Matthew is growing so fast! Last week be began pushing up on his feet with his tush up in the air. This week he began scooting around the house by pushing with his feet. Combine this with his tush in the air and he becomes quite a little sight. He is so adorable! I am doomed with this now "on the move" baby. Each room has large openings and there are 2 sets of stairs both going down, one with slate at the bottom. All this is a recipe for disaster.

Matthew LOVES his solid foods. I eventually bought pre ground oatmeal mix after he gagged repeatedly on my homemade oatmeal concoction. He likes it much better. There isn't a food he doesn't like except for spinach. I bought mesh feeders this week. I've filled them with pears, strawberries, and bananas. He devours it all.

Next week I expect him potty trained. :-)

This is one of the pictures the most talented photographer and sister took. (I think that was too many adjectives/nouns). She is amazing with her camera. I am so thankful for her and all she does for me!



Olivia is a great big sister. She loves Matthews (sometimes too much). She is so excited to go to pre-school everyday. This week Zach picked her up from school, took her to Chik Fila for lunch and then to the park. She was so happy to spend special time with her dad.

Michael. Oh, Michael. He is my best 4th child! He listens to everything I tell him to do. He's so helpful. He is cute! I looked at him while at the park the other day, dotted on his checks and across his nose were the cutest assortment of sun kissed freckles. His dimpled smile warms my heart.





Sam has had a very special month. His birthday and his baptism. Today Sam went to Winterthur for a school field trip. I saw him sitting at the table this morning doing his homework. There was no crying. No yelling. No crumpling of papers. Wow! I believe this is the first time he actually finished he weekly work. He told me his teacher said he couldn't go on the field trip if he didn't turn in his homework completed. Whatever motivates that kid I'll agree with. On the way to school Sam asked me when Brandywood (the old school) was built. I didn't know. He informed me it was in 1896. Then he went on to say that it was the same year his teacher, Mrs. Sassaman, began teaching.

Sam is so sweet.

Cara has grown into a beautiful and sassy young lady. SOMETIMES, I wonder how I will survive the upcoming teenage years with her and Isaac. She is out going and friendly. She is funny. Cara began Girls On The Run a few weeks ago and has enjoyed hanging with her friends while preparing to run her first 5K. She graduated from Brownies to Juniors in Girl Scouts this week. Cara is the most helpful with Matthew. She is a second mom to him. She feeds him, bathes him, changes his diaper, and is usually the first to greet him each morning. I don't know what I would do with out her.

Isaac enjoys playing baseball. His team won 15-6 in a scrimmage. He came home excited! Isaac will be turning 12 next month. I can not believe my first born in the wilderness will be in Young Mens and passing the sacrament. Isaac is fun. He has acquired his fathers sense of humor which sometimes gets him in trouble but mostly makes me laugh.

Last but not the least, Zach. I don't need to say much for anyone to know what a great person he is. He has unselfishly provided and cared for our family. I know he would rather sing for a living because he has a great voice. He tries to be the best dad. Zach spends one on one time with each of the children and can recognize their needs. He consistently shows his love for me.

I am thankful for all he does.

I love my family. I am so blessed with the children. I enjoy learning all the new things they teach me. I enjoy watching them grow. I am blessed to have a fabulous husband. I couldn't imagine my life without them.

Highjacked.....

Hello readers of my wife's blog. This is Zach and I decided, while I lie awake in bed, to high jack a post. My act of treason will be discovered by her soon enough. Hopefully it will make her laugh a little and will tell her how thankful I am for her and for all she does for our family.

Becci is a selfless person. The description of herself on this blog tells the truth, all are acts of motherly service for someone else. "I am a cook. A maid. A seamstress. An interior decorater. A nurse. A hair stylist. A laundress (sounds like royalty). A bus driver. An accountant. A librarian. A lover. A landscaper. A "baby" sitter. A teacher. Santa Claus. The Tooth Fairy. I am a wife. I am a Mom." (I must admit to find out that this whole time she was Santa Clause really upsets me.) She gets very little time for herself and rarely do I hear a complaint about it. Want more proof? How about the 10 lbs of gear that she carries around in her diaper bag/purse. While its true that the 5 pound brick I put in the bottom will help strengthen and tone her shoulder muscles, the rest of the weight is for someone else. I doubt a little wallet and pack of gum (5 Cobalt) weighs more that a few ounces. She does a tremendous/amazing job at being a mother. All that read this blog have children fewer than 6 I believe. Could you imagine having 6 and still finding time for anything!? I couldn't! The house looks clean, the laundry is caught up, dinner is ready.... I could go on and on. How does she do it?

I owe everything I have, am, and will be to her. She is my strength. When she isn't home with me I find myself in the kitchen looking out the window like a puppy waiting for her to arrive. I feel safe with her. As some of you know I am rather weak. Without her I am doomed to fall short of my expectation and ability. I shudder to think that I have ever caused a tear to run down her precious cheek and unforutnatley I have done that on more than one occasion. Which brings me to another point... She is forgiving and while she doesn't like my mistakes she works with me and is patient with me. I don't think any other woman would put up with my crap. Yes, I am devastatingly handsome and I know that's one reason she sticks around, she likes my muscles too :) Haha! But seriously I love her with all of my heart and will forever be in her debt.  I often get in trouble for putting my cold hands on her skin and for kissing her too hard with my scruff (sorry, my George Michael is here to stay, the chicks dig it). I can't help but to touch whenever I am near her. She is a magnet to me.

I could keep going, I could practically write a book about all that she does for me and for how thankful I am but I will stop at this. I love you Rebecca!

Oops, almost forgot to add labels, silly boy......

Gratitude Catch Up

I didn't post "I'm thankful for..." for 6 days. I did think of something every day but I was in Miami. Here are a few I remember:

My mother-in-law, Nora, This is the second time she has watched the children so Zach and I could get a week away. I must not leave out all the times she has cared for them during births, date nights, moves, and weekends away.

I am thankful for modern transportation. Don't think I am cut out for horse and buggy, handcarts, or walking. I mean really...2 hours on a plane and I am 1100 miles away!

I am also SO grateful that we are blessed with our temporal wants and needs. They were early years (many years) when a trip or a new TV would never be considered in our budget.

Oh yea, by the way I am thankful that I can now watch "nothing" on the new 51" TV. I was cheering for the 70" but am trying to be modest.

I am thankful for...

I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to celebrate another birthday with Cara. Today she turned 10.

I am thankful for...

Today I am thankful for Matthew. He brings so much joy to my life. I love his big gummy smile. I love the way he smells. I love the way he grabs my hair and pulls me close to him. I love his laugh. He totally melts my heart.

"Silent Gratitude isn't much use to anyone"

One of my New Years Resolutions was to be thankful for something each day. I knew wasn't going to be easy, obviously, that WHY I made it a resolution.


1. I am thankful for school. I am thankful for the dedicated teachers that spend hours a day, months a year, teaching MY children. I couldn't spend 8 hours teaching my own children academics, let alone someone elses. So, THANK YOU to all those dedicated, devoted teachers! (1-2-12)


2. (with help from a friend) I am thankful for all those creative people who in turn inspire me to be creative. I am GRATEFUL for Pinterest! (1-3-12)


3. Today I am thankful for my husband, Zach. I know, cliche. He's funny, thoughtful, determined, and forgiving. He is understanding, sensitive, and devoted. (1-4-12) 


4. the elliptical (1-5-12)


5. My 6 year old, Michael, he is the sweetest, kindest, friendliest boy I have. He always follows the directions and does what he is asked. He's is fun to be around and he likes to eat tomatoes, just like me. (1-6-12)


6. IKEA (1-7-12)


7. I am thankful for my sister, Chrissee. She is a listening ear, a helpful hand, and always full of great ideas. She is a talented photographer, an awesome cook, and a sweet mother. (1-8-12)

8. I am thankful for my van. It is big, bold, and beautiful. Well, it is one of those. I can spot it anywhere in a parking lot or in an airplane. I can put a washer and dryer in the back without removing seats (oh, yea and a piano). It has been referred to as the Mary Poppins van. It gets me to my destination dry, warm (or cold), and safe. (1-10-12)

9. I am oh so thankful for the Goodwill stores. Not only can I drop off all my unwanted junk but I can purchase someones elses' unwanted junk. It's a win win situation. While shopping there tonight I found an UNOPENED Bananagrams game for 1$! Sweet deal! UNO Attack for 2$, 4 other games, & books for 25 cents. I even picked up 2 new birthday presents for a child.  (1-11-12)

10. Today I am thankful for the health of my children and myself and Zach. (1-12-11)

11. I am thankful for my phone. It's so SMART! I don't know how one functions without these little objects programed with their own mind. It calls people on its own. It sends emails when ever it feels like it. It notifies me when I am late and shuts down when I am in the middle of talking. (1-14-12)

I am thankful for...

I am thankful for all those creative people who in turn inspire me to be creative. I am GRATEFUL for Pinterest!

I am thankful for...

One of my New Years Resolutions was to be thankful for something each day. I knew wasn't going to be easy, obviously, that WHY I made it a resolution.


I am thankful for school. I am thankful for the dedicated teachers that spend hours a day, months a year, teaching MY children. I couldn't spend 8 hours teaching my own children academics, let alone someone elses. So, THANK YOU to all those dedicated, devoted teachers!