Fun Packed School Break

John is done with his Freshmen year of school!!! Wahooo!! He got to have a week off before his summer session started and we took advantage!! We spent the first part of the week with John's parents celebrating Zak's birthday! We spent a fantastic day at the zoo with perfect weather and very entertaining animals (spring was in the air)!!! We went to the lake and the beach one day. We had a great time playing in the sand and building sand castles. The water was nice so the kids did some swimming too and then we had a BBQ. After John's parents left we spent a day at the children's science museum where the kids had a great time playing pretend. Then we spent a day playing and camping at the lake. The weather was perfect and the kids were so excited to go camping. It felt like the mountains so we all had a great time and we can't wait to do it again. (Well John can wait, but he did like the fishing!) We filled the break with as much as we could and we had a great time together!

Lantz loves the scooter and the car. He is getting so darn big!
Just posing for me. It was raining but he insisted on playing outside. I love his little smirk!
One day rainy the next day sunny and nice!

Mr. Mailman Zak at the Science Center.
Blurry picture but I had to document this once in a lifetime experience of first class seating on an airplane!
Lantz taking a ride on the bus!
Dr. Makelle giving Lantz a check up. Everything was good.
Running some tests!
The Dr. suggesting Lantz start using a walker!
Makelle following in Grandma Donna's footsteps of being a bus driver!
The kids LOVE the water part.
Hard at work.
Driving a big load!
Silly guy.
Still working hard.
One huge building!
Doing the shopping.
Here is our only camping picture!

The boys fishing or fishing pole watching, whatever you want to call it!


Funnies~
Zak was playing missionary and he was trying to tell me why we say in the name of Jesus Christ at the end of the prayer. John was helping him to answer the question by saying Jesus is the Mediator. So Zak said, "We say that because Jesus is the meateater!"

When we were at the zoo Makelle lost one of her flip flops in the flamingo cage and John held her over into the cage to grab her flip flop. She was crying and the flamingos flew away but she got her flip flop back. Good thing it wasn't a lion or bear cave!!


When we went camping we had to take our car in to the shop to get the AC fixed so here is our white trash story. We loaded up our beach and camping gear and headed to the lake. We chose a camping spot and dumped off all of our bags and camping stuff. Then we hurried down to the beach and unloaded us with our beach stuff. John then hurried to the mechanic shop where a friend was waiting to give him a ride home. He then brought the little gray car to the beach where we were waiting for him. We loaded up again and went to our campsite. We pulled in to find a huge trailer in our spot. Our stuff was still under the tree so we had to haul it to a different spot. Apparently our original spot had been reserved by someone else. We had a great time and then the next morning we had to have another friend come pick some of us up since we all couldn't fit in the car. Is that white trash camping or what?!


Lantz is the friendliest guy around. When we go outside he waves to everyone in cars or walking and says "Hi". When we go into a store he waves to everyone. He also has the best fake laugh ever. I don't know how he learned it but he can fake laugh or courtesy laugh better than anyone I know.

The dollar store here sells hanky panky. What, who names candy hanky panky?!? Do you want some Hanky Panky? I hear it is really good!!!!

Lantz and Makelle were having a bath together. I first heard Lantz cry followed by Makelle. She was just trying to shave him and his ear off. What a helper she is. Lantz's ear was covered in blood but he was fine. She felt so bad ! We didn't notice until Sunday that he had three big bald spots on his head. He sure looks cute! I don't think Makelle will do that again.

Makelle reads her scriptures really good. She knows every verse starts with "And it came to pass" then she makes something up!

When we went camping I told Zak he could use his knife to widdle a stick. When we got home he said I shouldn't have made him woodle a stick because he cut himself five times on his arms, fingers and legs! Oh dear!!! First of all I didn't "make" him "woodle" anything!

We did some school yesterday and when we were done Zak and his friend both said "Are we done with school? We didn't even learn anything." Thanks kids, it is hard to teach them anything when they already know it all. If I have school seem like teaching then it isnt' fun, but if we have minimal teaching and do crafts and such then it isn't enough. I guess I will have to boost it up a notch! I can't wait until they tell their Kindergarten teachers "I didn't learn anything today!"

ZAK is FIVE!!

It is crazy to think that we became parents five years ago!! Are we really old enough to have a five year old? Our lives changed forever that day and we are so happy for Zak in our family. He makes us laugh everyday and helps us to be better everyday! He is naturally caring and kind and I love his spiritual nature. I am proud and humbled to be this kids mom!! Happy Birthday Buddy!









Only three more months until Kindergarten! He is a little excited and a little nervous!


Maybe one day we will get updated pictures for everyone, but don't hold your breath!!

Zak had a great Birthday! The best present was that Grandpa David and Grandma Valynn came to visit. He was so excited for all of his presents he got lots of animal stuff and safari gear! John was excited to get him a pocket knife like he got when he was five! (Thanks Gerhauser's for starting that tradition at a young age!)He wanted a pirate ship cake and the whole family took part in decorating it! He was spoiled with presents from aunts and grandparents and he got to play so that was all he wanted!

Candy and Crafts

The kids got a package from Grandma Valynn and Grandpa David with some new sandals and some candy. Let's just say Lantz LOVED the candy. He is so cute he grabs all he can and stuffs it into his mouth. He loved having the candy necklace around his neck the whole day.


This is our newest excitement. A robin built her nest in our hose at the side of the house. It is down low so the kids can see it great. They check on it daily, very exciting!
We found a great thing to use as a table outside. It's very convenient for craft and painting projects and I don't have a lot of cleanup! These kids love stuff like this. We made pictures with flowers and leaves and painting with flowers and leaves! Don't you just love Makelle's bonnet?!

That's it for now!

Here is a real update with words and pictures!

I was anxious to brag about our nice weather to all of you Utah folks on April Fool's Day. The excitement was short lived as that night I was too hot! Luckily there has been a breeze and the humidity hasn't been bad so the eighties feel nice once again! Of course we had to go and enjoy the nice weather while we had John home over the weekend. I like to go to the Zoo when he is around to help!
Grandma Valynn sent the kids these Easter clothes. They had to change into them immediately and in three days they had already worn them twice. I think they are their new favorite clothes. Sorry about the great picture. I had to finally give up on a good picture with all three of them.
This is the kids after they got their Easter package from Grandma and Grandpa. Lantz was just trying to grab as much candy as he could, because he knew I was coming to take it.
Does this little guy look happy or what? I didn't put his swimsuit on because I didn't think it would be warm enough for him to play in the water. Apparently I was wrong! This day was probably his best day in life. He wore shorts for the first time this season and he was so excited he started doing circles around the couch and laughing. He didn't like the grass on his legs so he started doing the butt up in the air crawl. And because of that he has finally mastered the getting to the standing position from the ground. He loves it outside and here is the proof!




This was a few weeks ago in the rain on a Sunday afternoon. What crazy silly kids!





So what has been going on with us?

ZAK CAN READ!! He has been learning his letter sounds so I decided to work on reading and he read a new book all by himself. He is very proud and excited! The kids also started doing morning and evening charts with all of the stuff they need to do each day. I asked Zak what he wanted on his chart and he added making his bed. He can make his bed all by himself and he does everyday! Zak loves reading the scriptures. We have these big illustrated ones and he could read chapters and chapters everyday. He loves them. He also got new scriptures for Easter from Granny and Gramps and he is sooo excited to take them to church.

Makelle loves to get out of the house. If anyone needs to run an errand or go to a store she has her shoes on and she is out the door. She is the opposite of Zak who I have to beg to leave the house. Last week she and I went to a park and she had a great time putting her feet in the stream and throwing rocks. She loves to go on dates with mom and look at pretty dresses, hats, shoes and nail stuff at the store. She would buy a new pair of shoes at every store if she could.

Lantz has decided that most days walking is pretty sweet although he still doesn't do it all the time, especially outside or around lots of action. He loves the outdoors and he loves animals. He can swing and teeter totter all by himself! He has two more bottom teeth and he has a scar on his face from his skin infection last month.

I am loving the warm weather and playing outside all day! I also just got another haircut by my stylist John Gerhauser and I get lots of compliments. Just today a lady at Club Mom asked who cuts my hair. Seriously, maybe we should just quit dental school and have him be a stylist! My babysitting job is going great although it doubles my amount of diapers and I am exhausted at the end of the day but then again I already was so I might as well get paid for it.

What do I say about John, still the same old for him. He loves life and he is thriving here with all that he does. He continues to amaze me. If only I could be more like that guy he truly is one of a kind!

We had a great Easter! We had breakfast and an Easter egg hunt in the rain on Saturday and then went home to sunny skies! Sunday we watched conference and then had dinner with some friends. I was so excited to see that they had deviled eggs! Conference was great and we had a great weekend together! Last month I was really missing my mom and my family and feeling sad about missing Easter. Luckily Heavenly Father gave me a tender mercy in allowing me to enjoy my holiday and not be sad about missing my family!!! This time of year is always a bitter sweet for me. I love spring and the green and the flowers, I love having my windows open with the sound of birds coming in. I love this time of year but it makes me think of and miss my Mom. It is a little crazy that Good Friday is the day my mom died. How grateful I am for such an amazing mom! Instead of feeling sad at not being able to chat with her or get her hugs, I can feel gratitude for her example. I owe her so much for all she taught to me. If only I can be half of what she was then I have got it made. My testimony of Christ and his resurrection grows stronger every year, as does my gratitude for him. Because of HIM I will see her again!

Last night we went to the lake about ten minutes from our house. It was a humid day so we went to play in the sand and water. We played and then had a BBQ for Family Home Evening. Sorry, no pictures I learned my lesson about cameras and sand. We also went for some hikes. Mann, do I love this time of year here! While we were playing at the lake together I was just thinking this is the life! I smile every time I go outside it is so pretty! We have already mowed our lawn twice and can I just say it looks great . We also planted our garden and it is GROWING!!!! We are so excited to see many of you in the next couple of months! We can't wait to show you all that Kentuckiana has to offer!!!!!!

Happy April Fool's Day!!

We are loving spring and there is no joke about it!

Smiles and Sunshine