The Gertge Family Blog

Game Day 8-28-10

2010-09-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

CADEN #98

Jr. Midget played a home game against Layton Red. We won 35-0. The boys did great! It was a fun game to watch. This was the second total shut out in a row! Nicely done, Go Knights!.

JACE #7

Jr. Mite played a home game against West Point Black. We won 21-12. It was a great game! Pretty nerve racking at the end, but we kept the lead the whole time. Jace is loving football! And look how cute he is in those glasses! He's not afraid to get in there and go after the other linemen. It's so fun to watch! I love football!

Dad #1

Mark got to help out on the chain gang with the Down Box.

School's In!

2010-08-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

It's the same story. I love being back on a regular schedule, but I miss the ease and spontaneity of summer. For the last month I've actually had to pull out my calendar and USE it because things were already getting crazy busy and school hadn't even started yet.

The boys started back to school on Monday and we are all adjusting to going to bed early and getting up early. With Caden starting Jr. High school, I think I was just about as nervous as him! It was just fear of the unkown, but he is loving it and he's doing great. We went to great lenghts to make sure he would be organized, and STAY organized. So far he's doing well and he really likes all his classes. His favorite class so far is his Pre-Algebra class. Go figure! Granted, it's only the fist week, but this is great news! Here's hoping that it continues to be his favorite class!

Jace is a big 3rd grader this year and he has moved from the K-2 building to the 3-6 building. He likes his teacher and enjoys school. He wasn't as excited Caden or Jack, but he was pretty happy about moving over to the big kid school.

Jackson is in 1st grade, which means he goes all day long. He was so funny the last week of summer. He literally did the count down. "Ah, I have to wait 7 more days until I am in first grade!" He'd ask me the day and then do the math, "Okay, mom , 3 more days and I get to have 3 recesses!" On Sunday night he said, "Finally, tomorrow I can eat lunch at school! And I get to stay there all day like my brothers!" He was so dramatic about it all! He's a funny kid.

I walked Jace and Jackson to their classes and Jace couldn't get rid of me fast enough. Jackson was almost as bad. At least he told me to have fun at home where Jace just walked away! Ha ha! I am glad that they enjoy school. I would much rather them be involved and be happy to be there instead of being clingy and sad about me leaving them.

At the end of the school year last year, we finished reading The Book of Mormon as a family. We had gotten up before school to read almost every morning. It took us two years, and we finally finished it the week of Jace's 8th birthday. The kids were so excited, especially Jace who was able to have the entire thing read before he was baptized. We didn't read this summer because summer is always so busy, but we are back to a schedule, and we have started reading The Book of Mormon all over again. I'm hoping this year we won't have as many interruptions and we can read the entire thing in one school year. It's been neat to talk to the kids and to hear that they can feel the difference from days that we read to days that we miss reading. Especially Caden. He says he can really tell. I'm glad my children are gaining their own testimony of the importance of scripture reading.

Here they are on their first day of school!

It's That Wonderful Time Of Year Again!

2010-08-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Caden had a major eye opener when he played football for the first time last year. He was playing with and against boys who had been playing for 4 or 5 years. Mark and I very quickly realized our mistake. And although Caden did okay, we decided that if Jace and Jackson wanted to play football, we would start them younger so that they are learning to hit when all the other boys are learning to hit and it won't be as intimidating.

I know Caden had fun playing last year, but I wondered if he would want to play again this year. Jace was really excited about it and when I talked to Caden, he was really excited too. So we signed them up, they stuck it out through conditioning and we are now into our season. Our weeknights are busy with practices at different fields and our Saturdays are filled with games in different cities, but it's so fun watch the boys learn the game, get involved, and play a sport that they are learning to love. They were playing outside the other night and I was able to sneak this picture. It was cute to see Caden giving Jace pointers!

Caden is wide reciever and Jace is a starting lineman. They both played their first game at home on Saturday. Caden's team won 26-0 and Jace's team won 21-14. They both did really great in the game!

GO KNIGHTS!!

On a side note, Jackson was really mad that he couldn't play this year. He's too young so we explained that he could play next year when he was a little older. When we took the boys to weigh in and pick up their pads, they were playing kind of rough with each other. After watching Jackson, one of the coaches told Jack that he was really aggresive and that makes a great football player. When he asked Jackson if he was signed up to play, I had to laugh because Jackson sounded so dissapointed when he told the coach he had to wait a whole year! Oh drama!

Californ I. A.

2010-08-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

Right after we got home from North Carolina, we did some laundry, packed a few suitcases, threw them in the Yukon and headed out to my old home to visit my sister Kelly and her cute family. It was so fun to see them all and to catch up. Her kids are all so big now! I can hardly believe it. They were just little ones when I left on my mission! Now Mike is going into the army and Dallas is graduating from high school! It's creeping me out! We mainly hung out at her house, had a few BBQ's and of course went to In-N-Out. The kids played at the park next door and Mark and Tom blew some things up in the back yard (don't ask...). We went swimming and made the trek out to LA so the kids could see the Hollywood sign and experience the Griffith Observatory. Thanks for letting us drop in you, Kelly! We had a great time! Love you guys!

Griffith Observatory

You can barely make it out through the smog, but that's the Hollywood sign over our shoulders to the left. Lol!

Mark and I with our boys, Jackson, Caden and Jace

Me, Dallas, Jackson, K.C. Kristie, Jace and Kelly

I kinda adore this man!

Caden and Kristie. I LOVE this picture!

All the Cousins! Jace Gertge, K.C. Norton, Dallas Norton, Jackson Gertge, Mike Norton, Caden Gertge and Kristie Norton

Kelly and her kids...not so little anymore! Kelly, K.C., Dallas, Mike and Kristie

My nephew Mike introduced my children to the wonderful world of Beyblades. He earned major cool points from my kids. They played the whole time we were there, and Kelly and Mike sent my boys home with their very own, plus one to take to Gage (Kim's little boy).

Uh, yeah...this is Tom and "...when you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It's for fun."

Now here we see a perfect example of an accident waiting to happen. Jackson wanted to drive Kristie's chair and Caden and Jace thought it would be fun to strap on to the back and go for a ride! Notice the knot on Jace's forehead in the next pictures. I'll let you figure out what happened next....

At the park next to Kelly's house.

Jace's Bobcat

2010-08-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

We went out for ice cream after Jace earned his Bobcat in Cub Scouts.

Topsail Island, North Carolina

2010-08-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

In July, Mark and I went to North Carolina with Chris and Joanne Hayball. We stayed on Topsail Island, just across the street from the beach. It was so beautiful there and SO RELAXING! We laid out at the beach every morning and then did a little sight seeing in the afternoons. It was such a nice break!

In Willmington on the U.S.S. North Carolina

Mark and Chris showing off their guns

Mark and Chris showing off...

Joanne and Chris

I thought this lake was so pretty with all the lilly pads and the greenery so I wanted to stop and take a picture.

Little did we know what was lurking in the waters there.....

Uh, yikes! The thing was HUGE! It was like 8 or 9 feet!

Joanne freaked and jumped up on the car! It was a little intense, but way cool to see a croc so close!

Near Orton Plantation, at the visitors center at St. Phillips Church.

St. Phillips Church

What a hottie!

We did part of the walking tour in Willmington. The houses there were amazing!!

Fishing off the peir at the back of the house we stayed in.

Just sit right back And you'll hear a tale A tale of a fateful trip,

That started from this tropic port, Aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailin' man, The Skipper brave and sure,

Five passengers set sail that day, For a three hour tour, A three hour tour.

Thats right, friends, it's the SS Minow!

Poplar Grove Plantation. It was so pretty!

At the Turtle Conservation Hospital

I know, I know, mock me all you want. I should be mocked after going....

Mark, Chris and Joanne talking to our neighbor in front of the beach house.

View from the back of the house.

View from the front. The walkway to the beach is in the middle.

Topsail Island Beach, North Carolina

Hanging Out With The Steeles

2010-08-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend, Petrina came out to Utah from Texas for her yearly visit. We met up at the Gateway and took the kids to see Dispicable Me. After lunch we went swimming at Fort Williams in Lehi. It was fun to catch up and watch the kids have such a good time together!

Austin, Caden and Kyle

Jace and Jackson

Kyle and Jackson

Jace and Collin

Mark torturing Austin

Jackson and Kyle

4th of July Weekend

2010-08-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

Jace got baptized the weekend of the 4th. Gavin and Dylan Taylor drove up from Highland with their sweet mom, Jenn. The kids stayed and we had a free-for-all for the weekend! Included in our fun-filled weekend was bowling and the Clearfield fireworks.

Gavin, Jace, Dylan, Caden, Jackson and Jadon!

The Gertges, The Taylors and they Sayres.

David, Jackson, AJ, Caden, Dylan, Gavin and Jace

Caden, Dylan, Gavin and Jace...

...this is how the entire weekend was! Lots of laughing!

The future Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Gertge? Pieper and Jackson. Should I be worried that they picked a table away from everyone else so they could sit alone?! Hmmm....

Did you think I was joking about the future part? Uh, no...they already have the temple picked out that they want to get married in. Yikes....??!!!! Check it out....

Cub Country Scout Camp 2010

2010-08-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Jace got to go to Scout Camp this year! He had SO MUCH FUN! His favorite things were (obviously) the Archery range and BB-gun shooting! I am so lucky! I've got a great bunch of boys!

My Latest Project

2010-07-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

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!!

2010-07-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-09T22:45:00.001-07:00

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....

2010-07-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

...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!

2010-07-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-09T22:21:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-09T22:07:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

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!!

Jackson's Kindergarten Luau

2010-07-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

Jackson was so cute in the Kindergarten program!!!

When he wasn't looking bored, he was throwing "Rock On!" signs!

Christian, Jackson and Anya

Morgan and Jackson

Jackson and his best friend Christian

Mrs. Peters and Jackson. I just love her! She's such a great teacher!!!

Awesome!

Mexican Riviera Cruise

2010-07-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

We went on a cruise with Mark's family in January. It was the last big vacation for all of us to be together for a long time. Blake is getting married, Mark is going on his mission and mom and dad are heading out to Montana for dad's work.

Jace showing off his mad dance skills! He won the dance contest! It was SO cute!

This was his prize....

The kids dinner table.

As you can see, Taylor has unresolved issues.....

Mazatlan

Cabo San Lucas

Huntington Beach with my sister and her cute family!

Christmas and New Years 2009

2010-07-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

We went to my parents house for Christmas Eve. It was fun like always! The kids got to decorate cookies and open presents.

Eating the frosting!

In the kitchen

Mark and Casey in their usual spots!

Me and my sweet dad!

Dad, mom and me

Me and my sister Kim

We went to the Marietti's for New Years Eve. Yummy food, fun games, good times had by all!

The kids waiting for the ball to drop. Their pots and spoons were ready!!

Puerto Rico

2010-07-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

Mark and I went to Puerto Rico for a week with Dan and Monique. Dan is Mark's business partner. We had so much fun! We went to the El Yunque National Rain Forest, visited Fort San Felipe del Morro and The Castillo de San Cristobal in San Juan, snorkeled and explored the island. One night we kayaked out to Luminescent Bay where the water glows green because of the microscopic living organisms that glow whenever they are touched. That was cool! Went to the water park and ate yummy (and not so yummy) food. We didn't eat any where that we recognized. We all wanted to try the local food. Most of it was delicious!! Some, not so much. It was such a fun and relaxing trip. We had a great time!

At the Waldorf in Fajardo where we stayed

The Castillo de San Cristobal in San Juan

Fort San Felipe del Morro

El Yunque National Rain Forest

There were so many amazing old buildings and churches. I loved it!

We were in San Juan when I saw this guy kickin it at a bus stop...I couldn't resist. There was a naughty picture spray painted on the wall behind but lucky for all of you, I took it out.

Our last night on the island.

South Weber Soccer

2010-07-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

The boys played soccer in the fall. Jackson was on a team with his little cousin Gage. Jack only wanted to play the Goalie...he was hilarious.

Jackson and Gage practicing before the game.

This is the reason he wanted to be goalie...the net was SO FUN to play in!

Half time. Soccer sure takes it out of you!

And here is the reason they play at all!!! The TREATS!!

Jackson, Aunt Kimmie and Gage

Jackson, mom and Gage

Jace on the other hand couldn't get enough soccer! He LOVED it and was really good at it too!

He certainly wasn't afraid to get in there and get the ball!

What a Goalie!

I love this picture!! He was so excited that he scored a goal! Too cute!