I Love...

My ZaCh! I was picking up his room today and came across this...

The date is August 31, 2008. We must have been playing doctor, and he was the patient. This pad of paper and clipboard came with his doctor dress ups. His answers are pretty cute. It goes a little like this.

Patient Name - Uncle Tyson (I think he is a little obsessed with his uncle Tyson)
Address - California (Where Tyson was called to serve his mission)
Telephone Number - 43567 (I will have to work on this one with him)
Date of Birth - 17 more
Age - 4 (I wonder if he thinks Uncle Tyson acts this old sometimes...hahaha)
Medications - Picture
Allergies - Grandma (I hope not)
Blood Type - Right Knee (Tyson hurt his knee while out in California)
Reason for Visit - Bad Knee, Basketball hit his knee (He got this one right)

Funny the things kids pick up on. Speaking of that, on Monday night he said "crap", but I have forgotten in what reference to. Guess Justin and better start watching what we say. Not that crap is a bad word, but just sounds bad coming from an almost 4 year old's mouth.

The making believe and pretend play just got better with this new addition of the "Knight."

I am not sure if Backyardigans is getting replaced, but Yo Gabba Gabba is giving it a run for its money.

And in case one time wasn't enough...

There's a First For Everything...

Even Kate's first PoNyTaIl! Her hair is finally long enough to twist into a little rubberband. I can finally say good-bye to her ripping her headbands off her head. On second thought, now I have to say hello to actually doing her hair. I don't know which is better.

Here's a little random video Justin took of the kids while I was at work. They have such funny personalities.

You Can't Live in Philadelphia...

And leave without first going to an EaGlEs GaMe!!! For Justin's birthday back in September I surprised him tickets to an Eagles game. Thanks to some great friends(who we will forever be indebted to, and who happen to have an in for getting tickets), I was able to make this happen. What an incredible night. Definitely one that will not be forgotten. Here are a few highlights from the night...

Your Eagles Offense.

A couple of the crazy and most likely drunk Eagles fans. This guy had a mechanical bird flapping its wings on his hat.

The view from our seats.

Inside the Club Suite Level. Thanks to this we stayed warm.

Sarah B. you were there in spirit. Yes. Elvis in his Eagles suit.

Before the game started they had a cover bad outside getting the fans pumped up for the game. They were awesome. This, being Philadelphia, is particularly fitting.

And for every touchdown...I still get the words mixed up. Some things never change. I wish I could say I learned my Alma mater's fight song, but I don't, so here's to an attempt at the Eagles.

Giants won 36-31. It didn't matter though, Justin was still in Heaven.

Out of the Mouth...

Of this babe, Zach's friend Aleah, comes this sweet and innocent little story...

Zach and Aleah have been playing non-stop every afternoon outside, while the weather is still somewhat nice. After about an hour they always venture back inside one of their houses. This time being mine. They play with toys for a little while, but eventually get bored of the toys and ask for the TV or...

Zach - "Mom can I show Aleah my favorite game on Playhouse Disney on the "concuter"?"

Me - "Sure."
(While I was changing the page on the computer, Aleah saw my Yahoo page with Obama's picture on the news feed."

Aleah - "Hey, that's Barack Obama!" pointing her little finger at the screen.

Me - "You're right!"

Aleah - "Yeah, I don't like him!"

So take it from the mouths of babes. I was more impressed that she knew who he was. Zach has no idea. At school on Tuesday they had him vote between a cat and a dog. He chose the dog. That's about how much voting/election/political education has taken place in our home. It really is true that we learn by example. I guess you know who her parents voted for on Tuesday.

I Was Recently Enlightened...

That "the key to wearing spandex is to make sure that you wear the spandex and not let the spandex wear you". (Thanks Ginnie!!! After all these years I have finally found the light!) Hopefully this was the case when I dressed up in this get-up to work last Friday, in hopes to win a $100 gift certificate to Target, for the best costume. I hope the women that were in my class forgive me for the fabulous medley of 80's music, sweat, and endless squats. Lovin that spandex...

Halloween Isn't Halloween...

Until you attend the annual Trunk or Treat, or given another name this year, and a slightly different game plan, Fall Harvest Festival. You know when costumes are involved, the event is bound to be fun. Zach and Kate were excited to be there. This year, instead of going room to room and trick or treating for candy, our church had several booths for the kids to play various Halloween games. Zach bobbed for pumpkins, walked in the costume parade, ate a doughnut off of a string, did a bing bag toss, got his face painted, etc. It is safe to say he didn't want to leave.

This is Zach with his friend Aleah(Goldie Locks). Her mom, dad and baby sister were the three bears. I couldn't talk Justin into dressing up as anything, but our friend Austen decided to dress up as Justin, back when he played soccer for BYU, even up to the way Justin styles his hair. Justin was definitely surprised to turn and see his uniform on Austen. We all got a good laugh.

I dressed up as a ballerina. (Thanks to Justin's mom for passing this fabulous costume along.) I was going to put on my old point shoes, but was glad I didn't after being called up to start the adult limbo contest. What? Yes I took this bad boy through three rounds of the limbo. Alex Cabot and Laila Stratton were giving me a run for my money.

I pulled through though and won! My prize? A Zwahlans Chocalate Carmel Apple. Not too shabby.

Justin was feeling a little left out, so I let him put on my costume for a little bit. He got a lot more love in it than I did. Lets just say a few people got fresh with Justin in this costume. I think people were afraid I would feel violated if they touched me while I was wearing it.

Nice Lee!

Presenting...

Pablo's best friend, and partner in backyard imagination...UnIqUa! Zach could hardly wait for Halloween to come to have Kate dress up with him. These costumes are so fun, and best of all, the easiest things to get on and off. They have been a hit! So far they have been worn to library story time and our church's Fall Harvest Fest...pictures to come. They will definitely get their wear this week, as well as months, and maybe even years to follow.

Let the Debate Begin...

Justin and I have this unspoken debate between us of which of our kids looks like me or him. Of course Justin likes to think they both look like him, which isn't a bad thing. He definitely didn't get hit with the ugly stick. How could you resist that face in the last picture? But, I would like to think that I am partly right when I say our kids look a little like me too...It might be a little too early to tell, especially with Kate, but can you guess who looks like who?

Kate Turned 1...

HaPpY bIrThDaY "Little Oney"! It's hard to believe that a year ago I was bringing her home from the hospital. Since a year ago she has more than doubled her size, all 17lbs. and 12oz. of her. Although she is still our little peanut, she is constantly surprising us with all her new found talents. Here are a few of Kate's Favorite things.

Climbing into the cupboards and emptying them all out onto the floor.

Turning any toy into a phone. This one being a portable Solitaire game.

Playing with her doll and climbing into her toy stroller.

We celebrated her turning 1 with the Marostica side of the family. Great Grandma Joye, Aunt Debbie, and Aunt Gayle were all in town. And of course Grandma, Grandpa and uncle Tyson were there too. I made some cupcakes(you can see Zach had a little taste test on one of them) and got her a little party hat to wear, which didn't last long, but was cute for the moment it stayed on her head. We sang Happy Birthday and Zach helped her blow out her candle. She was a little hesitant at first, but eventually dug into her cupcake, ending up with not too big of a mess, just a few cupcake booggies.

If Ever Your Feeling...

Down, drained, over worked, unappreciated or just plain tired, and are having thoughts such as I never have enough time to get everything done, I stink as a wife, I am going to screw up my own kids, I need a break, the list of things to do is never ending, this mom/housewife thing is not all that it is cracked up to be, or better yet, I could use a nice swift kick in the rear, then Time Out For Women is the perfect remedy.

WOW!!! What a great way to spend a Saturday. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first agreed to buy a ticket to go. All I knew was that friends of mine, who had gone in the past, said that it was fun. Who doesn't need a little fun, and not mention, a day with some girlfriends? It may be cheesy, but pretty safe to say, that right as I walked in the door to the event, I knew it was going to be a great experience while chills ran up my spine. I know, how cliche right? Should I start baring my testimony now? Honestly though, I have never been told so many things that have made me feel so good about myself and the things that I am doing. Not so much in a "I am justified" way, but more "I am on the right track" sort of way. The messages the presenters spoke about motivated me to be a better wife, mother, and friend, and what I got most out of the entire day was to enjoy even the simplest things out of each day, and to know that I, like several other women who attended the event, are in the same boat, living to same day to day life. And just when you think you are the only one... OK so let's sum up this goodness. I appreciate where I have come from, I love where I am at, and am looking forward for what's to come. Make any sense? I think I am going to have to go every year now. It is coming to Portland this coming weekend. My mom, sisters and friends better get their tickets.

Some of the greatest friends I know.

The woman that made my weekend one to remember and now has me playing her CD on my itunes on my most played list. None other than Hilary Weeks. The entire day could have been her singing at the piano and I would have been fine with that. Watch here to see what had me laughing but couldn't be more true to what a mom's day is like. *Make sure you select "Watch in High Quality"