East Texas Gators!

(This was around Febuary 2012)

We had been in the house for way to long, and I really needed to get out and do something fun, so we did! The boys and I went on an adventure together, and it was tons of fun-although we did miss daddy!

I found this place near Canton, called East Texas Gators! Out in the middle of nowhere! Literally, the directions go to a certain point and then you just have to figure out the rest, which by accident I did! It is in the middle of a forest, so even if I did get lost GPS and cell phone signals didn't even work out there-thankfully it all worked out perfectly! 

We drove up and there was only one other car their, I kind of started getting nervous it was closed (and mind you it is an hour and half away) So we walked in and they said they were open, and we had to whole place to ourself the whole time : ) The boys were in heaven, well Zach, Con was a little scared at times. They got to touch snakes and gators and even hold a couple random small animals! They had a bounce house, and an awesome petting farm with tame deer! I believe there were over 40 gators but being that it wasn't summer and it was a bit chilly, most of them didn't come out, we saw at least 10 though! The biggest one they had was over 14ft long, crazy.

They were the nicest people that owned the place, and we got to walk around and do whatever we want, how ever many times we wanted considering we were the only people their. It was a great get-a-way for me and the boys. We all had a blast and can not wait to go back in the summer with daddy when all the gators are all out!

Zach's 5th Birthday

Zach was so lucky this year and got to celebrate his birthday not once but twice! His actual birthday was on Sunday-plus daddy had to work that day! So first we celebrated it the Wednesday before, first we went and got donuts then we did this:

We went to the aquarium, and he invited his favorite person, Grandma!

The crab was one of his most favorite things in the whole place!

He was in heaven! He loved every moment of it, it was a perfect birthday outing!

After that him and daddy got to go to the Natatorium in Allen. Zach has been dying to swim all winter, so we decided with his help, to take him their. Connor and I went home and took a nap while they had some one on one time! They had a blast, especially Zach!

After that it was time for dinner since it seemed to be a water themed day we kept it up for dinner too! We had salmon, CRAB that zach picked out, shrimp and an IBC rootbeer! Zach loves all three, crazy to me because I hate all three :). Then later that night we gave him his big present!  A big boy bike! He loved it and took it for a spin with dad before bedtime! I think all those pics are on the Ipad so I'll have to upload those later. It was a great day as a family!

On his actual birthday I made sure to make it extra special for him. Plus he had some preferences! Balloons and streamers were a must, he remembered them from last year. So I stayed up late Saturday night and blew up 50 balloons and put streamers all around! I didn't get a picture, but I did get an awesome video! Then he go to open a couple presents. He got a Ben 10 toy and Mario figurines to play with! He loved both but especially the Mario.

I finished his cake that morning while he played with toys upstairs!

 He got to wear this special Birthday boy badge to church and he got a cute pin from primary that he loved because the previous week all the teachers got the same pin, but not the kids! He loved it when the primary sang to him, it was too cute!

His awesome new gun from his cousins.

Enjoying Birthday Cake

It was a great birthday, he got to open presents all day it seemed like.  He got a Wii game, more Mario and more Ben 10,  some cars and some coloring stuff! WE sure missed daddy but were so glad to be surrounded by family on his special day! We love our Zachy so much and can't beleive he is 5! It has been quiet the journey and every minute has been worth it! 

It's about time!

Well I definitely need to do a little update on the little monsters! I don't even know where to start!

Let's start with the Zach man:

He is just 1 month away from turning 5!

He is very smart, and picks up things quickly.

He sometimes thinks he is an adult, and often think he can make the rules too.

He loves to give us ultimatums, but hopefully we have nipped that one in the butt

because we do not tolerate that! But I will say he does it with his little charm.

He has taken up lying, just of course with things that would get him in trouble, 

which I hear is normal at this age.

He is very helpful and sweet to Connor.

He is VERY patient with Connor, and is really good at not hurting Connor back with Con hurts him. 

And boy does Connor hurt him!

Daddy is his teacher in primary, and he LOVES it! He thinks it is the coolest thing ever.

He was really in to Ben 10 Ultimate Alien toys around Christmas, but his passion has died down a little.

He loves Mario Cart on the Wii, and is REALLY good at it! 

He is enjoying computer and game console games more and more. I don't mind, but when it limits how much 

he used to play with toys, I don't really like that! 

He is still very independent

I think he will love school when the time comes this year.

While he is independent, sometimes I think he is lonely and needs more interaction with kids his age.

He is so good at taking care of me when I am sick, and immediately turns into the biggest sweetheart ever.

He is a jokester and loves to play "tricks" on us, but sometimes goes to far. 

He loves the baby in my belly and can not wait for him to come!

He asks almost everyday if "tomorrow" is his birthday. He is so excited he can't wait.

He wants a Superhero, Ben 10, Mario birthday cake.

He is very observant and constantly ask questions.

He is still my little stubborn headed fighter.

And still my huge cuddle bug, 2 things that haven't changed since birth.

He is still very lactose and tolerate. He is very responsible about it and will 

always remind people he can't eat certain things when given to him. He

even reminds me to give him his pills when I forget!

He has some OCD tendency and a little anxiety and a lot A.D.D (or so it seems)

He doesn't like bed time and tries to procrastinate it every night!

He is very kind and caring about others.

He is EXTREMELY forgiving, I mean just unbelievably forgiving and understanding, he really is an 

amazing little guy.

He already has a huge complex about being "small" :(

And best of all, we are still best buddies, and he always ask and tells me that we are best friends forever :)

Love that boy!

He got his CTR ring a couple weeks ago and asked me to take a picture of it. He loves it .

Scratches from Connor 

Dazed after church

Now onto our crazy Connor:

He is 2 1/2.

He is CrAZy.

Him and Zach are completely different in every way.

He is very defensive, but all to often it now is way before he even needs to be.

So basically, if he suspects you are about to do

 something to him, well he is already on it.

He breaks things on purpose, you know for fun.

He spanks himself, and puts himself in timeout.

He is not stubborn.

He says sorry for everything he does wrong, asked to or not, he says sorry.

He is very polite and always has been.

He loves to pray, so much so that really no on else is ever aloud to pray.

He has a crappy immune system and gets sick often.

He still has ear problems, and we just found out that he 

has had a clogged tube and trapped

fluid for about 6 months, which explains A LOT.

He loves oatmeal and fresh berries.

He still takes naps, but I gave up on putting him down for one, so he usually falls asleep between 12-2 

by himself.

He loves to see "Connor" by looking in the mirror or taking pictures of himself.

If you call him anything but his name he will correct you and say this "NO, I'm not (whatever you called him)

I'm Connor, I'm Conno, I'm Coco, I'm Con Con" hehe he list

 all of his nick names, it's to cute.

He asks for permission to do everything, good and bad.

"Can I hit you?" me: No him: "Can I hit Connor?"

He can not handle other people crying. Unless it is a baby, 

he will immediately start to cry.

Even when he hurts Zach and Zach starts to cry, Connor will start to cry too, which then usually makes Zach

laugh when I say "Connor you aren't even the hurt one, why are you crying" Zach

thinks that is pretty funny.

Connor, has no problem hurting Zach. Trying to scratch his eyes out and throwing toys at his head when his back is turned are two of his favorites. I would say 50% of the time is random and the other 50% is usually 

something Zach did that made him mad!

He likes to look for the baby underneath my shirt.

He talks very well and very clear and very much like a robot. 

He can and will repeat everything and anything you ask him.

He cracks us up on a daily/hourly basis.

He is very funny, and a little bit strange in a good way :)

He has more fear than Zach ever did, and follows directions better than Zach ever did.

He doesn't sit still at restaurants or in stores, but doesn't take off in full speed sprint like Zach did.

He is a little to attached to me, but most of it is just him playing with my heart strings.

He is our sweet, crazy, loving, hurtful little Connor. 

We love him so much, and love to watch how different him and Zach are. I think slowly but surely we see a little light at the end of the tunnel to his mean side!

Can't wait to add another little dude to this picture :)

Santa Baby...

I think this was before church! He is saying "ho ho ho!"

We took the boys to Cabala's to get their picture with Santa! We were so excited that he was their! They were first in line, it doesn't cost, they give you a picture for each child for free, PLUS you can use your own camera! Best deal ever! Connor and Zach very much love Santa! Zach is a little too smart though and already wonders why his beard isn't longer like other ones! Connor, wow-I think this made his year. He was SOO excited. He thinks Santa is the greatest in the whole world and didn't want to get off his lap. The look on his face and thrill in his voice was SO priceless. It really was very cute. Zach understands the reason and/or meaning per say for Santa, of course Connor is to young, but I'm pretty sure he thinks he hung the moon :).

Trick or Treat!

I usually LOVE Halloween, but this year I kind of felt exhausted by it and was glad when it was over, which is NEVER the case, must be the pregnancy! The boys got to go trick or treating three different times! Lucky boys. First at Grandma's trunk or treat (our old ward). It took Connor maybe 2 cars to get the hang of it and then he was a pro, with the occasional candy break of course. Zach had no problem remembering how it all worked. He was pretty stoked and felt very cool in his wolverine get up. It was a very fun weekend, but I am ok it is done! And so ready for Thanksgiving :) These are all from the Saturday before when they had trunk or  treat...

umm, wait what did you just put in there?

a candy break, hey..it's hard fighting villains all day!

His totally awesome Wolverine face

Of course there were about 1284594 more great pics, but it is just so hard to choose! I will post the other ones from the other times next!

Why not?

My dad's work wanted people to come take as many pumpkins as they wanted so they didn't have to haul them away. So I let the boys run around and pick whatever pumpkins they wanted! They were pretty big ones, we ended up with 6!

Cattle Drive

Allen had a cattle drive this Wednesday! Pretty random, but fun! Popeye and Grandma got to come with us and thank goodness they did! They said they would be there around 1030 and the cattle didn't come till almost noon! So the boys were running around crazy while we were waiting and I was getting so tired keeping up with them, so they helped chase them around a lot! When the cattle finally came the boys were in awe! It maybe lasted a whole 5 minutes, and I was worn out by the time we left, but they liked it, so I guess that makes it worth it!

Zach the entertainer

They gave them hats, they stayed on their heads for about .4 seconds.