excusues

So I know I said I would try to post once a week. I guess try is the key word there. In my defense, we put in an offer on a house, completely expecting not to get it because the market is so competitive. Well, we got it, the catch being we have to close within 30 days. So, I have been busy printing, filling out, signing, scanning and emailing paperwork. For the last two weeks it has felt like I had at least one document (usually closer to 20) to fill out, or an appointment having to do with the house, every day. Sometimes both of those things. I'm kind of feeling like I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off... Really not a pretty sight, so there wont be any pictures :) Long story short: house, along with doctors appointments (they never end in this family), plus giving a talk in church on Sunday, on top of normal day to day responsibilities, = no blog last week, and boring blog this week :)
I will share a few pictures of the house though.





And since this is supposed to be our family's blog, I'll close with a few Zachy-isms.

Zach: "Why"
me: "because if you don't stop whying I'm going to go crazy"
Zach: (insert whining tone) "I want to come with you"

"Not you, just me"
"Tank you"
"Mom, I did it!"
"Oh dear, I made a mess"
"Night mom, sweep tight, sweet dweams"
"Um, I have a qwestion for you"

Birthday Time!

Micah's birthday was Saturday. We spent the day doing Micah's favorite things with him. We read books, sang songs, went outside, watched Wiggles (yep, still his favorite), and then after dinner had cake and opened presents.


Micah actually helped rip open his presents, (first time ever), when he wasn't eating the paper that is :) We got him a couple of toys, but the majority of his gifts were clothes because he has a habit of chewing holes in his shirts.

And of course the day wouldn't be complete without remembering our sweet Spencer. Happy Birthday boys!

More Things Micah

We had his annual meeting with all of his teachers and therapists, they had nothing but good things to say, and were very pleased with the progress he is making. Two particularly exciting things is that he is starting to hold his sippy cup all by himself which means he is starting to self feed!

The second thing is that Micah is now in a Gate Trainer for 5 min. a day. This is wonderful news- a gate trainer is like a walker (think old person walker, not baby walker), with him secured around the torso, but he is supporting his own weight completely by himself! The point? Micah is one more step along the path to walking!

A friend asked me today what are some things that make me happy. The very first thing that came to mind is Micah's giggle. The following is a picturally awkward recording of Micah laughing, but it's so fun I had to share. (He is laying on my lap, I am saying and drop, which for some reason he found hilarious).

We win!

This week the boys and I went to the Blue and Gold banquet (Seth had late meetings and couldn't make it). Bless the ladies in charge that gave us a table activity to do while we were waiting for our turn to eat. Each table was given
2 cups of cheerios
10 toothpicks
5 bendy straws
1 large marshmallow
3 small plates
1 apple
2 pair scissors

and the directions to use any or all of the above mentioned items to suspend the apple at least 2 inches off the table.

Here's our result:



It was 6 1/2" from the table to the bottom of our apple. We had the highest apple! It was fun to see all of the surprised faces of those around us. Someone even asked who the mathematician was at our table... yep, go Moms!

Just because

I love seeing Seth interact with our boys. It is a rare occasion when they are all sitting still, close enough together I can get a picture of them. They are enjoying an email from their cousins Abigail, Rebekah, and Timothy who helped Max out with a "Flat Stanley" school project. (Uncle Andy helped too :)

Max's Special Day

On Saturday February 12, 2011 Max became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was baptized and confirmed by his Dad, with help from Grandpa Scott. It was a special time. Our family was asked to do the special musical number. Max chose "Baptism", we sang and my mom played for us. The mom's (two other boys were baptized at the same time) were asked to share some special things about their boys, and share their testimonies as part of the program as well. We are so pleased Max has made this choice to open the gate to the path back to his Heavenly Father. He has made his first steps, and we are grateful to be part of his family, to help him on the path, and have him help us.
Our family has the knack of never all looking good in a picture at the same time, so I have included multiple shots, hoping that each of us look good in at least one of them :)

Max's birthday weekend

The Cake!
Max chose to help make and design his cake. He and Seth baked it the night before, and with help from me and his brother's decorated it. In case you can't tell, this is an alien spaceship that crashed and landed upside down. The blue blob is the alien that flew out, and the sprinkles are all of the lights from the spaceship, and the helicopters flying all around above it.









California Science Museum!
On Saturday with my parents in town (while Seth worked)we made a trip to downtown L.A. to the Science Museum. (my first time driving there, everyone survived and I didn't get lost!) The boys had lots of fun with all of the exhibits, and to be honest, so did Grandpa! Outside there is a truck you can lift with a pulley, if you look closely, there is air under them there tires! They had a really cool thermal image video camera, so this is the picture of the boys and I. We chose to go to the eco-system exhibit, since it won't be there permanently. The very first room has a wall to wall movie. Micah really enjoyed all of the images. After experiencing "the extremes", desert, south pole, island etc. we ended up at the aquarium tunnel, and then it was time for a picnic lunch (gotta love picnics in February), and to head back to get ready for Max's baptism.