My Latest Project

So I’ve had this table for years. I bought it when I first moved here from Utah when I was home from my mission for only a month (you know, the standard, light oak, Mormon Table). It’s been a good table, but after 13 years, it was definitely time for a change. So, when Mark was gone for the weekend at a camp out with Caden, the fun began! It’s been a work in progress, but we finally finished the last coat of polyurethane and the drying process. Now it just needs a few decorations!

BEFORE

AFTER

Summer is finally here!

Yeah for summer!!  It's a free for all at our house every day!  I'm so glad that school is out!  I needed a break from the crazy schedule we've been on!  Thankfully I've been able to catch up some on the things I enjoy.. With three active boys in school, sports and scouts, life gets busy, but it's all good.  We are all healthy and happy.  Mark is working for himself again and I am doing a little photography here and there.  It's enough that I enjoy it but I'm still able to be home with my kids.  I've done several baptism invitations lately and that's been fun.  You can see them at Designed Memories.

Caden is going into 7th grade in the fall.  I can't believe how big he is.  He turned 12 in February and was ordained a Deacon by his dad.  It's so cute to watch him pass the sacrament on Sundays.  We just signed him up for his 2nd season of football.  I didn't know if he would play again, it was alot of work for him last summer, but in the end, he decided that he enjoyed it more than anything.  He'll play on the same team as last year, with his cousin Jaime.  He's also looking forward to Scout Camp in a few weeks.  This will be his first week long camping trip. 

Jace is going into 3rd grade.  He turned 8 in May and was just baptized last weekend.  We waited until the 4th of July weekend so that Grandma and Grandpa Gertge could be here from Montana.  It was such an amazing day!  Jace asked his cousin Mark if he would give the talk on The Gift of the Holy Ghost. I thought that would be perfect practice for him since he's leaving soon for his mission. I had never heard Mark speak before and I was sure he would do just fine, but I was completely blown away by his talk. He got up and talked directly to Jace and Aaron. The Spirit was so strong! I was amazed. He's going to be such an incredible missionary!  We just signed Jace up to play football this season.  He's way excited about it.  It should be a busy season for us with 2 in the WFFL.  Jace got to go to Cub Scout Day camp this year for the first time.  He loved it, of course!  Archery, BB Guns, and sling shots!  What's not to love?!!

Jackson is now 6 and he's a big 1st grader.  He loved Kindergarten, but now Kindergarten is for babies.  He's ready to go to school all day and eat lunch at the school.  He wants to play football like his brothers and he's practicing as often as he can.  Our neighbor has a little boy that is 5.  He and Jack play everyday.  Jackson was at his house the other day and tackled David to the floor.  As David was getting up, Jackson told him, "Dude, you have to be tougher than that.  You get hurt in football."  Words to live by?

Anyhow, we are enjoying our schedule free summer!  By the time it's over, I'll be begging for a schedule again!

I can't believe my baby is 8!!

Jace was so excited to get baptized!  What a sweet, sweet boy he is.  Thank you to all of our wonderful family and friends who were there to support him!  And a special thanks to Jace's cousin Mark for his incredible talk!  The whole day was amazing!

Montana....again

We met Grandma and Grandpa Gertge in Yellowstone and went to see Old Faithful, then we headed out to Great Falls, Montana.  Gotta love the half naked kid in the background!

This butterfly really liked Jace.  Jace picked it up walked around with it for quite a while. 

He thought it was pretty cool!

Feeding the ducks

At Fort Benton Levee

We went out to see some of the missle sights that Grandpa Joe works on and he took us to this really cool look out point.  It was so pretty!

You are hereby called....

...To the Philippines Cebu Mission. 

Mark finally got his call!  He is so excited, we all are!  He's going to be an amazing missionary!  He reports to the MTC on his birthday, August 25th.

On the phone with Grandma and Grandpa in Montana.

Proud Mom!

Chef Jace!

This is a kid who loves to cook.  He would rather help me in the kitchen than just about anything else!  And not just baking dessert!!  He loves to help me make breakfast, lunch and dinner.  He wants to be a chef when he grows up so, I made him his very own cook book!  HE LOVES IT!!  Now when we find new recipes, not only do I add them to my cook book, he can add them to his as well!  Too cute! 

Jack's Favorite Frog

When we got back from our trip to Montana, there was a package waiting for Jackson from Grandma Mitzi. It was for his birthday. This is now his FAVORITE frog!

Not sure what's going on with Jackson's hat here...but he was pretty excited!

Montana Trip April 2010

For 11 years I have heard about Mark's dad Joe and his amazing ability to call the cows.  So, I asked him while we were in Montana if he would show me.  He was a little embarrassed and didn't think he could still do it, but we pulled over so he could give it a try... 

Uh, yeah...he's still got it!!

The kids had an Easter Egg hunt at the hotel

And at Mark's Uncle Jerry's home.

Jackson and Grandma at Jerry and Joan Gertge's home

They made a birthday cake for him and he got so shy when everyone was singing to him...but he loved it!

Mark Gertge, Marlene Monson, Julie Carpenter, Joan Gertge, Jenny Gertge,

Neilene Gertge, Emilee Monson, and Mary Gertge

Breck Carpenter, Mark Gertge, Joe Gertge, Dan Gertge and Jerry Gertge

This was a 2K's Kafe in Great Falls.  The burgers were HUGE!  2lbs of meat!!  Two of them fed my entire family with lots left over!  Here is Taylor enjoying his usual lunch!

Baseball 2010

Caden played on a really good team this year.  They took 2nd place in the finals!

Jackson and Gage played on the same team.  They are hilarious together!

Jace's Home Run!!