The California Root Family

Love This Boy!

2011-04-03T22:40:00.001-07:00

I just love this little 3 1/2 year old who calls me "Momma." Despite his strong willed and feisty personality he brings so much joy into our family. He has the most curious disposition and loves to explore. He also has a sweet little heart that loves to give kisses and hugs. He keeps me laughing with his funny little observations and I love the little adventures we have during the week together. He is my little buddy!

Running for a Cause

2011-04-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

In February we had the privilege to meet a dedicated East Coast father. In the Fall of 2010 this father started running from the East Coast with the goal of running to the Pacific Ocean in order to raise funds and awareness for mental illness. He was running in honor of his young adult daughter who has battled mental illness since her teens. Knowing I have a love of running my mother-in-law sent me a link about what this guy was doing. I was quickly captivated and touched and even more so when I realized he would be culminating his run across the country in Santa Monica. I shared the guys story with Johnny and he and I immediately knew we wanted to be part of this. In March of last year we lost Johnny's youngest brother to mental illness so this is a cause very close to our hearts. The guy was asking that any and all join him for his last mile along the beach. Johnny ran it in honor of Paul and wore one of Pauly's beanies. We are so grateful we got to be part of this and hope to do more in the future to bring awareness to mental illness. Our long term goal is to organize a yearly 5K/10K run/walk with all proceeds going towards mental health causes.

Despite the dismal and cold weather Zeke spent a good deal of time letting the waves chase him along the shore of the ocean :). After the run we all enjoyed a yummy meal along with my mom, dad, grandpa, and grandma who all so willingly joined and supported us.

My 26.2 Mile Goal

2010-10-10T16:56:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to run a marathon. To me it is the pinnacle of success in long distance running. The crowning achievement.

I have also always wanted to visit New York City and run in Central Park. Why, I am not sure. I just always have.

When I was in my early 20's I made a goal to run a marathon by the time I was 30. Thirty is fast approaching. In just 6 1/2 months to be exact - yikes!

Fast forward to the present. On Friday my November subscription of Runner's World came in the mail and like always this issue covers in depth the upcoming NYC Marathon. I am always excited to get this issue because I am just fascinated by this marathon. It is so exciting to read about what is to come and what it is like to run there and be a spectator there.

As I was out running yesterday I was thinking all about the NYC marathon and got to thinking that why not try and get into the 2011 or 2012 NYC marathon? Hundreds of thousands of runners from all walks of life run this marathon each year so why not me?!

I got home and excitedly shared my idea with Johnny because I wanted to know if he thought this was a crazy idea, but much to my surprise he said as long as he didn't have to run it he likes the idea and thinks I could totally do it and should go for it.

So, I spent some time researching the ins and outs of this marathon and have determined that in order to get in with a qualifying time I am going to have to be really, really disciplined (think getting up early to run) and work my tail off. The 1/2 marathon qualifier for my age group is 1 hour 39 minutes, which is slightly daunting so we'll see. However, I was also glad to see that even if your time never qualifies you can still enter the lottery in January of each year and try to earn entry that way. If after three years of the lottery you aren't ever selected you are guaranteed a spot in the marathon on the 4th year so that would put me in at least in 2014.

I've got one 1/2 marathon under-my-belt from 2002, a bunch of fairly recent 10k races, and I run all the time, but in order to prep for 26.2 miles in 2011 or 2012 (I hope!) I have decided to create a structured weekly training plan that I am really, really going to try and stick to. I am also going to run a 1/2 marathon this upcoming February and a marathon in May or June so I can achieve my marathon goal by the time I'm 30, and then I'll go from there!

I am just so excited to have something big to work towards accomplishing and I'm also so excited that it will take place in New York :)!

A Treat of a Different Sort

2010-10-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

Zeke loves dog biscuits. Whenever we are visiting my parents and he gets a dog bone for Riley he almost always gets one or two for himself too. At first I thought it was kind of gross, but really, when you read the ingredients I can't really see why they would be bad. In some ways they are probably healthier than some of the junk food out there.

So, last week Zeke and I were visiting the animals in a local pet store when I noticed Zeke hovering near the bulk dog biscuit bin. Thinking he wanted to choose something for Riley I told him to go ahead and choose one that we could save for Riley for the next time we saw her. He quickly chose a red, medium sized one, but rather than hand it over to me to pay for it he quickly took a bite out of it and would have continued to eat the whole thing, but I grabbed it from him and convinced him that Riley would really like it. I promise I really do feed Zeke - I imagine it sounds like he is a starving child to go choosing dog biscuits from the pet store :).

Below is what the biscuit looked like when we got home. By the time it got to Riley a few days later it was just a short, little stub.

Three!

2010-09-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

Zeke turned three this past Tuesday on the 21st. It's amazing to think that he has already been with us for three years. I can't imagine life without him! He has such a happy disposition and I just love being around him (most of the time :) ). I am excited for this year because his little personality is really emerging and I love all of the questions he asks me all day long - such an inquisitive little mind. We went to the zoo recently and I love that at this age I no longer have to cart around a diaper bag or a stroller. Just me and him strolling around the zoo. He loves to practice writing his name and for some funny reason he loves the number 8 and will pick it out on signs wherever we go. He loves Thomas and his train friends. In fact, his newest train pals, Alfie and Jack, go with us everywhere. He also enjoys going to the gym childcare for an hour a day so that mommy can work out, which I am so grateful for. I would have a hard time taking him there if he cried, but because they have toys that we don't have he looks forward to going. Zeke is also a little dancing man. He can't help himself when he hears a beat - I love it! And I love him. I'm so grateful to be his mommy!

*For Zeke's birthday we celebrated with my parents on Sunday with dinner and a fire engine cake. On Tuesday we celebrated by going to Avila Barn, the pet store and having a chicken nugget and fruit salad dinner along with cupcakes by my mom. Zeke was so proud of himself when he blew out his candles :).

We're Alive!

2010-09-18T18:13:00.001-07:00

I have not posted in half a century so I thought I'd just do some random postings from somewhere between May and the present.

Read on down below...

Buzzy

2010-09-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

I love how the box just screams "1980's"

I received Buzzy (the graham cracker shaper) as a birthday gift sometime in the mid '80's. Somehow he, along with my Cabbage Patch babies, survived my childhood, high school, college, and into marriage. A few months ago Zeke was in the garage with me and found Buzzy. Once he laid eyes upon him it was love at first sight. He hauled Buzzy into the house and has been enjoying him ever since. What a well made toy Buzzy is to have survived all these years!

Johnny is not particularly fond of his inheritance to Buzzy because he leaves behind quite a mess of graham cracker crumbs, but I have pointed out to Johnny the benefits of this ingenious toy:

Buzzy does not have sharp edges/blade so Zeke can do this unassisted
Graham crackers crumbs are super easy to vacuum up
Zeke will easily play with Buzzy for 30-45 minutes (when you work from home this is a joyful thing!

And now he is learning to accept that Buzzy is probably going to be part of our family for many more years to come :).

Santa Barbara Zoo

2010-09-18T17:54:00.001-07:00

A few Tuesdays ago Zeke and I took my mom down to Santa Barbara for her 2nd foot surgery (brave woman!) and while we waited for her we decided to explore the zoo! We had such a great time. It is my favorite zoo perhaps because I grew up going here, but I also think it is the perfect size. Not too small that you're done in 30 minutes, but not too big that you can't see everything. We stayed for a couple of hours and took in the animals. The gorillas were by far Zeke's favorite!

Enjoying a break from the animals by sliding down the human sized ant hill

The sneaky pigeons in the background were trying to gobble up Zeke's corn dog (I know, health food :) ), but Zeke did good at telling them, "No, no pigeons. This is my corn dog!"

DisneyLand

2010-09-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

In July we enjoyed DisneyLand with my sister and brother and their families. We had a good time, but I am thankful we participated in the "Give a Day, Get a Day" service project so our tickets were free. I don't think we'll be going back until Zeke is much, much, much older (think 6 or 7 or 8). Waiting in long lines is hard work for a 2 year old!

This was the highlight for Zeke - meeting Winnie the Pooh and Friends!

Graduation!

2010-09-18T17:44:00.001-07:00

We are so proud of Johnny!
He graduated in May from Cal Poly's Single Subject Teaching Credential Program and then in July he was offered a full-time teaching position at Nipomo High School. He has been teaching 10th and 11th grade English and coaching JV football and then in the winter he'll be coaching JV wrestling. Given the state of California's economy, especially the way it has affected the teaching profession out here, we count this as a huge blessing!!

The movies and a cupcake before bed

2010-09-18T17:36:00.001-07:00

Zeke and I went on a date in May or June (I can't really remember) to a small little theater to see, Oceans. This was his outfit of choice. Our movie experience consisted of a trip to the concession stand for popcorn, musical chairs, and Zeke asking to leave when it got to the part about ocean bottom feeders. Needless to say, we only saw half the movie, but it was fun anyway.

We received a really fun ladybug cupcake kit in the mail and on the day I promised Zeke we could make them it turned out to be one of the craziest work days of my life, but because Zeke had waited so patiently all day we made them at 8 pm after his bath when he is normally already in bed. Who doesn't love a sugared up kid right before bed?! He had a great time showcasing and eating his masterpieces :).

Vacuum Cleaner

2010-09-18T17:30:00.001-07:00

I just love these pictures of Zeke with the vacuum cleaner. He had such a good time. Seriously, he played like this for an hour!
*The red overalls where once Johnny's!

Bob Jones Trail - Avila Beach

2010-07-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

On Saturday evening we enjoyed riding the Bob Jones Trail. Zeke was a great little bike rider!

My favorite picture!

A Boy and His Boots

2009-11-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

Zeke got these new froggy boots
('cause it rains so much here in California, which really means that Mommy just liked them :)).

After his bath tonight this was his wardrobe of choice.

I'd say he's on his way to a fashion award :).

P.S. Head on over HERE to enter a great giveaway!

Our Little Stinker

2009-11-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

Friday night our family enjoyed a fun Fall Festival at our church. Zeke was a bit overwhelmed with the carnival activities inside, but seemed to enjoy running around outside while we trunk-or-treated. He really wasn't that interested in getting candy (I think we ended up with about 10 pieces total), but it was still fun to see him excited in general about the festivities of the night.

On Saturday we finally carved our pumpkin! Zeke had fun playing with the pumpkin guts. He dumped them all over our carpet and even tried to taste them, but eventually decided that the pumpkin with candles inside was more interesting than the guts :). He even went up to our pumpkin, squatted down beside it, looked it square in the eye and said, "Hi!" That is pretty much his new thing - to say hi to everyone, whether he knows them or not, and inanimate objects :). We (I should say, Johnny) chose a neighborhood that was perfect for trick or treating door to door. At first Zeke didn't seem to care at all about carrying his bucket or getting the candy, but after a few houses he caught on and was hard to keep up with :). We trick or treated for about an hour, which provided Zeke (and Johnny and I) with more than enough loot :). My mom and dad joined us too and it was fun to have them along. We had a good night with our little stinker :).

WE WON!!!

2009-10-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Many, many thanks to all of you who voted on our behalf. This morning I was contacted by the radio station and was on-the-air as they announced that we had won!

We will be receiving a very generous $1000 portrait package from Reflections Photography. This has made my Friday!

Who knew that such an awkward photo would bring us such a great prize :).

We Need Your Votes!

2009-09-28T00:52:00.000-07:00

Last October my sister, Summer, and I tried to get the kids picture taken at JC Penney. What a hilarious disaster it was! If you need a refresher of just how that photo session turned out please click HERE!

Fast forward to last week: Our local radio station set out looking for awkward/bad photos and as I listened to this contest unfold I knew that I had to enter. So, when I got home I dug out the photo, scanned it, and sent it off to Coast 101.3. Johnny and I then got quite a good laugh about it again because no matter how many times we've looked at this picture we always end up in hysterics :).

So, this evening I was checking the radio's website and lo and behold we are 1 of 5 finalists in the photo contest. The photo with the most votes will win and receive a $1000 photo package from Reflections Photography (this is the most exciting part!).

This is where all of you come in: We need you to vote!! If you're interested in helping just click HERE! We are photo #2.

You can vote once a day from now until Thursday, October 1 @ 8 pm. They'll announce the winner on Friday morning.

Thanks Everyone! We'll keep you posted :).

I have no idea why these lines are showing up so just ignore them...they're driving me crazy!

Two

2009-09-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

In keeping with our family birthday celebrations (at least until Zeke is 4 or 5) we had a really nice day with our little guy. We started our festivities last night when we had my mom and dad over for homemade pizza and a darling Elmo cake that my mom made. Zeke wasn't quite sure about the candles, but he was a good sport and did his best to get them blown out (with a little help from mommy). He scored a fantastic (and quiet :)) Elmo doll from Grandma and Grandpa and a wonderful sling bookcase (I think I'm more excited about this one than Zeke). It was a great way to start Zeke's special day out.

This morning Zeke woke up to find his easel from Mommy and Daddy set up and ready to go. Judging from the squeals he made as he tried out the chalkboard I think it's going to get hours of use and enjoyment. Later he got to enjoy playing at the park with Daddy and afterwards opened up a few other presents from Great Grandpas and Grandmas. After dinner Mommy and Daddy sang happy birthday one more time and Zeke was pretty happy to have two little cupcakes placed in front of him. This time with some help from Daddy the candles were blown out. Zeke devoured the cupcakes and said, "Mmm, mmm," not even realizing that mommy had slipped some purple puree (spinach and blueberries) along with some wheat germ and whole wheat flour into the batter. Our little family watched Zeke's new Elmo movie and then off to bed went this little two year old sleepy head. It was a good day! We can't wait to see what lies ahead!

730 Days

2009-09-21T22:05:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe that less than 1000 days ago little Zeke Emerson joined our family.

At 7 lbs. 14 oz. and one week overdue he entered the world at 10:25 pm. We were instantly in love with him and have been ever since.

He is a bundle of energy and is quite the little charmer. He will ham it up for the camera and LOVES to dance. This kid hears a beat and instantly starts bopping up and down...even when we're in the crosswalk and there's rap music blaring out of the stopped car waiting for us to cross he stops dead in his tracks and dances. This he inherited from his Daddy and from his Mommy- his sweet tooth :). Zeke would eat popsicles all the days of his life if we let him. I'm pretty sure they are one of, if not his favorite, food. Zeke is becoming more and more verbal everyday and I love just hearing his voice try to make the sounds for words. Just recently he has started to call out, "Mama, Mama..." and then pat the couch for me to come and read to him. He loves books and stories (much to his parent's happiness and delight :) ) . Yellow is his color of choice and Elmo and Thomas (the train), whom he affectionatelly calls, TeeTee, are some of his favorite pals. He continues to be a great sleeper and nap taker (knock on wood) and still wakes up like a happy little birdie every morning. He fills our home with happy sounds and joy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Little Man!

We love you!

20-0

2009-09-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

Since May Johhny has been coaching Nipomo High School's J.V. football team. He, his boys, and fellow coaches have all worked so hard and this past Thursday their hard work paid off during their first game of the season. They played Lompoc at Lompoc and shut them out with a score of 20-0. We were all very excited and look forward to what the rest of the season brings! Way to go Coach Root!

The score board after the first touch down.

Coach Root in action :)

This boy...

2009-09-06T21:54:00.000-07:00

is quite a handful, but so fun! He is developing quite a vocabulary and can convey his wants fairly efficiently. He is a climber extraordinaire, which leads me to why right after this picture was taken he went to his first day of daycare. On August 17 I started my fifth year of teaching, my third year with California Virtual Academies. In the middle of an online, live professional development I looked up to see my son on top of the kitchen counter with both the sugar and flour containers strategically open while he proceeded to dump handfuls of both all over the kitchen. This was the final straw! Something had to be done! I love that I work primarily from home, but trying to do it this year with a two year old I knew was going to be a challenge.

So, I fretted about what I could do. I was worried about sending him somewhere, but knew I needed help. Most preschools don't have a program for 2 year olds (or so I thought) so I found an in-home daycare that I felt good about and signed Zekey up. This picture was from his first day and he continues to be happy when he gets to go see Miss Katie on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30-1. I have been able to get so much work done while he is gone so that when he is home with me I can just work during his nap times. It has been the best decision. However, I am still not sure I want him in daycare since I have recently found a few preschools with toddler programs 2 days a week. I like the idea of a a more structured environment with curriculum, but we will see. We have an appointment on Tuesday to visit one of the preschools so, he may be making the switch to an actual preschool soon, but just having the two mornings a week to get work done has been incredible. I am a much better mother because I can really focus on him when he's home, which is a blessing!

Time Flies!

2009-09-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

We have been so busy this summer. So much so that other than the blog post Johnny did a few days ago nothing has been posted since June! We are alive and well though and I'm going to do my best to get everyone up to speed on what we've been up to...

ARIZONA

At the beginning of July Zeke and I trekked out to Phoenix (and the surrounding areas) to be at the wedding of one of my dearest friends. Stan and Kayla had a beautiful sealing in the Mesa Temple and it was a treat to be a part of their special day! I was also able to spend some time with one of my best friends, Allison! I only wish we could have stayed longer! She was a wonderful hostess and even endured Zeke's mischief (i.e. breaking her refrigerator door, spreading lotion around her room, and continuously letting water splash out of the Culligan (or whatever brand it was :) ) water dispenser) with patience, for which I am grateful- thanks Allison! It was fun to be with the Avans again...it was like the old days :). The only trouble Zeke and I ran into during our two, 8+ hour drives were losing my keys for 45 minutes at the rest stop in the middle of nowhere between California and Arizona...talk about a little stressful! Zeke was a great traveler though! We hope to see you soon Allison! Sadly, we never took any pictures during this trip :(.

Hawaii

At the end of July we were able to spend 10 days in Hawaii with all of my family! My favorite part of the trip was just being able to have everyone together. I hadn't seen my sister or brother (or their family's since December) so it was nice to be together. We got to meet our newest nephew, Caleb, and be at his blessing. He is so cute! We did a lot of different activities and saw a lot of neat things. Zeke was in heaven just playing in the water and running around the beach. There are just way too many pictures to post so I just chose a few.

Cute little Caleb just taking a snooze.

Summer and I trying to get ourselves tan :)

Our family on the back steps of the beach house we stayed in.

We accidentally locked Zeke in the car in his carseat so the Sunset Beach fire department came to our rescue and didn't even have to break the window. They did a great job!

In additon to our vacations we also spent time coaching football (Johnny), getting ready for the new school year (Sarah), feeding the goats at the Avila Barn, being very vigilant about going to the gym, and other local things around town. That about rounds out our summer. I also had my 10 year high school reunion, but decided to just forgo it this time around. Perhaps maybe the 20 year :). That sounds so far away, but I know it will come fast!

We hope your summer was great!

A Few of My Favorite Things by Zeke Root

2009-08-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

Busses
Juice
Faucets
Elmo
Doggies
Markers
Hubcaps
Calculators
Popsicles
Airplanes
Kitties
Parked cars
Keys
Thomas the Tank Engine
Cell phones
Staplers
Buttons
Cookies
Dishwashers
Sand
Batteries
Water
Salt shakers
Birdies
Water meter covers
Rocks (big and small)
Computer mice
Puddles

Father's Day

2009-06-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

It wouldn't be Father's Day without a tribute to my own Dad. My Dad has so many wonderful qualities and I am honored to be his oldest daughter.
When I was growing up my dad worked in the construction industry and he worked with his tools a lot. There were a number of occasions where I can remember getting to accompany him to work for the day. What was fun about it though was not just getting to be at his job with him, but getting to try out the tools (even a scissor-lift), inspecting the buildings during a walk through and really getting to be in on the action :).
As I got older I could always count on my dad to encourage me on through my high school classes and even my college ones. He never gave up on me getting through college algebra and even accompanied me to class so he could see what was being taught so he could better explain it to me at home.
My dad is smart and has the most incredible memory! He can remember what day of the week Christmas was on 7 years ago without even skipping a beat!
I appreciate the way my dad has always been accepting towards people. He has an ease with conversation and can strike up a genuine one with just about anyone. My dad never puts on any airs and just presents himself just the way he is. He is genuine.
Before I was married, but lived on my own, my Dad and I spent a lot of time going on hikes and to the gym together. I treasure those few years and miss them, but am grateful for that time. (It's hard to find the time now for these things with a 21-month old :).)
My dad is also ambitious and very focused, which inspires me. This week he will be trekking to the Peak of Mt. Whitney!
I'm grateful for my dad and appreciate all he has and continues to do for me (and Johnny and Zekey).
I love you Dad!

Mischief Maker

2009-06-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

Last night while I was in Zeke's room putting away his clean laundry he was out in the living room being just a little too quiet. I went to investigate and was greeted by a little grafitti artist. He managed to get the black Sharpie out of the top kitchen drawer and then used the front door, the carpet, and his body as his canvases. He was just thrilled to pose for pictures showing off his handiwork. All I can say is thank goodness for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. They truly are magical and should be on every new mommies registery!

The fun continues :)
This boy keeps me on my toes!
A few weeks ago while I was brushing my teeth I plopped Zeke in the tub so I could have him contained without worrying about him getting into things because believe me you, getting into things is an understatement for this child. I stepped out for a few minutes and within that short period of time he squeezed out an entire bottle of shaving cream much to his delight and entertainment. He was just so proud of himself for creating his own fun :). At least this one was pretty easy to clean up!

*Just for the record...I realized that during both incidents Zeke is only wearing his diaper. I promise that he usually is wearing clothes and doesn't just parade around in his diaper all day long :).

You're Invited:

2009-06-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

To a Pampered Chef Luau!

Wednesday, June 17 @ 6:30 pm

Please feel free to come and enjoy good company,
yummy food, and great kitchen tools!

If you can't come, but would still like to order a product or two
let me know so we can get your order submitted.

You can view the catalog by clicking HERE!

You can submit an order online by clicking HERE!

Have a happy week!

Boise!

2009-06-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

We spent a week in Boise, Idaho to celebrate the marriage of Johnny's youngest brother, Paul, to Kristi Dunkley. It was a fun celebration and a fun week! Congratulations Paul and Kristi!

Target

2009-05-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

I love Target! I got the greatest deals this morning and was able to add to my stockpile of goods.
I spent $15.84 (Before coupons my total was $58) on all of these items using Manufacturer Coupons stacked with Target coupons. Couponing has become my new current obsession/hobby :). I'm slowly starting to get the hang of it!

For $15.84:

3 Nabisco 100 Calorie Pack Snacks - .79/box
3 Hershey's Bliss Candy Bars - FREE
2 Kraft Salad Dressings - .49/ea.
4 Wheat Thins - .54/box
1 bottle Kraft BBQ sauce - FREE
6 Ritz Crackers - .75/box
2 Kraft Mayo - .49/ea.
1 box Quaker Granola Bars - .89/box
4 blocks (8 0z. ea.) of cheddar cheese - .99/ea.

Have a happy Wednesday!

The Next Heisman Trophy...

2009-05-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

belongs to the little guy sporting his mommy's high heels.
Seriously, these shoes have become Zeke's signature look whenever we're at home.
Luckily for Johnny he softened the blow by carrying around the football.
Happy Friday!

Lucky

2009-05-10T22:11:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to have a mom who raised me with the gospel and shared her firm, unwavering testimony by example. She has always been my biggest cheerleader, patiently watching all day (and believe me - track meets last ALL day) from the bleachers or the sidelines at countless cross country and track meets. She encouraged me through school and new jobs. She has always put her children, and now her grandchildren, before her own needs. She has the best listening ear and knows me like no one else (except maybe for Johnny :) ). She is one of the hardest workers I know and even 10 years later I'm still amazed that she gets to work on time at 4 am. I for sure would have been fired by now! She is my friend and such an example of loyalty. She is a very talented baker and always has yummy treats to share. She is an example to me of what being a mother truly entails and I feel blessed to have her example to follow as I now journey through motherhood. I love how much she loves her grandchildren and they sure do love her! I am so blessed...I love you Momma!

With 3 of her 5 little munchkins last year
(Jake and little Sparks guy are missing)

Twenty Eight

2009-05-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

We celebrated my birthday on Wednesday with spaghetti (with Polish Sausage) and a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Johnny prepared all of the food and Zeke made sure to grab a fistful of cake when the sprinkles were being put on so the cake actually had a crater in the middle of it, but it still tasted chocolatey and delicious. I received beautiful tulips and new scriptures (the mini quad - perfect for a diaper bag) from my mom and dad, tickets to the Melodrama for next Friday from Johnny, brownines from Britt, tulips and $15 to Starbucks from one of my students, and a bag of yummy chocolates from another student, along with lots of wonderful cards. I think 28 will be a lovely year...Hawaii in July, 10-Year HS Reunion in August, and lots of other plans in the works...
If I look tired in this picture it's because I was!! I had been working off of two days with 5 1/2 hours of sleep each night due to being the Site Coordinator for State Testing in our area. Thank goodness it's over!!!

This little guy LOVES spaghetti and equally loved the cake as evidenced by his spaghetti/chocolate beard.

Coupon Crazy

2009-05-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

I had an even better shopping week and scored some great deals last night!
The following totaled: $70.59,
but after sales and coupons my total came to: $25.30
Plus, I received a coupon for $10 off my next shopping trip.

For $25.30 I scored:

6 boxes of cereal
1 CPK frozen pizza
1 Newman's Own frozen pizza
1 box Ziploc freezer bags
2 lbs. of zucchini
1 onion
1 1/2 dozen eggs
10 Yoplait yogurt cups
2 lbs. bananas
1 jar Skippy peanut butter
1 Caesar salad kit
3 carrotts w/ ranch on-the-go kits

The best deal of the week was:

Life Cereal @ .67 a box

Safeway/Vons has the cereal on sale for $1.67 and then you can print a 1.00/1 box of Maple & Brown Sugar Life from the Quaker website, which makes the box of cereal end up costing just .67! The Quaker website will only let you print out 2 coupons per computer, but that means you can get 2 boxes of Maple & Brown Sugar Life for just $1.34, which would be great for food storage. I'm not sure how long the cereal will be on sale for so happy shopping!!

What's Not To Love About...

2009-05-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

Banana Peanut Butter Granola?! I found this delicious recipe while perusing blogs one night and knew I had to give it a try. It turned out quite yummy, although Johnny wasn't a very big fan of the banana chips (maybe they're an acquired taste?), and I'll definitely be adding it to my repertoire of recipes. It's so easy to make and with the banana chips, honey roasted peanuts, and chocolate chips how could anyone turn this done? I also made a small batch with carob chips in place of the chocolate chips, but I wouldn't go with just carob until your family gives you the seal of approval. They definitely have a different taste than chocolate, which Johnny couldn't stand so that is why a small batch was made just for my tasting pleasure :)

In other baking news...

Last night Johnny and I attended a 40th birthday surprise party for a friend of ours in the ward. All of the attendees were asked to bring a pie of their choosing to celebrate. All day I was consumed up to my eyeballs in sorting 60 state tests for next week's CST testing so pie making fell to the bottom of my to-do list. However, Johnny stepped in and rose to the occasion by making an apple pie entirely from scratch, including the crust. I was so impressed when he pulled it from the oven. Not only did it look great, but it tasted just as wonderful!

He also pulled this beauty from the oven. I asked him what on earth this thing was and he quickly replied that it was an experiment, which he coined "an apple wrap." He basically took a whole apple and covered it with the leftover dough in an attempt to not waste the leftover dough. It was a nice attempt, but let's just say that I think he should stick to the pie making for now :).

Crafty Endeavors

2009-05-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

I've had a crafty bug hit me this week and because of this bug the wood section in Home Depot and I have become well acquainted. I've been wanting to get these wood signs made for Zeke's room for quite some time so I finally went ahead and finished them.

This first one has the meaning of Zeke's name:

and this second one is actually just the first part of a bigger project I'm still working on. I plan to have some black and white pictures framed of Zeke at 5 weeks old, which I'm then going to use to decorate around the sign, which is above his crib. Just wanted to share :).

Before & After

2009-05-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

As a little girl I remember spending the week at my Grandma's and going with her to have her foot stool reupolstered. A few years ago I mentioned to my Grandma that I would like to have her foot stool left to me because of the good memory I associated with it. I know that seems a bit morbid, but it fit into the context of our conversation at the time so it wasn't just some random talk about when she dies who she is going to leave her things to :). Anyway, a few months after that she decided to give me her foot stool ahead of time just because. I was surprised to already have it seeing that she had many years still left in her (she is currently still ticking at nearly 74 :) ), but graciously accepted it. The only dilemna was that it clearly clashed with my Americana themed decor so I kept it out of view with the intention that I would eventually reupolster it with something that matched my home. Well, a marriage and baby later I still hadn't reupolstered it and it sat lonely by itself in the corner of my home. That is until this last week. I finally decided to just amateurly try my hand at reupolstering it with leftover fabric that I had been saving for this project. I think it turned out quite well and I'm so happy to have a piece of my Grandma in our living room :). So, here is the before...

and here is the after...

Learning the Ropes

2009-04-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

I used to wonder how anyone in their right mind could ever get so utterly excited over couponing (I'm pretty sure Johnny is still wondering that). However, in an effort to be a more frugal shopper I started clipping coupons a few weeks ago, reading couponing blogs, and finding websites that offer printable coupons and now I'm hooked! It does take strategic planning and ample time, but it is truly satisfying to find great deals. It's almost like a game to try and find the best deals and when I do it's so much fun! I think last night has been my best week yet. I've still got a long way to go (some people end up paying cents-literally-for their groceries!), but I am proud of my frugal efforts thus far!

DEAL OF THE WEEK:
$3 for 2 Classico sauces and 2 packages of Safeway pasta

I paid $8.11 for the items below using coupons and
capitalizing on sale items at Vons and Albertsons...
How could you not be excited :)!

Heat Wave

2009-04-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

Last Monday a heat wave tore through the Central Coast and we were privileged to have the beach offer us a cool respite. Our family joined our good friends Brittany, Cessily, and cute, little Logan. I can't emphasize enough how much Zeke LOVED every aspect of this experience!! From wading into the chilling waters, rolling in the sand, chasing pigeons, and running up to every dog this boy was in heaven. I think Grandpa Sparks may have a future surfing buddy :) . Thanks for inviting us Britt and Cess!

Cookie + S'mores = Smookies!

2009-04-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a good friend of mine was celebrating a birthday so I decided to find a fun cookie recipe to celebrate her day with. I was delighted to find a wonderful recipe for Smookies - a cross between a cookie and a s'more. I wish I could tell you this was my clever and ingenious idea, but alas, I cannot take credit for such a yummy cookie. The credit goes to Parenting magazine (December/January issue). Click HERE for the recipe!

Look at the yummy goodness of peanut butter cookies layered with melted chocolate and marshmallow creme...decadent!

The finished, and wrapped up project, all ready for delivery!

Easter Morning

2009-04-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

Last year Zeke was only 6 months old on Easter so he really had no concept whatsoever of the Easter Bunny bringing him an Easter basket. However, this year, at 18 months, it was so fun to see him excited about the goodies in his basket. I realize my photography skills are lacking mightily in these photos, but I'm still trying to find the time to learn how to really use my camera so for now these will have to do. I love Zeke's expression in the bottom picture (I know his head is cut off) because he's in disbelief that I'm letting him eat candy with reckless abandon. The tantrum came a few minutes later when he was strapped in the high chair for breakfast :).

Dying Eggs

2009-04-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

On Easter eve we spent some time dying Easter eggs. Zeke was quite intrigued and much to Johnny's joy we didn't have any major spills :).

*On a side note: Zeke's latest fashion statement of choice is to walk around with his jammies unzipped. Johnny and I do not endorse this, but I pick my battles so this one wins - just in case you were wondering why my son's belly and chest are hanging out :) ).

Testing out the hard boiled egg.

Dropping the egg in (with much assistance from Mommy).

Waiting patiently for his eggs.

Ta-Da! The finished masterpieces (with a few cracks here and there).

Easter and other thoughts...

2009-04-15T22:31:00.000-07:00

It seems like it's been nearly impossible to find blogging time, but alas this week is Spring Break so I'm finally going to try and catch up!

I had wanted to do a post on Conference weekend, but never got around to it. I loved conference!! So many of the talks spoke to my heart and seemed to be written for me. We started off the Saturday morning session with Pan Dulce and orange juice. That is our Saturday morning conference tradition to eat the yummy Mexican pastries (part of my heritage) while watching the wonderful talks. We enjoyed every last morsel of them!

On to Easter...Zeke seemed much happier with the outfit he ended up wearing. He didn't shed any tears like in the previous post :). Here he is heading off to church.

After church we enjoyed a delicious Easter meal at my mom and dad's house. My Grandpa Bouza was visiting for the week so we got to spend time with him too! If only I'd gotten a picture with Zeke and his Great Grandpa. Below you can see Zeke was a man on a mission :).

He figured out where to put the eggs pretty quickly. He also figured out that the eggs had goldfish crackers in them, which meant after he found an egg he wanted to open it and eat the contents right then before moving on to the next one. It was fun to watch!

We hope you all had a lovely Easter!

Bozo The Clown

2009-03-31T20:46:00.000-07:00

What do you think? I'd say Zeke's Easter clothes are a tad bit on the large size. He wasn't too happy about them either so they're going back. Oh, I had such good intentions for his Easter outfit... :)

Childhood Nostalgia

2009-03-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

I always love to have easy to make, easy to grab, healthy snacks on hand for when the munchies strike. The other night I was rifling through recipes when I came upon a beloved one from my childhood - Peanut Butter Balls. Nothing fancy or difficult about them. Just plain, wholesome goodness and they're super easy to make. I made a batch and then decided to share. For those of you that keep food storage I discovered that this is not only kid-friendly, but it also utilizes ingredients that can usually be found among food storage supplies. Eating these took me back to being a kid...it was wonderfully delicious!

The 5 ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup raisins
5 T. non-fat dry milk powder
1/4 cup honey
raw sunflower seeds (shelled)

Directions:
1. Blend peanut butter, honey, powdered milk, and raisins.
2. Work into small balls and then roll into the seeds (or mini chocolate chips or shredded coconut)
3. Refigerate

Hiking

2009-03-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing I'm not a novelist because I can never come up with clever titles. I've resorted to stating the obvious, which in this case is hiking!
We enjoyed a family hike near Avila a few Saturdays ago. It was quite beautiful! Zeke got out of the backpack and intstinctively knew to start throwing rocks. It must be a boy thing :).

Lucky Charms

2009-03-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Lately Zeke has become quite the pious little boy. Anytime we sit down to eat he instantly folds his arms and waits for us to utter the prayer. It doesn't matter if I've given him just one cracker- he insists on praying. If he sees one of us with our arms folded he instantly folds his arms and gets ready to pray. All I can say is this boy LOVES to pray :).

So the other day I was vacuuming up the floor after breakfast and Zeke of course was keeping his distance from the vacuum cleaner. He has a love/hate relationship with the vacuum and this day it was more of a hate so he was timidly standing in the hallway while I cleaned up the dining room. The following is what ensued:

Me: "Zekey, it's okay. Mommy is just vacuuming up the Lucky Charms."

Zeke: Looks at me and instantly folds his arms, waiting for the prayer.

Me: I couldn't figure out why he was folding his arms to pray until it dawned on me a second later that he interpreted "Lucky Charms" as "fold your arms."

What an obedient little boy...I got a good laugh :). I love the innocence of children!

The Blessed Day Has Come!

2009-02-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

I never thought I'd be so happy to see my child enthralled with a television show, but I must admit I am indeed happy to announce that Zeke loves Baby Einstein and I love them just as much, if not more!! This picture of this little boy is one-of-a-kind because he never, in his 17 months of existence, has ever sat on the couch and watched something for more than 5 seconds.
However, he not only watched Baby Einstein on the Farm, but he sat just like this for a whopping 28 minutes! Imagine my joy at being able to get something done!! I'm not trying to make a T.V. junkie out of him, but it is a miracle to know that once in a while I have something to keep him entertained other than him tearing books and frames off the shelves :).

Tooth Tales

2009-02-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

Well, this picture is supposed to be below my writing, but the computer isn't working with me right now so we'll just leave it as is...
Anyway, tomorrow I will finally, 12 years after it was recommended, be having my wisdom teeth removed. Yikes! I am no stranger to the dental scene, as can be determined by looking at an x-ray of my teeth, but still, I am not exactly counting this trip to the dentist as one of my favorites. So, wish me luck!

This is just a picture I took of Zeke one afternoon while we were at the park. The scab on his head is the result of him falling out of the cart onto the concrete at Target, but that's another post about my monkey of a child :).

momAgenda

2009-02-02T22:59:00.001-08:00

I am turning into one of the worst bloggers out there, but life has just been one busy, busy blur lately. Between parent/teacher conferences, mid year report cards, Johnny at Cal Poly, and a very busy 16 month old who climbs on EVERYTHING, I've felt lucky if I've gotten myself dressed by 2 pm everyday much less blogged!

However, I felt a need to share my happiness regarding my new found treasure: my momAgenda planner (endorsed by The Today Show, which in my book is saying something)!

What is this you ask? It's an ingenious solution to the craziness I call my life! Johnny would tell you it's my OCD/Type A kicking in, but he just doesn't understand how much my life, our life, depends upon my daily "to do" list and sticky notes. I will admit I'm a little crazy when it comes to planning and organization and I do get quite the thrill from filling in the pages of a brand new planner each January, but I've been like this my whole life so I'm used to it :).

I can remeber how exciting it was to get my new planner each year in junior high. At the beginning of the school year during homeroom they would pass out the beloved, crisp, new planners and I would proceed to spend the remainder of my homework hour filling out the pages with upcoming assignments and due dates and all the big events in a junior highers life. I would then color code each assignment with different highlighters depending on the class the assignment belonged to. Thus began my love affair with planners and agendas (yes, I realize I am making myself out to be quite the nerd)!

In high school I traded in my spiral OJHS planners for a Day Timer, which was quite the step up with a canvas cover and little pockets. It worked quite well for me and got me through college and into my teaching days, but then I got married and had a baby and was now managing 3 schedules instead of 1 while also working from home with 30 K-8 students to keep track off. The Day Timer just wasn't doing it for me anymore!

So began my 2 year search for the perfect planner. Believe me, I tried (and sent back) a half a dozen or so planners and was about to invent my own perfect planner until I met momAgenda. She is terrific!! While she is still missing a few components that I would have included she is still the most wonderful, mom-inspired planner I've ever come across. I have had her 1 week and from what I can tell I think she and I are going to have a long relationship together!

Just to give you an idea...it includes a traditional monthly calendar at the beginning of each month and then each month is broken into weeks that are their own two pages. Each week has spaces for the mom and 4 kids. Since I only have 1 kid right now I included Johnny in the kids section because sometimes he's my big kid :). Now I don't have to cram everyone's activities into one small square each day. Instead, on any given day each person has their own square so I know what our day looks like. I could go on and on about this planner because it has lots of other great features to it, but this post have already gone on too long and if you're still reading it I don't want to bore you to tears any longer :). If you're looking for an old-fashioned (none of this new electronic stuff) planner though - this is it!

Just ignore my Tuesday entry about free breakfast at Denny's...Kinda dorky I know, but I'm a freebie junkie :)
The beatiful, lime, liquid resistant cover was another selling point for me :)

Announcing Our Newest Addition!

2009-01-18T20:48:00.000-08:00

Yes, we're finally back and we've got exciting news...

After 5 months of saving up, and a little help from Santa, we finally had enough money to bring this beauty home:

Yes folks, that's right, we are the proud owners of a Canon Rebel Xsi. This is something I've wanted to have for quite some time and always felt would be a wonderful investment of sorts because it would preserve our family memories for years to come (I don't intend on buying another camera for the rest of my life - maybe additional lenses, but never another camera, which is how I justified making this purchase :) ). I've always loved photography so I'm excited for all of the possibilities. I've got a lot to learn and can't remember a thing about shutter speed, F-stop, etc. from my photography class in high school ten years ago, but nonetheless I can't wait to capture the memories of our little Zekey and his siblings to come.

On other notes...We had a delightful Christmas with my siblings and their families, but the time went much too fast (I miss you guys!), we ushered in the New Year with a quiet movie night at home, and celebrated Johnny's 30th birthday on January 8. We're looking forward to all that is to come this year and hopefully I'll do a better job of keeping up on this blog :).

*When I find some time I'll figure out how to load the new photo software onto the computer so I can load some pictures 'cause let's face it, the pictures are my favorite part of blogging.

Family Pictures 2008

2008-12-11T22:54:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday we were privileged to have my friend Gena share her photography talent with our family. She did such a wonderful job of capturing us and got so many pictures (around 300!). These five are just a few...Enjoy!

Our Cottage By The Sea

2008-12-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday Johnny and I had the rare privilege of going on a mini getaway. We only stayed 5 minutes from our home at The Cottage Inn By The Sea in Pismo Beach, but it was heavenly! The Inn treated us so well and upgraded us to a room with a view since we told them we were celebrating our anniversary. Plus, we didn't have to worry about Zeke because he was well taken care of by Grandma and Grandpa (Thanks Mom and Dad!). We also enjoyed a gourment dinner at Steamers and watched the sunset while we ate. It was so much fun to be together!

Our cute cottage

Our fireplace - complete with a complimentary bottle of Martinellis

Cute little cottage bedroom with a king-size :) bed
(Someday, many years from now, I'd love to upgrade to one of these!)

Good Morning!

2008-12-11T21:36:00.000-08:00

This is how I found Zeke the other morning :).

Counting The Days...

2008-12-11T21:30:00.001-08:00

Until Christmas!

I finally made this advent calendar after hanging on to the directions for years. I'm really happy with how it turned out (although it is a bit hard to see the numbers so I'll fix that for next year) and looking forward to using it throughout the years. Zeke has already caught on to the idea that he gets to have chocolate - daily! He stands under the sign and reaches up in desperation...he got his momma's sweet tooth!

Tagged...Twice!!

2008-12-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

First I was tagged by my sister, Summer...

8 Things About Me

8 favorite TV shows: If we had cable I'd watch...
1. The Today Show
2. E.R.
3. Oprah
4. A&E Biography
5. Prison Break
6. The Nightly News
7. Growing Pains
8. American Idol

8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Met with 2 new students
2. Made a homemade pizza for dinner
3. Watched Prison Break on the computer
4. Visited the library
5. Went to my mom's
6. Picked up my plexiglass order
7. Read an Audrey Hepburn biography
8. Mailed lots of letter/packages at the post office

8 Things to Look Forward To:
1. Christmas
2. Seeing my brother and sister and their families
3. 2 week Christmas Break (with pay :))
4. Having saved up enough $ for my Canon Rebel ($250 to go!)
5. My anniversary getaway with Johnny
6. family pictures (thanks Gena!)
7. Going to the Melodrama with my family
8. getting a Christmas tree

8 Favorite Resturants
1. Marie Callendars
2. Olive Garden
3. Taco Roco
4. IHOP (love their pure sugar Stuffed French Toast!)
5. Pagoda in Salt Lake City
6. AppleFarm Restaurant
7. Pizza Solo
8. Tahoe Joe's

8 Things on my Wish List:
1. digital scrapbooking
2. Canon Rebel Xsi
3. house
4. rotaty cutter and cutting mat
5. Cricut Vinyl Cutter and accesories
6. picture frames
7. small quad-size scriptures
8.bi-weekly house cleaner while I'm working

8 people I tag: Mom, Brittany, Erin, Kaitlyn, Lois, Kara, Ashlin, anyone else who wants to do it...

Next I was tagged by my good friend, Allison...

8 things I am passionate about....
1. The gospel
2. My family
3. Teaching
4. Running
5. Reading
6. Baking
7. Being a Mommy
8. Shopping

8 words or phrases I use all the time
1. Holy Moly
2. Hey Little Man (talking to Zeke)
3. JohnnyRoot (it's like one phrase)
4. Like
5. Oh dear...
6. Good Heavens!
7. Great Scott!
8. No, no little guy (again talking to Zeke)

8 things I want to do before I die
1. Travel to interesting places
2. Go to the Summer Olympics (as a spectator)
3. Run a marathon
4. Buy a house
5. Quit working and be a stay at home mom
6. Pay off my student loans!
7. See all of my children married in the temple
8. Play with my grandchildren (after my children are married :) )

8 things I want or need
1. I want to run a marathon
2. I want to get a Canon Rebel Xsi camera
3. I need to work for CAVA right now
4. I want to not have to work for CAVA right now
5. I want Johnny to get hired as a high school teacher when he finishes school next December
6. I want to go to the temple monthly (it's hard with it being 3 hours away and having a toddler)
7. I want a new US president
8. I want to own a home

8 places I would like to visit
1. Australia
2. Anne Frank's hiding place in Amsterdaam and Aushwitz (in Poland)
3. The Sacred Grove in New York
4. Hawaii
5. England
6. Spain
7. Italy
8. New York

8 restaurants I love (See in above survey :) )
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

8 shows I like to watch (see above survey :))
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

8 people I tag: Anyone who would like to do this :)

2 Years Ago Today...

2008-11-30T20:56:00.000-08:00

I married my Johnny Root!
I love you Johnny!!!
XOXO

*I'm posting this today (Sunday), but it's really for 12/1/08*

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

We were able to fly (thanks Amber and Blake!) to Boise to spend Thanksgiving with Johnny's side of the family. In fact, we had so much fun I didn't even have time to get my camera out for pictures :). Fortunately, we took family pictures so I've included some of them below.

We enjoyed lots of wonderful conversations with our family and got to do lots of fun things. On Sunday we got to go and hear Darlene (Johnny's mom) sing with a 300 voice choir and symphony to kick off the Thanksgiving week. It was a treat for our ears!! My sister-in-law Candice was kind enough to offer her hair cutting services to all three of us in her salon. This was Zeke's first "real" haircut sitting in the chair and wearing a cute little smock. Thanks Candice!! We had a popcorn and movie night at the Farris' home and enjoyed a crepe night later in the week. We also got to visit with the most gracious and kind parents of one of Johnny's best high school buddies. *On a side note...While we were there Zeke felt the need to dump over a very large potted plant onto their white carpet in addition to pulling down 5 or so of their vertical blinds (very embarrasing!!, but they were as nice and easy going as could be about it)*. On Thursday we enjoyed a magnificent Thanksgiving feast with every side dish you could imagine and on Friday Darlene and I ventured out into Black Friday around 10 am for a little shopping (Amber and Jennie braved the 5 am crowds :) )!!

We sure loved being with everyone for Thanksgiving and are grateful for all of our families! I'm grateful to have inherited such a wonderful family...they are the best!!! Now on to the pictures...

Everyone being silly in the 40 degree or so weather!

The whole family:
Back L to R- Amber, Ty, Candice, Zeke, Jake, Sarah, Johnny, Paul, Lars, Frank, Liane, Briggs
Front L to R- Isham, Blake, Jackson, Aleah, Dad, Mom, Amp, Jennie

The cousins with Grandpa and Grandma :)

The Worst Baby Picture Ever...By John Root

2008-11-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

It is hard to list the number of elements that must be balanced and harmonized to produce an aesthetically pleasing photograph. Typically our attention is not focused on the artistic merits of family portraits because we don’t have particularly high expectations of them. We just hope that each kid looks cute and is smiling. But every once in a while, we capture a moment in which something has gone egregiously amiss. In such instances we cannot help asking ourselves, “Where did it all go wrong?” May I direct the viewer’s attention to the photograph and attempt an exploration of how any photo could turn out so hilariously bad. In the center background of the photo we see two lovely young female subjects posed in what appears to be a scene from Shakespeare. One has a look of anguish and longing as she clings in desperation to her older sister. There is no empathy however in the face of the older sister and would-be comforter. Rather she wears an expression of bored curiosity and her gaze is directed away from both emotional epicenters of the portrait. The thematic cohesion of the piece is further scattered by the adorable young male subject in the right foreground. He is comfortably perched with his back to the sisters and completely oblivious to the turmoil around him. Although a baby, he appears through some surreal optical illusion to be much bigger than the older sisters. Finally, may I draw the viewer’s attention to the young male subject on the left. Not only does his beet-red complexion contrast with those of his cousins to create the illusion of having been “photo-shopped” into the picture, his head appears to be at least twice as big as those of his cousins. He has apparently abandoned himself to utter despair and is thus emotionally isolated from the other subjects in the photo. I do not consider my analysis exhaustive or authoritative. In fact, I look forward to the insights it may generate among those who read it. Consider it a primer for any who would like to post their own interpretation of the piece.

* Don't forget to click on the picture to get the full effect!

R.I.P.

2008-11-14T11:34:00.001-08:00

So the other night Johnny and I were getting ready for bed, which involved using the toilet and what to our surprise should we find waiting for us...take a look below :)

Yes, this is one of my children's Thanksgiving books, which I had had on display in the living room until its untimely death in the toilet Wednesday evening. I had been looking all over for it because earlier in the day I noticed it was missing, but who would have thought to look in the toilet!? What makes this even funnier is that we have a lock on the toilet because a few months ago I found Zeke playing in the toilet water (I know, disgusting!) and when we found the book it was after we had unlocked the toilet and lifted up the lid. Sometime during the day Zeke had slyly slid the book underneath the small opening of the lid. He was fast asleep by the time we made this discovery so he did not get to enjoy seeing Mommy and Daddy surprised by his handiwork :). Oh the joys of a toddler...they're just beginning!

This Is What Working From Home With A One Year Old Looks Like

2008-11-08T13:36:00.001-08:00

On Thursday I was working online with one one of my first graders and introducing her to the two sounds of "C." Zeke had awoke from his nap earlier than usual and was fussing for crackers and so I was left to try and keep him happy while also teaching a live lesson. In an act of desperation I handed him the whole box of Trader Joe's Cheddar Cheese Squares and there he sat for the next 20 minutes engrossed in this activity of dispering the crackers all over the dining room. Not until I finished with the lesson did I realize just how much of a mess my little guy had made for me. He was more than happy to oblige me with a photograph of his handiwork.

Our Halloween Happenings

2008-10-31T23:19:00.000-07:00

We (Zeke and I) started our morning by meeting up with 3 other Stroller Strides mommies at Avila Valley Barn. One of the little girls, Evelyn, was turing 1 so her mom, Luella, brought really yummy pumpkin muffins to share. Zeke loved them, but then again what food doesn't this kid love?! We fed the goats some leftover cornhusks, zucchini, and lettuce. Zeke finally caught on to the idea of feeding them and had a ball! We joined Mary and her son Payton on a hayride down to the pumpkin patch, which Zeke seemed to like. The patch was pretty much picked over, but that's what you get when you wait until October 31st to get your pumpkin :). We did end up finding a good one though. I finally tried to get some pictures of Zeke on the pumpkin pile, but he wasn't crazy about mommy's "great" idea. He was a much better participant last year :). We had a fun morning and enjoyed the company of Mary, Payton, Jen, Finn, Luella, and Evelyn!

Ready for the hayride!

Not sure why mom thinks this is such a grand idea.

Last year, at 5 weeks old, it was much easier to get a picture in the pumpkin pile!

He is really done with this idea as evidenced by his little tear stained cheeks.

This evening we (all 3 of us) were able to attend our ward's Trunk-or-Treat. Johnny had the great idea of having us dress up as John McCain and Sarah Palin and Zeke was the Republican party symbol- an elephant. It was a hit! Zeke didn't really seem to care much for collecting candy, which was fine with his momma, so we just wandered around and said hello. We have such a great ward and really had a good time!

After viewing this photo Johnny thinks he looks like Jack Frost, which is what one person thought he was dressed up as :). You can't really see my Sarah Palin updo and my GoodWill Governor suit was 3 sizes too large, but for 6 dollars I made it work (safety pins are magical) :). For the most part we pulled it off and most everyone seemed to recognize who we were and gave us a smile.

A Visit From The Past

2008-10-31T23:11:00.000-07:00

Johnny's friend from high school, Rob Chatterton, and his lovely girlfriend Megan, paid us a visit last Sunday. Rob, a recent dental school graduate, was in town checking out potential dental practices. We enjoyed visiting with both Rob and Megan and I know it was fun for Johnny to go back in time a bit and catch up. We wish Rob well in his dental pursuits. Thanks for your visit!

The Corn Husker State

2008-10-31T22:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my mom and dad and a leftover airline voucher, Zeke and I (we had to leave Johnny at home for school) had the wonderful opportunity to visit my sister and her family in Omaha, Nebraska. We had such a good time while we were there! We ate lots of delicious meals, saw their amazing zoo, tried to take pictures at JC Penny (that's a whole post of its own :) ), played with lots of toys, went to the Creighton Dental Wives Board Meeting, and enjoyed one another's company! It was a great week and we sure miss them! We're excited for them to get here at Christmas!! Thanks for such a fun time Summer, Brian, Karaline, Megan, and Jake! We hope you enjoy our pictures. I didn't get any pictures of Jake or Brian or of me and Summer...that's what happens when there are 4 kids under 4 to tend to :).

Karaline and Megan riding the little quarter (actually 2 quarter) ride in the mall.

The mall had a great inside play area for the kids, but Zeke's favorite part was running out of it and having someone chase after him. Needless to say after about 5 times I enlisted Karaline to catch him and she took her job seriously!

All of the cousins, minus Jake, in the petting zoo at the Omaha Zoo

Karaline and Zeke petting one of the many goats. Zeke loved these guys and ran right up to them to give them "loves." He also tried some of their waste...Karaline thought it was goat food and was ready to feed it to them :).

We spent many, many hours in planes and airports, but Zeke did terrific and really loved the plane as you can tell! (On a side note...Zeke's curiousity got to him and my straight iron burned his little face...I felt terrible! However, neosporin has helped it to heal quite nicely.)

8 Months and Counting...

2008-10-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

until the arrival of a new little Sparks cousin!!! Jesse and Lois are due with their first baby in June!

2009 is going to be a busy baby year for both sides of our families:

Jennie (Johnny's youngest sister) and Briggs are due with a little girl in January!!

and

Candice and Jake (one of Johnny's brothers) are due with their first little baby in April!!

We're so excited to welcome all of these new little nieces and/or nephews into our family!!!

Congratulations Jennie, Briggs, Candice, Jake, Lois, and Jesse!!!

Little Billy...

2008-10-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

This picture doesn't really do the damage justice, but it will have to suffice :).

as in Billy Ray Cyrus that is! If you're not sure of who he is, think mullet! So why am I writing about this mullet wearing singer who I could care less about? Because I accidentally gave Zeke a mini mullet last night.

Yes, it's a very good thing I never planned on becoming a cosmetologist because I learned last night I don't know the first thing about cutting hair. Zeke's hair had been getting kinda shaggy around his ears so when he got out of the bath last night I decided I would just snip away the wispy, shaggy part. Well, a few snips later my poor little son is sporting what I will call the mini mullet :(. At least he doesn't know the difference! When Johnny got home from school last night he and I shared a pretty good laugh if you can imagine!!

The good part is it's fixable and I've learned my hair cutting lesson so off to the barber we go...

Just one year ago...

2008-09-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

we welcomed this little guy into our family,

and just yesterday we celebrated that special day!

We love you little Zekey!!!

Tagged...

2008-09-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

TAGGED!
I was tagged by my momma:)
Instruction: Answer the questions with one word or a little more, and then tag three friends. This is going to be fun!
1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? Johnny Root
3. Your hair? brown
4. Your mother? dear friend
5. Your Father? genuine
6. Your favorite thing? Zeke and running
7. Your dream last night? no idea
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream goal? buy a home in AG
10. The room you’re in? Living room
11. Your hobby? running
12. Your fear? dying before my kids are grown
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? California
14. What you’re not? timely
15. Muffins? pumpkin
16. One of your wishlist items? Canon digital SLR camera
17. Where you grew up? Orcutt, CA
18. Last thing you did? made dinner
19. What are you wearing? workout clothes
20. Favorite gadget? baby carriers (Hotsling, Moby, Bjorn)
21. Your pets? none
22. Your computer? IBM ThinkPad
23.Your mood? lovely
24. Missing someone? Siblings
25. Your car? Toyota Corolla
26. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
27. Favorite store? Too many favorites :)
28. Like someone? yes
29. Favorite color? red
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31.When was the last time you cried? today (blogs about little angels...that'll do it)
I tag: Allison, Ashlin, Candice :)

2008-09-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

Have a great week!

Zeke Emerson- 11 months old

We're Back!

2008-08-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

We are alive and well! I finally figured out how to use the slide show feature so I've posted some pictures from our 10 day trip to Boise! Some of the pictures are sideways, but at least I got them up...Summer will appreciate that :).

Some of the highlights of our past month...

Zeke starting walking while we were in Boise. He's quite the little mover! He also turned 11 months old on August 21.

Johnny got accepted to Cal Poly's Teaching Program so he'll start school on September 22. It'll take him about a year to complete his single subject credential and then he'll be off to high school :).

I started back to school on August 1, but won't have my students until September 4. I'm teaching with California Virtual Academies again this year and I finally know what I'm doing so I'm enjoying myself this time and appreciate working from home even more. I also finished my master's thesis (FINALLY!) and just have to present it, which will make it official, on August 29!

Johnny and I went to the Mid-State Fair in July to attend a John Mayer concert. It was awesome!!! You can see the pictures from this on the right. They're really tiny because they are what I settled with after I couldn't get the slide show thingy to work.

That's about all for now. I'll try to be better at updating. We hope you enjoy our pictures...

I Am So Blessed

2008-07-08T22:32:00.001-07:00

Often times I find myself going through life at such a fast pace that I don't take the time to appreciate the small moments. My A-Type personality becomes so consumed with deadlines, to-do lists, and all things organizational that I forget to stop and smell the roses so to speak. Sometimes I need to be reminded of just how important the little moments are and how fleeting this life really is in the grander scheme of eternity. Recently I received this reminder in the form of a complete stranger's blog.

I will admit I am a blog stalker. Now, I hope you don't think I'm a nut or some crazy woman. Really, I just enjoy reading about people. As crazy as it may sound I often times follow the links from other blogs and before I know it I'm wrapped up in some complete stranger's daily life. Most of the time it's a one time visit, but every so often I find a blog that I will continue to check periodically. This was the case a few weeks ago.

I was nursing Zeke, which is when most of my "stalking" occurs, and as I read I was drawn to a linked blog detailing the perilous journey of a faithful, little LDS family out in Las Vegas. My curiosity took over, I visited the blog and I was hooked.

My writing here will never do this particular blog justice, but I will try my best to convey the feelings I get whenever I am a visiter into this family's world of grief and amazing faith. Just three weeks ago this family lost their little baby girl in a tragic drowning accident and although one might wonder how they could continue on with so much faith and hope they are doing just that. Their blog is a pure and sweet testimony of how the Savior can carry us when we are at our weakest and lowest points if we will open our hearts to him. At a time when they are feeling the weight of a burden that I pray I may never have to carry they are openly sharing their journey of what it really means to have a whole and complete trust in our Heavenly Father's perfect plan even when we don't always understand the reason for such things happening. They are honest examples of what it means to truly allow the Savior's atonement to work. I am humbled and my heart aches for them whenver I visit, but I also always leave feeling uplifted with a new resolve to live my life more acutely aligned with the Savior's teachings. I find myself more grateful, on a daily basis, for all of the little things I have been blessed with. I count my blessing more often.

I feel I have become much more keenly aware of what really matters in this life. It has made me a better mother and wife. I count the Waite's blog as a daily blessing because it keeps me focused and makes me so grateful for each day I have with my sweet little boy and amazing husband. I truly am so blessed!

If you would like to feel the Savior's love through the Waite's sweet blog, and I highly recomment that you do, you can access it by going to: http://www.adailyscoop.blogspot.com/.

I just thought I'd include a recent picture of one of my greatest blessings. He's waiting for the fireworks to begin on his first 4th of July.

103 Degrees!!

2008-06-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

Me and Tiffany

Blake and Zeke
Here in Grover Beach, and all up and down the coast, we have been getting uncharacteristically HOT weather this week...95+! It has made for some fun trips to the beach and pool as well as the kitchen sink. We let Zeke play in the sink with the cool water this afternoon and he LOVED it! Feel free to view the video if you'd like to see him in the sink :).

Also, my newly married best friend, Tiffany, and her husband, Blake, have been out here visiting this past week. It's been so nice to go out and do things with them. Yesterday Zeke and I joined them at Pismo Beach. We spent a lot of time right next to the water, which kept us nice and cool. It sure has been fun spending time with Tiffany and Blake. We'll miss them when they head back to Georgia next week! (The pictures were supposed to end up here at the bottom...oops :) ).

Snip Snip...

2008-06-06T17:01:00.000-07:00

Last night Zeke got a real, true haircut! This time we didn't just use scissors...Johnny used the clippers! I was rather stressed about him doing this, but Zeke's hair was growing over his ears and was looking really shaggy. I'm happy with the end result and must give Johnny the credit for a job well done. Our little guy looks like a big boy with his new haircut- so cute!

It didn't take long...

2008-06-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

for Zeke to get the hang of crawling! At 8 1/2 months he has just taken off- especially if there is something across the room that he wants. We think walking isn't too far in the future... Have a happy Thursday! (The video is kind of boring so don't feel obligated to watch it :) ).

Have a "SUPER" Saturday!

2008-05-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

Johnny had always told me that someday he wanted his son and him to have matching Superman shirts. So, when I was pregnant with Zeke I bought two Superman shirts, one in Johnny's size and the other in Zeke's size (sort of - the smallest one I could find was a child's small). I had completely forgotten about the shirts until the other day when I was hanging up some clothes in Zeke's room. I decided to pull the shirts out and just for fun put Zeke in his. He's got a lot of growing to do before it looks like more than a nightgown, but he'll get there :). We hope you all have a great weekend!

Just a quick update on our family...

We closed the doors of the crepe cafe for the final time on May 6 (also my 27th birthday :) ). It was bittersweet, but our location was just not working so we continue to do the Farmer's Market every Friday in Avila Beach and on Saturdays in Shell Beach. People love the crepes at these venues and will wait in line 15-20 minutes to get one!

Johnny is also starting up a small window washing business, Squeegee Luigi, and has already had quite a few jobs. If he isn't busy enough he is also deciding whether or not to go back to school and get his single subject teaching credential. We'll keep you posted.

I continue to teach for California Virtual Academies, which has been quite a learning expereince this year as I have adapted to working from home with an infant. It has proved to work out quite well, although I am looking forward to the last day of school - June 12! I am also deciding whether or not to teach summer school this year up at Laguna Middle School, which I have done for the past two years. I was offered a 6/7 Language Arts position, but still haven't figured out my answer due to the following:

We are highly considering purchasing a Stroller Strides franchise in Santa Maria, which would then mean all of my energy this summer needs to go into getting this new business up and running. I am very excited about this prospect though!!! Stroller Strides is an awesome high intensity workout designed for moms with babies/toddlers. For more info. you can visit http://www.strollerstrides.com/. Anyway, well keep you posted on this development too!

We've got a lot going on, but are enjoying life and love keeping up with everyone's blogs!

Curious George

2008-05-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

We have a crawler in our midst...at 7 months 3 weeks Zeke is officially a crawler. Actually it's kind of more like an inch worm movement he does, but nonetheless he can get himself across a room if there is something interesting enough for him. Such was the case with these pictures. Johnny was fixing his bike tire and little Zekey just had to find out what this contraption lying on our living room floor was. He LOVES to explore!

Avila Beach

2008-04-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

What a fun day we had on Monday up at Avila Beach. The weather was beautiful and we were able to spend time with Summer, Brian, Karaline, and Megan while they were visiting from Nebraska. This was Zeke's first time at the beach aside from being stuck in a Baby Bjorn and he loved it, especially the sand!

(Just in case you're wondering why Zeke's face looks in a bit of distress...he fell off of the bed on Sunday morning - poor little guy!)

Zeke and Daddy

Zeke and Mommy
Just Chillin' Out.

Karaline enjoying the water.

Here we are.

Megan enjoying a dip in the ocean.

The Glazier Family.

Grandma and Grandpa Sparks were with us too, but somehow they didn't end up in any of the picures...next time!

Goin' To The Chapel...

2008-04-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Temple that is. On Saturday, April 26 Jesse and Lois were married. It was a very beautiful sealing and they both looked so happy! Congratulations!!!

(Oops, Jesse and Lois are supposed to here at the top :) )

Taking pictures just about wiped Zeke out!
Karaline thought she was at a princess ball in her pretty dress.
Zeke feeling replenished and ready for some dancing.
The newleyweds!

Happy Tuesday!

2008-04-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say hello and update our blog. These pictures are from yesterday when Zeke was trying to test out gravity. Right after the last picture was taken he leaped out of the glider...luckily we were there to catch him :).

Roses Are Red...

2008-04-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night I came home from shopping at the grocery store and Johnny surprised me with these beautiful flowers. I love his spontaneity and his sweetness!

Happy Birthday...

2008-04-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

Mom and Grandma...

We love you!!!

6 month check-up time...

2008-03-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Zeke went to the doctor for his 6 month check-up. I can't believe he's already that old! He can sit-up all on his own and already has two teeth. We sure are enjoying his little personality!

The doctor said he looks great and is one healthy boy. Here are his stats:

9/21/07: 7 lbs. 14 oz. 20.5 inches

3/24/08: 17 lbs. 1 oz. (50th percentile) 27 inches (75th percentile)

A New Use For The Diaper Bag...

2008-03-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today I was working on a project and Zeke was sitting next to me on the floor playing with toys. For some reason I decided to see if he would like hanging out in his diaper bag and so I plopped him in it. As you can tell from his expression he would have stayed in it all day if I let him.

Top O' The Mornin' To Ya...

2008-03-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We hope your day is a happy one without any pinches.

Onesies...

2008-03-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

I felt like being crafty today and put together some onesies using fabric, the zigzag stitch, and some embellishments. I'm thinking of maybe setting up an Etsy Shop to sell onesies, blankies, and embroidered pillows, but we'll see. For now I'm having fun just being creative. I just need to come up with some boy designs for the onesies...any simple ideas?

2008-03-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

Singin' the Blues...

2008-03-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when Zeke gets fussy Johnny will play him some tunes. The other day I caught them playing together. Johnny is such a good daddy...Zeke and I are lucky to have him!

Boxer in Training...

2008-03-08T13:52:00.000-08:00

The other night when I got Zeke out of the tub I decided to use his bathrobe rather than his hooded towel. Johnny and I decided he looked like he was getting ready for a boxing match.

Tag...I'm It!

2008-03-04T19:36:00.000-08:00

Rules:

A. Post the Rules.
B. Answer the Questions About Yourself.
C. After posting, tag 5 people by going to their blog and leaving a comment.

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

Wow, 10 years ago I was 16 and in the 11th grade. I was running varsity track, was the Junior class secretary and loving my blissful life :).

2. 5 thing on my to-do list today...

-Work on my student's academic plans
-Go to the dentist :(
-Go running (or walking with a friend)
-Write in my journal
-Play with Johnny and Zeke

3. What snacks I enjoy...

It should probably say what snacks I don't enjoy - I am a grazer and love to eat snacks all day long. Some of my favorites are apple slices with peanut butter, crackers and cheese, cherry yogurt, cereal, and graham crackers with a cup of milk.

4. What would I do if I were to suddenly be a billionaire?

I would jump for joy and think I had died and gone to heaven :). Then I would pay off all of our debts and invest some. I would then travel to Europe, Australia, and New York. I would also donate quite a bit to improve the lives of foster and impoverished children. I would custom build Johnny his dream woodshop and then he and I would go to lots of symphonies. I would set a bunch aside for the missions, education, and weddings of our children. I'd buy a house with hardwood floors and a nice big kitchen and a great big bathtub. I'd buy a really good camera and I'd do crafty things all day because I wouldn't have to work. Oh it's fun to dream :).

5. 3 bad habits...

-I am late to everything!
-I over analyze things
-I tend to be a perfectionist when I'm doing crafty things and I drive myself crazy

6. 5 places I've lived...

-Santa Monica, CA
-Ventura, CA
-Orcutt, CA
-Arroyo Grande/Grover Beach, CA
-Salt Lake City, UT

7. 5 jobs i've had...

-Hostess at Marie Callender's
-Unit Leader for Summer Camp at the YMCA
-Therapeutic and Behavioral Services for Children/Adolescent Mental Health Clinic of Santa Barbara County
-K-8 Teacher
-Mommy (my most challenging, rewarding, and favorite)

8. 5 things people don't know about me...

Some of you probably did know these things, but I'll post them anyway:

-I have to start my day with the bed made and end my day without any dishes in the sink.
-I would love to have 3 boys and 1 girl (in that order...so far one down :) ).
-I love to eat Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Frosting, with chocolate chips added, right out of the can (I know it sounds disgusting :) )
-I would love to become really good at photography (gotta get the good camera first :) )
-I love to destress and have me time by plugging into my Ipod and going out for a really good 4-6 mile run in pretty warm weather.

Now I pick 5 people to tag and I tag...

Summer, Momma, Allison, Lois, and Brittany

Finally!

2008-03-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

I have finally started scrapbooking again! I have been trying to scrapbook Zeke's pictures from about the time he was 1 month old and now he's already 5 1/2 months. Time goes too fast, which is why I was so glad to get this page finished before he turned 5. I've got a lot more pages to do, but this is definately a start. The scrapbooking bug has bitten me again and I'm hooked...now I've just gotta find the time.

We Love Rachael Ray!

2008-03-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the look-out for new, quick, and delicious dinner ideas so I was so excited to discover the cooking talents of Rachael Ray sitting right on my cookbook shelf. I received this cookbook as a wedding shower gift, but for whatever reason never cracked it open until last week. That was a big mistake to wait so long because her recipes are awesome! We have enjoyed some wonderful dinners this week all thanks to this fabulous cook. I highly recommend this book for anyone fresh out of meal ideas...you won't be sorry!

Some of the highlights we tried this week:
Oven-Baked Corndogs, Cashew Chicken, Lime and Honey Salmon w/ Roasted Corn and Blackbean Salad, and Pretzel-Crusted Chicken w/ Cheddar-Mustard Sauce

Grover Beach to Pismo and Back

2008-03-02T16:18:00.000-08:00

The weather was just beautiful on Saturday so our family decided to take a walk on the beach. We began walking North, up from Grover Beach and as we walked we just decided to go all the way to Pismo Beach. This way we could visit our friend, Stephane, at the cafe he works in. Zeke enjoyed himself, as this was his first trip to the beach, but didn't quite enjoy facing the sun as you can tell from the pictures. I think we need to get him a little pair of sunglasses. We hope you all had a great weekend too!

Here I Grow...

2008-02-21T16:45:00.000-08:00

This blog is slightly out of order, which is a bummer because it would make a lot more sense if it were in order, but for the life of me I can't seem to get the pictures rearranged.

1/21/08 - 4 months

2/21/08 - 5 months

Before Zeke was born some friends of ours gave us the idea to take a monthly picture of Zeke sitting in the same chair during his first year. So far we've been keeping up with this task by getting out the camera on the 21st of each month. We love seeing the monthly changes in our little guy. Particularly in his hair loss :)

9/30/07 - 9 days old

10/21/07 - 1 month

11/21/07 - 2 months

12/21/07 - 3 months

Splish Splash!

2008-02-21T16:41:00.000-08:00

Zeke LOVES his baths!!! He is so entertained by every aspect of them. Last night I was able to capture some cute photos of him during bath time.

My Crafty Weekend

2008-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

Johnny went down to L.A. this weekend with the Young Men and Young Women in our ward, so that left just me and my little Zekey guy at home. After I put him to bed last night I had a craft bug so I decided to indulge it. It's funny how sometimes the finished products are not exactly the way I had imagined them in my mind. That is the case with both of my projects below. Although I like them both alright, they didn't quite come out the way I would have liked them to. However, now I know how to adjust them for next time.

If you should ever find yourself on our doorstep this sign will be the first to greet you.

I love to embroider and I decided I needed to create a "teach" pillow. I'm happy with the embroidery and the plaid fabric, but I wish I had chosen a darker red fabric to match the embroidery floss...oh well.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a nice Valentine's Day by being at home with our little family.

I made hamburgers, yes, you read that correctly for those of you who know I didn't eat meat (being pregnant ended my 10 year hiatus), in the shape of hearts for dinner. The one pictured is my little version- Johnny got the large, hearty version.

Zeke's valentine dinner consisted of delicious rice cereal and breastmilk.

Here he is ready for take-off!

My valentine gift from Johnny was this darling shelf he made from scratch!

I added the decorations.

We hope you all had a wonderful day!!!

A New Do

2008-02-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

For a few weeks now Zeke's hair has been getting long and wispy on the top and we've sorta been combing it over for him like a little, old man. He has needed a trim, but it didn't seem logical to take him to a salon for just a few wisps so this morning Johnny decided to take matters into his own hands. Using my craft scissors (the little bit of bachelor left in him :) ) he proceeded to give Zeke his first haircut at just 4 1/2 months old. My initial reaction was to not let him do it because I felt like he was going to make him bald, but now a few hours later I'm so happy about the results. Zeke looks refreshed and updated!

Daddy getting ready to begin the project.

Apparently Zeke loves this activity!

Ta da! The finished product.

Mom put a bit of gel into it to give it some oomph!

Surfin' USA

2008-02-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

My parents brought this outfit back from Hawaii in November and it didn't fit Johnny so they decided to give it to Zeke :). Being that the weather this weekend is like the middle of the summer we decided it was time to put the little guy in his Hawaiian threads. So, here he is practicing his surfing techniques. I think he's going to be ready for the longboard this summer.

.

Glazier Cousins!

2008-02-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

Megan (10 1/2 mo.), Mom, Zeke (4 1/2 mo.), Karaline ( 3 in 9 days)

It's a bit tricky to get them all looking and happy :)

My sister Summer, and her girls, have been out here in California visiting all week from Nebraska. We sure enjoyed their visit and look forward to seeing them in April when my brother gets married. Here are a few pictures I snapped of my mom with all 3 of her little grandchilren.

Warm and Cozy...

2008-01-28T09:54:00.000-08:00

Blankies!

The finished products: cotton on one side, flannel on the other

Zeke LOVES to be swaddled. In fact, that's the only way we can get him to sleep. However, most swaddle blankets sold in the stores are really thin and not always very large.

When Zeke was a few weeks old a woman in our ward at church made him the most wonderfully, large blanket - perfect for swaddling.

Over the past few months this blanket has been a sleeping lifesaver (in addition, its large size makes it perfect for public feedings :), but also frustrating because we have been dependent on this one swaddling blanket. Whenever I have had to wash it I have found myself timing exactly when Zeke would be awake so I could frantically get it in and out of the wash and ready to use before his next nap was up.

Well, this weekend I put an end to this madness by purchasing some fabric (by the way, Walmart has really cute and affordable fabrics) and making two additional swaddling blankets. I'm pleased with how they turned out and now I won't be running around like a crazy woman when Zeke's blanket needs to be washed.

P.S. Zeke went to the doctor this morning for a checkup (and a round of shots :(). His height is 25.5 inches (75th percentile) and his weight is 15 lbs. 1 oz. (55th percentile).

A Martha Stewartesque Undertaking...

2008-01-27T16:42:00.000-08:00

I decided to try my hand at making some homemade baby food today. Zeke isn't quite ready to begin solid food yet, but I wanted to start stocking up in the freezer so I'll already have it prepared in a couple of months when he is ready.

Let me just say I'm hooked! It was so easy to make and I love knowing Zeke will be eating totally fresh food. Not to mention it is definately a money saver.

I finally pulled out our Magic Bullet, which has been sitting unopened in its box since our wedding, and used it to create pureed peas, green beans, pears, and bananas. Not only did I find I love to make baby food, I also found out the Magic Bullet performs just as amazing as it does on the infomercial (which is how it ended up on our gift registry in the first place :) ).

Now the final test will be to see if Zeke likes it, but I figure he won't have ever tried any other kind of baby food so he won't know the difference. Bon appetit!

Pierogis

2008-01-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a delicious Polish cuisine for dinner last night courtesy of John. He undertook the laborious and tedious task of making pierogis from scratch so we could enjoy a bit of Poland right in our own home. They sure were tasty!