What's going on back there...?

Yay!  We finally have grass in our backyard! This was such a fun project for us. We started prepping for this the week we got the sod, because of our strange Utah weather we've been having. We got 3,700 sq feet of sod that weekend- didn't quite get enough so we got some delivered the next weekend to finish it up! It's amazing how different it looks now, and are definately going to enjoy it this spring/summer! We can officially check that off the to-do list for the backyard! Thanks to all who helped us, it turned out so nice!



Dear Mother Nature...

We want less of this.....



and more of this....

Thank you!
Your friends,
The4G's

It's only a number....

Last week me and Lo celebrated our 30th birthday. The big 3-0....seems strange to be that old, but I am so ok with it! To celebrate I had the day off work (which is one of the best presents ever) and did a little shopping with my kids and Lo. Me and Lori LOVE to throw parties whatever the occasion, but don't really love the spotlight on us. So we just spent the evening with my little family and Lo and Heidi. Andy and Heidi got us a nice dinner and had a little scavenger hunt with a few "gag" gifts for each stop. Heidi wrote us this cute little poem...

My little baby sisters are finally turning thirty.

There are those who consider that word dirty

But in our family you see, we age beautifully

So why worry that your age is thirty?

Tina is spunky with a big mommas's heart

She adores her little family, even when they fart.

Lori is merry, and always tries to be fair

Even when things make her nostrils flare.

Tina likes to create cute ideas and decor

And quite often ends up at the store for more.

Lori is a collector of movies and tunes

You ask-she may have it, even cartoons!

Tina is organized, down to the letter

A messy room-she makes it better!

Lori is tender when it comes to the little ones

She loves their cute faces and to her they always run.

Tina will wear her socks down to threads

And buy what her cute family needs instead

Lori will make sure every grandkid is covered

When birthdays surround us, all year the hover.

Growing up these two ladies, they tended to fight

But look at them now, boy are they tight!

Sometimes I wonder if they feel each other's pain

On those days when the same feelings they explain.

They read each other's minds and know what to say

No matter the topic of conversation that day.

It's strange sometimes to hear them talk

I sometimes just want to sit there and gawk.

Yes my darling sisters, you have made it to the threes

There is no going back, no "time" you can freeze

You have joined the rest of us in our aging parade

The gray hair and aching bones can't be delayed

I wish you a Happy Birthday, and just so you know....

This isn't your gift (but don't you love the flow?)

On a side note, can't wait to go shopping with all of my dollar bills I got for my birthday from my girls, Andy and his family! Andy is so ha ha funny! Thanks to two of my favorite sister's too! :)

A fun night filled with alot of laughs, it was definetely a great day!

Spring...

I can't stand how excited I am to finally be doing our backyard. I would love to get it all done, but we will see what we can get done this year! It will be 4 years this year that we have lived here, and would love to be able to have something done. It's huge and overwhelming...but it will be so nice when it's all done! I'll have to post our progress! If we could just have the weather cooperate we'll be in good shape!
YAY! for spring!




{before} backyard-2010

 

Eat your heart out......

I saw this fun idea for Valentine's breakfast (we did it for dinner) and made heart-shaped pancakes with eggs & bacon! They turned out pretty cute!
My girls have been sick this week, so we kept it pretty low-key as fas as Valentine's Day. Brooklyn had her party at preschool and me and the girls made Valentine candy bars. I not one to totally go all out for this holiday, but wanted to make it fun for the girls...we also surprised them with a teddy bear and a treat!
Oh, and how cute are these!?!? I did these cute little hearts in Brooklyn's hair for her party!























Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you all had a LOVEly day!  XOXO

Brooklyn is 5...

My Brooklyn turned 5 this year. So this year we decided that it would be fun to have a friend party for her. 5 is a big age in my opinion and thought it was time to throw her first little friend party! She was so excited when I asked her about it, and what she thought her "theme" should be. A baking party was the perfect fit for my little cook. Brooklyn has always been the biggest helper when it comes to cleaning and cooking, so we thought this would be so fun!
We had all but 2 friends come so we had a total of 12! I am glad I had my favorite helpers around to help me! We had pizza for the kids, they got to decorate their own cupcakes and take them home in these cute little boxes I found. They played "pin the candle on the cupcake", and had a pinata. Brooklyn was so spoiled by her friends and got some very fun presents. After the kids had donuts and played for a bit. I am glad Brooklyn had such a good turnout, I was actually worried because of the snow but it was perfect!
It's also New Year's Eve so later that day we had our families over for cake and Brooklyn got some great gifts from them as well!
Happy Birthday my sweetie, we hope you had a great day! Love you!



Lilly, Madilyn, Brooklyn, Kailee & Riley eating pizza




Kids playing the pull'string pinata




Pin the candle on the cupcake







Top: Kailee, Brooklyn, Madilyn, Collier, Jonah, Kaleb
Bottom: Emerey, Riley, Jayne
not pictured: Lilly, Aidan, Addison




Eating donuts
Addison, Jayne, Jonah, Emerey, Collier, Riley




Make a wish....








New bike from us




Happy Birthday Brooklyn!!!



Year end catch up...

As much as I've tried, I can never seem to post about our holiday right after it happens. This year especially! We decided to let Brooklyn have a friend party (coming soon), so after all of the Christmas fun we had to get ready for that. Here is a little review of more of the fun we had in December!

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Making cookies, always a tradition we do come any holiday time. The last few years we have had Faythe and Hayley over and it had been fun for the girls to do



Made gingerbread house with my girls & the Buckley boys!

Family parties & Christmas Eve

Christmas Day spent with family

This was one of my most memorable Christmas's. I hope you all had as great as a holiday as I did!

Have a Very Merry Christmas!!! :)

Love, The Gerritsen's

Breakfast with Santa

Our ward had a Breakfast with Santa for the kids this year, and my girls had alot of fun. We had pancakes, singing time, story time and a fun visit with Santa! Santa gave each child a little treat sack, and took pictures with him. I have to post a picture of Addison from last year to show you what happened, I wasn't sure what to expect this year!




 

Brooklyn & Santa!





YAY! She loved Santa!!