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!