7-year-old

 

 

This boy is 7. He's a stud and I love him to death.

7 Things I Love About Zach:

1. His Lego videos:

2. His laugh. This will probably be my favorite thing about him for his entire life. His laugh is contagious and when I hear it, it makes me immediately happy.

3. His recaps of Phineas and Ferb shows. It's probably because he laughs so much while telling me, but I love how he always tells me about the funny parts on the TV shows he watches.

4. His easy-going personality. There is not much that bugs Zach. He doesn't worry. He doesn't fret. He really just enjoys every part of life and doesn't worry about the things that don't matter.

5. His relationship with his sisters. Zach is a good big brother. They fight at times, but for the most part, he watches out for his sisters. He lets Halle tag along when his friends are over, he's endlessly patient as Ari "plays" in his room, he tutors Halle in Lego-building, he doesn't get angry when Ari swishes his toothbrush in the toilet (actually, he doesn't exactly know about that). His sisters adore him...and for good reason.

6. His picture-taking faces:

7. He's a sweetheart. For all his talkative-ness, craziness, endless-energy-ness, Zach really is just a sweet boy. For Mother's Day this last year, he wrote me this note:

Deer Mother

I love you in my hert. I love you so much. I got you some money.

Love Zach

He then left me money on my pillow so I could buy whatever I wanted.

Even after 7 years, this boy still owns my heart. Happy 7th birthday, Zach!

the first day

Zach had his first day of 1st grade yesterday.

Here's what I learned...

• It was really, really long.
• Lunch was really good. He ate everything and sat next to a new friend who he talked to "the entire time". Zach didn't learn this friend's name because Zach is "not good with names".
• At recess he chased around his friends and invited them all to his upcoming birthday party.

Halle had to her second first day of preschool today. Halle picked out her shirt and shoes, knew how she wanted her hair, and which flower which match her outfit. She was ready to take on the preschool world!

I learned...

• Camryn (a girl, not a boy) is her friend and a "little girl" named Chloe wanted to sit next to Halle during Reading Time.
• They got to have two play times - one outside, one inside.
• She learned about a raccoon with a heart on its hand and Halle got a heart on her hand too (some... okay, most of this was lost in translation).
• "I get to go to preschool tomorrow!"

Ari got to stay home and scavenge her siblings' rooms while they were gone. Zach's DS is one of her favorite toys he will never let her play with.

Halle is at the that age where she just says funny things. I wish I could record some of the conversations we have. She jumps from topic to topic and will talk and talk without any type of response.

Here are some funny things she's said lately:

While Halle was saying the prayer for dinner…

Halle: [Speaking to Mom] Close your eyes or I won’t bless you!
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Driving home from grocery shopping…

Halle: Where in the heck is Jesus?
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While at dinner...
Halle: Girls are pretty. Boys are handsome. Wait, wait, wait.... Girls are pretty. Boys are awesome!
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Driving home from swimming lessons...
Halle: Mom, do you have hair on your neck? [Takes a second look.] Yeah... I'm pretty sure I see hair on your back.
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Halle: I sing country. I sing it in the tub and I sing it while I'm going to the bathroom.
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Last night Halle was singing for Eve and Savannah. She picked "I Am a Child of God". She sang her sweet, little off-tune version like this…

I am a child of God

And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind of dear.

Did you catch the lyric change? Instead of Halle’s parents being “kind and dear”, hers are “kind of dear”.  It made me laugh until I cried.

mud runners

In conjunction with the Davis County Fair, Farmington had a Kids Mud Run. Zach and Halle had been begging to run a race and this one seemed like a winner. I mean, come on, you're running in mud - that's a kid's dream!

It was such a great race and the kids loved it. They both got 3rd place in their age category!

Before the race:

Zach and Halle thought they were pretty awesome with racing bibs.

The course:

The kids on the way to the starting line:



Halle racing. She's the 3rd person running in.

 Winner, winner, chicken dinner!! I love how she's covered in mud but standing like a little ballerina - this picture totally captures her personality.

Zach's race. Photography-awesomeness fail. That big kid was running alongside his brother, but he kept blocking my view of Zach. I kept yelling, "Big kid move" but to no avail. The result:

The awesome racers:

What's that saying?!

What's that saying... a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?! I've got a new one for you - a rock in the knee is just plain cruddy! My saying doesn't have the same ring to it, but it's still just as true.

Yesterday as Halle played tag at the neighbors' house, she tripped and fell on their flagstone path, her knee hitting a rock on the way down. She wailed. A different neighbor heard her screaming and carried her up to the house, as I trailed carrying Ari. I saw all the blood and thought it probably looked worse than it was. Wrong. Blood = Big gaping hole in her knee.

Brandon and I, being incredibly prepared for disaster, put gauze on the wound and then wrapped it with a clean towel, securing it with masking tape - very MacGyver-ish if you ask me. Brandon rushed Halle to Instacare where the doctor put in two sets of sutures - one in her lower layers of skin and one in the upper layer of skin. The rock had pierced through all skin layers and you could see her femur.

Halle was a rock star through the entire ordeal and didn't cry at all while the doctor stitched her up. In fact, she curiously watched the whole thing. Future doctor?!?

So it's no swimming for us until August and lots and lots of movies.

Slip n Slide

I had forgotten how fun Slip and Slides are but man, they are entertaining! Pinterest instructed me on how to make a giant Slip and Slide and while we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa, with their hilly yard, we decided to try it out. So, so, so fun! The kids were entertained for hours and so were the adults.

Brooke kept Ari company in the pool.

The cute sliders!!

Grandpa's epic slide!

 Me, Grandpa, and Lori go for a slide together. I love all the faces!

When Uncle Kram said he'd go down the slip and slide after Grandma did, thinking he'd be abstaining from the activity, Grandma happily stopped weeding and went down in her clothes. Uncle Kram was true to his word and went down too.

 

It's already decided Slip and Slide 2.0 will be twice as long!

Miscommunication

This made me laugh out loud today:

I picked Zach up from a birthday party this afternoon. His clothes were soaked through from a water fight. The birthday boy was inside upset because Zach had dumped water on him. Apparently, the birthday boy had said, "Dump it on my hand" and Zach had heard, "Dump it on my head."

Hahahaha....miscommunication stinks!

Halle keeps me smiling

  

[While watching me cut up a pineapple for lunch]

Halle: Mom, you need to cut that brew out.

Me: You mean bruise, sweetheart.

Halle: No, it's a brew because there's only one of them.

One of our summer activities is Pajama Day. The kids have been very excited about it.
Halle: Mom, when can we have Naked Day?

For those concerned, Naked Day will not be appearing on our itinerary.

Summer Bucket List

To be honest, I've been dreading summer coming this year. Zach is no longer content with sidewalk chalk, painting the house with water, or playing at the park.  He wants to be entertained. So... cue the entertainment... I've come up with a Summer Bucket List. I perused Pinterest, did some googling, and thought up some local things I'd like to do. So you don't have to do the same, I thought I'd share my list.

[ ] Fly Kites

[ ] Build Sand Castles
[ ] Go fishing
[ ] Camp in the Backyard
[ ] Play Dodgeball
[ ] Set-up a Lemonade Stand
[ ] Sponge Balls & Splash Tag
[ ] Bury a Time Capsule
[ ] Start a Collection
[ ] Launch a Homemade Hot Air Balloon
[ ] Make Paper Bag Puppets
[ ] Put on a Play
[ ] Movie Night in the Backyard
[ ] Make & Break Ice Fossils
[ ] Feed the Ducks
[ ] Attend a Free Kids Workshop (Home Depot, Lowes)
[ ] Tour a Local Factory
[ ] Go on a Nature Walk
[ ] Compete in Silly Races
[ ] Build Something Enormous
[ ] Create a New Game
[ ] Make a Home Movie
[ ] Draw a Mini-Me on Poster Board
[ ] Sword Fight with Pool Noodles
[ ] Climb a Tree
[ ] Write/Illustrate a Book
[ ] Go Bird Watching
[ ] Create Wind Chimes out of Cans
[ ] Build a Bird Feeder
[ ] Have a Squirt Bottle Fight
[ ] Build a Fort
[ ] Have a Pajama Day
[ ] Have a Watermelon Eating Contest
[ ] Trace Shadows
[ ] Write a Letter to a Friend
[ ] Sharpie Tie-Dye T-Shirts
[ ] Go on a Photo Scavenger Hunt
[ ] Play Balloon Ping-Pong
[ ] Start a Summer Journal
[ ] Play Flashlight Tag
[ ] Bake Cookies Together
[ ] Make a Marble Run
[ ] Watch a Sunset
[ ] Make Giant Bubbles
[ ] Make Homemade Ice Cream
[ ] Run Through Sprinklers
[ ] Giant Slip n Slide
[ ] Go to the Zoo
[ ] Go for a Hike
[ ] Go Miniature Golfing
[ ] Ride Bikes Along Legacy Parkway
[ ] Go Star Gazing
[ ] Go to a Free Concert
[ ] Wash and Detail the Car
[ ] Go to Salt Lake Bees Game
[ ] Visit Discovery Gateway
[ ] Play in Gateway Fountains
[ ] Visit Tracy Aviary
[ ] Visit Living Planet Aquarium
[ ] Go to the Foxboro Splash Pad
[ ] Go to the Kaysville Splash Pad
[ ] Go to Lagoon
[ ] Make a Campfire
[ ] Swim in the Pirate Pool
[ ] Play on the Slip n Slide in Backyard
[ ] Put the Sprinkler under the Tramp
[ ] Play in the Backyard Pool
[ ] Shoot Marshmallow Guns
[ ] Go to a Drive-in Movie
[ ] Go to Bear Lake
[ ] Go Camping
[ ] Bleach T-Shirts
[ ] Have a Water Balloon Fight
[ ] Visit This is the Place Heritage Park
[ ] Go to Kangaroo Zoo
[ ] Jump at the Trampoline Park
[ ] Play at the Castle Park
[ ] Visit the Train Park (1^st Saturday of Every Month)
[ ] Attend the County Fair (Aug 14-17)
[ ] Go to a Parade
[ ] Attend a Demolition Derby
[ ] Go to the Rodeo
[ ] Attend the Gateway Chalk Festival (June 14-15)
[ ] Go to the Bountiful Concerts in the Park (June 28 – Kurt Bestor)
[ ] Walk through Scheels
[ ] Watch a Real Soccer Game
[ ] Make a DIY Water Blob
[ ] Run Through the Deluxe Kid Wash
[ ] Build a Lego City

I Am One

Ari is 1 today. I can hardly believe it. I love this girl to death. She is quick to smile, quick to laugh, and such a joy!

If Ari could talk, I think she'd describe herself like this:

• I love the stairs. Anytime Mom has her back turned, I run (or hurriedly waddle) to the stairs. When Mom catches me, I give her my guilty smile and shake my head "no, no, no".
• I love to suck on apple cores. Then when I'm done with them, I hide them for my friends to find later. Halle wasn't too happy to find an old apple core in her soccer cleat. I thought she'd like the surprise better.
• Music with a good beat is my favorite. The opening music to Modern Family makes me dance happily. I like to bounce, clap, and turn around to the music.
• I love water! Dumping things in water is the best. When Zach and Halle are taking baths, I like to find things to throw in their bath water - clean clothes, toys, and even TV remotes if Dad isn't watching.
• I am a good eater and like most foods. However, if Mom puts broccoli or peas on my plate, I will immediately throw them on the floor. Not good!
• I like giving open-mouth kisses, drinking out of cups, reading books, waving, jumping on the tramp, dogs, being outside, and eating rocks.

Playing Ball

Look at this stud! He looks like a real baseball player!

We've been busy the last couple months with evening soccer and baseball games. I've loved it! Nothing makes me happier than watching my kids play sports. I try really hard to be like the other moms and keep quiet, but I've got too much of my dad in me for that. I'm that loud mom that likes to cheer and shout pointers out throughout the game. Zach's a good sport and mostly ignores me.

Zach's a great little baseball player and has enjoyed playing Coach Pitch this season. His favorite position to play is pitcher because he gets the ball so often. He is good at that position because he is always aware of where the ball should be thrown. When he makes a good play, he always looks for me on the sidelines and either gives me a nod of the head or a thumbs up.

Zach surprised me this season with how fast he is. In Tee Ball, he would jog to the bases because nobody gets out in Tee Ball and he didn't want to waste the energy - smart kid. But in Coach Pitch, he sprints to the bases.

This last picture cracks me up. I was taking pictures and yelled to him, "Act like your ready to play baseball!" This is the pose that he gave me.

I Wanna Grow Up

Ari watching the big kids play out the window.

Toilet Water

I think Ari has a 6th sense - the Bathroom-Door-Is-Open-So-I-Must-Put-Toys-In-The-Toilet sense.

Ari likes to un-organize. Books on a shelf? Nah. Let’s put those on the floor. House decorations? No way. Let’s put the basket on my head, make funny faces in the glass bowl, and wiggle my bottom in other bowl. Bedroom picked up? I don’t think so. I will dump out my toys, litter books about my room, and try to pull dirty diapers out of the garbage can. Ari has heard the word ‘no’ a few times the last couple days.

Yesterday I caught her trying to pull decorative balls out of a vase. When she saw me looking at her, she knew she’d been found out and started shaking her head – like she knew the no, no, no’s were going to come out of my mouth. The funny thing was I didn’t even know she knew how to shake her head. Apparently, monkey see, monkey do.

Rapunzel Party

Rapunzel came to visit for Halle's birthday party on Saturday. Halle loved her but told me she wasn't the real Rapunzel. Can you see what she saw? Halle told me this Rapunzel wasn't the real one because she didn't have green eyes. You can tell we're into princesses at our house. It reminded me of when my father dressed up as Santa and I knew it was just Dad in a Santa suit because Dad and "Santa" both had a sore on their lip in the exact same place. Kids are smart like that. Halle wasn't going to get tricked into believing this was Rapunzel when she clearly did not have green eyes.

The party was a success. I should have handed Excedrin out to my adult helpers after the party was over, but besides that, the party went off without a hitch.

 

Playing games:

My favorite picture of the day - I can't look at it without laughing:

 

Rapunzel visit:

 

Cupcakes:

 

 

And opening presents:

 

 

Princess and knight party complete. Check.

Soccer

Tiny Tots soccer may be the most entertaining thing on earth. Seriously, I cannot get enough. Halle is playing soccer for the first time this season and I love watching her games. There are the kids that cry for Mom during the game, the kids that take their arms our of their shirt holes and run around armless, the kids who dance, the kids who pick the grass and throw it at unexpecting children, oh and the one kid who commentated on the game as he lazily stood by his team's goal - "I'm just going to stay here. It looks like they've got it under control".

I thought Halle was going to be the child who cried the entire game, but she loves it. She runs around with a grin plastered to her face. Last Saturday, Grandma and Grandpa Allan, Aunt Chelle, Eve, and Savannah came to watch her game and she had so much fun running around at the field smiling at her fans and waving. Halle does have some skills though scoring 3 goals her first game and 1 the last game. This girl loves soccer!!

**Note: Bless those soccer coaches. Trying to teach 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds soccer is liking herding cats.