Celebrating 8 years...on the 8th...in 2008...AND Beckett is 8 weeks old today.

Happy Anniversary Honey!!!

I feel sorry for all of you who didn't get to marry the BEST husband in the world. :) I really can't imagine my life without you. You make such cute babies too...and are an amazing Dad to them. And an amazing help to their mom. I can't imagine my life without you. Here's a little flashback of our

8 GREAT

years. It was harder than I thought to find pictures with both of us in them. All of our pictures are of our kids! Thanks for everything honey. I love you.

2 months after we met...setting up the Gatten Christmas tree before I "ditched" him to go to BYU for a semester. We met in the Library at North Idaho College, where he played baseball, and I played soccer. His pick-up line: "Are you Mormon?" (He had seen me at an institute fireside).

One of the many baseball trips to Utah...this happens to be the trip to UVSC, the day after we got engaged (6 months after meeting).

Engagement pictures in Rexburg. Traveled to Ricks with his sister Aimee for his baseball series. She took our pictures.

Rafting with the Gattens 4th of July...the weekend before we got married.

Spent our first year of marriage in this duplex in flat Oklahoma...where he played baseball and I dental assisted.

Back in Utah to attend BYU.

2nd year at BYU
I graduated in Public Relations, and he graduated in Neuroscience. He worked at the gym, and I worked for the Utah Commission on Volunteers.

Off to Cleveland for dental school at Case Western Reserve University. Pregnant with Cooper. I worked at the dental school until Cooper was 15 months old. This is a picture of our 1st game at Jacobs field.

1st of MANY trips to Palmyra and Niagara Falls, NY. This is in the Sacred Grove. We visited Winter Quarters, Liberty, Independence and Nauvoo on our drive to Cleveland. We LOVED living in the Kirtland Stake too. We really gained testimonies of the early saints through all of this church history.

1st trip to Pittsburgh. Pregnant with Cooper. While married, we've been to over 60 Major League Baseball games, and to 12 different stadiums.

We're parents! (3 1/2 years into marriage). Blessed Cooper Christmastime 2003.

Fenway Park. Trip to Heshey, Gettysburg, Boston, and New York City with our best buds, the Bentleys. May 2004. Cooper 6 months.

One of many trips to Pittsburgh. September 2004. Cooper 10 months

Mexican Riviera Cruise with Gatten parents, siblings and spouses. December 2004.

1st formal night on cruise

2nd formal night.Peurto Vallarta. It was fun to return to the place where we honeymooned!

Brynne and Jon's wedding. March 2005. Cooper 16 months.

Trip to Washington D.C, Baltimore and Philadelphia with the Bentleys. May 2005. Cooper 18 months.


7 months pregnant with Gunner. Cooper 23 months old.

Our new family of FOUR! Gunner 2 weeks old.

Trip to St. Louis and Chicago. Outside Wrigley Field. May 2006. Cooper 2 1/2, Gunner 5 months.

Fall 2006. Cooper 3, Gunner 10 months.

Me and my AMAZING husband!

Dental School Graduation. April 2007. Cooper 3 1/2, Gunner 15 mos.

Indians Opening Day April 2007

Graduation trip to Cancun. May 2007

May 2007. Getting ready to leave Cleveland and head to Scott Air Force Base, near St. Louis, for a 1-year AEGD residency. (Advanced Education in General Dentistry). Cooper 3 1/2, Gunner 17 mos.

Fall 2007 in St. Louis. Cooper 4, Gunner almost 2.

Our new family of FIVE with adorable baby Beckett added 2 months ago. Now getting ready to move this month to Whiteman Air Force Base near Kansas City for the next 2 years.

Girls Week '08 [LAS VEGAS]

This was SO fun, and a much needed break from my new life with 3 kids. :) I have the best Mom, sisters, and sister-in-laws in the world, and we had so much fun together. We went to a condo in Las Vegas...thanks to my Dad...for a FULL WEEK! It was perfect distance from the strip to feel secluded, but close to the action. The 3 babies were 1, 2 and 3 months old...so perfect for traveling. Sorry to the rest of you who had to see way too much boobage. :) We did miss the two Angies! A big thanks to Tanner, our nephew, for flying out to St. Louis to watch Cooper and Gunner while Andrew was at work, and thanks Honey for the break!

So our week in Vegas went a little like this. 

SATURDAY

• Rachel Robbins (a best friend from growing up who lives in Henderson) picked me up at the airport and we went to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen
  
• Met the girls at the Condo...got yummy lip gloss from Lizzy...and chatted the first night away!

SUNDAY

• Visited a ward right by the condo for church
• Ate a yummy chicken dinner
• Mom flew in
• Took naps!

MONDAY

• Liz and I shopped early at Bannana Republic and Gap.
• Headed to Town Square with the rest of the girls for more shopping at H&M and Old Navy
• YUMMY frozen yogurt at this new favorite...YOGURTLAND it was serve yourself with lots of yummy flavors and toppings!

• That night we hit THE STRIP...starting with a yummy dinner at an Italian restaurant in New York, New York. Also hit the M&M Factory and loved the million flavors of slurpies at 7/11.

Italian Dinner at New York, New York

Brynne boxing outside the ESPN Zone

Cassie, Brynne, Mikin, Brooke, Mom, Lizzy on the Strip

TUESDAY

• Las Vegas Temple. Thanks Rachel for babysitting in the waiting room! This was such a neat experience, and I'm so glad I get to be with these girls forever! 

My Mom and 2 sisters

Mom and me

The girls outside the temple

• Lunch at Claim Jumpers. YUMMY! And can't beat the 6-layer "motherload" chocolate cake!
• Frozen Yogurt at the Golden Spoon
• KA by Cirque Du Solei at the MGM Grand. This was the BEST SHOW EVER! I seriously can't believe the amazing things they can do with their bodies...even way high in the air. The stage transformations were incredible too. Thanks Rachel for babysitting again!!!

WEDNESDAY

• Lots of chillin' at the POOL! Beckett was a little unsure at first, but then did good cooling off in the pool...with naps in between. I finally got to read the 2nd book in the Twilight series "New Moon", and hope to finish the 3rd before the 4th comes out in August! Just looking at the pictures make me want to be back there already!

• Then we visited Danielle's Chocolates, which is actually run by my mom's new in-laws side of the family. Can never get enough good chocolate!!!
• Went back down to the strip
• Watched the new TI Pirate show (horrible now... no longer a family show)
• Walked through the Ceaser Forum Shops...amazed by the price of all the high-end fashion and watched the moving statues.
• Bellagio Water Show

THURSDAY

• Another morning by the pool! And another long afternoon nap!

• This is Beckett's 3-month old cousin Asa talking and giggling at him. They were really carrying on a conversation. It was adorable. I hope these 3 boy cousins stay best buds!
  

• Went to "Tournament of Kings" at Excalibur. This was a fun dinner show where you ate with your hands. It was really fun to see the different countries compete in different events. Really fun with lots of audience participation and some amazing horses and athletes.

• Walked the strip more...shopped, watched people get tattoos. 

FRIDAY

• Visited Red Rock Canyon National Park. It was SO gorgeous. We hiked around a little and drove the 13 mile scenic loop. The pictographs were awesome too. Everything looked small from far away, but the rocks were HUGE! Seriously amazing to see God's creations. 

• Lunch at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
• Back to Danielle's Chocolates. :)
• More pool time!

• Yogurtland again!
• Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY

• Checked out of the Condo, headed to my best bud Rachel's house for a few days. 
• Cafe Rio!!!
• Went to the movie "Ironman"
• Evos yummy food!
• Lots of talking!!!
• Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory
• Rented chick flicks "27 Dresses" and "Fools Gold"
• P.F. Changs
• Here is Rachel's Dad, Doug, with the babies...Beckett and Rachel's teacup poodle "Ginger". :) It was so good to see the Robbins!!! Even got to see Dave a few minutes here and there. :) He was busy hiking the Grand Canyon and working as a shoe buyer for Zappos.com. 

Rachel is the most amazing person ever! She just finished her 1st year of medical school. Way to go Rach!

Me and Rachel

Thanks to ALL who made this such a fun week! The only negative...getting in a swimsuit 5-weeks post-partum. :)  Can't wait until next time! You girls are the best!

Now back to being a mom of 3! Crazy times!

Smiling!

These pictures are already outdated...he seems to grow bigger everyday. He is 5 weeks old in these pictures, and now he is 7 1/2 WEEKS OLD! Where does the time go?! Beckett has started smiling, and it is so fun when he does. The boys are constantly trying to get him to do it...but, I don't think they understand that grabbing and shaking his arms isn't how you get him to smile. :) We got his first little giggle a few nights ago too. It is so fun to see his personality.

Beckett is a GREAT BABY! Besides a few evenings of wanting to be held, he is pretty content just being where he can see what's going on around him. If you leave him alone in a room for too long, he'll start to fuss, but he generally does great. He actually is the easy one... especially on errands. :) He also likes TV (I know that is really sad I am already putting him in front of the TV), but he loves to watch the lights and colors.

Nicknames so far: Beckers, Bubsy, Cutie Bug, the Beckster, little guy

The other day we were heading out the door. I got the older two buckled, took my second trip to the car with bags and such, and Cooper said, "We can't forget the cutie!" I thought that was so cute. Don't worry Cooper, I was just saving him for the last trip to the car...I haven't forgotten him...yet. :)

Tanbo the Magnificent

Tanner Waite, our almost 14-year-old nephew on Andrew's side, came to watch Cooper and Gunner while Andrew was at work, and I was in Las Vegas for Girls Week. He came a few days early, and stayed a week after I got back too...so he became part of our fam for a few weeks. The boys LOVED having a big brother, and miss having someone to play with the ALL the time! Thanks so much Tanner! You are the favorite cousin right now...for sure! His "payment" for babysitting included his flight, and the fun things we did while he was here. Having visitors always is an excuse for fun, right?! It was a few weeks PACKED WITH FUN!!! Here are some of the things we did:

• Golfing with Andrew
• Hard Rock Cafe (Tanner is a rocker, so he enjoyed the memorabilia)
• Union Station (Ate, shopped, fed the fish)
• Cardinals Game (on autograph night!)
• Gateway Arch (He and Cooper went to the top this time)
• Lewis and Clark Museum
• Swimming
• Base and Dental Squadron Picnics with games and lots of food
• Bowling on base
• Movies (the boys and I saw "Wall-E" with our friend Karen, while Tanner went to "Get Smart")
• Grant's Farm
• America's Incredible Pizza Co. (all you can eat buffet and mini-bowling, arcade, go-karts, mini-golf)
• Six Flags - Cooper was so excited he is FINALLY 42 inches tall, so he was tall enough to ride 7 of the 12 big roller coasters. He is a little daredevil! Gunner was content playing in the misters.
• St. Louis Mills Mall and St. Clair Mall (Tanner was excited about the Hollister stores here)
• Cheering on Andrew at softball games. The Dental Squadron is currently undefeated with 2 games left. It has become a big deal!

SIX FLAGS

I thought Beckett looked cute in the black lights. :)

Riding the Metro. This was a first time on a Subway for Tanner...he wishes he had one in Spokane so he could meet his friends places without relying on his parents for transportation. :)

Lewis and Clark Museum

Mississippi River - it was neat to see the flooding. Tanner got good pictures of the street lights out in the river. Crazy!

Talking to Tanner made us feel old. He said some kids in school smoke or do drugs, but their parents are the "80s rockers type". When I was young the kids who did that had parent who were "60s hippies". I asked him if we seemed old, and he said, "No, not really, my parents are old." (the are, I think, 36...SO old! :) ) He told us about his "paperless" classes, building web pages using html, and powepoint presentations instead of "reports". Things change fast with technology!

The boys got to play TONS of video games. Tanner helped Cooper get really good at Tony Hawk skateboarding...and opened a lot of new levels for him. When Tanner left Cooper said, "I'm going to miss you Tanner. Thanks for making my video games fun." They both love Guitar Hero too. Cooper beat the game on "easy" while I was in Vegas. I personally still haven't done that...and he is FOUR years old! Tanner is AMAZING even on "expert" level. It looks physically impossible to me. I think the "no limit on video games" made up for the diapers he had to change on Gunner the week I was in Vegas. Thanks so much Tanner!!!! 

Father's Day 2008

I am so lucky to have such an amazing husband. He is so helpful, loving, forgiving, and fun. I know he knows what a great dad he is by the way the boys get so excited and tackle him each time he comes home. He is always coveted by other kids in our neighborhoods, because he is setting up a baseball game, or playing with them somehow, outside, pretty much every night. No wonder he is their favorite! :)

I was rude, and left for the week, beginning the day before Fathers Day. The boys and I got his "presents" ready before I left for Girls Week in Las Vegas. Cooper was so excited to get them out of the closet on Father's Day. It was a puzzle made out of the picture below...and each present he unwrapped had a new piece to the puzzle...don't worry, I wasn't this creative on my own...I stole the idea from a friend (thanks adge!). You can click to enlarge the collage...but it has pictures from throughout the year of Andrew and his boys. Unfortunately, I stole one of his boys, Beckett, and took him with me to Girls Week. Poor Andrew had to do Dad duty on his own, on the day we were supposed to be spoiling him. Thanks Tanner for taking this picture of them after church.

Thanks honey for being the best Daddy ever! Our boys are so lucky.

Now a shout out to my own Dad...the amazing Steve...pictured below with 8 of his 9 children and spouses, and 17 of his NOW 20 grandchildren! You would think sheer numbers would lessen the impact my dad has on each of us, but he manages to make each one of us feel special. I feel I have had a special bond with my Dad. Some of my favorite memories have been with him...hiking 50 miles in the Mallard Larkins...rafting...fishing...hunting...skiing...the list could go on and on. He truly is one of my best friends. He was always supportive of all of us in our many activities, and always challenged us to do our best. I am so greatful for his spiritual side to. He has taught me so much about the Gospel. He is a great example to so many. I feel lucky he is "Papa" to my boys too. They love him, and look up to him. I have never met a more gracious person either. He would give anyone the shirt off his back. Thanks Dad, for being the best Dad ever! I couldn't have picked a better one. :)


I am so blessed to have an amazing Father-in-law too. I was welcomed as a daughter with open arms. Andrew talks often about his Dad being his best friend. Andrew didn't have a brother, so I think the bond with his Dad goes even deeper. Greg is an amazing spiritual giant, and makes everyone feel special, and important. He has a talent for that. He also has a great sense of humor. My kids love their Grandpa Larson, and they look forward to his practical jokes and fun. Thanks for everything Greg!