Kreative Blogger

Thanks, Leigh, for thinking of me for this award. I was thinking about it all afternoon. I made a list, then revised it, then combined items. Once I got going on it, it was harder than I thought it would be to narrow it down to seven things. But, here goes...

Seven Things I Love

1. Mark -- He's my hero, my cowboy, my knight in shining armor. I'm so proud to be his wife! Sometimes I can't believe that I was lucky enough to find someone so wonderful, and that we've been together almost 9 years. I love the life that we have built together, and I love that I will grow old with him by my side.

2. Zack and Xander -- I originally wanted to put them as separate things, because I love them do differently (like "I Love You the Purplest"). I love that Zack is now reading and that he loves to be active, even when he's running up and down the hall, screaming at the top of his lungs. I love that Xander is putting words together and understanding concepts I wouldn't have thought possible for a 1-1/2 year old to understand. I love hearing them laugh, seeing them be good brothers to each other, helping out with things. I love it when they make new discoveries that blow my mind ("Where did he learn that!?"). I love that I have the privilege of watching them grow and helping them learn.

3. Family -- When I was younger, I thought that having such a big family was a curse. Though I still wouldn't wish it on someone, I love it now! I guess I've grown up and become a wife and mother, so I can relate to them at a different level. I do wish that I could see them more often... I love my mom, and I miss her dearly. She was a wonderfully generous woman (she would have to be to raise 10 kids, though, wouldn't she?). I wish that my children could have known her, but I also hope that I am making her proud with the way I am raising my children... And Mark's family, it's almost polar opposite to my family, but I love them, too. I'm glad that we live so close to Mark's mom, and that the boys get to see her so often.

4. Friends -- Old friends and new, from school and work and church. I would love to 'hang out' with people more. But it's reassuring to know that, with true friends, it doesn't matter how long it's been since we've seen each other or even spoken, the friendship never really changes.

5. Enjoying God's Creation -- When Zack says his prayer at mealtime, he always says, "Thank you for the whole world and everything you created." Having a picnic outside when the weather is just perfect; stepping out onto the beach (just for a moment, while delivering pizzas) to see the entire rainbow across the ocean; seeing the sun's rays streaming through a break in the clouds; watching the Mama Bird in her nest, so careful to protect her babies; realizing that is was God's hand that turned my car all the way around so that Jessianne and I would live; enjoying time spent with people that He has put into my life; and just taking moments to realize how blessed we are!

6. Being creative -- My whole adult life, I've always thought of myself as creative. My favorite center when I taught first grade was art. I love drawing, making scrapbook pages, making crafts, even decorating cakes my own way. I would really love to get better, get really good at one of those things. I also love being involved with the kindergarten Sunday School class. It gives me a chance to be creative and share my knowledge and faith with those children (without all the paperwork and accountability of teaching school).

7. Chocolate -- Yup, I'm admittedly a chocoholic. Just don't put coconut in it!

***The Kreative Blogger Award was passed to me and now I am passing it on. Liz, Andrea, Karen, Eileen and Susan, I can't wait to hear about the things you love!***

Mama Bird

I really wish I could get a picture of her! Tonight when I came home and opened the front door, I looked over into the nest (through the glass) and Mama was sitting there, deep in her nest, watching me. Maybe she's developing some trust with us!

Babies on the Way

I discovered that our little nest outside has eggs in it now. I tried to get a picture of Mama Bird when she was sitting on them, but she got spooked and took off...just as soon as I had zoomed in enough to see her. Oh well, I'll try again, and keep checking for baby birds!

It melts my heart...

Xander has been saying Daddy very clearly for a few months now, and before that he would Dada all the time. He would see Daddy in the pictures in our bedroom and say Daddy, but I realized that he wasn't calling me anything, not even Mama. Until last week. I finally got him to say Mama when we were looking at a wedding picture of me and Mark. Then this morning, Zack and I had found seats at church, not really expecting Mark and Xander. I saw them walk in and when Xander saw me, he said, "Mommy! Mommy!" I didn't really think about it this morning, I guess I was caught up in getting settled in our seats waiting for Mass to start. But I just read someone else's blog and realized...that my little boy called me Mommy today! He is such a sweet, precious blessing in our family, and, even though this whole parenthood thing can be really hard, I can't wait to watch him continue to grow and learn!

Fascinate-U

Last Thursday, the boys and I took a road trip to Fayetteville while my nephew Charles was at my sister's house. We don't get to see Charles very often. Caroline came home and made hot dogs for lunch, then we went to Fascinate-U, a children's museum in downtown Fayetteville. The museum is set up like a town, with a grocery store, post office, bank, 911 dispatch center, fire station, tv station, an electric company and more. I had a hard time getting Zack to stay still for a picture at first--he was running around looking at all the different exhibits.

Sliding down the fire pole with Charles' help

Learning about gears from the mechanical engineering student

Guess who in the army helmet?

Look at how sweet he looks--I was amazed he actually kept the hat on his head!

Zack thought that Daddy would enjoy seeing him in a cowboy hat and cowboy boots. They boys wouldn't wear the rainbow wig, though!

"You're total is $54, 923, please."

An ice cream treat at McDonald's to finish the day.

This is just another random picture--I caught him watching tv like this!

Early Spring Foliage

Before the weather got cool again this past weekend, I took pictures of the flowers that had bloomed aroun d our yard with the early warm weather. I fully admit that I have anything but a green thumb, and I have no part in helping these plants along. Oh, and the only reason I know the names of some of these is because my mother-in-law told me!

Forsythia bush in the backyard Camelia bush beside the porch

Blossoms on the Bradford pear tree (you know, the ones that smell really bad, look all white when the flowers bloom, and make it look like it's snowing when the petals fall off).

I don't know what this one's called. It's a bush with kind of scraggly branches, but really pretty white flowers.

These are the hyacinths that grow around our mailbox. Thank goodness for bulbs--are they perenial (sp?) or annual??

This is the bird's nest that the birds built in our wreath, outside our front door. They've built nests in our wreath probably since we've lived here, every year; at least I think it's the same birds. I just googled it, and I think they are house finches. This year, I've noticed, they sit in the tree in our front yard and tweet like crazy, making sure noone is messing with their nest. There's no eggs in it as yet, but I keep checking.

D Day: Dancing, Doctor, Donuts, Digging

Wednesday started with a trip to the doctor for a shot for Xander. At his 18 month appointment, it hadn't been quite 6 months since his 12 month, so they couldn't do the one shot. Because they were so good at the doctor's office, I got them each sprinkle donuts (Zack's favorite). As usual, they got the chocolate all over their faces.

As I was watching American Idol from the night before, Xander started dancing to Megan singing "Rockin' Robin." I just had to get a video!

This was the last day of nice, warm, spring weather, so we went to the park (probably for the 4th or 5th day in a row). The boys settled down to dig in the sand for a while. Zack was trying to bury the little yellow tractor.

I was snapping pictures as Xander was playing, and got this great shot of him peeking between the pole and the tunnel.

Zack also decided he wanted to make sand angels. The boy and girl he was playing with were just baffled!

Xander enjoys the sand, but he tends to throw it. When I tell him "No throw," he lets it run through his fingers. I can't wait to take these boys to the beach!!

Brothers and Trains

So after the boys woke up on Saturday morning (and Mommy was still in bed), they were sitting on the bed, and Zack was 'reading' a train book to Xander. It is actually a 2-year-old edition of a train magazine. I tried reading it to Zack one day, and I couldn't even understand what it was talking about (too much train speak!). But Zack was doing what he could to keep Xander entertained. He would show a picture of a train and say, "This train goes really fast. It goes 200 miles. And this train goes really really really really really really (interject Daddy saying, "that's enough really's") really fast. It goes 400 miles!" And Xander was really listening to him, pointing to the pictures and saying, "Choo-choo, choo-choo!" It's so cool to hear the boys interact, especially when Zack is reading and Xander is giving him his undivided attention!

(See that lump they're leaning on--that's Mommy!)

On Sunday, we were over at Gramma's house. When we talk about Gramma, Xander always talks about the choo-choo train that is at Gramma's house (I put up a blog about that before, and how Xander didn't want to be near the thing). But he asks about the choo-choo, and when we get there, he wants to see the choo-choo, but he will not be in the same room with it! He has to sit on a chair in the family room and watch the train in the sun room. He will point to it the whole time, saying choo-choo over and over again, and he wants it back on when we turn it off. Finally, as we are leaving Gramma's house, Gramma gets a big hug, but the train gets "Bye choo-choo, bye. Bye choo-choo, bye. Mmmmmwah!" Yes, he blows a kiss to the train that he doesn't want to be near! But that's our baby, with his loving personality!

Some other random pictures...Daddy and Xander playing the Wii.

There's my handsome boy! Doesn't he look innocent?

Daddy's work boots--some big shoes to fill!

Wii!!!!

So when I invited Dad and Cathy over for dinner, never in a million years would I have thought that our evening would turn out like it did. At first, Zack was running around, screaming like crazy, wanting to be the center of attention. Xander kept saying Papa, Papa, and trying to climb over the back of the couch.

At some point, Mark mentioned the Wii and the sports games we have. Dad said he might be interested in bowling, so we gave it a go. First we had to create their Miis (which you can see in the third picture below).

They got the hang of bowling pretty quickly. Dad was the first one to get a strike, and he ended up winning the game (see picture below). The players are Dad, Mark, Cathy and xfdhviroy (Zif-d-hiveroy--a random guy that Zack made up)

After that, we tried playing golf. Dad and Cathy were both getting frustrated with the controller and how it wasn't picking up their swings. I actually won that game with 2 under par (yes, I beat Mark, too!!). They both tried the shooting range (on Wii Play) and then they tried the cow racing game (I don't remember what it's actually called). Cathy thought it was the funniest thing, and I caught her face on camera. Note how serious Zack looks, too.

We also tried baseball a little, taking turns with the controller and batting and pitching. This picture is Dad pitching and Zack batting. Who would have ever thought that my dad and my son would be playing baseball together?!

And for that matter, who would have ever thought that MY DAD would be playing video games with us all night?! But we all had a great fun time together!!

Oh, and to my sisters who are reading this--do you ever remember Dad going bowling? Please leave your comments and tell me what you think about Dad playing vidoe games!