My Funny Little Valentine...

Well not really mine, as in my own child, but a funny little girl in Zach's class.

Here is the preface...
All the kids in Zach's class had just finished eating their treats from their little party, and his teacher, Mr. McBeth, had them all seated on the carpet to discuss what traditions their family had on Valentine's Day, or what was their family going to do special today, in honor of Valentine's Day.

Here's where it gets good...
The kids talked about going out to eat, or making sandwiches in the shape of a heart, etc. when suddenly one little girl, raised her hand, and said, "My mom and dad are going to have sex!"

We(all the adults in the room) were dying!!! Mr. McBeth chuckled, I busted up laughing, and her poor mom in the back of the room was in denial. Luckily, none of the kids caught on to what she had said, but I tell you, kids say the darnedest things!

Happy Valentine's Day!

On Two Wheels...

The cold wintery month of January seems to be to most unlikely month to learn how to ride a bike, but not for Zach.

Fortunately, we have been having some unusually great weather for January here in Portland. So a couple of weeks ago the kids and I were outside shooting some hoops and Kate was riding Zach's old bike. I decided to grab his big boy bike that he refused to learn how to ride this past summer, and began riding circles around him as he was shooting hoops. I teased him a little about how I could ride his bike and he couldn't, in a nice mommy way of course. But then I thought about it and started to ask him if he wanted to try to ride it. I tried to make him feel confident that he wouldn't get hurt because he could touch the ground without falling over because he has grown a few inches. My teasing payed off because although very nervous, five minutes into his attempt to ride a two wheeler, he became a "pro", as he described his new found skill.

I am so proud of him. And more importantly he is so proud of himself. He has become more daring since he learned two weeks ago, and is now picking up more speed and attempting to stand up on the pedals.

On to Basketball...

Zach is taking a little break from soccer and is now into basketball, and loving it! Saturday was his first game. He had Justin up at 8am for a little early morning practice just to make sure he was ready. But even at 7am he had gotten completely dressed, and had his basketball in his backpack and was pacing with excitement. The pacing reminds me so much of when Justin and I were first married. Before all of Justin's BYU soccer games, he was dressed and ready to go two hours before he had to be there and would be pacing our little 600 sq. ft. apartment. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Zach had a successful first game and even scored a basket, but of course I didn't get it on tape.

Here's a few highlights...

And a Month Later...

I am finally getting around to Christmas! So I will keep this short and sweet. We had a great Christmas this year. And as every year goes, it came and went all too quickly! Zach was especially excited for the gifts portion of the festivities this year, no matter how many times we tried to remind him the real reason for the season. The big hits this year were the clone trooper costume, plasma cars and the homemade quilts from Grandma RaeLynn.

It is always fun to see who will be in town for Christmas every year, and this year Casey and his family decided to come into town. As much as it is crazy when all the cousins get together, it is also a fun time. Zach loves having so many cousins around and seems to disappear for hours playing when they are all around. We are hoping Kate learns to do the same but she is very much into her territorial stage of life, and likes to make what is hers known, in her ever so sweet and sassy ways to boot.

All in all it was a nice Christmas. My mom and siblings made some yummy food, and we had an over abundance of kids to role play in our annual nativity. Snow would have been nice, but then again we weren't freezing. Next year I am hoping to be more prepared so it won't go by so fast. SO much for short and sweet huh?

Let's Go Oregon...

After Zach's basketball practice on Saturday, we stopped by Krispy Kreme for a little doughnut love and look what we found! Aren't these the cutest little snowmen, all decked out for the Oregon game?

University of Oregon has had an amazing season. I know this not because I have watched every game, but because of the loyal fans around these parts who wear their yellow and green like its going out of style. I have to say it is fun to be surrounded by all the hype and its hard not to want to jump on the bandwagon. Although we will always bleed white and blue, for today let's go Ducks!

Oh and Amy that maple bar is just for you! YUM

Our New Cousin Anderson...

It has already been a month, and I finally got a few pics of this big guy with the kids. For some reason they won't hold him, but they love to look at at him and tell the grown-ups around what he is doing and thinking. He is a sweet baby and we are excited to have a new cousin to play with. Congrats Paige and Patrick!

Family Pictures 2010...

My sister-in-law Mari took these photos of us this October. She did a great job on these and we couldn't thank her enough for sqeezing us in. To see more of her work check out her photography BLOG!

He Lost His Tooth...

Zach has officially joined the missing teeth club, if there is such a thing of course. His permanant tooth had been growing behind his baby tooth, so I took him in to see Justin. Justin cleaned his teeth and then started numbing the front of his mouth. Without telling Zach what he was doing, he reached in with his pliers and yanked the tooth out! Zach cried for a moment and then settled still with no idea that his tooth had been pulled. As Justin sat him up we had him look on the tray and there was his tooth. Zach's response was "Cool!" and then moments later, "That didn't even hurt!", and a couple minutes later, "I was so brave!" I would have to agree, no shot, no indication of anyone pulling your tooth, you are brave Zach!

Now if he would just put his tooth under his pillow, maybe the tooth fairy would pay him a visit, but he is too proud of this tooth, that he is waiting until all his cousins have had a chance to look at it before rendering it to the tooth fairy.

Happy Birthday Zach-a-doo!

Zach turned 6! Wow time flies. It seems like just the other day I was in the hopsital looking over at him sleeping in his new born plastic bed, thinking...I am this this little guy's mom, and feeling so inadequate. But look, we made it, 6 years, and many more to come.

This year was the STARS WARS all boy party, and it was wild, 3-D glasses, Darth Vador masks and all! I think the boys all had a good time. We ate pizza and had cupcakes, played games, opened some presents, and even took some swings at a pinata. Zach scored on his legos and star wars garb, and has been in birthday gift heaven ever since. He's just a little obsessed.

Here's the annual breakdown on Zach:
Loves anything and everything star wars
Loves him some legos
Thinks that now that he is 6 he is automatically a first grader
Loves his soccer and gymnastics classes
Loves the Upside Down Show
And is obsessed with the calendar and counting down the days to the main events in his life, such as holidays, birthdays, playdates, dinner with the cousins, full day Kindergarten, and such.

Zach we love you! We love your enthusiasm for life. You are incredibly sensitive and very thoughtful. You brighten our family and we could not imagine life without you.

O Christmas Tree...

Last weekend we took off to Lock Lolly Land, the best Christmas Tree Farm around these parts, in search for the perfect tree to put up in grandma and grandpa's house. This was Zach and Kate's first experience with cutting down a real tree. Zach, of course loved the whole saw aspect of it, as did his cousin Kyle. But it was Justin's saw skills that were put to the test.

After we loaded the tree up, we saw Santa and his reindeer. Kate told Santa she wants a puppy and Zach wants anything and everything starwars and legos related. I love the fact that I didn't have to pay an ounce for this picture with Santa by the way. This was a perfect way to get into the festive mood. Definitely a family tradition for years to come.