Remember May? Moab

We went to Moab for Memorial Day weekend this year with all of Matt's family. Ben and Sarah came from NYC and Tricia was on break from PA school. It was SO FABULOUS to all be together!

It was such a fun weekend and full of adventure. My favorite activity by FAR was off-roading. It was crazy fun. We went up Gemini Bridges and then got out and hiked around for a while.

Liz, Rach, and our boys.Tricia and Zack (who wouldn't look at the camera!) Thanks for being Zack's hiking buddy so many times on that trip, Trish! (and this post is dedicated to you! Sorry it's taken me so long to upload pics!)

My fabulous in-laws who planned the entire weekend

Gemini BridgeBen the Adventurer and Sarah looking over the edgeSam Tricia, Rach, and Zack. "Ooooo-ahhhh!" (what Zack said every time he had a big step)The View from one of our off-roading adventures.
Matt and Sam checking out the drop-offOur fam

Sam and Matt on the bridge

The crew hiking

Let's discuss OFF-ROADING!!!

Is there anything better? It's like being on a roller coaster for 6 hours! My kind of fun. :) We started with Gemini Bridges - fairly tame, although I didn't know that at the time!

Then we moved on to Fins and Things - which was THE BOMB DOT COM. (like that Leese?) Really. It was so unbelievable that vehicles are CAPABLE of going on that kind of trail!

Check out these videos. First, is one of our jeep going down the steepest, craziest, part of Fins and Things. I got so scared on the way down that I pulled the camera in without realizing it. Woops. Our boys and Ben LOVED it though.



Here's Ben's descent! I thought Tricia was driving during the video though... so ignore that.



Did you hear the brakes screeching as the jeep SLID DOWN THE HILL??? Yah. THAT is fun defined. :)

Thanks for a fabulous trip! Let's do it again sometime!

Guess Who Has a Big Boy Bed?

Yep, this little boy. (This is his "bad guy face". He fights invisible bad guys in our house all day long...)

Here are the boys on their first night together. Zack was SOOOO excited. He has been wanting to sleep in Sam's room with his "best buddy Sam" for a while now.

In fact, he was sooo excited that on the first night, he stayed awake until 10:30 when he asked to sleep in his crib. Where he did sleep that night.

Since then, he has successfully slept in his big boy bed every night for about two weeks now... although he doesn't fall asleep until about 9pm or so. I'm hoping the excitement will wear off soon. :)

The bonus? He now wakes up around 7am instead of 6am. It's LOVELY!!

Writing on the Floor

Sam and Zack will even spell out things on the floor...

Nonsense

Sometimes, I am surrounded by nonsensical statements.

Examples:

me: Sam! Your gash on your cheek looks much better today!
Sam: Yah! Now I can do cartwheels!

me: Sam, you're super speedy on our walk.
Sam: I know! I wonder where I get my power from... Oh yeah. I know.
me: Where?
Sam: The sun. Like Superman.

me: Zack, what's your favorite color?
Zack: Mom, you're a googak! (giggles)

Sam: Mom, HOLD ME! I can't walk!!!
me: Why?
Sam: Because my nose is running!


Every now and then something breaks through...

Matt: I know that planet - it's Saturn because it has rings.
Sam (exasperated): Daaa-aaad, ALL the outer planets have rings!

My New Love

Meaghan Smith. I can't get enough.

This is my current favorite song. I love her clear as a bell voice, the bluesy / 40s / big band sound of so many of her songs. And this one - I love how happy and light it sounds when it's about being heartbroken!

Check it out...





Other favorite Meaghan Smith songs? Here Comes Your Man, I Know, If You Asked Me, and more.

Thanks to this post on this blog for clueing me in. :)

Sam's Notes

Sam loves to write notes. Every day he writes at least a dozen notes to various people. He now knows where I keep my blank cards and will write a card to whomever strikes his fancy - Daddy, Bel, Jake, etc.

He also loves to draw pictures and is currently obsessed with the planets in our solar system.

Here's his depiction...

I LOVE the spellings on this picture!

There's Neptoon and Urans

Ploodo, and my personal favorite...

Mrcyoure!

Of course... don't forget the Love Planet. :)

Isn't that fabulous?

Some of his recent notes:

Translation: Hi Dad I hope you love stake conference! Love, Sam

Translation: To Mom I hope you have a great day Love, Sam (my favorites on this page are the veritcally spelled "you" and the smiley fave "o"s)

And, best of all... a note I received last week.

Hi Mom. I love your guts. Love, Sam

Golf Clubs are Not Toys - Part 2

Remember this?

Sam's little friend felt so badly that Sam got hurt at his house that he brought Sam a car. So, Sam wanted to write his friend a thank you card. I gave him a blank card, and Sam hurried over to his blue table to write the note.

With no help from me I might add.

Because if I had been helping him, we probably wouldn't have included the following in the card...

Translation: Hi Tiger It was ok to hit me with a golf club!

Remember April? Angels Game

Back in April, my dad, two brothers, Sam and I all went to an Angels Game.

These were our "excited faces" on the drive to the game.

Sam especially was excited - he was with three of his all-time favorite people on the planet.

My dad scored us some SWEET clubhouse seats - all you can eat food, drinks, lounge area and seats!

The view from our seats was pretty good too...

Sam with his uncles. He told me then (and repeats now) that he really needs an Angels shirt!!!

You know all those little snippets of songs they play at baseball games? Well, you could not stop Sam from dancing if you tried!

Sam and the boys smiling......and being silly.
And all of us before we left.

The game ended up being a FABULOUS win for the Angels! Now, if only they could make it to the playoffs...

Deals, Deals, DEALS!

This post goes out to my dear coupon-crazed sister, Lisa.

Today I scored at Rite Aid and Walgreens. I detailed my purchases below with the net cost of each item (total price minus coupons, register / UP rewards, etc.) in parenthesis below.

Z saw me take out my camera and immediately thought he was the subject of my photo. He plopped himself behind my goods and put on a little grin. How could I resist?

Rite Aid:
Gilette bodywash ($1)
Gilette deoderant ($1)
Tide ($3.99)
Nivea bodywash (Free) Gain dish soap (overage of $0.11)
Pantene shampoo and conditioner ($2 each)
Pantene Beautiful Lengths conditioner (free)
2 Colgate toothpaste ($0.50 each)
Total spent: $20.06
Total UP rewards: $8
LIKE SPENDING: $12.06!!!



Walgreens:
2 Nabisco mini oreo packages ($0.29 each)
Breathe Right strips (overage of $1.50)
Colgate toothpaste ($0.24)
Total spent: $5.32
Total Register Rewards: $6
LIKE SPENDING: NOTHING! Like getting back $0.68 !!!

The Walgreens deal is particularly sweet! Those of you who have not done so, get those coupons out of your Sunday paper and GO! These deals last all week!

Someone Needs a Haircut

What do you do when your little boy wakes up like THIS in the morning?

I mean really... is this bedhead possible?

Look at the waves and faux-hawk!

Some people pay good money for this hairstyle...

Well, you finally give your consent (after weeks of a pestering hubby and the realization that you actually hate having to DO your kids' hair) that your son needs a haircut.

Cute little Zack looks so much older with short hair!