Going Private!

So I have decided I am going to a private blog. This way I can protect my kiddies from any crazies. It's not as fun having private blogs, I know. But this way I can make sure only those who I want, can hear all about our family. I am a little paranoid! :) So if you want in, leave your email address in the comments so I can invite you in! I think I will be doing it in a week or so. So let me know!

Shop-a-holic!

So I am still going private, but have been too lazy to do it! So anyone left that wants to be able to view our blog...even if your just a friend of a friend and like to read...you know we all do it...at least my site counter says so! So anyone that wants in, leave your email address or blogger user id. I don't want to lose any of my readers. Just the crazies! So I am a little concerned. My two year old has an opinion on clothes, shoes, everything she wears. She will only wear 2 pairs of her shoes (other then her play shoes!). And she has a selection. The 2 pairs that she does wear are starting to stink because she refuses to wear socks. Well my biggest concern is she likes to go shopping at age 2. Some mornings after dropping Zach off at school, when we are pulling in the drive way she will start screaming "GO!...ME GO!" and she means shopping. Then when we are shopping she picks out clothes and shoes and says "Me shoes, me pants!" (we are still working on the speech :) ) The other day Lauren went in her room and I didn't hear her for awhile. I went in to find her changed out of her warm outfit, to a PINK skirt, PINK shirt and PINK shoes with her PINK purse! In her purse were reciepts she has stolen from my purse and old checks also from my purse. She makes me laugh. Of course I like to shop and am trying to be better at not going so much. I wore Zach out, he hates shopping. But Lauren is quite the little shopper! Do you think I should be concerned!~ I guess when she grows up she just better marry into some money! HAHA!

*side note...my spell check isn't working. Not sure why, but sorry if my spelling is incorrect!

Gordon B. Hinckley

I wanted to post a little about how much I love President Hinckley! What an amazing man he is. I remember the day he was called as prophet. I fell in love with his big smile immediatley. And since that day there are so many times he has touch my life! Just on Jan. 13th at our stake conference we were blessed to have the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, among other general authorities, speak to us. Of course via satalitte, but what a special meeting that was. President Hinckley spoke about marriage and it was the best talk I have ever heard. It was exactly what I needed. His talks have always brought me to tears but always on top of a big smile! He was an amazing man that I will always look up to! I am so blessed to live during his time. I was so sad to hear that he had passed, but was immediatly so happy for him and his sweet wife. What an amazing reunion I am sure it was! I am forever greatful for our prophet Gordon B. Hinckley!

FUN WEEKEND!!

This past weekend we had a great time in Mesquite! We met our friends Mike and Heather and their adorable kids, that are from Utah, in Mesquite. We met Thursday night and stayed thru Sunday. It was so much fun. Gerry and Mike spent Friday golfing in St. George while Heather, the kids, and I went shopping and to lunch. Then Saturday we hit the shopping outlets in Vegas, I was surprised the kids actually were great the whole time. Later we walked down the strip and enjoyed Vegas night life! I couldn't believe how cold it was. I think we are now used to California weather. The kids and I wore our snow coats, while everyone else did fine with a sweatshirt. Growing up in Utah I never remember Vegas as cold. But it was. Warm or cold it was so great to see our friends! We enjoyed just hanging out, playing games, and laughing. Zach and Lauren were so happy to be with their buddies! We all really enjoyed it! I didn't want to come home! Thanks guys for such a fun weekend! We need to do it again soon!!

Bad mom!

So for Christmas...way back then. Zach got his Ben 10 watch that he wanted so badly! Poor kid was thrilled, but his mom kept forgetting to get the right batteries. When we were in Utah at Christmas, Zach's aunt asked how he liked his watch. He said, "It's good, but it's not much too look at!" Well that is because I didn't get the right batteries for it! What a bad mom. I had to laugh, but felt bad. A toy and it's not much too look at. So finally the other day I got the right batteries and Zach was so happy to have his watch working. He never said it, but I think he might be a little disappointed that it isn't the "real" watch that turns him into an alien. But he was happy the "toy" watch was now something to look at!

Funny

So yesterday Zach was in the middle of getting in trouble. And to give a little background...he lost playing Nintendo and his Nintendo DS and is trying to earn it back by being good for a couple of days. And so today when he was talking not so sweet. I warned him that he won't get his Nintendo back. He replied, "I don't care!" That frustrates me so bad when he says that. So I asked what he said again and he said, "I don't care. I am not supposed to play it anyways." I asked what he was talking about. And he said the funniest thing, "We are not here to have fun, we are here to learn!" I couldn't stop laughing. I guess in primary he missed that part about "men are, that they might have joy!"Poor guy thinking that we are only here to learn. No fun! I thought that was the funniest thing ever!

Curls!

This doesn't happen often. Actually it has never happened before, that I have been able to get Lauren to hold still long enough for me to curl her hair. I always planned on doing my baby girls hair all done up cute. Lauren doesn't allow that to happen. She does not like to have her hair done. I usually have to chase her down and bribe her to watch a movie. At that point I am lucky to get it combed. So the other day was something else to get her to hold still for me to curl her hair. Lauren's hair is fine and didn't hold the curl all that well. By the time I was done with the last 1/2 of her hair...the 1st part curls had fallen out. Oh well. She was good to hold still and I think she looked adorable. I even got her to pose a bit for some pictures. That also doesn't happen very often. I thought I better post these pictures because I am not sure it will happen again all that soon. My sweet girl...little curly Lauren!

Diamond UPDATE**

So I am posting this a little late and I have told several people this already...however there is a positive ending now! Well the day we left for Utah back on Dec. 21st. I was packing and cleaning up the house. I was vaccuming our bedroom and heard this loud metal sound I had vaccumed. I quickly turned off the vaccume to find ONE of my diamond earrings on the floor. The post was bent (but can be fixed) and the diamond was still there. However no matching pair to be found. I was so sick. And already stressed from trying to pack all our bags. This wasn't the 1st time I had lost these ear rings. Little Lauren loves my jewelry and likes to play with it. I thought I had it hidden, but she got a stool up to my dresser. Little Squirt! I looked everywhere. I even was freaked out that Tobi...our dog, had ate it. He eats everything on the ground. So after looking all over the house I resorted to searching ALL of Tobi's remains in the backyard. (Luckily I hadn't been cleaning up the doo doo lately) Gross I know. REALLY gross. and it was raining. It was awful. Anyway nothing was found. As I said we were leaving that day and we were leaving Tobi with a pet sitter. So I embarrassingly asked if she would either search his poop for the next day or two or keep it in a baggie for the next 10 days. YUCK. She was so sweet and said she would look for me. Of course I don't know how thuro she would be since it wasn't her diamond. Well I called while on vacation and no special present was found. The night we returned from Utah I put a pile of clothes on my dresser and the clothes pushed back against the wall and a little sweet sound hit the wall. It was my diamond earring. It must have been dangling between the wall and the dresser. I had searched the top of dresser but didn't find it. After all the stress, poop, praying and more praying it was found. What a sweet blessing. I thought I would update all those on the happy ending. Since when I told the story, I left it with nothing more than hopeless doggie doo doo. I am so happy and hid the earrings in a much better spot this time!!

100 Things I LOVE!

So several of my friends have posted a 100 things they love. And I enjoyed it! So I am copying. Here are 100 things I love. I could go on and on! They are in no particular order, just random!

1. Gerry
2. My kids
3. My parents
4. My siblings
5. Gerry's parents
6. Gerry's siblings
7. Extended family, Grandparents...so sweet! in-laws, cousins, aunts, uncles!
8. Quite nights after the kids are to bed
9. Going every Saturday in the summer to the beach as the family!
10. When Lauren takes a nap at the beach, Gerry and Zach play and I get to bake in the sun!HEAVEN!!
11. the gospel
12. family time!
13. Cafe Rio pork salad
14. Cafe Rio pork burrito
15. When Gerry gets off work!
16. a clean house...doesn't stay clean long
17. coming home from work at night and Gerry has the kids bathed and in bed!
18. watching TV with Gerry
19. scrapbooking!
20. playing games...especially when I win! JK
21. watching my kids play when they don't know anyone is watching. So cute!
22. when Tobi, our dog, follows me around the house like I am so important to him!
23. Getting my hair done
24. pedicure... not enough of these!
25. date night, when it happens!
26. going out to eat...particularly without kids
27. Roberts Craft Store...oh I miss Utah!
28. Any scrapbook store!
29. photography...taking pictures
30. SLR camera
31. smell and feel of warm clean clothes fresh from the dryer!
32. shopping!!
33. clean teeth!
34. vacations to Utah, since that is all we ever go since we moved to CA. Never is long enough to see everyone! but I love it!
35. Winter in California...it was 78 degrees today****************
36. reading a good book
37. Grey's Anatomy
38. movies that make me cry!
39. when I can help others-service
40. blogging!
41. when Gerry cleans the car!
42. playing games with my kids
43. Zach and Lauren's artwork
44. kisses from my kids!
45. general conference
46. watching Lauren dance when she doesn't think I am looking! So adorable!
47. a good workout that makes me sweat!
48. finding a current celebrity gossip magazine at the gym. Makes a workout fly by!
49. scrapbook supply shopping. I think I actually do this more then I scrapbook!
50. getting in touch with an old friend
51. cell phones
52. missionaries...particularly my little brother!
53. friends! near and far!
54. step aerobics
55. aerobic kick boxing
56. dancing, back in the day. I am too old and clumsy
57. sweet things my kids say
58. hugs and kisses from my husband
59. Gerry's great work hours 7am-4pm.
60. visitors...hint hint!
61. new clothes!
62. Christmas cards from friends and family....better remember this for the end of the year!
63. insurance
64. finding something that I lost
65. my kids laughing and playing together
66. joking around and teasing, and when I get Gerry....doesn't happen that often
67. diet coke
68. chocolate
69. sleeping in!
70. blaring the stereo in the car and tuning out completely! (without kids in the car)
71. my ipod!
72. sweet babies
73. the smell of sweet babies after a bath! Don't get any ideas...I will be an aunt again soon...that will do for now!! :) Thanks Natalia and Kyle ahead of time for my little niece or nephew...can't wait!!
74. sandals
75. Bath and Body body cream! So many good scents.
76. Caribbean Passion Jamba Juice! and their yummy pretzel
77. when Gerry gets off work early and takes me to lunch!
78. Sunday afternoon naps and lazy afternoons
79. Sunday dinner at Gerry's or my parents house...yummy dinners!
80. When Gerry scratches or tickles my back. Usually the other way around! :)
81. zit free skin... I think I just hit puberty
82. girls night out
83. scriptures, Ensign and other church books.
84. when Gerry puts away the clean dishes ! LOVE IT!
85. boating...at Lake Powell back when it was clean!
86. picnics
87. seafood
88. lemons w/ salt
89. caught up laundry...never happens!
90. elliptical machine...saved my bad back
91. contacts, when my eyes permit
92. good health
93. baby cooing and babbling
94. The Office
95. funny movies...Will Farrell and Jack Black
96. going to the movies...the popcorn and diet coke!
97. getting a babysitter
98. perfume! can never have enough different perfumes!
99. cologne on Gerry!
100. AND OF COURSE COMMENTS!!

That was fun. There are so many great things that I love I could go on!

The little things!

First off I want to THANK everyone for their comments. I LOVED them! I would have posted this earlier this week but I have been sick. You know I am really sick when I can't even get out of bed to blog. I am all better now! The comments did make my day and each day after! Thank you and keep them coming!! :)

So I wanted just to post about 2 little things that totally make me smile and feel all bubbly inside! I loved these 2 things that happened this week. First, was the other night when we were all at the dinner table and Zach said, "My teacher asked if I was Mormon!" I am sure some people would be upset that a teacher was talking about religion in class. However, it made me happy. I hope she doesn't get the idea that not all Mormons are not that great at helping out in the class or aren't that faithful with doing homework with their kids, or what not! But for some reason just her knowing we were Mormon made me happy. The majority of the people I come in contact with everyday have other beliefs. and I love to share the gospel with others but am not good at it at all!

The 2nd thing that got me all bubbly inside was when I had to take Lauren to the doctor. I sat down by the children's bookshelf and on the bottom shelf was the Book of Mormon Stories!

I am sure people wondered why I had this enormous smile on my face. Growing up in Utah this isn't such a crazy thing. But in California it's not normal. I was so happy. Of course I got all excited thinking the doc or someone who worked there was LDS. But inside it said To: so and so From: some sister missionaries. So I am not sure how it got there but it was a smiling moment for me.

Another time I was going to the gym and I went to get a magazine from the rack and there was the Ensign. I was so happy. Of course I grabbed the celebrity gossip magazine (I have the Ensign at home) and I didn't want anyone else to not have the chance to read the Ensign! But I was so happy. I thought that is a good way to do missionary work. A more subtle way. Either way it made me happy!

I love the gospel. I am not good at expressing it with others. but I love it! Living outside of Utah has been an eye opener. There are so many great people from other faiths! I love knowing that there are so many good people in this world!

I thought I would share my bubbly moments this week! I know I am kind of cheesy and a dork but thanks for letting me share. I guess you have no option! Have a great day!

For Kyle!

So my brother-in-law Kyle told me that he checks my blog every morning. I think Gerry paid him to say that to make my day. That way I don't feel like I am posting for nothing. (Now everyone is supposed to comment to tell me that of course I am not posting for nothing) Gerry calls me the comment beggar. Because whenever someone says "Oh I read your blog." I always tell them they need to comment. Whatever it takes. It makes my day! Aren't all bloggers like this? Anyway this post is for Kyle to my avid reader! Thanks Kyle!

Well I am having with drawls! As I have mentioned before, I am a gamer! If that really is a word. I love to play games. I can stay up all night to play games. Probably because I am always winning. Just kidding! I can win a couple times...I am not going to lie :)! Anyway if you like games I found a great one. At Christmas Kyle got, I think from my in-laws, the game called Ticket to Ride! It is so much fun! We played that game over and over. And I never got sick of it. I am totally missing it! I hate Sunday's living in California because I know I am missing some game time back home. We always have a blast playing with Gerry's siblings. It can get a little intense sometimes but when it's all done...I want more! Ticket to Ride is so fun. I highly recommend it to everyone. So if you haven't played, go out and buy it. We defiantly got some use out of Kyle's game. Thanks Kyle for sharing! You need to bring it out to California soon so I can get some more wins! and so we can see you :)! We keep a tally on the inside of the game lid! I really am not that good. but I have lots of fun!

Our little family this weekend were home bodies since Lauren has had the stomach flu again! 2nd time within 2 months! So we played some games this weekend. Zach got Guess Who for Christmas so we took turns playing with Zach. It was the funniest thing ever. If you don't know how to play, it's a 2 player game and you try to guess who (hence the name) the other player is by asking yes or no questions. Well it was Zach's 1st time playing and he would ask me a question like, "Do you have brown hair" and I would say no. And Zach's response was, "Why not!" It was the funniest thing ever. Or he would say things like..."oh I am one of my uncles." Well he only has so many uncles, so guessing who he is becomes quite easy! Another funny comment by Zach was when Gerry asked if he had any brown on him, meaning hair or eyes. Zach's response was, "yeah...I am all brown" Well that just cut out more then 1/2 the people you were guessing from. It was so funny. Once Zach went to bed, Gerry and I played. It was so fun. I have a hard time talking Gerry into playing 2 player games because he "thinks" he can always win. I think he is scared to loose! Anyway after playing Guess Who, we got out one of my favorites, Boggle. Gerry really does always win but I feel like my brain is getting a little workout. We had a fun time playing games together. However I am dying to get some Ticket to Ride in. So if you don't know what I am talking about. You should go get it. Lots of fun!

2007!

What an eventful 2007 we had! I thought I would reminisce a bit!

Jan.

*Rhiannon, Clark, and Natalia came to visit and we went to Six Flags! Feb.
*I started and ended beauty school! It was an awful school! That is a whole post itself. (One day I will finish beauty school :)!)

*Lauren finally got tubes put in her ears after 11 ear infections, started speech therapy and has dramatically improved her speech!

March

*Lauren's eye accident. I hate remembering this one! What a blessing that it has healed amazingly!

*Went to Kanab, UT for my Grandpa Lynch's surprise birthday party!

*Rhiannon, Clark and friends came to visit!

*ADD IN FOR MIKE*- Boys golf trip!!! Much fun! Next year will have a picture!

April

*Met Gerry's family in St. George for Easter weekend! And hiked Angel's Landing in Zion's National Park! (I actually made it! Once in a lifetime time experience for me!)

*My little brother Sam came to visit us before he left on his mission to Lima, Peru!

May

*My Dad and Lyn came to surprise Zach for his birthday!

*Zach turned the big 6 years old!

*Went to Sea World for 2 days!

June

*Zach graduated kindergarten!

July

*Gerry's whole family came to visit!

*Lauren turned the big 2 years old! August

*Went to Utah! *Natalia got married to Kyle! What a great addition to the family!

*My niece Paityn Joy Osmond was born! Sweet addition to the family!

Sept.

*Zach started 1st grade!

*Malinda and Thad came to visit!

Oct.

*Moved to Monrovia, CA

*Rhiannon and Clark came to visit!

*My mom came to visit!

Nov.

*Our great friend, Clint passed away. He will truly never be forgotten!

*New addition to the family, Tobi our pug!

Dec.

*Went to Utah!

*Another sweet addition to the family, my nephew Nicholas Osmond was born!

2007 was full of great memories! We are excited to see what 2008 will bring! Hope you all have a

Happy New Year!

Check out my Slide Show!

Christmas in Utah!

We left for UT on the 20th of Dec. and didn't get back to CA until the 1st of Jan. It was such a fun trip. We were able to spend time with both my family and Gerry's family. We even had a couple nights out with some friends. It was so great to see everyone and spend sometime with them. We miss being so close to family and friends. Of course time flew and there wasn't enough time for everything. But our time was well spent. We enjoyed every minute. We really appreciate everything you did for us. Thanks for letting us come dirty your homes and stay up until all hours. We had a blast. Of course we were spoiled and came home with our car filled top to bottom of presents. I wasn't sure our car was going to make it back, because it weighed so much! Thank you everyone! Now it's your turn to come visit us! We love you all!

Zach's school program

The day that we left to Utah, Zach had his school Christmas performance. I was so happy we didn't miss it, because it was so adorable. They sang Oh Christmas Tree and Silent Night. Zach was adorable and sang beautifully! My favorite part was when he finally found us in the crowd and was so happy! Then when it was all over as he walked off the stage he blew us a kiss. What a sweet boy! If I was talented enough I would put the video on. Maybe I will attempt that later... with Gerry's help!