Zack didn't have school on Halloween so we spent the day carving pumpkins. I used a template to do this one.


Zack designed this one himself and I cut it out for him. Both of these pumpkins were home grown in our garden. Out of 4 pumpkin plants planted, we got two measely pumpkins! That shows what a green thumb I have. We will try again next year! (This pumpkin is actually quite large, but the other one was pretty small)


For family home evening one night we made this scary gingerbread house. Zack was the designer and I was the assistant. Steve took a nap on the couch. (I sure am glad that I don't have a stressful, full-time job!)

More Funny Things From Zack

Whenever Zack says funny things, I jot them down on a post-it note and then when I have a few I post them.  Here is the latest from our goof-ball. 

Z:  (Urgently)  I need you to do something for me....like you're my humble servant.

*************************************************************

Z:  For Christmas, could you give me an i-pod?  Or maybe a phone?

*************************************************************

Our family was driving down the street and we passed a tattoo shop. Then.....

Z:  I wish I could be a "dude" kid and then I would have a skull tattoo.

S:  What's a "dude"?

Z:  You don't know? (incredulous)

S:  Someone like me?

Z:  Hysterical laughing for 30 seconds then....No!

*************************************************************

While we were at the Tower of Terror (see below) Zack came across some leather wrist bands (like a bracelet, wide leather with snaps, you know?)  He wanted to buy them for $8 each and said they were what "dudes" wear.  Where did he come up with this concept of DUDES?

Our little "Dude" getting ready to go "hunting" with daddy

Our California Adventure

A couple of weeks ago (I know, I am soooo slow!) we went on our annual California trip. We usually go in May so it was nice to switch things up and go in the fall this time. The weather was so perfect! Hot on our beach days and warm on our Disneyland days. We stayed with Steve's brother as usual in his comfy house in the beautiful Laguna Niguel area. It is 5 minutes from the beach and 30 minutes from Disneyland. He is so great to let us come every year and he even spent a day with us at Disneyland which made it that much more fun.

We spent one day at Disneyland and one day at California Adventure. We spent three days at the beach and we also were able to go to the beloved Orange County Market and do some shopping and drink fresh squeezed lemonade. I could have stayed all day, despite that fact that I was coming down with some dreaded illness and I felt like poop. I love shopping!

Also on our agenda was EATING. We have our favorites and we usually hit them all on our trips to Cali. First off is In-And-Out Burger, then a fish taco joint, then Jack In The Box (per Steve's request, I could skip this one). That's the extent of our fast food tour. Next is sushi in Laguna Beach, Shabu-Shabu in Little Tokyo, and Yaki Niku in Costa Mesa. The Yaki Niku was a first this year and we are going to try and find a better restaurant next year (if you have any recommendations in the area). We also indulged in Japanese pears via Costco and some delish Hagen Das chocolate-chocolate ice cream bars (only allowed on vacation). I almost forgot, on our way there we stopped overnight in Mesquite and had a surprisingly good prime rib dinner for only $4.99. We'll do that again!

We all had a really fun, relaxing trip and we realize how blessed we are to be able to take fun trips like this. It is something that is important to us both, making time for R and R, having fun and making family memories that Zack will have his whole life.

Uncle Shawns Macaw, Skyler.  Deidra can't get too close to her because Skyler hates her (she hates most women so I don't take it personally). Zack likes to look at her but not hold her because her claws are sharp and scary.  She's really pretty and talks alot.

This day we were at Newport beach.  Zack is warming up after playing in the water.  Deidra's idea of a good time at the beach is reading her book!

This was the first time Zack tried boogie boarding and he was really good at it. He just didn't like getting the water in his mouth!

Our little surfer boy!

Steve shows him the ropes!

Disney's California Adventure

Notice the hat Zack picked out, it has a strap on front where you can attach the sunglasses that came with it.  

Since Deidra doesn't ride circular rides, Steve took Zack on this one. See Zack waving his Mickey Mouse hat?

I think we were the last people to leave the park that night, it was deserted! Right across from where we are standing is the best soft serve ice cream we have ever had.  Zack had cotton candy flavoring on his cone and I had a root beer float, Yum!

We almost didn't ride this ride, the line was 30 minutes long but we decided to anyway.  I can't remember the name of it but it was something to do with Buzz and Woody and it was super fun. It was like an arcade game where you shoot at stuff and get points (kind of like the buzz ride at Disneyland but different).  For the first time in my life I got a higher score than Steve on something!  Yes!  It was well worth the wait.  

So excited waiting to ride the Tower of Terror!

We tried to go back to Disneyland after CA closed but it was Friday night and soooo busy we couldn't stand it.  We rode like 3 rides, got caught in the parade traffic and then got out of there.  We were starving by then (ice cream only holds you over for so long) so we went to the IHOP across the street for a dinner breakfast.  Kids eat free...yeah!

Steve and Zack, waiting for lift-off!

Zack loved the river run and got soaked!

Our all time favorite ride was this - The Hollywood Tower of Terror!  We had no idea what we were getting into when we first got on.  Then after it was over, we had to ride it again!

I look terrified - which I was and Steve and Zack just look like they are having a great time - which they were!

Zack was dying to have his face painted so we shelled out the $12 for this cool snake.  He loved it!  I was surprised he wanted to do it because he doesn't like it when people stare at him.

Disneyland

Our family and Uncle Shawn on Big Thunder Railroad

We love Disneyland!

Deidra was really wet after Splash Mountain! (Well, we all were but I got it the worst)

When we were almost to the end of Splash Mountain, the ride broke. We sat, soaking wet in the chilly cave for about 10 minutes before we were rescued by a cast member who kept calling us "loggers". He helped us out of the boats and we had to shimmy along a ledge to the exit door. Zack didn't want to get this close to the bunny but we made him.

Even though the cast member told him not to, Steve kept filming and taking pictures while we found our way from the back lot to the magic that is Disneyland.

Zack's favortie video

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

My monkey's circus performance

On Wednesday Zack's kindergarten had their annual Circus Performance. His teacher assigned him the part of monkey, which I thought was totally appropriate and asked that we send him in a monkey costume, but that there would be a monkey mask provided for him. My mom and I spent some time making him a really cute costume out of brown sweats and some fur. We got a brown hat and sewed on some cute monkey ears made from the fur too. He was darling in it! So the day came, we invited the grandparents and a couple of uncles, and Steve planned to go into work late that day. The performance started and there he was in his cute costume and mask on (which happened to have ears attached to it). I assumed he was singing all along but it was hard to know since he had the mask on.

Then it was finally time for the monkey number, last but not least. All the monkeys trooped up to the front of the stage, all except for Zack. He stayed firmly planted in the rafters, despite the teacher aids attempts to get him to go up with the other monkeys. She finally gave up and left him there. (Did I state that he was the cutest monkey there? He was!) So, while the other monkeys performed, my monkey removed his mask and scowled at me throughout the number. There may have even been some foot stomping going on.

After the number was over Mrs Bailey, said a few words and then she said that she wanted Zack to come up and show off his cute costume that his grandma had made him. She had to literally carry him off the rafters and he was really shy but he stood there with her.

Then the program was over and all the proud parents greeted their happy children. Mine came running to me, jumped on my lap and burst into tears. I told him he was so brave for being in the program and singing the songs. He told me he didn't sing at all. He was too mad because he had to wear 4 ears! He was upset because he was wearing the hat with the ears and the mask also had ears! What a silly boy. I could tell his heart was a little broken because he just cried and cried. I tried to reassure him and told him that no one cared if he had four ears, he was still an awesome monkey. But more than the ear issue I know that it is really just him being so scared to be up there in front of everyone. These are the times that you realize how much you love your kids! My heart was broken for him.

I don't know what to do with him, whenever we have a primary program he won't even go up to the stage with out kicking and screaming and then he just stands up there and scowls at everyone. No singing. He won't participate in sharing time to give a talk or a prayer either. I am hoping he will just grow out of it and I am trying to be really nice about it so he is not traumatized for life. I have even tried bribery. I told him that if he would go up and sing in the primary program and say his part that I would buy him the Lego Deathstar. (It is $399.99!) He wasn't swayed much by my offer and then we ended up gong out of town anyway so we were both off the hook. If anyone has any advice of how I can help him get over this fear, I'm open!



There he is with his four ears (six if you count his own!)



If looks could kill! I think that kid just asked him why he wasn't up with the other monkey's!



Zack with his Uncle Jeff



He wasn't happy to be singled out but at least he stood there! Mrs Bailey was so nice to him, hugged him and loved him after the program.

The Big Day

Last Thursday my sister Ally got married to the most awesome guy Mike. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a great day and we had so much fun! Mike comes from a really fun family and it was fun to get to know them better too. We hope Mike and Ally enjoyed it as much as we did and that they are happy forever more. Congrats guys, we love you! Here are the preliminary pictures, it's all I have for now.

Lake Powell

A couple of weekends ago we went to Lake Powell with our friends and had a fabulous time camping and boating. The weather was gorgeous and the water was nice and green. Zack had the time of his life and Steve didn't want to come home. We wouldn't mind living there every August-October! Zack even tried waterskiing, but we forgot to tell him to blow out his nose and he sort of drank a bunch of water and didn't want to have anything to do with it after that. Maybe he'll try again another time! Thanks to our friends Rick and Mindy for inviting us to go with them!

Tagged Again

OK but this one is fun because it is:

Five things I love about Zack:

1. He's all about the hugs and kisses and always want's to "snuggle wuggle".

2. He absolutely adores babies and always points them out to me, often accompanied by: "don't you wish we could have a baby like that?"

3. He loves music, I mean like, real music like what they play on the radio, not those pansie kiddie songs. He sings along and always has perfect pitch. (It can however be embarrassing when your five year old belts out "I kissed a girl and I liked it..."! in the midst of a family party.) (I hope I didn't offend anyone :( who listens to kiddie music)

4. He loves lego's. This love affair keeps him occupied for hours on end in his bedroom where he builds and creates amazing things from his imangination. He also spends hours looking through his lego catalog deciding which set will be his next purchase.

5. He is a daredevil! He is not scared of much, just singing/speaking in the primary program at church and new foods.



Now I tag: Judy - Katie and Becca - Eli

Six insignificant things about me

(I have never been tagged before so I hope this is what I am supposed to do!)

1.  When ever I am alone in the car I blast the music really, really loud.

2.  I love going to Lake Powell so much that if someone invites us 4 days before they are going I will drop everything I have going on to be able to go. 

3.  I hardly EVER pay full price for anything.  

4.  I HATE being video recorded and I always come off as being really mean, even though I am really just embarrassed.

5.  I am a recovering perfectionist.

6.  I am a night owl!  I drag around all day and then at 7:00 pm I get a blast of energy and think I can conquer the world (or at least clean my house!)

I tag Samantha and Kris!