HAPPY BIRTHDAY GERRY!!

I wanted to wish Gerry a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You are my best friend! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful, thoughtful, sweet husband and father to our kids! Thank you for being the greatest! We love you! Love, me and kids

LET IT SNOW * LET IT SNOW * LET IT SNOW

With no snow or freezing weather...it's kind of hard to believe that it is winter! So we decided it was time to see some snow...or soap foam! We took the kids to Americana (cool outdoor shopping center if you aren't from here) last night. Everynight from mid Nov.-Christmas they drop snow from the top of the stores. So we joined the crowds and enjoyed the Christmas lights, water fountain, and of course SNOW!! It was a bit windy so the snow didn't fall as hard as I think it could have...but hey it will do until we hit the real snow in Utah in a week! I think I might just enjoy wearing flip flops and seeing soap foam! However seeing family and friends is worth the bitter cold snow! You can't even see the snow in the pictures...but it was a fun night to enjoy each other!

¡Hóla!

(Hello!)

Did you know in the state of sweet California that if you want to send a note home from school with the student, it has to be in English...as well as Spanish. What the crap... I guess those that speak spanish should be able to get the messages too! But that just made my job even harder as a room parent. Oh yeah and I have to find a translator to translate the message too! hmmm? Interesting wouldn't you say? Funny part is...1st off I have never taken a foreign language except sign language so I am completely unaware of everything. So the morning that I am trying to send this letter out to the parents of Zach's class, I find out this law. So I hurry and call Gerry, " hurry Gerry go online and look up the words for this letter please!" Yeah I wasn't aware it's not just switching words...it's completely different sentence structure and the whole bit. Guess it is time to go back to school and learn Spanish. It might even get me a straw at Wendy's instead of a napkin! I am not trying to be rude...honestly it would benefit me greatly to learn spanish! If only I would have known way back when I was in school. However the student I was...probably wouldn't have done anything different!~ Dang it. I will say I cheated the system and sent home a letter yesterday in English only...shhh! And yes my life is quite boring at this moment that I am posting about such a thing. I just thought you might all want to know!

(goodbye!)

1st attempt...

I am trying to get my Christmas card family pictures taken and actually doable! Does anyone else experience tough times at these very moments? Or is it just my kids? Okay I guess I ruined the pictures! Well this is what our picture taking looked like! And no...not one of these will work. Take like 10 pounds off each of my stinkin cheeks! Honestly brilliant idea Becca to wear blush...I never wear blush, but didn't want to be pasty...instead chipmunk cheeks! They are from the blush...I swear!!!! Well I guess I better go running before I take the real picture! Anyway I still die laughing at these pictures of my kids, their little personalities are captured perfectly...Zach marching around and Lauren jumping and being her silly self. Great memories! At least I can laugh about it, right? On to our next attempt....

Meet in Mesquite!!

Playing catch up...We had a wonderful weekend (the weekend before Thanksgiving) with Gerry's family. We loved every minute! We enjoyed golfing, watching college football in the casino, playing Ticket to Ride...I never win!, dining out many times, and the very best being together!! Thank you everyone for meeting in Mesquite... of course MANY thanks to Ed and Becky for making it all possible! We loved every minute! and can't wait to see you at Christmas and TRY again in Ticket to Ride! Get ready ya all! :)

SO SWEET!

So I have things I need to blog about to catch up....but after dropping Zach off at school, I came home to clean up the papers I threw out of Zach's backpack before heading out the door. I am so happy I went through them because this is what I found....This was too sweet to not blog about! Our growing little boy is the sweetest little guy I know! and not just because I am one of his hero's :)!! But he truly has a tender heart! and I am so happy he is ours!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. We have had a great day at home with just our little fam! I actually made my first Thanksgiving feast. And I have to say it was tasty! Everyone at least said it was and even had 2nds! So I am happy it turned out. It was a very nice day to enjoy together! Little story...I asked Lauren what we are thankful for and she said, on her own without any help....Jesus Christ! What a sweet girl! We truly are thankful for all our many blessings!

and...

I also want to wish my sweet brother Sam a very happy birthday! It's actually Elder Lynch. He is currently serving his mission in North Lima Peru! I am so proud of him! It's crazy how time flies...I can remember the day he was born...my sister and I were so excited to have a brother! We have always been close. I think growing up I was a bit motherly sister...but just cause I love him! Boy he got blessed with me! :) Sam is honestly the sweetest and funniest person I know. He is always so friendly and kind to everyone he meets! I have never heard him put anyone down or be rude to anyone! And he honestly kills me with his hilarious sense of humor! What a blessing he is to me! He is such a great example! I sure miss Sam...family get together's are just not the same without him! I can't wait to see him in April! Until then...I love you Sam! You are the very best! Love ya, Becca

What was I thinking?? **Not a Rivalry post!!**

First off this has NOTHING to do with BYU/UTAH rivalry. Yes Gerry is a big huge BYU fan and I became a fan supporter when we got married. But I do not get into the rivalry because I think some people can be mean...and I like to consider myself a nice person. And we do have family and friends who go for the Utes. So this is just a funny story I thought I would share as I sit here waiting for Gerry to get home from young men's meeting so I can go meet up w/ the gals to go see TWILIGHT. And with the BIG game coming up this weekend...it's kind of appropriate! :) Well maybe!

So I was born and raised in Utah. I lived there 26 years. And when I moved out to CA, I have to admit I was homesick...and maybe a tinge small part of me still is. Okay maybe more. Well we had just moved here to CA, and we went one Saturday out to the beach to play. When we were setting up our umbrella, towel, etc...Gerry noticed this guy wearing a blue hat with a big white Y on it. I was so excited to see someone from "home". I couldn't contain myself. I know I totally embarrass Gerry, but I said oh I have to ask! Gerry said NO! So I was enjoying the beach and happened to be by the wife/female of the guy with the hat...funny how that worked out! and so I said "Are you guys from Utah?" With a big smile! I honestly was so giddy and happy to see someone from "home". WEll I didn't receive the same smile I produced! I just got this funny look back. I then said "I mean I just thought with your husband wearing a BYU hat...you might be from UT!" Then I got the most disgusted look back and the snottiest voice ever, "Oh NO, that is for YALE!" Of course I should have known. What was I thinking? I just replied..."OH!" and hurried back to Gerry. I was dying laughing at what a fool I made of myself. Gerry I think was completely embarrassed at his wife whom can not keep her mouth shut! However I know we both got a great laugh out of that....and I still laugh when I think about what a complete idiot I looked like! But hey I am proud to be from UTAH! I love my "home"! But until that time comes when it is no longer a 12 hour with kids drive to "home" ...we will enjoy the sunny weather, beaches, and call this "home for now!" Hope you enjoy the BYU/UTAH game...whatever the outcome may be. I have to say I hope ...hope for BYU to pull it off...it would make a very happy husband and weekend!! Go BYU!!

It's bought.....

and I can NOT wait until Thursday at Midnight!! ahhh!

HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!

Excuse the pic overload!....but we had a WONDERFUL time at Disneyland with our good friend's from UT, the Davis' family!! We thought we would join in the fun and meet them for a day at the happiest place on earth!! Not only did the kids have a BLAST...so did Gerry and I! I loved how excited my kids were to be with their buddies and to have so much fun! I have to admit I LOVE Disneyland....it is a very happy place for me! :) My only regret...no group picture! Heather and Mike, I guess we will just have to go back again soon!! Thanks for the FUN day! We miss living so close to hang out...so it was great to be able to spend time with your fun family! See you at Christmas!

Handy Manny!!

You know your daughter watches too much TV when a toy is broken and I say I can't fix it. I then mention that maybe daddy can fix it...and Lauren's response is, "No daddy can't fix it...maybe Handy Manny!" (TV show about Manny the fix it guy with talking tools) She then proceeds to tell me how big Handy Manny's tools are! Too cute! Good luck on that one Handy Manny!



We might just need to cut back our TV time! However I was quite proud of how many words we got in that sentence!! Between speech therapy and TV, Lauren's speech is coming along!! :)

KNOCK ON WOOD!!

I think we might just have it....potty trained that is!! Lauren actually has been great for a month or so. but I worried if I said she was potty trained...I would jinx myself! I think it's okay to say....LAUREN DID IT!!! I actually can even take her out in public!! That was a big fear for me...having accidents at the store or something! Honestly it really is my fault it took so long for Lauren to conquer this...I was lazy for 1. Hate to admit it...but I dreaded going out and having to do the public bathroom! So I would do pull-ups and I think that confused her and so on! But I finally allowed my baby to grow up! Yeah! We still wear pull-ups at night just to avoid cleaning all the bedding! :) Again laziness! But for the most part she wakes up dry! So there you have it...my baby is no longer a baby in diapers!



Don't you just love the pictures with her shirt tucked in her undies! These were taken the 1st week of potty training! My cute lil' mama!