Let's try this again...

About 5 years ago I was released as Young Womens President after serving for about 2 1/2 years...well today I was put back in as Young Womens President! I am feeling very overwhelmed, excited, scared, and honored to have this calling! Let's just say it has been a week of praying, fasting, and fretting! :) Thank goodness I have 2 great counselors (Amy Lopez and Barbara Anders) and about 20 WONDERFUL girls! Let the adventure begin!

My best garage sale find yet!!!!!

Our family has grown and has outgrown our little dining room table that we have loved for years. So today I got this BEAUTIFUL dining room table that is 6 feet long AND THEN it has 2 18" leaves that go on it to make a HUGE table! I LOVE IT! It is something that I would have picked out on a showroom floor!!!!! I am sooooooo excited! AND....if my whole family really comes to Florida for a reunion this summer then I will have plenty of table room :) HINT HINT HINT! :) he he he

Artist of the week 2 years in a row!

Luke was chosen as one of the artists of the week at school and was featured on their morning news broadcast. This is Luke's second time being chosen, he was also chosen in Kindergarten. He and his two buddies now have their puppets framed in front of the Principal's office. Very cute! Way to go Luke!

I love the little news room set up with the anchor at the desk :)

A Sweet Reunion Road Trip!

One of my old mission companions, Sister Montero (who is now Ingrid Cuevas) came in town from Brooklyn, New York to visit a family she taught (Lydia and Luz who it was so fun to meet and get to know). She was only my companion for a short time but in those short weeks we were together I learned a ton from her. It was a Spanish speaking area and they needed me to fill in until they got more Spanish sisters...so yes I was mute for a month (I know that never happens, he he he). She was actually across central Florida in New Port Richey, which is about 2.5 hours away. The kids had school off, (unfortunately Matt didn't) and so I loaded up the kids and we had our own little "road trip". They were great (thanks to the portable DVD player :). We met Ingrid at a pizza restaurant and it was WONDERFUL to see her. I can't believe it has been 10 YEARS! Man how time flies. She looks great and it was fun to reminisce about old times of the mission. I NEVER get to see anyone from the mission and I don't talk enough about it and so it was fun to visit and let the memories come flooding in! She is the Stake Young Women's President in their Stake! Busy girl with her 2 boys and husband in school to be a dental hygienist. What a great day!

I got a kick out of how Gavin was sitting with his legs stretching from Luke to Emma! :)

Matt's first big activity: Laurel/Priest Retreat

Matt had his first big activity as Stake Young Men's President on Friday night to Saturday. They went to the Central Florida Youth and Family Camp which is located on the church ranch. (I am currently begging my family to come and stay there with us hint hint hint). Here are some pictures from the event....Matt will have to tell you details of the fun obstacle course, the service project, etc. I do know that Matt beat everyone (even the youth) in the timed obstacle course!!!! What a HUNK I have!

The Bishop's all cooked breakfast for their youth and the Stake YW Presidency made breakfast for the Stake YM Presidency! Talk about a fancy breakfast! SPOILED!

The blonde standing next to the bunk beds is the Stake Young Women's President Laura Machado (she is also in our ward)

Two of Matt's counselors Gabe Gastin and George Mathis

Clay Roe is one of the Priests from our ward (SHARP kid!)

Fun day with fun friends!

I love the Lopez family! Just out of the blue they called us up to go to Mount Dora for the day! So we drove an hour, walked around on fun old historic streets, took great pictures of the cute kids (I of course did not take the great pictures...of course it was the talented Amy and John taking the pictures. I don't even need my camera anymore when I'm with Amy!), ate a fun lunch at a quaint restaurant, sat on the beach of a beautiful lake and watched the kids play in the sand! What a beautiful day!

We are going to save this picture for Carver and Emma's wedding video someday :)

And this one!

It's NOT time for the bird's and the bee's...

Tonight while I was giving Emma a bath she looked me square in the eyes and said "Mom how did Gavin get IN your tummy and how did he get OUT???" My friends have always said it is good to be honest with your kids and to be anatomically correct....so I thought maybe I would be brave and give Emma a little more information then the normal Gavin just "popped" out of me. She wanted to start out with HOW Gavin got OUT of me so I started with "well first you start feeling contractions and so you know it's time. Then they give you a shot in your back called an epidural." That's the furthest I needed to go because she broke into tears and said she will never have kids because she doesn't want a shot and PLEASE don't say anymore! I tried to calm her and talk her into wanting kids, I told her that you actually WANT this kind of shot at that point...but she wanted no more of our conversation...I think that is good for now and I DON'T think now is the time for the birds and the bees :) He he he

Happy Birthday and Happy New Year!

Happy New Year EVERYONE!!!! It is so fun to have Gavin's birthday on New Year's Day because not only is New Year's Eve a fun party, but then we have a great party day on New Year's Day! New Year's Eve we had a great time with friends at a "Murder Mystery" party...I was Becky and Matt was Bobby. We were undercover agents pretending to be married...our cover story was that I owned a flower shop and Matt was an air conditioning tech. No we didn't kill anyone and we didn't figure out who did it either, but it was still a blast. We got home in time to ring in the new year at home...let's see I think I was laying with Emma trying to get her to sleep and Matt was watching t.v. He came in at 12:15 and said Happy New Year. Aren't we exciting in our old age :)



I can't believe Gavin is 2!!! Wow how time flies. We kind of hung out and let the kids play during the day and then we opened Gavin's presents, ate dinner, had cake and ice cream and then went to the movie Bolt. It is ADORABLE! I loved it and laughed hard many times. Too bad Gavin didn't love it as much as we all did....he couldn't sit still! At one point I found him army crawling across the floor below our feet (and we all know how clean the movie theater floors are!!!!! GROSS!) Then he came up to me and whispered "Mom, let's go"....hmmmm, I guess we had a better time at his birthday bash then he did :)

Luke was so proud of this little robot dog that he picked out for Gavin (can you tell by the look on his face :)

Gavin is still trying to get used to his new bike...it is a little frustrating for him to learn to pedal but I'm sure before long he will be zooming up and down the side walk

Emma helped me make his cake

He blew out his candle on the first try! :)