Monica's funniest videos!

Six Flags with the Peadmores!

We spent a fun day at Six Flags with the Peads. Here are some great pictures by Sheri.

Daddy's birthday scavenger hunt!

Jason's birthday is on the same day as Kendall Pead's so Sheri and I decided to send them on a scavenger hunt around the city to find a precious gift: US. We left clues all over town at different stores and had them go from one to the next. They only had a short amount of time and 7 locations to cover. At each location they had to pick something up and create a collection of 7 items (which were mostly for the wives). The video is of their last challenge before finding us. Right before they sang "I am too young to feel this old" LOL They had a ton of fun and made it to their present right on time.

Monica's Joy School 'GUADULATION'

After a year full of great learning comes the solemn 'guadulation.' We had a very nice program followed by dinner. The graduates were in their best behavior and smiling ear to ear. It was adorable!

Girls' school projects!

The girls did a great job on their dioramas this year. Take a look...

Kenzi and daddy go to the tide pool!

Mackenzi and daddy went on a field trip to the tide pool and had a wonderful time together. There are only a couple of days in the year that the tide is low enough for them to walk around and explore sea creatures. It was quite a dangerous afair but all came home safe and sound...having learned a ton about the powers of mother nature.

Walton Feed Delivery!

This was an incredible experience. Heather Simmons and I set out to put together a food storage order to fill 1/2 a semi truck. That is the equivalent to 20,000 lbs of food. It seemed like a very unatainable goal but with divine help we made it. It was a immense amount of work but finally the order arrived a few months after being placed and here are some shots of the delivery day. We separated all the 60 some families into groups and worked together the whole time. It was a blast!! Everything went very smooth and we were completely done in less than 3 hours. It was just amazing.

'The Gilmore Girls' piano recital!

The girls loved piano so much last year that they now take private piano lessons with Sis. Tarter. They are very talented and have been progressing incredibly fast. They love to practice everyday and to show daddy and I how beautifully they can play. Below is the video clip of their performances. Enjoy!

Easter Sunday!

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. We went to church in the morning, had a very delicious Easter brunch when we got home with a spiral ham, fruit salad, french toast, and a egg/potato/brocolli casserole, and finally spent the rest of the afternoon talking, reading, and watching movies about our Savior's last couple of months on the earth. We had an amazing day focused on the true meaning of Easter and the spirit was in our home. We can ask for nothing else!

Easter Eve!

Easter Sunday is always a very special day for our family so on the day before we do our egg hunt. Here the girls are on the steps ready to go hunting for eggs and right below it at the table with all their eggs (which were filled this year for the first time). Mackenzi finally said something about our eggs always being empty and we had to get with the program. Below the egg hunt, we have pictures of the girls receiveing flowers, balloons, and bunnies from the delivery man. Bonka and Grammy Gilmore sent them these for Easter. It was the first time they have ever gotten flowers delivered and it was such a tender moment. As you can see, the guy deliverying it made sure all the girls signed for their delivery. It was just adorable. Monica felt so important signing her name. They also received these adorable purses from Grammy Jan and Grandpa Jim. Grammy Jan made them herself. The girls love their new fashion purses. THANK YOU GRANDPARENTS!

Scandia with the Peads!

We had a wonderful fun night with the Peads. We went to a yummy restaurant and then to Scandia. Everyone had a wonderful time - from the shortest ones to the tallest ones. We laughed non-stop. Our kids get along really really well...if only us adults could get along - that would be perfect. Just kidding! Sheri took these great pictures (THANKS!!).

My yummy yummy garden!

I am very excited about my garden. My mom helped me put it in this year (like every year), and it is looking so yummy already. I can't wait to eat from it. The last picture is of the most delicious kind of lettuce called 'Mimosa'. It is so soft...oh I can't wait. It came straight from Brasil and I am so excited about it.

Six Flags and Discovery Kingdom!

We have become fans and season pass holders. We are very excited to spend lots of time seeing the animal shows and watching the girls go on crazy rides.....since we have sold our boat...we will need the distraction. We will take better pictures next time. Monica took a while to get used to the rides so there were quite a few times she was hanging on for dear life and other times we had to stop the ride so she could get off. Within a few hours she felt more comfortable and was having a blast. Maya loves anything with speed. Mackenzi wants to go on big kids rides because she is not a baby (quote).

Spring break with all the teddys!

The girls told me I had to take a picture of this. They are so funny. They are great children and play so well together. It is such a blessing.

Charles Schulz Museum (Snoopy)!

Joy School has been wonderful. It is impossible to quantify the benefits of this kind of pre-school compared to all others. The effects of the teachings encompass the whole family but the base it creates in the child is amazing and for a lifetime. We went on a field trip to the Peanut Friends Museum. It was so much fun. We all loved it! Here are a couple of pictures.

Girls 'A-line' super cool haircuts!

They are just so adorable! I just adore these little people. Each year they get older they get cuter and cuter. I know I am biased but I just can't help it. They are just so so so cute.

Standard Saturday for the Gilmores!

We, the gilmores, love Saturdays for many reasons. Here are some: we love being together, we love going to gymnastics, we love going to costco, we love playing with the little house at costco specially if dad come in too, we love eating all the samples at costco, and finally we love going out for dinner Saturday night. We just love spending time together no matter what we are doing!

Mackenzi pulling out Maya's 1st tooth!

Maya finally lost (well, got it pulled) her first tooth on Feb. 3rd. Her tooth was wiggly for quite a while so she decided to ask her 'experienced in tooth pulling' sister for some help. By the time they all came to me the story was something like this: Maya asked Mackenzi to pull her tooth because she was scared. Mackenzi, who has pulled many of her own teeth, waited until Maya was looking up and distracted with her mouth opened and just yanked it out. There was a lot of blood involved but everyone was happy. We laughed so hard!!! We were also so amazed at the trust and friendship they have for each other. Here is a picture of happy 6 year old Maya!

Our girls' child size living room!

This is the girls' own living room. This is their reading and club meeting spot. They love it. They gather here several times a day to discuss things and act like little adults. It is so adorable! You should come for a visit. They will be more than happy to invite you into their living room.

Monica's new intelligent look!

Here is our adorable baby with her new pink glasses and some left over peanut butter on her chin. Monica was watching TV from the corner of her eyes and I thought that was weird so I took her to the eye doctor and we found out she has astigmatism. The craziest thing is that the day I delivered her my eyes went blurry and that was the day I developed astigmatism myself. Crazy huh! Doesn't she look amazing?

Gymnastics school for our 3 MMMonkeys!

We took them out of Ballet and put them into Gymnastics due to popular demand in the Gilmore household and a possible mutiny against the graceful sport. Gymnastics was the choice most voted on and....the girls LOVE IT! (for now...)

Monica finally graduated from her crib!

This is our cute little Monica sleeping on her new bed for the first time. She has been reluctant to make the change but finally decided to do it after I told her that 'Gunny Bag' (a bag that eats toys that don't get put away) needed a place to sleep. She didn't feel like sharing her bed since at the moment she doesn't like him very much. She does say that he is kind and just a bag but she loves to make him cry by putting her toys away. Anyhow, she is in her bed now. YUPI!!

The Gilmore Rock Band!

For Christmas I gave Jason a game called 'Rockband'. It seems as though the girls love it the most. They are so funny. The game is still a bit difficult for their little hand and eye coordination but they are doing better and better each day. Monica on the 'dwums' is pretty cute and as always Monica assigns Maya and Mackenzi to play the 'Bitag' (AKA Guitar). We have really been having a ball this Christmas vacation.

Christmas Day!

Christmas day was just as fun. The girls followed their normal pattern. Faint, scream and scream some more. We had an amazing time together. We also had a real yummy breakfast afterwards. It was wonderful to be together and talk about our Savior's birth. Daddy read the story and we all enjoyed listening to it and acting it out. This year for Christmas we focuses the month of December in serving others as our Savior did and we had a lot of great experiences. The girls grew in compassion, gratitude, and understanding from this. It was a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve!

We had an amazing Christmas. It all started on Christmas Eve as it is tradition with our family to open half of the gifts after our awesome dinner. The girls fainted right away with excitement. It was really funny. Monica didn't really feel like fainting. That whole concept escapes her as she would just rather get on with opening presents. They get to open pjs at this time also that is the reason for the change of clothes. This video depicts their reaction to every present pretty well. Faint, scream, and then scream some more. We have so much fun with our girls!

Primary Christmas Presentation!

The girls did a beautiful job singing at the ward Christmas party. It was so fun to watch them.

Fire station Joy School field trip!

Monica and Anna had a wonderful time touring the fire station. They had so much fun spraying water with their big hose. We couldn't believe they let the girls do that...what a treat!!

Tip on Christmas decorating!

This is how you hang your ornaments at the top!

Joy School Christmas Program!

It was great to have our Joy School Christmas Program. The children loved it. They were just so adorable. We used puppets instead of costumes for the nativity play. They are still so little. We all had a great time and then went out for pizza and ice-cream. What a fun evening with the Simmons.

Thanksgiving napkin rings!

For FHE the monday before Thanksgiving we decided to make thankful napkin ring turkeys. It was such a fun night for our family. Everyone wrote what they were thankful for on the feathers. We used these on our beautiful Thanksgiving table and remembered all that we were thankful for. Aren't they cute? Jason did point out that he is a man and does not do crafts (even though his turned out absolutely beautiful!).

The sweet baby we lost!

We are sad to inform everyone that we lost our sweet baby at 16 weeks of pregnancy. We were not able to find out if it was a boy or a girl. This pregnancy was much different than all the others and now we know why. This was the last picture we got of our little baby. We still don't know what was the cause of death but hopefully we will find out soon.

'Rock on' to my adorable ROCKER!

Isn't he so cute? He is playing Rockband. That is a fun game. I am pretty good at the drums myself.

Moni's famous morning hair!

Say no more...I rest my case!

The carving of our ghostly pumpkin!

This was the first time we carved a pumpkin. It was so much fun! We had never done it before but from now on we will do it every year. We have a few designs in mind for next year. We can't wait.

The pumpkin patch!

We loved the pumpkin patch. We found the perfect pumpkin for us to carve. The girls went through a corn maze and a hay pyramid. It was a lot of fun.

Maya & Monica's Birthday Party at Pump it up!

The girls and their friends had a wonderful time at pump it up. They played and played and played some more. Moni and Maya loved having their party together. Jason loved it too since he didn't have to help clean up. We all had so much fun with our friends. Thank you all for sharing this special day with us!

Picking apples with the Stephens & Simmons!

We spent a wonderful afternoon with the Stephens. We picked apples, visited together, drank orange juice and had a beautiful time all together. The children had a ball. Judy and Sandy are the best! Lots of love to both of you!!

The famous 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'

Here is Monica performing her favorite song.

An afternoon with Kathleen!

Beginning of September we spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon with Kathleen. We had missed her so much and were finally able to get together and visit with each other. We had a fabulous time. It was so much fun and we laughed the whole time. Kathleen is the best!

Mackenzi's 1st day at Activity Day Girls!

Mackenzi was very excited to become part of to this great group. She was a little shy at the beginning but the girls and the leaders made her feel so welcomed that she quickly warmed up to the group. She loves going and can't wait until her sisters are old enough to join.

WE ARE PREGNANT AGAIN!

Let's hope this one sticks. We just found out that we are due on May 5th so we probably will have an April baby. We are very excited about it and just hoping nothing goes wrong. Here is proof!

The girls are back in Ballet & Musical Theater!

We finally found a great ballet school. I am taking hip hop and tap. Maya is taking classical ballet. Monica is taking creative movement. Mackenzi is taking musical theater. We all love it. I have been so sore from hip hop. I have to move in ways I have never moved before. Could I be getting old?

Poney rides for the first time!

We had planned to watch a movie in the park but failed to bring the necessary arsenal of blankets so we went on some poney rides instead. Everybody was happy...phew!

First day of school for the girls!

The girls started school the day after we got back from our trip in Florida. They are loving 1st, 3rd Grades, and Joy School. Their teachers are so nice. What a great year this will be.

The amazing...amazing Caribbean Cruise!!!!!

For 7 delightful days Jason and I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise that had Jamaica, Haiti, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel as port of calls. The cruise was just awesome. The entertainment was way, way above our expectations. The ship was truly unbelievable. It was the biggest in the world as of right now and the newest. It is called "Liberty of the Seas." We were amazed from bow to stern. As for the Islands....breathtaking is all I can say. We had the best 7 days. The best food and loads of fun. It was also our 10th wedding anniversary which we celebrated to the fullest extent. When I think about those 7 days I can feel the peace and relaxation all over again. We have decided cruises are the way to go. We absolutely loved it and had a blast every day. Here are some pictures of the food displays, formal night, the Islands, our amazing ship, and ice sculping in 11 minutes.

Mackenzi got BAPTIZED!

What an amazing day that was...she got baptized by her daddy on August 7th, 2008. On her 8th birthday. It was so exciting. Everything went well. We got her baptized in Florida. The spirit was very strong and Mackenzi felt it as well as all of us. She looked amazing. A few weeks before we took some professional pictures of her and they turned out gorgeous.

Mackenzi pulling out her tooth!

Mackenzi pulled her own tooth out and I got a video of it. It was crazy to watch. She is so brave. Enjoy!

Trip to Florida!!

We had such a fun trip to FL. The girls had a great time. They played with their cousins quite a bit and planned a ton of parties. It was so funny. I think the girls kept their granparents busy planning, shopping, and having these parties. Monica has been imitating everything she sees. It is really cute. Check out the 2 year old legs resting. The girls had to have their own backpacks in the airplane. They were so funny. We also took the girls to the Children's Museum and they absolutely loved it.

Sonoma County Fair 2008!

We are definitely a crazy family. On the day we were flying out to go to FL we spent the day at the fair. Our light didn't leave until 12:30 in the night so we had lots of time to play and have fun. It was actually really fun. My mom did most of the rides with the girls. Check it out.

Pioneer Sunday Show!

This is an audio recording of our 3 cuties singing: "The Handcart Song"
(click on the link below - it takes a minute but it is well worth it)

Sacrament Meeting Pioneer Trio by the Gilmore Girls

Tell us what you thought of it!

Picking potatoes with the Stephens!

What a wonderful time we had with the Stephens! They are an amazing couple. Judy and Sandy were so kind to invite us over to pick some vegetables. They have a beautiful garden with lots of very yummy vegetables. Sandy does an incredible job keeping it up. Some of the best potatoes and greens I have ever had came from their garden. Judy had the girls decorate cute bags to put the vegetables in. She also made us some delicous lemonade with muffins. We had an absolute blast then we went ding dong ditching zucchinis on people's door steps. It was so much fun. I will never forget this day...take a look! THANK YOU SO MUCH SANDY & JUDY! You are both the absolute best.

Flex Wheeler Classic!!

It was in MN this year and it was another crazy adventure. We were there for about 5 days and were also able to see a few wonderful friends. Jason family joined us there and it was great to see them. We had a great time with Flex, Greg, and Christy and were able to meet some wonderful people. Here are some snapshots.

The 2 year old survival techniques!

This is a very funny video of Monica showing us her survital techniques as she sneakly plays in the sauce with her hand.

New family pictures!

We finally took new family pictures. Here are a few... Enjoy!

Vacation - Sea World & San Diego!

This was our last stop and we were very sad about it. It seemed to us that we did it all in one day it went by so fast. Monica and Mackenzi were crazy touching the sting rays but Maya didn't really think that was fun to do. We saw Shamu and lots of other shows. It was very, very entertaining. We also went to the San Diego Temple which was closed. We were going to go to Mexico to but Jason and the girls got scared thinking it was too dangerous. We had a very full drive back. We stopped in Bakersfield and went to the 10 PM showing of WALLE. We also went to church there. We coudln't believe they have 3 stakes in that city. We had so much fun. Here are some pictures.

Vacation - Disneyland & California Adventure!

These couple of days were packed with fun but much better scheduled. We thought the day through and were able to really cover both parks in two days. It was awesome. We went on every ride we were allowed to. Maya was determined to go on the 'Tower of Terror' which is a 13 floor elevator drop. I didn't think she would do it but guess what...she did it and she loved it. I couldn't believe it. I think we saw all the characters and got their authographs - this was a major deal. We had an amazing time...and the girls were so excited they couldn't contain themselves. Needless to say none of us wanted to leave. Oh how could I forget...our very own SNOW WHITE!

Vacation - Universal Studios!

The highlight of the day was to see Monica meet up with her favorite character in the whole wide world - Dora the Explorer. We had a great day. Of course we couldn't miss Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey. Mackenzi wanted to go to the 'House of Horror' and after we passed a few dead bodies in plastic bags hanging from the ceiling I had to cover her eyes...too bad we still had a long walk out of there. This is a great way to freak your kids out - just in case you are wondering. Jason had to take the stage and be part of 'Fear Factor'. We had a great time watching him. The day ended with us driving to our Disney hotel for another couple of fun, fun days.

Vacation - The Vogels and Los Angeles!

We took a very much needed vacation and drove down to South California. We had an amazing time. We left Friday night and got to the Vogels on Saturday afternoon with a great 'welcome' door. We hadn't seen them in 7 years so we had a lot of catching up to do. We all had a great time. Sunday we went to church with them and in the afternoon we drove around Malibu. Monday we went to Venice Beach, Hollywood, Los Angeles Temple, and Beverly Hills. We had so much fun. Here are some snapshots...

Help us choose, please!

We are in the quest for cute dresses for our family picture. What do you think of these?

Family Movie Night!

We were waiting for Daddy to finally come home from a week long trip to MN for business. We missed him so much! He arrived late on Friday so we all watched a movie to stay up and wait for him with a big welcome party. We love our daddy!!

Swimming Lessons!

There is only one thing to say about these......THEY LOVE IT! Mackenzi can swim already. She says she really only needed these lessons and she is done now. She knows it all. Maya is thrilled to be able to get her head under water. This has been an issue for years now. Monica is just happy to finally be able to throw herself in the "Swimming Party". These girls are just adorable. I feel so lucky to be their mom.

The Lemonade Stand!

How is that for a sales pitch? The girls had so much fun and did really well. They love to sell things. I wonder who they got that from....??

Fishing Gilmore style!

Fishing with the girls was so much fun. They were very serious about it...so serious that they couln't turn to the camera for the pictures. They said, "We have to watch the bobber." They are such funny girls. We didn't catch any fish this time but we are still hopeful. We also found a new spot in the lake for us to have fun at. It is so beautiful and completely secluded. We love it.

Last day of school! Hip, Hip, HOORAY!

The girls had a wonderful time. Monica was tagging along with me as I went back and forth between Mackenzi and Maya's classes. I was there all day. It was exhausting but a complete joy. As you can see, Monica fit right in no matter what was going on.

Oops! I guess it doesn't taste that good!

Jason had nothing short of a feast for his 33rd birthday. As you know, he has been on a diet for months and has lost over 50 lbs. Going from a diet menu to a feast is probably one of the most satisfying experiences to all (both eating and watching). He devoured the food as he over and over told us how amazingly delicious it was. After the feast there was cake and this is where these pictures came to be of interest. Monica seeing her sisters lick the cake off the candles asked to have a turn. I gave her a candle and told her not to put it in her mouth. As I cut the cake for everyone she decided she would take a taste. I couldn't believe she took such a huge bite, chewed, and swallowed wax. Here are some snapshots...

Foreigner Concert!

Since Jason's birthday is coming up. I decided to surprise him with a rock concert 'date'. He had a wonderful time. He loved it so much that I had to peel him off the stage. Right as the concert ended Jason jumps on stage to retrieve their song list which was taped to the floor. He was really trying hard to get it off as the security yelled at him to get off the stage. He finally got off with the song list. This boy is getting wild. It was so cute to see him rock out to their songs. He had a wonderful night. Here is his souvenir...

Happy Chinese Family!

This is the Chinese version of the Gilmore family. It was so much fun to wear our Chinese dresses this past Sunday that I had to get a picture. The girls have been wanting to wear it for quite some time but it wasn't warm enough until this past weekend. No wonder I always have a whole pink load of laundry to do!

Mackenzi's 4th Missionary Discussion!

It is almost here. We can't believe her baptism day is coming. We have almost planned everything. It will be in FL on August. 7th at 6:00 PM. She is very excited about it. We will be sending invitations as soon as we take her picture on July 5th. The 4th discussion was a lot of fun. The sisters are so wonderful with the girls. It is so special to be able to review all the things that Mackenzi has learned these past 7 years. She is so smart!

Kenzi - the handball expert!

Kenzi's favorite thing to do at recess is to play handball. She loves it. Finally, during open house we were able to see her play. She played really well. Open house was a lot of fun for the whole family.

Artists in the making!

The girls left their mark on a mural at the library and since we couldn't take it with us I took pictures. Enjoy their art!

Boys and their toys!

This Saturday we finally put our boat in the water at Lake Sonoma. We are so excited to start boating again. The girls just can't wait. Jason 'had' to get a new car that would safely pull our boat. Also according to Jay, the family car should be able to get us out of this area (without using the main roads) if a natural/man-made disaster was to happen. This is the story he told me. I am still not convinced and suspect I might have fallen for another one of his 'I am a grown boy and I must have toys' secret plans.

Mackenzi & Maya's Piano Recital!

They were just amazing! They did a superb job. Everyone loved listening to them play. We were so proud of them both. Here are some pictures of the girls with their teacher Mr. Don.

Monica emptying the dishwasher!

She is so funny. She had to empty the dishwasher by herself. I took out anything made out of glass and the sharp knives. She did all the rest. It was so cute. She can barely reach but wanted to help so badly.

"I no wan seep!"

Monica is at the stage I call "I DON'T NEED A NAP!" Well, nature says otherwise and I constantly find her absolutely passed out throughout the house. Check it out...

Mackenzi's 3rd Missionary Discussion!

I can't believe how time is just flying! Mackenzi has already had her 3rd discussion with the missionaries. She has so much fun with the sisters. We all do...as you can see we have all become quite comfortable with each other. I am contantly amazed at how in tune Mackenzi is and how these discussions have sparked spiritual experiences in her life that will last forever. I am so excited for her baptism. Thank you sisters!

Reader's Theater - martyrdom of Joseph Smith!

This was just amazing! I had such a wonderful time participating in it. I was asked to play Emma Smith back in January and it was such an honor to do it. Last August when I was watching one of the Reader's Theater I had the distinct feeling that I would play Emma. I thought that was weird and never really thought about it again until I was asked to do it. I think it was an experience I had to pass through because it has been just wonderful. Jason played a charater in it as well. He played a Carthage Greys and loved it. He actually sang in the choir and people commented on what a wonderful voice he has. I think so too but I am bias. This particular Reader's Theater covered the martyrdom of Joseph and the aftermath of it. It is mostly set in Nauvoo, 1842. I got to know so many wonderful people from the cast and character from the actual play. What an amazing experience! I think I love the theater. I like getting into character but mostly I realized I never outgrew playing dress up. It really took a lot of people to help me with lines and costume - what a great group effort. Jason also had an amazing experience. He did his part so well. I was just taken by the amazing actor that he is. I wish I could have just sat back and watched him perform - he is soooooo good!

I love my GARDEN...once again!

After 4 months of never wanting to see my garden again....I changed my mind. For some reason the spring air and sprouting plants made me miss my garden. Last year around the end of November I was sick of my garden...I would prune no more, can no more, and kill afids no more...but during the winter months I sure enjoyed all my canned goodies. We had fresh grown tomato sauce, apples, all kinds of veggies - it was pretty nice. So my love for gardening has come back. My mom and I put in a new garden with 21 new veggies and fruits. We put it in during the last week in February but had to plant again in April due to the cold spring we have been having. Have I ever told you I am probably the only person on the earth tha loves 'Global Warming." Anyway, my garden is in and we are already eating from it. The lettuce, spinach, and arugula are just delicious. I so love growing foods. I was just taken a few days ago when I finally saw GRAPES growing. Can you believe it? I am so excited to eat my own grapes (red seedless). I have learned so much about gardening - nothing like actually doing something to learn!

Sick day - Gilmore style!

One morning they all felt sick...stomach aches, severe coughing, diahrrea, you name it. I told them they could stay home just for a day to recoup. They promised me one day would work miracles on their sicknesses. Here are some pictures of the recovering process...

It seems we all love to SKATE!

We have been taking the girls to Cal Skate and it seems we all love it. The girls have a blast. Mackenzi wins all the contests and Maya keeps on telling me that the only way to learn how to skate is to fall and since that is where I find her most of the time....I know she is learning quickly. Monica on the other hand seems to have been born knowing how to skate and insists to be by herself skating in the rink. Since they always have nice music playing we often get a Moni performance which is composed of dancing and skating at the same time. She is 2...you can imagine! Here are some photos of us skating...even my mom fell in love with it and didn't want to leave.

My adorable readers!

We have been going to the library once a week for a few months now and the girls just love it. They have been so interested in reading that buying books is not working anymore. It has really been fun to take them there. I do have to drag Monica out kicking and screaming just about every time. I just try to see it as her love for books and having fun as a family is just too overwhelming for such a tiny body....but...I am still hoping she will be able to channel her feelings in a different way. Today when we went they tried the computer games for the first time and I thought this would be a perfect picture to share with all of you.

Easter Eve!

Our Gilmore tradition is to have the egg hunt the Saturday before Easter so that we can focus on the real meaning of Easter on Sunday. The girls really enjoy their egg hunts. Unfortunately, I can no longer hide empty eggs....for some reason it is not enough fun to just find eggs over and over...."they need to have something fun inside" I was told. I thought I was going to be able to get away with empty eggs for a little longer but no. The girls had an egg hunt at home and then another one at the Peterson Ln. Park. I think they enjoy egg hunts a little extra because they never get to eat candy. Just look at these faces...

Mackenzi's 2nd Missionary Discussion!

Mackenzi is really enjoying her discussions with the Sister Missionaries. Maya and Monica are also enjoying the discussions with Mackenzi. Maya and Monica are always trying to answer Mackenzi's questions. They are so adorable. It is truly amazing how much they have all learned in the last 7, 5, and 2 years. They are amazing.

Window shopping!

And this is how I ended up with 3 girls...

I wish I had a scab!

Mackenzi had a fever for 10 days. We were getting really worried so we had to get a blood test. Mackenzi really didn't want to get that done. I talked (AKA bribed) to her for a long time and she finally got a little more calm. When we got to the lab Mackenzi says, "I wish I had a scab." I was confused as to why she would say that so I asked her to explain. It seemed so logical to her but she explained to her seriously less intelligent mother, "If I had a scab I could pick it and the blood would just come out for the lab lady and she wouldn't have to poke me." After I heard that all I could think of was, "Why didn't I think of that?" After everything was done, daddy walks in. Daddy said he left work early just to be with Kenzi. Isn't that so sweet? After I took this picture of Kenzi. Maya said, "Can you take one of me too?"

Primary Activity!

The girls always have so much fun at the Primary Activities. They were playing dance/freeze and it was so adorable. Monica loves to do what her sisters are doing even though she is not primary activity age yet.

All in a day's worth!!

Monica is something else. Our day started today with Jason and I finding our toilet full of Q-tips. It took us just about a second to figure out Monica had already woken up and climbed out of her crib. This was just the beginning of a very long day. Mid morning, Monica asked me for another box of toys that was up high. I told her I would get it for her as soon as she put all her fake make up and dog parlor away. To my surprise about 2 minutes later I see her room completely clean. I was really excited until I opened her closet and the toys were not put away where they belong...they were gone. I asked her where she put it and she said, "Nao sei" (Translation: I don't know). For hours I looked everywhere (I mean everywhere) to try to find these toys and nothing. My worse fear was, of course, the toilet again. Could she had flushed all those toys down? I started to panic so I tried everything I could think of to make her tell me but.....nothing. How could she have hidden them so well? This search went on all day. When the girls came home we turned into a scavenger hunt with a really sweet treasure at the end and again....nothing. As we again looked for these lost toys, Monica managed to eat and by that I mean put it in her mouth, chew, and swallow just about 6 pieces of gum. I just couldn't believe it. I truly believe this little blondie moves with the speed of light. All I see is this blond hair here and there in a flash. Dinner time came and I had made the yummiest california rolls. Everyone loved it and this was Monica's comment, "I no like it. No thanks." I had just about had it when Jason decided to try to get Monica to tell him where she had hid the toys. We had all tried and all she would say is, "Nao sei" (Translation: I don't know). So he took her to her bedroom and asked her to tell him and she did. I could not believe it. Maybe this doesn't sound like a crazy day with a very naughty child but to me this is all new. Here are some pictures of her rescueing her toys.

Mackenzi's 1st Missionary Discussion!

Mackenzi has started taking the missionary discussions in preparation for her baptism this year. She is doing so well and loving having the same experience her dad and I had before we were baptized. She knows all the answers so it is really cute to watch her with the sister missionaries. We are so proud of her. She is such a special daughter of God. We are so blessed to have her in our care.

Heart Surgery for ME! (Ablation)

After 20 years of having heart issues....we finally put an end to it. For 20 years I have been trying to figure out what was wrong with my heart but countless cardiologists and exams had no answers for me. Finally, last year when we lived in MN we met a electrophysiologist cardiologist that told me that my problem was electrical. He thought I had WPW (wolff parkinson white), which is an electrical problem of the heart. He also told me that the only way to cure it was to have a specific heart surgery called ablation. All of this without anybody ever actually seeing or recording the problem actually happening. Well, my symptoms were quite under control not happening that often or for that long so I opted to live with it. Unfortunately, on Oct. of 07 I had a 5 hour episode that left me very scared. After that I found an excellent doctor here in Santa Rosa and decided to do the surgery. By the description I gave him he agreed with the MN doc and we scheduled the surgery. Only one problem....for them to be able to catherize the node they needed to see it in action right on the cath lab. On Feb. 12th I went in to have his procedure done scared to death that they wouldn't find the problem and I was doing all of this for nothing. We prayed so much!!! I went in at 7 AM and couldn't remember a thing until I started to wake up around 2 PM (somewhere during the 4 hours I had to lay flat on my back). I was dying to find out what happened but since I was so drugged and forgetful everytime I woke up I would ask again. Finally, after hours of asking the same thing I started to regain my senses and, by the way, stopped telling everyone around me (even other families visiting other patients) that I loved them. Well, the story went like this. The doctor had a real difficult time with my veins which explains why I have 2 holes on my neck, and 2 on each leg. After he was able to go in...by a miracle...as soon as the catheter touched my heart.....MY PROBLEM HAPPENED ON ITS OWN....it couldn't have been better. They were able to see the node and fix the problem. We all finally found out that I actually had a SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) specifically an AVNRT (atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia). What a blessing that both conditions, they one they thought I had and the one I actually had could be cured with an ablation. I was quite sore afterwards but according to the doctor I will never have to worry about this again in my life. Here is a picture of me very, very drugged and trying to walk. I had a gown on my back because as I put it I didn't want to flash the other patients in the room. Without missing a bit Jason said, "Darn, I was hoping for a show." We all just laughed and laughed. What an amazing husband I have. He was with me the whole time and patiently told me the story of what had happened at least 12 times. I am happy to report that I now can and have eaten all the chocolate I wanted!

Thank you to all for your prayers, gifts, cards, and help as I recovered from my surgery. You made all the difference in the world.

Our Favorite Date to the Oakland Temple!

What a wonderful day! Finaly, Jason and I took a Saturday to go to the Oakland Temple. It was such a wonderful experience. We love going to the temple together. The Oakland, CA Temple is so beautiful inside and out. The grounds are just amazing. We were so lucky to have my mom and dad here to watch the kids for us. There is nothing better then being in the House of the Lord with your Eternal Companion. We are so blessed to have each other. We will have been married for 10 years this August. It was truly amazing to be able to think back to August 14th, 1998 when we got married in the Orlando, FL Temple.

Beautiful Earth!

I was coming home from picking up the girls at school on a really rainy day when we saw this beautiful rainbow. We stopped and just watched it for a while. All of a sudden I hear a voice from the back seat saying, "Let's hurry and get to the end of it so I can get my pot of gold." We all started laughing. What a beautiful end to our rainy season. I can't wait for spring.

Fist Piano Recital for the girls!

Mackenzi and Maya had their first piano recital. It was just adorable. We were all there to suport them and they felt like stars. They were not shy this time but next recital is in an auditorium so we'll see. They played beautifully and showed off some of their knowledge of tempo and notes. Their teacher, Ron, has been teaching them since Oct. 07. They enjoy their piano lessons very much.

Christmas morning...here we come....not really!

Unfortunately, on Christmas Eve and Day we had quite a few sickies in the house. We opened 1/2 of the presents on Christmas Eve and the other 1/2 on Christmas Day (our kids LOVE this tradition!!). I cooked a "FEAST" (as Maya calls it) for the night before Christmas...unfortunately Jason, Maya, and Mackenzi had the stomach flu and weren't really interested in eating. After a night of puking...nobody's pjs matched anymore. What a picture disaster...but here it is. Monica had to try everything on right away, Maya fainted at the sight of her presents, and Mackenzi could barely even open her gifts after puking all night.

Thank you so much to Bisa Bottaro for her generosity and awesome gifts! We loved everything! Thank you also to Grandma and Grandpa Hopkins for their generosity and fun gifts! You were so thoughtful! Thank you to Vovo and Vovo Souza for your great gifts! The clothes for the girls were absolutely beautiful! Thank you uncle Davi for sending us such thoughtful gifts. Thank you uncle Daniel for the nice gift card. Thank you also to Grandma and Grandpa Gilmore for your gifts! We wish we could have all been together during such a wonderful time of year...maybe next year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Christmas décor!

We had a great time decorating for Christmas. We set up our Christmas tree the day after thanksgiving so we could enjoy it for a long time. We will have a hard time saying goodbye to it until next Christmas. We also found this nativity scene to put outside which we absolutely love!

Bean bag sleepover!

The girls loved their bean bags so much they decided they wanted to sleep on them for the night! They were sore units in the morning!

An amazing talent....found!

Out of nowhere....Mackenzi comes down the stairs with this beautiful snowflake in her hands. I was in such awe. We were all amazed! We had no idea she was so good at paper art. Make sure to let her know what you thought of it. We are so proud of her.

Terror on wheels!

They love to ride their bikes and scooters. They are so adorable. The best little girls any mother could ever ask for...

Gingerbread House!

It is our family's fun tradition to decorate a gingerbread house every year. We had a wonderful time this year and the house turned out so pretty. As the girls get older this little tradition looks better and better. The girls did an amazing job and had a wonderful time but we had a sad moment when little Monica had to be removed from the activity for acting on her candy eating desires (which are chocking hazards for her - a definite no no).

Thanksgiving...business mind & memory wiz!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We had so much fun that I didn't even take a single picture! If I had to label this weekend it would be 4 days in the 80s. We danced, sang, cooked a huge meal, ate ourselves sick, beaded, danced some more, set up all our Christmas decor, ate ourselves sick again, visited friends, got up in the middle of the night for black friday, wrapped gifts, danced again, had family movie night, ate ourselves sick, baked spiced nuts, sang, and finally collapsed in bed really really sad that real life resumes tomorrow. Just before the night was over we played memory with the kids and were just amazed to over and over get beaten by a 5 year old who is a wiz at this game. Maya is truly unbelievable! As the night was coming to an end, Mackenzi started to complain that daddy wouldn't be with us anymore because he was going back to work...to which I tried to explain that he is with us everynight and that he needs to work so that we can pay all our bills. She didn't skip a beat and said, "He doesn't need to work....we could sell fish." I thought that was interesting so I asked her how and she said, "We buy it and sell it for 10 more then what we paid...then we can pay the bills." Jason and I looked at each other and were amazed at the understanding of profit coming out of this little girl. The world better watch out!

Congrats to our BMX Champion!

Who would think that Jason would look so good riding a BMX (AKA kid size toy) bicycle. He did an amazing job and actually placed 2nd in the regional race and 3rd twice in a couple of local ones. He is ranked # 602 in the United States. We got to cheer for him and pray he wouldn't wipe out. Congratulations Daddy! We are so proud of you...

A Gilmore's day off!!

We have been a busy family lately but when we finally get a little time to relax and be silly this is what we do...

"PINOCCHIO" the play!

The girls have been taking a theater class and this was their final performance for the fall. They were so cute. Mackenzi was Gepetto, a puppet, and a fairy and Maya was a fairy and a puppet. They did a wonderful job and loved every minute of it. They will be doing the "Wizard of Oz" in the spring so stay tuned for that one.

Happy 5th birthday, Maya!

Tinker Bell made her appearance as Maya on her 5th Birthday! Maya was so excited...it was supposed to be an outside birthday party but it ended up raining. Maya and her friends had a wonderful time playing games, and making crafts all unexpectdly inside. It is an interesting thing to have 12 children inside for 2 hours. We all survived it and Maya is now 5...my baby is growing up so fast.

Happy Halloween Me Hardees!!

We ranged from the meanest pirates to the cutest one. The day started at 6 AM for dress and make up. All in all it was a day to remember with parades, class parties, and a night of walking on planks...oops, trick or treating and eating some well deserved candy. We found out that there is a dentist in town that actually buys back all the candy the day after halloween (dollar per pound) . We will most definately do that next year!!

Happy 2nd birthday, Monica!

It was 4 days after we got back from Brasil that we had Monica's Dora the Explorer party. In retrospect, it was probably not at good idea but I can't help myself when it comes to making these amazing little people happy. Pay close attention to her index finger placement!! In a 2 year old's mind she was being sneacky!! Even though we had caught her doing it 5 times before this one.

Our trip to Brasil! (with an "S")

On the spur of the moment the girls and I went to Brasil for 13 days. It was a blast!! My grandmother turned 80 and we had a fun family reunion at her birthday party. Here are some pictures of our adventure...(there will be more coming!).

Taking passport photos!

When I tried to take her passport picture...this is what I got. When Monica saw this picture she said, "Cheira pe" which means "smelling foot." At least she can tell me what she was doing.

Being turists!!

We have really had a great time exploring our area. On Friday, and Saturday we went to Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, and the Armstrong Redwood Forest. Below are some pictures of the tallest tree in that park, and a peek from below. We also took a picture of down Grant St. in Chinatown. Alcatraz actually turned out OK given it was a sunny day in SF and the last picture is of a huge sea lion migration. There were hundreds there and it was amazing to see them playing with each other. We also visited Grammy Jan and Grandpa Jim's traveling trailer and snaped a shot of them watching planet earth.

Petrified Forest & Bodega Bay!

Jason's mom and step dad are visiting us and we have been sight seeing. Here are some nice shots of the Petrified Forest which is wood that over time has changed to rock matter and Bodega Bay. Have you seen "Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock? It was filmed there. It stills looks exactly like in the movie so make sure you look up when you are there or you might get attacked. I was keeping an eye on this seagul making sure it didn't have any evil plans.

Canning 100 lbs of tomatoes!

When we planted our garden we really didn't know what we were doing. So when the 8 tomato plants started to grow, give fruit, and mature, we didn't know what to do with so many tomatoes. Plus, we had lots of basil, parsley, garlic, and onions.....so we thought....we could make italian tomato sauce and can it. So we did....20 quarts of it. It was a lot of fun! It took all day! It was my first time canning and I had to learn how to do it but I think it all turned out great. My mom was here helping me when we opened our first jar, about a month after I canned it, and it was soooo tasty. We are very excited to add these and more home grown canned foods to our food storage supply.

Why alarm clocks don't work for our girls!!

School started and dad and I decided that it was time for our girls to wake themselves up with their own alarm clock. We thought it was a great plan! Well, school started and bright early we would hear their alarm and it would buzz and buzz so loud but no girls would show up in our room so we would go and get them. We were puzzled as to why the loud noise didn't wake them up. This happened for a few days...then one night, before we put them to bed we told them that they needed to make a mental note to wake up with their alarm. Well, very matter of fact, they told us that they would never be able to hear it because they were wearing their ear plugs to bed so that they could sleep in! Dad and I looked at each other and said, "EAR PLUGS?" We all started laughing. So much for a great plan!

Abandon ship!

Finally, the entire family was on the water and the boat was empty. We had a wonderful time swimming together. It was around 105 F and the water must have been around 73 F. It was really nice. Even Moni was having a blast. The only drawback was having to let our anchor go...we would have loved to have taken it with us but it had decided not to come up after we tryed to convince it otherwise for an hour.

Nothing like an afternoon on our boat!

It had been so long since we were on our boat. We really missed it! We had a great time just relaxing which came at a perfect time for us (well, I should say for me). The afternoon was not without adventure which is par for a family of girls. Maya and Monica decided they wanted to drive and pull grandma on the tube. There was a lot of noise from the water and other boats but I am almost sure I heard somebody screaming...STOP, STOP!

Happy 7th birthday, Mackenzi!

Mackenzi turned 7 years old and celebrated with her friends, neighbors, and the dancing barbies. Everyone had a wonderful time. The favorite activities were princess 'make up' and the 'swing set'. Daddy made everyone perfectly grilled hotdogs and afterwards we had the very yummy cake. Our backyard was perfect for a party...we were so excited for Mackenzi. She actually had 3 birthday parties for turning 7 this year...but I still refuse to believe she is spoiled. Thank you all for coming and for the wonderful gifts!!

First day of school!

I can't believe I have 2 little girls going to school. They both woke up really, really early at 6:00 AM. I had set Mackenzi's alarm clock for 7:00 AM in the hopes she would be excited to hear her alarm wake her up...but no such luck. They were extremely excited and got all their chores done early. I have to confess that this morning I felt really weird. I don't think I was ready to give up another child to the public education system. Maya on the other hand, loved it! Mackenzi had a wonderful time as well. They both have wonderful teachers and we are really happy! I wish everyone could have seen these two this morning...of course right before leaving for school they had to get into trouble with their liquid bubbles...hence the stained Yulupa sweaters.

Flex Wheeler Classic!!

Jason and I went to Fresno this weekend to run a bodybuilding show with "Team Flex." It was crazy...there were TV and radio stations everywhere! Jason was on TV a few times. We had a great time but I think we will need a week to recover from the 3 hours of sleep per night and the stress of everything running smoothly. It was a complete sucess! Muscular Development Magazine has lots of pictures up already and the September issue should have it also. We will be doing this again next year. We met a ton of amazing people. Here are some snapshots... I am standing between Victor Martinez and Troy Alves. They are 2 of the top 5 bodybuilders in the world. They were so nice to talk to!! Jason also got to work with some interesting people...I will name them in order...Victor Conte who owns Balco, Troy Alves and Dexter Jackson who are 2 bodybuilders, Steve Blechman who owns Muscular Development Magazine, and Don Long who is a retired bodybuilder...and many others.

Bonka, can you give us a "Parque"?

I think Bonka must have heard this a million times. Thanks Bonka for this awesome swing set. The girls absolutely love it! They are on it all day everyday! Jason built it himself...it took him 2 weeks inspite of the box saying assembly would take between 5-8 hours. He did an amazing job! These pictures were taken at 6:30 AM the day after we flew in from FL. We got home around 2 AM FL time. Even Monica was saying "Parque."

Trip to Florida!!

We have just gotten back from our 2 week trip to Florida. It was a long time to be away from Daddy and all of the girls missed him very much but we had a wonderful time. We went to the pool, the beach, and boomers among other fun places. It was very, very hot and we loved it. It was so nice to see Vovó and Vovô. We also saw uncle Davi and Daniel, aunt Louise, and all the cousins. We went to the pool every other day. We went to the beach once. We also had a great time at boomers....mini golfing, rock climbing, and eating pizza. The girls went all the way to the top...we just couldn't belive it!

An original copy of the Book of Mormon!

We were also able to see one of the original printing of the Book of Mormon. It was so exciting!

Oakland temple and pageant!

This past Saturday we went to the Oakland Temple for an amazing historical pageant (it was an amazingly done play) in a huge auditaurium. We had a great day. The girls enjoyed it very much.

Having fun at the fair!

It was a blast...milking a cow while holding an ice cream cone on the other hand. They entered a jump rope contest. They rode plush horses. It was a must for them to go to every ride for their size or so that was what they told us.

Debora's fair entries...

It was a lot of fun to enter the Sonoma County Fair contests. I have to confess that it feels really good to win. I got 1st place at the whole wheat bread contest and 2nd on the sunglasses decorating one. It was so much fun.

Mackenzi's fair entries...

Mackenzi also entered quite a few contests. She got 2nd place on the sticker one. That earned her 2 free tickets ($14) to the fair plus $50. I could not believe it. She won 1st place on the collage (winning $5 and a free ticket). She also won 2nd place on the sunglasses (top middle) decorating contest (winning $3 and another free ticket). We were proud beyong words. She competed with hundreds of children of all ages. What an amazing accomplishment.

Maya's fair entries...

Maya entered 6 Sonoma County Fair contests. She got ribbons for all of them and they are all being displayed. We were so proud of her. Here is her comic strip contest entry.

The exploratorium!

When we dropped Bonka off at the airport we took the afternoon to go to the exploratorium. Which is a hands on science museum. The girls had a wonderful time. The museum is inside a palace which is being restored. It is beautiful.

Bonka's visit!

We had a wonderful visit from Bonka! Here are the highlights... we went to San Francisco to the Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz. We also went to Lake Sonoma to ride on our boat.

Monica doing the laundry!

Who would think that a 1 year old is completely capable of doing the laundry. She emptied the whole dryer and made sure to push down the clothe in the basket to fit the whole load. We were all shocked and watched with our mouths open. This scene...

Maya's latest accomplishments!

Maya is an adorable very polite and responsible child. We are lucky to be her parents. She is our fashion girl (getting her hair done at the fair) and an amazing helper. She loads and unloads the washer, dryer, and dishwasher. She can also make her bed perfectly. She is only four and everything we ask of her she does. She is an amazing rope web climber (she was so brave). She is always concerned about everything that is going on and constantly reminding us to wear our seat belts.

Moni's latest accomplishments!

Monica is a very entertaining child. We call her our 'entertainer.' We are tickled to be her parents. She has managed to escape from her play pen (multiple times) just to ride on this roller disk. She loves to be pushed around (by her sisters) inside a toy stroller but her most accomplished activity is to fit inside a milk box. Got milk?

The famous TV faces!

These faces need no explanation! They have been watching Disney Classics this summer. They have really enjoyed Mondays since that is the only day they get to watch their movie of the week.

Kenzi's latest accomplishments!

Mackenzi is a really creative little girl. We are all very proud of her. She has proved to be a great hairdresser, an amazing swimmer (she finally did it on her own!), and the perfect receipt organizer. She told me that by the time she is in 6th grade she will know how to do everything. Every morning we wake up to one of her interesting projects. This morning she had created a monster mask and hand out of paper to scare me out of bed. Later in the day, I got another big scare when I found the paper hand she had made propped up on my keyboard. They all had a big laugh when I screamed.

Soccer Camp

After a nice game of soccer this morning, the girls enjoyed eating their snacks and seating by their balls. It is so cute to see them on the field. Mackenzi stays with the group the whole time. Maya plays once in a while the rest of the time she is protecting my little seat so that nobody takes it (I have no idea why!). Monica likes to walk around holding her ball. She occasionally will try to baby talk to other babies in the area. They all love going though. The instructor is really good with the children and they actually can learn a lot if they could only stay put for 2 seconds.

Jason and Flex!

This is Jay with his good friend, Flex Wheeler (professional bodybuilding champion). They have been working together for about a year. Their company is putting together an awesome contest coming up in August. Here is a link: www.flexwheelerclassic.com Check it out!

Tubin' freaks!

We finally did it!! This past Saturday we actuallly went tubin. We were all a bit nervous to start with, but by the end nobody wanted to get off! Even Monica was loving riding on the tube. The girls had a total blast and even got to tube on their own for a little bit.

Dentist time!

Last month we took the girls for their 6 months check up. Well, actually it was Monica's first time at the dentist. Mackenzi and Maya loved it since they had no cavities and got a nice goody bag. Monica, on the other hand, was a little upset by the nerve the dentist had to ask her to open her mouth for absolutely no reason. I can just imagine what she was thinking...why would she open her mouth if he had no food for her - what a tease. He was a really nice dentist and gave her the goody bag right away. She felt a little better but still no posing by Dr. Hedges for the picture.

Our boat named Eternity

We love going to the boat every Saturday at Lake Sonoma. It is so relaxing and we have such an amazing time as a family. The girls do really well and they love to speed. They are getting more and more brave. Mackenzi is almost swimming on her own around the boat. Maya loves to play with her beach toys. Monica likes to do anything her sisters are doing and come in and out of the cabin. You can't see this but, wearing red shorts standing in the front is daddy trying to anchor our boat with a 30 ft. anchor line in a depth of 70 ft. If I recall correctly we drifted that afternoon...but it was great. We are so excited to start tubing this coming Saturday. We'll see if dad will let us! He thinks it is too dangerous. I think this is dangerous!

Introducing...Big Fat Daddy

AKA Jay's new motorcycle. After selling his Kawasaki ZX7 this became his new pet. He has a wonderful time riding it. The only snag is having to push it down the road to be able to start it....that thing is SO LOUD. This boy and his toys!

The Gilmore Girls

We love going to our boat. This was taken last week in the Lake Sonoma Marina. The girls love climbing on this rock on our way back to the car. They are so adorable!

The Garden

This is our fruit and vegetable garden. We love it and eat from it every day. When we put it in we didn't realize it would be so much work. Unfortunately, I think we are hooked on having fresh food at our finger tips. Jason, the girls, and I all work on it. It is quite a project every two weeks. Look how it has grown over time. This is what we have planted: broccoli, lettuce, several types of tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, collards, red onions, carrots, parsley, garlic chives, green onions, basil, garlic, jalapeno peppers, mint, grapes, blackberries, and strawberries.

Welcome to our crazy, crazy life!

We have moved to California! We moved here in March so it is starting to feel like home. The house is just about decorated (just a few more details...). We have really been enjoying ourselves here. There is so much to do and see. Life is great! Jason really likes his challenging new job (still with Medtronic). The girls are just having the time of their lives. I wanted to start this blog so that our family and friends can see pictures and keep up with our crazy, crazy life! Welcome, welcome!