Zannah-isms

--On our "Polar Express" train ride, Zannah was given a letter to write her wish-list to later give Santa. I was her scribe and this is what she had me write down:

-Plate
-Fork
-Hotdog
-Sauce

She then sat on Santa's lap and gave him her letter. He looked puzzled.


--The other night while lying with Zannah in her bed, she rolled over trying to get comfortable and we were nose to nose.

She said, "Mommy, turn your face all the way over there."

Pointing away from her face.

"Your face stinks. Maybe if you take a shower it will be pretty again."

--One night she asked, "Daddy where did you come from?" And Marcus replied, "I just came from work." Zannah responded, "NOOOO, where did you come from? Did you come from Jesus like me?"

Max Happenings

Max likes to be held a lot, I love it, Marcus not so much. The best part is he still lays on your chest before you put him down for a nap or bed and lets you cuddle and sing to him. It melts my heart. He is much more sensitive than his sister. I can just say no to him and have him in tears. Where as you can spank Z and either she will turn around and hit you back or decide to laugh and tell you to spank her harder. It is unreal how different they are.

Getting blind-sided by a snowball from Zannah is just a normal day in the life of Maxer.
I swear I could just squeeze and kiss his cheeks off and most of the time he lets me.

It's a Party

It's a party around at all times of the day. Zannah sets up her "stuff" and invites all the rest of us to her party. Usually we are told where to sit and we are never allowed to touch much. Sometimes she serves us cookies or brownies after we eat something healthy of course, sometimes we have to sing "Happy Birthday Zannah" on demand.
Sometimes her party involves pictures of herself as a baby, because as she puts it, "baby Zannah is the cutest".

And sometimes it's not even a party, but a grand ball. Z will dance around the room and sing a tune. Max and I are only allowed to sit in the shade, as she calls it, and watch.

Life is never dull for her and that's a fact.

Date Night

Marcus and I went on a date to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert. It was an AWESOME head-banging good time. I would go again in a heart beat.

Thanksgiving 2011

I wish I took pictures of Dana's beautiful table setting or the family together eating or playing games. But, I didn't. I did get one of Callie, who is such a big help with the kiddos.

We had a fabulous laid-back Thanksgiving. I read from Tom and Dana's extensive book collection and got to go shooting at a sporting clay course with the boys. (They are always nice to include me). I even tied with Marcus's score, which he is not proud of..... And the kiddos played with their cousins and we went on a Polar Express train ride, it doesn't get better than that.

Halloween 2011

Busy Busy

I always worry that when life is busy and it seems to be just that lately, that I will forget what life is for us right now. Max has been walking since August. He gets cuter by the day if that is possible. And busier by the day, if that is possible. I forgot about the climb on everything stage. He requires retrieval from the table top multiple times a day. He is a tease, he loves his dad, and his cheeks are chubbier than ever. He has a shoe and sock fetish. It has become quite annoying to put socks and shoes on him 1021 times a day, so we try to keep those objects hidden. I still force him to take 2 naps a day, it's my sanity and he happily obliges.
Marcus walks in the door from a business trip and this is what happens each and every time. It does my heart good to see it.

Up North

We made a trek up north for Phil and Angela's reception. It was my first time to Pullman, Washington and northern Idaho. It was BEAUTIFUL! It's a shame I didn't take pictures of the rolling wheat fields and the old farm homes and red barns. But, I imagined our little family living in each and every one of them. Here is the barn the reception was held in. And there was a dance afterwards, but the kiddos were zonked and we headed back early.

Marcus was practicing his surprise-shoot-from-the-hip camera skills.

Sister Sister Wherefore Art Thou

I don't know why Charlotte and I are not meant to live within a state's distance of each other. So until that day when we are old widows living together, traveling, taking naps whenever we darn well please, driving by houses that we wish we owned, not knowing what to gripe about because we will have long since abandoned our "time of the months", when I'll do the laundry and she'll clean the bathrooms, because that is what we have agreed upon, our daily phone chats will have to suffice.


Before we are accused of being morbid for talking about life after the husbands have passed on, we have longevity in our genes and that is that.

Wedding of the Century

Phillip and Angela got married August 12th. It was a perfect day. I think weddings and receptions are so enjoyable when they are not your own. Angela is a natural beauty and she is every bit as sweet as she is beautiful. I think Phillip is a pretty darn good guy, so they were meant for each other! It goes to show good things come to those who wait and to those whose mom goes to the temple insane amounts of time praying that you will find the one :)

I forgot to get a picture of the reception set-up. My parents and the boys had the yard whipped into perfection. It would have been courteous of Lex and Justin to also get married this summer in order to utilize the yard.

Man alive I love these people. Like clench your jaw and pinch them kind of love, it's the only way I can describe what I do when I really really like something.

Never entrust camera rights to Justin and Cousin Ty.....goofballs.
Nothing says bring on the honeymoon like matching shirts and a blow-up dolphin.

Fun in the Summer

The higher the better for this kid.

Zannah and Marcus floating the Boise river.
We lost 3 of Marcus's deodorants in 3 days. But, at least Zannah's clothing and Max's hair were perspirant-free.

Her look of terror is a total fake-out. She couldn't get enough of these rides. Right after this picture, I took her to another ride, I watched her physically climb into the seat and then I walked over to where Marcus and his dad were standing. The ride started and Z was not on it. I about had a heart attack while we looked for her in the packed crowds. Marcus finally found her in line for a different ride. My ever present disdain for carnivals multiplied by ten.

Max sat just like this for about 20 minutes while I took a catnap. You can join me in my daily prayer requests that he will remain this laid back.

Grandma Dana's pool, I wish we could have made it there more often.

We found a great park with a splashpad. Isn't her zest for life contagious?

Pioneer Celebration

I decided and undecided about 10 times to go to Manassa for July 24th. Marcus wasn't able to go with us and I didn't know if I could handle taking the kids in a car for that long over just a weekend without him. But, my brothers all promised that they would really help out with the kids and drive most of the way, so we went. And they did help and as always, I'm glad we went. Four generations.This motorized chair was a hit with Max, Zannah and Justin.Watching the parade.
With so many of us in and out of our grandparents house, we write our names on our cups. One morning we woke up to find "Lex" comments.

Desperate Times

It's potty training time again. What is this, the fourth attempt? I've stopped counting. I blame my niece Natalie for putting the "cat" idea into my head. I like cats, as long as they aren't rubbing their hair on me or jumping into my lap and they aren't in the house and they aren't mine. But, I had a weak moment. A free kitten was offered and I needed some serious leverage. Z wins most of the battles around this house, but not this time my friends. This cat is the bartering tool I've been dreaming of. I dangle it in front of her pee-laden bladder all the day long. (Figuratively speaking, I don't physically dangle the cat in front of her, although that may work) And you know what, progress is finally being made. I'm seeing glimpses of Z's future and they don't involve kids pointing and laughing at her diaper clad bum in Kindergarten.

4th of July Fun

Cousins.

Water balloons. Volleyball tournament.

I want to squeeze this kid all the day long, he's so stinking cute.

Fun at the Firth reunion. Love is in the air. YEEEHAWW. He is getting hitched and we couldn't be happier to have Angela in the family.

Zannah took an impromptu swim while we were racing stick boats at the well. We had an excellent photographer who captured the whole ordeal. I was impressed with Z's doggy-paddling skills and bravery, not one single tear.

A new trampoline and 6 adults playing "crack the egg"

Is always going to end in one broken nose