Funeral

I lost my sweet Grandma this week. I told 4-year-old Zealand that her spirit, the part of her that made her alive and made her body work, had gone to live with Heavenly Father. I told him that when Jesus Christ lived on the earth, the same thing happened to him, but Jesus came back, his body and spirit were together again. I promised him that someday Jesus would come again and help Grandma to put her body and spirit back together. It was a pretty short conversation. He didn't ask any questions, and didn't act like he cared too much. Then we went to the funeral, where I cried A LOT. The next day, we went to the lake and had a picnic. He was really quiet and then he said to me, "My body works!... and your body works, Mom." I was amazed at how much he really listened. I am grateful for our faith and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of it I have so much hope and know why I am here on the earth. I miss Grandma, and I love her. I know that she is with her loved ones and I know that I will see her again.

Easter 2012

We went to the city's Easter Egg Hunt for the first time this year. Z couldn't figure out why everyone was screaming. There were plenty of eggs to go around. He calmly picked up half a dozen and then he was done. He treasures them, he won't eat the candy- just saving it up.




Sis was calm about the whole thing too. In fact we are just a pretty laid back crew. We saw one mom dragging her daughter across main street, screaming at her because she had done something embarrassing. The mom kept saying "How could you do this to me?". I felt bad for the little girl and her ruined Easter. I'm trying not to be a screamer.

Zealand

My baby boy is 4 years old. What the what??? He swims with out me now.
This was from last years swim lessons, where he learned so much and became so confident in the water, that, the next time we went to the lake he went out too far and I had to go in and fetch him.
He knows songs that I didn't teach him, he often tries to teach them to me.

He likes to make faces and he likes to take pictures. Here are some silly faces for you Zealand...
He likes to do what Daddy is doing.
I love to see him growing up.
I say every age is my favorite, but good gravy this one is awesome.

Random

I love the aquatic center in our town. Somehow, we always manage to get there just a somebody poops in the pool. This was Charlotte's first time swimming. They kicked us out of the main pool while they cleaned and the lap pool was freezing- poor kid, she sat there just long enough for me to snap a photo of her in her swimsuit.






This was Zealand's first time roller skating. He had a ball, and I got a major workout trying to keep him on his feet.


I'm so glad legwarmers are back. I kept one from the eighties (yes one, I lost the match) because I loved it so much- it serves no purpose except to make me smile when I open my sock drawer.

July 4th & Christmas 2011

Zealand is the age that makes Chrismas so fun. He would open a gift and be so amazed with it that he couldn't be persuaded to open anymore. He got the hang of it before the day was done though. We got a camera for Christmas and had so much fun snapping pics, it's hard to narrow them down.













These pics taken just before Charlotte was born, and I love them. We did fireworks in our driveway almost everyday during July.

Conversations with Zealand

At bedtime, Zealand gave Daddy a "look" Daddy went over and asked Z. "Hey buddy, do you need something?" An extremely serious look followed, after a brief pause the very serious..."Yes." Daddy then asked. "What do you need?" another lengthy pause and then Z answers "I need to read my books...by myself!" and then motions to the door with his eyes. Daddy got the hint and left the boy alone.

Conversation #2.
Daddy and Z were out for a drive, and sometimes a treat is just in order. Daddy and Z pulled up to a drive through and Daddy ordered a kids root beer. From the backseat is yelled.. "And Daddy wants a medium cherry coke." Z knows his Daddy well.

Who's the Boss?

Today Zealand said "I can watch Nemo downstairs! You (pointing to his Daddy) can ask Mom." (While both his Mom & Dad were standing there together)