Nash Starts Preschool!

We are so behind on blogging. I just commented to Isaac that out last blog post was in January and was titled "New year, new commitment to blogging." Pathetic. Anyway, we will probably go back and add posts so the time line matches up. In the mean time; Nash started preschool! 

We are so excited for Nash to be in preschool because his excitement for learning is uncontainable. His teacher is Mrs. Harman and he is in class with his best friend Savi. 

He loves to learn the new letters and Mrs. Harman says that he is a delight to have in class. Here is to a life long learning adventure! 

New year, new commitment to blogging

I'm starting off the year fulfilling one of my many goals for the new year by posting more to our blog. To kick things off, i'm posting our newsletter that didn't get printed in time to get sent out with our Christmas pictures of Nash, mostly meaning that I don't want to pay the exorbitant amount they are charging for color copies these days to have our newsletter printed... but hey! here is the newsletter, reflecting a little on what this year brought us. Enjoy, and look for MANY MORE posts to Jar of Gerkes this year. 


The (Utah) Gerke Family End of Year Newsletter, 2013 Edition.


Hey everyone, it's that time of year! The time to sit and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, the time to build snowmen, but more importantly- the time to catch up on what the Gerkes of Utah have been up to. It has been a real roller coaster of a year, we've each seen a sibling married this year and traveled to be a part of both weddings, we've both changed jobs, celebrated 8 years of marriage and have watched our son grow into quite the interesting character.



Isaac 

Disc golfed until the snow hit the ground, and in 3 different states this year- always taking the opportunity to seek out a local course wherever we were. Isaac picked up cycling and got a nice bike of his own, and is hoping to ride to work on nice days in the coming year. Started the year still working for InfuseMed, designing iPad apps for the medical device industry. Changed jobs in November to explore a new career in User Experience (UX) and Interaction Design for Xactware, a software company based in Orem. Xactware is finishing a large, brand new building in Lehi, (about 10 minutes from our house) and the company will be moving in February 2014. Isaac is loving the new job, really digging into the UX field, and already making a good impression.


Lia

Nothing slows this girl down. Not a two year old wrapped around her leg, or juggling her several work-related commitments with taking care of the boys in her life. Lia continues to help people buy and sell their homes, and design them on the inside. She is currently the Design Center Coordinator at Gough Homes, a local custom home builder. Partly through this year, Lia left Gough to explore an opportunity selling new production homes again- but after leaving, got another offer to come back to Gough under even better terms than before. They love her over there. She is also doing real estate and interior design on the side, as well as being a fantastic mom.. Lia picked up running this year, and has completed three 5k runs! Her goal next year is to conquer the 10k, and start cycling with Isaac too.


Nash

This little guy surprises us every day by how sharp, incredible, and hilarious he is. Well into his "terrible twos", he isn't living up to the stigma at all. Currently he is mastering potty training, and already wears underwear all day, and will get up from naps or sleep to go on his own. He has his own style and for now likes to sit backward when he goes, but hey- whatever works, right? Nash spends 2-3 days a week with a his friend Savannah (Savi), whose mom runs a small daycare out of her home. Nash has a great time over there, which is a great relief to Mom and Dad while they work, that he's in good hands. He has lots of time to play, learn things, do crafts, and sing songs and play games but is always excited to go home too. Nash is very well spoken and will talk your ear off about just about any subject you get him going on, and sometimes surprises people with his little responses and stories. His imagination is growing by leaps and bounds and it has been fun to see him start to pretend, and play more independently. He has loved being introduced to disc golf, and played with Daddy all year. He has his own full-size bag and likes to carry his own gear and some of Dad's from hole to hole, and will play a full 9-hole course no problem. He has a practice target at home, and loves to even watch YouTube videos about disc golf but would much rather be out with Dad, smashing the chains! In fact, Nash pretty much loves anything his dad is into, and loves to rock out and is already asking when he can snowboard.


edit: decided to embed the actual newsletter, if you wanted to see what it would have looked like.

Nash counts

What a crazy weekend this was! We laid some new sod in the front yard, went camping and Nash counted to15 all on his own. 

He is so smart and regularly surprised us with his genius. While we were camping, he and I went on a little scavenger hunt. He was collecting rocks and counted all the way to 15 with his rocks. I couldn't believe my ears as I know I haven't been working with him that much on his numbers! He's just brilliant and we are so proud. 

Nash's First Movie

Monster's University came out this weekend and we decided that would be a perfect film for Nash's first movie in the REAL theater.

Uncle Isaiah was in town, Jess had a day pass from the hospital and it was Sunday so Mimi, and Uncle Nic came with us as well.

Some of you may know, I have adopted a new philosophy to life: No Expectations.  The more I realized that I was putting expectations on everything in my life, the more frustrated and sad I became that nothing and no one was able to live up to my ideas of how it should go in my mind.  Therefore, the new philosophy was born! 

As it relates to this story; I had no expectations of how Nash would react to something that Isaac and I enjoy so much: Movies! I figured, there is a chance that he will like it for ten minutes and then want to wander outside the theater or roam around and see how everyone else was enjoying the movie.  As luck would have it, he absolutely loved the entire experience!  As soon as the film started playing he was completely transfixed on the massive screen.  Of course, we had movie popcorn and he delightfully ate a piece of popcorn every few moments throughout the entire movie. (He's his dad's son)  He would dig his little fist in the bucket and munch as he smiled and laughed at all the great scenes.  I hardly remember any of the movie myself because I was so wrapped up in how much he was enjoying his two year old self.  I dare say one of the best things about being a parent is watching your children experience the things that you loved or still love. 

All in all it was a great first experience and I can't wait to make it a regular family event.

Painting day

I love Thursdays and Tuesdays because I'm home with Nash. We had so much fun today! Santa had put some paints in Nash's stocking so we decided to try them out today. Boy did he create some masterpieces. He was naming all the colors and going full throttle with two paint brushes. After he had released all the creativity for the day, Nash picked up one of the papers and said "bibbit!" And I asked if it was a frog he painted and he replied "yep." Since it was the best painted frog ever, we displayed it on our wall. Nash was so proud and clapped as we hung it up. Love my little artist.

Nash and Santa 2012

We took Nash to visit Santa again this year and here are some of the results from the encounter.

Nash is 17 months

I know, I really must be better at blogging more frequently!
Our little man is growing up so fast. He has definitely started to have a mind of his own, he is talking like crazy, he wants to do everything himself and is even showing signs of an (GASP) attitude............he get's it from his Dad. ;)

I figured it was time that I post some of the delightful Nasherisms that he has been saying lately.  Sometimes, I wish I had a decoder to break some of the language barriers.  Here is a good list:

CooCoo = cookie, also cookie monster
Nana = Banana
Caca = Cracker
Mimi = Grammy (we have tried so hard, but Mimi is so cute so it's sticking)
Bob-o = Grampy (also have tried to get this to change but it's sticking)
Bapes = Grapes
Cheesh = Cheese
Owl = an owl puppet that is almost as fabulous as Hoot Hoot but not for night night
Ni Ni = Night Night
Go! = Bye Bye
Ouside = Outside

Actually, as I am writing this list, I am reminded of how well he is speaking. He has just a few euphemisms that are hilarious.  What can I say? He is a genius.