catching up...

I need to blog everything that's been going on in the past month, but we are having computer issues again. So without pictures, I am going to list the things that have been going over here (so I don't forget to blog about them when I am back)...

Blue and Gold Banquet
Rainy Spring Break
Potty Training
Zane update
Crafting
RS Program
Anniversary
Cockroaches (yeah they are at it AGAIN)

Ooooohhhh so exciting, I know you can hardly wait.

*edited to add:
Soccer
Pinewood Derby
Easter
Science Fair
Scout Expo
Lily's Dress
Evan's Birthday

Yikes, I am behind!! Lots of posts to come.

sillies...

I have stuff to post, just haven't been in the mood for some reason. Here are a couple of funny things I've been meaning to write down on record.

While shopping at Tai Pan (a home dec type of store/warehouse) with my mom while she was in town:

Me: Zane, I've told you, PLEASE don't touch anything.
Zane: Grandma just touched that.
Grandma: I just pointed at something, I didn't touch it.
Zane: THAT'S AIR TOUCHING!

Zane has been into telling jokes lately, and it has seemed to rub off a little on Lily since she LOVES to do everything her brother does.

Lily: Knock, Knock
Me: Who's there?
Lily: Zane
Me: Zane who?
Lily: You know Zane.

Pretty good for a 2 year old I say! What cuties I have!

we're in trouble with this one...

Time to fix all those childproof latches on the cabinets. How old is he? Yup, 10 months. We're in trouble.

phoenix in february...

We took a last minute trip to Phoenix over President's Day weekend. We sure do love it there. Of course it helps that it is 78 degrees in FEBRUARY! We had a nice time just hanging out, swimming, eating, shopping - the usual. John, Grandpa, Zane and Lily also took a trip to the Western Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium which was neat. We have never been there before. Lily for some reason became terrified of trains on this trip. She wouldn't ride the train at the zoo, or the train at the park by my parent's house. Hmm. We have had a lot of stress lately, so it was nice to take a break!

zanes talk...

Zane is giving a talk on Sunday and I thought I would just share it here. We mostly wrote it, but it definitely was with Zane in mind. He added the last line himself. As he read the part about how he feels our Savior's love he said "Yeah, that's true! I do feel His love when I'm with my family. I'm feeling it right now!" What a sweetheart.
Here it is:

This past summer my Great Grandpa Ellwood Rasmuson died. We went to his funeral in Logan. We were able to see his body before he was buried. I had a lot of questions. I wondered why he looked so different. I wondered if he would be able to walk again. I wondered if Grandpa would still be sick in Heaven. I wondered what would happen to his body when he is resurrected.

Jesus chose to come to Earth so that we can be resurrected and live forever. He chose to suffer for all of our mistakes and then die for us. What He did makes Him my Savior. This is how I know Jesus loves me. I feel His love when I share my love with others. I feel His love when I come to primary. I feel His love when I am with my family. I feel His love when I repent after making a wrong choice. When I repent I am showing my love and thanks to Him.

I know that my Great Grandpa made good choices while he was on the Earth. When we are resurrected we are made whole again with perfect bodies. My great grandpa will be well and be able to walk. I want to make choices so that I can return to live with Heavenly Father and see my Great Grandpa again. I know that my Savior lives.

cookies!...

I've been wanting to make sugar cookies for awhile. I just haven't gotten up the "will" to do it. They are a lot of work! Since I have a KitchenAid now, I have no excuse. I got a new recipe from my sister, and we got to work. The kids loved helping and this recipe made a TON of cookies - complete with super yummy frosting. I thought for a brief moment about giving some of them away, but I think we will keep them for ourselves. I know - selfish. But YUMMY GOODNESS to last for DAYS.

movin'...

My little man is a movin'! He just started really being able to consistently pull himself up on the furniture on Monday, and now he is cruising everywhere. He's already bumped a few times, but there's only been minimal blood. I can't believe he is doing this already - ack! But he is definitely cute doing it...

9 months...

Evan is 9 months now and boy is he busy! He is crawling everywhere and getting into everything. Books are being pulled off the shelves, toys dumped out of baskets, little pieces of food off the kitchen floor are being put in his mouth, cords are being pulled, plugs are being played with, and bathroom doors must be shut. Love this crazy little man! (Just wish he would let me sleep!)

happy birthday?...

In the craziness of December, I somehow missed posting a Happy Birthday to John! He turned 29 (again!) Love you!

happy new year?...

Our laptop is back up and running! Thanks to me and some help from John (babysitting, taking over soldering when I was going crazy, and reading me the step by step instructions off the Internet). I took it apart, desoldered, soldered, desoldered, and soldered some more, put it back together and VOILA! We saved ourselves a bunch of money and boy did I luck out that I didn't break it more.

So to catch up - my parents came and visited around the new year. We had a New Years Eve get together at our house with them, my grandparents, and my sister's family. Lots of food and game playing. Super fun night!

broken computer and my new favorite cookie...

My computer is currently being fixed, so I do not have access to my pictures, or a way to get my pictures off my camera - so more blog posts will be coming in the next week or so! In the meantime - make yourself these cookies. They are the yummiest!

Note: it says to bake them exactly 8 min - I would add that they should just be a little crackled on top too, or they will be puffy and not done - for me that was about 8 min and 30 sec. The way they look in the picture, they are not quite done. They will end up flat and cracked on top after sitting a minute and they taste almost identical to the Archway brand Molasses Cookies. They are so easy - you do not have any excuse. Go make yourself some soft chewy deliciousness!!!

jingle bell jingle bell jingle bell rock...

This just might be the BEST christmas video ever. Some background about this video. On Christmas morning, the tradition in our family (carried over from my family), is that Dad goes out first to make sure Santa came, turn on the lights, get the camera, and turn on Christmas music. We then line up youngest to oldest to walk out of mom and dad's bedroom and head for the presents. In my family growing up, we usually sang Jingle Bells too. We don't have to walk far, so we just listen to the music. Every year, we receive a mix CD of christmas music from my Aunt and Uncle. The CD's are beyond awesome...every year. We just received this years on Christmas Eve, and so John put that one in to play. The first song is Jingle Bell Rock - by none other than Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. I think that this is my most favorite song on the CD. As we walked out, my kids just started this impromptu dancing. No rushing in to see what Santa brought, just this funny dancing. (Think recent Saturday Night Live sketches with the coach in the locker room - and then this video will make you DIE laughing.) Thanks for the GREAT song, and I think this will have to be a permanent tradition!!!

merry christmas!...

Such a wonderful day that would not have been possible without much love and support of our extended family and friends! We missed not having you here. We love you!

We had Christmas Eve dinner at our house and invited Gr. & Gr. Meredith along with a guest. We enjoyed a very nice dinner, and then did the usual singing of christmas songs (with Grandma at the piano) and Grandpa read the story of Christ's birth. Then, the kids opened a present from each grandparent. Christmas jammies from Gr. & Gr. Collins, and Splat! balls from Gr. & Gr. Cannon. Super fun! (and I didn't get pictures?!)

The kids got plenty of gifts, and had so much fun Christmas morning (and day) playing with everything. Enjoy the loads of pics!

christmas vacation (or what to do when your kids are out of school for 2 weeks)...

Christmas vacation is rough! Your kids are home with too much excitement and anxiousness about the coming holiday. And to top it off, you're not busy, right? So - I've been trying to do some things to keep the kids occupied and away from the TV. We got out the easel and paints one day. We went on a popcorn and hot chocolate christmas light watching drive. Lots of game playing. They helped me bake the neighbor goodies (that's a REAL test of patience). I have to say that this Christmas has been the best yet!! (Before you think I'm one of THOSE awesome moms, what are they doing right now? Watching TV. ha!)

a ring on my finger (I found it!)...

Here is Zane singing "Ring on my Finger". This is a song written by my grandmother Joleen Meredith. It was written for the LDS general meeting where they unveiled the CTR ring (many many years ago). Zane sang this solo in our Primary Sacrament Meeting Program in front of the whole congregation. My grandma (JM) and grandpa were able to be there to hear it, which was so nice! Since the grandparents (John parents and my parents) were not able to be there to hear it, I recorded this at home later that day. So many people came up to us and said how his song just "made the meeting". He really has a GREAT voice. Great job, Zane, we love you!! (Please forgive the piano mistakes! Trust me, it was perfect in the meeting!)

first snow...

It snowed a couple weeks ago in St. George for the first time this season. It usually only snows a couple of times, and it's not very much. The kids had fun playing in the snow, and even made this small little snowman.

i'm a big kid now...

Evan has been sitting up on his own for about a month - what a big kid! He is on his way to crawling any minute too. We will be in trouble with that one! He is very active, and is already starting to show his "personality". He certainly gets very upset if he is playing with something and drops it so he can't find it, or you have to take it from him. I'm afraid (I mean "happy"?) that he might take after his brother!

Evan hadn't been sleeping well for about a month, waking up at night every hour. I finally took him to the Dr. last week, and he said he has silent reflux. He is now taking Zantac, and that seems to have done the trick. He is sleeping MUCH better, and more consistently now. It has definitely made him a happier baby too (although he was pretty jolly to begin with). (and a MUCH happier mommy!) Oh, and he has sprouted one little tooth, but I doubt I can get a pictur of that. Love you Eb-ies!

sleeping beauties...

Just some pictures of my cuties off in dreamland...

flag football...

I don't know why I haven't been blogging as often. So - here's some old stuff that I've needed to blog for awhile. Zane did flag football this year with the city leagues. They mostly just practiced "skills" (throwing, catching, running) and different types of plays. On the last day they had a scrimmage and they even got trophies! Zane was most excited about that. We started out the season going to football games in our shorts and tshirts, but by the last day, it was quite chilly! Zane made a touchdown in the scrimmage too. Way to go Zane!

halloween candy - near fatality...

Lily's hair was a near fatality of this year's Halloween candy. Somehow we managed to get her dressed, and it was halfway through the day before we noticed...

She obviously slept in it...

Thank goodness for peanut butter, her hair was saved!