Due to an unfortunate error on my “business cards” (thank you alisha for pointing it out) a nasty idea was planted in my brain. I was beggining to think of moving my blog…

I have since decided that I am not savvy enough to use wordpress, and I am also way too cheap to pay for an upgrade, as many of you can attest I’m sure. So I am officially relocating the Guercio Gazette. When you need a little guercio (no we are not offering the actual little guercio’s; just pictures, charming stories, and witty quotes) cruise on over to:

www.guerciogazette.blogspot.com

Please update your blogrolls. We apologize for any inconvenience.

We’re having a hard time keeping ourselves busy, if you want to know the truth. We decided to take the kids to the Gateway Mall where there is a children’s museum (we get in free with a pass we have to another museum) and a fountain the kids can play in (which is free anyway, bless the mall people’s hearts). So all it cost was sanity, patience, and gas (which means Ben had to donate plasma several times just so we could make it to Salt Lake!) It was fun. Here are a few shots:

At the fountain, Ethan came up to us and said he needed “something empty.” We gave him a water bottle and he created some entertainment for the kids out there by strategically placing it over the spouts and watching it shoot into the air.

Grant baby tried his hand behind the wheel.

Can you guess what he’s pretending? This was a real lifeflight helicopter, although I don’t think he’s thinking about saving lives. Pretty cool. (The helicopter, not my 5 year old mowing down imaginary enemies. Thanks a heap Halo.)

At this point Liddy did not appreciate anything as I refused to give her gum and she was ticked. She was especially irritated by the simulated chopper noises Ethan insisted on playing over, and over, and over…

She lightened up a little at the fountain. She loved it when they played music. She was pretty good at staying dry. Don’t know what the point of the swimsuit was really, but she was cute. She just out of the blue started skipping the other day and I love it! You can sort of see her high-stepping skip in this clip. So cute!

It is official! Ben is a CRNA!!! I was upstairs doing a whole lot of nothing, I guess, when I heard the doorbell ring. It suddenly hit me. All those days checking the mailbox and his results would come Fedex! As soon as I heard the doorbell I yelled, “Ben! It’s your results!” And what do ya know, right on the doorstep was the envelope. The Fedex guy basically doorbell ditched us…dropped it, rang, and ran. I guess it never even crossed his mind that he was about to change somebody’s life. (Okay, so he’s not Publisher’s Clearing House or anything…could’ve been something crappy in that envelope.)

So, I don’t know when I’ve been so excited. (For all you Supermodels (HOOOO!) out there, it was strangely reminiscent of freshman year when we all stood around for people opening their mission calls. And of course you know who I mean when I say “people.”) Anywho…HE PASSED!!!!! Ben will never have to take another test in his life. What started at age 5 has finally ended at the ripe ol’ age of 31. Way to go babe. You did it before the last hair fell!

He really was excited at the time. Not so excited about the cheesy photo. Ah, Ben…too cool for school.

What I did this week

It is over! We did it! Ben did it! No longer is he an SRNA, he is a GRNA and will soon be a CRNA!!! We are so proud of him. We went to graduation last night and I was surprised at how excited and teary I was when Ben walked across the stage to receive his diploma. It was so cool. I am also proud to announce that Ben received a prestigious award as well. The faculty and staff vote on an award for anatomy (knowledge of and not appearance of), an award for spirit, and an award for clinical excellence.  Ben was given the clinical excellence award!!! I am so proud! Here is a picture of Ben’s class:

Incidentally, last week we attended a graduation party at one of the anesthetist’s home. It was quite the experience seeing as how the four mormons in the house were about the only sober people there. In all my 30 years I have never been to such a function! Here’s a party pic:

The kids were really cute at graduation. I’ll give you a little example. We had kind of prepped the kids to be polite and encouraged them to talk to the people we introduce them too. We told them to say hello and tell them your name, your age, things you like, whatever…make small talk. So, after talking to lots of people we sat down to dinner and another group came up to our table. After introducing the kids, Ethan says to the lady in the group, “That’s a very nice dress you’re wearing!” We thought that was so funny! What a little gentleman!

FYI: We leave Pennsylvania in the morning. We will be moving to Utah and we will be staying at Ben’s parents home there temporarily. I can still be reached at my same cell number. E-mail or call me if you need any other info. Today was our last day in the ward and I was truly sad. I will miss my life here and all the wonderful friends I have made. I have learned so much from so many sisters here, especially my young women. I will miss them the most. They have become a part of my heart. 

These are some pictures we had taken of the kids in their Easter outfits when we were in LA last time (thanks Mom and Dad!) I wish I could see them like this every time I look at them: as the little angels they are (even when they’re acting like little devils!)