the trip...

We (just me and the kids) headed out to Phoenix on Friday to spend the weekend at my parents. We planned on coming home Tuesday - but only made it to Monday. Unfortunately on Saturday afternoon, Lily got a fever and was terribly sick the rest of the weekend. She couldn't sleep, and so I didn't either. I didn't want to have to do another yucky night there and decided to head home Monday morning (missed you John!!).

We did make it to the zoo on Saturday which was really fun. In the winter time, the Phoenix Zoo houses a Stingray exhibit. You can actually reach into the tank and touch them. They also had dwarf lantern sharks in there too. Zane and Amanda also rode a camel. Too much fun. Zane got to spend some time in G&G's pool that night and despite Lily being sick, we did have fun just hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa, Meme and Justin, and Amanda and Chris.

I took Lily to the Dr. on Monday evening, and she most likely has Croup or some other really nasty virus. No ear infections (yet!) and probably not strep, so that's good. She is still fevering though, so if it doesn't get better by tomorrow evening - we will take her back in.

mmmmm...cotton candy!








Meme and Zane racing to see how fast they could run, they made it up to 9 miles an hour!







Amanda and Zane posing on the camel!








Cute Lily before she got the sickies.








Lily wants to be just like big brother Zane.








Mom and Dad: Thanks for letting us visit on short notice and hope to see everyone again soon!
John: Thank you for cleaning the house while we were gone and for taking over the sick baby job when we got home. I love you and appreciate you so much!

a story...

We just visited my parents in Phoenix for the weekend. My mom has a giant campbell soup can that she has had for years. She uses it as a base for a small coffee table. It's kind of funny. Here's the conversation that Zane and my mom had about it:

Zane: Grandma, why do you have a big soup can?

Grandma: Well, it's a long story, and I don't think you would understand it.

Zane: Why? Is it in Spanish?

I laughed all weekend over that. Seriously, so funny.

(BTW, the real "story" is just how the Campbell soup can came to it's fame a la Andy Warhol, and my grandmother purchased the can somewhere, and my mom has inherited it)

ouch!...

We went to the park today before school, packed a lunch, and had fun in the chilly weather alone at the empty park. I dropped Zane off at school, and went to run an errand. I got home, put Lily down for a nap, and noticed that I had missed a few calls on my home phone. I checked the Caller ID and it was the school! Of course, that makes you start freaking out. There was a nice message saying "Zane hurt himself today, we just wanted to let you know. He did a face plant off his scooter. He's ok, but he's got an abrasion above his eyebrow and one on his cheek, and he will probably get a black eye. He is sitting with an ice pack on it, but will go back to class in a minute." Ack! I called to make sure he was back in class and ok - which he was, but she did say he was quite "traumatized". Poor kid!!

The story from Zane was that he was on one of those square board scooters with four wheels - the kind that you sit on, hold the handles and scoot yourself around with your feet. Well, he wasn't sitting he was kneeling with his bum in the air, holding the handles, and running his feet behind him as fast as he could - the scooter slipped out from under him, and he face planted into the ground. Ouch!! He's a little embarassed about it (he doesn't want anyone to see his face) - but John told him all his cool injury stories from when he was a kid and I think he is feeling a little bit better. He is happy in this picture , but it looks like it's pretty painful!

happy valentines day...

The kids had a fun valentines morning opening their little presents from mom and dad. Lily's favorite was the candy and "chocky"(chocolate), which we let them eat a little of that morning. Zane kept asking me "How come we get to have candy in the morning?" Unfortunately, he has spent the last few mornings asking for candy. Ack. John got a video game and I got some wonderful smelling sugar scrub. Zane spent most of the day doing his Pixos. We had a nice 3 day weekend hanging out around the house. I love my family!!

sugar smiles...

What could produce crazy grins like this?

Two words:

PIXY STIX

THE v-day box...

When I was in elementary school - I remember that we got to make our own Valentines Day box to collect valentines in from our classmates. Kids would come up with some really cool boxes (some with parent help I am sure). I remember things like robots, castles, mailboxes, etc. So I was so excited that Zane got to make a Valentine Box this year. John was quite impressed with the box. He said all he ever did as a kid was cover up and decorate a kleenex box. I must admit this v-box was my idea, but perfect for my "rockin" kid. I cut it out, and he decorated it. I think it turned out AWESOME!

tucson stash...

(mom and sara outside the hotel)

I was so lucky this week to be able to head down to Tucson for the annual Bead Shows. It's really quite amazing. If you ever get a chance to go - take it. We were only going to be able to spend 2 days (you could spend a week, easy!) so we had to pack in as many shows as we could. Sara and I drove to Phoenix on Thursday evening, stayed the night and headed bright and early Friday morning to Tucson. We spent the entire day from 11-6 at 3 different shows. By the time we got to the hotel, we were finally able to eat dinner about 8:30. Next morning, up and at the shows at 10:30 until 6 again. The shows we went to on Friday were INCREDIBLE. There were ENORMOUS tent pavilions set up with hundreds and hundreds of vendors of beads, gems, jewelry, and other *weird* imported type things. I can not even do it justice trying to explain how HUGE the shows are. Needless to say by 4:00 the 2nd day - my poor 30 week pregnant body could not handle anymore and I HAD to rest for awhile (dang contractions!). We are soooo beaded out, but it was a successful trip. I was going purely for the almost free trip - but managed to spend quite a load myself. We even survived the crazy google map directions and the freeway construction. Check out my stash.... (I'll post more detailed info about the actual beads I purchased on my other blog: http://scrapbeadsew.blogspot.com/ if you are interested).

macaroni what?...

Zane has a tendency to hear things differently sometimes and then insist that he heard it correctly. Especially if it comes from his teacher. (I am told that I used to do this too - what a lovely trait to pass on). He came home from school one day and told me "Mom, did you know FROSSILS are bones of a dinosaur buried in the ground?" I corrected him, and said "Yeah, they are actually called FOSSILS". Zane - "No, Mrs. B said FROSSILS!!". No arguing there!

So yesterday he told me that he wanted to decorate his valentine's box with Sego Lilies. I asked him why and he said because he wants to see what they look like. I took him over to the computer and told him we could look up some pictures of them so he could see. Then I asked him if there was anything else he wanted to see pictures of, and he said "Yeah, Macaroni Penguins!" Me - "Uh, Zane, are you sure that's what they are called? I don't think that's right." He insisted, "Uh, huh! They are called Macaroni Penguins!!" So I reluctantly typed "Macaroni Penguins" in Google Image search. Sure enough.....

uh huh , oh yeah...

I passed!! Yiipppeee!!

the 3 hour tour...

It really is all it's cracked up to be. I went in at 7 am this morning to take the 3 hour glucose test. After drawing my fasting blood sugar and making sure it wasn't high, I was given a nice lemon lime soda to drink. Oh, I'm sorry, I mean CORN SYRUP (it is 100g glucose - double the strength of the one they give you for the 1 hour test). So disgusting. It makes you feel so nice and fuzzy inside. Oh, I'm sorry, I mean want to VOMIT. Luckily I didn't or I would have to do the test again. Really, the worst comes between the 1st and 2nd hours. Yes, getting stuck twice in each arm is lovely (with the accompanying bruises), but feeling shaky and dizzy and sick for the rest of the day is the BEST! I won't find out until Monday if I passed.

yay for me...(sarcasm included at no expense)

I had a Dr. appointment today. The big glucose test. For some reason, I have been worried that I wouldn't pass it. I've passed it with both of my other kids, so I had no reason to think I wouldn't pass it this time. I failed. It wasn't too terribly high (152 - it needs to be under 140), but I have to go in to take the 3 hour fasting test. You fast for 12 hours, and get your blood drawn 4 times while you wait in the lab for 3 hours. Yay me. Wish me luck that I pass the 3 hour!

100's day...

They are celebrating 100's day in Kindergarten next week to celebrate 100 days of school. Each child is supposed to come up with a collection of 100 things to share in their 100's day museum.

Here's our conversation:
Me: What do you want to display for your 100's collection?

Zane: Paper airplanes!

Me: Ummm, I don't know, are you sure that's what you want to do?

Zane: No nevermind, how about pies!!

Me: I think we better do paper airplanes.

What do you think? (they are in groups of 10 so the kids can count to 100 by 10)

This is what I did to our kitchen table mounting the airplanes. Quite dumb of me to not check that the staples were barely poking through the other side. I've stressed about our kids wrecking our table and then I go and do this! Hundreds of pin-sized holes. Nice.

after christmas christmas program...

The kindergarten christmas program was scheduled for the day that school was cancelled because of the snow. So they had the program after the break, on the 8th of January. Zane is a cutie and did a great job singing and reciting. We took video of the whole thing, but I won't *bore* you with that. Here's a few pics from the day.

The elf is fast asleep ...ssshhhhh

Zane waving to John taking the video

What a great smile!

Zane and Zekiel (one of the only 2 other kindergarteners in our ward)

isn't this the great american pastime?...

While my parents were here over the holidays we all headed up to Cedar City to hang out with my sister and her family. My kids don't see much snow so we though we would take the kids sledding. There wasn't a lot of snow - but it was a beautiful perfect sledding day. Lily was sooo excited to go down after she saw the boys. She kept saying "Turn! Turn!" My sister popped her in the sled with her and headed down the hill. (I'm pretty sure sledding is something a pregnant person shouldn't do, or I would have gone myself!) Lily didn't want to go again. Once was enough. I think it scared her just a bit. Grandma even took a turn down the hill with each grandkid. Way to go Grandma! The kids had a great time and on the way home to St. George - Zane asked if we could go buy a sled. Sorry kiddo - we really don't have use for one here! We will have to make a point to go up there a couple of times every winter for sledding. Some photos and a couple of videos too.

uh madison, you're going the wrong way

grandma and zach
wipeout! (madison and andrew)
turn! turn! turn!
awesome zane!

tandem sledding - madison and andrew

grandma and zane

go Lily!

zach on his way!

just how does that brain work...

A case in point on how Zane thinks:

Grandma: Did you use your bath blizzard? Did it blow all kinds of bubbles?

Zane: No, just one kind.

HA!

the annual cannon christmas party...

My grandma Cannon has a Christmas party every year for the extended family. They moved this year from their home of 30+ years to an easier to manage condo - so we had the party at my Aunt's home this year. We try to make it up north for the party every year since it is the only time that we ever see extended family. For as long as I can remember, we have a nativity with all the kids - now the great grandkids. It's amazing that we have kept it up for this long, but I know I treasure the pictures from when I was a child, and I hope my kids treasure the memories of it too.

We got to stay at my friend Steph's house for the night and it was perfect. Zane and Kane (Steph's son - only 6 days younger than Zane) had a lot of fun being loud, and playing with new christmas toys. Thanks guys for the wonderful breakfast and great time. We'd love to visit your "hotel" again soon.

christmas day...

Santa definitely came to our house this year. And he had some work to do! Lily got an adorable kitchen that Santa and his elves had to put together and a cute Little People princess castle. Zane got a bike and an iPod Shuffle. He loves his iPod. He wears it non-stop. It's quite entertaining to hear him singing loudly all over the house, or yelling when he wants to say something. He hasn't quite learned how to work the headphone thing.

Zane got just what he wanted from his grandparents - a 2 wheeled scooter, and a bath blizzard (it's a bubble machine for the bath). Lily got some dishes for her kitchen and her first purse complete with all the accessories. They each got some more great toys and books from cousins and family. Thanks so much everyone for making this an awesome christmas!

christmas eve...

John's parents came in the Sunday before Christmas. It was so nice to have them stay with us. They are a lot of help. John sang a solo in the Christmas program on Sunday. I played for him. He sang a great arrangement of "Coventry Carol". The music was a minor version of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." It was difficult so I had to practice quite a bit. It went well, despite me getting my music mixed up halfway through and having a big pause while I got it straightened out. That was a little upsetting because I had practiced soooo hard - but I'm sure noone cares but me!

My parents came in on Christmas Eve and we all headed over to my grandparents home in the evening for dinner, christmas carols, and the reading of Christ's birth by my grandfather. My sister and her family came down as well. Madison sang a couple songs that she learned from school, Zane played "Christmas Bells" with Grandma Ellen, and John sang his solo from the christmas program. It was fun to spend time all together as family.

here comes santa claus...

It's nice to be back into normal routines. I will probably post a few posts today to get caught up. We visited Santa at the mall the week before Christmas. Zane was getting very concerned that he had not told him what he wanted yet and it was getting close to Christmas. We were worried that he would ask Santa for something that we didn't want him to get (which he did - it was Bratz Magic Hair Color - a girls toy and Bratz - no way). It was the ONLY thing he asked for from Santa, so we were a little concerned that Christmas morning would be a disaster. We explained to Zane that Santa knows that mom and dad don't like Bratz things because they are inappropriate and a bad example - so Santa would not get him something that he knows mom and dad wouldn't be happy with. We weren't sure how that was going to go over. On Christmas Eve - Santa called to talk to Zane to check whether he was being good or naughty. When Santa asked Zane what he wanted for Christmas - he said "Well, mom and dad don't like Bratz, so I guess I will just have a 2 wheeled scooter." Hurray! Crisis averted!

Hysterical Lily - of course. Love that age.

snow day...

Ok so you may all laugh that they cancelled school for 2-3 inches of snow - but if our neighbor kids had not come over and shoveled our driveway in the morning - we would have been stuck in the house almost all day. Our driveway is a killer. If we lived up north, yeah we would maybe have had 2nd thoughts about buying the house just for this reason. But it doesn't snow here. I mean really dump, ever. So 2-3 inches at once. Big deal! Do they even sell snow shovels here? I don't think I've ever seen one. Of course, my kids don't own boots (do they even sell those here?), and only knit gloves, and not even heavy coats, but that didn't stop them from playing in the snow all morning, building a snowman, and doing snow angels. I LOVE driving through the neighborhood and seeing snowmen on everyone's lawn. Every kid that stayed home yesterday probably made one. So cute. Fun day.

Lily - really not sure what to think about the snow yet.

The snowman or Frosty as Zane has named him. Original, I know.

Snow Angels. Sad. They probably should be called Dirt Angels or Rock Angels, but he had fun!