Free Zoo Day

I love free stuff! I saw a post that the Hoogle Zoo does free days and we decided to catch it. Stef,Jael,Steve, Ty and I enjoyed a nice spaghetti lunch and made a run to the zoo. We had a blast. We saw monkeys, tigers, bears ... the normal. Most of the animals were keeping themselves warm from the three inches that had fallen in Salt Lake the previous 4 hours.

We were looking at the animals hang out and have their own lunch while we shivered. It got me to thinking. What are there animals thinking? Probably something like "man humans are idiots. Here we are in our warm cages and they PAY money to come into the freezing cold! And they say we're primitive." I would agree with the entire statement - minus the paying part of course.

We headed home to play games, clean and enjoy our last few days before the next decade. This year has gone so fast. It scares me that times seems to go faster and faster. Our big move is pending. Thank heaven's for a new year to right the wrongs and just live a better life.

Christmas

I'm going to give you just a snip of our christmas results .... see if you can guess what we got.







Can you guess what we got? lol it's a hard one.

It's always hard to leave family after such fun times. Tyson always pushes our "coming home" time further and further. I don't blame him. His family is wonderful. His parents are so wise and giving. They know what true priorities are.

I am specially excited for Debbie's and Gaylan's trip to Greece and Italy. They are living the life that we are headed toward. Yeah. More pictures to come.


LAST MINUTE UPDATE:
I found some pictures today (12-05-10) while looking at Tyson camera of pics of my parents Christmas. Thought I would put them in.

Lame

Tonight did not turn out like it was suppose to. Tyson and I came up with this brilliant idea to host a late holiday party - you know the kind that is last minute, super fun but not stressful? Well everything turned out great expect - oh yeah, no one showed. I get it, I get it ... who's dumb enough to throw a non-family party right before Christmas and expect people to show? Oh wait, yours truly. This is why I hate throwing parties - read it, HATE IT.

Another thing is that I am looking over all my last years goals and sadly, for the first time in many years .... I did not hit all of them. I'm a very goal oriented person and I've been lucky to always hit my goals. I have found that as life gets more "complicated" It's harder to reach goals. Tyson and I have done some pretty amazing things - but most of them are internal growth. My friends are buying homes, getting pregnant, having kids, traveling ... all things that you can see. Ty and I are embarking on some amazing things - but right now only we can see it. I wonder if this is the time that women start to get baby hungry just so they can get something started, prepared for and done. Just kidding.

I get that life is not always exciting, new and bold. I'm learning to stop. look. appreciate. I realize in a couple of years, kids, business and life will probably keep me even from blogging - so I need to take this time and just be grateful.

Tomorrow we head to Logan for Christmas. I love Logan. It's such a special place. Jael and Debbie are there - two women that I just adore.

Steve's Graduation

Just got back from Denver. Will post pictures and stories later.

I wanted to recap my sisters husband (steve) big graduation day! We just love Steve and had such a fun time orgazing his big day.







The funnest part was that we were SOOO loud when Steve walked the stage - we are famous for being a crazy bunch.







CONGRATS STEVE - YOU ARE HEADED TOWARD BIG THINGS.

Packing up ...

Tomorrow @ 9:40 am our plane takes off to our first visit to Denver. We have a dinner with the top two RVP's Wednesday, Thursday night opp nigh and tons of people to meet. I'm excited. It's does not feel quite real either - probably would explain the excitement and not the panic.

Ty is just giddy - he loves new adventures. The house the clean and organized. I'm about to start packing. Something inside me tells me this is big. I'll for sure take lots of pictures.

Thanksgiving

Man, is anyone else weirded out that we are in December already? I am all done with my Christmas shopping - which means less stress. Time just flies by in December though.

Tyson and I started our first tradition - to read an advent storybook with tiny stories before we go to bed. It's been nice - it's also only been three days :)

Thanksgiving was great. Good food, a successful Black Friday Shopping, tons of working out ... sadly it was also my little brother's first breakup. It's hard to see your little brother suffer, but I also know this is normal and healthy.

Here are some great pictures. We are headed to Denver on the 16th for our first visit before the move - I've never been there but we are already packing it out with meetings and people we are trying to contact.

Thankful for ...

It's Sunday. Turkey day was almost four days ago - yet the last four days have just reaffirmed what I am grateful for.

1. Tyson. He has been so wonderful the last four days. With the big move in hand, it's like he knows we need to spend time with family.

2. Family. Duh right? But get this, I got to work out with Jael and Julio. Go to church with 80% of my family. Have delicious meals. Giggle really loud during sacrament and make wonderful memories - with who else, but family. God was smart to make the family unit the number one cornerstone to society.

3. Income. Heavenly Father has always provided for us. He is truly aware of our needs.

4. Primerica.

5. Good friends.

6. The Gospel.

7. A warm bed.

8. A good laugh.

9. Mentors and heroes.

10. Next year.

I realized that through our happy meetings these last couples of days, someone, somewhere will never has a 2010. I'm grateful for that chance.

11. Colorado (more to come later ...)

This year we had just our family over, but we still set the table as if it was for kings. We spent much needed time with Julio and walked him through his first break up. We went to church as a family, we loved as a family, heck we even argued as a family. Mom provided such a warm home for movies, games, laughs. Sometimes - while chasing massive succes .... look around and see the success you have in your hands. Family is something that money can't buy.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Surrendered

I attended. Have you? Melynda treated me to the big opening night - I was just not quite ready for the masses of love struck girls and women. Now let me just say 12:30 pm is very early - specially for me, but I went. We had great seats (thanks to Mandy) and I just took it in.

***Disclaimer: I have not, again NOT read any of the books or even watched the FIRST movie. So I turned out to be the lame friend that kept asking questions during the whole movie.


My conclusion on the whole Twiglight saga?

Bella - cute but man she is obsessive
Edward - WAY too skinny. No love connection and not that great.
Jake - HOT HOT HOT. Why is she picking Edward again?

Christmas in November?

Wow this year all the Christmas prep is coming soo0 fast. For the first time I have this need to create a great holiday. I read a book called "Debt Proof Your Holidays" and it really got me thinking. Mind you I have never gone into debt for Christmas, but the book talked a lot more about why we get ourselves into debt - to make up for the lack of fullfilling experiences due to our rushed holiday time. Isn't true though? We work long hours, it's dark, we don't want to go out, we want to eat .... and so we put off and put off and put off and end up doing so much last minute shopping that we run out of time. Result: Overspent, overworked and no fullfiling memories of the season. This was me last year. Tyson and I were so busy that we just did not enjoy it. We did not plan anything so we were bored. I did not overspend but I was not careful either.

I resolved to not let that happen again.

So here was my game plan:

1. Plan Christmas budgets and gift ideas WAY in advance (for me it was October 1st)
2. Have all gifts bought by December 1st. Why? Because I will eliminate my last minute shopping frenzy and the nigths I do have off - I want to spend them doing memorie-filled activities. Plus I am working more so I have less time.
3. Get family exchanges sorted out before November. I got both my families and Tyson's family exchange sorted our and planned by November 1st.
4. Plan activites that are simple but meaningful. Tyson and I put up our Christmas tree up last night. I know it's crazy, but man it was fun. We already have 10 gifts under the tree. Stree level is very low and we get to enjoy it longer.
5. When we are off - plan activities that are cheap.Some examples are - get 24 Christmas stories from the Library and read a short story everynight. Do one service project during the next two months as a family.


On another note, I am excited for a little Thanksgiving activity I am doing for my family. I am feeling all sort of Domestic Diva-ish :)

Crazy Things You Do For Love ....

My little bro Julio is in love and when you are love - you do silly things that you might not ever have done before. Case in point. He ran 13.1 FREAKING MILES. I'm a runner. I love the wind in my hair - but 13 miles? In the cold? In a Superman custome? Love. Love will make you do crazy things. We of course supported him. It was fun. I was proud of my little brother and Sara. However, this run marks just a few of the magnificent changes Julio has done. He is in school and doing well. He is working and doing well. He paid off all his debt and doing well. He went back to church. My heart is soften by the power of one good woman. Julio is happier, has purpose. I've never seen him like this.

The lord is very kind.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. I can't believe it's that time again. I am in high gear with my Christmas shopping and planning. I know. It's sick but it's me. I read a great book about Christmas and the kind that I really want to have. I'm excited.


Did I mentioned that I love Tyson? I do. I love him alot. I remembered just how much this past weekend.

Winco

(BTW we are being featured as Team Captains in our Primerica Ad. Cool huh?)


Tyson and I hit Winco Foods grand opening today. It was a mad house. We could not even find a shopping cart. We were able to get great deals on chicken, beef, cereal, deli meat and peanut butter. We came home and made fajtas - yummy.

Things with the Gerbers are the same. Building Primerica, saving money, building Primerica some more. Growth is a funny thing - sometimes you can touch it and quatify it, which feels great. Other times, growth is internal, slow and private, which is great and not so great. I can say that a big weight is lifted now that we both have passed all of our test. The holiday season is approaching and I can't help but wonder where the year has gone. So many goals - some met, others missed but growth was a big part of this year.

Our occasional nights off are filled with walks, making cookies, playing with baby Andrew and watching the office on Hulu. I am grateful for life. I have bigger visions but I see the Lord taking us to bigger and better places. I'm ready.

I think the biggest thing that is happening is my little brother Julio. He is making a 360 with his life - I mean BIG 360. A girl is involved, which proves the power that one good woman can do for a man. The lord is so good.

Tyson is wonderful and has such a big vision for us both. I trust him.

oh and we have a huge event this weekend. I love big events. The keep me focused. We are flying down some great business owners to talk about being successful in any busines. If any of you want to come - I got extra tickets.

October Happenings ....

What a fun month. We headed over to Gardner Village and I have admit - having a kid there always makes things funner - they love everything. Andrew liked some of the Witches and would not go near others.

This month is going to rock! Tyson passed his test and it's his birthday! Big things are coming. We are so excited!