The Thanking Tree

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T14:18:00.002-07:00

So, I made my little boy breakfast this morning. I made heart shaped eggs!!! Isn't that cute! He loved it. He kept asking me for his special Valentine's Day meal as I was making it for him. I will post more pictures of our Valentine's Day celebration later. I just was so proud of my eggs that I had to share.

If you're happy and you know it...

2012-02-02T19:50:00.002-07:00

Dang Elephants!

2012-01-28T18:15:00.002-07:00

So, tonight we were all sitting at the table eating dinner. Zachary was in his normal habit of jabbering so much that it has become white noise to us when I heard a different noise coming from the direction of his tushy. He just kept on jabbering so I asked him, "What was that?" He politely smiled and said, "Excuse me," and continued on jabbering away. My brain was about to go back to its numbness, only half listening to what he was saying, when I heard Zachary say, "Did you think it was an elephant in the night?" He was talking about his stinky gas. That woke me right out of my reverie into a fit of laughter. And by the way, I know I should listen to every word my son says, but sometimes you just can't help it. I am just glad that I actually heard this funny remark. He is pretty silly. Anyway, thought I would share.

2012-01-13T18:24:00.003-07:00

Zachary's first attempt at writing his name.

Gracie hates her diaper. So this is often what happens around the house.
I tried to put up some good videos, but as usual, it won't work. Sorry.

Autumn

2012-01-13T18:07:00.001-07:00

Gracie wearing Zachary's undies and shoes.

We got apricot jelly, elderberry jelly, and grandma jelly! Hee hee hee!
I have some more photos...just give me a minute.

Bad Day

2011-11-22T18:41:00.002-07:00

Today has been a rather hard day to count my blessings. Sometimes I just don't see very much. I know it is there though.
Today we made marshmallow snowmen. Zachary had a really good time, and Grace enjoyed eating sweets while we made them. I got some photos and a video that I will put up tomorrow. I am thankful for the time we had. I know it will give my children good memories.
I can't really think of anything else today that I particularly feel thankful for. Sad huh? Tomorrow will be better.

Another Thankful day!

2011-11-21T10:01:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful for peppermint! I love peppermint. I have always wanted peppermint body spray, but I have never found any. But, today Bath and Body Works is putting out a limited supply of Peppermint Marshmallow lotion!!!!!! So, I think I might go get some, hehe!
I am also thankful for the Grunk. For those of you who don't know who the Grunk is...he is a mean animal that comes and hoards little childrens' toys that are not put away. He came and visited the other night and my house has been a lot cleaner since. I don't think I have stepped on a Lego for three days!!!
I am also thankful for my beautiful children. Zachary takes good care of his little sister. They are playing more together. This allows me a little extra time to relax. I love it. I love hearing their laughter as they play.
Another thing to be thankful for today is the Commissary. They have avocados for 70 cents! Yum! I am glad that it is so close to my house. During the winter I don't really like to go out of my house. So short trips to the Commissary are handy.
Recently I have also come to appreciate a few of my trials better. I am glad that I have a good mind that allows me to learn quickly, most of the time, the lessons I need to learn in life. I have come to the realization of the value of being here...now; paying attention to people here in the present. So often it is hard to really just sit and be here instead of planning my future actions or worrying about what I have to do or where I need to be while only hearing the people around me but not understanding the things that are not spoken. Those unspoken things are treasures that can only be obtained at that moment when your head shuts up and your heart opens and your ears actually hear what is going on. For example, a very busy man allowing himself to be late for an important meeting where many are waiting on him because one old lady needs someone to talk to gains a whole lot more than had he put it off and missed the opportunity to care for that someone who so desperately needed to feel someone's love for her. I am trying to be more like this. I am thankful for people who are.

Some Fun Stuff

2011-11-19T20:46:00.003-07:00

So Zachary got stuck washing his hands...tee hee hee!

He is preparing to be a full time super hero when he grows up. He even has a billowing cape!

Gracie's favorite past-time.
There are more fun videos, but they are too large for Blogger. Sorry!

Anniversary

2011-11-19T07:47:00.003-07:00

Have you ever had a dream that didn't come true at the time you had hoped it would? I have. I thought my one romantic dream would never actually happen. People who know me know that I don't really have that much of a romantic thinking process. I have had a few winners in my days, but they have never really happened. The thing about romantic dreams is that you cannot tell anyone that you want them to create that romantic situation...they have to some how think it up themselves because otherwise it isn't romantic. Kinda silly, I know. But it is true. On top of that, sometimes you tell the wrong person and end up having your romantic dream happen........but with someone else....someone that perhaps makes the whole situation laughable. Yup! This happened to me. I had a friend once that I thought was just a friend...but it turned out he had this major crush on me and thought he was going to marry me. But I was waiting for the man of my dreams...the man I am married to now. Anyway, so this "friend" decided to snatch all my romantic dreams and try to create them...I wanted to smack him for stealing those dreams from me. Once they are used they cannot be redone...especially if you have a rather uncomfortable situation attached to the first. Anyway, my husband made one of those untainted dreams come true the other day. And you know what? I am not going to tell you what it was because it is perfect the way it is and this way nobody can throw dirt on one of the most happy experiences of my life. The best part is that it didn't cost a cent. My husband and I have been married for five happy years now. I am so grateful for that man. He still sends sparks up my arm when he holds my hand.
I am also thankful for my harp teacher. Yesterday we had a lesson that I did very, very well at. She was so proud of me and so helpful. I am so grateful for people in my life that think I am great. Some people seem to see me for who I actually am and not for all the superficial stuff. It is wonderful to have people in my life with the gift of pure love.
My friend, Sherry, also one of these people. She calls me an angel here on earth. Such people are a blessing to the world. They bring with them the gift of helping people remember what life is all about. In this world of criticism, hate, violence, immorality of all levels so many people are lost and need someone to shine a light that tells everyone they meet that they are loved and valuable.
President Monson, the Prophet of the world, is another shining example of this. I think if there is anyone I would like to become like, besides Jesus Christ, it would be him. Perhaps it is because he has all the qualities I do not that are good. He is just a great man that cares for the poor and those who probably think themselves insignificant. He seems to see the people in the world as our Heavenly Father would know us, powerful Kings and Queens worth every bit of effort and love that a person can give. I am thankful to be living in a time when there is such a man living among us that embodies Christ's love. I am grateful I get the opportunity to see for myself how this unconditional loving is done.
I am also very thankful for Jesus Christ. His patience and love has helped me get through what I thought would be the most painful trial of my life. He is my Savior and Redeemer and friend. I love the Hallelujah Chorus because not only is it beautiful, but it is all true. He is the Prince of Peace. He speaks the tongue of music...that which can reach the deep recesses of the soul and heal those wounds that sometimes we don't even realize we hold within us. It speaks without words and yet speaks exactly what our hearts most need. It speaks peace and love.
There are many more things I am thankful for today, but I think I will end today's entry with that testimony of our brother Jesus Christ who did for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Ah, Having a Good Life!

2011-11-16T19:43:00.002-07:00

So I am determined to think life is wonderful. I figure one way I can change my thinking to be more grateful is to write down as many good things about the day as I can. I won't always share in this blog, but it is a goal of mine to write them down somewhere every day.
Is there anything better in life than watching the man you love play with your children? I don't think so. My husband loves to play with our kids. They play this game where Daddy bounds around grunting like a monster chasing the kids. He goes and hides. And the kids get these huge smiles on their faces as they sneak around trying to find Dad while keeping one foot ready to run when he pops out. They find him and he jumps out and chases them while they scurry to get to the safe spot...for Grace it is mommy's leg. The house fills with cute little child laughter as they run. I love it.
This kinda happened last night, but today I got to enjoy the benefits of it. My big ugly scab from my surgery fell off last night!!! I was able to exercise without worrying too much about breaking it open etc. It was nice.
Also, the other day I got the kids some strawberries because I just couldn't resist their adorable little faces. It isn't often that they ask for healthy treats either. So, anyway, we have this little board book of "The Big Hungry Bear." It is a cute little book about a mouse that is sneaking a strawberry while being told about the big, hungry bear that loves red ripe strawberries. It is one of Grace's favorite books. She knows the words "big, hungry bear" and "red, ripe strawberry" and roars after she hear them. She also tried to eat the strawberry in the book on every page. Anyway, she has never had strawberries before. So when I got the red, ripe strawberries she got so excited. She and Zachary had a good time eating them together and keeping them from the big, hungry bear.
Another good thing about today was that I was able to pull all of Gracie's hair into pig tails!!! It is long enough now.
That reminds me of another funny thing about today. Well, not just today, but since I am starting this now I might as well add it to the list. Gracie loves her boots. I got her some really good, warm boots for winter to keep her feet warm. She wears them everywhere. She demands that you put them on her as soon as possible in the morning. She even can say, "Boo?" for "boots" when she is asking for you to put them on. She stomps around in them all day. They look like little Uggs that go up to her knees. And she really does stomp in them. This little tiny girl stomping around in her favorite boots is sure to put a smile on anyone's face.
Gracie also said "Bear" today! We were just getting out of the house and went to the mall. We found a new game store that had a huge bear in the window. And she pointed at it and said, "Bear." She loves them....especially if they are at least two times her size. She has had her eye on this huge polar bear on top of the frozen food section in the Commissary for months.
Zachary also has been a very big blessing in my life today. He loves to play with Grace. Well, not always, but when they get started they really have a lot of fun together. He tried to help Gracie sit on his lap so that she could read a book with him the other day. And he makes sure she doesn't eat all the candy off of our Christmas tree.
Zachary has also learned to say he is sorry without being told to. Sometimes, with all his energy, he bumps Gracie a little too hard or does something that hurts her or scares her etc. But Zachary is very quick to say he is sorry to her and give her hugs and kisses.
That is another thing I am grateful for today. Our kids love to give hugs and kisses to eachother before bedtime. Before bedtime is their most friendly time. They seem to always stick together and play well about two hours before bed.
I am also very excited to announce that I have finished my Senior Fitness course and now only have one more class and a few finals until I am done!!!
I am also grateful for Paul. What a wonderful man I married. I expressed a desire a while back to have a little more help with spiritual stuff in our home. I didn't want to feel like I was carrying the whole family. And my dear husband changed right then and there to help me. We have been able to read scriptures every night with our children for the past three or four months! It is one of the only stable things in our lives being in the military. Paul cannot always be here, our schedules are always up in the air, our finances and therefore diet are always up and down, etc. But bedtime is stable. The last two hours before bed are our time away from the world. And it is great. We eat dinner together and enjoy each other's company for a while, read from the scriptures, read stories, say prayers, hug and kiss each other, and end our day. I usually play my harp as the children fall asleep. Those two hours of every day are heaven. I am so grateful for them.
That is another thing I am grateful for today. My harp. My beautiful harp. I love the peace it brings. I love how it seems to be able to melt cares away. I love that I can play hymns on it. Some of my most favorite hymns are written in a way that I am able to modify them so that I can play them.
I am grateful that Heavenly Father has placed people in my life that have blessed me in ways I cannot even write.
I am grateful for all that I have.
I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am grateful for the examples of all those who teach me how to be closer to Christ...to love a little more and hate a little less.
This is my first day. I could write more, but I need to get my final printed out so I can start on it.

Snow Kids

2011-11-03T19:20:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to share a little of our adventures today. The kids love the snow! Even Gracie! She was toddling around and rolling in the snow with a great big smile on her face. They both made snow angels. It was really cute. Gracie's was itty-bitty and Zachary's was perfect. It was fun.

Craft Day

2011-10-30T16:05:00.002-06:00

So, sorry that this image is sideways...I haven't been able to figure out how to fix that. It is the right way on my computer so...hmmm. Anyway, a couple weeks ago my wonderful mother and sister came to visit for a craft day. They always have to best ideas for crafts, and it is so much fun doing together. This was the food calendar I made...we also made a cute little wreath, but I kinda forgot to take a picture of it. Ok, to tell the truth...there were a few people wanting to make one of these and told me to put it on my blog so they could look at it...so that was my main reason for sharing...sorry, I have a hard time remembering I have things to share, hehe! So that is why I didn't take a picture of the wreath...I was just thinking of getting this one up for people to see. So, there ya go. I will put the wreath up tomorrow.

Halloween

2011-10-28T21:28:00.003-06:00

So, here are some pictures of Halloween #1. Halloween #2 will be on Monday. Today we got to go to the clinic and trick-or-treat. So I dressed up the kids. I ran out of Velcro for Gracie's costume, so I made her into a cabbage patch kid. The picture doesn't show it, but I made her a little cabbage leaf too. I also put her hair up in pig-tails and made her freckles darker. She was really cute. I thought I took a picture of her with all those changes, but I guess I didn't. Zachary wowed everyone with his costume. There were a ton of ninjas this year. I am really glad Zachary has originality. He came up with being a knight back in probably June. He stuck with it too. We would show him other ideas he would like, but he always told us he would be those things next Halloween; that he wanted to be a knight this year. He had a lot of fun. The haunted house/clinic was actually a little freaky. I was surprised by how creepy they made it, knowing that most of the kids were little ones. Ah well.

Beauty Queen

2011-10-08T21:02:00.002-06:00

She walks around the house like this all the time. It is either this or her beads.

She likes oreos.

I have another video of her dancing to Shakira's Waka Waka, but she is in her diaper and I feel funny about uploading it. She throws her hands up like they do in the music video. It is really cute.

Gracie's first birthday!

2011-09-13T16:35:00.002-06:00

Sorry it is a little late...I have a hard time getting on the computer these days. I just wanted to show everyone our little girl at age one. She got a teddy bear and a glowy, squishy worm thing. Grammie got her some cute clothes and hair pins. She didn't quite get the whole birthday thing, but it was fun. The harps are my present. My doctor has decided that she and her friend are just going to adopt me and shower me with presents. As you all know, I have been learning the harp. Well, I have outgrown my little harp and my teacher and doctor decided to conspire together and give me one of their floor harps. It has all the perks too! Yup, you got that right, they just gave it to me. I was shocked. I am definately going to give them a present of some sort...I just don't know how to give them something that will mean as much to them as a harp means to me. Anyway, I thought you all might want to see my new beautiful floor harp.
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Some Cute Pictures

2011-07-24T13:04:00.003-06:00

He is a big bad wolf. He has a big fluffy tale too, but I can't get videos to load very well...so you won't get to see it until I figure it out.

Gracie had a rough night.

So, I just wanted to show everyone my cute little ones. They are doing good. Gracie is figuring out how to walk and Zachary is just having a ton of fun, hehehe! His new phrase is, "Wow! What a sight!" It is pretty cute. Hehe, he also told his daddy today that if he got married in the temple he would have hair, hehehe! I don't know where he got that from, but I am guessing that he learned about the temple today at church and kinda got confused messages. Hee hee! I thought it was pretty funny. Oh! He is also really into action figures now. Especially transformers. He has never seen the show or anything, but he sees the toys in the store that talk. Yesterday, we saw an Optimus Prime toy and I came over and asked him who he was and he told me that he was Octopus Crime. Hee hee hee hee! Paul has been laughing about it ever since. Anyway, here are some cute pictures.

Brandi's Gooey Protein Bars

2011-06-23T19:29:00.002-06:00

So I just had to share my latest creations in the kitchen. I made the best protein bars today. They are tasty and chewy. Here is the recipe as best I can guess... anyone that knows me knows I don't really follow measurements.

1/2 C. Almond Milk
3 Tbsp. Honey (or Agave or any other sweetener type thing like honey)
1/3 C. Natural Peanut Butter (use very liquid kind...Kraft makes a good one)
1 C. Oatmeal
8 Scoops of your favorite whey protein (I used chocolate for this one)
1/4 C. 70% Dark Chocolate

So put the milk, the honey, the peanut butter and the chocolate in a bowl and microwave until the chocolate mixes in to the liquid. In separate bowl mix the oatmeal and Protein together. Then mix them all together. Once it is good and blended you can add the stuff like the fruits etc. I was thinking about maybe adding something like teff or amaranth next time to kinda make it like a crunch bar feel. Line a bread pan with wax paper and pour it in. You don't have to coat it with anything, but it is easier on your fingers if they have something protecting them from all the chewiness. You can use the chopped nuts here. Refrigerate until firm. Once firm, pull out of pan and open the wax paper flat so you can cut them into your personal sized bars.
I added in Cherry flavored Cranberries and then pressed the outside with coconut. You can also do almonds or macadamias or cashews, dried blueberries, peanuts, cherries, or pretty much any dried fruit or nut. Mix and match...that is what is so fun about this.

2011-06-20T17:32:00.004-06:00

Big Brother sharing his delicious green jello.

Does this look familiar to anyone? Remember when Zachary was this age...he used to throw fits and follow us around to make sure we knew he was throwing a fit, hehehe...I guess it is genetic.

So I made these cute little leggings. They are handy for a lot of reasons...you don't have to take them off to change a diaper, frequent changes in weather (like in Cheyenne) help keep legs warm, protect knees from chaffing while crawling...lots of things. Plus I think they are absolutely adorable.

Helping do the dishes.

Do I even need to say anything...Awwwwwwww!
I also have a cute video of Zachary pushing Gracie around in the stroller. It is having troubles loading, but I will try again.

Some Cuteness

2011-05-31T07:39:00.003-06:00

So here are some really cute videos and pictures of our little crew. I just had to share them.

She's Crawling

2011-05-14T18:24:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to share with everyone some of Gracie's first crawls...she decided today that she would be brave and not give up. I will post another few videos tomorrow of Zachary and one of Gracie's cute little tongue. She likes to stick it out like she is workin hard.

Recipes

2011-05-11T15:26:00.000-06:00

So I adapted a whole wheat bread recipe and made it even healthier and it is so good. To me it is very addicting...especially on a grilled cheese sandwich (not that you'd eat that if you were trying to be healthy). I also made some yummy, healthy orange chicken quinoa last night. I love it! Paul even enjoyed it. So, with the bread, you pretty much just make it like normal bread. You mix the liquids and let the yeast rise a little in it. Then you mix the dry and then put them together. I don't remember where I learned this awesome trick, but I learned how to proof bread and it has made all the difference. You heat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, then turn it off and place your bread in it to rise. Ok...so here is the recipe for the bread.
3 C. Hot Water
5 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1 Tbsp Salt
1/3 C. Applesauce
1/3 C. Honey
1 1/2 Tbsp Dough Enhancer
1 1/2 Tbsp Instant Yeast
3-4 C. self Rising white flour
You can adjust the white and wheat flour to your liking. I always add more wheat than white...I am just a little health nutty I think. Anyway, if you use a Bosch like I do you only have to let it rise once. Once it is done rising you just keep it in the oven and set the temp. to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. I cook it for about 25 min. That will be different for different elevations and humidity. So just keep an eye on it.
Now for the Orange Chicken Quinoa. I always thought it had a horrible smell, but it isn't so bad when you use a rice cooker to cook it. I just cook it like white rice. It makes a great healthy substitute for white rice fanatics. I personally love white rice with my Asian food so this is perfect to add more nutrition to your diet. And for all those who have never tried it before...don't worry about the little worm looking things because that is just part of the plant...it is not a worm. I don't know for sure, but it looks like what would be the germ of the grain. Anyway, so here it is.
3 Tbsp. Orange Juice Concentrate
3 Tbsp. Soy Sauce (I use lower sodium)
1 Tbsp. mince garlic
1 Tbsp. hot sesame oil (this smells delicious)
1 tsp. chili garlic sauce or chili paste
3/4 C. canned mandarin oranges
About 10oz chicken breast, sliced
Ok, so basically if you like your Asian food spicy you should put all of it together in a zip-lock bag and marinade it for 24 hours turning occasionally (like once or twice). If you don't like it to be that spicy you can make it and cook it. It gets more spice the longer you marinade it. So just dump it into a frying pan and cook it all together on a low heat so that the chicken will keep it's moisture better. I use a med-low or number 3 to cook it. After the Quinoa is done in the rice cooker I add it to the chicken concoction and mix it all together...so good. Try it, you'll see. And just the chicken stuff without the quinoa is about 183 calories per portion, 27 g protein, 7 g carbs, 4 g fat (most of it is the good stuff, only a tiny tiny bit is saturated). Keep in mind that ingredients vary...so my measurements of calories can be different than yours. Just keep in mind that if you want the best for your body always choose whole grains over refined, less sodium versions of products, keep your fats to mono or poly with a tiny bit of saturated (never eat trans fat...if you want to know why just ask, but seriously they are bad especially if you want to lose body fat), eat more protein (your body needs protein to rebuild itself into the new you), don't cut out carbs like most people try to tell you. Carbs are necessary for your body in so many ways you don't even realize. Balance your carbs and proteins and fats and you will do well. Too much of any of it will not get you what you want no matter how hard you workout. That is my little tidbit for you all today. Just thought I would share the wealth of knowledge a bit with my recipes.
On another note...I was talking with my mom about workouts for people on the go...by on the go I mean those who travel a lot. Since it is not very convenient to carry around workout equipment all the time I started doing a little research. I found this kinda corny but effective strength program that uses very little weight equipment (most of which you can substitute with something around the room...like a bag of peas or a can of soup etc.) and is very effective at helping us keep our muscle and metabolism while we travel. So check it out...and like I said it is a little corny, but it is free online and it works without much of anything. We all need to work on our strength. That is what keeps us feeling young and what helps us be able to eat more without having to worry about every tiny little calorie. http://www.hulu.com/get-fit-stay-fit

Long Awaited

2011-04-22T17:27:00.002-06:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this. I finally am a certified personal trainer!!! There's my uh, certificate right up there. Yay me! Right now I am about half way through my Specialization in fitness nutrition. I just wanted to show off to somebody my accomplishment. I am also pleased to announce that I have lost all of my baby weight...now I am working on my regular weight. I have about 15 pounds to lose to meet my goal...it was to weigh a certain amount before the end of the year...I think I can do that! I might go a little more...it depends on my body fat percentage and if it is still in the healthy range. I have a suspicion it might be really close to too little at my goal weight. But we will see. I would like to be a lot skinnier than just 15 lbs, but it all depends on my body fat. Anyway, so those are a few of my excitements lately. The other two pictures are just cute ones of Grace...she loves her new little teeth. She is also getting longer hair so that it can curl out on the sides by her ears. There seems like there was a lot more to say, but I can't think of it right now. I will write more if I think about it.

More Cuteness

2011-03-25T19:42:00.005-06:00

So here it is...it took me a little while longer than I had thought, but I got them up. Here is Grace in her cute dress that Chrystal got her and the latest in my headband creations...you can't see it all that well, but it has an Easter egg on it. I think that the St. Patty's day one is cuter, but I just think she is really cute in green. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

I am a Blogging maniac this week

2011-03-20T16:44:00.002-06:00

So yes, I am posting again...for all of you who haven't checked my blog in a while because I took so long to put anything on...you might want to look further down the page because there is more than just this. I will probably post again tonight because I have a picture specifically for my sister to see. But right now I want to tell about how awesome my little boy is.
Last Monday I had to take Grace in to get her six moth shots...I was all alone. I hate doing that part of being a parent. It makes me want to cry the rest of the day because I keep seeing how much hurt is in their faces and it is all because dirty ol ma wants them to be inoculated. So yeah...things were going fine...Zachary was playing with the toys in the office and grace was being a happy little girl. Then the doctor came in. He is a wonderful doctor, by the way. But immediately Zachary knew and he scowled at the doctor. He huddled up close to my leg and once I had to put Grace on the table he sat glaring at that doctor. Once it was time for shots things got even worse. First Grace started crying because she is a mommy's girl...then Zachary started to whimper...then the first shot when in and she screamed...then Zachary started to cry. Above all the noise was Zachary's cry, "It's soooo sad! Ahhhh It's sooooo sad mommy!" Tears were rolling down his cute little face, and I couldn't help but smile and a huge overwhelming warm feeling swelled up inside me. My little boy is so full of love. He is so defensive of even me when I have to go in to the doctor or if something makes me sad...he always there feeling it with me or talking back to the doctors trying to keep me safe. It is a wonderful feeling to know that he loves his baby sister so much already too. What a wonderful family I have.

St Patties Day Craft

2011-03-17T08:46:00.003-06:00

So, I found a green onsie that Chrystal bought Zachary when he was little...and since she looks kinda like a boy with the colors...I decided to make a headband...completely out of my head. I took some ribbon and cut a shamrock out of green felt, stuck a button to it, and then threaded it through her headband I use to clip flowers to...It looks great to me! Quick and easy way to make a festive look for your baby girl, hehehe! I should sell these, hehehe!

Let's See If I Can Remember

2011-03-16T19:33:00.004-06:00

So it has been a while since I posted, but not my fault...stinking computers hate me. So, I do have a short little cute story. Lately Grace has been having a really hard time sleeping...so I decided to try a few things. The one thing that worked was to play Native American Flute music for her all night long and during her naps. If it doesn't play all night she will wake up right when it stops. Kinda crazy I know...but I am pretty sure babies are crazy, hehehe! Just kidding. Anyway, Zachary just loves to take care of Grace. So when she wakes up he will run up there and open her swaddler and talk to her until I can get up there. One morning he came in and told me that he was taking care of Gracie and that he helped her out of her blankets and turned her angel music off. I just thought it was cute that he called it angel music. He came up with it all by himself.
Now, for the mischievous Zachary. So, my family is having a reunion this summer and have asked for people to donate talent things for an auction so that we can raise money for future family reunions. Well, some people say that I can draw...but who really wants a drawing in their house besides me? Most people want something more colorful or printed. So I decided to try my hand at painting again. Now, keep in mind...I have only painted one other painting before. So if it looks terrible to you...don't tell me. I don't claim to be a great artist. I just wanted to donate something and perhaps someone would maybe want it if for nothing else but the canvas, hehehe! Anyway, so I am putting the finishing touches on it and Zachary is sitting next to me painting his own painting...when suddenly he reaches over and sticks his big, gloppy paintbrush into my brown paint and slaps it right onto my painting. So yeah, when you see the painting I put up today...it will have a piece that needs a reflection and some touching up...but yeah, I just wanted to show everyone and get opinions on it. You don't have to compliment me...really, I don't know what to think about my painting abilities.
Anyway, here ya'll go. I hope you enjoy the pics.

Bad News

2011-03-09T09:38:00.002-07:00

So, all this time we were thinking at our camera was broken...nope, it is our computers. At least it is broken when I am around. I have soe eally cutevideos and pictures, but can't post them because our computer ismessed up.. by theway, the bad typing is lso the computer. Sorry aout that. I will try an et Paul to fix it so I can tell yo m cute Zachary angel story.

Table

2011-02-20T08:59:00.002-07:00

Finally

2011-02-11T15:58:00.002-07:00

So, this is one of the videos I have been waiting to share...we didn't fix the camera, but for some reason it worked on Paul's computer. So I got this one and a few more on a flash drive that I will post later. Thought you all might like to see my cute little girl. Love you all! Happy Valentines day soon!
Brandi

Shallots

2011-01-12T20:29:00.002-07:00

So...I forgot something in the last post...I finally figured out why recipes are specific about using shallots over any old onion. When you saute them it makes your house smell yummy...like fast food kinda. So if anybody really has a hard time resisting the smell of McDonald's or Burger King...this is a good thing to put into your food, hehehe! At least in my opinion it is. I am only guessing, but I think that shallots must be the onions used in those yummy fajitas you get in restaurants. Mmmmm! Well, enough about onions.

Chicken Stir-Fry

2011-01-11T20:45:00.003-07:00

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb Chicken, cubed
1 red bell pepper, cubed
1 green bell pepper, cubed
1 large shallot, sliced
1/2 C of those tiny corn cobb things
1/4 C bamboo shoots

1/4 C low Sodium Soy Sauce
1/4 C Orange Juice
1 tsp ginger
2 tsp corn starch

Saute onion in oil over medium low heat until caramelized. Add Chicken and brown. Remove from pan and set aside. Add veggies to pan and stir-fry for five minutes or until tender. Add chicken and onions. Mix last four ingredients all together and add to pan. Stir until sauce thickens and coats mixture...eat over brown rice. This would be really yummy if you added 1/4-1/2 C Cashews.

Two Recipes

2011-01-09T19:49:00.002-07:00

So I am thinking about adding a link to another blog that I might make that has all of my food creations. I have been on a project of finding delicious ways to make healthy food. So far I have made two this week that I think everyone should try. Both are very healthy for you and completely made up by me, hehehe! I didn't look at any other recipes to figure them out...they came out of my head. So if you happen to find another recipe like mine...I didn't copy it, hehehe!
#1 Black Bean Soup
1 C Chicken Broth
1 C Beef Broth
2 C Water
1 Clove Garlic
1 Large Carrot, diced
4 Small Parsnips, diced
2 Cans Black Beans

Bring both broths and 1 c water to a boil. Add the garlic, carrot, and parsnips. Boil until the veggies are tender. Add 1 can of black beans. Puree in a food mixer or blender. Return to pot. Add remaining 1 c water and can of beans. Stir until heated through. Eat.

#2 Braised Cauliflower
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Head Cauliflower
1 Chicken Bouillon Cube
1 Tbsp Honey

Cut the cauliflower florets off and soak in a big bowl of water. Heat oil in large skillet over med low heat. Add cauliflower, chicken bouillon, and honey. Coat in the olive oil and add 1/4 c water. Cover and simmer. Stir occasionally. Check every five minutes for tenderness that you like. Very yummy to me.

Books!

2010-12-31T22:04:00.002-07:00

So I added a gadget that lists a few of the books I can suggest reading. I will update more as I remember them and as I read more. Please if anyone find a good book let me know. I love to read good books and they are so hard to find. Enjoy!

camera issues

2010-12-23T15:44:00.002-07:00

So we have been having camera issues for a while...we do have a lot of things to update though. The camera only seems to work on Paul's computer. So I will have to wait to show everyone the newest, cutest video of Grace. Later tonight I will try and post pictures and videos from the last two months or so. Sorry about the long wait. Maybe it is time for a new camera.

Halloween

2010-11-02T15:10:00.003-06:00

Zachary's Birthday

2010-10-16T14:24:00.004-06:00

Don't you wish your Birthday Cake was a awesome as this! I will post more later...have to go to the grocery store while I can.

Happenings contn'd

2010-09-25T07:32:00.002-06:00

So Blogger is getting worse and worse. It wouldn't let me write with the last post...so I am writing here what should be in that one.
These are a few pictures of my cute little baby girl. She weighed 5lbs. 13 oz and was 19 inches long. She is a very sweet baby. She sleeps a lot and makes breast feeding easy. Zachary is a really good big brother. He is always giving her kisses and saying he loves her. I have the best kids in the world. These are just a few pictures that were on my camera. I took a video especially for Mindy and Josh to show the cute jammas they gave her. There is a picture of our funny little boy too...in it you can see that he has hooked his underwear to his crane, hee hee. Zachary hates to have even a drop of pee on his underwear...so if he does happen to get a little on them he will take them off and get new ones on. In this picture...I guess that he got a drop on them and decided to hook them to his crane and drive them around. He loves the crane that Paul and he made together. He tries to hook everything to it. It is really cute. I love my little bear.

Happenings

2010-09-25T07:10:00.004-06:00

Lotsa stuff

2010-08-29T19:58:00.002-06:00

So here are two videos out of quite a few showing Zachary's development skills. I was quite surprised by the puzzle one...the video is of the second time he was working on it. I didn't help him at all with what you see in the image. I have a few other cute videos to put up...but I get tired of waiting for them to load...so maybe tomorrow I will do the others.

Swimmin'

2010-07-30T16:37:00.002-06:00

So we got Zachary a small pool to play in so he could have fun while I am able to relax. He loves it! This is just a short video of him playing.

Trouble

2010-07-20T21:50:00.002-06:00

For some reason it wouldn't let me put the pictures in the last post...so here they are.

Lotsa' News

2010-07-20T21:08:00.001-06:00

Ok, so a lot has happened that I need to write about. Number one is that I had my baby shower a little over a week ago. It was wonderful. My sister is amazing. She definitely should go into business as an event planner. She did a wonderful job. Sad to say I didn't take any pictures. I always forget to take pictures of things that happen to me...it is hard enough remembering to take pictures of my little Zachary, hehehe! I just enjoy reveling in the moment and forget that I should be preserving it in pictures, hehehe! Anyway, my mom took a few pictures...so if you want to see them you will have to click on her blog and then click on the one picture that you can see of the diaper cake...it will take you to another place with a lot of pictures.
Second, is that we celebrated Paul's 27th Birthday on Saturday when he came home from the field. We weren't sure if he was going to be around the rest of the time he was supposed to be home (lately his days off have been spent getting yelled at at work for someone's stupid decisions that isn't even there to be yelled at with them because he is in prison or something) so we celebrated it early. Plus, Zachary picked out a present that he just could hardly wait for daddy to come home to open. In fact he demanded to hold it all the way home. He couldn't contain his excitement and actually peeled off the plastic covering and was working on the box flaps when we got home. He kept telling me it was daddy's present for Zachary's birthday, hehehe! When I finally was able to get him to understand that it was daddy's birthday and not his he told me we needed to make him a spiderman cake (last year I made Zachary a Spiderman Cake, and I guess that it made a big impression on him because he still tells me that he loves Spiderman cake)!
Anyway, so when Paul got home we had a little celebration for him. He opened his presents, we went to Red Lobster, and I made my first homemade cheesecake ever for him. He got a soldering iron, a science water kit, some really nice shirts and an ant farm. He loved all of it! Ok, I know this is time to praise Paul, but man you should have seen my cake! I took a picture so everyone could see. It was perfect! It didn't crack. It was moist. It was beautiful. It tasted like cheesecake from a restaurant...at least it did to me. I kinda messed up the blueberry topping, but it was still a good topping. Anyway, Paul loves cheesecake, and I did good.
Ok, third...Zachary has been so adorable lately. He has just been a constant amusement for Paul and me. I went to a Relief Society meeting tonight for a little bit and when I got back Paul told me about their adventures at the park. He told me a really cute story. He said that they were sliding and Zachary was on Paul's back. When they got to the bottom of the slide, they both stood up and Zachary turned to Paul and said, "Thank you Old Turtle!" Hee hee hee! He called Paul and old turtle, hee hee hee! Most of the day he had been calling Paul "big bad wolf". He just loves his daddy. They have a really good time together. Paul said that he thinks everyone is jealous of them because while they were out playing at the park they were both laughing their heads off and running around having a good time. Paul said he could see people and little kids peeking out their windows with longing eyes, hehehe! I think every kid deserves a daddy as great as Paul. He is a wonderful man. Every day I am constantly amazed at how wonderful he is...especially when it comes to me and all this pregnancy stuff. He is always so patient and loving. Sometimes I wonder if I take more from him that he takes from me. You know, a lot of people complain about their spouses and their little antics...I admit that Paul has them as do I...but I would gladly take them for all the good man I get with them. The best I can explain it is how when you have a baby, it is really really hard sometimes...but all that hard is nothing compared to the sweet hugs and memories you get in return. Granted living with Paul is not really hard. He is very easy to get along with. I love him dearly and wouldn't ever trade him for anything. But I am sure you all know what I am trying to say.

A Dream

2010-07-06T19:14:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I think that there is only one person that reads this blog anymore...so, since there is little risk of embarrassment or accountability, I am going to go ahead and post a dream I had that may or may not come true. I just loved the dream so much that I wanted to keep it alive somehow.
So everyone knows that I am having a little baby girl in about 7-8 weeks. Well, last night I saw her again for the first time since Zachary was born. I have had dreams of her before...like way before...meaning a month before I even got married to Paul. That is one reason I knew we were having a girl. But this was the first since Zachary was born. I watched the entire C-Section (not the gory stuff, just watched my face from above and knew my thoughts etc.). Then while they were stitching me up I watched all the nurses and Paul doing their thing in the room with the baby. Paul picked her up and cuddled her up to his shoulder after all the initial examining was done. Then she looked up at me with the cutest little face as if she recognized me. I whispered, "Hi there little sweetheart!" from across the room, and her big eyes just watched me. She looked a lot more like me than I had expected. She was cuter though. She had big round eyes, dark hair, and perfect skin. She had the dutch build about her face. She was very cute. So if my dream is correct, we will have a little me and a little Paul. Zachary looks more and more like Paul every day. I knew he would look like him when I first saw the ultrasound. I could just tell. I am very good with small details about people. Anyway, I remember thinking that I was in a lot of pain, but that the peace I felt when I saw her look at me made everything feel like magic. I woke up with a smile on my face. That hardly ever happens, hehehe!

Batman and Undies

2010-06-27T08:53:00.002-06:00

So I just had to tell someone this story about this morning. It was early so I couldn't call anyone, but I was very amused and happy about it. Ok, so we have pretty much got Zachary potty-trained...he sleeps in his diapers still. Anyway, he loves it! He loves wearing undies. So much so that he protests when we have to put his diaper on for sleeping. Anyway, the past few days we have woken up to a naked little boy and a smelly diaper on his bedroom floor. Don't worry, it has always been turned right side up. I know this is really kinda gross and weird that I would get such a kick out of it, but you have to understand, I have been trying to potty train my little boy since he was 18 months old without any success. And as soon as I gave up on the idea, at least until this pregnancy has passed and I am healed and able to chase a little boy around, my little boy decides that he is potty trained! Just out of the blue he starts telling us when he is dirty and wanting to wear his undies and not getting really angry when we put him on the potty. It has been a pretty big miracle to me.
Anyway, so this morning I wasn't doing so good and I decided to let him play in his room until 8am while I laid in bed a little longer than normal. When I got up I opened his door...just a little side note: We decided to start putting shorts on him over his diaper in hopes that it would keep his diaper on in the mornings...and there was a big ol' poopy diaper sitting there in front of the gate. I looked over at Zachary who was very happily rolling around in his soft blanket and he looked at me with his big blue eyes and said, "Look mom! I poopied!" pointing his cute little finger at the diaper across the room. I almost began to scold him, but then he jumped out of bed and I saw that he has completely changed himself....meaning he pulled on some underwear (the correct way) and not only that but he also put on a brand new pair of pajama bottoms. So instead of scolding him I praised him...now my only question is...how do you potty-train them not to wet their bed?
Also, Paul decided it was time to show Zachary Batman...the cartoon. And guess what...now he loves to be Batman. He even inherited Paul's obsession with making his make-shift cloak billow while he runs and jumps off of things. Yes, Paul loves to make his long coats billow behind him, hehehe! After this video was taken we decided to make dinner. We were making dip for our tortilla chips. Zachary started to call everything by its correct name (Bat-sauce, Bat-cheese, Bat-juice, etc). We thought it was really funny that he already picked up on how to make a Batman joke. Hee hee hee! Here is the video!

Baby Sister

2010-06-20T17:34:00.002-06:00

So I just thought that this was too cute to not tell everyone about. This afternoon I was resting upstairs while Paul and Zachary finished their dinner. A little while later Paul came up and told me this story....
So Paul and Zachary were sitting on the couch just chatting. Then Paul said that Zachary sat for a minute and then turned to him and asked, "Daddy, is baby sister done yet?" To which Paul responded, "No, bud, baby sister is still in mommy's belly. She isn't quite done yet." Then Zachary sat and thought for a minute and said, "I want to hear baby sister's heart beep!" Shortly thereafter I see Zachary run into the room looking for me and asking to hear baby sister's heart beat. Just so everyone knows...my dear, wonderful sister-in-law let me borrow her heart beat monitor.
I just thought it was really cute that he is impatient for his baby sister to come, hee hee! It makes my heart flutter. I love my little family. I just can't explain how much joy they bring me.

June

2010-06-16T20:10:00.002-06:00

So I just wanted to update the blog. This picture of me was taken today...I am now 28 weeks along. The pregnancy is going fine besides the little complication thing. I am so excited because today we went to the doctor and found that I had only gained 3 pounds in the past month...I thought I had gained like 20lbs, hehehe! I was really excited...still am. That means that if I keep gaining about the same I will be about 15 lbs less than I was with Zachary...and that means that I will have less to struggle to lose afterward!!!! I am so happy! Hopefully it will all work out that way, hehehe! The doctor says I am right perfectly on track. Grace is kicking every day. I still have a lot of pain, but it is getting to the point where it is normal to me to have to sit around more. I still don't like it, but it isn't as bad. I have started illustrations on my book and am really pleased with myself. I am always suprised when I draw something and it actually looks good, hehehe! Paul is a good cheerleader for me. He sits beside me in bed while I draw and throws out all sorts of remarks that make me really happy and confident. I love him to bits!
The other pictures are of Zachary with his new tool set and Zachary with his dad doing man things. Zachary loves to barbeque. He had been asking to barbeque hot dogs ever since Paul tripped out last. So they drank orange creme soda while barbequeing hot dogs. They are good pals. I love watching them together. Sometimes I wish that I could take videos of certain days and just keep them in my pocket forever. This is what love is. This is what happiness is. This is what its all about.

Mother's Day Gifts

2010-05-12T13:20:00.003-06:00

So yeah, I had a really wonderful Mother's Day! Paul and I were able to get a babysitter and go out on a date during the week. Then on Sunday I got flowers and Paul made a really yummy dinner for me. Oh yeah, he also made breakfast!!! It was a really good day. The sun even decided to shine. It was gone by the time church got out, but at least it was there for the morning.
Then, as if the weather daemons wanted retribution for the sun on Sunday, they decided to throw a foot of snow at us. Yup! That picture is not drifted snow. That is our barbecue grill after a few hours of snow. It is still snowing. That's right, it is May and it is snowing. I shake my fist at all those who are sun tanning right now.

The Baby

2010-05-06T11:35:00.003-06:00

So for all who are wondering...I am having a girl!!! I am excited. I knew it was going to be a girl. Sorry it took me so long to let everyone know. I have not been on the computer lately. So yeah, her name will be...uh, you'll have to call me or write me a letter to get the name...I don't like the idea of giving it out to the world. Most of you probably already know it anyway. I have been planning on it for two years. Oh and I am going to post a picture of my bump. It isn't a very good picture, but what can you do when it is still snowing outside.

That video

2010-03-28T20:14:00.002-06:00

I am trying to finally post these

2010-03-15T22:54:00.002-06:00

Zachary and Paul drinking root beer together...those are toy root beer bottles. Zachary likes to share his imaginary food with us, hee hee hee!

Zachary wanted to eat a hot dog monster. So Paul built him a hot dog monster.

Zachary in Daddy's military socks.

There is more to come...I am just too tired to wait for the other two videos to load. So I will try again tomorrow. Oh and I know a lot of you are waiting to see pictures of my bump, but I really don't have much of one to show right now. There is one, but you wouldn't be able to see it in a photo. Just so you know, I am only three and a half months in. So maybe give me another month and I might have more to show.

February

2010-02-18T14:07:00.003-07:00

So yeah, I have been pretty sick with being pregnant that I haven't wanted to do anything but sleep. So while I knew I had stuff to say and stuff to post up on my blog, I just didn't do it because I was sleeping, hehehehe! But now, the sickness is starting to subside...so hopefully I will remember to post stuff. All of it is downstairs right now though...so you will have to wait for the next post to see the pictures and stuff. I just wanted to say that there is stuff to be seen and read...I just haven't gotten to it yet. Soon hopefully.

Not Much

2010-01-19T00:09:00.003-07:00

I just wanted to write a little to keep myself in the habit of writing.
I do have a funny story to tell. The other day I was showing Zachary what a baby looks like as it is developing and trying to explain to him how he is going to have a little brother or sister. I was showing the baby at about two months and told him it was a baby...he promptly replied, "No, its a cute gummy bear!" Hehehe, it made me laugh. So now our new little one will be called gummy bear. Zachary has decided it.
He has been correcting us quite a bit lately. It is pretty funny. He told daddy off the other night. I don't even remember really what it was about, but paul asked him if something was one way and Zachary snapped back with, "No Dad!" and shortly thereafter, "Come on dad," as if to say "get with the program." He has become quite the little man. He knows what he wants and likes and you can't tell him otherwise. I suppose he is like his dad in that way. I love my little man.

Pregnant!

2010-01-12T14:11:00.002-07:00

So, many of you have probably been wondering when I am going to have another baby.....well, in about nine months we will have a new little addition to our family!!! I am soooo excited about it! Oh and by the way, I lost everyone's links when I changed my template...so uh, please if you are not on my blog anymore give me your url so that I can still see what everyone is up to. Yes, I still remember you guys Los Lovelands.
Here is a picture of Zachary's Christmas this year!!! He got a train set! Geotrax!

Singing

2009-12-20T09:36:00.002-07:00

I ran out of time to add this last time. I think it is really cute. He knows quite a few songs, but bob is the most frequently sung song. I love his cute little voice and pronouncement. Anyway, we are working on getting family photos done...so soon there will be an updated picture of us.

Cute Throw-up

2009-12-13T21:18:00.003-07:00

So Zachary has decided that he doesn't want to take naps anymore...but he needs too. He has also figured out how to open doors quite avidly. So I had to tie his door shut during his nap time so that he would take a nap. The first day I did this this is what I saw with a cute little whimper of, "Help me?" The cutie knows how to pull at my heart strings.This is Zachary and his new best friend, Bear. I don't know if you are reading our blog Becky, but this is the bear you gave him when he was two months old for Christmas. He has decided that he is finally going to be his friend. He takes him everywhere.

We decided to make Christmas Cookies with Zachary this year. He is starting to figure out how things work a little in the kitchen. So we turned the tools over to him. He even helped roll out the dough. He loves helping me cook.

Simon Says, "Dance!"

2009-12-13T20:13:00.003-07:00

So Paul came home today from a four day tour. Zachary was so happy to see his daddy. They pretty much hung out all the rest of the day. I went upstairs to take some thinking time and when I came back down I saw this...
I thought it was really cute and wanted to share it with everyone. By the way...I have a lot of stuff I need to post. I have been meaning to post things every week, but I keep forgetting once I turn the computer on. So I am about to throw-up videos and pictures of us all over your computer screen k?

Raspberries!

2009-11-10T18:38:00.002-07:00

So today I decided to get a video of one of the funny things Zachary likes to do. At first he caught me trying to take a video of it and therefore wanted to see it before I took it. But then I convinced him to perform for the camera so he could look at it later. This is what I got.

Once he saw that the camera actually did take a video of what he just did he wanted one of his belly being raspberried. He usually lets out a huge belly laugh after he does raspberries, but he was too interested in seeing himself.
Also...this is for my dad...the shirt that Zachary is wearing is one of his favorites...whenever we tell him to pick out a shirt to wear he always picks this one. We couldn't figure out why this shirt was so special to him. Then this morning I brought his shirt to him to put on and he told me why it was his favorite...He loves it because it makes him look like Pop-pop. He saw the shirt this morning and got soooo excited he could hardly stand it. Once I got it on him he pointed to his shirt and said, "Pop-pop shirt! Pop-pop!" I could hardly stand it it was so cute thinking about how much he loves his Pop-pop. I almost called my dad while he was at work to tell him about it. But then I decided I should probably wait. Oh! Just so everyone knows what I am talking about...my dad has to wear a bright orange shirt to work every day. So Zachary noticed that his orange shirt was like Pop-pop's. Hehe, my dad doesn't like his work shirts very much, but I bet you like them better now huh dad? I love you and so does Zachary. He misses you a lot. After I put his clothes on he ran downstairs to his tractor that you and mom got him for his birthday and was asking for you to play with him on his tractor. You really made an impression on him.

This Leads to This

2009-11-05T14:27:00.003-07:00

So, you see all that snow? Yup, that is why we decided to buy the truck...we love it! It is a chevy trailblazer. The people before us took great care of it. It was basically new when we bought it. It will be much easier to drive around in this weather with this car than our little geo. I love our geo though. I am a bit sad to see it go. It is on its last legs though. In fact I thought it was going to give out on me when I stopped at the stoplight just before the gate to the base when we were driving home from buying the Chevy. But it is still kicking for now.

Here is a cute video of Zachary...but sad to report, my fingers did a horrible thing. They deleted a cute video of Zachary eating broccoli. He has hated broccoli from the day he was born and then all of a sudden he absolutely loves it! He wouldn't even have any of his yummy noodles because all he wanted was broccoli. Anyway, he was cute because he would slowly slide his little plate toward me across the table, I would put a little broccoli head on his plate, he would slowly slide it back. Then he would stick it in his mouth and slowly slide the plate back over to me. All the while trying to act really sneaky. I am so upset that my fingers deleted it. Grrrrr! Oh! Also so more news about my little man. He has taken another step toward big boy hood. He is now sleeping in a normal bed!!! He didn't even complain when we put him in it the first time. He doesn't get out during the night either! And he takes naps in it! Even when he doesn't want to he will just lay there and go to sleep! I am so proud of him. Potty training is a little harder though. He has decided that he doesn't want to do it yet. I keep trying though.

Pictures of my house

2009-10-29T13:25:00.004-06:00

So, I took pictures of my house...keep in mind I am not a photographer...plus it is about 4 degrees Farenheit outside and that is why I don't have a picture of the outside. One fine day I will take a picture of the outside for you all, but it isn't gonna happen today or tomorrow or probably for a few more days after that. Today brings me back to the not so good ol days of living in Rexburg, ID....only a little bit worse. Well, not really. At least here I can huddle inside my house all day and don't have to trudge up a hill and go to classes in the weather. But just so everyone can almost truely understand how extremely annoying this kind of weather is, I decided to write about my love...or in the very sarcastic way I meant it, hate...for weather like this. I looked up the weather today...You know what it said..."Freezing Fog!!!" Has anyone ever heard of that before? I have never heard a weather man say that before. That means that you could potentially step outside your door (that is if it could open seeing as there is three feet of drifted snow blocking the door) and emediately freeze to death. They would find your body standing there in your doorway with a fine layer of ice all over your body like a thin egg shell. I bet that this is one of the places people first started taking cryonics seriously. Oh! but if the FREEZING FOG doesn't get you, the razor ice wind will. It will rip your skin right off of you...I promise. It has happened to me. I swear that this nose is not the nose I had before I lived in Rexburg....and Cheyenne is much more windy. I am afraid nobody will recognize me if I step outside for even a second here during this weather. So if it looks like Paul is walking around with a new woman, don't worry it probably is me...better be, hehehe. No you don't have to worry about Paul...he has all this fancy smancy military gear that will protect him from feeling anything. He probably would think it was a nice summer day outside while his wife's skin was slowly being eaten away by the tiny little ice sharks shooting at 90mph toward her beautiful, supple skin that she had just taken more time than she wished to attempt at making a beauty queen emurge from the witch hazel she saw in the mirror that morning. Anyway, as I mentioned before there are snow drifts. When I woke up this morning there was a cute little snowdrift outside my back door. Our back doors are glass so I was able to watch as this cute little drift transformed itself into a gigantic freezing snow monster with jagged pointy peaks and sharp reaching claws of death within an hour. Literally. One hour and this thing became huge! Everyone is trapped inside their houses. It is a good thing Paul and I decided to get our food storage because they might not find us for a while. There is a plus side to all of this though. Our house is stuck between two other houses...connected...so they will freeze first!!! AH hahahaha! Just kidding. Well, they probably would freeze first, but it isn't that bad. At least here the snow plows are more worried about making the roads drivable rather than chipping their plow blades. I swear that is what they told me in Rexburg when I asked why all the roads had a nice smooth 4 inches thick ice sheet on them. Seriously, I thought they must have Zambonied them...I came from Europe to this strange society in Idaho and I figured that maybe I should have invested in ice skates...that that was how they traveled in the winter. You know like how in Venice they travel by boat? Rather than being built on water, this city was built on ice. It was only later that I found out that their precious plow blades were more important than peoples' lives. And everyone was ok with that I might add. Anyway, I will stop my little rant and show you some pictures. Really I am not miserable. It is just fun sometimes to act like it, hehehe!

VIDEOS!

2009-10-25T17:40:00.006-06:00

So I have a lot of cute little videos to share, but they take a long time to load...so I just am posting a few of them...The pictures are ones I forgot to put on the other one. I posted a picture of me because I recently dyed my hair and some people have been wanting to see it...The roots are growing in now and so it looks pretty bad now. But for a while it wasn't too bad. Zachary is wearing his cars jammies he got for his birthday in the first one and the last picture is a poster of monster trucks he got for his birthday. He really liked it until he got extremely angry at me and decided to tare it to shreds. Yeah, I am a woos cause it almost made me cry. Oh well...

PICTURES!

2009-10-25T17:40:00.002-06:00

These are a few of the pictures from his birthday...not all of them, but I didn't think blogger would like it if I posted hundreds of them. Yes, one of those pictures Zachary is wearing Paul's BC glasses, hehehe! I think he is rather cute in them don't you? The one where his hair is all fluffy is just a picture I took from when we were staying in the temporary quarters. The one where he is eating a whole block of cheese is from the day he was really really sick. We were going to slice him a piece and he decided he wanted the whole thing...so he grabbed it and took a huge bite out of it. I thought it was pretty funny. Videos are coming next...

My Little Boy

2009-09-02T19:55:00.004-06:00

I took a few cute videos of Zachary and wanted to share them. The second one, in case you can't hear it, he is singing a little song I made up with him...he says, "Shake, shake, shake your body. Shake it all the time." It is really cute hearing him in person. He and I were sitting down for lunch when he just started singing it out of the blue. It made me laugh. I just had to get a video.

Long Lost Pictures

2009-08-30T20:50:00.003-06:00

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Things got a little hectic this month and I totally forgot that I have pictures from out visit with Josh and Mindy...before Logan was born. I also took a cute picture of Zachary sitting in the backyard with a "speck" or flower in his hand. He usually has two, one for each hand, but he just barely gave me one of them when I took the picture. As you can tell from the pictures Zachary had a really good time with Uncle Josh. I had to take a cute picture of him riding in one of the cute little carts they provide at the Idaho Falls Zoo. I wanted to take one home with me because I thought it was a really cute little thing. Yes, it is ok to think I am a bit weird. Anyway, I thought everyone would like some pictures. So here you are! Oh! Wait! I wanted to tell everyone how Zachary dragged that blanket he is sitting on outside so he could sit on it. If any of you know what a feather ducka is, a real one from Germany, you know that they are not light. Zachary was just doing his own thing and all of a sudden I saw him dragging that big blanket outside with him. I thought it was funny. It is probably one of those, "You had to be there," things, but oh well, I wanted to share.

Charmer

2009-08-27T20:25:00.002-06:00

Zachary is a charmer. Today when he woke up the first words from his cute little mouth were, "Friends? Lida (meaning Lela)?" Followed by his cute little legs running as fast as they could to the front door where he said, "Shoes on? Shoes on? Friends? Lida?" At 7:30am he wanted to go see his little friend Lela. So I decided to wait until a more reasonable hour to call Autumn and ask if we could come over. I decided to walk to their house. On the way Zachary spotted some flowers that he now calls "specks," referencing Horton Hears a Who, and decided that Lela needed a pretty little purple flower. So I picked it for him and he laid it softly on his tray and said, "Lida." as if he was purposely setting it aside for his friend. Once we got there he grabbed his flower and climbed up the stairs, ran inside to find Lela. As soon as he spotted her he held out the flower to her and she got the cutest, brightest smile on her face. It was adorable. She was so excited about the flower. Zachary was happy she liked it so much too. It is amazing that a girl so young could still be thrilled about receiving a flower from a boy. Lesson to men, an occasional surprise flower can brighten a girl's day no matter who you are.

Life so far

2009-08-22T21:09:00.003-06:00

I just thought I would let everyone know that Paul is still not home. There have been some set backs that are totally out of our control. So yes, we are still missing him. Sorry I haven't written much this month...I have been going a little crazy. The stress has really been getting to me and I haven't been in a very good mood to write anything peppy. But a few things have happened that have alleviated my stress so now I am writing. Our landlord is not going to kick us out of our house before Paul comes home!!! Yippie!!! I still don't really have much to report. Life has been crazy. My sister in law had her cute little baby boy! His name is Logan. He was only 6 pounds 13 oz. Just like I was!!! I got to hold him. Yes, I am proud, hehehe! Zachary liked him too. Except after a couple days he didn't want me holding him. I was about to get a chance to hold him again and Zachary sensed it and promptly jumped into my lap and said, "No!" with a very definitive face. So I suppose Zachary does love me afterall, hehehe! He likes to tell everyone else he loves them, but until that weekend he had never said it to me. After that incident he started saying it to me a lot right before bedtime. He is so cute. He knows what gets me. Paul is ready to come home. He was doing night shift and catching quite a few people breaking rules. Then they started to catch on that someone was doing their job and decided to behave. Almost at the same time they decided to take Paul off night shift and stick him with the chaplains to help them during the day. He seems to like it a lot. He says he likes night shift better, but when I talk to him after working with the chaplains he seems a lot happier than after working night shift. We both just want him to come home though. It feels almost like it will never happen. Feels almost as though we are doomed to live our lives apart forever. That would really be a terrible thing. We weren't planning on being apart for more than three months. Now it has been double that. It is rough. But we are trying to keep our heads high and thinking positively. Pray for us. I am hoping that Monday will be our day.

Ahhh My Kid!

2009-08-01T19:46:00.003-06:00

Zachary is such a smart little boy. Today out of the blue he started singing the Sunbeam song for his dad while we were video chatting. He also started saying ABC. I haven't really been working very hard on his ABCs lately so it really surprised me. I have been working mostly with numbers, but I set a goal to teach him his ABCs by December. Oh yeah, this morning while I was in the shower Paul tried to call me on our house phone. I didn't hear it of course, but as soon as I got out of the shower Zachary opened the bathroom door saying, "Phone!Phone!" He was saying it a little off so I wasn't really sure what he was saying especially because I am not used to him telling me stuff...usually he is asking for something...Anyway, I asked him to show me so he took me by the finger and led me over to the phone. I called Paul later on and asked if he had tried to call me on the home phone and figured out that Zachary was trying to tell me that the phone rang while I was in the shower. What a smarty! He is so much fun! I have ton of stories about him that I just can't remember all at once. He is so smart and loving and funny. He has really been into climbing and trying new positions with his body...I will often find him upsidedown on the couch or trying on his boat upsidedown (as seen in the video) etc. I love him so much. I just can't wait for his daddy to come home and get to enjoy him as much as I do. Only a week and a little bit left hopefully. Please everyone pray he comes home on time K?

Another one

2009-07-03T06:58:00.005-06:00

Zachary

2009-07-03T00:02:00.001-06:00

Thomas

2009-06-27T13:09:00.003-06:00

Zachary loves to watch Thomas the Tank Engine...he also loves Cars...so much so that he tries to get me to let him watch it non-stop all day long every day. This is a clip of him watching Thomas...usually he gets really excited and runs over to the couch and gets comfy while shouting,"Thomas! Thomas!" He does the same thing for Cars...only a whole lot more excited! Oh yeah, he can sing the Bob the Builder song, and he thinks Blues Clues is really funny. And just so everyone knows...no I don't sit him in front of the tv all day...I let him watch one show a day...but then I canceled Netflix. So he is not going to turn into a couch potato for all those who worry about that kinda of stuff, hee hee!

It's So Cozy....

2009-06-20T13:17:00.003-06:00

to ride in a blow-up (truck)...Do do dodo dodo do do do do....da da dada da da da dada!

12345

2009-06-10T12:49:00.002-06:00

Zachary counted to five today!!!!! I didn't even teach him his numbers really. A couple days ago I counted to five with him once, but he seemed to not be paying attention. We have a few counting books that we read with him, but we have never had him apply numbers to anything else really. He started counting my belt holes! I just had to post this because I was so excited about it! Anyway, I will write some more in a little.

Dress Up

2009-05-28T19:30:00.004-06:00

So Zachary loves to dress up in my shoes and hat. I think he looks adorable. I especially think he is adorable because he puts my hat on backwards and slightly to the side like a little gangsta. He wears it all day.
Anyway, Paul got to see his orders yesterday. We are going to Warren AFB Wyoming...it is in Cheyenne. I am really excited about it. It seems like a good place for us. I was kinda terrified that we were going to have to live in Texas...no offense to any Texans out there...I just really don't like Texas. So yeah, Cheyenne is a major Rodeo place. So if anybody wants to see a really big rodeo you can come visit us.

Life

2009-05-24T18:38:00.003-06:00

So not much has happened in our lives lately. I did take some cute pictures of Zachary though. In the one he is sporting his "daddy's pride" outfit. I think he looks cute in camo. Then the other one he is showing us a bug he was harassing. He chased it around the room until I finally had to save it. The poor thing was probably traumatized and went to find a place to die after his adventure with Zachary. The last one is his church outfit. My mom and dad got it for him and he looks so cute in it. It isn't a very good picture because Zachary doesn't stop moving. But he looks very very cute in it. It is a dark blue vest with blue pinstripe pants. Anyway, that is what I have to share lately. Oh and Paul is doing well...his group keeps getting in trouble though.

PICTURES!!!

2009-05-11T21:18:00.003-06:00

Best Mother's Day Yet!

2009-05-10T22:04:00.002-06:00

Today was a really good day for me! Usually mother's day is a good day, but today was really good! I spent most of the day with friends soaking in their love and kindness. It is nice to have people around you that care about you more than just as a passer by. I greatly appreciate these friends. They know who they are.
Tho begin my day though, Zachary woke up in a good mood. That is always a blessing. He got to talk to his dad while he was eating breakfast and tell him about his "oggs"/eggs. Then on top of that he had a really good time at church. He behaved the whole time. He loves Nursery. When I went to get him they were blowing bubbles and he was right there with all the other little kids jumping up and down to try and pop them. You should have seen his face. I love it when my mind stops time and is able to take pictures of him and capture all of the wonderment and joy my little man feels. It made me so happy to see him with all the other little kids too. Most of the time he is kinda a loner...he loves to play with other kids, but they don't seem to notice him a lot of the time. It breaks my heart. So you can imagine how happy it made me to see him today.
Then I got home and was able to take a Sunday nap!!!! Paul and I have really missed our Sunday naps since Zachary was born. But now he is on a schedule that allows us to do it. Its great.
Anyway, I was a very lucky woman too. My wonderful handsome hunk of a man sent me flowers...the peachy ones with the spider mums and purple carnations....and also my wonderful parents sent me some beautiful flowers...the ones with the lilies and daisies and mini roses! I made out like a bandit! It is nice to feel so loved all at one time! I wish that my camera could really pick up the colors of the flowers...they are kinda washed out, but try and fill in the color so you can imagine how pretty they are. And they smell so good! I should probably stop rambling...I just am very greatful to have the people in my life that I do... and not just because they spoil me.

Makin Cookies

2009-05-04T13:37:00.004-06:00

Security Forces

2009-05-03T21:21:00.002-06:00

Our trip to see Paul graduate was wonderful! It was more than that...I just can put it into words. I have missed him so much. He got sick two days before graduation and because everyone is terrified about swine flu they quarantined him (he did not get swine flu by the way). He had to wear a mask all week and stay in fever flight. They also took away his special job that the investigator that was talking to everyone for because he couldn't go pick up his orders on time because he was quarantined. So he is going into security forces. I know everyone is probably saying, "I told you so" and shaking your heads because that is the one job I did not want Paul to get...but we are at peace with it. We trust that this is God's plan for us. We know He answers prayers and we have been praying for a long time that he would get the job that was best for our family. It has to be God's will because why else would Paul get sick two days before graduation and have everything change on us? And even though I can't see any of the logic behind this plan...I know it is God's and he knows more than me and he loves us. So please if you want to say anything to me about this...please please restrict your comments to supportive ones rather than trying to scare me out of my mind about the future. I am trying to trust God and it really gets tough when everyone around me plays the devil's advocate. I love you all, but I really need your support...even if it means letting me be ignorant of what you think the future holds for us. Remember that God knows more than you too.
So now that that is all taken care of I will let everyone in on what happened. Zachary was wonderful! He didn't cry at all on the airplanes and he took a lack of adequate sleep rather well. He did have his moments, but he did really well for as much as he went through. OH! And my mom surprised me with a wonderful gift! She and my sister plotted a trick on me. In the beginning my sister was planning on coming with us but then changed her mind. I was really sad about it and was really worried about my mom feeling like a third wheel etc. They had me completely fooled because Thursday night around 10pm my sister came walking into our hotel room!!! I was sooo excited and surprised. Usually I am really good at picking up on schemes, especially my mom's, but I had no idea. I was fully resigned that my sister was not coming. It was great! She got to play with Zachary a lot and I hear she loved it. He decided to pretend to eat her pretty necklace the whole ceremony long. He even tried to share with a lady standing behind us.
Anyway, so I decided to go to the reception center to figure out what was going on Thursday night, but instead of just telling me they called Paul down to talk to me even though he'd told me he probably wouldn't be able to see me that day. So I went over to his dorm, but he never showed. I guess that some crazy guy decided to fool around with him at the desk. He came down twice because they called and this guy kept telling him stuff like, "Well, I didn't call you," or "I wasn't paying attention." So we didn't get to see Paul Thursday. I wasn't aware of all this stuff. I thought that perhaps Paul was sicker than he made out and just couldn't get out of bed. That also made me worry if he was going to graduate. Imagine how scared I was when I didn't see him march in the parade. I was so worried. We decided to go ask someone from his flight where he was...and as we were making our way through the crowds I spotted a tall, handsome man with a germ mask on...and my heart skipped a beat. I got closer and closer hoping I wasn't imagining things. When I finally got to him all I could do was look up at him and rush into his arms. I had thought of all these things I would do and say, but I couldn't speak I was so overwhelmed. I hope everyone can some day know the kind of love I have for that man. It felt sooo good to just hold him. I didn't want to let go because I thought he might disappear if I did. For a while afterward we spent meeting all his friends. Paul was showing off his cute baby to everyone. I guess Zachary became quite a celebrity in the flight. It was wonderful seeing how proud Paul is of his son.
The rest of the day we spent talking and meeting people. It was really fun to listen to everyone sing his praises. Oh yeah, Paul made Honor Graduate. So he was one of the few people with four ribbons on his uniform! Everyone seemed to love and respect Paul. Hee hee, one guy was so proud of being taught to tie a tie by Paul...it was cute. I loved every minute of it! The next day we didn't have much time together. I didn't know how long I was allowed to stay so I booked a flight for saturday afternoon. I was allowed to be around from Wednesday through Sunday...I was so upset they didn't tell me. So we really didn't have much time together at all. It wasn't fare. I was ready to just not go back and just start new there....hehehe, leave everything here in Provo. But I came back. But it shouldn't be as bad because Paul can call me every day and he is thinking about getting a laptop so he can video chat with me and Zachary. It shouldn't be as bad...I have to keep telling myself that until I believe it. Anyway, Paul looks great! He lost a bunch of weight, but he still looks really really really handsome. I will post some pictures when I can. Soon.

Life Lately

2009-04-28T21:43:00.006-06:00

Zachary loves ants and bugs in general. In these photos he is chasing one around. There is a tiny black dot on the floor where he squished it. Just the other day he was sliding around on his belly chasing a moth. He chased it around for almost an hour. It finally found refuge under the refrigerator. He's a funny kid. There is also a picture of him rolling around in the grass. He accidentally fell over and then decided it was pretty fun to lay in it and laugh. He just kept flopping over. So I took a picture. I also took a picture of some tulips I cut and arranged today. I thought they were really pretty. I think I am going to try and draw them soon.
As far as Paul goes...he is finally graduating and we get to go see him Thursday through Saturday!!!!!!!! I am so excited! I am so in love with that man it is almost sickening. It has been tough being away from him for so long. It might turn out to be longer too. As far as I know he is going to be an Electronics Signals Intelligence Exploitation guy...don't ask me what it means. His tech school should be about 14 weeks. But things might change as far as all that stuff goes between the time I heard it and his graduation. I am still uncertain about where I will be living during this time. I need to talk with Paul in person about it. So I should know after this weekend. I am soooooo excited to see him. He says he has lost 15 lbs. since he went in!

They call me Handsomzack

2009-04-08T12:13:00.002-06:00

So here is a picture of our little cutie. My mom dressed him up in a little tux and took pictures of him. I think he looks rather handsome. He actually enjoyed the outfit too. Anyway, I suppose I should update everyone on things. I haven't heard from Paul in a while. I got a short call from him on Thursday so he could get some information from me. It really was short...I didn't get to say anything but what he needed. But I guess he had to get stuff done. The phone call was a lot clear...So I am assuming it wasn't from the regular phones, and that is probably why he couldn't talk at all. So yeah, I don't have any news from him. I didn't get any letters either.
Zachary is enjoying the many parks around here. He loves to be around other little kids. It breaks my heart though because he is so loving and other kids are so nasty to him. Our neighbor has a little girl, Jenneth, that is really nice to him though. So we get together so they can play. I am so grateful for them.
As for me....there isn't much to say. I have increased my speed while running though. I am proud to announce that I run a 9 minute mile while pushing a stoller!!!! I don't think I ran that fast when I was playing soccer. I am assuming that I am faster without the stroller, but I don't know...I haven't been able to run without it since Zachary was born. I am also proud to announce that I can curl 15lbs doing slow, controlled reps for about a minute and a half. You should try it. I know it sounds like because they are slow there would be no problem, but you should try it. I'm pretty proud of myself.

All I Want For Christmas is a Tracto

2009-04-01T14:34:00.002-06:00

So yesterday we got a newspaper in the mail with a bunch of advertisements. Among them was the Sear's catalog. After rummaging through the entire newspaper he found it, and to his great delight found a huge page of lawn mowers. He immediately pulled that page out of the catalog and started showing me all the "tractos". He was so enthralled with them that he took it to a bed we have out in the living room and laid on his belly and just stared at all of them for almost an hour. Occasionally he would get up and grab my finger and lead me over to the page to look at them too. I thought it was really cute.
Another cute story that happened yesterday...I went to the store to get him a plastic cup so that he can start using cups without breaking mine. I got him one of those sippy-cups that has the spout in the position of how you would drink out of a cup without a lid. I got him that one because I just can't handle thinking he wouldn't pour the water all over the floor on purpose. I took the stopper out of it so the water will pour like regular, but the lid stops it from falling so fast so that I can tell him no before it is too late. Anyway, because it is normally a suction sippy it has an air hole. Well Zachary got a little over excited about drinking from his cup that he tipped it too far and a drip of water squirted out the air hole right smack dab on his little nose. I didn't realize what had happened until he came to me scrunching his little nose and saying in his cute little voice, "Nose! Nose!" He didn't know what to do about the drip of water on his nose. So he kept scrunching it and blowing out his nose until I figured out what was bothering him and wiped it off. It made me laugh. I wish I could have gotten a cute picture of it.

Our Backyard

2009-03-29T20:07:00.002-06:00

Zachary has found new freedom in running around in the backyard unattended. I tied the gate closed so he couldn't run into the road out front. Occasionally I find him trying to escape underneath that fence you see in the background...glad his head is too big, hehehe! So most of the time he finds entertainment in sitting in the flowerbed and driving his trucks along the wooden barrier. He got to play outside two days this week. The rest of the week was yucky and snowy and cold.

Today

2009-03-27T22:02:00.002-06:00

Today Zachary was being creative. He wanted to write his Dadu a letter. So I got out the markers. He was doing fine until he accidentally got some on himself...then he decided it looked prettier on his skin than on the paper....ESPECIALLY HIS CUTE LITTLE BELLY. He also has a fascination with hats now after Grampie taught him that every man needs a hat when he is outside. So he found an old Cool Whip bucket and put it on his head. He was pretty proud of it for a while. I thought he was cute. So I took a picture.

Grammie n' Grampie's House

2009-03-27T21:24:00.002-06:00

Just a few pictures of our stay with Grammie and Grampie. Zachary and I had a wonderful time. We will probably be going back after I get our taxes figured out. I have to wait for a company to send us a W-2 before I can continue. Don't worry...I have an extension. We filed in February, but things got messed up. So I have to do them all over again.
Anyway...We aren't up to much here. Zachary and I are stuck in our little hovel until the weather decides to coopperate and let us go play outside. He's been runny nosy for a while and I don't like him going outside in the cold when he is like that. Every day he tries though. He will pull me over to the door and knock on it...that is how he tells me to open the door. He gets really angry sometimes when I tell him no. Oh well, its for his own good.

Paul

2009-03-18T13:11:00.002-06:00

So Paul has been in Basic Training for the Air Force for two weeks now. I miss him like mad. He started out being the guy that announces their squadron into the mess hall...he said he hated it because if he made even the smallest mistake they would yell at him for 2-3 minutes. He said it wasn't that bad though...he is used to it now. But recently he was put in a leadership position over I think he said 14 guys. I am not sure what he is supposed to do with them though. We had a ten minute conversation on a phone I could hardly hear. He misses home though. But he is strong. I am glad that he was given a leadership position. He has always been a good leader. I am glad that they recognized that as soon as they did. I think it will help him a lot. It will probably help keep his mind busy. Anyway, if anyone wants to write him and cheer him on just contact me. I am not sure about putting addresses on public websites. So just write me a note or something and I can email his address to you.

Grandma n' Grampa C.

2009-03-01T08:32:00.002-07:00

So we had a great time visiting Paul's parents. Zachary absolutely loved being around his cousins and relatives. I am so grateful we were able to see everyone before Paul left. Zachary was a very good traveler...which suprised me because he usually fusses in the car after a while. It was fun. The top two pictures are of when we got home. Zachary was helping me do the dishes Saturday morning. Later on in the day my parents came and we hung out a bit. Zachary has been growing so much lately that we needed to get him some new jammies. So my parents took us to Costco and we got these cute little green stripey pajamas. I couldn't resist them. Zachary's cute little diper bottom looks so cute in stripey things. So I just had to share the cuteness with everyone. The picture doesn't even do it justice...it is something you'd have to see in real life. His cute little legs march around and look so cute too. He has started gaining confidence in his ability to walk and so he has started doing this trotting thing that looks like he is trying to run and hop at the same time. It is really cute. Anyway, we made it home safely and had a good time. The weather is wonderful here in Provo. Life is good.

My Little Helper

2009-02-19T13:14:00.006-07:00

Sorry it has been so long. I have been meaning to write for a long time....really....I promise. Ah well, so Zachary has been growing sooo much lately. He has learned to say so many things I can't even count them now. He has also taken to helping around the house. He loves to sweep and help me dump buckets of water when we do laundry...that is another story that most of you already know. These next videos are of him being his cute little self. The one where he gives a huge big smile is where he is trying to see me past the camera and then decides to put the cap on the camera so I will put it away so he can play with me. I didn't even know he knew how to do that! Oh he also knows how to plug in Christmas lights. He did it one day when he wanted to play with me in his fort. We strung his fort with Christmas lights. I never taught him that. He just picked it up. Anyway, there is also news about our future. Paul will be leaving for Basic Training on the 3rd...a little over a week from now. So I am not sure where I will be all the time. So please forgive me if you don't hear from or see me for a while. I am probably mostly going to be living from day to day...no plans. Anyway, so here are the movies.

Family Fun

2009-02-01T20:09:00.004-07:00

Here is Zachary climbing over the couch from his table that he has learned to climb up and sit on. I was sleeping and of course he couldn't let that happen, hee hee hee!
This is Zachary helping Mom do laundry. He has figured out how to climb inside the basket to get to the clothes on the bottom.
This video is of Paul and Zachary having a little fun together. Dad has already been doing this for a while before I shot the video. If you ever lay on the floor, Zachary will immediately come and climb up on you like this and then bounce as if to say "Giddy-up Horsey!" One of the other games he plays with us is the whenever we kneel down low enough for him to reach our ears he will come and put his hand on the back of out heads and walk us around like we are his puppies. While he leads you around he talks and giggles etc. the whole time. He loves it! He will walk around jabbering all day long with you if you let him. It is really cute and fun. He is learning more words too! This week he learned to say 'light, egg, grape, orange, and byebye.' It is so much fun having a little guy around. I think being a mom is the best blessing a woman could ask for. Sometimes it gets really hard, but it is sooooooooooo worth it in the end.

All Done

2009-01-22T18:36:00.003-07:00

So the picture is of Zachary and his new hat...hehehe, it is actually a book case thing that came with his winnie the pooh books. It has a magnetic flap that shuts it. Anyway, he got it open and put it on his head. I thought it was really funny. He just walked around the house with it on all day.
The video is of him saying his new phrase. He surprised me the other day when I had him eating breakfast while I was doing something else and all of a sudden I here him say quite clearly, "All done!" I asked him what he just said and he said it again. Now he says it more. We hid the camera and actually got it on tape so everyone can see. He is also signing it...the sign actually means finished, but I think it works.

Fun Fun Fun!

2009-01-19T07:31:00.003-07:00

Here are a few pictures of our rascally little man. He had a good time the other day when we went grocery shopping. He played with the toilet paper for a long time that night. We got a bunch of good shots...some of them will be on our picasa once I find the time to do that, but for now here are a few glimpses. Also he loved the box of diapers we got him. He climbed right in with his little bear and let us pull him around in his new car. Then last night we had Matt and Autumn Jones over for dinner. Lela and Zachary had the best time together. They played the whole evening. At one point Zachary thought he would show off his new car and climbed in for Lela to see. Pretty soon Lela was climbing in with him. I think she liked the hot rod. They had fun. Although Zachary's face looks a little unsure...that was just because I took an odd picture...he was smiling most of the time in the box. Anyway, here they are. Oh yeah, and he loves those booties Gramma Cameron!
Oh oh oh! My mom and dad came to visit Saturday, and we went to Cabella's. We had a really good time. Zachary loved it even though he was about falling on the floor tired when we went. He loved the big fish and the huge animals. I let him run free for a little while and he was almost running all over trying to look at everything. He was really cute. We had a wonderful time while they were here...we didn't even have to spend any money to do it! It was great! I also got to look at some bows and arrows. That was exciting for me. I really want to get one some day. Paul got to look at guns and was very excited when my dad decided to get a gun he has been dreaming about since the 70's. My mom and I had a lot of fun just chatting away. Sometimes I think I might cause people's ears to bleed just from the sheer rapidity of my jabbering when I am let out of my cage a.k.a. the house. I mostly talk jibberish, but I can't control it. So visiters beware. I should walk around with a sandwich sign that says something like "The incredible nonstop talker found after months of no outside influences." No, I am just kidding...Paul tells me a little about the world outside my door...hee hee hee. Anyway, enough about that.

2009-01-06T19:38:00.005-07:00

My Little Boy

2009-01-06T13:32:00.003-07:00

So I don't have any cute pictures of most of the things I am going to write about because my little boy refuses to pose, hehehe! But I just wanted to tell you all about some of the cute things he has been doing lately. The other day we turned on some swing music and Paul and I started to dance around the house together. Well, Zachary decided he wanted in on the fun. So Paul took him by the hands and started to dance. Zachary had the time of his life. He of course could only stomp his feet, but it was really cute. Now whenever he hears a song he likes he will start to stomp around the house with a big smile on his face. The other night we were having family prayer (we kneel down together and make sure he knows what we are doing...but struggling with him to get him to kneel and fold his arms and be quiet is pointless right now...we can't hear ourselves saying the prayer...so we let him walk around) and right in the middle of it we hear this stomping sound over in the corner. So both Paul and I open our eyes to see what he is up to...and there he is, dancing his little heart out with the biggest grin on his face. There wasn't even music...I think he just wanted our attention. It was really cute. We have such a good time with him. He has also taken to grabbing us by the fingers and walking us around. He usually leads us into this makeshift fort I built for him so we can play together with his toy animals. He gets really angry when we can't follow him. But it is really cute.
Anyway, so yesterday was my birthday! It was a very good birthday. It was really nice to have just a simple one. We stayed home and had Peir 49 pizza and white cake with whipped cream and berries instead of icing. I loved it! I think that that is my new favorite. I have never really liked icing, but I never thought about having fruit and whipped cream in its place. Paul was the cakemaster. He loves me very much...he got me raspberries and blueberries to put on my cake. I love him completely. As far as gifts go...my mom got me a Netflix membership (I love it! I can watch whatever I feel like and I don't have to pay for them...that mean if I feel like watching an 80's movie I can without wasting money on an 80's movie!), my sister got me the coolest cookbook...it is a Doctor Suess Green Eggs and Ham cookbook! Hee hee hee! You all should really see it. I didn't even know such a thing existed. Anyway, Paul got me two cookbooks from Chef Brad that we are still waiting on...we are beginning to think they went out of business or something because they haven't arrived yet and should have. Well, if they do arrive I will love them. I have been coveting them for a long time now. I didn't even know Paul was listening when I said I wanted them. He is a good man. And I recieved many Happy Birthday's from everyone else. So thank you everyone for making me feel special on my 26th birthday! I love you all. I will get some cute pictures up later.
So I got them up...the ones with the marshmallows are because we got him marshmallows for his stocking...the cake one is of my birthday...the one with him and paul is a funny story...Zachary is terrified of the vacuum. This particular day he was going around the house happy as can be, playing with an empty juice jug, when I pull out the vacuum...I call it the red devil because as soon as he saw me pull it out of the closet he turned and bolted for the couch where Paul was sitting. As he ran his jug went flying across the room as he could only be bothered with saving himself. I didn't even turn it on. Anyway, it was really cute. He never cuddles with us, but he was cuddling with his dad this day. We joke that if he ever figures out how to get out of his crib we can just sit the red devil outside his door. Hee hee hee...funny. Anyway, the last picture is of Zachary in his father's mickey mouse boots...they are some kind of special boot that the military use in cold places...they are huge...I nicknamed them mickey mouse boots. There will be another great shot of him in the next entry...I found there is a limit per entry.

2008-12-19T16:04:00.003-07:00

This is a video of Zachary enjoying his Christmas present. I am also going to put up a few of him after his bath...he loves to wrap the towel around him and walk around the house. I think it is really cute. Then there is a picture of Paul and him enjoying some crackers together...he loves to eat with us...with me he eats popcorn though.

Sorry!

2008-12-04T21:05:00.005-07:00

So I just now realized that it has been a full month since I updated the blog. Sorry about that. With Zachary walking and getting taller it has been a little more difficult to do "my" stuff. It has been fun though. I really enjoy being able to walk with him. He loves to carry a stuffed animal or a car around with him wherever he goes. It is really cute.
Well, since it has been so long since I updated...I have a lot to put up. This first video is of Zachary discovering Paul's Christmas present from last year. He found it really interesting. I mostly put it up because of his fish face he is pulling in the beginning. For some reason he loves to do that one now. I think it is adorable.
With luck I will also be putting up another video of Paul and Zachary playing. If you'll remember way back in the beginning of me blogging, Paul would bite a block and throw it at the other stacked blocks and it would make Zachary bust up laughing...well, here is the sequel. This time though...Zachary is imitating Paul...you might have to look closely, but he leans in and opens his mouth really wide as if he were going to bite a block too...I think it is pretty funny.
There was another video of Zachary talking on his "phone" (remote control to our stereo), but due to some unforeseen embarrassing noises, we are not going to post it. But it was really funny. Zachary was walking around the house just chatting away with the remote held up to his ear. Occasionally he would look at it and press some buttons and proceed to put it back to his ear and chat. I think he was calling all his favorite people...that means you Grammas and Grampas!
Then I am adding a couple of pictures also. One of them shows his cute round belly poking out from under his shirt. The one similar to it was a mistake I took while trying to catch his cute belly, but I liked how beautiful he looked in it. So I am posting it. Then there is also a picture of our cute Christmas Tree. We have a few presents under it. The decorations had to sit at the bottom on the table because of a slight shortage of limbs to hang them on. I think that is all for now...but if I find more I will write again.

Check This Out!!!

2008-11-04T19:23:00.002-07:00

Body Parts

2008-10-30T10:34:00.002-06:00

Reading

2008-10-30T09:28:00.003-06:00

Funny Things

2008-10-28T15:20:00.004-06:00

So Zachary has been providing lots of entertainment for Paul and me lately. Here are a few funny pictures of him. The first one is of him sitting in his thinking spot. He has taken to enjoying a good sit every now and then on top of out Wii Fit board. Occasionally he will just head over there and sit and babble to himself ect. However when he feel like being fussy he will go over to his complaining box and sit on it. Then he will proceed to yell and cry and stick his lower lip out at me. It is pretty funny. Now for the other two pictures...I just thought you all would like to know how much Zachary just loves to walk his daddy's shoes around. So that is a picture of him taking Paul's shoe for a walk across the couch. The last picture is one of my favorites because I have seen it in real life. Zachary is starting to test his boundaries a little and whenever he doesn't get what he wants he throws a cute little tantrum. He starts to yell and then flops over onto the carpet and cries. Then he will lift his head up when you are near and cry at you to make sure you know he is crying and really upset...then he will flop over again. It lasts for a few minutes and then he is better again, but it is really funny...oh yeah, and if you go into a different room while he is throwing his fit he will come into the room you are in so you can see him throwing his fit...hee hee hee! It makes me laugh...does that make me a horrible mother? He is just so cute about it. (So the images are coming up different on the actual post...so my order is wrong in my writing, but you will figure it out)

THANK YOU!

2008-10-19T19:37:00.003-06:00

Gramma Cameron gave him a little teddy bear that has a sleeping bag to go with it. This afternoon when he woke from his nap Paul says he sat up in his bed and sat all his stuffed animals in front of him, then he snatched up his little teddy bear and lifted his arms for Paul to take him. When he came out I turned around and this is what I saw. I thought it was so cute I had to take a picture.
Gramma VanderLinden and Zachary decided to take a walk with his new walker in his bee suite we bought him for Halloween. He loves his Grammie!
This was a couple of days ago, but it was funny and I thought everyone else would enjoy it too. Zachary and I decided to make paper masks one day. This one is his. If you look really closely you can see that he is sticking his little tongue out through the paper.
Zachary loved his cake. This is of him reaching for it. It was a cute truck with chocolate covered donettes for wheels. He liked it a lot. I would have more pictures, but my camera decided to go crazy on us in the middle of everything. My mom took pictures though, so I will hopefully get those from her and be able to post how cute he was with all his cake and everything.
I just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone that came and to all who got Zachary gifts. He loves them...and that is saying something because he doesn't usually like many toys. But everything he recieved he loves. This morning we had to peel him away from them to go to church. It is so cute to see him so entertained. I am sure that if he could talk he would say thank you to everyone. And I did recieve your gift Valerie, Dillon and Sydney...thank you so much. He loves them. And Wendy, if you read this...thank you so much for cleaning up my messy kitchen. You don't know how much I was dreading doing that. And thank you for going the extra mile and cleaning around the fosset too...you really didn't have to do that...I know it is gross...but I am so greatful. Thank you everyone! We love you and can't tell you enough how much we appreciate you.

Our buzzzzzy boy

2008-10-17T21:05:00.004-06:00

We just got Zachary his new Halloween costume. We thought that everyone would like to see the cuteness for yourselves.

The Thanking Tree

Happy Valentine's Day!

If you're happy and you know it...

Dang Elephants!

more

Autumn

Bad Day

Another Thankful day!

Some Fun Stuff

Anniversary

Ah, Having a Good Life!

Snow Kids

Craft Day

Halloween

Beauty Queen

Gracie's first birthday!

Some Cute Pictures

Brandi's Gooey Protein Bars

Some Cuteness

She's Crawling

Recipes

Long Awaited

More Cuteness

I am a Blogging maniac this week

St Patties Day Craft

Let's See If I Can Remember

Bad News

Table

more videos

Finally

Shallots

Chicken Stir-Fry

Two Recipes

Books!

camera issues

Halloween

Zachary's Birthday

Happenings contn'd

Happenings

Lotsa stuff

Swimmin'

Trouble

Lotsa' News

A Dream

Batman and Undies

Baby Sister

June

Mother's Day Gifts

The Baby

That video

I am trying to finally post these

February

Not Much

Pregnant!

Singing

Cute Throw-up

Simon Says, "Dance!"

Raspberries!

This Leads to This

Pictures of my house

VIDEOS!

PICTURES!

My Little Boy

Long Lost Pictures

Charmer

Life so far

Ahhh My Kid!

Another one

Zachary

Thomas

It's So Cozy....

12345

Dress Up

Life

PICTURES!!!

Best Mother's Day Yet!

Makin Cookies

Security Forces

Life Lately

They call me Handsomzack