Gerhauser Happenings: August and September-What's Been Happening!

Karlee started nursery this month. Of course we were extra anxious for her to go, but we were feeling really bad for her nursery leaders. Turns out we didn't need to. She went in the first week without crying or clinging to me. The next week she did good too. Once she realizes I'm not there she gets a little sad but she just sits on some one's lap the whole time. As long as she stays in and isn't crying then I call it a success! She finally decided to start walking just weeks before going into nursery. She has know for a long time, we just couldn't get her to do it. We always had to bribe her into walking by giving her candy. She talks all the time now. She knows all of her animal sounds. She can say most words when she is trying to tell you something. She has recently developed a love for reading books. She would have me read all day if I could....it seems I do! She also loves to be outside. We have started a daily routine of swinging on our tree swings after we walk the kids to the bus stop. It's a great time to do it before it gets too hot. Her hair is still crazy curly. In the humidity it gets extra curly. In FHE Karlee likes to lead the songs each week. She stands up in front of us against the wall and waves her hand in the air. It is a good think she is so cute because she is a STINKER!!

Zak is doing well with school. He has a fantastic teacher. He seems to be WAY ahead of grade level which is surprising considering how good Florida schools are. I'm trying to decide how to handle the situation. His teacher is noticing some areas where he is way ahead and promises to move him ahead in those areas. Zak started flag football this week. He did a summer camp for a week in the summer. One week learning soccer and one week learning football. He enjoyed both of them but decided to go for football. He isn't the fastest on the team but he is great at catching people! He loves scouts and is excited there are several boys his age. He recently started mowing the lawn to earn money and does a great job. At night he reads me his diary of a wimpy kid books. I love that time together with him. He has given several talks in primary and several FHE lessons lately. He is a great teacher and we always feel the spirit. He is way beyond his years in spirituality. He is also an expert on the Book of Mormon. On Sundays I hate playing Scripture pictionary with him because his pictures are so detailed and I don't know the stories.

Makelle is LOVING school. She loves getting praise and rewards for being good at school. She is doing ballet at the base and she loves being a ballerina. Recently the two of us went on a date. She got her first manicure and I got a pedicure. It was fantastic! We also went to a RS activity where I learned a few hairstyles. She was so excited to go with me and now she actually lets me do her hair again. She is became a fantastic reader and loves to do it. She loves math and science at school. At the beginning of the year she was invited to take her favorite book. She really wanted to take the Book of Mormon. At the last minute she decided to not take it in case she got in trouble. I love that my kids love the Book of Mormon.

Lantz started school on Monday. He couldn't wait to be like the big kids. I am excited for him. He is so good to tag along with me to appointments and meetings. Now he will get to go have some fun instead of having to tag along with me. He had no idea where is class was or his teachers but that didn't stop him from being excited. He is ready to be off on his own and play with friends each day. Lantz is still working on articles of faith and is doing great. He is such a great boy. He always shares and thinks of the rest of his family.

John is finally starting to do dentistry. After months of being unemployed, then a month of training and in processing he is finally doing what he came here to do. He just finished a sedation dentistry class and learned how to give IV's. Some days he starts to get stressed. This year might prove to be a whole lot harder than dental school. In school it was about taking tests. He didn't need to study he would just go take it. Here he has to actually do things and do presentations. Hopefully we will still get to see him.

The kids are adjusting to school. I am so proud of them and the way they have handled the changes that have come to them. They braved their first day of school, riding the bus and finding their classrooms all by themselves. It has been hard to to prepare them for things because I don't know how things go myself. They just go with the flow. Our life suddenly got really busy. They get home from the bus kind of late so by them time they tell me about their day then it is time for dinner. Then it is on to either football, soccer, or ballet. Then rush home to get them in bed.

I finally got a calling. I was called to be the Beehive advisor. It will be lots different than YW so I am excited for the low stress. With the help of LaDonna I was able to figure out how to print my own family names for the temple. I am so excited to go and do the work. We have been to the temple twice this month. That's pretty good for us considering that the temple is 5 hours away. If John gets off work early on a Friday then we leave at noon and head to Birmingham AL. One of us will hit the night sessions while the other one takes the kids to the motel pool. We switch for Saturday and then head right back home. Our kids have done very well for the rides. Thankfully they like going to a pool, hotel, and eating out so that we can go to the temple. Hopefully this will make an impression to them that we love the temple and that even though we live far away we still make it a priority. Hopefully they will love to go because to them it brings memories of the pool and being together as a family.

August marks 11 years for us. Crazy how time flies. We never would have dreamed we would be where we are doing what we are doing. I'm grateful for the journey and for a great guy by my side.

Only 2 and half weeks and our lives will forever change again. We can't wait to meet this baby!

End of Summer and Back to School Fancy Party!

First Day of School Pictures

Zak-3RD Grade-Mrs Arteaga

Makelle-1ST-Mrs. Lafitte

Bluewater Elementary

Makelle at dance

Backyard Fun!

Makelle singing the "When I am Baptized song", accompanied by John. We bought a digital piano so the kids could take lessons! Makelle hopes to practice and then ask the Bishop for her and her dad to do it in Sacrament meeting!