Our Semi-Summer Break

OK...so it really stinks that my kids don't get a summer vacation this year. I DO NOT like year round school!!! So our "summer break" just ended and now the kids are back in school until the beginning of August. We did get to sneak in a fun trip to Fresno to visit the cousins. While there we took a trip out on my sisters boat. The kids had a blast and I got to try wake boarding for the second time. My other sister Stephanie also took these amazing pictures of the kids while we were there! Wish we all lived closer! By the way girls...Ed will return (those of you that watch The Bachelorette will know what I'm talking about)!!

Xtreme Teenager

Zach is obsessed with Xtreme sports and right now that happens to be the Winter X games that just ended. Did you see some of the CRAZY things these athletes attempted?? I mean, how do you figure out that you can do a double back flip on a snowmobile? Or how about spin around 3000 times in the air while on skis? Okay I'm exaggerating a little on that one! It is beyond believe what some of these kids are doing. With that being said I have informed Zach that he will NEVER under any circumstances try any of these stupid things!

He's already had one incident while mountain biking with Dave. This is Dave's new obsession, he's even built his own mountain bike. Crazy, I know. Anyway, while mountain biking over in Boulder City Dave calls me, "Um...we're coming home. Zach wiped out." Okay, I'm thinking, is this like a ER visit wipeout or a mommy kiss it better wipeout. It was kind of in between, he had a pretty deep gash. Well here's the first injury of I'm sure many more to come. And this picture is after a week of healing. Boys will be boys! And Dave is banned from taking Zach to the extreme course for a while!

It reminds me of my stupid brothers thinking it would be cool to skateboard while being pulled by a car. Yes, Spencer and Jared tried this one and Spencer had the roadrash all over his face to prove it. I'll have to find pictures, I'm sure I have them somewhere. They also used to jump off the roof into our pool! Are these the worries I have to look forward to for the next 10 years? Calgon take me away!

Gabe the Babe

So Gabe is my sensitive little boy, maybe that's because he is the baby. I'm not sure. He always says the sweetest things. The other day when I came home from work he came running down the stairs to give me a hug. He said "Mom I'm so happy to see you. Whenever you get home from work I get this funny feeling in my throat. You know...like when I drink my favorite drink, that Peach Kerns stuff."

Then yesterday he came in and sat on my lap. He said "I know why I love you so much. Because your name starts with an H and my name starts with a G and they are right next to each other in the alphabet." (I thought...where does that put Zach?! Back to my original thought.) Those are the things every mother wants to hear, am I right? It makes it all worth it! I still tell him he'll always be my baby.

Snow Day in Vegas Baby!!

Mark your calendars everyone...we have a snow day in Vegas! This was not just a little snow, we had about 4 inches here at our house. The kids had a blast in the back yard yesterday, I even discovered Gabe out in the back yard with flip-flops on!! He didn't even seem cold...go figure. Then, this morning Dave took them over to one of the parks and they went sledding down the hills for about two hours. Unfortunately the sun is now out and it is all melting away, but it was fun while it lasted!!

I LOVE Halloween!!

So this halloween all three of my kids decided they had to be scarey. I tried to talk Lexi into Dorthy, a cheerleader, a fairy...anything nice or sweet. You know what she told me??! "Mom I'm too old to be CUTE! I'm 9 years old now...remember??" How could I forget that? Evidently once you reach 9 you turn into something scary, a wannabe teenager! Now that is scary!!

We had a lot of fun trick or treating, although after just one neighborhood my kids were done. I can remember as a kid my parents letting us run wild. We would go to as many houses as we could. Some years we would even run home to dump the candy out of our pillowcases before going back out for more!! My the times have changed!

Election 2008

ZACH G... VOTE FOR ME!

So Zach has decided to run for president of his school this year. I knew he was a smart kid, but I didn't realize how clever he really is. The picture...his idea, the slogan....his idea, and he's already written his speech. It starts out, "Hi my name is Zach Garza and I'm running for principal of this school, oh wait that position is already taken. I'm really running for president....I know, I know, hold the applause please." He's taking it very seriously and I am so proud of him!

Meet Daisy and Duke!

So...after much begging and complaining from the kids we have once again decided to do the puppy thing. BUT there were a few rules (mostly put forth by Dave our "alpha male"): 1. Has to be a good guard dog, no little yippee puppies 2. Has to be easily trained 3. Has to be a good family dog. Somehow we ended up with TWO five month old German Shepherds. Crazy I know, but they are super sweet!


The one with the darker coloring is the male, Duke. The lighter one is Daisy. Yes she's posing in this picture...she wants to be a supermodel when she grows up. They play and fight just like normal brothers and sister. The good thing is they keep each other entertained! I can see why they say two dogs are better than one!