Polar Express

We took the kids up to Williams,AZ yesterday to ride the Polar Express and visit the North pole!! We stayed at the hotel on the site and the kids had fun playing in the snow right away along with a bunch of other kids enjoying it also. We got into our pajamas and boarded the polar express and got warm hot chocolate, that Haydyn LOVED and also chocolate chip cookies...When we got to the "north pole" Santa was there waiting for all the kids and got on the train and hand delivered each kid there own silver bell and golden ticket....To see the look on the kids faces was so much fun!! We had a wonderful time and needed this much away time with the 4 of us even if it was only 24 hours it was well worth it!!!

Meet Hurley..

Its been about 2 months since Roxi died and we still and always will miss her. We felt a big loss of security when she was gone and also we lost a family member. We knew that we wanted another boxer when the time was ready, but NOT A PUPPY. I wasn't ready for the puppy thing, potty training, crate training, etc, but didn't want a dog that I was going to put down in 6 years again soon either. We looked through a bunch of breeders but they are all puppies, so my dear friend told me that she has always gone through boxer rescue and they come in a wide range of ages for you to pick from. We went online and found about 8 dogs we really liked and "Hurley" was our first choice and we had to pass the adoption form, references, back-ground check and the in-home visit first before we could look at any boxers through the rescue. This process took about 2 weeks and its kinda crazy to know you have to go through all this "Stuff" to get a "DOG", but they want these dogs to go to good, loving homes. Today we got to go meet Hurley and we fell in love with him from the moment we walked into his foster home. He was GREAT with the kids, loved on us, and everything we wanted in our next boxer. WE get to pick him up tomorrow and bring him to his new loving home!!! We are so excited to have another dog back in our lives!!!
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY HURLEY!!!

The rescue named him Carnegie, but we didn't care for that name too much so the kids couldn't decide between Harley, Hurley or Woody and its HURLEY they picked!!!

DUCT-TAPE

Haydyn you never seem to amaze us with your "FREE-SPIRIT"!!! For the past 2 months you have decided to "TRY" and stop taking naps, well this was the age your brother started and I said "NO" to you stopping at this age!! I still need mommy time!! I told you you don't have to sleep but you can stay in your crib and read your books, play with your dolls, whatever, but you aren't coming out for 2 hours. I will listen to you talk on the monitor and just let you be, well 4 times you have "FINGER-PAINTED" all over the walls and your crib with your POOP, and you have managed to get your diaper off and pee everywhere!!! I was getting frustrated because I need you to take naps, but I wasn't enjoying cleaning up poop and changing your crib sheets EVERYDAY!!! Well your daddy had a clever idea......DUCT-TAPE!!! He went to the store and bought you "PINK" duct-tape and you can't get your diaper off. You still aren't napping in your crib, but at least when I hear you talking I know the diaper is still on and I an enjoy 2 hours to myself!!!! You are always keeping us busy little missy!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!

Megan and Brian's Wedding

Cory's cousin Megan got married on Friday down in Tucson. The weather was PERFECT and the wedding was beautiful. It was so nice to go down and see family and have EVERYONE together, which is hard to do these days with everyone's busy schedules. The newlyweds got married at the Z Mansion in downtown Tucson and it was so pretty. They had wonderful food for us and of course awesome cake. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsen!!! You both looked wonderful and wish you many years of happiness together!!!!

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live".

1 Thessalonians 5:16

In His Steps Retreat-2009

I went on my first church retreat...In His Steps..and had such a wonderful time. I left not wanting to go due to Roxi, but realized this is how Satan stops us from doing things that honor GOD and I was needing to go. I didn't know what to expect and am not a fan of sleeping in a cabin with 6 other women in your room, but let me say I left with a whole different feeling than when I came and LOVED all my roomates!! WOW....we stayed at United Christian Youth Camp up in Prescott and it was so nice and peaceful. They had all these walk paths so you could go be alone with GOD and just sit on a rock and talk with him, do devotionals etc. We had wonderful guest speakers and our main speaker Fran Love really was right on!!!! She spoke on the book of Ruth and the lessons from the story of Ruth and Noami.
***We are not always in control of what happens to us...
***But we can make commitments that stretch our faith...
***and we can TRUST in GOD'S sovereignty
Fran also taught us a Reflective prayer and it was so peaceful and just speaking to GOD through a different way..ahhh..
Reflective prayer...
***Review your day
***Thank God for your day
***Note when you felt closest to GOD (sense of peace, joy etc) Sit with GOD
***Note where you felt farthest from GOD. Sit with GOD
***Talk with GOD about these things. Listen to him speak.
***In the spirit of grace, ask GOD for the strength to do and be what he is asking you.
I enjoyed all the guest speakers and all the alone time with GOD, and having that support system to be able to talk to someone about what you are struggling with and to have the prayer support there for you. I surrendered a lot to GOD that weekend and let me tell you IT FEELS SO GOOD!!!! I came home emotionally exhausted, but in a GOOD way and am so glad I went!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps."
1 Peter 2:21

We will miss you Roxi!!!

We had to put Roxi down on Friday September 18th...and let me say IT SUCKED!!! Roxi had been sick since July 9th, and after a bunch of blood work they had diagnosed her with an auto immune disorder. Every 2 weeks I had her in the vets office, because something would change with her,ex..vomit, diarrhea, odd behavior etc and they would send me home with a different antibiotic and she was continuously on prednisone. This of course made her pee and poop all over the house, but I knew she couldn't help it and it was the medicine. Well, this last week she just had gone 2 weeks without really eating her dog food, but would still eat table foods, so I grilled her a chicken breast with rice on Tuesday night and she scarfed it down...so I was SOOO HAPPY because she was eating. Wednesday I came home from the gym around noon and found vomit all in my living room with "perfect" cut cubes of chicken and rice...so she never digested the food in over a 10 hour period. I called the vet and he said he wanted to see her in the morning on Thursday to do an ultrasound on her tummy, the called me that afternoon and said she was so anemic that her spleen was enlarged and over 8 months had lost 18 pounds, and the vets words where "she is very sick and declining fast, you have one more option of antibiotics but if this doesn't work than we will have to put her down"!! So I went to the store got her prescription filled and did EVERTYHING in my power to get her to eat so I could get a first dose of medicine in her, after about 2 hours I did and of course she threw it all up...I monitored her all night and had a feeling this was not going to work since I couldn't get the medicine in her than how was she going to get better. As the night progressed on I spoke with my mom and told her what she was doing and my mom said she knows she is dying so just be by her side threw the night and call the vet in the morning. I slept outside with her all night...well I didn't sleep, but I was with her and she wouldn't stop moving and was just pacing all night long, and had diarrhea that was black!! Well, the morning approached and I called DR. Burke and he said bring her in...and I lost it...I don't know why, because I knew it was coming, but did I TRY EVERTHING to keep her alive before I go this road, I was asking myself???? I was due to leave by 9:00 on my church retreat in Prescott and my ride was coming and the vet wanted Roxi by 9:00, I called my ride and she said take your time and call when you are ready to leave. I honestly didn't want to go by this point....I was so upset what good would I be on a church retreat, well I prayed for a minute with Roxi in my arms and realized that SATAN was doing this to me and keeping me from going on this retreat. The kids and Cory and I prayed over Roxi and gave her BIG hugs and Cory took her off....it was the saddest thing to see, she got a little excited when she heard her leash, and just went in his truck thinking she was going for a "Ride".....Once Cory got to the vet with her he said she could barely stand up. I know I made the right decision, but it SUCKS!! WE had Roxi before we had AUstyn she was like one of our kids and she was part of the family.I did go on the retreat and it was AMAZING, thats another post with pictures to come!! I just got home today and I walk around sobbing, SOMETHING IS MISSING!!! I left pretty fast that morning that I haven't been in the atmosphere, so when I got home IT HIT ME!! Every time I look at something or hear Haydyn ask where she is I loose it!! I know this will take time, but I missing her!! I had a wonderful time at my retreat and was glad I went and got to sob about Roxi to my friends, but its soooo hard loosing a pet. She was such a GREAT DOG!! WE MISS YOU SO MUCH ROXI.....WE LOVE YOU!!!

Haydyn's first dance class!!!

All-ready to go...looking pretty

Just got my tap shoes on!!!

TAP TAP

Time to change into ballet shoes

I took this picture through the window....

Haydyn started dance on Wednesday and I didn't know how she would do, but she LOVED it!! She wore her tap shoes all day and even to lunch and asked to go back to dance today!! I LOVE IT!! Since her mom, her auntie and gammas all grew up dancers she has to be a dancer also, well after yesterday she even has it in her blood!!! Cory was hoping she wouldn't like it and wants her to have a softball or soccer ball but looks like that isn't going to happen!! He worries because it is so expensive and hears all the horror stories from my mom and dad and how much they spent over the years and he said it won't happen with her!! We'll see when she gets out there with her costumes and shaking her booty!!! HAHA....I know GOD has a special talent created in ALL OF US, so if he wants her to dance she will or if it is a softball player than that's great to, whatever her heart desires to do we will support her 100%!!! Haydyn is definitely our girly girl!!

Austyn's Field Trip to the Fire Station

Today Austyn's class got to go visit the fire station and YES you guessed it his daddy did the tour for the class. He did an awesome job and his teacher said in her 15 years of teaching at CGLS and all the fire station tours she has been to this one was the best! WAY TO GO DADDY! The kids had a wonderful time and loved that they got to go to the fire station with the pole and slide!!!

We have just arrived...half of the class

Captain Gerard showing them the kitchen

Getting a tour of the fire-engine

Steve dressing up for the kids

Austyn's kindergarten class!!!

Austyn's 1st day of Kindergarten

Austyn getting ready to leave for school

Austyn with his daddy

Me, Austyn and Haydyn

Me and my boy....LOVE HIM!!

In front of his school

Austyn so proud!!

Walking down the hall-way.....starting to cry here!!

FOund all my friends!!

Austyn started kindergarten on Monday at Christ Greenfield Lutheran school. We had him registered in ALL-DAY kindergarten, because he IS READY and HAS BEEN!! Due to budget cuts and the size the class was going to be which was about 30 kids they took it away and only offered half-day so AUstyn is in in the afternoon. He is LOVING it as always and has only 8 kids in his class, 6 boys and 2 girls...I LOVE THE SMALL ATMOSPHERE!! He walked right down the hall-way like NO BIG DEAL, and told me that I didn't need to walk him to his classroom, but of course I did..THe independency he has makes me so sad, but also good in some things....I GUESS!!! I did pretty well, until he starting walking down the hall-way and so the GLASSES never came off!! His teacher (Mrs. Wornick) is AWESOME and says she is just going to go full speed with these little ones, since all 8 of them did preschool and pre-k and CHrist Greenfield so they have a great foundation already and are ready to LEARN MORE!! I still can't believe that he is in kindergarten and Haydyn will be in pre-school next year!! I love the one on one time with Haydyn and also the quiet time when she naps. We are so blessed to be able to keep Austyn here and GOD has provided so we could and are so blessed for this, its sooooo important to us that Austyn gets that CHrist-centered education.

Minnesota 2009

We just got back from Minnesota for 8 days and it was beautiful!!! We are normally California people every summer, but my parents wanted to take us back to see my "roots" and where my dad grew up and see and meet lots of relatives!! I was a little nervous for the 3 hour plane ride since my kiddos don't sit still for ANYTHING, but with the portable DVD, coloring books, snacks they did pretty good. We went all around the town of Wayzata where my dad is from and everywhere you turn there is a Lake!!! I am not a lake person, but the Lakes in Minnesota are so clean and gorgeous. The kids had a blast swimming and just enjoying the PERFECT weather, we couldn't have asked for better weather. Every morning my dad and I would get up before everyone else and run for miles, I LOVE RUNNING but it was so nice to be able to run in such great weather and not on a treadmill for 8 days...nice change!! I would just put my IPOD on and run to worship music and just enjoy looking at ALL of GODS creations. We went to a amusement park called Valley Fair which is like a Magic Mountain.. all of the rides that Austyn wanted to ride he wasn't tall enough so he didn't care for it very much but everyone else did. We made it up to him the next day by taking him to the amusement park in Mall of America....That was an ALL DAY EVENT!!! Needless to say we had a WONDERFUL time and are very BLESSED to have such a wonderful family to travel with!! THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR A GREAT TRIP!!!
We came home to not so good news....we got home Thursday evening and found out Corys dad has Colon Cancer. We are waiting to find out if it has spread to his liver, but the mass they found was pretty big. PLease keep him in your prayers... GOD CAN DO MIRACLES!! We also came home to a very sick dog, waiting on her blood work to see if she has valley fever, AC is broke, fridge broke, and the pool pump broke while we where gone so the pool is all cloudy!!! All of this in 24 hours!!! UGH!! Luckily we have 2 air units so we are living down stairs until they come tomorrow and fix that, pool guy comes tomorrow, Fridge is fixed, Roxy is doing better with the antibiotics they gave her so will find out more Tuesday and praying HARD for Corys dad. Needless to say ... it could be worse!! We have an AMAZING GOD we serve and this is all happening for a reason and we TRUST in him to get us through all of this financially, emotionally, and physically!!! PRAISE JESUS!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Haydyn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET HAYDYN!!!
Mommy ran across this scripture this morning while you are still sleeping and I pray that daddy and I will continue to raise you to know Jesus and how special he is for you and to you!!! We love you baby girl and you bring so much joy and happiness to our family!! Happy "2" birthday and we are taking you to the circus!!!

"He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. "

Psalm 91:4,

Haydyn's 2nd birthday Farm-Theme

Haydyn's 2 year pictures

My little princess is turning 2 on June 27th!! I had her pictures done with Annie Randall AGAIN!! Annie has ALWAYS done an amazing job on our family pictures and the kids individual pictures!! Haydyn was little miss Diva for the pictures and was "livin-it-up"!! I love that she loves the camera and we did it in the evening so she had a good nap and was super happy!!! Haydyn has changed so much she is talking like crazy now every since her surgery in January, which was the best decision I ever made and she has not had any sinus infections or ear infections since. Ever since the surgery she has been sleeping through the night which is a HUGE blessing!! Haydyn LOVES her brother so much and is LOSt without him when he is gone!! Its amazing to us to see what a lover Austyn is to his sister and takes such wonderful care of her...Our teaching to our kiddos is to love CHRIST like he LOVES US and we pray that our kiddos will be like that and so far I can see that in Austyn and Haydyn!! AMEN!
We are having her party this Saturday and Haydyn has recently in the past 2 months been obsessed with farm animals, so we are having a Farm theme party!! NO PETTING ZOO at the Gerard house , because her mommy is a germ freak, instead we will have barrels of Hay and make it as farmish as we can with out having a petting zoo!!! SORRY HAYDYN, some day you will understand!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAYDYN!!

Austyn's first swim meet!!

Getting ready!

On your marks, get set, GO!!

Almost there!!

3rd Place

On our way to our last soccer game for the season!!

Austyn had his first swim meet on Saturday and he got 3rd place. We where so proud of him, because 80% of his class is 6-7 year olds and he is a new 5 year old, so he competeted in his first race yesterday against seven 6 year olds and got 3rd place. I was so proud of him!! In his first race he did freestyle. He practices Monday-Friday every morning and has meets on Saturday, so needless to say this keeps him busy, and he also has had soccer overlapping for 3 weeks while this was going on and he had his last soccer game yesterday that we had to change right after his race and go to!! He also has been selected to play in a soccer academy for 6 weeks and thats on Thursday evenings and we still have 3 weeks of that!! I am wondering how I will juggle all of this when Haydyn gets involved in this many activites!! I just love that Austyn loves every sport and has such a GREAT attitude with it all!! We found out a couple of weeks ago that on June 11th Austyn will be getting his adenoids taken out, so he will be on "resting" mode for about 7-10 days!! I am actually looking forward to this surgery, knowing that he will feel better and it did such wonders on Haydyn that I didn't even hestitate!! Between swim team, VBS, soccer academy I think he will stay pretty busy!! I am sure not busy enough for him but for me its enough, Haydyn is in swimming also 3 days a week!!!

Austyn's Pre-K Graduation

Austyn..my handsome boy..a clone of his dad!!

Austyn with his buddy Josh

Austyn with Miss. Olga

Austyn with Mrs. Stark

SMILE!!

Austyn getting his diploma