Zack's Lightning Party

Well... when you're a whole whopping FIVE years old, you get really excited about birthday parties. So, you just might wake up your brother at about 6am on the day of his party because you just can't wait any longer. That would be the same brother who was up for two hours in the middle of the night. That results in one GRUMPY GUY.

(I can't help it. This pic cracks me up...)

Sam was silly enough to break Zack down eventually.

We made it through the party with this emotionally unstable boy. Just barely though. :)

To prepare for this party, I drew a racetrack. Our boys hardly play trains anymore, so the train table has been converted to a race track table. They LOVE it.

And since I KNOW you wanted to see more detail on those truck's parking spots... here ya go.

Zack's birthday cupcakes. I found a screamin' deal on Lightning cars at Target (a set for 50% off)! So, we figured it would be more fun for everyone to have a car as a cupcake topper.

Our first game: Luigi's Leaning Tower of Tires. Stack up "tires" (donuts) and see how tall you can make it!

Sam playing

I always find myself being silly with kids. And getting them to run. It wears them out and makes everyone a little less rambunctious. Enter Game 2 - RACING. So here we are "revving" our engines and getting ready to RACE.

Running through streamers is a dream for a three year old.

And a five year old. Check out Sam's game face. :)

Game 3: Mater's Red Light Green Light. Same as the original except you're driving "in reverse".

Zack with his birthday cupcakes...

...and blowing them out.

Sam

One of Zack's classic "smiles"

Our family. Matt insisted on this height pic. Nice sweatband, Matt.

Family Pic, Take 2. Would be decent except for Zack.

Take Three... It's degenerating...

Take 4. If you can't beat them, join them. Silliness abounds.

Zack was really REALLY excited to get his "own own" computer on his actual birthday. (I got it for $6.66 shipped! SWEET deal since it retails for about $50!)

Zack's other favorite present. We've played Candyland countless times now.

Cute brothers...

Happy THIRD birthday Zack!

Guess Who Greeted Me...

When I got out of the shower on Monday?

A VIKING and a KNIGHT!

And just in case you wanted to see that viking face again...

(we're just happy the viking hat sorta fits on Z's head...)

Happy Birthday Zack!

A few days ago, this little monkey turned THREE. We celebrated by going to the Splash Zone, playing race cars, doing puzzles, and playing Candyland multiple times. All Zack's favorite things.

Coming up (if I ever get around to it!) and in no order are: Matt's birthday, matching pajama pants, Z's birthday party, Shipoopi (finally), our Austin trip, my family visiting here, and many Sam the knight and Zack the warrior pictures. (Classic.)

And the Winner Is...

me: Hey Matt. I hear that if you dry your face using an upward motion that you can discourage wrinkles and sagging down the road.

Matt: Makes sense I guess.

me: Let's see if it works. For the next 10 years, I'll dry my face using an upward motion and you dry your face using a downward motion. Then, we'll see who has more wrinkles and a saggy baggy face.

Matt: You're on.

Check back in 10 years to see the winner...

All Shipoopi'd Out

We've been busy. But I promise to blog updates soon...

***Important Side-note: We stuck the lift at the end of our dance every performance! Booyah!***

BIG Zack

Something needs to be said for this little kid. Excuse me, BIG kid.

He has more personality than many people I know. Believe me. He packs a punch.

AND he can wink.

On both sides.

He loves making faces.

Crazy ones...

Or "bad guy" ones.

And he often gives me THIS look. Want to know what people comment most about this little buddy? Here's a hint...

Yep. His EYES. Particularly those long dark lashes.

Recently, we stumbled upon something new. Zack can write his name. (Even I didn't believe it at first!) Check it out...

Backwards Z and A at the top, "a picture in the middle", and a backwards C and K at the end.

And he's sporting a new buzz to boot. (Sorry Bel. It will grow, I promise.)

Who would have thought? Wowzers.

I think all the notes he sees his brother write has sunk in on some level.

Don't mess with this boy while he's drawing!

Look at that sweet face. "Sweet" isn't the adjective that usually comes to mind when I think of my intense, stubborn boy - but he really CAN be sweet sometimes.

Who knew? :)

Unfortunately, Zack's been sick lately . A fever. He REALLY fell asleep on this chair in the middle of piano lessons to my nieces and nephew!

He's feeling a bit better today, but still taking a nap. Which is why I have time to post on here.

Love you little Z man. I've been enjoying the naptime, but I hope you get over this soon! We have to go see THESE fabulous people next week!!!

GO Cougars!

Sam tells me he "doesn't know how to smile".

Well, after this photo experience, perhaps I believe him. :)

We met up with Nate for a BYU Basketball game a couple weeks ago. GO COUGARS!

Here's photo attempt #1.

Photo Attempt #2

Proof that Zack and I were there.

Photo Attempt #3 - Zack getting in on the "I don't know how to smile" action.

Photo Attempt #4 - A tiny bit better...

Photo Attempt #5 - Good enough. I'll take it.

Signing off from "I don't know how to smile" land over here...

Our New "Pet"

Guess what?? We finally got a beautiful piano. It is such a joy and fills our home with such vibrant LIFE. It feels so much more homey now. Is that just because I grew up listening to my mom's piano playing as the background soundtrack of my childhood and teenage years? Maybe. Either way, we LOVE it .

Here's Matt at his first lesson. Everyone had lessons today - Sam, Zack and Matt. (excuse the mess on top of the piano... we have yet to find a bookshelf, etc for our music!)

Sam wanted to make sure Zack was in a picture too...

I can't tell you how much we love having this piano in our home. And it has only been 4 days. :) Everyone loves it. Especially me.

Now I'll be able to teach my cute students from my home... and probably add a few more. I love teaching!

**A note about the post title. I am obsessed with mint.com. I LOVE budgeting and tracking our expenses daily. Matt and I had set aside $$ for this piano, but I wasn't sure where to categorize the expense. I decided long ago that all our big ticket items will be put in one of the automatic categories that we never use. Today, Matt saw where I had put this expense and hasn't stopped teasing me about it. I'm sure you guessed. It's in "Pets". Makes perfect sense, right? :)

Overscheduled Part 2

I made it.

And I made these.

Lots of these.

Like over 350 of these.

These "helpers" were very ready for me to be done. I sure was too...

HOORAY! Happy wedding Aleena! (Not sure I'll volunteer for such an undertaking again..., but I was happy to do it for you!)

Overschedule much?

Ever overschedule yourself?

I do. I'm not good at saying no sometimes. The real problem lies in the fact that I really do believe that I can get it all done.

Really.

But check this out...

Between today and Friday I

-have to make 300 cupcake bites for a friend's wedding reception friday night. 180 down, 120 to go. and the 180 took me ALL DAY TODAY

- watched a friend's 3 year old and 18 month old all day today

- am watching same kiddos tomorrow from 9:30am - 4pm

- hosted Zack's playschool (= six kids ages 2-3 for 2 hours) this morning with about 2 hours notice.

- hosted mutual at my house just now

- taught piano lessons to two students today

- teaching piano lessons to three students tomorrow

- attending said friend's sealing friday morning

- speaking in church in 10 days.

- decided "we don't do enough" and invited over 4 families for a get together here on sunday evening

- heading up our neighborhood's playgroup.. first one tomorrow from 9:30 - 11 at the church.

- have Shipoopi practice on friday night. Yes. We were somehow roped into being part of the "Shipoopi dancers" for our stake's musical. Fun, but stressful too. Come see us in March...

is this so much it's comical yet?

I MIGHT COLLAPSE FRIDAY NIGHT AND NEVER RECOVER!

(not to mention a few recent changes in our house... I was called as YW Pres, Sam has been diagnosed with EE and needs regular endoscopies and potential diet restrictions (likely we're off dairy and eggs again over here), and we've been asked to go on Trek this summer. EEK.)

Am I the only one? Does anyone else get themselves in these predicaments???

On another note, these monkeys keep me fairly entertained.