Busy Boy

Before school got out the kindergarten had a rodeo. The kids made horses out of socks and yard sticks and then they took turns "riding" the horses around barrels for all the parents. They came up one by one and performed. I kept waiting for Zack's group to have their turn and suddenly it was over. All the kids had gone up. All except mine. I was so sad. He is just so shy and scared of being laughed at that he didn't think he could do it, so he just sat there. Well, he looked cute anyway.


Kindergarten graduation day


Zack is really into webkins. He buys them whenever he saves enough money. Then he takes their pictures. These ones are named: Bob, RoRo and Boue.


Zack's cute friends. They just got done making their hair "crazy" and then went out on the tramp.


Zack did baseball this spring. He really enjoyed it and we are going to do it again this fall. I think this is one area that he doesn't take after me. He is really good at sports.


He did get a little bored in the outfield and kept throwing his mitt in the air and catching it.


Waiting for some action.

Camping Fun

Our little family went camping just outside of Moab at the beginning of May. We spent some time exploring the Needles district of Canyonlands. Steve loves the desert, luckily for Deidra it wasn't too hot! Here are some pictures I just got around to downloading off our camera. More to come! (I've been a total slacker the last month and a half.)


Our cozy campsite at the Windwhistle campground. Zack's favorite thing to do is go to bed in the tent. He never even wanted to stay up and sit by the fire for more than 10 minutes. And he likes his marshmallows raw.


There was a really neat overlook a few miles from our campsite. You could see for miles and miles and it was deliriously high. Even though there was a fence all around, I kept having visions of Zack falling through a gap or something. It made me really nervous but all he wanted to do was run around and throw rocks off the edge.


The "Needles"


Zack wanted to catch a lizard so bad. He and Steve cornered this one and then Steve talked him into letting it bite his finger. Poor lizard! Zack couldn't stop giggling.


We found some Indian art panels. This is called Newspaper Rock.


Steve and Zack climbing a cliff. Boys have to climb everything!


This was our favorite hike. It took us through an old cowboy camp, a cave that the Indians used, and then up some ladders to the cliffs the Indians lived on.


Same cave with some rock art.


Zack and Steve climbed to this arch which is just south of Moab.

What you should do this weekend

(If you live in Salt Lake)

My brother Chris is an aspiring film-maker. He did a short film called Sam, Roscoe and Her a while back which played at the Tower Theater to rave reviews and several awards. Now this very film (my favorite of his shorts) will be playing at our very own Utah Arts Festival on Thursday the 25th, Friday the 26th, and Saturday the 27th at 8:00 pm (all three nights). It will be playing in the theater inside the library. It's playing with other short films so the entire program is about an hour and a half. It's in competition with the other short films playing for best Utah film of the year and the audience gets to vote.

It is a little scary so use your judgement if you have kids. Also, it is free to get into the library theater, you don't have to buy entrance to the Arts Festival from what I have been told. So come on out and vote! Hope to see you there, stop by and say Hi to my bro, he will be there all three nights! I will be there Friday night. I promise you will love the movie!

Thankful

Today I feel thankful. I worked a day shift yesterday and it seems like there is so much suffering and pain going on right now with people I know from work. (And the babies are a whole other story!)

I was talking with two friends of mine and we were discussing how when someone knows they are going to die soon, they want to spend time with loved ones, tell them how they are loved, complete things that they have always wanted to do, etc. I have really been thinking lately how we don't know when we are going to leave this life, but if we did, we would live those last days so differently. I know it's a cliche but we really should live each day like it could be our last. Especially when it comes to how we treat people, especially our loved ones. I am really going to try and keep that at the front of my mind.

I am so thankful to be healthy. I am so thankful for my "trials". They are so small compared to what they could be. I need to really focus on enjoying my life and everything I have. Good things are happening.

To my friends at work: you are in my prayers.

Bring it on!

Aren't you so ready for summer?!

We are.

The other day I needed to keep Zack busy for a while so I gave him a long list of things to do. One thing on the list was to make a list of everything he wants to do this summer. I was surprised when I saw what he had written. I had expected some grandiose ideas and plans but he kept it really simple.

Here is Zacks list:

-trampleen
-skooter
-take simpson on a wok
-swimming
-california

Here is my list:

-Vacation to California
-Go to Lagoon (we got season passes so if anyone wants to go with us just call!)
-Try out the new water park Cowabunga Bay
-Swimming at Auntie Ally's pool
-Zoo (before it gets too hot)
-Remodel Zack's bathroom
-Harvest delicious veggies from our garden
-Find a baby to join our family

I just love this time of year! It is so hopeful and happy. I hope everyone has a great summer and gets to do everything on your "list"!

The Finest Snow on Earth!!!

It's what you have been waiting for all winter!


The finest snow on earth.

Covered with the most sugary...

delicious...

flavor of your choice!

Topped with free cream!

Or with (slightly extra) ice cream in the middle!

Or...

If you don't like the most sugary flavor of your choice

you can have the most delicious

Agave (natural non-sugar nector of the Gods)

flavor of your choice!


Cup O Snow

Opening Friday May 1st at 2:00

in the parking lot of Reams in Sandy

on Highland Dr and (about) 8700 south

(Owner and operator: my brother Sean)

Mothers Day Gift

I found a book I want for mothers day and thought I would post about it, in case you need an idea of what to get someone for mothers day. (Or what to tell your husband to get you for mothers day :) Click here for details. It is called "A Mothers Book of Secrets".

Every day I beat myself up about being a better mother. I have decided to stop doing that and really start pondering and praying about how to be better. This is the most important thing I will ever do in my lifetime and I want it to be the thing that I am most proud of. Right now I feel like I am just getting by. I have been so worried about getting MORE children in our family that I have been neglecting the ONE that I do have. If we never have any more children we will still feel infinitely blessed for the one we were able to have and I want to honor that blessing by being the best mother I can be.

I know a book like this will not miraculously change me into the person I want to be overnight. But, I do think reading things like this and having books like this around the house can help remind me what my goal is and keep me going in the right direction. Being a mother is the most difficult thing I have ever tried to do, but it is also the best thing I have ever experienced and I love it! I am so grateful for Zack and the unconditional love he gives me. I am learning and growing so much by being his mom.

Sorry for the heavy post, I just wanted to let you know about the book and all that stuff just came spilling out. It's been on my mind a lot lately and after reading this post I was inspired.

Have a great day and give your kids extra hugs today!

It's Gone

I am sad to report....

The beloved Nintendo DS is gone.

The house is turned upside down.

All frequented stores have been called.

Friends and family have been asked to look around.

Gone.

The sad thing is....

Zack couldn't care less.

Shopping trips will never be the same. Sniff.

Zack Says...

A little background is needed for this first story:

Before I became a parent I swore I would never use silly names for the human anatomy when speaking to my children. I am a nurse after all and not afraid of or grossed out by what is only natural. I thought it was pretty ridiculous that Steve's family called their male part their "thingy". (I still think it is!) Anyway, somehow after Zack came along I started to call his "thingy" a peen. What can I say? I am a lazy talker and I like to shorten words. Penis just takes too long to say so I cut of the "is". (No pun intended, I know men don't like the words "cut off" in the same sentence with their manhood.) So that is what Zack and I call it, Steve is NOT happy about the nickname. (On to the story.)

My sister Ally has been helping me out with Zack when I need a sitter. One day she had him and they went to the park by her house. Zack got on the swing and Ally started pushing him. As he got higher, he said: "It scares my peen to go high on the swing! I want to go high, but my peen doesn't!"
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Zack: Hey dad, I have an idea of what to do after my jobs are done!
S: Oh yeah? What?
Zack: I'll build some Legos while I listen to my headphones of some soothing music.
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Zack LOVES to say (about pretty much everything): "This is ridic-lious" or "This is ridonk-lious".
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Me: (Reading a party invitation to Zack) Oh, wow! Dresden is going to have pizza, cake and ice cream at his party!
Z: (sounding concerned, with a scared look on his face) That's a lot of calories :(
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Zack had a root beer float one Sunday night at his grandparents house. When we got home it was bed time and Zack was BOUNCING off the walls.
Me: You need to calm down! Think calm thoughts!
Z: (Sitting cross legged, eyes closed, touching one finger to thumb on each hand and humming) Commmmm, commmmm, commmmm.
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Anyone who has ever had a male dog will know what I am talking about on this one. Zack and I were hangin' with Simpson one day when Zack noticed Simpson's "peen" come out. Zack started laughing hysterically and screeched: "Look! Simpson has an ant-eater!"
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My mom picked Zack up from school the other day and they were going to go get lunch with his uncle Jeff. He insisted that they go to "BK" (Burger King, which we have eaten at once?). So, being the nice grandma that she is, BK it was. On the way Zack kept saying: "My ink stinks, tell me I'm hungry." Grandma could not figure out what he was saying. Finally Jeff said "Oh, your instincts tell you you're hungry?" Yep, that was it.
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For some strange reason, the Easter Bunny not only fills a basket for Zack at our house, but fills a basket for him at Grandma's Rodgers' house too. This year Zack got a little stuffed bunny along with his candy at grandma's. While we were out running errands one day, Zack left his bunny somewhere (or so he thought). Later in the day at home he realized it was missing and became really upset. Usually I let him suffer the consequence of these things and I just give him lots of sympathy. This time he was so upset I told him he could use his money and we could go buy a new one at a store I knew that had them. He was not appeased and crying said: "Mom, even if I get a new one, I will still care about the old one!" We found the bunny later behind some furniture. Whew! the drama!
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Zack gettin' his Tiger on! (Photo by Lindsey Christensen)

Once upon a time...

...a boy named Steve went skiing every week in the winter. He had big muscles, lots of energy and the ability to fall with out breaking or spraining anything. There was also a girl named Deidra, who learned to snowboard and hardly felt the bruises on top of her bruises which she acquired after falling all day.




Then they got old. Steve ran out of free time and money to blow.




Deidra began to realize how cold it was and how much work it was.




Then one day they decided "We will NOT be old and boring! We WILL enjoy the beauty of the mountains! We WON'T break any bones!"




So up the mountain they went, and it was glorious, invigorating, and beautiful. It was perfect. And they lived happily ever after.

Zack says...

**The other day Zack had a tummy ache. We were late for school so I just brushed him off and told him to go get something from his room. When he didn't return I went upstairs and found him on the floor with this:


He was rolling it back and forth with his arms in the push-up position. When I asked him what he was doing he said: "Daddy says this helps with your stomach." His tummy was fine after that.

**A few day's ago Zack was mad about something I wouldn't let him do (I can't remember what). He walked out of the room and yelled: "I want a better mom! You are always so RUDE!" I have a feeling that is not the last time I will hear that!

**One day I had Zack's friends mom pick him up from school for a play date. She always goes to Starbucks and this day she had picked up a treat for the boys. When they got in the car she asked Zack if he would like a cocoa. He said: "No, we don't drink that." She tried not to laugh and then asked him if he would like some hot chocolate instead, to which he replied: "Yes!"

**Steve has taken Zack skiing a few times and it can be somewhat frustrating for them both at times. Zack just wants to zoom down the hill. Steve wants him to learn the basics first, of course. One such time Steve was lecturing Zack about something, maybe he was a little mad or frustrated. A little while later Zack chuckled and said: "Dad, you know when you were talking to me? Your teeth were green and green smoke was coming out of your mouth!" I guess those are the kinds of things going through his mind when we are lecturing him and he gets that glazed look in his eyes. Hilarious!

**Zack recently discovered a cool thing you can do with those malted milk Easter egg candies:


Just so you know, it can stain the skin!

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?