The Bonnin Buzz

Off to the Beach

2011-08-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

It seems like it has been a long time since all of us have been to the "warm beach". We hit the northern coast every summer, but it just isnt the same when you have to wear a hoodie sweatshirt by the ocean. We were thrilled to meet my mom and dad in Mission Bay and enjoy our seaside time with them. We were joined by Zach's brother, Uncle Milo and aunt Kirsten and cousin Elle for the weekend, and of course Paycey for an extended visit. Since we missed an AZ visit this year, we'll take any family time wherever we can get it. We hit Sea World and Legoland since who knows when we'll ever get back there. We took many bike rides on the boardwalk, Sawyer learned to skim board, kayaked in the bay, visited the children's science museum, and played for many hours in the sand. I finished 4 books on vacation!

Mammoth

2011-08-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

In Mammoth, we went on a few hikes, Sawyer ziplined, the boys fished, we watched fireworks over Crowley Lake, played in the snow, rode bikes, used the town trolley and shuttle and enjoyed the ski resort village. Oh yeah, and had a bear encounter in our campsite the first night! Next year, maybe Sawyer can hit some of the mountain bike trails.

Catching Up...bear with me

2011-08-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

yeah! We have internet again and we can't be more thrilled! In fact, as I'm typing, I realize that I'm waiting for auto correction because I'm so used to my Iphone. If only my PC were as smart! I have no idea how I'm going to recapture our lives for the past 6 months and I don't intend to, but there are definitely highlights and of course random thoughts. Number 1 random thought, we've been back in our house for 3 months and I am thankful everyday to be here. We were so blessed in our moves and the places we've stayed and the people we've met over the last few years, but it feels really good to put nails in the wall that won't need to be spackeled in the near future. Our front porch is definitely a haven for me (and the snails for some reason). Number 2 random thought: I love having a toaster oven. We have had it less than a year and I'm still learning all that I can do with it, but not heating up the kitchen in summer is awesome!! This morning we made cinammon breadsticks from scratch in the toaster..too cool! Especially since we are back to propane living and any savings in gas usage is smart! Just realized the first pictures I posted are with Zach, lucky me I'm the family editor and the camping pics with me were on the chopping block! There is a pic of Sawyer's ultimate Nerf Dart Party. We went to the park next door and messed up their lawn, yep, genious! One pic is Fisher in the shasta daisies. The boys have spent alot of time with daddy this summer as I have had some quality couch time. In July, we learned that the City of Redding approved 2 furlough days a month to help cut the budget. So when life gives you lemons, um..., take even more days off. I guess that is Zach's philosophy. No complaints from me. We decided to work the system and add a week vacation to our already planned trip to San Diego. So spur of the moment, cuz that's how we roll, packed our camping gear, and decided to explore the Sierras on our way down. Our first stop was in Arnolds CA. I went here with my family as a little girl. I have some memories, but I'm pretty sure our stay with the boys was way more rustic! Our highlight was getting candy from Murphy's, and the uber cool reptile demo at our campsite. Up to 40 snakes and lizzards is the most brilliant ranger talk show we've ever been to. Yes, we are the nerds that attend the camp amphitheater for ranger talks. The next morning, Sawyer (mostly Zach) caught a blue belly lizzard. Poor lizzard made it all the way to San Diego and back to Redding and with a 2 year old shaking it twice a day. Remember Darla from Nemo? Similiar style! After 2 days in this area, we headed to Mammoth. I have never been there before and was way impressed. We were so blessed to find a great campsite on the 4th of July with no reservations, especially since many of the campgrounds were closed due to gobs of snow!

Signed off

2011-06-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can't believe January was the last post! It hasn't been quiet around here by any means! There is so much to catch up on, but Internet is now considered a major luxury as we are no longer in an area that wants to supply it. Yes, this is sad news, but we are thankful for 3G! So for a small update, we moved again this spring back to our old Shasta house. We are so thankful to be settled in again (even without wifi:) Sawyer finished the first grade, turned 7, lost a ton of teeth, played spring baseball, went to his first summer camp, and is learning how to be a great helper! Fisher is now in a big boy bed and shares a room with brother, loves his "super guys" and fishing. He is still a diaper dude, since neither of us are ready! We went on our first camping trip of the summer last weekend and they did better than ever! Sorry there is no pictures, but it may take days with 3G.

Dinner....here to stay

2011-01-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

So in my 13 years of marriage, I've finally realized that dinner is here to stay and I need a new approach. I don't plan well, I mostly wing it, spend too much on food and so much goes to waste. The crazy thing is dinner happens every night and you think I would have had it together by now. I always marvel at women that have a meal plan and stick to it. There have been some weeks that I have done this, but I stink at planning to use leftover ingredients in my next meal, hence the waste! This week as I was blog stalking, I came across someones recommendation for a meal planning website. I was initially turned off by paying a subscription fee, but as I thought about it, a dollar a week was worth it to try, these wonderful women have put together a system that makes my heart leap with joy! I got to choose which meal plan would work for my family of 2 and a half eaters for 5 low fat meals a week. What will we do the other 2 nights you may ask. Wing it...of course. So I wish I was starting on Monday because I do like order in some aspects of life, but hey, we gotta eat tonight. Right after school drop off we went to Winco( my favorite place,not!). I had my amazingly organized shopping list, prepared not by me, but my favorite new ladies, and down the aisles I zipped in record time! We drove into the parking lot at 8:20, found a non dud cart, strapped the munchkin in with a working seat belt, divvied out the snack and away we went, feeling quite empowered by my sweet official shopping list. My cart was so organized, that my bagging skills looked professional! I had my groceries bagged, put in the car, driven home and unloaded by 9:00 am! Oh yeah and a happy toddler to boot! Did you catch that timing? 40 minutes total...oh yeah baby! So at 4:00 today when some of you may be thinking, I hope hubby is up for pizza tonight, I'll be starting my first no brained meal! No, I won't be sacrificing any of our favorite meals because our favorite meals are in burnout mode. I'm not sure how good they will taste, but they look pretty basic, nothing weird. So if you want to join me in brainless meal planning....the website is.......

Merry Christmas

2010-12-28T14:36:00.001-08:00

When I looked over our year to find one family picture to make a Christmas card with, I realized that all of our pictures have Zach or me with the kids and not both of us. We didn't have time to take a good picture and send it out before Christmas, so I was left with the weird realization that for the first time since we have been married, I didn't send out Christmas cards. It definitely wasn't for bah humbug reasons, but it just slipped past me. Zach and I were talking that it seems like everyone we know has had a glimpse into our lives all year because of our blog and facebook. You have all seen the cuts and scrapes, missing teeth, moving boxes, vacations, first day of school and family outings. I think I may like it better that I get to see the lives of our family and friends on a regular basis then once a year. So please don't feel left out or hurt by the absence of a Bonnin Christmas card, cuz it just didn't happen! So Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family, here are a few outakes from the year!

2010-12-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

After a sunny warm vacation, it was really weird to return home and jump into the Christmas season. We didn't have much time to go on our regular tree hunt in the forest, so we hurried off to Home Depot for a tree. It only took a half an hour from start to finish, so we definitely saved time. However, it seemed very strange! We had a shortcut in the cookie department also. A box with cookie mix and cutters and frosting and sprinkles, made my job alot easier. This was the first year that Sawyer was more helpful than more work. We also had our little cookie tester:) We also did a gingerbread village, but due to our winter ant infestation, we got rid of it quickly!

Blues Clues Birthday

2010-12-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

I can see how a December birthday really does get mixed into the business of Christmas. Fortunately, Fisher is only 2 and he has no idea! We may have to have a half birthday every year just so he can get outdoor toys and actually play with them! Blues Clues are no longer mainstream, but thanks to our old dvds, it lives on in our home. This is really the only show that holds his attention for longer than 10 minutes, so he knows it well. We are in love with this little rascal! He loves to be out and around people. He loves to play with big brother. He often boogies when the music is upbeat! He gives the best cuddles and makes all of us laugh. He loves to build, play ball, look at animals in books, playdoh, and scribbling (on everything). He adores his paci and blanket, which now that he is 2, will see less of. He is often demanding and prone to screaming when he is told no. He is a different ball game for us, but we are up for the challenge! Let the twos begin!

what is the occasion?

2010-12-28T13:51:00.000-08:00

The occsion for our special trip to Playa del Carmen was that the oppurtunity came up and it was time for the two of us to get away. We will always have amazing memories of this vacation!

Busting out

2010-11-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

The weekend we went to the pumpkin patch, Sawyer had been sporting a nice fever. It was a gloomy few days, but by Saturday afternoon, the fever broke and he was running around. We broke a cardinal rule of parenting: no fun if you miss school. Why do so many parent rules punish the parents more? Zach and I couldn't stand it anymore and busted out. It was a freezing day, but we had a blast! I hope my kids don't grow out of the pumpkin patch any day soon! We indulged in hand dipped corn dogs and garlic fries. Unfortunately, our decision resulted in another fever two days later and more missed school. Was it worth it? Um...yep!

Our first grader

2010-11-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

So this picture was taken in August, but I realize that is the last time I blogged. Sawyer was nervous since the middle of kindergarten that he wouldn't know first grade stuff. I cant tell you how many times I had to reassure him that no first grader knows it. Well now that he is a third of the way done with first grade, he is figuring it all out. Most days he reports playing soccer on the field with whatever kids will play with him. Some days he will tell me he played all by himself, which makes me sad. When I ask him why no one wanted to play with him, it is usually because he is running the track. I don't blame the other kids for blowing him off. He puts alot of pressure on himself to do the best and we are trying to work through things with him so he doesnt have an ulcer by second grade. Zach and I don't get it as we were never that way. Some days I can't believe I turn him over to this institution for 6 hours. however, most days I am surprised how fast 6 hours goes by while chasing little brother. This year we have a 10 minute drive to school, but besides the gas, I'm thankful to have that time. We often prep for the day, talk about giving God the glory for all that we do, and often this is the time we have our most in depth discussions...the Holy Ghost being one of them! He still would rather do math problems than color any day, and can't wait to jump into science more(not sure where that comes from:))I didn't realize the fun and games of kindergarten really were just for that time. He works hard everyday, so that just means the fun needs to rock out at home!

more summer pics

2010-08-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

cascade lakes

2010-08-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Please take notice of Zach's crazy camping hair! Also, Sawyer just might be the luckier fisherman of the family.

2010-08-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

We went to Brookings first for family camp and loved hanging out with friends, going to the coolest petting zoo and hanging out at the beach. Our trip just ended too quickly so we planned another long weekend to visit some more sites in Oregon. We always drive by the sign that says Crater Lake this way and never went. We finally got to see it and it was worth it! A truly amazing site, however you would freeze to death if you tried to swim in it so we continued our road trip to see the Cascade Lakes of Oregon. We were not disappointed and found the perfect camping spot for our little crew right on the Deschutes River!

summertime

2010-08-11T09:00:00.001-07:00

We have had a great summer! I'm going to try to blast this little blog with pictures. We spent some time in Oregon and now have some new favorite spots!

2010-06-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

Arizona

2010-06-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Here are lots of highlights from our trip to Arizona! Sawyer and cousin Paycey shared a Hot Wheels party! It was a great night and my mom and dad were amazing hosts for this crowd. We also celebrated Gary's Zach's dad)60th birthday. It was an awesome party and I played in my first(and probably last) poker tournament! The next morning we headed for the zoo and quickly saw the animals before the desert heat knocked us out. Sawyer spent most of the week as a fish in everyone's pools. We visited a new aquarium, splashed in different water features around town, saw Shrek in 3D in a cool IMAX theater(not going to happen in Redding!), and the biggest highlight was going to the Diamondbacks game with 15 family members! Of course the garlic fries, carmel apples, and cotton candy were pretty high on our list!

Random Pics

2010-05-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a little Easter and a little San Francisco.

Waiting

2010-05-11T08:08:00.000-07:00

This morning I've been pondering how much of our lives are spent waiting. Sawyer has been a huge reminder to me that this waiting game begins early on as he awaits his upcoming birthday. I try to help him be patient and realize I'm not sure if that is something I will ever master especially in my own strength. We wait to grow up, we wait to get pregnant, we wait to have a baby, we wait for them to grow up, we wait for nap time:). We wait to hear of jobs, promotions, medical results....it goes on and on. I'm not sure I can even remember a time when I haven't been waiting for something. Currently the Bonnins find themselves waiting to settle into a different home. This is definitely not the hardest thing we have ever waited for, but we realize this is probably the first time that we are truly setting an example for Sawyer. He is watching us carefully and probing for details. He constantly asks questions that we don't have answers for. He sees his beloved material items be put away in storage. He sees my frustrations in not being able to find things or use things as well. We have really tried to stay positive and stress that it is ok not to know everything right now. It is a great time to teach that God knows the plan for us and we can rest in that. He knows when babies will be born, when jobs will work out, and when houses will be ready.

I also realize that sometimes I tend to put life on hold as we are waiting. Relationships don't stop, committments don't stop, discipline doesn't stop, eating well(getting harder, but doesn't stop) and time with God doesn't stop. So my blog has been on the waiting list, not because there isn't anything going on, but because I thought I would write when the waiting is over. As a Christian, waiting should always be in our hearts as we wait for the time to be with Jesus.

my blogging buddy

2010-03-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Fisher is 15 months and keeping us on our toes! He has been climbing for a little while now, but now he is good at it! Nothing is safe anymore, no mountain is high enough! I dont get to blog too much anymore since I have a fellow participant. Right now I can do it because he is sitting in his carseat in the kitchen (buckled). I was repairing the strap and he got in it and decided to stay. We are thankful for times that he sits still. He gives the world's best cuddles, so we take them when they come. His bedtime gets earlier and earlier as I am completely beat.

I love the challenges of parenting right now. For one boy, we are really working on attitudes, immediate obedience, life is not fair, and being a little more independent. The other boy, we are just trying to keep alive and out of the ER.

I just put him down for a nap, so the countdown has started to complete as many things as I can! Farewell for now!

"It's Gonna Be a Lucky Day"

2010-03-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

For a week now, Sawyer has had a very loose tooth, #F(for my dental friends), Upper left central incisor. He was super excited to wiggle it at first and then he realized the last part might hurt, so all efforts came to a screeching halt. It drove me crazy as I wanted to get in there and yank! This morning after his shower, he bumped it with his towel and out it fell! Praise the Lord! He was so excited he could barely contain himself. I remember losing my first tooth and being ecstatic. It is kind of like getting a driver's license at 16. Losing a tooth at 5 is the same thing!

However, as happy as we are for him, I find myself a bit sad as mixed dentition (adult and baby teeth) is not the greatest stage kids go through. Baby teeth are cute and shiny white. Adult teeth are big, yellower and not straight. Our baby is growing up and his big gap in the front is just another sign!

Sawyer's words today, "it's gonna be a lucky day!" For him, definitely, for his poor kinder teacher that has to listen to him go on and on about it, not so much!

inside my head today

2010-03-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

Today I pondered again why Redding has compact parking spaces! I totally understand handicap parking! I understand reserved parking for emergency services, but compact parking, I do not get. For those of you that read my blog from other places, you should know that it is well known fact that most 2 car families have a pick up truck or large SUV as one of their cars. (I'm actually not sure if that is truly a fact, but I can almost bet on Palo Cedro for this to be true) Does not the city of redding (he he, that is where Z works and drives a pick-up) know that people with bigger cars deserve good parking too? Do they not know we are just as lazy as those with compact cars and quite a bit more burdened by higher fuel costs! Knowing full well that I do not fit in a cute compact parking space, why do I continue to try? Why is it that I don't remember until I have completely parked, gathered my diaper bag, picked up the snacks and sippy cup that will enter the store with us, put a rain coat on,and go to get my child out of his 5 point harness in a rainstorm, with people on either side of me trying to get in their cars. How many times do I have to maneuver the baby out the window before I will learn that I am not compact.

Why is it the moment I complain out loud how annoyed I am by all the coughing in my house, that I get a wretched tickle in my throat? However, I am excited to try our new home cough remedy.

I am still giggling inside my head by my 5 year old's comment last week. I debated whether to post, but for my own record, here it is. Every night we have bath time and one of us takes a turn in the tsunami room. Well, I had to go the bathroom, so I went. As I reached for the tp, I looked up to notice that certain smirk. The smirk that only ends up in one way...an awkward question. I quickly zipped up and before I knew it, out flies, "Mom, you don't have one of these!" (we do use anatomical names, but probably not often enough for him to remember) Taking a deep breath, I reply, "No, I don't, God made girls different then boys." A long pause occured, which means the wheels are still turning and we are probably not finished with this topic. Then he replys, "that means we can do more, right?" He did not get a response from me either way. On one hand do I boost the male ego at a young age, or disappoint him with the truth. I guess that line of thinking happens quite young for boys.

dinner tonight-spaghetti= one big mess and another crazy bath time. Note to self: go to the bathroom before bath time!

Sticker Please

2010-03-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, Zach and I were alone together in the car and we both came to the realization that we needed to give Sawyer more structure at home. He thrives at school because he knows what to expect and knows what is expected. I'm not sure while all of a sudden it hit us one day that we repeat ourselves over and over and over. I guess we did it enough and were tired of it.

I have been hesitant to do official chores with a reward attached to it. When I do a chore, the reward is simply the satisfaction of knowing it is accomplished, if only for a little while.

So after pondering what might work, I put a few systems I have seen other places and put them together. I am not amazing, Sawyer is not amazing. In fact I beleived our new system would only work for a week, max! We have 10 pockets, 6 in the morning, 4 at night, with cards in each. When a job is finished, he moves the card into the finished pocket. Again, no reward, just a pocket with cards in it. I can not believe the change that has occured! No longer are we shouting orders all morning and before bed! A simple reminder to look at the job wall is all it takes. Every once in awhile, he feels that he deserves a sticker. Don't we all deserve a sticker! Get out out of bed-sticker, smile and breathe-sticker, drink coffee-sticker, check facebook-sticker, I do believe stickers are the appropriate reward for skills of daily living.

The First Ride

2010-02-17T21:51:00.000-08:00

The sun finally came out after weeks of clouds and rain and the kids stopped coughing for a few hours, so we decided to get out of the house and just drive. On a whim we borrowed a 5 year old snowboard set up(thank you Lindseys!)just in case we found ourselves in the snow. Sawyer has been bugging us to try snowboarding, so Monday was his day. We just happened to get good parking at Mt. Shasta and the weather was perfect! Fisher and I camped in a snow bank on the bunny hill, while Zach had the privalege of getting Sawyer to the top of the hill each time. This was our clever way of not paying for a ticket, which is a waste for most beginners. When we got up to the mountain,Zach and I were both drooling over the freshly groomed runs that had been accumalating awesome snow over the last month. But for some strange reason, we both were completely satisfied watching our little boy loving life that day. Of course, Sawyer's first day of snowboarding went way better than mine. Fisher did great in the snow all afternoon. Unfortunately, he couldn't really move in all of his snow clothes, but he sure was cute!

Twelve

2010-01-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

Twelve is the number of years Zach and I have been hitched! Our history begins way before Saturday, January 31, 1998. I believe we first became aquainted in 8th grade homeroom as our last names were alphabetically close together. We both admit to no spark whatsoever, but who really wants to marry the person you sit by in jr. high homeroom. We really lived very separate lives in high school, but our paths crossed occasionally as my school friends were in the same youth group as Zach. I even recall going to Harold's(a red neck country place)with all of our friends, including Zach and of course my date. College is the place that our paths really crossed. It is kind of funny how any familiar face became a friend at NAU. For years, Zach and I had the same friends and did alot of things together, but never gave each other much thought. One day I went up to Snowbowl Ski resort with my parents and happened to run into Zach working with his Ski Wee kids. From that moment, something in me snapped, he was forever changed in my eyes. I believe I even told my roomate that day, Zach was a great catch for some girl. I was hoping that I would be the "some" girl oneday.

After a double date(we were setting up other friends, not ourselves), we both realized how much fun we had together. There was no wierdness, or funny jitters, it was just easy! That is probably my favorite description of our marriage...it is just easy. Zach is easy to love, easy to be with, easy to forgive, easy to share with, easy to raise kids with, easy to play with, easy to travel with, easy to communicate with, and easy to serve God with. He makes my role as a mom and wife, easy! Of course there are bumps sometimes, but not too many. I love Zach! I love that in a few hours we are going to the local ski resort and celebrate our anniversary in the environment where I first fell for this guy. We have kind of traded in our skiis for snowboards, knowing that our boys will probably want to board someday. It is fun to be a beginner again and have a challenge! However, the challenge now is not to break anything and to not get tired before the day is over.

Upright

2010-01-27T21:32:00.000-08:00

I'm not really sure when this new stage actually began! At Christmas time, we would find him standing on his own and walking around furniture. Then one day a few weeks ago, he started taking steps. He still has a cute little walk, a little bit of resemblance to a drunk. Sometimes I turn around and freak out that he is walking to me (he has mastered holding on to my leg for a very long time), but it still surprises me. I am sad that he is becoming more like a toddler and that shoes are no longer just a decoration. I'm not sure why being upright just makes him seem older. I do look forward to him chasing his brother in the yard, running after a ball, and walking beside me holding my hand. The first year of life is quite amazing! Not only is he learning to walk, but also busting out some teeth, and fighting a cold.

Driving My Plastic Car with My Blue Pegs

2010-01-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

This morning as I struggled to get out of bed at 4:45 am, I realized just how undisciplined I am. As the wind and rain beat against my window, I remember the argument that resounded inside my head. It went something like this, the ladies won't miss me, I won't get much more out of the current chapter we are studying, it is really Monday since yesterday was a holiday, my kids need me here in bed, it is just so cold out there. About 15 minutes later, I knew I just had to get up and go. When I arrived, and noticed 4 of our ladies were missing, I knew I wasn't the only one that battled today. It seems that lately, many conversations I have with friends, the topic of discipline is a biggie! Discipline in exercise, budgeting, eating right, reading the bible, prayer. Maybe it is the first of the year stuff, but it is a big deal!

As a Christian, I am called to live each day for the purpose of Godliness. Is every minute of every day productive and lived as if it may be my last? Absolutely not! Do I never waste time? Of course I do. My life on this earth is a vapor which is hard to comprehend when most of the time I feel like I'm riding in my pink plastic car with my blue plastic pegs on the gameboard of Life. We have to work, make money, pay bills, take care of children, go to doctors(so far I'm waiting for the windfall portion of the game), etc...When all this seems to take over my thinking, which often it does, I have to remember to think this world is temporary. So today as I ponder how to be a good steward of my time and resources, I am challenged in discipline once again.

I have had the oppurtunity to learn from women that have completed my stage of life. Even though they don't seem to want to repeat it, they all agree it has Godly purpose. I had to laugh today as I went home challenged to make my day matter. There is definitely nothing that an employer would find productive, disciplined, or mentally challenging in my day. I spent a whole hour holding a sleeping baby after a premature waking from his nap. I was stuck, there was nothing I could do unless I wanted to wake a clingy, teething baby. Laying there, I knew that I was exactly where I should be, and praying that our quiet moment gave God the glory that He so deserves.

First 2010 Blog

2010-01-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

So the new year has started quite rapidly and I feel like I am just holding on! We had an amazing Christmas vacation and boy did this crew need a vacation! We had a great road trip to AZ, which we have not made since 2002, when we moved here with no kids, a dog and only went one way. The boys did great and I actually managed not to go coo-coo! Thanks to the Moron Test Iphone app, I stayed occupied most of our trip there. Sawyer continues to love riding in the car and watching the blue dot move closer to our destination on the gps. With Fisher turning one, we were able to put him in his front facing carseat, so he could enjoy his movies too! I couldn't be more thrilled with my thumb sucker and paci sucker on this trip. Bad habits, yes, Peace for all, ABSOLUTELY YES!

We were busy the minute we arrived on Christmas Eve and we enjoyed every minute! We are so blessed that everyone lives within 10 minutes of each other, so going back and forth is so easy! I am bummed that we haven't been able to connect with friends on our visits, but having 2 moms, 3 dads, 4 sisters, 4 brothers, 6 cousins, makes for a packed week. I enjoyed tea at the Biltmore with mom and sis, an amazing carnivore dinner with Zach, Kirsten and Milo, the children's museum, shopping time, and hanging out time. Zach had a great day of golf and has a new passion for Guitar Hero! My lack of all 10 digits left me unable to rock with the rest of them, but I found the karaoke and drumming to be much more doable!

My to do list this week has been incredible, yet I feel entirely refreshed from having a little break from the normal. As many do, I have my personal list of things that could use more dicipline this year. This effort will most likely bring about failure, but I still love the challenge to try and make a difference! I'm not sure how I'll post all my pics, but I'll give it a shot!

Fisher's First Birthday

2009-12-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

I can't believe our little guy is one this week! What a year it has been! Fisher was feisty in the womb and not much different once he arrived. The first 4 months of his life was trial and error. He kept us on our toes, especially after 8:00 at night. His naps lasted 40 minutes only and most nights he slept in his swing or his car seat or on the couch with one of us. He broke all my rules I had for babies! Zach and I made a deal one night that we would just fix all of our mistakes later. Well, later came, and he just grew out of it. He is now a great napper and great nighttimer. He does great on a schedule and pretty good off of one. He actually is pretty flexible! He never took a pacifier in the early days, but a month ago, he found one in a toy basket and has been quite smitten with it ever since! Then there is the blanket. The sweet giraffe blanket that I had to have before he was born. The corners are crusty and stinky, but I guess that makes it perfect to him! He makes us laugh constantly and his expressions make you melt!

We are so blessed to have Fisher apart of our family and praise God for His special gift to us. At one year old, he already brings to us so much!

the annual tree hunt, 2009

2009-12-16T10:34:00.001-08:00

We actually had alot of snow to play with this year! The moms knew it was going to be a cold day and we thought we would run out and pick trees really fast. Of course the dads had something different in mind! They packed for our normal tree hunt day with quads, sleds and wood for a fire! The kids had a blast, we found perfect trees, again, and made more memories! Fisher spent the day in his favorite place, on our backs, and squealed with joy at his first time in the snow! We realize now that this day every year is not really about the tree, but spending time with a family we love and cherish!

building a house

2009-12-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

Even with a kit from costco, building a house isn't as easy at it looks. At least for me, anyway! I love decorating with our friends, especially girls! We divided up fairly different tasks for each child and half the fun for us moms was watching how differently our kids approached it. Kacia, the oldest and very creative put almost every type of candy onto her side. Unfortunately, since I built the foundation, it wasn't quite sturdy enough for all her decorations. She outlined details in frosting, hung the wreath over the door, and made thoughtful designs. Rylin, when not consuming her decorations, had a blast putting whatever on the house she wanted with no real design in mind. She was just so happy to be sandwiched between the big kids and making conversation. She, notedly, was the last one at the table. She is so sweet and I think she wanted the experience to last all day! Sawyer, firstborn boy, had decorated with a precise pattern in mind, using only one kind of candy, and done in 5 minutes. Maybe next year, I'll let Sawyer do the main construction while I chatter on with the girls!

it's beginning to look alot like Christmas

2009-12-10T17:06:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Parade with the new RABA bus! Normally we wouldn't care that Redding Area Bus Authority has a new bus, but that is Zach's new expertise...the bus system. Yeah for the new bus and yeah that zach has a job! We are so thankful for employment!Oh yeah, he says he can get passes if anyone is dying to ride the RIDE!

Sawyer's month of bravery

2009-12-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

the eye wound

Boy oh boy, what a doozy of a month for Sawyer! On one particular afternoon, we had our friends over to play. As Jenny and I finally had a minute of uninterrupted time to catch up with each other, we hear screaming from the bedroom. My first reaction was, "that is what he gets for running through the house!" When I go to look at what happened, blood is streaming from his face. I felt horrible as he was actually injured. After about 10 minutes, he was under control and agreed he still wanted to play with the girls. We decided it looked alright and definitely less of a wound compared to the hole he bit in his tongue the last time they were over. When they left, I decided to go to the store for some butterfly bandaids, but Holiday was out. I went next door to my new favorite pharmacy, as I was inquiring about different bandaids, the pharmacist came out and without hesitation told me he needed stitches. I was thinking, "REALLY?" This was not the worst thing I've seen this kid do. I went next door to the local clinic and the Dr. there agreed I needed to go to the emergency room. Again, I was thinking, "REALLY?" How did I miss this obvious need for medical attention. So in Sawyer's little world, he was thinking he was going to the store for more Transformer bandaids and ended up going to the hospital instead. Zach met us there and of course he knows right away it is a stitch worthy wound. It must be a boy thing. We were blessed to have the wound glued shut instead of stitches! Sawyer is amazing! He complained that the glue stung his eyes, but no more tears came from this boy since the initial encounter with the corner of his dresser!

If that wasn't enough for him, this was the month that he was to have his extra tooth removed. Our last few visits to the dentist, I had become aware of his "supernumerary tooth". I really wanted to ignore it, but unfortunately, I know too much about teeth and what could happen if it was left there to do its own thing. The morning of his surgery, he popped out of bed (almost like he was excited, but I'm sure it was nervous energy!) He didn't complain about not getting to eat or drink. He jumped right into the chair and obeyed everything the Dr. told him do. I got to stay with him till he fell asleep, which was really hard for me. I realize staying brave for him makes me a little crazy! When I got see him when it was over, he was so loopy! He cracked me up with his drugged out 5 year old comments. When we got home, he finally cried. I think he was just done being brave...i don't blame him. I was done being brave too! About an hour later, he got off the couch and played the rest of the day.

I am so thankful for his courage. We don't tell him he can't cry, but he likes to be tough. He makes my job so much easier! You Rock Sawyer!!!

Thanksgiving

2009-12-10T08:43:00.001-08:00

I realize my blog has been a little outdated for some time now. We are not still sick, but actually quite healthy now! Since the last post we've enjoyed Halloween and Thanksgiving! We were very blessed to have my mom and dad visit us this year(a 2000 mile drive)! They brought along their newest addition, Piper the puppy, that isn't so little anymore. She was so much fun to have, yet I realize I am not ready to do a puppy yet! Fisher and piper share many of the same behaviors, mostly putting things in their mouths that don't belong. Our pictures are a little weak as our sweet photographer Sawyer captured the holiday from his perspective. Cute, but very unflattering in most cases. We had a fun week with lots of walks and a few puzzles and games. Being spoiled by mom and dad is always enjoyable!

It was a funny day as the past 7 years we have spent the holiday here with friends. We didn't realize our untraditional style was becoming such a tradition! We are so thankful for them as I am sure the 2000 mile drive by my parents will not happen every year!

Swine Flu Side Effect

2009-10-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

So this is something the news won't cover about H1N1...super swine snuggles! poor Zach and Sawyer got hit last week. They were couch buddies and had alot of quality time together. By the end of the weekend, they were both so couch potatoed out, and started to drive each other crazy, fighting over the remote and who got to play games on the iphone. It was so great they had each other as Fisher and I tried to stay clear as much as possible. This morning was the first morning we all sat on the same couch with the same blanket! It is good to be back with them!

9 months

2009-10-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Well, Fisher is now 10 months old, but here are some pictures from the ninth month! I'm writing this mostly so I can look back and remember this moment in time that seems to be a vapor! He is 19pounds,13ounces, 30 inches long. He cracks us up with all of his expressions and is starting to babble things that make sense, such as, mama, dada, bru(brother), and baba(bottle). He lifts his arms in the air when asked, "how big is Fisher?" He explores every nook and cranny around here with fingers and mouth! He still screams after every nap and in the morning. If I waited till he was a happy cheerful baby(as the books suggest), he would never leave those oak bars! I'm pretty sure that he just doesn't want to miss out on anything! He is happy and rearing to go as soon as he is removed. We have to pin him down to change diapers and clothes. He acts as if he is being truly harmed in some way. He is also challenging some days at the high chair. He has mastered smiling and laughing while keeping his lips tightly sealed. He only has 2 lower teeth, so moving away from pureed baby food isn't in the near future. He is a big flirt with the ladies. Mostly the strange ladies in stores that you really don't want to talk to. We have randomly caught him standing, not holding on to anything, so he will just get faster. He loves to be outdoors, in the stroller, and the backpack. He has enjoyed going to Sawyer's class with me on Tuesdays and interacting with the big kids that affectionately call him "Fisherman". Just this morning, Zach and I were talking about how much we love him when we didn't think it would be possible after Sawyer. I think we comment everyday, "Sawyer never did that..." yes, Sawyer was an easy baby in every way, but easy isn't everything!

Hey, Hey, Goodbye

2009-09-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

I will never forget Zach catching chickens all over the yard...too funny!

So Sunday we said goodbye to our feathered friends.(I should say the boys' friends) I would like to think that I'm a pretty good sport about most things. However, my long standing bird phobia showed its true colors when turkey grew to be the size of my own children. He began to chase Sawyer while he drove his car around the yard and gobbling every minute. I convinced myself he was going to attack. I know he sensed my fear and taunted me by just standing near me. It worked! I'm not sure if Zach agreed to get rid of the birds for my sake or for the possible money making oppurtunity. I'm thinking the latter! Who would've guessed he would get countless emails and calls for people wanting to give us money in return for our overgrown monster!

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever fit in this farming community? Last Sunday, we gathered in our little cabin inspired church, Cow Creek Community in Palo Cedro, eatin tri-tip, and listening to bluegrass music. The funny thing is that it almost seemed normal (compared to what we are used to). I was giggling as we drove home and Zach inquired what was so funny and as I told him, he was also surprised that it felt like a normal evening. I don't say this to make fun of our church or anything like that, just to say things are different here. We love that it is different and simple. We love that tri-tip can bring people together and spread such joy!(Tri-tip is a cut of meat that we had not heard of prior to moving here)

With all that said, we are not quite ready to be chicken and turkey farmers! Did you know our turkey's poop was the size of our 80 pound dog? GROSS If and when the day comes we invite birds into our lives again, they will be separated better from the family and not be completely "free range" . We wish them a happy life at their new goat ranch in Janesville!(that sounds like a perfect place for them!)

When God Gives You 110 degrees.....

2009-09-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

You do handstands on a tiny grass island in the middle of a swift creek

....you search for higher ground! That is what we did on Saturday. Zach is really great about getting us in the car and headed toward somewhere we can get the craziez out in the outdoors. We are loving being a little closer to Mt. Lassen as it offers cooler temps. We had a picnic by a creek near Manzanita lake and then went to King Creek Falls. We enjoyed it so much and are so thankful to spend the day not cooped up in the house!

He is Ready!

2009-08-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

Last night Zach and I had the first time experience of Back to School night. As we sat in those little chairs(not great with a jean skirt), I was a little sad and excited for Sawyer. He now enters the world where one of us isn't there to protect and observe and guide him all day. We now have to entrust him 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, to the care of others. He will now have homework and be accountable to school rules and consequences. He may get his feelings hurt by other kids. He may not be comforted the way he is accustomed. He will have new experiences that we won't be there for.

With all that said, he is ready! He is ready for the challenge, he is ready to make new friends, he is ready to learn all that brain can hold, he is ready to obey new rules, he is ready for structure, he is ready to respect other authority, and he is ready for new experiences!

I love his excitement for all the things he is doing in school! He has not complained, whined, cried, or criticized. He wakes up every day with a good attitude, ready to start the day. He wants to do everything school has to offer, including bus riding, hot lunch, running club and after school daycare. He loves the "rules"! This cracks us up...he really does love rules.

I miss him during the day. Fisher and I love to pick him up from school! Fisher lights up when he sees him. His little legs kick with joy and he flaps his little arm trying to wave. I love sitting with him in the afternoon and hearing all about his day. He still doesn't know anyone's names(a guy thing, I'm sure), but that will come.

If this is just a sample I cant wait to see the rest!

2009-08-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

Roller Coaster City

2009-07-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

That is what Sawyer has renamed Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo! We ditched Redding for the day and played at Six Flags. Sawyer is now tall enough to go on rides that he has been dreaming about for years. He is no longer content on the kiddie rides and this is the first year we haven't rode on Thomas the Train. Next time we go, we'll probably have to split up so Fisher can experience Thomas. The highlight of the day was the new Tony Hawk roller coaster. I still can't believe my little guy is big enough to go on it! Another great day of memories!

Spelunkin and Fishin

2009-07-18T08:28:00.001-07:00

Thursday morning, Sawyer threw himself onto the bed and enquired about what we were going to do that day. As the weather has heated up this week, nothing sounded that appealing. I remembered reading about the Subway Caves north of Lassen and thought we should tackle them. We bought cheap flashlights and loaded up, just the three of us. The first time through the cave, Sawyer said, "I think Fisher is scared we should go back out." I said, "I think if you hold my hand, Fisher won't be so scared." So we held hands the whole way through. At the end of the cave, Sawyer said he wanted to go through again because Fisher wasn't scared anymore. I love that even though he is a big tough 5 year old now, he still has some fear and needs a hand once in awhile. Fisher actually cooed and babbled the whole time (not too scared!)

Since we were in the cooler mountains, we had to stop at Hat Creek for a little fishing. Fisher crashed (gotta love that) and Sawyer and I had alot of practice baiting the hook! I think God hears my silent prayers that we don't catch a fish, so I don't have to deal with it.

First Game

2009-07-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

This game day has been long awaited for the past few years! Since Sawyer was about 21/2, he has been wanting to be on his own baseball team. This spring he missed the age cutoff by 2 months, but we heard about the Jr. Giants through the city parks and rec. He is on the white team and takes everything very seriously! Zach and I still laugh at the fact we were not very sporty and he seems to love it all!

Best Friend

2009-07-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is the story of a boy and a girl that are 9 months apart, but have truly been buddies from the beginning. They have been bonded together through the years. Even with the addition of new siblings, these two still have a special connection. I realize now that they are getting older, they have different interests and new friends that they enjoy. She loves to do girly things and he loves boy things and they are distracted from each other when other kids are around. We had the pleasure of her company all day a couple of weeks ago and found that they still love to be together. They sat in the backseat and chatted all the way. She listened to him go on and on about transformers and he listened to her talk about coloring, reading and friends. They told each other goofy jokes(not funny except their giggles were awesome!) They have a friendly competitiveness (heighth especially, for now they are tied in heighth and it is best if it stays that way!). I know that as they get older and have different interests, they may not spend as much time together, but for now, Kacia is Sawyer's best friend. She is who he talks about the most, she is the one he asks about daily, she drives him to do bigger and better things, she will always be special to him as his first friend in this world.

Sawyer's 5th Birthday

2009-07-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

This is way overdue, but better late than never. Sawyer's 5th birthday has been the most anticipated birthday yet. Sawyer has wanted to be 5 since the day he turned 4. He has had many things that he has wanted to accomplish because he is 5 and will have to be patient for some of those things to happen over the course of this year. He learned to ride his bike with no training wheels, learned his right from left, is now playing on a real tball team, can cross a row of monkey bars, cast and reel in his own big fish, write all of his letters, starting to color in lines, and not take a nap(we are still working out the kinks in this one). He is still waiting to read, lose a tooth, go to school, watch Star Wars, grow really tall(so he can ride more rides at Discovery Kingdom) and tie his shoes.

I love seeing his 5 year old mind work. At Vacation Bible School this summer, his mind and heart was really opened to learning more about God. On the way home one day, he whispered, "mom, I have a gift." What is that Sawyer? "the gift of eternal life from God!" He then explains to me that it is a gift that he gets not because he begs or asks for it, but because God loves him. I don't write this from a proud heart that my son is so brilliant for listening and repeating something from VBS, but from a grateful heart at the reminder that eternal life is a gift that we don't deserve. Believe me when I say I wanted to hold back gifts from Sawyer on his birthday because he was acting so greedy and selfish. Imagine if our Savior held back his gift because of our greediness and selfishness? I'm certain none of us would be given His gift!

Happy Birthday sweet Sawyer, I love you!

Sawyer and the Snake

2009-06-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

Look out Indiana Jones...I got my whip!
I don't think he could squeeze any harder!
This is my new favorite picture!

These pictures document a very special day for Sawyer! We have upgraded creature catching from alligator lizard to garter snake. Fortunately, this snake looked like the one I had (for a very limited time) growing up, so I wasn't too alarmed. At least he asked Zach if it was a rattlesnake before he picked it up. I guess that is good, but does that mean any snake that doesn't rattle is fair game? In a 5 year old mind, I think the answer is yes. The poor snake(yes, I actually feel bad for the slimy, slithering thing) endured alot that morning! Did you know a little snake can double as a lasso? After a few minutes with our precious sweet boy, it began to coil and strike at him. He still thought it was awesome! All I can say is, BOYS...I better get used to it!

I'm "hooked" on Fisher!

2009-05-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

Fisher is changing so much! I'm "hooked" on this little guy! I love this stage before complete mobility and teething. His first swimming pool experience was fun. He was timid at first and then relaxed in his baby raft for a long time. I can't believe this is the same baby that had to be double blanket wrapped and screamed bloody murder if he was undressed and the temperature was slightly cool. This is my blog, so I'm just going to be a proud mama and say, he is too stinkin cute!

Trip to the OC

2009-05-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

GRAMS
I THOUGHT I WAS REALLY CLOSE TO THE PELICAN!
OUR HOSTS...THANK YOU
MY MOMMA
I'M SURROUNDED BY FEATHERED CREATURES

Fisher and I flew to Orange County this past weekend so I could attend a Dental Convention and get continuing education hours. My mom(Grams) drove all the way from AZ to take care of the baby while I was in classes. I couldn't have done it without her and our wonderful hosts, Uncle Scott and Aunt Shelley! It was torture to drive past Disneyland everyday and sit in classes instead, but it was a nice change of pace after months of not leaving the house. So today, we are settling back into real life and I'm loving that I get to stay at home with my guys!

Cock-A-Doodle Doo

2009-05-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

When I returned from Arizona, I was pretty surprised to find that the number of feathered creatures had multiplied. Before I left, Sawyer and Grady bought 3 baby chicks. I agreed to 3 baby chicks! The count is now up to 6 chickens, 1 turkey and 3 goslings. They tell me that they rescued the goslings and will return them to the pond when there feathers grow in. The turkey is um...how shall I say, thanksgiving dinner(make your reservations now to dine with us!) The last 3 chicks were brought home because of their ability to lay green eggs and that is really cool(so I've been told)!

Those that know me even a little bit, also know that I have a little bird phobia. I'm not really a fan! However, I'm willing to keep them around as long as we get some good eggs! If anyone has chicken tips,(I'll clarify and say chicken advice) send them our way!

Sun, Shopping, Sugar Bowl

2009-05-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

We just had an amazing two weeks in Arizona! The weather was unbeatable and it turned out to be just what our family needed. I think we underestimated the craziness of our lives the last 4 months. We all had a chance to unwind and forget about real life for a little bit. Sawyer loved every minute! He swam wherever he could and wasn't turned off by the "frigid" water. It is so nice to enjoy the pool from the lounge chair! He got to play with cousins every day and usually have an outing geared just for him!

I was there for my birthday and was spoiled! I actually feel rejuvenated and ready to take on life again! I got to share the celebration with little sis, Kiah. After hearing about the "terrential rains" in Redding, I'm pretty sure the best birthday present for me was sunshine!

Phoenix Zoo

2009-05-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

Sawyer and cousin Karis were the only kids that weren't in school, so we took advantage of a cool morning and went to the Phoenix Zoo. What a treat to see amazing animals. We also went to a Wildlife zoo and I forgot the camera, but that was awesome and all the cousins got to go that day

New Toy For Fisher

2009-04-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to make up for lack of Fisher pics...enjoy the cutie!

Where did the Bonnins Go?

2009-04-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been a month since I blogged and yet I can look back at this month and say, there was no time!!! Our family decided to move across town at the end of March for many reasons...all good! It was a crazy process to find a temporary home for now, but we feel very blessed to be where we are now. Are we settled? We are functional and comfortable, but not quite settled. During that time, both boys had ear infections which made for longer sleeless nights. They are both well now and we are so thankful. Fisher has grown by one month and is starting to come into his personality. He seems to have outgrown his colicky issues which is such a blessing! He loves people and outings, especially bible study...all those lovely ladies to smile at. He is beginning to love toys and thinks big brother is pretty funny(sometimes too overwhelming).

Sawyer is playing spring soccer and has scored 4 goals..yeah buddy! He is done with preschool since we live too far now, but he is anxious for kindergarten. I have a hard time keeping him busy, but I'm thankful for our time together. He won't admit it, but he is enjoying baby einstein movies with Fisher. He is still in love with Transformers and daily makes arrangements for his transformer birthday party.

We are looking forward to a trip to Arizona at the end of April and will be there for 2 weeks! We are all ready for a vacation! Spring is amazing here(unless you have bad allergies)so we are soaking it up!

toby

2009-03-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Today we said goodbye to Toby, tobygirl, Tobers, Toby Brown, Tobias. She will be missed greatly as she came into our lives 10 years, 5 months ago. We brought her home 2 weeks after we moved into our first home. I think I was more excited to finally get a dog than have a home. Here are some of our memories of the dog that almost seemed human.

We should have known the day we brought Toby home...She was the last of 2 puppies and they offered her to us 1/2 price! We thought we were getting a deal, but we didn't know what we were in for. If you are buying a dog, never pay half price, there is a reason. Driving home was our very first battle lost. We had a nice spot in the back for her, but 15 minutes of crying, we pulled over and let her sit on my lap. We thought, just this once. She still hated to ride in the very back to this day. She would bark so much it made you want to throw her out the window. Don't even dare turn the blinker on because that set her off worse! Driving by any body of water made her so excited. This wasn't a problem in the desert, but here in Redding you can't go anywhere without crossing the river.

We were very intent that she would be crate trained. She trained us instead and we bought a king size bed to share with our dog. No one told us if you bend the rules just once for a weimeraner, it would be almost impossible to go back. She has always been 2 steps ahead of us. I can't count how many times Zach has come home to say, "how did she get through that?" She could get through spaces chihauhas wouldn't attempt.

I understand why parents put their kids in beauty pageants. We thought she was the prettiest weimy we had ever seen. We thought we would put her in dog shows and demonstrate to everyone what a good looking dog really looked like. We were so proud of this silver furred animal. Unfortunately, you have to be obedient to be in a show. We took her to puppy school and realized we had our hands full when she wouldn't sit or lay on the cement floor. Yes, she was the dog that would climb into the pet store shelf and find a dog bed to demonstrate her commands. She could do all the commands, when she felt like it and if the conditions met her standards. We worked with her daily, we rushed home from work to play with her, we took her anywhere you could bring a dog. We still would get stopped by people to know what breed she is.

She had a way of making non dog people a fan. If you have ever visited us, you were probably greeted by an 80 pound hug. After knocking down most of our guests, they somehow forgave her and became won over by her incredible personality. I'm still impressed by her desire to be the 75 pound lap dog and surprisingly, people let her. Through her selfless act of having a litter of 7 puppies(she put up a good fight, but that boy got his way) we were able to fund a ski boat. Unfortunately, she never liked the boat. She just wanted to jump in the water. She was a good mom for 3 weeks and then she wanted to go back to her only child status.

She was going to be a bird hunting dog. Every dog should have a job. After Zach took her in the desert a few times, he realized she was not cut out for hunting. She was great at finding birds, but she would run full speed into cacti and Zach spent the rest of the day pulling cactus needles out of her. We found that she was just as content at "pointing" at things in our yard, lizards, birds, leaves blowing in the wind. Our dog seemed to play the game of hot lava, never liking hard surfaces. She would go from couch to bed, to carpet to couch and so on. When Sawyer was born, she became an outdoor dog. I'm sorry to say we used a few electronic devices to help her make the move. She managed to outsmart them as well. A bark shock collar-she changed the pitch of her bark and avoided correction. Perimeter collar-she knew within centimeters how far she could go, when the collar was removed, she would fly through it.

Neighbors don't usually remember our names, but everyone knows Toby and which house she belongs to. We would get calls regularly from people that have found her and brought her home and have been won over also. When Zach picks her up, many times she is inside loving the attention. We all laugh that if the doorbell rings it is either UPS or Toby being brought back home. Toby was a doggie garbage disposal! I have seen her consume most everything, pants, balls, fencing, underwear, socks, diapers, etc. (mostly I know because what goes in comes out) Most of our company that stayed over night would report they slept great and also woke up to Toby in bed with them. She was always looking for new suckers. She was my baby when we didn't have one and wanted one. She was as human as a dog could be. She was the topic of conversation when converstion was dull. Toby stories were great for small talk.

Toby helped shape us as a couple, she taught us how to be better parents, she loved people (she thought she was people) How much did we spend on Toby in 10 years? Yikes! Kennel, dog beds, collars, leashes, school, boarding, vet bills, food, replacement of ruined household items, I'm estimating thousands, but 10 years with a great dog....priceless.

Seasons

2009-03-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

So these pictures are almost 3 years old, but I was reminiscing this morning of our wonderful, warm, adventurous, revitalizing, relaxing, sunny mexican cruise. I think because our weather has been rainy and cloudy, I've been thinking of warmer days. We are blessed to have rain, no doubt, but cabin fever is setting in now. We have even let Sawyer roller skate in the house. These pictures also represent an amazing week for Zach and I to be together. So as I sit here, listening to the heater click on and off and drink my hot coffee, I know that this is only a season. I need to cherish all my seasons. As I held Fisher last night after one of his feedings, I realized that he is really growing out of the newborn stage. He doesn't just crash on our chests unless it is late at night. He is getting strong and responsive, he is even growing out of his "fussy time", he looks like a stuffed sausage in some of his clothes. I asked Zach if he thought we have held him enough? It doesn't seem like enough! Even though my sleep is interrupted, it is my special time with Fisher. I love when he is "sleep eating". God created our seasons...weather seasons and life seasons. I do think about another special warm trip for Zach and I to take, but for now I love to take care of my precious boys on a rainy day.

Two months

2009-02-24T16:57:00.001-08:00

Here are a few pics of Fisher. He is smiling alot and starting baby talk a little, but catching it on film isnt always easy! He is calling for me right now, so this will be a short post!

A New Passion

2009-02-24T16:44:00.001-08:00

"Transformers, more than meets the eye. Transformers, Robots in disguise..." If you can finish this song, you are probably my age or older. Sawyer has found a new passion the past few months. He will ask me 100 times a day to transform and untransform his robots. Unfortunately, I am not skilled in this area at all. I can dress dolls and do hair and play house, but Robots? I have to tell him to wait till daddy gets home. I promise I am not trying to put it off. I really can't do it! He tells me to just read the directions, but I am still missing the transforming gift! He has played with them so much that he can now do most of them by himself...thank goodness! As for me, I am still learning the difference between autobots, megatrons, and deceptacons. Barbie and Ken will never live in my house will they?

One Picture Tells a Story

2009-02-17T08:37:00.000-08:00

If anyone is wondering why there are no new pictures or stories of adventure this past week, this picture should explain it all! So far, only Sawyer and I have had the plague. (no pukes for those of friends and family that have phobias!)We are praying that little Fisher will escape it as he already has his own issues. We got 7 hours of sleep in a row last night, but he spent it in the swing...YIKES! So if anyone has D batteries not being used, send them our way (just jokin) We do have intentions of training him to sleep in his bed, but who can complain about 7 hours!!!
By the way, notice Fisher's round face and double chin! He hasn't missed a single meal and is known to double up on meals too! The blemishes are from him clawing at himself in his crib. I cut his nails, but he still causes damage. He is desperately searching for his thumb...I hope he finds it soon!

The Day a Lizard Bit Me

2009-02-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday after church, Sawyer came running up to me and said "mom, I caught a lizard!" I'm not afraid of lizards, but he definitely caught me off guard. I turned around and pretty much jumped as I was witnessing a very angry lizard snapping and hissing. Sawyer was sqeezing the life out of it and the lizard was beginning to break his skin. I've never seen such a proud look on my son's face! This is what Sawyer recalls of the experience. "I saw this lizard and I snuck up on it and I was so brave to catch it. It liked me holding it, he was smiling(this was actually biting). Sawyer reports, "you can catch a lizard at your church too, but don't catch an alligator lizard because they bite." This was the day we all learned about the northern California Alligator Lizard. When we googled it, the first sentence said, "when you see an alligator lizard, do not pick it up, they are known to bite!" Have I mentioned I love having boys?

Name that Baby!

2009-02-03T13:31:00.000-08:00

If anyone is wondering if Fisher looks like me(Megan) or Zach, I have to say really neither at this point. However, he seems to resemble another family member quite a bit...his big brother. See if you can tell the difference? (there is a slight age discrepancy)

The Swing!!!!

2009-01-28T17:24:00.000-08:00

Not all baby gear is created equal. I have done a pretty good job this time around not falling into buying every baby gimic out there. With Sawyer, I thought I needed it all and he ended up being a baby that was content on the ground. Fisher is a new experience for us! Our friends were so generous in lending us a baby swing, but every time we put Fisher in it, he got really mad! How strange that a baby wouldn't like any swing! Out of desperation, I researched craigslist for a week and found a cradle papasan swing. It is huge and takes up too much room, but it is my new best friend! He now swings right through fussy time! He swings at dinner, he swings for some naps, and he swings when big brother needs mommy time. This would not be my first choice, as I think he should be in his crib, but for now he's swingin! He does sleep in his bed at night, so we know he is capable!

A Challenge

2009-01-20T08:55:00.001-08:00

I am challenging all those that read our blog to make themselves known! Leave a comment or become a follower. It would be fun for us to know who our readers are. Don't be shy...just do it!

This and That

2009-01-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

This is the first morning in awhile that I can sit down and catch up on my blog. This entry will probably be boring to most, as it reflects on our time with a newborn. However, that is about all that is going on. We had a great night thanks to Zach being willing to do the midnight feeding! After that, Fisher slept till 4:30...this is a big deal, since he has been "snacking" at 2:30 am. We discovered the little guy does REALLY GOOD in his carseat, so that is where he slumbered. It sounds horrible, but sleep deprived parents will try anything! He is taking his morning nap in his crib right now, so he isn't totally opposed to it. I was ready to purchase this crazy newborn soothing station yesterday, but I came to my senses. Fisher has tummy issues and spends quite a bit of time fussing, but once he passes whatever, he is a sweet happy baby that is already smiling and interacting with us. I have made efforts to change my diet in hopes it would make a difference. No dairy, certain veggies and just about any other thing I can think of. I have dabbled in no caffeine, but just a little bit really helps me, so I have something at least once during the day! Not every baby is created equal!!! I knew from my time with him in the womb that he would give us a run for our money! I'm not surprised he busted out early and forceful! (Did I ever mention he came too fast for pain medication at delivery....little stinker)

Big brother Sawyer is doing well, but has an icky cough. He isn't allowed to interact too much with baby as we are making our best effort to keep him well. We enjoyed a 3 day weekend with Zach home and went to Mt. Shasta with friends for sledding and ice skating. I don't have too many pictures from the day, but it was fun to get out of the house. By the way, if anyone knows about the crazy stroller I purchased, it even worked on a snowy hill and Fisher is so content in it...Go Megan!!(I have to keep convincing myself it was a good investment) Fortunately, he is happy to be on the go, just like Sawyer. Sawyer loves road trips! He loves to pack, and usually gets in the car about 15 minutes before we actually leave. Our car ends up looking like we are going for a week! He is a little Zach for sure! He has a great sense of direction, tells us when we "roll" through stop signs, reports speed limits and asks why we turn right when the light is red. Zach keeps telling me there is a reason that guys are usually better drivers, they start young! I wonder if I paid attention better if I might have a better sense of direction? Probably not!

Sawyer is learning to share us, but he really doesn't like "being alone" Even if we are all at the table, he wants us right next to him! He isn't thrilled when he has to go to bed, but Fisher is still up with both of us. Someday, Fisher will be in bed way before Sawyer and Fisher will be complaining to stay up late. I'll be the only one complaining that I want to go to bed early.

I'm finding my most productive time is night time. Not like me at all, but it works. I hope this entry doesn't come across like I'm whiny or complaining. We are loving "most" minutes and feel very blessed by these two guys.

Oh yeah, I just wanted to mention that our sister Kiah got accepted to NAU and is hoping to major in Dental Hygiene. We are so proud of her and excited for her to go to our school! If you are reading this Kiah, we love you and can't wait for you to go!

I've been tagged

2009-01-13T16:34:00.000-08:00

I guess I am supposed to post my 4th folder, 4th photo...Here it is, Sawyer at the pumpkin patch in 2007

I didn't think I was that tired....

2009-01-07T21:10:00.000-08:00

I don't feel like I'm really that tired until I'm reminded of things that I would not normally do with adequate sleep. Yesterday when the phone rang I could hear it, but definitely couldn't find it. Unfortunately, Zach was home to witness this event...When we paged the phone, we traced the beeping to the kitchen, then by the sink, then under the sink, and yes, there it was, buried in the garbage can. How could I have done that? Probably the same reason I keep typing in my zip code every time instead of my pin number. Fisher is really doing great, but the little guy still needs to eat in the middle of the night. So, if you try to call me in the next few weeks and get the answering machine, just know I'm probably looking for the phone!

Fisher's second week

2009-01-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

We are just loving on the baby!

A Mt. Shasta Day

2009-01-01T18:52:00.000-08:00

Zach took Sawyer, Kiah and Tyler to Mt. Shasta for some fun on the mountain! Zach and Sawyer skiied and Kiah snowboarded and Tyler took a snowboarding lesson. It sounds like they had a great day. Hopefully I will get a chance to snowboard this season too, but for now, Fisher and I will hang together. Sawyer loves going fast and is closely watching the snowboarders. You have to be 5 to take snowboard lessons and he is pretty sure he wants to do that. We just might end up being a snowboarding family. Who knows....

YIKES

2009-01-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Aunt Shelley, we now have a jedi and a bat boy. Thank you to Grammy for the movie Kung Fu Panda and all the new moves my child has picked up. Needless to say, our 4 year old(excuse me, 4 1/2 year old) has been bouncing off the walls this week. Perhaps there will be a major sugar detox going down this week. He is pretty funny in his costumes and he always says, "it is just me, Sawyer, in a costume" as if we couldn't recognize him!

A little bit of Christmas

2008-12-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of our very laid back Christmas! Thank you everyone for showering us with awesome gifts! Sawyer has been playing with all of his new toys today and is actually taking the time to explore everything today. Fisher slept through most of the activities and didn't seem too bothered by getting only clothes for Christmas. How long will that last? We are thankful for all the family that has traveled great lengths to visit us and help us out during this time. Through bad weather, delayed, canceled flights, rental cars, traffic, buses, lost luggage, and not so helpful airline workers, they have made it here! Who knew that Redding was one of the hardest places to get to? I promise we didn't know that when we decided to move here.

I think our household is adjusting to the new guy. It is hard to tell how Sawyer will be when the excitement of Christmas and company settles down. We had a morning alone and it seemed pretty normal. Fisher hasn't quite settled into a predictable schedule, but do they ever really become predictable? He was pretty wild in the womb around 1:00 am and is proving to hold on to that time as play time. Other than that, he is pretty mellow.

Zach has found his way back to work twice this week and I think it is actually a more restful place for him right now. He has been awesome and has made two very yummy dinners! I knew it was hiding in there all along! I imagine everyone is digging through wrapping paper and boxes too this morning. I am looking at Sawyer's room wondering where all this stuff is going to go, but for now, I'm just grateful for all the ways our family has been blessed.

Happy Birthday Zach and Fisher

2008-12-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

Fisher Ridge decided to come early for his daddy's birthday! He was 7lbs 11oz, 21 inches. Sunday night around 11:00, I was greatly surprised when my water broke. I had no clues that he was ready to come as I was feeling quite good all day. We rushed around the house trying to remember all that we needed to bring as well as pack for Sawyer to spend the night with friends. Is one ever truly prepared for this to happen, especially 10 days early? We arrived at the hospital around 12:00 and the fun started. Not much happened the first couple hours. By 3:00, the hard part began and by 6:00 our baby boy was here! The first 24 hours was a whirlwind and we are so thankful to be home. Sawyer is enjoying his new brother and is exhibiting a little more "wild energy" than normal. Grams came on Monday night and is spoiling our family with great food, clean laundry, and just about anything else you could ask for!

Fisher is a good baby. He is turning out to be a bit more vocal than Sawyer was at this stage, especially at diaper changing time! We are feeling so blessed to have him here and excited that he made it here before Christmas. I am feeling pretty good and excited to sleep in my bed again, touch my toes, hold my 4 year old, and go to the bathroom on a normal person schedule.

Thank you to all who have visited and called and wished us well. We'll keep you posted!

"O Christmas Tree"

2008-12-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

We went on our annual tree hunt yesterday. It was a gorgeous sunny day, still pretty chilly though. Some have asked us why it takes all day to get a tree and we aren't really sure. Here is a rundown of activities.

1. Meet friends at grocery store (Usually the Bonnins are late)

2. Load up into friend's rig

3. Drive to approved tree cutting area

4. Drive down many dirt roads and turn around

5. Finally find the perfect tree area

6. Unload kids and redress them

7. Start a fire

8. Watch kids play in fire

9. Hike around for a tree

10. Eat lunch

11. Play in any snow around

12. Drink hot chocolate

13. Get serious about looking for tree

14. cut tree

15. Carry tree back to car

16. realize tree is huge and trim tree more

17. Tie trees to car

18. Ride friend's quads(I didn't participate)

19. Eat more, play more, sit by fire

20. Put out fire

21. Undress kids

22. Load up kids and stuff

23. Drive back to town

24. Eat pizza

25. Unload tree

That is pretty much our day and we love it! It usually takes us a day or 2 to get the tree up and decorated...who wants to rush these things.

My Boys are a Blessing

2008-11-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to spend a minute and share why my boys are a blessing. As I am slowing down quite a bit, the boys are really taking up the slack. This morning Sawyer got dressed on his own (interesting outfit choice, but I don't care right now). He came in with his lunchbox and said he made it already. He actually made really great choices..apple, yogurt, and oranges (one can never have too much fruit) He picks things up for me and helps me at the store when things are on the bottom shelves.

He is truly forgiving and pretty understanding of my lack of energy and ability to do things we normally do.

Zach has been so great too! There are too many things to list, but he has been selfless in so many ways! I really appreciate everything these guys are doing to make this next month a little easier. Thank you for the extra time in bed in the morning, as I don't sleep so much at night. Thank you for carving out special time with Sawyer when you are tired from your work week. Thank you for your patience.

I love my boys, and I am extremely blessed that my little ones will have an amazing dad for a role model.

Sawyer's Perspective on the President

2008-11-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

Tuesday was an interesting day. I had the privelage of explaining the voting process to a 4 year old. I told him we would go to his school where I could vote. He says"does everyone get a boat?" Oh I wish that were the case. I told him I write on a piece of paper in a box. "Do we get to take the box home? What is in the box?" I told him I would get to pick who I wanted for the president. "Do we all get our own president? Will he come to our house? Will we have new rules?" After a long day of questioning and me trying to explain things, I was almost sorry I brought the whole thing up!

Later that evening, we were watching the news for the results and Sawyer asked, "Did we win mom?" After I answered his question he said very thoughtfully, "God has more power than the president, right?" that is so right. May we all be reminded by the big heart of a little 4 year old that God is all powerful....even more than the president.

Eight Months

2008-10-30T04:36:00.000-07:00

Not much to report except getting closer!

Our countdown is the same countdown to christmas day, so is everyone ready?

I think I was tagged!

2008-10-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

I think I was tagged to give 6 fascinating facts about myself(unless Lindsey has another blogging friend Megan) I will go for it anyway! This isn't going to be easy!

1. I have learned in the past year and a half not to fear my kitchen! I have never loved to cook or do much in the kitchen, but I am actually learning to like it and some weeks, I enjoy it. I finally have some recipes that are favorites and one of them is in the oven right now.....banana chocolate chip bread! I love finding the foods that Sawyer loves and enjoys making with me!

2. I really enjoy coffee! I am taking a break from caffeine during pregnancy as it makes me feel weird, but it is something Zach and I look forward to everyday. I like to make mochas at home and save $4 a day! It also brings great joy to Zach as that is his breakfast! my favorite is white peppermint mochas with little candy cane pieces!

3. I absolutely love fall! it is my favorite season! Growing up in AZ, I didn't get to experience the change of seasons except hot to kind of colder. I love taking walks and seeing changing colors, smelling wood stoves that are starting to be used, pumpkin patches and the chill in the air!

4. I am a new snowboarder. Last year was my first season and in spite of all the bruising, I really loved the challenge of a new sport! I skiied since I was 6 years old and when I am asked to compare the two, I have trouble. I really like to be good and not fall and tackle any part of the mountain, but not wearing ski boots could possibly top that list! I'm hoping I'll get a few runs in this winter after the baby is born...I might be dreaming. Oh yeah..my snowboard is the girliest thing you have ever seen, thank you hubby for that!

5. I'm thinking if I left my hair alone, it would all be gray. I struggle with the vanity and cost of having it colored, but I really enjoy it right now and it is a special treat. (I need to clearly state that I don't think gray hair looks bad as most of my family is blessed with it, but I'm just not ready to go there yet!)

6. I have been a scrapbooker since 1996 and have a huge collection of scrapbooks. i love the creative outlet. With that being said, I have really enjoyed blogging! I like that my pictures can be caught up to the minute and my thoughts can be shared while they are fresh in my head. I like that family from a distance can see what we are up to, where my scrapbooks just sit on the shelf rarely looked at. I am trying to figure out how to publish my blog and have it bound somehow. Let me know if anyone knows how to do it!

I'm going to tag Jenny, Tricia w, mary, sherry and breanna are you up for the challenge?

Salmon, Sonic, Soccer, and Sparklers...oh my!

2008-10-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we went to the Coleman Fish Hatchery, Return of the Salmon Festival! This is one of Zach's favorite local events, I think it is pretty cool also. Every year the salmon come back to the place where they were born(I think they are gone for 3 years before they come back) Pretty much, they spawn and die. Sawyer was very intrigued by the whole process...can he be any more like his dad?

After our festival we went to Sonic for lunch and headed to Sawyer's soccer game. I dreaded the 2:30 game as he still needs a nap, but he manged to keep it together. Once again our little team got slaughtered, but fortunately they don't seem to mind too much as long as they get their special team treats at the end.

We finally got home for a little rest and then went to the 4th of July fireworks show. Yes, 4th of July was cancelled here due to so many fires in our area. It was awesome! It wasn't hot or too crowded. It seems ironic to have hot chocolate at a fireworks show. Redding never lets us down! The fireworks here always impress!

So, a very long day, but definitely fun!

Pumpkins!

2008-10-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Zach and Sawyer were very successful growing pumpkins this year! The pumpkins actually overtook our whole garden and most of our other crops died due to the major takeover! They have been picking pumpkins the past few weeks and we still have a few more growing. Today we decided to see if we could actually do something useful with them. I thought I should at least try, since they spent all that time growing them. Sawyer picked 2 pumpkins just the right size and we cut them, cleaned them, cooked them, scooped them, mooshed them, mixed them and cooked them again! I had enough mixture to make 2 pies, but only one pre made crust, so I broke down and made a pie crust. We just finished sampling and it was surprisingly really good!

Baby Buzz update

2008-10-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note: We went to the Dr. yesterday and had another Ultrasound. Everything is looking great, the baby is healthy and strong and is definitely a boy! No question on that! He is head down(he can still flip, but Dr. seemed to think he would stay there). We are so thankful that God is protecting this little guy and growing him. Zach set up our crib while I was gone and it is starting to seem pretty real! I love walking by the room and catching a quick glimpse of the baby's special place!

Back From the Land of Mickey Ears!

2008-10-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

We finally returned from our trip and have gotten around to posting some pictures. We spent Sunday at the California Adventure Park and then to Disneyland on Monday. Sawyer did great on Sunday and enjoyed the fastest rides the most! By Monday he was a pretty tired and we broke down and rented a stroller. The highlight rides are Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astroblaster and the new Toy Story ride. Rides that were a bust include Finding Nemo, the 3-D bug's life show, and the Monster's inc show. Zach was our main rider since I wasn't able to go on many of the rides. The next day we loaded up and went to the beach. It was a perfect sunny beach day and the kids had a great time!

We drove to AZ the next day and had a great time hanging out with family! We feel very blessed to have the family we do and miss them so much!

Going to the Magic Kingdom

2008-10-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we leave for Disneyland! We are very excited to bring Sawyer for his first time! Zach and I haven't been there for 10 years, so we are actually pretty excited also! I'm sure I'll have pictures to post when we return, so stay tuned!

It's All About Volcanoes!

2008-09-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what triggered the fascination with volcanoes, but the last two weeks, Sawyer has inquired about volcanoes on a regular basis. We took a special trip to the non-fiction section at the library and picked out as many volcano books as we could find. We've read all of them and talked about them in great detail. Only a few weeks ago did he start saying "hot Lava" instead of "hot llama". I didn't correct him because it is too cute, but he eventually corrected it himself.

Zach and I have been wanting to take him to Mt Lassen all week and yesterday was the day! For those of you that don't live around here, Mt lassen erupted in 1915 and is now preserved as a National Park! It is absolutely beautiful! There are lakes, streams, mountains and peaks to climb, backcountry hiking trails and campsites. The terrain changes at every curve of the road. It is quite a spectacular site! I am usually not an information, nonfiction, data gathering type, but I'm experiencing a new excitement for these things to come alive for my little 4 year old sponge. To see this through his eyes is so cool.

We thought the coolest thing to see (actually the hottest) was the boiling mud pots. We hiked a cool trail (we didn't realize it was 3 miles), but we all made it! The sulfuric rock and liquid was horribly stinky, but it made a huge impression on Sawyer. he woke up this morning and came into our room and the first thing he said was, "that volcano was really cool and stinky!" I'm not sure what he'll be interested in next, but I can't wait! he has been asking alot about the moon, but I'm not sure what we would do for that field trip?

Taking a Walk

2008-09-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

The weather has cooled off this week and we've been able to get outside more! Sawyer, Toby and I went on a little walk this week next to Whiskeytown on the Old Mill Creek Trail. It was great for dog and boy to run! I'm afraid I was the slow poke!

6 Months

2008-09-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

We are cruising along now! We are all so excited to have this new little guy here! Everything is going great and I feel very blessed to get to go through this awesome journey again. I have to admit my temperature gauge changed over the past few weeks. I am freezing Zach out at night with the AC and still find myself hot. Hopefully, our temps will start dropping here soon. I'm absolutely amazed at how much faster this pregnancy is going, YIKES! I just realized this morning that 5 years ago this month, we found out we were pregnant with Sawyer...very cool!

A Rough Start

2008-09-04T09:46:00.001-07:00

There were 2 shelves! Now only 1!
The hole here doesn't quite show up good...there are 4 all together :(

Thank you grammy for our sweeper, I'm going to need a more powerful model!

One phone call is all it takes sometimes! I heard a massive bang from the back of the house with no screaming (which is good). Sawyer shows up in the kitchen and tells me something really bad just happened. I already guessed that! We went into the office and there it was on the floor. My poor shelf. The sad part is the huge holes in my wonderful wall. After a few minutes of asking what happened, it finally came out that he just needed to hang! Yes, you've heard the "need to speed" well my son has the "need to hang". I'm thankful that he didn't get hurt! After, he spent some time in his room, I gave him a snack and this is what became of it! I'm glad I didn't add milk!!!! I love my boy and realize that the action is just going to double soon!

Belly Bling

2008-08-27T19:06:00.001-07:00

What do you do for fun when daddy is gone for the evening? Bling up our bellies of course! Sawyer is thrilled we both have "outies" right now, so why not decorate them! By the way, please don't blow up these pictures, they aren't flattering!

lizzards and crafts?

2008-08-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

I just thought I would post pictures of the lizzard wrangling going on at our house. Poor little guy didn't know what was coming his way. I guess he won't be walking so slow next time.

I've had my scrapbook table out for awile and Sawyer loves to sit with me and do "work". Unfortunately, one of his favorite things to do is use scissors. He is good with them, but I'm getting to the point where I'm not fond of picking up confetti.

First Soccer Game

2008-08-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

I think playing soccer has been more of a highlight than school starting! From the time he could talk, he has wanted to be on a team! He loved getting soccer shoes and special shinguards! I'm surprised he let me take them off the first day we bought them. The game was pretty exciting! He got tackled twice. One resulted in a bloody lip and the other one a dirty face. After that he wasn't too keen on kicking the ball. He just ran "super fast" all over the field the rest of the game. He gets to play with two of his friends and is enjoying meeting the others! After his first practice, he asked,"when does baseball start?" So I guess soccer is good, but baseball is his first love. I'm thinking we just need to get him on a track to run!

I'm all for sports as he is still taking his nap this afternoon....going on three hours!

First day of school

2008-08-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

Sawyer went back to preschool on Monday. He will go Monday and Wednesday mornings. All of the big kids from his class last year moved up to kindergarten, so he is the big kid now and likes it. The Monday class only has girls so far, but he didn't seem to mind. A friend of mine gives her kids twinkies on their first day of school and I thought that was a great tradition to start! He has never had one before and constantly asked, "what is in the middle and what is a twinkie?" We told him to just eat it! You don't ask what twinkies are made of!

2008-08-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

I have made an official decision that moms ( especially hormonal moms) should not be put in the position to pick and purchase children's portraits. I was completely decided to be tough and only buy 4 sheets of portraits . Well, the sneaky salesman put our pictures in these beautiful matted frames and said, "we just like to show you what we can do" I said, "CRAP" How am I supposed to just leave this beautiful masterpiece of my baby...So my emotions took over and out I walked with this huge wall hanging. I know it was not a wise financial decision right now, but did I mention the extra hormones? So until I get a grip, this will now be a father's job if he is willing to take it on!

(For my local friends in Redding...I was in Chico yesterday and went to Picture People. You receive your portraits 5 minutes after ordering..WARNING BE STRONG!)

3 of them...1 of me

2008-08-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

We had an ultrasound last week and everything with the baby is going well and on track. We decided to find out the sex this time. With Sawyer we waited, but this time we thought a surprise at 19 weeks would still be a surprise. Sawyer was convinced that we were growing a sister as most of his friends have sisters. That morning, the 3 of us bet..Zach and Sawyer guessed girl and I guessed boy. Mom is the winner! To me it seems silly either way. We are so blessed to have the oppurtunity to raise another child that we are thrilled no matter what.

I know it may seem like a bummer I may never have pretty, pink princessy stuff, but I love the idea of having a house full of boys. Sawyer says,"there is 3 of us and one of you, so you need lots of sugar(kisses)" Over the years when I imagined what our family might look like if we were to have another child, I envisioned little boys. So really, it all seems just right. Most of all I praise God for a wonderful pregnancy and for creating such precious life!

So now we just have to convince the big brother that Buzz lightyear will not be the official name!

North Coast

2008-08-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

We went camping at Patrick's Point this weekend. The weather was probably the best I've ever seen during the summer. The sun is not something you expect to see over there, so it was a nice surprise. We were able to take advantage and go kayaking, something I would never consider before due to chill factor. Sawyer giggled the whole time and spent most of the time with his head dipped in the water.

It is the end of camping season for us, so I am swimming in trailer laundry. I did 5 loads yesterday and I'm sure there are 5 more today...blankets, sheets, towels, sleeping bags, etc...It sounds like complaining, but I'm so thankful for our little trailer and the memories that our family is making. I'm also thankful that I'm never cold in the woods!

Family Time

2008-07-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

Our family, Milo, Kirsten and Elle and Paycey, just left yesterday and we sure had a fun time. We did alot of fun things, but swimming at Whiskeytown Lake is always a favorite. Now we have Grady and Kiah for a week and are having fun with them too!

Just Reminiscing

2008-07-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Well I'm still thinking of our wonderful vacation and the beautiful creation we were in. Especially this week as we are still socked in with smoke. The fires in our area are pretty much contained, but there is still activity in nearby counties. So we have been indoors more than usual. I am still so thankful for the area we live in. When our vacation was over we still were able to return to a beautiful area with trees, streams and mountains.

We are getting ready for more

company today and excited to catch up with family. Sawyer is always so thrilled to know people are coming to visit him.

Family Vacation

2008-07-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

We are back and had a great trip! Even the drive was not bad. It took us 20 hours each way, but staying in Crested Butte Colorado was such a treat! We were outside everyday enjoying hiking, mountain biking(just Zach this time),rafting, strolling downtown, fishing, picnicking,and riding the chairlift. The kids even got to play in snow at the top of the chairlift. It was wildflower season there, so many of our pictures are flowers. Sawyer loved playing with his cousins and we were so blessed to have a park next to our house. The views from our place were incredible! I'm not sure when we'll ever get back there, maybe when Redding has a full functioning airport. We have so many pictures that I may post them all week. I just wanted to post my family pictures as this was the best part of our trip to hang out with them.

Over The River And Through The Woods......

2008-07-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Today is the day we start driving to Colorado, 2200 miles round trip. I haven't been in a car for longer than 7 hours since our move here in 2002 (one way). The question has been, "Are you excited for your vacation?" My answer has been...once we get there, I will be. I'm feeling very guilty over that response as it is such a blessing to be able to spend time with my family for a whole week. Vacation isn't something we have to do or need to do, but a want. I am so thankful that God allows us our wants so often. As our car is loaded and our house is looking a little emptier and Toby is packed for "doggy camp", my attitude is shifting. I am excited! I'm excited to see country that I haven't seen for sooooo long! I'm excited to spend time with my husband for 10 days! I'm excited to see my sisters and catch up with my parents. Family is so important and if we don't make the time for each other, we will drift. I'm excited that I got taken for an idiot at the tire store and have 4 new tires to make our trip. I'm excited for Sawyer to see the Rocky Mountains and enjoy some new activities with his cousins. I'm excited for my nephews and niece to fish with their uncle zach. I'm excited to leave 100+ degrees and not breathe smoke. I'm excited that Zach finally gets to take a real road trip after so many years of me saying no thanks. Sawyer has no clue the amount of time he will spend in his 5 point harness, but I really don't think he will care too much. He loves to go,go,go and can't wait to get on with our trip.

This will probably be my last post for awhile, but I hope to have amazing things to report later!

FREEDOM

2008-07-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

We decided to get out of town since Zach was free from work and of course we were free to go as well. Due to all the fires in our area, fireworks were cancelled. Mt. Shasta ended up being the perfect place for us to go, 80 degrees and full of 4th activities. We watched the world's lamest parade, but the snow cones made up for it!.. We spent time at the town park and filled our water bottle with water straight from the spring! That night we went to the golf resort to watch fireworks. Sawyer's highlights were running around the golf course doing tricks and playing with the silly light up toy we got him. We may have to make a new tradition as we all enjoyed ourselves so much!

Swim Lessons

2008-07-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

Today was our last day of swim lessons. I would now say Sawyer is water safe, which was the whole goal for us. We had a great time with our friends and we'll be sad not to go anymore. By the way, he is the one in red shorts with blue goggles.

hanging out

2008-06-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying our summer just "hanging out"! I thought I would share another sawyer quote so I don't forget

what is going on in his 4 year old brain. We were talking about the 4 seasons, since we have obviously switched over to summer. I had him repeat summer, fall, winter, and spring. After a minute went by, he said, "mom, there is also wabbit season!" I had to laugh and agree in some parts of the country wabbit season is probably a valid answer. The background of his wabbit knowledge comes from the bugs bunny cartoon on Zach's iphone that sawyer enjoys often.

I cherish most days with him, but since his 4th birthday, it is almost like he grew up a little overnight. He engages in more conversation and is putting pieces of information together like crazy. he told me one morning that he saw the heavens in his eyes. This is the explanation....you know when you rub your eyes when you're tired and you can see different lights. He thought it looked like the moon and the stars which is the heavens in his mind! I absolutely love it! Now when I rub my eyes, I look forward to seeing the heavens too!

So You Think You Can Dance

2008-06-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Sawyer and his cousins break it down! They are too funny!

Yes, there is a bump!

2008-06-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

13 weeks

I am in my second trimester now and doing great! Compared to my toenail avulsion, pregnancy is a piece of cake. Actually, my toe is no longer throbbing and I am so thankful to be healing. Sawyer and I got to hear the baby's heartbeat this week at 155bpm. We were both pretty excited and poor Zach will have to wait till next time!