the yummy slushies. And play a game. Zach was happy he won a stuffed animal all by himself popping a balloon with a dart. We skipped the rides because I had no desire to wait in the long lines in the hot sun. And why after we had the free tractor rides!!! Just joking. but it was a fun family day at the fair. We then had to hurry home for Gerry to of course watch the BYU football game. But I refuse to discuss football on the blog. So we won't go on about that. Unless next time it's a big win! Anyways it was a fun family fair day!!

Lauren!

I am still trying to learn how to do this blog thing. I don't know how to reduce my picture size or something, so that the pictures are not stretched and grainy as all can be. So if any of you master bloggers out there can help. It would be greatly appriciated. In the meantime I will avoid posting pictures of myself to avoid the extra 50 lbs. it adds (okay maybe only 10 lbs.) but we can pretend it's the camera's fault! Oh and this picture is of Lauren in her pj's, purse in hand and ready to go! Funny thing!

Joining the bloggers~

I have decided it is time to join the blog world. I am new at the whole thing. But thought it would be a great way to keep in touch with all our friends and family...near and far! To start, I thought I'd give a little update on what we are up to.

Gerry is currently working for Farmer's Insurance in LA, as an actuary. He has been studying a lot, preparing for one of the big actuarial exams later this year. Not too fun. But he does manage to find some fun in the sun, golfing. I just started working part time for a attorney. I don't think anyone would really consider it work. I am there the most 10 hrs a week. I do scanning, filing, and little things here and there. I am enjoying it. We are moving to Monrovia, CA at the end of the month, so I am trying to get motivated to pack. It's only about 25 mins away from where we are currently. But we will be moving to a house with a fenced yard. We are thrilled to have a yard. Not sure if we will know what to do with it... but I am sure we will manage.

As for the kids...Zach is now a big 1st grader!! Crazy! He started last week. And he is enjoying it. He says it's easier than kindergarten. Not sure what I think about that. but he likes it. He was completely ready to get back to school after the big summer. Or maybe I was! No, just kidding. It's actually sad to have him gone all day. But I guess he has to grow up sometime.

Lauren is now 2 years old. She is so sassy. and a complete girly girl. She loves to talk on the phone, wear jewelry, do her hair, take care of her babies, and loves, LOVES shoes. She is so silly.

We love our kids. They definitely keep us busy. Well that is our family!~ I plan on trying to keep up on our little family blog every week. That is the plan anyway. Well have a great one!