What's New?

Well so it's been awhile since I have blogged mostly because I kept meaning to download some pictures onto the computer and just never did it and thus kept putting off posting things. So I decided tonight I just needed to post w/out pictures to get the ball rolling again. So I thought I would update what we have all been up to lately!

ZACK: He has been busy working on his dissertation at school. Getting participants to come and do his experiment. So far so good. Genius on the rise! ha, ha. He has also been keeping very busy with the YM in the ward and even went on a 15 mile bike ride with the scouts that was VERY hilly. And seeing as he hasn't been on a bike in probably 3 or 4 years I thought that was pretty awesome!

SHANNON: I've been doing dishes and laundry! And tons of it! Ok, maybe it just feels that way, for some reason they never seem to end. Just when you finish, you turn around and there is more! Sigh. But otherwise I've been enjoying the sunshine and planting some flowers outside, and cleaning out the basement! I'm getting myself ready to do some craft projects but I'm trying to decide which one to so first. Otherwise just taking care of the kids.

OLIVER: My goodness, this boy is cuter than ever! He has been running around outside loving life and having a backyard!! He has also been golfing up a storm in the backyard. He is becoming ever more independent and wants to do everything himself and help me with everything. That can be adorable or really frustrating. He is potty training really well, like a pro. He has been really into numbers lately and is learning how to read the numbers on signs. He is also learning the value of money and has decided that he wants A LOT of it. (Don't we all kid!) And Oliver has discovered his groove. He has been dancing up a storm lately and let me tell you it is both adorable and hilarious. If we can manage to get some video of it I will post it. He's got some great moves and even a little break dancing. He also has a crush on his primary music teacher. He loves primary but her really loves music time. He thinks she is the coolest and has wanted to take her some special things to show his affection. So cute.

RUBY: "Little Miss Ruby" as Oliver likes to call her has been crawling up a storm! And she is FAST. She is into everything and especially loves to chase Oliver around. She is getting so big, it's crazy. She is starting to "talk" a lot, I'm afraid we are going to have another chatterbox on our hands. She is also starting to pull herself up on things, she's going to be walking before we know it! YIKES. But she smiles and smiles and smiles and that makes her a lot of fun. She's a happy little baby.

We have also had a loss in the family, a beloved stuffed animal panda bear lovingly named Pandy has been lost. We have no idea what happened to him but he is gone. So far Oliver is coping but Zack and I have been waiting for it to sink in and the horror of it all to begin. Hopefully it won't but it just seems like that would be to easy. If you are out there Pandy, come home, we miss you!

The Big 7

Well, here are some photos since it's been awhile and since we are now getting some sleep (YAHOO) I don't really have any excuses not to update a little more often. Some updates: Ruby is sleeping pretty good and has finally taken to sleeping in her crib for naps more often. I think we are breaking her down. Take that baby! And Oliver has conquered his fear of the big potty and has gone diaper free outside the house all week now with no accidents! Now we just have to conquer the #2 issue. Life's little victories.

Also today is our Anniversary. 7 years we've been married, that's crazy to think. I can't believe it, and at the same time it's hard to imagine ever NOT being married to Zack. (In a good way of course.) I guess all I can say is, Oh how I love that man of mine!!

Where's my personal trainer?

So lately we have been doing a lot of training. We have been potty training Oliver. (Yes, I know he is 3 1/2 but it just didn't happen before this point for various reasons.) And his potty training is actually going pretty well. He took to it pretty well I assume because he is so old and knows when he needs to go and when he is going. However, the problem is that he is scared of the big potty and so he has to wear a diaper every time we leave the house because he is scared to use the big toilets. Our other problem is that he is scared to go #2 on the potty. He has managed to go twice on the potty, but I'm pretty sure those were flukes. But all in all he is doing a good job and we are proud of him. (If anyone has suggestions for our problem areas, please feel free to offer them.)

And Ruby has been in sleep training, FINALLY!! We started 2 weeks ago and finally in the last few nights she has settled down quickly and woken only a few times during the night to eat. HIP, HIP, HOORAY!!! Unless you have lived through holding your child for every nap time and all night every night for 6 months (which we have done now twice, Oliver was equally as bad) then you do not know how magical it feels to put your child in their crib at night and have them go to sleep and then to sit with the lights on in the living room and actually talk to your husband or do whatever you want until you want to go to bed. And then to go to bed and LIE DOWN, not sleep sitting up holding a baby all night but actually lie down and sleep. To get more than 2 hours of sleep at a time, it's a beautiful thing. It sort of feels euphoric and unreal at this point, but we are enjoying it. (That's sort of an understatement!) It's pure bliss! It has been a really tough road for us and I'd like to say it will never happen again, but seeing as both our children have been horrible sleepers, if we decide to have another, who's to say that they wouldn't be the same. But I really truely hope that it is a trial we won't be repeating a third time. The down side is that Ruby is still having a hard time sleeping for nap times in her crib, so we are working on that one. She has taken one or two naps on her own, but short ones and sort of broken. But she is improving slowly, so there is hope.

Now if I could get my own personal trainer to get me back in shape. Ugh......post baby weight hard to get rid of, especially when you have little kids to take care of. Time is limited and I'm tired. If only someone would show up and whip me into shape. Alas, I think the only trainer available at this point is working on child issues. Oh well, one can dream right?!

Valentine's

 

Hope everyone had a fun Valentine's Day! We had fun making cookies and Valentines for all of Oliver's friends at church. Ruby enjoyed the stickers!!

Too Smart for our own good!

Recently Oliver has been afraid of just about everything. But most of all he has been afraid to be alone. He flips out if he is left in a room by himself for more than a second. Thus we have been spending basically all of our waking and sleeping time constant company. (Not Cool.) So yesterday I was upstairs with Ruby and Oliver of course came too, but he forgot his stuffed tiger down stairs. So he was upset, and I told him, "Well just go down and get it." Of course he said, "No, I can't go down alone! I can't do it!" and a tantrum ensued. So then I started cheering, "Go Oli!!! You can do it!!! Get the Tiger!!! " So he got all excited and went and got it. When he came back up he was really upset and started to whine on the bed. I said, "What's the matter? You did it! You got tiger all by yourself!" To which he replied, "YOU DISTRACTED ME, YOU DISTRACTED ME!!!"
Shoot, how did he know that? I had and it worked, but he realized it after. Darn he's onto us! He's just getting to smart for his own good. Too bad we can't convince him that there's nothing to be afraid of in the house. I might actually get to take a shower in peace!

More pics

 

 

 

 

Just some pics, some old,some new