A milestone

In January, Zack lost his first tooth! It was wiggly for a few weeks and then one night at his grandma's he was eating an apple and out it came. He was a little upset at first especially since there was a little blood, but then he put it in a baggie so he could show us and put it under his pillow. That night the tooth fairy came and left him three dollars. She also left the tooth, because it was his first. He looks so cute with the little gap in his mouth!

What I Need

My cousin posted this on her blog and I thought it was funny. This is what you do:

Google your name with the word needs, as in "Julie needs" and see what comes up. Post the first ten so we can all see what you need!!

Deidra Needs...to get a home soon.
Deidra Needs...to do before the next practice.
Deidra Needs...to cone and don't attack rainbow stripe.
Deidra Needs...a little help.
Deidra Needs...assistance since she will be out on maternity leave.
Deidra Needs...all the friends we can get right?
Deidra Needs...a comment since she hasn't had one since June 4th.
Deidra Needs...another volunteer as well as police connection.
Deidra Needs...a swimming pool.
Deidra Needs...6 people to help with the craft.

Mostly it's just fun to see your name in an Internet search, especially if you have a name like mine!

Zack says...

I don't have much to say lately, nothing is happening in our lives except work, housework, churchwork, and volunteer work. But Zack has said some cute/interesting things recently.

**Z: Mom, did you know a monster truck could crush our house?!
Me: Yeah, it's a good thing we don't have a monster truck, huh?
Z: Yes, but it would be soooo cool!

**I was watching American Idol with my mom and my sister Ally one day and Zack was on the couch engrossed in his Nintendo DS game.

Ally: That guy is hot!
Z: (barely looking up from game) You already have Mike as a husband and that's all I'm going to say.

**Mom, if I am mean to Simpson and we have to give him to another family, can we buy a cat or a guinea pig?

**Mom, look! I'm growing a new tooth!

**Yesterday I realized my day planner was missing from my purse. I proceeded to ransack the house looking for it, called everywhere I had been, asking if anyone had seen it, and called Steve at work to see if he had seen it. When it didn't turn up I may have shed a few tears (I can't really remember but I was having a really bad day). As I was sitting and contemplating how my life was now over, Zack comes into the room and sits down with a toy. Then he says: "Your day planner? Is that a little blue book thing? (Yes, I said suspiciously) Oh yeah, when I took my DS games out of your purse yesterday I accidentally took it. I threw it in my room somewhere." Aaaaghhh! Why didn't I just ask him in the first place? I should always assume when something is missing, that he had something to do with it.

**The other day, Steve says to me "Zack said the MOST amazing thing this morning". "Oh yeah, what?" I said. "I can't remember but it was amazing." He said. Great.




Zack at his Patriotic Program for school. He is looking off to the side while the other kids are totally focused on the teacher leading the music. He did sing most of the time and is getting so good at these things. He said his part perfectly into the microphone: "One nation means one country". Also, the bloody hand prints behind him actually made up the stripes of the American Flag.

Birthday Fun

We decided we would do a fun birthday party every other year, and this year was a party year. I let Zack choose everything. The only limit I set was number of guests: 7. (I get too stressed to entertain a million kids, for my own sanity I have to keep it small.)

Theme: Harry Potter
Place: Jungle Jims
Cake: White on white
Friends: Christopher, Christopher, Andrew, Dresden, Logan, Riley, and Cooper
Accessories: Harry Potter balloons, Harry Potter glasses and lightning bolt tattoos, Harry Potter tableware.

He and his friends had a good time riding rides, playing games and redeeming their tickets for junk...er, I mean prizes!

He got so many nice gifts from his friends, people are really generous. From mom and dad he got Legos, a DS game, battleship, and DS accessories.

Grandma Rodgers and Auntie Ally were so nice to come and help! What would I do with out them?

Six Happy Years

It was Zack's birthday a couple of weeks ago and I thought I would post a photo montage of his life by year. (I REALLY wish I was a better photographer!)

We love him so much and are so blessed to have him. He is truly a miracle and we enjoy every minute with him!

Here are some of his favorites:

Color: blue
Animal: elephant
Sport: baseball
Food: mac n cheese
Drink: chocolate milk
Candy: fruit snacks
Toy: nintendo ds
Book: his homework books (that Mrs. Bailey sends home)
Movie: Star Wars
TV show: word girl
Store: Toys R Us
Vacation spot: California
Restaurant: Rock Creek Pizza

Just Born


One year old


Two years old


Three years old


Four years old


Five years old


Six years old

Stress Relief

So last night Steve and I settled in for some TV catch up. First on the list was the last 2 episodes of The Office.

I really don't remember the last time I lauged so hard. The first half of Sunday's episode (titled Stress Relief) had me in tears and then my abs started hurting like I was working them out or something. Dwights fire drill was the BEST! Angela throwing her cat? Hysterical! I could go on and on. If you haven't seen it, you must. You can watch it HERE.

Bloggers Beware!

I saw this news bit on another blog and thought it was good info to share.

I HATE scammers. They are just savvy thieves.

My most embarrassing moment, EVVVVERRRR!

This evening I went to a Foster Care forum/meeting at our adoption agency. Steve was volunteering at the Draper Temple open house so I took Zack and his Nintendo DS with me.

We were a little late so we took the only vacant spot on the second row, as far from the door as you could get. I settled Zack on my lap, he inserted his headphones into his ears and commenced playing. We were given a presentation from 3 couples in front and then were asked if we had any questions. The room was deadly silent as people formulated questions in their minds.

Suddenly, Zack tensed his body. Before I could react: tooooooot! The sound echoed off my legs and around the room. I slowly bent to his deaf ear and hissed "no, no, no!" His reaction? He loudly said: "I had to mom, I had to!"

As this exchange was happening I became aware of the seriously AWFUL smell that resulted from his undisciplined behind. Not only was it awful, it was loooong lasting. My face was most definitely as red as it can get and I was suddenly roasting hot.

Luckily, no one laughed or gasped in horror. The room continued in silence. I am not sure how. If I had been someone else in the room, I am sure I would have laughed, at least quietly.

I scurried out as soon as the meeting was over. I don't remember the last time I was that embarrassed.

During the car ride home Zack got a lecture on how just because you can't hear what's going on (because you are wearing earphones), doesn't mean everyone else can't hear either. When I demonstrated how loud it had been he was hysterical with laughter.

We will now commence training on how to hold things in.

GUM!

I think gum should be illegal for 5 year olds.

Earlier today I found 6, yes SIX pieces of chewed up gum smashed into the carpet of my car. Luckily it is freezing cold and not summer, most of it just came right up.

Then, just a minute ago, I emptied out the dryer to find remnants of gum smeared all over the inside of it. I can't find any clothes with gum on them so I am hoping it all just stayed on the walls of the dryer.

Nice! Zack has been banned from gum, until I forget about this.


(I can't be mad at this cute mug for long!)

A shoppers best friend....

Can I just say that sometimes, I am grateful for the invention of handheld gaming systems?

Just the other day I learned from Alisha on Good Things Utah that Dillards was having a 75% off boots sale. Since I was in need of some dressy black books, Zack and I immediately headed over to the mall, normally a place of horror for an almost 6 year old.

We entered the shoe department to behold rack after rack spilling over with designer boots, in no particular order. I had my work cut out for me. Zack happily settled into a comfortable chair with his Nintendo DS and earphones and I was off!

I must have tried on 50 pairs of black boots in the sizes between 7 1/2 and 8 1/2 during the next hour. I finally settled on a classic knee high pair that will hopefully be in style longer than the faux leather pair I last bought.

I must say it was the best shopping experience I have ever had with Zack in tow. He didn't run around, hide, get lost, lay on the floor and roll around, climb a shelf, whine, cry, yell, pout or ask when we were leaving once! He even watched my giant purse for me so I could peruse unhindered by it's weight.

I had a similar experience the other day at the grocery store. From now on, we are saving his Nintendo time for shopping!

Risking our lives for a little fun

A couple of weeks ago we decided to take Zack sledding to our local sledding hill. Uncle Jeff really wanted to go too so we invited him. We had a fancy new sled from Costco to try out, an old, round, plastic disc and Jeff's plastic toboggan. Let me just say that people are CRAZY! I sledded a little but mostly watched and time after time I saw people almost kill themselves or others. It was nuts! But, the boys had fun and we were all able to avoid injuries. And, it turns out the cheapest, most plastic sleds are the best. We took our fancy one back to Costco for a full refund!

Jeff and Zack zooming down the hill


Uncle Jeff and Zack with the lame Costco sled


The three boys all racing down the hill, Zack ended up backwards a lot

A little late....

Our favorite Christmas gifts of 2008:


Santa brought me a new Dyson Animal Vacuum! I have been wanting one for a long time. Blasted dog hair!


A Hanten (It is a Japanese jacket/robe) Steve brought one back from his mission and wore it until it disintegrated. Sometimes he comes home and sits around in his coat, which for some reason bugs me. So, two days before Christmas this idea came to me that he needed another Hanten. The fact that I found one in Utah was a Christmas miracle! Thank you Craigs list!


Santa brought Zack a Nintendo DS and two games (Mario cart and Lego Indiana Jones) to play. He wants to play it ALL the time!


A brand new giant Nylabone to chew! He takes it everywhere and we keep stubbing our toes on it. Ouch!

Santa also brought our family a Guitar Hero World Tour band set. We have had a lot of fun rockin out and Zack is learning to play the drums! If you haven't tried it you definitely should.

Simpson wants to say...

Happy New Year!

I always knew it...

Ha ha! This is so funny! I wouldn't have made it in the 1930's. Maybe I'm still not makin' it. Ask Steve what he thinks!

28 As a 1930s wife, I am Poor Take the test!

Thanks Sally Girl for the idea!

Is that kid OK?

**Is your child soooo happy and excited that it's Christmas?
**Does your child have a meltdown if you tell him you will not buy him a nutcracker?

**Does your child tell you how many days till Christmas, 5 times each day, smiling like he will burst?
**Does your child cry and whine because the Christmas CD you burned him isn't up to snuff?

**Does your child break out in Christmas song and ask to hear Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer 8 times in a row in the car?
**Does your child whip you repeatedly with his new scarf while you drive the car and get offended when you yell and confiscate the scarf?

**Does your child ask you: "What have you always wanted for Christmas? I will buy it for you!"
**Does your child bounce off the pews in church, fight with his friend in primary, storm out of his primary classroom and glare at his primary teachers?

**Does your child happily declare that he is giving all his money ($2) to his Uncle (Jeff) for Christmas?
**Does your child get mad and refuse to sit on Santa's lap because he already sat on Santa's lap and this is a different Santa and he already told him what he wanted and how many Santa's are there anyway?

**Does your child freely admit that he was disobedient at the church Christmas party, agree to clean the car as his consequence and then happily finish the task?
**Does your child eat nothing but candy all day, stolen from candy dishes around the house and then have a donut for lunch? (OK the donut was my idea!)

**Does your child go around excitedly telling people all of the things he's getting for Christmas because he circled them in a toy catalog so that means he must be getting them?
**Does your child poke your dog with a fork to see what will happen?

**Does your child wear a fur trimmed Santa hat around the house and try to get the dog to wear one too?
**Does your child refuse to get out of the car and go into ONE MORE store?

Think your child might be going crazy? Nope, it's just Christmas.

Happy Holidays! Hope we all survive!