Jerad's Farewell

Future Missionaries!

Today was my little brother Jerad's mission farewell. He got called to the Detroit Michigan mission, he reports the the MTC on Dec. 10th 2008. I am so happy for Jerad and his decision to serve the Lord for two years. I can't believe he is already nineteen, man I am old. I close my eyes and see him still as the cute little red headed monster (thats one of the names we used to call him). I am so proud of him and his example he is setting for his nephews and nieces. He has alot of them that look up to him. I am so blessed to have the family that I do, its not perfect but we all truly love each other. His farewell was this morning at 9 a.m. in Logandale and in true Gonzales fashion we were late, but hey we weren't the only ones. Jerad did such a good job in his talk he is going to be a great missionary. He has alot of older brothers that set a great example for him, and parents that taught him the gospel. I love you Jerad and I will miss you but I know that these next two years will be the best two years of your life. After his farewell we all went to Dad and Lorraine's and ate lots of food, of course. And you know the cowboys game was on so all of the boys and my kids were plastered to the TV. I love just sitting and watching all the kids being mischievious, they all have so much fun together. Family is a great blessing.

Family Thanksgiving Nov. 21st 08

Saturday we had our family Thanksgiving, we have my dad's side of the family on the saturday before so everyone can make it. We always have it at one of the chapels because our family is so big and it just keeps getting bigger. I love this time of year, we have lots of reasons to get together as a family. Everytime our family is together it just makes me so happy, I really love my family and being around them. We don't get to be together all that often, life happens and everyone is raising families of their own. So when we do get together I cherish that time, I think that is one of the biggest reasons I love this time of year. Well I want to say I think Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday I think it prepares us for the Christmas season and hopefully making us all stop and really recognize the things we are blessed with on a daily basis. I am so thankful first for my Savior and his restored gospel I really don't know where I would be without it. I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who placed us in families. That leads me to my family, extended and immediate. I cannot say enough how thankful I am for them I am truly blessed. I am so thankful for an eternal marriage and family. I am thankful for this free country that I live in and for the military who help to keep us free. I really could go on and on about the things I am thankful for but I will stop. I will just say to all that read this blog, cherish the things you are thankful for. Stop and recognize the things you are thankful for and let those you love know how much you love them.

Brandy's Wedding

So I am doing a few post tonight because I was waiting on pictures from my sisters wedding. If you are wondering why I had to wait well I asked Mckenzie when we left to St. George to bring my camera and not to forget the battery. Well yes you guessed it she forgot the battery, so anyway we used my Dad's camera and I got the pictures yesterday. November 8th we went to St. George for my sister Brandy's wedding. The day started out a little hecktic but it was fun. I took the kids to the St.George temple before and took a few pictures (with Nicole's camera) and we hung out at the temple for a little while. That temple is still my favorite, I have really great memories of going their as a youth. Then after that we went to eat at the Chuck A Rama, its a buffet and the kids love going there the food is pretty good and they have homemade rolls. Yummmy! After that we went to where Brandy was having her wedding, it was alot of fun and its always nice to spend time with family. I am so happy for my sister she has waited a long time for that day, I wish her all the best. Here are a few pics.

Mikeala Soccer

A couple of her battle scars.

I had to snap pictures quick because she wouldn't let me take pictures.

Mikeala had soccer tryouts for the high school today. Tryouts started on saturday and finished today and she made the JV team. She was so excited, she has worked hard in intramurals and it paid off. I am so glad she made the team she loves to play soccer and I love watching her. She was so worried before tryouts but I told her to do her best and don't worry about it. I have to say about all my kids they are all pretty athletic thanks to their dad and they all always give 110% when they practice and play. Dad always says "Go big of go home." I picked her up from tryouts and she was beat up, she had road rash on both elbows and knees and her hips. She was playing Goalie and dove alot.

Aarika's Eighteenth Birthday

Aarika at one year old, isn't she adorable.Now at eighteen not much has changed she is still adorable.

Forest Fire.

Well she made it, for a while I didn't think she would but she did. Yes Aarika is 18 finally she says, I say man we are officially old Michael. I am happy for her it is a milestone in ones life, I remember my eighteenth birthday I was a freshman in college Yikes!!! To her dad and I she is still a little girl, but as she reminds us often she is not. This is the time in your childs life that you wish you could just rewind because its happened so fast. We are really excited for her but to think that in less that a year she will be gone away to school is a little sad. Its wonderful to watch the changes in our kids lives and the growth. I am so thankful for her she has been a light in my life. Michael and I took her out shopping and to dinner at MiMis we had a lot of fun. Then we came home and had cake with the rest of the kids and Uncle Jerad and some of Aarika's friends. After that Aarika, Mckenzie, Stephanie, Jerad and Daniel went to see a movie. It was a great day. I love you Aarika thanks for being who you are.