The Gonzalez Family

Pictures I Love

2011-05-22T01:24:00.000-06:00

Having fun in the water. Arrie isn't having fun.

How can you resist this face?

Too much fun.

The perfect bubble.

The hand on the hip is perfect. If you know Georgia, you know why.

Buffalo Gibson.

Angel face. This look only happens when she just wakes up.

Holding a baby duck + check out the new haircut!

Oscar, our youngest

Lu's mom, Gloria

My babies. Man, I love them!

Moving On...

2011-01-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

Over the past little while, I've thought about how I can make blogging more meaningful to me. I don't post things very often, even though I want to. So my resolution for the new year was to create a space where I can write things that actually mean something to ME. But the best way to do that, I found, was to create a separate and special place for each part of my life. Complicated? Yes! But I tend to work better when things are complicated. And so, I'm moving on to different things and I thought I'd extend an invitation to you to tag along if you'd like.

Like I say, these blogs are a little less generic that the one you are reading now. If you look once and never look again, that's totally fine with me. But understand that they are my attempt at acting on inspiration, and I really feel a sense of "rightness" when I post each day.

Of course, I'll still post pictures and tidbits to this site every now and then. But I'll be busy keeping my other (lets count here...) six blogs!

Here are the links to the new ones. They are still works in progress, so be patient. Hope to see you there!

http://deargibson.blogspot.com/
http://deargeorgiagirl.blogspot.com/
http://dearlubeloved.blogspot.com/
http://brittneysownblog.blogspot.com/

Good Ideas for Hire

2010-10-27T00:35:00.000-06:00

It's 12:27 and I can't go to sleep. I have too many ideas in my head! And 90% of them are good. Well, at least I think they're good.

Just to clue you in, the current ones rattling in my head...

Could make a lot of money
Could solve the pillow problem
Could work in primary
Could be the way to solve the patient issue at work
Could be a way to make my friend's blog idea be AWESOME
Could be a way for my other friend to get her daughter out of the bathroom and into bed
Could taste good for dinner tomorrow
Could require a trip or two to Walmart
Could be the color for the upstairs
Could make a great blog post on the primary blog
Could make a totally hilarious Christmas gift
Could be a cute necklace...
...bracelet...
...hairclip...

Miracle! I can't think of any other "thinks" that I'm thinking right now! So that clears it up. I knew that writing them down would help.

Sweet dreams!

Oh, my Georgia

2010-10-13T00:14:00.001-06:00

No words for this one. Just too cute!

Happy 3rd Birthday!! She really wanted a "Dinkerbell" cake, and we got lucky - although she refused to go near the candles, so I had to blow them out for her!

All decked out in the birthday booty - a princess leotard, tutu, purse, Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake movie, 2 headbands, high heels, and you can't tell from the picture but her nails were freshly painted and she had a lovely shade of pink lipstick on. Yes. Underneath that tough exterior she's a girly girl at heart.

Her new big girl bed! She hardly wants to get out of it in the morning!

Oh, how we love our little Georgia!

Great Day

2010-10-01T14:13:00.000-06:00

I just picked Gibson up from school, and he had a great day. He ran out of the school smiling from ear to ear and waving at me, then got into the car and said, "Mom, I had a great day." I have to work today, so he's spending the afternoon with Grandpa Gary, and he looked like he was on the verge of laughing all the way to Grandpa's house. Here's how the conversation went:

How was school?
Great.
What did you do?
Everything.
What's everything?
We went to recess, got a drink, learned. It was great.
Why are you so happy?
Because! I'm just so excited!
About what?
Everything! I just had a really great day!

He was perma-grin and I don't know why. Now I'm perma-grin just thinking about it.

Thanks to Gibson for giving me a reason to smile and remember how grateful I am for 2 amazing and beautiful children. It really is a great day!

2010-09-22T22:33:00.000-06:00

I've been neglecting this blog lately, but with good reason! I've started a couple of blogs related to my primary calling - one for the families in our ward with links to the songs we're singing, weekly updates on what we're doing in singing time, and ideas on how to incorporate our songs and activities at home and in family home evening. The other one is for fellow choristers and primary workers with ideas on props, song reviews, and little tricks I learn along the way. I know that a couple of you that read this blog are in primary, so I thought I'd pass them along just in case you or someone in your various wards might find them helpful. Anyway, I hope you check them out!

http://afprimarymusic.blogspot.com

http://afprimarysingingtime.blogspot.com

Too Fast

2010-09-15T00:04:00.000-06:00

My kids are growing up too fast. I hate it. I could elaborate, but you all know exactly what I mean. So that's it - there's just nothing more to say!

New Cut, New Clothes, New Calling

2010-08-09T15:18:00.002-06:00

The past few weeks have been very interesting, to say the least. I finally got fed up with my hair, and chopped it all off. Sadly, I have no picture of the new 'do, but will wait for a good hair day and post one then. It's short, sassy, and I'm back to blonde after a 2 year hiatus from getting my hair colored. To go along with the spunk on the top half, I decided I needed some new clothes to fit the look. Thanks to my husband, I have a nice little stockpile of winter basics just waiting for the weather to calm down and cool off.

Of course, with all of this transformation going on, I couldn't leave out the most important aspect of my life, and that's the gospel and my testimony. A new calling came right in the midst of all of this, and really gave me a chance (I say gave, but it is still giving) to turn to the Lord in thought and prayer. I always appreciate opportunities that cause me to cast away my daily cares and focus on what's really important. So, what is this new calling, you ask? Primary chorister. I know that for some of you that sounds like lots of fun, and you're thinking, "Oh, you're going to LOVE that calling!" I'm sure that's true, but it's also the one calling I SWORE I would NEVER accept. Even as I was saying a reluctant yes, my mind was screaming NO!!! I was sad to leave my Laurels, and let's face it - performing for a crowd is really not my favorite thing to do. So, for many reasons, I cried for 5 days straight every time I thought about the task ahead. When I was sustained in Sacrament Meeting, I had to leave right after and go have a "moment" in the ladies room. After a sufficient mourning period, I set to work to find some inspiration online. I found a lot of great ideas, but still no inspiration. Then I came across the most wonderful blog, called The Children Sing. There was a particular post that caught my attention as I scrolled through her posts. In it, she quotes Zechariah 2:10, "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord." She then says, "Would any of us refuse such an invitation by the Lord to sing? If the act of singing will bring the Lord to dwell with me I want to be the first in line! We can all sing together. Let's do it now and bring him quickly." That was it. That was the answer to my prayers. Over the past days, I have had a great peace about this new and daunting task. Every time I start to feel overwhelmed, I remind myself to "sing and rejoice." We are daughters of Zion, and we have so much to be joyful about. This is truly the right place for me to be right now, and I know that. I just felt like I needed to share that experience with you, more out of gratitude than anything else.

So upward and onward! I have puppets to make!

Dance Recital

2010-07-13T10:48:00.003-06:00

So pretty!

Gorgeous curls, thanks to Auntie!

Uh, what's going on?

The whole troupe

Meet Oscar...Finally!

2010-07-13T10:26:00.003-06:00

I've been meaning to introduce you to this little guy for a year now! Here's the story of how Oscar came into our family -

Our family dog Belle died last August, and it was a really difficult time for all of us, since she really was our "sissy." My parents were having a particularly hard time with the loss, and the next day my grandma encouraged my mom to stop and see a litter of beagle puppies that someone was selling. One thing led to another, and two days after we buried Belle we brought home not one, but 3 baby beagles! My mom got Emmy, my brother got Pogi, and we got Oscar! They are all from the same litter, and man - what sweet puppies they are! They get together almost every day to play, and each of their personalities fits perfectly with their families.

Here are some fun facts about Oscar:
- He is a total mama's boy
- He loves to snuggle
- He's the biggest of the three
- We call him and Emmy the twins, because their coloring is identical - every hair is the same!
- He loves eating his poop
- He has a terrible sense of smell, which is unusual for a beagle
- He loves Gibson and Georgia, and puts up with a lot of pokes and squeezes from them
- His favorite thing to do is go for rides in the car. Whenever we run errands that don't require getting out of the car (bank, car wash, etc) he gets to come with us.

Being obedient.

Wet face after playing in the water

Happy 1st Birthday, Oscar! -June 20, 2010

Eye Candy

2010-04-06T22:33:00.003-06:00

Kids Update

2010-02-17T22:16:00.002-07:00

A little update on what the kids have been up to these past few months (these pictures are from the fall, obviously. My sister took them, and they're precious! They haven't changed much since then, except that Georgia's hair is about 3 inches longer. I'll post more current pictures soon.)

Gibson is doing really well in preschool, and is growing up to be a really handsome little guy. He is, for the most part, an incredibly easy-going and happy little boy. He turned 5 in January, and can't wait for kindergarten. It's hard to believe that we're there already! We discovered today that he doesn't really like needles - here's how: I had an appointment today to get a shot in my shoulder. My grandpa came, along with Gibson. The doctor came in and did the shot, and when he left I noticed Gibson was laying on the floor.

Me: Gibson, let's get going.
Gibson: No, I just want to lay down. (I pull him up and make him stand)
Nurse: Hey buddy, you look really pale. Do you want a drink of water?
Gibson: No, I'm ok (eyes roll back and he passes out on the floor!)
Everyone around: Holy crap! He totally passed out! Ensuing laughter.

He came to pretty quickly, then went out to the lobby where he proceeded to throw up.

Gibson: Blaaaat (that's the sound of him puking)
Me: Are you ok?
Gibson: Now THAT feels better. (eyes roll back and he passes out in the chair)

My grandpa picked up his limp little body and carried him out with his arm around his stomach, his body flopping over. Another throw up in the parking lot. Set him in the car, and try to make him understand that he CANNOT throw up in the car! He slept in the car, and about 15 minutes later he woke up, good as new, and said that he really didn't like that doctor and he never wants to go there again!

So that's the funny story of the day. I wanted to make sure to write that one down!

As for what else he's up to, he loves monster trucks and robots, is learning to play the Wii, still loves to draw and read, and just have a good time with his family. His best buddy is my grandpa, and he loves every minute he gets to spend with him. He also loves playing with our dog, Oscar. He hates long sleeves, and likes his hair to look like a T-Rex, whatever that means. He is very compassionate, and has an extremely tender heart. We joke that to discipline Gibson you just have to give him the stink-eye, but with Georgia you have to pull out the big guns and really get in her face. They are SOOO different!! Speaking of our little princess (of darkness!)...

Georgia is HILARIOUS. And I was totally kidding about the princess of darkness thing. She has a personality as big as her hair, and lets everyone know it. She loves playing with dolls, pushing dolls in the stroller, feeding dolls, changing doll diapers, putting dolls down for naps, giving dolls baths...notice a trend? She also loves talking on the phone (which is usually a calculator, block, or other rectangular device). Mostly she talks to "Goppa," my grandpa Gary. Typical conversation:

Ning Ning! Hey Goppa. Sup? Yo-kay? Good. Oh Goppa. Uh funny. Uh happen? Yo-kay? I kiss it. Mwah! Ok goppa. Yuh-you. See yater. Bye Goppa. Ning Ning!

And so it goes, over and over and over again with only slight variation. Because she's the little mommy, she is very bossy. I wonder where she gets the idea that mommies are bossy? But she's sweet as candy and gives the best kisses. She can count to 10, and sings the first and last parts of the alphabet. The whole H-S thing continues to illude her. She loves "rocking out" in the car with the music up loud, jumping, wearing jewelry and "peppess" (princess) shoes, hitting Gibson, and standing in front of the TV just to be annoying.

So that's a little bit of an update on the kids! More to come at some point, I'm sure!

Update

2010-01-04T20:55:00.002-07:00

Happy New Year! Since my last post, not much has happened and yet so much at the same time. On the job note, Lu will be going back to Sprint next week in their retail division. This has been a hard thing for me to swallow, and I'll tell you why -- 2-1/2 years ago, Lu decided to leave Sprint after 4 years of working there because they made it clear to him that he was not going to be promoted out of his sales rep position because he was "too valuable where he was." That was really discouraging, so when a manager position came up at AT&T he jumped on it. We knew we had done the right thing and made the right move. Then a year later, he was laid off and moved over to Qwest. Again, right thing/right move. Then a year later, laid off again. Darn corporate downsizing!! Anyhoo, we are right back to where we left off at Sprint, albeit one rung lower on the ladder since he is only going to be a rep and not a lead. So for a while I was a little upset that we worked so hard to get away from Sprint and into a company that would provide opportunities for advancement only to end up back at Sprint!! But I've been praying a lot and at this point I know that this is exactly where Lu needs (and wants) to be. It's a significant drop in pay, but he'll be happy and that's what is most important right now since the last couple of years have been pretty miserable. We are just really grateful that the opportunity came up - it was really random and definitely meant to be! (side story - we went to Costco for a hot dog and ran into a girl Lu used to work with at the Orem Sprint store. she is now the manager in Orem, and asked what Lu was up to. Lu told her about the job situation, she said "wow, crazy timing, we are hiring in January, if you want the job it's yours. random for 2 reasons - #1 she lives in Orem and was only in American Fork because she was picking up her son's friend, and #2 both of our families had a hankering for a hot dog on the same night at the same time!!)

Ok, so that takes care of the job update. Christmas was great, the kids had a ball. Our camera is broken however, so we don't have any pictures until we get together with other family members and see if they got some of the kids. It was a really simple Christmas, but we got some amazing gifts nonetheless. We got patio sets, dishes, movie gift cards, an awesome cookbook for me, tools for Lu, and the kids of course got spoiled beyond necessity. It was fun to eat and play and rest over the long weekend.

I am really excited for the new year. It's a new opportunity to make myself a better person, mom, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. It's a chance to learn new things, master old things, find discipline, joy, hope, laughter, and strengthen my testimony. I can eat better, exercise better, love better, sleep better. Speak nicer, look nicer, be nicer. Be more productive, be more organized, be more helpful. Focus on the bright side, focus on the Savior, focus on learning new things every day. The last year was challenging, and no doubt 2010 will bring new challenges. But I'm optimistic about what the future will bring, and look forward to putting as much time between me and 2009 as possible!! Good luck to you all in your resolutions! Bye for now!

Here I Am

2009-11-11T21:49:00.003-07:00

It's been a long time, I know. And I've had several of you ask where I've been for such a long time! Truth is, I've sat down at least a dozen times to post something, but words just haven't come. It's not that there's nothing going on, it's just that I haven't been in the best state of mind lately. Let me explain, without sounding like I'm griping or at all ungrateful for the life that I live...

The bottom line is that I'm tired and overwhelmed and a little bit defeated. The past few months have been difficult for a lot of different reasons, with work and bills and other obligations. Lu found out last week that he's being laid off as of tomorrow (the 12th). Work is hard right now because I really miss my kids and I hate that I have to work to make ends meet. I feel like we work so hard with nothing to show for it (I'm speaking in worldly terms here - in the terms that matter, we are richly blessed). There are certain things that are just out of reach, and frankly - I'm bitter. I'm bitter that I have to put my kids in daycare and every day I see women dropping hundreds of dollars on Botox. I'm bitter that Lu works his butt off every day so his supervisors can play golf and he's the one that's dealt the short stick. In some ways I know that things happen for a reason, and I know that everything works out - I do. But right now the journey is, let's say, a little harder than I prefer.

That being said, I am SO grateful for the healing power of the Atonement. Even though I obviously have some feelings that I need to work through, there is still a peace that I feel when I pray for comfort, guidance, and sometimes just the strength to make it through the day. Our challenges are so unique, and I recognize the heat of the refiner's fire. I'm getting quite used to it actually. Sometimes I wish I could just learn what it is that I'm supposed to learn already and be done with it. Other times I see clearly the path that I'm taking and I'm okay with it.

Even in all of the financial/employment turmoil that we find ourselves in, we have a lot to be grateful for. I have found a lot of joy in my life despite some of the challenges and disappointments, and I've been blessed with amazing family and friends. I guess if I'm going to be stuck in this rut for the rest of my life I will at least be in good company!

I'm sorry for the lapse in communication. As you can tell, I've been working on a few things that still need some thought, prayer, repentance, and a little bit of surrender. Over the next little while I'll post some pictures and tidbits about the kids (they are growing so fast!) and all of their shenanigans. I've been keeping up with all of your blogs, however, and it's fun to see all that you've been doing. So many pregnancies! Crazy! I'm really jealous. Anyway, don't think less of me for my bad attitude. I'm working on it, I promise!

We HAVE Been Up to Something...

2009-07-12T10:50:00.010-06:00

I've just been too lazy to post anything lately! So, here's a rundown of the past month and all that happened, and a few pictures, too!

Georgia got her first in-salon haircut, at an adorable little place called Cookie Cutters. Before the cut, her hair was looking pretty shaggy. The funny part was that the top was so heavy it was hanging stick-straight - but the bottom was growing in super curly! The trick was to even it out a little...the end result is pretty cute! Sorry some of the pictures didn't get rotated before I attached them!

We went to the Air Show up at Hill Air Force Base with Jake, Jenell, Jerik and Jackson. We had a great time, and the kids LOVED the planes! The motorcycle Gibson is standing in front of is the Air Force Chopper that was featured on TLC's American Chopper. He was SO excited! He loves motorcycles! Too bad Lu wasn't there to see it!

Gibson got all signed up for pre-kindergarten at American Legacy Academy, and is so excited!

Lu's nephew Ephraim got married to a cute girl named Jen. It was the first time in a long time that we had a chance to visit with Lu's family, and we had a really good time.

I got to go to the Manti Pageant with my mom and grandparents. We spent the night there and had a great time driving around and visiting for 2 days! The last time I was on a trip with those three was in high school and we went to DisneyWorld. I hadn't seen the pageant since college, and it was amazing. It was also the first time I'd been back to Manti since Lu and I got married there!

Lu and I celebrated our 7th Anniversary on July 6th!
The kids and I spent some quality time with Grandpa Gary and Grandma Arloa at Cabela's, where we got some stinkin' cute pictures of them.

I started working 2 days a week in the office, so the kids are hanging out at Jenell's house. She's been taking tons of pictures of the kids, but I'll have to post those when I get them from her.

I spent three days with the Young Women at Youth Conference. Lu got to take 2 days off of work to spend with the kids while I was gone, and they had lots of fun. I had fun, too, of course!

Laundry Day Collection

2009-06-03T16:39:00.004-06:00

I am always amazed and amused at the things that come out of the laundry. I don't clean out pockets, but that is something I may consider doing after this week's haul. After our usual 6 loads of laundry, here is what I found (I'm guessing that most of it came from Gibson's pockets - little boys find such enviable treasures!)...

2 large rocks, a plastic egg (what?! that's so weird), 6 small rocks, a spring, a weird white clip of some sort, a peach pit, a black bead, 4 beans, and 45 cents. Not bad!

Grave Robbers

2009-06-01T14:05:00.004-06:00

Let me preface this post by telling you that I LOVE living by the cemetery. If I didn't have the knowledge of the Atonement and live in a place where the bulk of the people buried here have that same knowledge, I don't think I would enjoy it quite as much. But it is a truly peaceful and joyful place to be.

I love seeing families gather together and pay tribute to their loved ones. I especially love the funerals of public servants and military personnel. We have had 2 soldiers that died in Iraq buried there - one of them had a processional for over a mile up to the cemetery and hundreds of people gathered on the sidewalks and raised their hands to their hearts as his casket was driven up the street draped in the American flag. Scouts in full uniform from several stakes lined the road on both sides and held flags. It seemed like the entire city was silent - it is one of the most reverent experiences I have ever had. And when a former fire chief was buried, 2 of the fire trucks extended their ladders and came together to form an arch over the entrance of the cemetery - SO cool! Anyway, the cemetery is a beautiful place, and you really can't complain about noisy neighbors!

So, this may sound creepy but I assure you - it's not. Each Memorial Day, thousands of flowers are placed on graves by family members. A week later, the city cleans up all of the flowers and puts them in garbage bags to take to the dump. Anyone that knows about it can go there and pick up some of the bags and keep whatever is inside! I have gone over there for the past 3 years to gather mums for my yard. This year we picked up 6 huge bags and divided the booty between myself, my mom and sister, and 3 of my neighbors. It's always fun(ny) to drive through the cemetery and pick out the perfect bags. This year we got some really good things!

Here is my portion of the haul from this year's venture...

Most of the flowers in my yard have come from the cemetery, especially the mums. They come back bigger every year! Here is one of them from last year...

So if you still think it's creepy, just think of us as less "grave-robber" and more "dumpster-diver." It's better than throwing them in the garbage, right?!

Wet 'N' Wild

2009-06-01T13:58:00.002-06:00

Gibson LOVES getting wet in the sprinkler. By sprinkler I mean me holding the hose and squirting him. The drinking pictures are my favorite!!

Landscaping the Backyard Part 1

2009-06-01T13:27:00.002-06:00

Well, four years after we moved here, we are finally getting around to doing our backyard! You can see from the pictures that it's pretty much a weedy wasteland back there, but not for long! Thanks to my grandparents, we are putting the sprinkler system and lawn in with leftovers from their yard that they are putting in right now. So I'll keep you updated on the progress, but here is what's up so far!

Who knew that utility trailers made such great play-pens?! Georgia spent over an hour in ours just playing in the dirt. Doesn't she look like a little farm-girl?

Gibson and I hanging out while Lu does all the hard work with the trencher.

This was the hardest job - getting the trenching done. At least now it's over, and we can move on to the fun part!

Our beautiful new tree - the first (intentional) sign of life back there!

Our gigantic back patio (there used to be a swimming pool there that's been filled in). We have some great plants that I'm trying to keep alive that are leftover from G&G's yard. Gibson has loved having his tractor - he is getting 5 cents for every rock he hauls out of the yard.

I Love My Sister

2009-05-07T22:52:00.003-06:00

I really do!! I am sitting here reflecting on my day, which I spent almost entirely with her, and am feeling like the luckiest little sister in the world! Here is a list of the highlights of this fun and productive day...

9:00am - I call Jenell and see if she wants to go to Lowes to look at tile. YES!! she replies so I should pick her up from the elem. school where she just dropped of Jerik
9:20am - Jenell calls - where are you? that was 20 minutes ago! I'm coming, I just had to get Georgia dressed after I dropped Gibson off at Joy School
9:30am - Lowes: we look at tile and Jenell (the color expert) steers me in the perfect direction for my new kitchen floor, countertops, and backsplash. She is so smart, I'm so excited! Then on the way out, she just reaches out and grabs the perfect paint colors. She is SO smart, I'm SO excited!
10:45am - pick up Gibson, run to Albertson's to get Jackson some diapers (this is the last pack, she swears - he'll be potty trained before these run out)
11:00am - car full of whiny kids. We need a Diet Coke. Why not just get lunch? Wendy's. Park.
11:45am - 2 FULL days of preschool? let's go get information RIGHT NOW.
12:00pm - back at Jenell's house, why not plant a gazillion pansies? Jenell digs the hole, Brittney places the flowers (Britt's a wimp, can't use the tool). Jersey (the dog) eats the flowers. 7 times. Put her on a leash, she breaks her collar. What a pain. Why does she have a dog?!
1:30pm - let's go to the Home Depot and look at plants. We're going to have the best yards EVER!! This plant is only $5 - we spent more than that on lunch! Next time I need Wendy's, I'm going to Home Depot. This one or this one? That one. Definitely.
2:30pm - many many tired and cranky kids in the car. drop off Jenell and Jackson at home. let's go to the nursery tomorrow to look at more plants for our rockin' yards. see you in the morning?
3:30 pm - can I go to Jenell's house and meet the girl that's buying the book? Just go through the gate (push hard, there's a log behind it). The book is in the bedroom (ignore the mess). Don't take less than $25.00 (she's already getting a deal). Drive to find Jenell, give her $25.00. Dog's collar is broken again. Needs a new collar. Dogs are too expensive, maybe she'll get rid of the dog.
7:30pm - Jenell calls, but I miss it because Gibson sharted and made a caca mess that of course, I had to clean up because Lu was dry-heaving. (ok, he didn't dry-heave, or get mad - way to be strong, babe!)
9:30pm - I finally call Jenell back. She wants to know if Lu likes the tile. Are we still on for tomorrow? see you in the morning!
11:00pm - It hits me how grateful I am for Jenell and the amazing and talented person she is - she is my sister, but more importantly she's my friend. What a fun day we had!

I love you, Jenell!!

A little reminder

2009-04-15T12:03:00.004-06:00

This post is entirely for my own benefit, and for use as a public confession and reminder to myself why I love my kids. So here goes...

I'm having a particulary challenging morning with my kids, and to be honest (warning - weak mother moment coming) I'm having a hard time liking them right now. So, because I have given myself a mommy time-out, I am going to make a list of the things my kids do that I love. And I'm going to keep writing until I have enough love to leave this room and deal with them again!

Gibson
1. Knows how to spell his first name, and spells it all the time.
2. Will insist he didn't eat the cookie even though his face is smeared with chocolate.
3. Loves to draw and read books.
4. Always says he's sorry.
5. Has the cutest smile and laugh.
6. Wants to learn how to cook, and loves being in the kitchen.
7. Asks his daddy every day how work was, and if he made any sales.
8. Says the cutest prayers and blesses every single person in our entire family. Individually.
9. Tries hard to be quiet when I'm working.
10. He dances - but only when he's "in the mood."
11. He's a big boy, but he still wants me to kiss his owies.
12. He tells me I look pretty, even when I don't.
13. He says things like "What the..." and "That was awkward."
14. He wants to be a drummer like Uncle Dill, muscle-y like his cousin Ephraim, and a salesman like his dad.

Georgia
1. She has great hair - if it's down, she shakes her head back and forth so it touches her face.
2. She is an amazing sleeper - she sleeps all the time.
3. When I go to get her out of her crib, she pretends she's still sleeping. Then when I get really close she smiles and then laughs. She thinks she has me fooled every time.
4. Sometimes when she's in trouble she doesn't cry she just pouts. She closes her eyes and every now and then looks at you very sadly. She's very still, but then snaps out of it like nothing ever happened.
5. She loves wearing shoes, especially the ones that tap when she walks.
6. She has the funniest run - she trots and bounces and flails her arms - it's hilarious.
7. She's obsessed with M&Ms.
8. She closes her eyes for prayers whenever food is put in front of her, so we have to pray - even at restaurants. She won't eat until we pray.
9. She dances all the time, and loves the music turned up in the car.
10. She loves giving kisses.
11. She likes to jump off the couch, play with big dogs, wrestle, drink out of a straw, go down slides by herself, jump on the trampoline, climb onto high furniture, and ride motorcycles.

Ok, I feel better. Thanks for letting me vent!

We Won!!

2009-04-14T12:03:00.002-06:00

It's official - and it's BIG!! Let me start from the beginning (it's a short story, I promise)...

Ever since we bought our house, there has only been one thing about it that has been difficult to deal with - the kitchen. It is very small, has very little counter space, and the lighting is terrible. But, we deal with it because a new kitchen would cost oodles of $ that we don't have. Whenever I get discouraged or bored, I think of ways to make our house amazing, and thanks to my dad - who is a home designer - I can really get creative. Fast forward to February...

At the end of February, I was feeling like redoing the kitchen (on paper, not in reality). My dad came over and sketched out a few possibilities, and we really REALLY got excited about the prospects of an amazing new open concept living room, dining room, kitchen area. Luckily, the home remodeling show was going on that weekend, so I got a babysitter and went with my parents. We found countertops and flooring that I love, but searched and searched for the perfect cabinet color and style. Then we turned a corner and "Aaahhhh" (that's a choir singing) there it was! The kitchen of my dreams. I took my mom over and said, "This is it! It's perfect!" The sales rep said, "Oh, you like this kitchen? Would you like to enter to win it?" I entered, of course, but left feeling defeated since I've never won anything in my life. Nothing. Fast forward to this morning...

I got a call from Gold Medallion's sales manager, and...WE WON!!!! The kitchen of my dreams - well, just the cabinets - but wooohooo! So, now we get to start tearing out walls, flooring, and the existing cabinets. It's going to be a HUGE project, but so worth it! I'm so excited!!

Easter Fun

2009-04-13T15:30:00.005-06:00

We had a great Easter-fest filled with candy, eggs, food, and family. We spent the day at my parent's house, along with 15 other people! Along with the usual crowd, my sister-in-law's parents and brother came, my Aunt April came from Bountiful and also my Grandpa & Grandma Boss. We haven't seen the Bosses since Braden's wedding, so the kids have changed a lot! Lu had to work, which was a bummer - we missed his company :( We got some great pictures of all of the kids, although I realized that we took about 100 pictures of Georgia and hardly any of the boys! Probably because the boys were always off doing their own thing and I pretty much maintain control of Georgia's whereabouts, at least for now. It was a beautiful sunny day after a week of cold rain, and we had a great time! Hope your Easter was a special one!

Attention Fun Ship Passengers...

2009-04-06T10:22:00.003-06:00

We survived! Our trip was amazing - too short, as usual, but really, really fun. We ate too much, stayed up too late, and laughed more than we've laughed in a long time. We had a great time with the Dean's, and can't wait for our next cruise! We're thinking Alaska next time...doesn't that sound fun?!

Lu and I in Ensenada - it was overcast, but pretty warm. We were there to see La Bufadora, a blowhole. It was pretty neat to see, and shopping at the flea market was an adventure, as always!

Peter, Allison, me & Lu at La Bufadora.

As first-time cruisers, we had to play all the games. We played Win Lose or Draw and kicked the pants off the competition. We also played 80's music trivia and won a little plastic trophy. I guess we'll have to pass that one back and forth between us!

Lu relaxing on deck - this was the only afternoon that it was warm enough to wear a bathing suit!

Me at Catalina Island - if you look closely, you can see our ship out in the ocean.

The bay at Catalina

Our beautiful ship!

Bon Voyage!

2009-03-28T23:46:00.002-06:00

Well, tomorrow's the day! We leave on our cruise to Mexico right after church, and I can't even tell you how excited I am. I was so organized that I packed on Monday, and every day did something to prepare for the trip. Now there are only 16 things left on my To-Do list! Gibson and Georgia are spending the week at my parent's house, so I had to pack suitcases for them and us which was a total mess. Because I was uber-organized and packed so early, Gibson asked every day if it was time for our vacation. No. Is it time now? No. Will it be time after Georgia wakes up? No. It's been a long week. Luckily, he bought the idea that HE is the one going on vacation. The other day he came up to me and said, "Mom, I'm sorry you and daddy can't go on a vacation." Oh, honey - if you only knew!

In the midst of all the cruise prep, I had the opportunity to teach a mini-class at our enrichment activity today on Clutter Control & Organization. It was a really fun class and it was fun to share ideas with the sisters of our ward. We have a lot of clutter-bugs, so hopefully someone learned something! If I can figure out how to post a document link, I'll share the handouts that I made.

After the class, we went up to Bountiful to have dinner with my Aunt April. We were surprised to find my cousin Jeri and her family there for the weekend! What a fun surprise! We spent the evening catching up, which is always a noisy affair in our family. Man, we laugh a lot! Gibson and Georgia had a great time playing with their cousins - Georgia was so hyper when we left that the whole way home she was yelling and blabbering on and on. I think my mom is having second thoughts about watching them this week - good thing she keeps earplugs in her nightstand! During dinner, Jeri bugged me about not posting in 2 months, so this post is my repentance post. :o( I'm sorry all of you Gonzalez fans. I've let you down. But don't worry - I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures and lots of things to say after our trip!

Bon Voyage!

A Brief Update

2009-01-26T16:13:00.002-07:00

Time is flying by! January is almost over and it feels like it's still Christmas! That is, in part, because I am just now getting around to taking down our Christmas tree. I finally un-decorated it today while I was cleaning - now it's up to Lu to get it put away! Needless to say, things around here have been busy as usual. Here's a quick blurb on everyone and what we've been up to...

Lu is working, working, working. He's having fun researching camping trailers, since this is "our year" to finally get one! We all love camping, and are SO looking forward to the luxuries of camping in a trailer and not a tent!

I am busy with work, even though I don't work in the office much anymore. Every day seems busy although with what, I don't really know. I guess that's the joy of being a mother!

Gibson is bored out of his mind most of the time. He really really wants to play outside, but it's just too cold (for me, not as much for him!). So we read and play games - a lot. He surprised me the other day by singing the "Days of the Week" song - what the... where did he learn that?! Preschool, of course! It's so fun to watch him as his mind expands as he learns - from Preschool type material to the principles he's learning in Primary. His small little world is growing every day...right before my eyes!

Georgia has had an eventful few weeks. Her feet are finally healed, and look pretty much normal! She doesn't like shoes, however. We'll have to work on that. A little over a week ago, she got a somewhat severe burn on her neck after running into a pan coming out of the oven. She didn't even cry! She has an incredibly high pain tolerance, we've decided. (She pulled all of her stitches out of her feet and never cried, either.) I am so thankful to be working for a dermatologist - I called her right away and she said that since the burn didn't blister, to put 1% Hydrocortisone cream on it and alternate that with Vaseline. So there you go, folks - Burn Treatment 101. Her neck is healing nicely, but it's still ooky looking in the crease, probably because she moves around so much! It will leave a dark pigmented scar, but hopefully it will fade over time. In the meantime, we're just waiting to see what injuries lie ahead.

Well, that's about it. Not much going on, but it's been a while since I posted so I thought I should check in. We're so blessed in our lives, and we're learning to catch the curve-balls that tend to come our way. Now, if we can just get Georgia a helmet, or a burn-suit, or shin-guards... I'll have to look into that!

Happy Birthday, Gibson!

2009-01-15T22:20:00.003-07:00

Today my baby turned 4! I still can't believe how time has passed by so quickly. It seems like only yesterday...

Gibson is such a fun little boy to have around. He is funny and imaginative, and says the cutest things. He loves reading, drawing, playing with toys, watching movies, snuggling, making up songs, and all sorts of other things. He is turning into the most amazing boy. Every day I am thankful to have been given the choice blessing of being his mom.

Now, I am sitting here thinking of all of the milestones he's already reached, and all of those that are yet to come:

1 year and 8 months from now, he'll be in Kindergarten!

4 years from now, he'll get baptized!

8 years from now, he'll get the Priesthood and pass the Sacrament!

10 years from now, he'll be old enough to go to Stake dances!

12 years from now, he'll be old enough to get his driver's license and...eek...date!

14 years from now, he'll graduate from high school!

15 years from now, he'll be able to serve a mission!

I am SO excited for the years to come! Happy Birthday, baby!

Bye, Bye, Little Piggies

2009-01-06T19:42:00.004-07:00

Well, it's done! Georgia finally had her surgery today to remove toes #11 and 12. We arrived at Primary Children's Medical Center this morning at 9:00 for her 10:30 surgery. She went into the OR right on time, and thanks to the skills of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephanie Holmes, she was in and out of surgery in only 45 minutes! She spent about an 1-1/2 hours in post-operative care, and then we were on our way home at 1:00! She is already up and about on her new little feet, and we can't wait to buy her first "real" pair of shoes! Thanks to all of you who checked in on us today and kept Georgia in your prayers! The power of the Priesthood is real, and I am grateful every day for its power in our lives. Here's to a lifetime of sandals and heels for our precious baby girl!

Dr. Holmes drew on her feet to make sure she didn't take the wrong ones! I wonder what exactly it stands for...Sever Here, maybe?

Mommy keeping Georgia calm in post-op. She was so feisty when she woke up from anesthesia they had to give her the maximum dose of Demerol to calm her down! The nurses were cracking up at just how sassy she was being. I just nodded and said, "Welcome to my world!"

Happy Christmas

2008-12-27T23:35:00.003-07:00

We hope you all had a very merry Christmas! We were blessed to be with our immediate family plus my grandparents, who drove all the way from Oregon in the ice and snow. We ate too much, opened too many presents, played too many games, watched too many movies, and had too much fun! It was perfect!

It's Winter in Wonderland

2008-12-25T23:19:00.004-07:00

The snow has been falling with no end in sight,

It's drifting and piling all day and all night.

The driveway is deep and the porch lights are buried,

The icicles' dripping with speed that's unharried.

The roof is so full there's no room for the snow,

So it's falling in waves t'ward the house - watch it go!

Now on this Christmas as snow keeps a-comin'

We're snug in our house, doing nothing - just bummin'.

We're grateful for heat, and our four-wheel-drive,

And the moisture that thru summer keeps us alive.

A wondrous day we have had, all in white -

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

Check it out - the worlds first anti-gravity icicles! I've never seen them go straight for the house before...for a minute I thought our house was crooked!

This is what happens when the snow gets so heavy it falls off the roof - but freezes on the way down! Also note the horizontal icicles that were gouging holes in my window screens (until Dillon kindly walked through the snow to knock them down!). This is a very cool example of nature at its best!

Snow Day

2008-12-18T11:41:00.002-07:00

Tuesday was the first real snow of the year. It was Georgia's first time playing in it, and she was quite confused at the whole idea. Gibson had a great snowball fight with daddy, and we all decided we need better snow gear! Brrrr!

Happy Birthday, Babe!

2008-12-16T21:01:00.004-07:00

Today is Lu's birthday...the big 3-0! He had the day off of work, so I surprised him with a visit to the Harley-Davidson showroom in Lindon. He's always wanted to go, but never has had the time (I can't imagine why!). He was really excited, and we both had a great time looking at all the bikes and over-priced apparel *there was a T-shirt for $100.00!!*. He sat on a few, and we planned our future of buying a cruiser and touring the nation. I mean Utah. Because I won't drive that far on the back of a motorcycle, whether it has rear speakers or not! Well anyway, it was fun to see him with all the chrome - like a kid in a candy store. We ate a fabulous lunch at the restaurant, and ogled at all of the tattoos and rat-tails (yes, even Happy Valley has an underworld - you can witness it at the Harley store). It was nice to spend a few hours alone together and talk and laugh and re-connect. When we got home, we decided the party wasn't over, so we took the kids to see Igor at the dollar theater. Georgia cried in the lobby with Lu the whole time, and Gibson and I enjoyed the movie. Not so fun for Lu on his birthday, but we sure had fun! Happy Birthday, Babe!

These Boots Are Made For Walkin'....

2008-11-19T10:21:00.002-07:00

Sassy, don't you think?

Bye, Bye Lu's Arm Hair

2008-11-14T20:35:00.002-07:00

Today Lu was sealing a hole where the old swamp cooler used to be...some of the foam dropped on his arm and before he know it, it burned all the hair off! Now he has two bald patches - I laughed so hard!

New Songs for Commercials

2008-11-12T23:07:00.003-07:00

My friend emailed me this video and it is hilarious! The immodium one is my favorite...the more times you watch it the funnier it is! Have fun with this one...

Georgia's Modeling Debut

2008-11-09T16:55:00.004-07:00

We had the opportunity this past week to have Georgia's pictures taken! She modeled a new line of hats from a company called Jamie Rae Hats and it was so fun! The photographer was great and got some really fun shots, even though Georgia hated having to change outfits so often! Luckily I had my mom with me, and she coaxed a few smiles out of her. Here are a few of the
pictures!

Finally...Halloween Pictures!

2008-11-09T16:34:00.005-07:00

I wish I had more time this past week to post these pictures! But alas, things this week were even crazier than normal, although looking back I can't think of anything that actually got done. Oh well, such is the life of...well...everyone! Halloween really was a total blast this year. The day before, I was putting the finishing touches on Gibson's robot costume and Jenell came over with Jackson who was planning on being a ninja. Well, one thing led to another and pretty soon we were working on robot costumes for Jerik and Jackson, too! It was SO fun to have all three boys dress up together again (last year they were all pirates). They looked awesome in their costumes, and had a great time trick-or-treating. Gibson didn't quite get up to the neighbor's door before he face-planted on the ground. Note to self: don't make the box so long that the boy inside it can't bend his legs to walk! Gibson only went trick-or-treating for about 20 minutes before he was done, which was fine with me. Georgia was my little flower girl, and actually wore her entire costume for the entire night! She discovered that she loves suckers, which she won't be having again for a while. We spent the whole night at my parent's house - they had a bonfire with chairs, cookies and hot chocolate set up in the driveway. It was a total party for all of the parents and kids that came by! It was cold and rainy and all together a perfectly memorable evening!

2008-10-25T18:53:00.002-06:00

Georgia LOVES dandelions! I (don't) wish we had more!

I love fall! Our yard is full of mums in full bloom - I love the contrast between the blossoms of summer and the pumpkins of fall!

Pumpkin Party

2008-10-25T18:30:00.006-06:00

In the true spirit of fall festivities, we spent our last Family Home Evening carving pumpkins! We took the kids to the store to pick out the perfect pumpkins and I made the mistake beforehand of telling Gibson he could have whichever one he wanted. Well, as soon as we got there his heart was set on one that must have weighed, oh - 80 pounds. Forget it! Who wants (to pay for) a pumpkin that big?! It took some doing, but we finally swayed his affection to a much more manageable one although it was still a little heavy for him to carry! So we bought the pumpkins, along with an electric carving knife that Lu couldn't live without (after all, it IS a power tool!) and headed home for the carving party. Fast forward through a couple of tantrums, an entire newspaper being strewn throughout the house, and Lu spending an hour on the phone -and finally we begin! Gibson would NOT touch the guts of the pumpkin. I tried, I really did. But his obsession with keeping his hands clean is just too much so he just watched. Georgia was way past her bedtime, but she was a good sport. All in all, it was a great FHE - and the electric carving tool WAS pretty awesome. Touche, Lu.

I Believe In Christ

2008-10-19T20:44:00.004-06:00

My mom read an article a few days ago about an artist named Mark Mabry who has created an exhibit of photographs portraying the life of Christ. On the website, there is a slideshow that has been put to music. My sister showed me this slideshow today, and I have watched it several times this evening. I have felt the Spirit so strongly while watching it, and my testimony has once again been renewed of the purpose and sacrifice of my Savior for me. I know that He lives, and I feel His influence in my life every day. I encourage you to view this slideshow and pass it along. Just click on the link below...

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/

Big Mommy

2008-10-19T00:05:00.002-06:00

Actual conversation between Gibson and I on the way to tuck him into bed:

Me: I love you so much.
Gibson: I love YOU so much.

Me: I'm so proud of you.
Gibson: I'm so proud of YOU.

Me: You're such a big boy!
Gibson: You're such a big mommy!

Both: Hysterical (but hushed) laughter. Man, it was cute!

Georgia's 1st Birthday

2008-10-12T21:25:00.004-06:00

My, my, my. Our baby girl is no longer a baby! On Saturday, October 11th, we celebrated her first birthday! Just like with Gibson, I spent several minutes being very emotional. Here are the emotions I was feeling:

1. Sadness. She was just barely born, and here she is walking and getting into things and doing big-girl stuff! Where did the time go? I want my baby back, baby back, baby back....

2. Incredulity. What???!! Baby back??! What-ev. Babies are just way too much work. Thank goodness she is out of the needy baby stage. No more sleepless nights. She can stand up while I put her pants on, which is so much easier. No more formula. A front-facing car seat. Table food. This is the life!

3. Sadness again. My baby! She doesn't need me anymore! Today she can walk towards me, but tomorrow she'll be running away!

4. Reality check. She won't be running away from me. I mean come on, she still poops her pants! If she runs too far or too fast, she'll get a rash!

5. Admiration. Dude. She's gorgeous and funny and sweet and girly-but-not-too-girly. She is clever and smart - just enough like me to make me smile, and just enough like her daddy to make me laugh out loud. A true marvel of genetics.

6. Gratitude. What a choice blessing to have this precious little daughter in our family. She is one of Heavenly Father's daughters whom he has entrusted in our care. I will try and savor every moment with her and enjoy watching her learn and grow! Oh, how I adore my beautiful baby girl!

New York, Baby!

2008-09-23T13:15:00.004-06:00

I just got back (okay, it's been a few weeks, but I've been busy!) from a fabulous week-long trip to NYC. I went with my sister and her husband, and my parents. We had a great time and saw just about everything there is to see! The food was amazing, the city was right out of a movie, and all in all it's a glittering and colorful and out-of-this-world place to be. I got to go to lunch with my dear friend Anica Maggard, who I haven't seen since I got married! She is living in Connecticut and working as an aesthetician/makeup artist. It was the highlight of my trip to see her and visit for a couple of hours. **Anica, you're fabulous! You are a friend for a lifetime and I am so grateful for you and the influence you have had in my life! I hope ALL of the drag queens in Manhatten hire you to transform them! You rock, sista!** Lu got to stay home and be with the kids for the entire week, which he said was really hard but really fun. Welcome to motherhood! He sent me pictures and videos every day, which was fun but made me homesick. Luckily, we all survived the week! The kids were both excited to see me and wouldn't leave my side for days. Okay, that's not entirely true. Gibson was happy I was home and he wouldn't leave my side; Georgia couldn't figure out who I was for a couple of days which only hurt my feelings a little bit. Anyhoo, here are a few pictures from the trip!

Here I am, a little swollen but whatever, on one of the bus tours we went on! We went on a few tours, and had a few hilarious guides. What a great way to see the city!
This is the site of Ground Zero, where they are busy working on construction for the new WTC. It's bustling with activity, but there is still a very reverent feeling here.

The Statue of Liberty!!! I have to admit, I got teary when I was here. I was in complete awe of her and felt so grateful for all of the freedoms and liberties that she represents. We are so blessed to live in this chosen land, and I hope I never take it for granted.

The view from Rockefeller Center of Central Park. Wow!

The Naked Cowboy! I wanted to get a picture, but right as it clicked the car drove by. We had a good laugh when we saw the picture - what timing!

Gibson's Self Portrait

2008-09-11T14:40:00.002-06:00

Gibson came into my office the other night before bedtime and gave me this drawing he had done. I asked him who it was, because it's obviously (?) a face. He said, "It's me silly!" I was very impressed that he drew such a detailed picture! What a prodigy! Haha!

Gibson's First Day of Preschool!

2008-09-05T21:42:00.003-06:00

It's a fact. Gibson is officially a "real boy." On Tuesday he got to go to Preschool for the first time! He opted for a Spiderman backpack rather than Transformers, and wore it for 2 days straight before he actually needed to. His class is at the American Fork Rec center (it's so close I can see it from the backyard). He is actually in the 4 year old class, but so far he's fitting in great! He loves stuffing his backpack with the "projrects" he makes and singing the fun songs he's learning. I'm just amazed that he's so big. Only 2 years to kindergarten!

A Brief Update

2008-08-25T14:50:00.003-06:00

Well, it's been a crazy month! Just to give you a brief overview, here are the highlights!
- Lu is no longer working for AT&T. He is now working at Carmax in their sales department. He spent a week in California doing training and now he is on the lot selling cars. So far he is doing really well and really enjoys it. It's a lot different than the wireless industry, but he's learning a lot about his other passion - cars! So for right now that's where he's at - but he would still love to work in the phone business again, so who knows? Only time will tell!
- I was offered a great opportunity by a local dermatologist to work in her office a couple of afternoons a week, so I am doing that now. It's fun to be a grown-up for a few hours and I'm getting valuable training in medical billing and transcription. Within a year I will be able to do most of the work from home, and that's exciting! Today, my mom, dad, sister and I booked all of our tickets for our New York trip that's coming up in September. We will be doing all of the tourist-y things there, including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, a Broadway musical, and more! I am so excited!
- Gibson is starting preschool next week. It's pretty much all he talks about anymore! We're going today to get him a "big boy pack-pack" for him to take to school. I can't believe how big he's getting!
- Speaking of getting big, Georgia is growing like a weed. She is walking. Oh, yeah. WALKING! At 10 months! She didn't beat the record that Jackson set, which was 9 months, but I think she's doing great. Of course, I'm not entirely ready for this stage of life yet.
- Grandpa Gary and Grandma Arloa were in town this last week for BYU Education Week and Georgia fell completely in love with them. When either of them entered the room she lit up like a light bulb. It's so fun to see her and Gibson spending time with them. We spent a couple of days camping and Gibson, as usual, was by Grandpa's side pretty much the whole time. They went fishing and on walks and shopping together, which made Gibson's trip. Grandpa did this thing where he held Georgia around her tummy and swung her back and forth between his legs - it was hysterical because when he would stop, Georgia would tuck her head down and lean forward for him to do it again! Thanks, G&G for being such amazing grandparents! We love you very much and can't wait for you to move here!

Well, that's pretty much the gist of things around here! I hope you are all doing well - it's always fun to view your blogs and see how your lives are going! I'll get some pictures up soon!

Camping Out

2008-07-30T10:51:00.005-06:00

Just one week and several loads of laundry later, it was time to head out again! This time we went camping up in Midway. It was the first time we went to this campground at Wasatch Mountain State Park and it was a very pleasant surprise! The tent sites were amazing! We had such a great time, in fact, that we are planning another trip up there in a few weeks! Gibson had a great time - he loves camping. And Georgia did really well, too. It was her first time camping and she was fascinated by the whole thing. It was nice as always to spend time with the family and we can't wait to go again!

Hanging out by the fire with my mom and dad.

Braden & Jen shared our campsite for the night they were there. It was their first vacation since their honeymoon and Jen's first time camping since Girl's Camp!

Lu & Georgia outside my parent's trailer.

Me & Georgia outside my parent's trailer!

Gibson & his cousin Jerik had lots of fun playing together at our campsite. Jerik got to spend one night in the camper with my parents and loved every minute of it! Neither of the boys wanted to go home.

Jerik & Gibson roasting "S'more-smallows." That's a name that Jerik came up with, and it was so cute that we all started saying it!

Wallowa Lake

2008-07-30T10:25:00.004-06:00

In our family, summer isn't summer without a trip to Wallowa Lake. Last year when we went, I was 6 months pregnant with Georgia and we camped. There are two things wrong with that sentence...pregnant and camping! But this year, our trip was more spur of the moment. With only a couple of weeks notice, we packed up the kids and the car and drove to Oregon ready for a fun and relaxing week. This was Lu's first vacation since last summer and we were lucky and excited that he got to come (we left on the second day of the new iPhone premier, the busiest day of the year at AT&T!) My parents were already there so we got to hang out with them. We spent a couple of days on the lake - last year my parents found a rope swing, so we spent most of the time there. On the first day, we rented a row boat - yes, a row boat - and my little brother Dillon rowed us to the swing (about 1/2 mile of lake, I would guess). There we had lunch and had fun swinging into the water. Even my mom got in on the fun. We never got Lu to swing or even set a foot in the water, he's a party pooper. But he was good to watch the kids so I could have fun! After a week of swimming, shopping, hiking, and lazing around it was time to come home. We had a great time and can't wait to go back next year for our family's 25th anniversary of spending summers at Wallowa Lake!

Me & Gibson swimming in the lake...the water was so cold we had to wear life jackets just to keep us from getting tired in the water. You can't breathe and swim at the same time!

Dillon banzai-ing off the rope swing.

My mom, Lu and I went on a hike up to this waterfall - so pretty! (The waterfall, not us. Come on, we'd been hiking for an hour!)

Uncle Dill taking a nap with Georgia.

.
Gibson tearing up the mini-golf course in his "Grandpa-Gary Hat."

Gibson's First Catch

2008-07-01T15:23:00.003-06:00

On Saturday we took a picnic up Provo Canyon to Vivian Park, where they have a stocked pond for kids to fish in. Gibson was so excited, because he's been wanting to go fishing forever. He and his cousins spent the afternoon with Grandpa and Grandpa Gary. Jerik and Gibson both caught fish! Gibson was so excited. Now the only problem is that he wants to go fishing all the time!

Gibson & Grandpa after lunch.

I love this picture...dad was very patient in trying to get Gibson to hook the worm!

Success! Good job boys!

Grandpa Gary & Gibson hold up their trophy.

Gibson and his Grandpas.

Introducing...the newest Boss Family!

2008-07-01T15:05:00.002-06:00

Braden & Jen - the happy couple! What a fun week! On Tuesday, all of us girls got pedicures and then had a big Relief Society party in mom's yard. Then on Wednesday, it was party time for B&J, Hawaii style! It was great to meet Jen's extended family and friends and enjoy good food at the same time! Dillon's steel drum band played "island" music all evening, too. Then Thursday we woke up and after doing makeup mom, Jenell & I had our hair done. We all looked and felt great. The sealing ceremony was beautiful, and as always was a special reminder of the purpose and blessings that come from honoring the covenants of a temple marriage. Congrats to B&J for being worthy of those blessings. Jen, welcome to the family! We love you both very much and I'm excited to be a witness of your lives together!

Uncle Dillon with Georgia

Daddy & Georgia

Gibson was so excited to finally be able to wear his green outfit! It's been hanging in his closet for a few months now, and every Sunday he wanted to wear it, but couldn't. It was worth the wait - he looked so handsome!

2008-06-15T21:42:00.003-06:00

I just want to wish a special Happy Father's Day to two very special dad's in my life - my own dad, Tim and my grandpa, Gary. It is a special privilege to have you both in my life, and I am grateful to both of you for love you put into being the patriarchs of our family. Thank you for all that you continually do for me. You are both such great examples for my husband and my son of what a good man should be. I love you both!

Happy Father's Day, Lu!!

2008-06-15T15:51:00.003-06:00

Lu and Gibson, dressed for church.

Daddy's little girl - can you tell they're related?

Proud Papa

I want to wish my sweet husband a Happy Father's Day! We got to spend the morning with him before church but now he's at work so we can't spoil him anymore! Thanks, babe, for all you do for me and especially for helping me bring 2 astoundingly fantastic children into this world! Always remember how much we love you!

Pool time

2008-06-14T12:59:00.004-06:00

This morning Jenell called to see if we wanted to head over to the pool for a swim...uh, yeah! Gibson loves to be in the water, since this is the first year he hasn't been afraid of it. And Georgia, well she hates the water but is my little sun goddess. Bring on the rays! I would have taken more pictures of Gibson, but I couldn't really find him most of the time. He was off with his cousin Jerik - doing big boy stuff.

Itty Bitty T-Ball

2008-06-13T20:26:00.002-06:00

Gibson has officially entered the world of sports, as a T-Ball player! He is learning all about baseball - throwing, catching, hitting the ball, and running the bases. He's having a great time doing it, and we're having a great time watching! Props to the teachers that round up 10 3-yr olds and get them to do...well...anything!

Lu's dream come true...

2008-06-13T20:21:00.003-06:00

Well, if you've ever wondered what would make Lu more happy than any other man in the world, here is your answer - both of his babies together. On a motorcycle. OK, so this is a miniature 4-wheeler, but you get the picture. Go Lu!

Gibson goes to the "dennis"

2008-06-13T20:17:00.002-06:00

Hurray for Gibson! Another six months with a cavity free smile! Here he is getting x-rays and an exam - he loves the dentist!

Look how handsome!

2008-06-13T20:13:00.003-06:00

Gibson hangin' out in the front yard! This was one of the few days it's been warm enough to be outside - crazy! It's the middle of June, and he's wearing a long sleeve shirt!

Georgia - 8 months old!!

2008-06-13T19:51:00.004-06:00

How time is flying! Georgia is now 8 months old, and learning something new every day. She's been crawling for about a month now, and pulls herself up on furniture (or my legs) to get a standing view. Now she's walking along furniture, so we're gearing up for walking in the next few months! She seems too small to be doing fun "grown up" things. Her hair is almost too heavy for the boufant 'do she's so famous for, but this was a voluminous day...so we had to take tons of pictures!

What's New

2008-05-20T21:38:00.005-06:00

Oh, man. These past couple of months have been crazy! I've been busy getting The Treat Box Bakery set up, and we're finally up and running! My awesome mom graduated from BYU at the end of April, so we had a great time celebrating that with her. I also started taking care of my cousin's daughter, Shayla, before and after school. Lu was finally transferred from the AT&T store in West Valley to the one here in American Fork, so now he's just 5 minutes away, which is great. He also took a job as a night security guard, complete with a "police" badge! Here are a few pic's of the kiddies - look how fast they're growing! Sorry about the tiny pictures, they're the ones I take with my cell phone.

Here is Georgia with lotsa junk in her trunk...literally! Gibson thought it was funny one night to stuff her pants with about 10 toys. I thought I was going to die laughing~

Good morning, Georgia! Nice hair!

A few weeks ago, my grandpa (Grandpa Gary, to Gibson) gave him a fishing pole. A few days after Grandpa Gary left, Gibson found the pole at my mom's house and went outside to play with it. When we went to check on him, my mom and I found him "fishing" in their pond! He yelled to my mom, "Grandma, there's no fish in this pond!" Don't worry, buddy, Grandpa Gary will take you to catch a real fish soon!

Tagged A-Z

2008-05-20T20:58:00.002-06:00

a-attached or single: attached to Lu, my lucky husband
b-best friend: definitely my husband
c-cake or pie: cake, in any form. it doesn't even have to be baked.
d-day of choice: Sunday, and whatever Lu's day off is
e-essential item: debit card
f-favorite color: to wear, it's black or white. to decorate, it's brown. for everything else, it's green!
g-gummy bears or worms: bears, but chocolate trumps gummy every time
h-hometown: Springfield, OR
i-indulgences: Lu tickling my back, hot baths, cookie dough
j-January or July: Both - I wish it was July in January, and I wish it was January in July!
k-kids: Gibson - 3 years, Georgia - 7 months
l-life is incomplete without: my family
m-marriage date: July 6, 2002
n-number if siblings: 3 + 2 - older sis Jenell + hubby Jake, younger bro Braden + wife Jen, younger bro Dillon - he's 15 and available
o-orange or apple: apple
p-phobias or fears: monkeys and thunder (i know, i'm a wuss), along with all the typical ones (snakes, bugs)
q-quotes: "As long as you put in the work, you can own the dream. When the work stops, the dream disappears."
r-reason to smile: my kids
s-season: fall and spring
t-tag 5: Kelli Stilson, Michelle Rees, Jen Boss, Steph Jensen, Jenell VanPatten (get a blog, dangit!)
u-unknown fact about me: I make and sell gourmet dog treats online (The Treat Box Bakery)
v-vegetarian or meat-eater: ooooh...bring on the meat
w-worst habit: leaving cupboards open
x-x-rays or ultrasounds: ultrasounds, I've never had an x-ray
y-your favorite food: chinese
z-zodiac: Virgo, to a T

A Few New Pictures

2008-03-24T20:31:00.004-06:00

Georgia's new hairstyle!

Our first bike ride of the year! Today (March 24) was beautiful - sunny and warm - and we just couldn't resist being outdoors. Georgia did pretty well in the trailer - she slept as long as it was moving. When it wasn't moving, well...you can see how she liked that!

Brittney's Business Venture...

2008-03-17T22:41:00.004-06:00

Here is a funny story for you...

A couple of weeks ago, I decided I need to make some extra money. So, to summarize the long portion of the story, I put an ad on KSL entitled "Organize Your Home." I offered to go into homes and help them get organized - whether it be closets, playrooms, pantries...any area that has gotten out of control! Within hours, I had someone email me to schedule an appointment. The next day I went to her home and helped her clean out some boxes and closets. So, to summarize the next long portion of the story, I have now had 6 people call to inquire about my services, and the potential of referrals from the woman that I helped last week. I printed up a business card to hand out:

Now we'll see what happens! Even if only a few people call, it's still a fun way to earn some spending money. And if nothing else, I have a really cute business card to put in my scrapbook (if I had one).

Georgia's Newest Talents

2008-03-17T22:30:00.006-06:00

Georgia playing in her ridiculously large bouncing, singing, rattling, spinning, mind-sucking, sanity-saving toy! She absolutely loves it!

Look at our baby holding her own bottle! This is what we've been waiting for...the first indication of independence. What a time saver!

Gibson's Visit to the Dermatologist

2008-03-17T22:19:00.003-06:00

At Gibson's three-year appointment, the doctor noticed a small bump above his right eyebrow. We thought it was a birth mark, but it's actually a mole! Now, I always just assumed that moles were brown and (yikes) hairy, but this one is clear and - ok, it's hairy because half of it is in his eyebrow...but it still doesn't look like a mole. So, we took him to the dermatologist to have it looked at because we don't want the mole to turn brown or get big and (eep!) hairy. Here are the pic's of our brave boy in the exam chair. And, in case you're wondering, he will wait and get it removed when he's closer to kindergarten.

2008-03-07T14:27:00.003-07:00

I recently decided that I needed to figure out a way to be an efficient, organized, clean, and responsible mom (in other words, perfect) without actually doing anything. Ahhh, that would be great. Clean house, weed-free yard, well-behaved children...you get the picture.

In fact, that's not unlike the home I grew up in, thanks to my mom. Now I wouldn't say that my mom was perfect, no one is, but I think she had a few good ideas when it came to motherhood and homemaking. From my earliest memories I can remember doing chores. Mom chose various ways to assign them, but we always had something to do. At the time, of course, I hated them...did the family room really need to be vacuumed every day before school? I mean, it was burbur, for heaven's sake! But now, with my own children to raise, I see that in the midst of our torture we were learning the skills and complexities of keeping a home.

I read a quote the other day that says, “A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.” Props to my mom for trying to teach slobs how to be responsible. Now the tables are turned - I'm the mom and it's Gibson's turn for chores! I made him chore charts with all of the tasks he's been assigned. Sure, they're pretty easy but they're age appropriate and he's excited about them. I've heard that you're not supposed to do anything for your kids that they can do for themselves. That's tough because it's usually quicker to to it myself than wait for Gibson to do it! But it is important to me that my kids learn to be self-sufficient now, so that when they are grown they can take care of themselves. As they grow they'll learn more and more things - things I won't have to do myself - and my goal will be achieved! Clean house (cuz my kids will be cleaning it), weed-free yard (cuz my kids will be weeding it), well behaved kids (cuz they'll be so busy doing chores they won't have time to act up)!! Okay, so that will never happen...but in the meantime, I'm happy that I don't have to put the clean silverware away!

2008-03-02T23:36:00.001-07:00

A few pic's of the cutest kids alive (unless you have kids, then of course yours are the cutest kids alive!)

Gibson Goes Poo In The Toilet!!

2008-03-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

Finally! Gibson is 3 years and 2 months and he is finally potty trained! We are so proud of him, and he is infinitely proud of himself...he tells everyone we see, wherever and whenever we see them! It's so cute when we're out and he says, "I go poop in the tow-let! I'm a big boy now!" It's too bad that after a while that's just not a cool thing to say anymore...