Just Turned 4

On December 19th Alyssa turned 4 years old. Andelynn is getting so tired of Alyssa hanging on to everything that she does. We decided it's about time that Alyssa gets her own friends. So we did a birthday party with her friends from school. Alyssa wanted an all girl party except her friend Jace. All girls and one boy. Some day he will realize how lucky he is.

Birthday Girl

party at chuck E cheese

This is the cake Alyssa asked for and of course it had to be blue, her favorite color.

It is not my best or worst cake. I made it during the middle of the night so I was dead tired while making it. So I was trying to get it over with so I could get some sleep. I ended up with 2 hours of sleep.

Notice all the blue and white flowers, Andy even helped me make all those. What a good guy to help me make sugar flowers.

Making Pretzels

We had Tammy and her two kids come over and help make pretzels. And boy did we make pretzels. We made so many of those things and it still seemed like it wasn't enough. We let her kids make some to send over to their dad. We were up making these things until 1am. But boy did we have a blast.

Cody and Aly

my kids even jumped in on the fun

The Gang Is Back

It has been a long time since we have all been together and we are still not all here. We still missed Emilie, Ryan and Heidi. It is so hard to keep in touch with everyone when you get older and have your own lives. But it was so nice to get back together and see everyone again.

This is the group that I hung out with through High School and after. It was those in this picture and Emilie and Ryan. They are all the ones who knew me the best. And boy did we have fun together, So many memories...

In this picture
Chris, Stacie, Brad, Dave and Kelly

Thank you Kelly for putting this together so quick. It was fun. And good luck to Brad who just moved to North Carolina. I hope things will go well for you there, we will miss you.

Dave wants to plan a Moab trip for this spring with everyone. Lets see if we can make that happen.

Birthdays

Andy and I had pretty good birthdays. I love to make chocolates and other goodies so I got this book for my birthday. And my chocolates have improved a ton since then. However it does take a lot more time now to make my chocolates. And less time to have them gone.


Poor poor Andy had to spend his birthday by himself in hotel in Texas. He had to fly out the morning of his birthday. When Andy is traveling he always stays at the same hotel (Marriott of course). So they get to know ya pretty well. When Andy checked in the day of his birthday they asked if it was his birthday today and Andy said yes. They wished Andy a happy birthday and they gave him this plate of cookies and a card that every employee at the hotel signed.

Thanksgiving

Ok, So I know I am far behind on my blog. I know that this is old but I thought I would put it up anyways.

My brother Corey flew in from Denver, CO for Thanksgiving. Since we were all together for Thanksgiving we decided it would be a nice time to get some family pictures. I am not a fan of the pictures of me, but it is nice to be all together. Oh and Thanksgiving dinner was at our house. That was fun...

The Gerlach Gang

Me and my siblings

BYE BYE CAR

Saturday we sold our lovely Accord. What a car. I did love to drive it around and just blast my music. Yeah I was one of those that people hated when I was next to them at the stop light. I loved having the beat. No wonder why I am going deaf. I will miss that wee little car.

Christmas Poem

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LOVE IS FOR GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'