Keeping Up With the Joneses

LQOTD

2010-12-06T10:32:00.001-08:00

Today as I was putting in my contacts Lily said "Mommy can I take my eyes off?"

Thankful :)

2010-11-27T16:54:00.000-08:00

We pretty much had the best day ever. I am so thankful for each person you see here. :)

Cabin Fever

2010-11-27T16:44:00.001-08:00

So....we traded the wilderness of Wyoming for the wilderness of the Talladega National Forest. We are temporarily living in this cabin in the woods on some property that Zack's parents own. It is an absolutely beautiful place to be. So peaceful. However, this wilderness is about 5 miles from Target and just about anywhere else I would want to shop or eat. Ahhhhhh. What more could you ask for? Well maybe I would ask for a few more square feet. This little gem is just over 400 square feet. Yes. But we're making it work and are thankful to have it until we can find a house of our own. And I'm sure one day I'll look back on this time and laugh. And maybe I'll be able to sneeze without everyone else around me knowing....

Sweet Home Alabama

2010-11-27T16:27:00.001-08:00

I know-we've been here for a month already but bare with me while I retrace our steps. Zack's parents graciously (some would say in a moment of weakness) agreed to fly out to Wyoming and help us drive back. I booked the moving van which we quickly realized was too small as soon as we saw it. It said it would fit a 3 bedroom house-I guess they weren't counting on all of our junk. I had a near meltdown because I thought we were going to have to leave a lot of our things behind. But some dear friends of ours from church, Roy and Rheeda, came to the rescue and literally got 99% of our things on this truck. To say it was a long trip would be an understatement. Some might say it looked like the Beverly Hillbillies...and you would be right. However, we all made it safe and praise be to God! We are home sweet home and so grateful to be here. :)

Our Little Punkins'

2010-10-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

Goodbye, Farewell

2010-10-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

This week has been one of many goodbyes as we prepare to leave here and make the big move home. We are beyond excited to be surrounded by our families again but, there are many people and of course places that we will miss dearly. Our church has been our home away from home and a source of tremendous growth for us as a couple and as parents. We will miss it dearly! We have made some great friends here and then there is sweet little Howard and Vivian. Last night we had a goodbye dinner with them and we had a blast. Lily and Annie are sure going to miss them and they're not the only ones. Thats all I can say-I'll go cry now.

Wyoming Football

2010-10-20T13:42:00.000-07:00

While its true that football is just not as popular here as the South, we'll take what we can get! Zack and I have made it to a few of the high school games here and had just as much fun. The one we made it to a few weeks ago just happened to be Homecoming. As you can see, our view was still reminiscent of Wyoming :) During half time, this group of guys came running out of the stands in nothing but their speedos (swimming, by the way, is HUGE here) to make their mark on the festivities. The game was great and Lily had a blast. Her favorite was the cheerleaders, of course, and she loved to yell "Touchdown!" at random times.

Best Friends :)

2010-10-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

Last night while I was giving Lily a bath, we were talking about friends. I was telling her that Bert and Ernie are best friends-they love each other and help each other out. I mentioned how maybe she and Annie would be best friends one day. She looked up and said "Mommy YOU'RE my best friend!" I hope she always feels that way. Melt. My. Heart.

LQOTD

2010-10-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

I need to start a "Lily Quote of the Day" post more often. She can come up with some good ones! This morning she was holding her sister and said "Mommy, Annie is soooo cute. But she has boogers..." :)

Oh My...Its Almost Time!

2010-09-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

As October is approaching I am overwhelmed with mixed emotions about our big move back to Bama. I cannot believe it is almost here-only 3 and a half weeks! I am so very excited to get back to family and friends but at the same time am going to miss our slow, easy going time here. (The same slowness that I often complain about in the winter...) In fact, we are only still here because Zack wanted to hunt here for the last time as a resident. He gives me a daily sob story about how this is a "once in a lifetime experience." He has his sights on mule deer, antelope and an elk. He has gotten two of the three. Still waiting on the one he really wants-the elk. So while he is hunting after work and on weekends, we have been having some major girl time around here. These two girlies are so much fun and definately keep me on my toes. Lily is starting to be so witty and comes up with the funniest little sayings and questions. She copies so much of what I say its a little scary :) So, as we're winding down here we are looking forward to the future and all that it entails. And I hope it entails an elk soon so I can have my husband back....

Where's the Beef?

2010-09-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Well, we're not quite ready for beef but Annie is gobbling up some rice cereal! I can't believe how fast she is growing and changing. She is such a beautiful, sweet baby. At her 4 month checkup, she weighed 12 lbs 6oz. She is 2 ft tall, and she is rolling all over the place:) And she spends most of her time watching her big sister running circles around her. It won't be long until she's running with her! I better go rest now...

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-08-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

So last week was my birthday. The last year in my 20's-an occasion to be celebrated. Zack cooked me dinner-Bobby Flay style- and it was delish. Steak with blue cheese butter, homemade fries and celery salad. And it wouldn't be a birthday without cake, chocolate that is. It was a wonderful day and I can't wait to spend many more with my sweet family.

Summer :)

2010-08-11T22:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been slacking in the blog department. But here's what we've been doing:

Wild Wyoming Weekend

2010-08-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

We have been known to take a spur-of-the-moment road trip before... It starts off as "just going for a drive" and sometimes ends up an overnight excursion. We went out just to take in some scenery on Saturday morning (poor Annie was still in her jammies) and found a beautiful lake in the middle of nowhere. There is so much vast open land here and it seems that your the only one whose ever seen it before-quite an awesome sight. Once we reached some civilization (aka a gas station) we realized we were only 75 more miles away from a 'big city'. We thought-why not-and continued on the trail. We're also potty training Lily right now (for real this time). By the time we had to stop to feed the baby, and go to the potty oh about a hundred times it was late afternoon before we arrived in Casper. Then, I of course had to have a Hobby Lobby and Target fix and eat somewhere and well there you go. As our weekends here are winding down, there's still so much more to see! h

Happy Birthday Lily!

2010-07-25T19:57:00.000-07:00

Lily's birthday was technically 2 weeks ago but we had her party a little late so that my mom could be here to celebrate! She made last minute plans for a quick trip out, vowing to never miss a birthday :) Since Lily's favorite thing is anything Sesame Street, we decided to go with a cookie monster theme. He is her favorite right after Elmo-and I couldn't bring myself to have an Elmo party... My mom and I made these cute little cupcakes and a cookie cake for Lily and we had a quiet little party in the park last Sunday after church. All of her friends from church came and they had such a blast. They were all a little blue when it was all said and done...oops. She is such an incredible little thing and we're thankful to God for every day of these last two years with her. We love you Lils!

Gold Rush Days

2010-07-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to South Pass City. Its a little historic town about 30 miles from here that is kept as it was in its bustling days. Butch Cassidy supposedly came through here a lot and you can tour the hotel he stayed in. As you can see 5 people actually still live there. They were having a festival this weekend called Gold Rush Days to kind of re-enact what it was like to live there. There was a old-time baseball game going on, panning for gold, horseshoes, horserides and a concert. Lily even had a blacksmith make her a nail (which Daddy held safely). It was pretty fun until a storm came through and brought the cold wind with it. One day I will learn to always bring coats with us no matter what time of year it is....

She talks :)

2010-07-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

She's so excited to talk-she can't even blink!!

Yummmm...Apple Pie!

2010-07-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday night we cook for an older couple in town that we have grown to love. I think I have mentioned Howard and Vivian before (also known as How-a and Bibi-ent). We met them through one of Zack's friends and they are both 92 years old but as fun as people half their age. In the year that we've been doing this I have really been able to hone my cooking skills. Meaning I really had none before. (I mean unless you count cooking things from a box.) This is a southern couple from Georgia-so they know about home-cooked meals. It has been so fun to try new recipes (from scratch) and learn as I go. Of course sweet little Howard always acts like its the best thing he's ever tasted. Maybe its the humongous pitcher of sweet tea I bring every week in case all else fails. Its also a great time for Lily and now Annie to entertain-and be entertained-each week. They don't have any grandchildren so they have adopted ours;) Anyway, I have said all this to say that tonight I attempted Howard's favorite thing in the world-homemade apple pie! It smells so good. I just hope it tastes as good as it looks. Yummy!

July 4th

2010-07-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

There is nowhere else I'd rather be on the 4th of July than Lander, Wy. It is such a neat little patriotic town. This is definately the biggest weekend in this town. They have a 5K run, parade, rodeo (which is oldest paid rodeo in the country), and a huge fireworks show. People come from everywhere to visit during this holiday. We were gearing up for a fun-filled weekend and then...it turned cold again. Lily and Annie got to wear one of their outfits on Saturday but it got so cold on the 4th we had to go with plan B. The weather here is one thing I will never get used to. Never, have I EVER had to wear a coat on the 4th of July. Anyway, the fireworks were awesome and Lily got to stay up waaaay late to see them. She was so cute. She kept saying "I wuv you ider-works!" Haha. And everytime there was a pause in them she'd say "more please." What manners. Anyway, Sunday we went to church and then to the parade where she enjoyed dancing to all the music and gathering up lots of candy :) Annie, of course, slept through all of this. Then we went home to relax and cookout-and then eat indoors (brrr). It was a great weekend and one that we will cherish because once we move back to Al this is one time of year we're really going to miss about Wyoming.

July 4th Cont'd

2010-07-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Shots :(

2010-07-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

Today was Annie's two month checkup. (I know- two whole months!) She did great, of course, and she weighed 10 lbs 1 oz. Growing girl! But when it was shot time, it broke my heart. I really can't stand seeing her upset. She was making noises I've never heard from her before. :( And they look at you with those eyes... Horrible. Anyway, we got home, settled, tylenoled up, and down for a nap. Later, Lily brought me all three of her band-aids. Hmmm. Had to go check and see if the poor baby still had skin where they once were.

It was just a matter of time...

2010-06-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

...until they started dressing us alike! Oh well, we better get used to it. Thanks Googa and Grandaddy! :)

A Day in the Life

2010-06-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

Lily woke up this morning wanting Daddy. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. So I decided we would pack a lunch and go see Daddy. I had to time it just right (in between his schedule and Annie's feedings) so when the time came I was kind of in a hurry. I had to wake Annie up to get her in the carseat-which she was not happy about-and get all of our parephenalia ready to put in the car. Everytime I turned around Lily was saying "Mommy, here's her passie. Mommy here's her blanket." And she was unpacking everything... Then we are walking out the door and Lily says "Mommy, I pooped." Sigh. So I stopped and changed her. (I am aware that if she can tell me this then she should be able to do something about it-I'm working on that.) Then she insisted that she take some ceral with her to eat on the road. So I made that. Got all packed and headed out the door again and heard her say "Uh-oh" only to find that she had spilled the (dry) cereal all over the floor. So, I put everything down again to help her and when I turned around she had stepped all in it, trying to pick it up, and ground it all in the floor. Sigh. So then I had to get the broom and you know the rest. I'm telling you-its hard to be punctual with these two! Haha. I had to laugh. This is life these days and I am loving it. Its never boring!!

She Smiles :)

2010-06-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

Lovely Ladies

2010-06-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

These little girls are so much fun! Lily is really loving her little sister and I think Annie feels the same way. She started smiling whenever she hears Lily. It is the cutest thing. She is 7 weeks now and is getting so chubby. I love it! Lily also decided yesterday that she would use the potty again after a long hiatus. I wasn't prepared so when she did it and thought she needed a "prize", I had to dig out an old marshmallow from her Easter stash. Sad, I know, but she was proud of it just the same. The last picture is of her new tutu that she is obsessed with. Some sweet ladies at church got this for her at Annie's shower. She is so proud....

Rain, Rain Go Away

2010-06-14T08:18:00.000-07:00

Today I am taking a break from talking about us to focus on someone else. For the past week the county we live in, especially our little town, has experienced some major flooding. It hardly ever rains here but it has been lately and that combined with the enormous amount of snow we've had this year has created quite a problem. I heard on the news here that this winter was the third snowiest on record. I know I always joke about how lucky we were to be able to experience that (not really), but as it gets warmer and all of that snow melts in the mountains-it is making its way downhill to our town. The quiet little Popo Agie river that flows so nicely all through our town is now raging waters. We live smack dab in the middle of town and thankfully have not had any problems but those who live near it have. It has destroyed bridges, houses, farms etc. National guardsmen have been here sandbagging and cleaning around the clock. I just wanted to take a moment to mention these people and ask you to keep them in your prayers. For a look at some of the damage check out this link: http://www.facebook.com/FremontCountyFlood2010

(I don't think you have to be a member of facebook to view this)

The Face of an Angel....

2010-06-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

Lily found my makeup. Mascara. Waterproof. Nice.

Watch out!

2010-06-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

This is the look of a sneaky little girl who when I walked away for a second covered her innocent little sister in stickers....poor girl.

A visit from Googa and Grandaddy

2010-05-31T20:49:00.000-07:00

We had a great week filled with lots of time spent with Googa and Grandaddy (Zack's parents). They came to visit to meet little Annie and spend some good ole time with Lily. We are so thankful to have them here and for all their help! Lily will be quite bored without you and I'm sure Annie will miss all the snuggle time:) The week was filled with lots of time at the park, kite flying and lots and lots of eating! We are so blessed to have such great parents on both sides and we can't wait to move closer to you all!

Pretty girls

2010-05-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to show off these pretty girls on thier way to church...

Lily and Annie lately...

2010-05-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

Its hard to believe Annie has only been here for two and a half weeks....time flies but at the same time it feels like she's been here forever! Lily is finally settling down a little bit and now she sometimes loves her sister a little TOO much if you know what I mean. She adores her right now and I have to keep and eye on them to make sure Lily doesn't share her goldfish and whack her in the head while she's "playing" with her. Here are a few pics of whats been going on in this crazy house lately. And by the way, the last pic is of Lily doing yoga with the ladies on PBS-which she insists on watching every morning....

Road Trip

2010-05-14T21:26:00.000-07:00

Well, Annie has officially been on her first road trip. Zack has been able to take some time off since Annie was born which is wonderful. But if you know us, we can't just sit around for too long. Since Annie is the most laid back, sweetest baby we thought she might be ready. We decided to take off to Idaho. Why? I don't know...we've never been. Both of these girls did awesome! Lily is a girl on the go and usually a great traveler and it looks like Annie is following in her footsteps. We drove through Jackson Hole to Idaho Falls, ID and it was beautiful! It was snowing most of the way until we hit Idaho and then it was beautiful weather. We ended up staying there overnight and did lots of shopping and eating...hehe. We got to break in the double stroller which I will have to post a pic of later because it is awesome!! We also stopped on the way to introduce Annie Moran to her namesake. Mount Moran is one of the highest peaks in the Grand Teton National Park (Jackson Hole, Wy) and one of our favorite places to visit. We wanted her to have a little piece of Wy to take with her when we leave here. We had a great time and, yes, I realize I just gave birth two weeks ago, but we are all doing great and it feels like we've been a family of four forever...

Photo Shoot

2010-05-05T20:44:00.000-07:00

Annie was having an especially photogenic day so we decided to take advantage...

Annie Moran Jones-Part 2

2010-05-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

Its A Girl!

2010-05-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

Annie Moran Jones made her way into the world Thursday, April 29. She weighed 6 lbs 13 oz. and was 18.5 inches long. Just about the same size as her big sister Lily! She is named after her great grandmother, Annie Lou and Moran is after one of our favorite places to visit in Wyoming. We were very surprised by the news and I'll never forget the doctor announcing "Its a girl!" I had convinced myself that this was going to be a boy and the thought of Lily having a sister overwhelmed me. Plus, we were totally prepared for a girl... And I must say she is the most laid back, sweetest baby I have ever seen. I was preparing myself for another wild woman like Lily. We are so thankful to have my parents visiting and they are helping so much. I am still wondering how I'm going to do it all on my own. Lily is very interested in baby and still adjusting a little. I almost melt every time she says "An-nie". All in all, everything is going much easier than I expected and I hope that continues. We are so blessed!

Lately...

2010-04-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

Well we've been a little busy lately. We have been in the process of getting everything ready for baby who is scheduled to arrive in 8 days! Eeeek! Then in the middle of that we had a week of some yucky sicknesses. Lily had her first cold (first time she's been sick-ever!) and as you can see from the picture it still didn't stop her from accessorizing. Then, Zack and I got a stomach virus/food poisoning?? We're not sure which but it was bad. After a visit to the doctor and IV fluids I felt like a new woman and I got to see this chunky monkey of a baby while I was there! By the way, it is in breech position just like Lily and no I didn't see what it was! Anyway, this last weekend we went to Casper, WY to our neighbor's parents ranch to help them with their annual cow branding. Of course I mean Zack helped with this while Lily and I watched and she said "Cow-Moooooooo" a hundred times. Zack had a ball. He loves to pretend like he's a cowboy for a day and they let him jump right in! Of course, sitting on a tailgate watching this for a couple hours did nothing for my ankles:( However, this didn't stop me from dragging everyone to the Olive Garden for lunch or getting some last minute shopping in! This week we have been taking it easy spending some quality time with our Lily. The weather has been awesome so Zack has been taking her for a bike ride to the park in the afternoons. We love this little girl so much and can't wait to add to our little family very soon....

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday and hope you did too! The weather finally cooperated and was beautiful, although yes we were hunting eggs in the little bit of snow that remained. We had a huge storm this week with another foot of it! However, we didn't let that stop us from getting in the Easter spirit. We dyed eggs and went to church and to brunch afterwards. Most of all we are thankful to all be back together (Zack was out of town last week) and thankful to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! Thank you Lord for my family and all you have done for us!

First Day of Spring

2010-03-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

Well, the first day of spring didn't really pan out. We got this much snow! The good thing is that it already melted and the bad thing is I know this is still not the last of it. Oh well, at least the temps are high enough to melt this stuff quickly. Yesterday was lovely and we spent it pretty much outside all day. You can see farmer Lily had fun outside with Daddy. Unfortunately, he left for a trip for work today so its just us this week. We miss you and love you!

Our BIG day!

2010-03-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

Lily got a potty for Christmas and that has pretty much been the extent of our potty training. I have to admit I haven't been much in the mood to teach her and thought it was a little soon. Also, I didn't want to put too much on her before this next baby is born. However, I have shown it to her and mentioned what it was for. This morning, we were eating breakfast and she just looked at me and said "tee tee" and pointed to the bathroom. I thought she was just joking but I took her anyway and she did just that! I was ectstatic! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Of course I made a huge deal about it and gave her a little treat (I've heard people say they do this, although I admit I know nothing about this). So off we went to the store to get her some big girl panties! She chose Dora ("dorey") of course- ugh -but who can complain with and accomplishment like this! Needless to say, we have been working on this all day and I'm up to my eyeballs in tee-tee and exhausted to boot. But I'm determined that if she's ready, then I will be too!

Spring is in the Air

2010-03-07T14:01:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I love spring. The sunshine, the warmth, just soaking up the day... We got a little taste of that this weekend and it tasted good! After and approximate 10 inches of snow on Friday (which was mixed with rain so it didn't stick!), Saturday was absoulutely beautiful! We stayed outside most of the day and Lily, like me, did not want to go inside. We've been couped up for far too long. We took a very long walk and about halfway through town I realized I may have to call Zack to come rescue us. But, it was so nice to get out and get a little exercise. It really is amazing how a little sun and some fresh air can lift your spirits. With about 7 weeks left until baby #2 arrives, we were more than happy to have a lovely day outside just the three of us....

Boo Boo Day

2010-03-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

For the record, the lineup for today was looking pretty good. We had breakfast with a friend, storytime at the library and the weather outside is actually beautiful! Didn't even need coats today! However, halfway through breakfast Lily was happily playing with some other kids she just met and fell and hit a chair. She's pretty tough and never cries when she falls so when she started screaming and holding her eye I knew something was wrong. I ran over and there was blood all over her hand and she had a pretty good cut on her eyelid. My sweet baby has had little more than a scratch on her in all her 19 and half months so I was silently freaking out. However, she quickly got over it and thought it was pretty neat to get a cool rag to hold on her boo boo. Then as we arrived at storytime she had to show all of her friends and she was squinting her eyes and saying "Oooooooh." And she was holding that rag on the wrong eye! She is so funny...and a little dramatic I must say. Oh well, when we got home she had recieved a box in the mail from Grandmama (perfect timing!) and she was very happy with her bunny sucker. Not to mention she's been very cuddly today as well. Turned out to be a great day regardless... By the way, it looks much worse in person and is swollen and blue now.

Winter, winter

2010-02-27T22:04:00.000-08:00

For those of you who talk to us often, you know that we are a touch tired of winter weather... This one in particular has been especially long. Last winter, we had just moved here and everything was new and exciting. We made snowmen and snow angels and, well, it was fun. I don't know if it is the enormous amount of snow we've had this year or just being a little homesick but we are definately ready for spring. Did I mention that Wyoming has the most amazing summers? Ahh, no humidity, open windows and lots of walks and time outside. Anyway, the point of this is that we have taken for granted the beauty that is truely all around us here. This will be our last year here and we will treasure all the memories we've made. I know we will also look back on this time and wish we had treasured it a little more. Last weekend was Zack's birthday and we went to Jackson Hole to celebrate. We went on a sleigh ride through the elk refuge and Lily and her daddy loved it! (Once last year was enough for me) She kept pointing at them and saying "Deer, Deer!" We also saw two moose (in the first pic-look close) It is truely a beautiful place to be. But I still wouldn't mind a day of temperatures above freezing...

My new hobby

2010-02-27T21:36:00.000-08:00

My sweet husband got me the best gift back in September...a sewing/embroidery machine! I had really wanted it for a while and done quite a bit of convincing before he went for it. However, just about the time it arrived in the mail I found out I was expecting again and found myself spending most of my time on the couch or hovering the toilet. Ugh. There was also the other fact that I have never touched a sewing machine before. So, it took a while to teach myself how to use it but now I am loving it! Here are a few things I have been working on lately...

Funny Story

2010-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

Although not really at the time.... Today, I had an intense craving so we headed to the grocery store (which is my second home). Lily has become really independant and hates to ride in the cart, after all she is a "big girl" and would rather walk. So, we were on a mission for only two things (powdered doughnuts and mozzerella sticks-mmmm) and I thought she could walk beside me and hold my hand this time. She did great-feeling all grown up and smiled and waved at everyone. And then just as we were headed to the check-out she spotted it...a valentine display! Ugh, with hundreds of stuffed animals and chocolate galore-her two favorite things. She took off running and immediately latched on to one of the bears. I tried to quietly explain that yes, it was cute but put it back we have 20 of those at home. Nope. Her first real grocery store meltdown with flailing body parts and crying. So with everyone's eyes on me, I tried to calmly lean down, pick her up and look her right in the eyes to tell her to stand up and hold my hand and we were going-without the bear. She got over it and we got out of there as quickly as possible. Oh the good ole times. I'm sure this will not be the last time we do this and I'm sure it will be worse somewhere else. However, for the most part I should say that she is well-behaved and loving (with a side of stubborness) and very, VERY entertaining.

Sled Time

2010-01-27T21:11:00.000-08:00

We decided to make the most of this weather and took Lily sledding. We have been (and by we I mean Zack, and I just watch and wave from the window) pulling her around the yard on this sled but that was getting a little old. Some friends of ours from church live in a beautiful house outside of town and invited us to do the real thing. It was a lot of work (again, for Zack) and the snow was so deep out there. It took a few tries to get the hang of it since we are not pros at snow ourselves. I'm sure Zack burned quite a few calories doing this. I was the official photographer. We weren't sure if Lily liked it or not because she did not smile at all and just had a worried look on her face. However, when we started to leave she pitched a huge fit and cried so I guess she did like it. It was a beautiful, quiet afternoon in God's creation and I'm sure we'll do it again!

A Day at the Zoo

2010-01-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we packed up and headed to Billings, Montana for the weekend. We had a blast shopping, eating at some of our favorite places and the best thing was that we got to take Lily to the zoo for the first time. She is an absolute animal lover and she did not get this from me. She had the best time. She oohed and ahhed through the whole thing along with making each of the animal noises as she watched them. It was actually nice weather even though we look bundled up. Her favorite was the barn with regular ole barn animals like ducks, chickens and horses. Zack says thats good because we can have all of those things when we move back (yeah right). Anyway, she made the 5 hour (one way) drive like a champ. I think she was just as excited to get out of the house as we were!

18 Months

2010-01-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my baby is 18 months old now. Where has the time gone? Today, we had a little photo shoot at home (since its freezing out) and here are some of my faves. We had Lily's 18 mo checkup this week and she's still tall and still a little skinny thing. She still only weighs 21 lbs. The doctor says shes just going to be small but she should hit a growth spurt soon. She is talking up a storm repeating everything she hears. The cutest is when she says "more please" when she needs a refill even though it sounds more like "mo peas". Just about melts my heart. God has blessed us with such a smart little girl and I just know she is going to be a great big sister (ok...I'll go cry now)!

Lily and the fam...

2010-01-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

I know Christmas is over...I was just looking through the pics and decided to share a few more of my faves. It's not often we get to go home and visit everyone so its hard to get it all in one post. Since we have arrived back, we (and by we I mean me) are focused on baby mode. I am trying to get the clothes prepared, the baby toys out, and spruce up the place. We don't know what this baby is (although we are convinced it is another girl:) so preparing for the unknown is not something I am accustomed to. However, I am so excited about what 2010 is going to bring our family. A new baby, a BIG move back to AL and Zack starting a career there. And most of all, we are looking forward to lots more of these pics and lots more time with family and friends! Happy New Year!

&nbr

Merry Christmas

2009-12-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas in Alabama. We got to see a lot of family and friends, although we didn't get to see everyone. Lily was all about presents this year. She would open one and say "Ooooh" and the hold her hands out for the next one. She also had a great time with her grandparents, even though she was a touch grouchy the whole time. I finally realized she had 4 teeth coming in along with being totally off schedule and out of time zone. Oh well. She bonded with Grandaddy Mike who taught her the "fist bump" and walked her up and down the streets of their neighborhood looking for dogs. Our airplane travels this time left little to be desired. We got delayed on the way out and had to spend the night in Denver. Then, on the way home our airplane to Wyoming from Denver was "downgraded to a smaller plane". This literally meant that it seated 19 people total. We could see the piolets flying the plane because there was no separation between them and us. Zack could see through the windsheild! No flight attendant-just a recording telling us how to buckle the seat belts. Needless to say there was no bathroom or peanuts on board. Quite an experience I must say. Hope everyone had as wonderful a time with family and friends as we did. Love you all!

This girl loves chocolate...

2009-12-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

Just a quick last post before we're on our way to AL. For those of you who haven't heard this story, I baked a homemade chocolate pie last week for our bible study. It took a while and I was pretty proud so before we left I wrapped it up and put it on the table so I wouldn't forget it. I went to get my coat and two seconds later I came back to find the pie like this. Lily had a giant handful of it and was eating away. It was all over her-she was halfway cleaned up when I took this pic. I couldn't get mad because I said "Well, was it good?" and all she said was "Mmmmm". Oh well. Also, there is a pic of a recent news cast here which we thought was hilarious. The newscasts here look more like a high school production. Guess theres not that much going on around here. This particular one was about the recent frigid weather. We feel the same way as Dan Wimp here. Can't wait to get there to thaw out a little bit. See you soon!

Zack's Carbon Footprint

2009-12-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

Oh, the weather outside is.... Anyway, poor Zack has to get up early each morning and brave the cold. His little truck is warm-blooded and dosen't know what we're doing to it. As you can see, it takes quite a while for the thing to go in this weather. By the way, it was -17 this morning and didn't even break 0 all day. Anywho, since we are stuck inside(in our warm little house) this is what Lily and I do for fun. She is quite the domestic diva. Her two favorite things are the vacuum and the broom. And she does it with such style. Hope this carries over to the teenage years.

Light Up Lander!

2009-12-07T21:15:00.000-08:00

This weekend we went to "Light up Lander" which is where they light up the trees downtown and have games and things for kids. It goes without mention that it was freezing cold. Lily wasn't quite sure of the whole thing. It didn't help that it took us 30 minutes to get her into this snowsuit and boots and then she couldn't walk and just stood there crying. However, it kept her nice and toasty-thanks Googa and Grandaddy! She liked the lights and the other kids but did not want her face painted this time so we opted for a stamp instead. And then came Santa, I wasn't sure how she'd react but I didn't expect this! Oh well, holiday memories. Someday, I hope she laughs at this and is not seriously scarred. After that fiasco we all went to dinner to warm up a bit. We are getting into the spirit and counting down the days to our trip home. See you guys soon!

Brrrr!

2009-12-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

Wow. Thats all I can say. This week has taken a dramatic turn to NEGATIVE temps! Zack thinks that we experienced this last winter but I do not remember it being this cold. Maybe I was hulled up in the house with a newborn then and just didn't actually feel it. It is true that the air here is drier and it may not feel quite as cold as it would in AL, but negative temps are cold any way you slice it. The weather man (who looks 15 by the way) keeps looking on the bright side and saying "I think we'll see highs in the teens today!" Woo hoo. Who would've thought I'd be thankful for that. This presents a whole new problem with a very active 16 month old who is very independant and wants to walk everywhere for herself. The snow is as deep as her in some spots! Not to mention trying to strap her in a carseat with 15 layers on. Someday I will look back at this and laugh. On the other hand, this weather sure puts you in the Christmas spirit and it is absolutely beautiful out. This sure is an adventure, I tell you, and we are creating memories everyday!

Erik-This Ones For You!

2009-11-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

Ok-so I have not been very good about keeping you up with the Joneses lately. Thanks to a sweet request from our good friend Erik (who actually reads this), I am posting two new ones today. We had Zack's mom (Googa) here visiting last week and were able to make a trip up to Jackson Hole. It was beautiful but we hit a snow storm on the way. There is also a picture of the classic "rush hour in Wyoming". A car passed us on a major highway waving a flag and we had no idea why and then we see that there is a herd of cows coming right at us on the highway! We had to pull over and wait for them to pass and were held up in "traffic" for the first time in a long while. Pretty funny. Lily was in the back saying Moooo. The weather here so far this winter has been very mild. It has not snowed since the very beginning of October. Yesterday, Lily was getting restless so I decided to take her for a walk to the grocery store (woohoo!). It was COLD. I guess the winter is starting to hit now. She waved at all her regulars at the store and when we got home I said "Aren't we thankful for a warm house?" and she shook her head no. Still need to work on the meaning of that...Oh well. Speaking of being thankful, I am so very blessed to have you as family and friends! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and know that we love you and miss you. We'll be back soon!

Lily loves hats

2009-11-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

What can I say? This child has had something on her head since she was born. If you have ever visited us you have seen first hand that her hat collection is quite extensive. Now, she doesn't feel complete without one. She will find anything and everything to put on her head all day long. Here are a few looks recently. The last one is bunny ears from Easter! She is growing and changing so much. She knows quite a few animal sounds, she follows directions pretty well and loves to open and close doors for you. She feels very important. She has also developed quite a temper. We are still trying to figure out how to deal with this. Suggestions are welcome! I thought that didn't happen until the infamous twos?

Happy Halloween

2009-11-03T19:27:00.000-08:00

Lily had a great Halloween! We went trick-or-treating downtown with Sawyer and had a blast. She was trying to eat every piece of candy she could find. She was the cutest little puppy ever. Good times.

Baking cookies

2009-10-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today, Lily and I baked some cookies for daddy (ok-mostly for me). She had a blast standing in her chair and "helping". She was pretending to read the recipe and thought the mixer was the funniest thing she ever saw! Although, she was most interested in eating the chocolate kisses. Thats my girl.

Hunting Pumpkins

2009-10-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it is my favorite time of the year. Pumpkin time! I have always had a love for pumpkins and I'm trying to instill this in Lily. We visited the pumpkin patch with her best bud, Sawyer. We had a blast although I forgot how heavy pumpkins can be. We couldn't decide which to pick so we got five of them!! Now all we have to do is carve them. Did I mention we have a new little pumpkin on the way???

Snow, snow, snow!

2009-10-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

Okay...October 4th and the first snow of the season. This time Lily is way more interested. Her favorite thing is to lick it! She could hardly walk in it...so funny to watch. She thoroughly enjoyed herself, and so did we watching her! I will try to add a video later...

Lily Lately

2009-09-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry, we've been on a little hiatus... Here are some recent pics of Miss Lily. She has been keeping us busy lately. She is finally walking everywhere and can reach anything! Sometimes I think she has GO-GO-GADGET arms! And she wants to do everything herself these days. The other day, she reached the wipes box, pulled them ALL out and when I came around the corner she immediately started washing herself off like she meant to do that and was helping me out! Thanks Lil! Anyway, these pics are of her eating a milkshake (which she stole from me), eating yogurt her way, and helping me sweep the floor (her new favorite chore), and the last one is of her and sweet Mr. Howard. We help him and his wife, Vivian, on Wednesday nights with dinner and settling in. They are the parents of one of Zack's co-workers. They are from Georgia so we are kindred spirits. They lived 91 years in Georgia before moving here last year so their son could take care of them. And needless to say, they have really taken to Lily...I think she feels the same about them!

Wyoming Wildlife

2009-09-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some outdoor pics from the weekend...first, overlooking a canyon while elk hunting. Next (look carefully)...a cow elk I called in at 8 yards!!(from 350 yards). Lots of wild horses in Wyoming--here are a few. And last, a wierd looking antelope.

Zack

First Steps!!!

2009-09-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

A Day in the Life...

2009-08-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend was very eventful. We were housesitting for some friends of ours that live on a small farm about 45 minutes away. They were on vacation and invited us to come and stay and take care of the animals. Now you know I am not an animal person to say the least, but this turned out to be a lot of fun. Zack of course was in heaven, although I'm not sure he has what it takes to be a real farmer all the time. We took care of chickens, turkeys, geese, rabbits, cows, horses, goats and of course cats and a dog. There was also a fish that went to fish heaven on our watch...I wonder if the kids will notice the fish in the tank is a different color than when they left? Zack and I were quite freaked out by the chickens but I think they were Lily's favorite. She had a blast-the books I read her came to life! Although, she was plastered to us the whole time. She wanted to look from afar. We also jumped on the trampoline, skated and Lily actually took a few steps on her own while we were there! Very busy weekend, but very fun to experience yet another Wyoming first...enjoy the pics!

Recent Moments

2009-08-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

Loving Lily...

2009-08-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love this little girl. Everyday with her is better than the last and I'm so thankful to have her. By the way, I think she's finally noticed me too-even when her daddy is around...

Swim Lessons

2009-07-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Lily has been in the pool since we moved here, but now she is taking actual swim lessons. This is so cute! Swimming is huge here. She's in a class of ten little ones. They teach different lessons everyday and she LOVES it. Thats my little mermaid.

Camping Trip

2009-07-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

This was our second attempt at camping. The first ended in rain and being so cold I could see my breath (which took all of about a half hour and we were done). However, it is the end of July and Zack has been dying to go so I put away my reservations and we went. After all, the fall in Wyoming is just around the corner. We decided on a spot and settled in. I tried to make the sleeping arrangements as homey as possible-I even had an air mattress-but looks are deceiving. Zack of course had to be a man and make a fire as soon as possible. Which was fine with us because the ONLY good part of camping to me (and Lily) is smores. So it was all fun and games until Lily decided she wasn't going to sleep in that thing and had a meltdown (or two). Zack was shh-ing her (because the bear we thought we heard earlier may not like crying babies) and she started shh-ing him back. It was so funny we all had to laugh. Needless to say, none of us got much sleep and were glad to kiss the campsite goodbye the next morning (if you would even call it morning). It was definately an experience...

12 Month Update

2009-07-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the stats:
Weight: 19 lbs 7 oz (20th percentile)
Length: 30 1/2 inches (90th percentile)
Teeth: 4 on top, 4 on bottom
Tricks: gives high fives, points at everything (especially dogs and Sawyer), talks ALL the time-even though we don't understand all of it-she does and she's serious about it, signs "all gone", LOVES the itsy bitsy spider and does her little hand motions, blows kisses, and waves bye-bye (and waves at me when shes ready for a nap-so cute!)
~still not walking but we're working on that!
All in all, its been the greatest year of our lives. Love you Lily!

Summer Fun

2009-07-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

Just a few little pics to show you what we've been up to...We inherited these bikes (long story) and Zack has been busy fixing them up. Lily got this seat for her birthday so this is what we do most every night after dinner. She oohs and ahhs and points at all the dogs we pass. Oh, the summer nights here-I hope they stick around for a while.

Lily Turns 1!

2009-07-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Where did the time go? I can't believe my little Lily Bug turned one today! We had a great party with lots of cake, swimming, and fun! I attempted my first try at a birthday cake and it came out just right. The weather was beautiful and we all did some lounging in the back yard. My mom (Grandmama) is here visiting because whats a party without a grandparent? Lily got some great gifts including a swing in the back yard from us (engineered into the tree by Grandaddy who was visitng last week!), a musical rocking chair, and a new seat to ride on the back of my bicycle. Thanks to everyone who sent gifts, and calls and well wishes to my sweet girl. She had a blast!

Lily's Birthday Part II

2009-07-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

Parades, and ice cream and swings-oh my! The 4th of July is the biggest event in Lander. We've been hearing about it since we moved here. We were eager to experience this long awaited event. To add to the excitement we have Zack's parents here visiting. It all started yesterday with a HUGE fireworks show that was put on here last night followed by a parade, cookout, rodeo, and bands playing in the streets all over town! I've never seen so many people in this town. Apparently people come from all over the state to experiece this-and it was well worth it! Lily thoroughly enjoyed it and clapped at just about all sixty something floats. After the parade we hit the park, had some ice cream and grilled out. Yummy! We wrapped up the day with a mock birthday party for Lily who turns one next Saturday. Good times. Can't wait until next year.

July 4th cont'd

2009-07-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake City Weekend

2009-06-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we loaded up and headed to Salt Lake City, Utah to celebrate our 5th anniversary and Zack's first Father's Day. It was a spur of the moment trip that was well worth the 4 and a half hour drive (one way). This was also the first time we've been on an interstate and in traffic since we moved here. Haven't missed that. The first day it rained so we were forced to shop ALL DAY! We stopped in Park City, UT which is the cutest little place-apparently a huge ski town. (I was looking for Jon Gosselin everywhere-but thats another story!) It was so fun to stay in a nice hotel, eat at our favorite restaurants and do some serious shopping-oh yeah, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The next day we visited the famous Temple Square which is where the Mormon church is based. It was absoulutely gorgeous and very interesting to see. We took a tour through some of the buildings and learned a lot of the history of this religion that is so prominent out here. Although we disagree with most of their beliefs, the people there were so welcoming and polite. We also checked out Great Salt Lake which is huge but not quite like the lakes and beaches in AL. However, Utah is beautiful! I wonder if these people in the Sonic drive-thru even realize whats around them? This just shows you how we take for granted God's beauty all around us. (Don't take your Sonic's for granted though...yum!)

Salt Lake City II

2009-06-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

These pics are of the inside of some of the buildings in Temple Square. The first is where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs although they were not there on this particular day (not sure Lily would have made it through that anyway). The next is the Convention Center which seats 21,000 people. Its 4 stories high with 4 stories of parking underneath. There are no vertical beams inside so everyone there has an unobstructed view. They also held the opening ceremonies here for the Salt Lake Olympics. The roof of this building was spectacular. There's gardens and water falls and trees on the roof! Pretty interesting stuff to see. Mark this off the list of great places to visit on our anniversary. Although this year we already had the best anniversary gift there is...

Funny Lily...

2009-06-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

McCombs Family comes for a visit

2009-06-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

We were so excited to get a visit from Zack's aunt and uncle and their three kids. They had never been to this part of the country so we took them on the rounds. We spent the weekend in Yellowstone Park and the Grand Tetons. We went to some places that we had also never been. We saw the geyser park surrounding Old Faithful and actually waited to see Old Faithful erupt. (It happens every 90 minutes.) Then we checked out Sheepeater Mountain (if you want the fake history of this mountain please see Luke McCombs who fabricated an entire story about it with a native accent no less.) We hiked down to the lookout over Lower Falls which was quite a feat-especially for Zack who carried Lily the whole way. Bless you! There was tons of wildlife out this time of year and this time we even saw a bear! All in all it was a great trip. Thank you McCombs family for taking your vacation to come and visit us. We had lots of fun and tons of laughter- Lily is quite bored without you.

McCombs Visit Part 2

2009-06-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti: A Delicious Mess

2009-06-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

Weekend Makeover

2009-05-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

It was time for change...so this weekend I got a wild hair and decided to redo our bedroom (on a budget of course). My lovely (and very crafty) neighbor just happened to have this material that was the perfect size to reupholster the headboard. Then we painted the dresser, hardware, and mirror. Next, was a little rearranging of some bedding, pillows, and accessories that I already had and voila! Also, my little lady likes her bedroom pretty good too.

Fun in the Sun

2009-05-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

Ah, the joys of summer...two buds soaking up the sun.

One more from our hike...

2009-05-23T21:36:00.000-07:00

Popo Agie Falls

2009-05-23T21:29:00.000-07:00

Today, Zack drug us on a hike to the Popo Agie Falls in Sinks Canyon State Park. This might have been the most strenuous hike I've been on (although thats not saying much). I could have sworn it was 10 miles to the top. Turns out it was 1.5 miles one way. Just when I was about to give up, Zack had to bribe me with some good dinner when we finished. (I know thats probably the last thing real hikers are thinking of!) When we did finally reach the top it was magnificent! Talk about feeling like your on top of the world and also like an ant at the same time. Also, we tried and tried to move this rock but it wouldn't budge...

Happy Birthday Sawyer!

2009-05-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

Lily's bestest friend, Sawyer, turned one today! We weren't able to attend his party this weekend so we had a little party of our own. Sawyer liked the candle the best though. Needless to say, Lily was a fan of cupcakes. Can't wait until her own party-just two months away!

Cow Branding

2009-05-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

Last weekend our neighbors invited us to their parents ranch in Casper, WY to take part in the branding of their cows. Zack has always wanted to see this and Lily and I went along for the ride. It was so much fun! We learned so much and now Zack swears we are going to have cows of our own someday. Hmmm... Anyway, its a pretty strenuous process. They corral the cows into a holding line (our neighbor, Nate is the one doing this below-he looks like a real cowboy!), then they lock them one by one into a "squeeze shute" and give them vaccinations, tag their ears and brand them. They were very nice to let Zack's inquiring mind try all of these things-he didn't let any get loose! Lily even got to meet one up close. She wasn't the least bit phased by it. Zack also got to ride his first horse (he says it will also be his last). Afterwards, Lorraine's family hosted a huge lunch for everyone that helped out. Yummy! We felt like real Westerners...well, maybe Zack. Lily and I were totally overdressed for this and I ended up with cow poop all over me. Very fun experience though!

Cow Branding Part II

2009-05-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air!

2009-05-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

Finally! The sun is out and its very beautiful here! Time to break out the short sleeves and flip flops (shorts if your really brave). I also decided it was time to "spring it up" on the front porch. We all got pretty new chairs. Lily especially likes hers...wonder how long she'll stay seated?

Hee Haw!

2009-05-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

We went to an annual event here in Lander this weekend...Donkey Basketball. Ever heard of this? Neither have I. They actually bring in donkeys and play basketball while riding them. People all over town form teams to play this. Sounds strange but actually hilarious! These things were bucking people off, kicking, and making lots of...donkey noises. Lily also got to pet one and wasn't quite sure about it. The "teacher team" won this year-check out the trophy! The guy in the middle is Bo Redbow,a friend of ours, and MVP of the winning team. Good times.

Where is the Sun?

2009-04-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

Zack has decided to coach a little league team this year with another guy from our church. This should be interesting. Especially since tryouts were in the snow this weekend! We also went for a drive and saw this pretty little church tucked into the mountains. It looked so peaceful. And last but not least, is a picture of our little monkey. We've already had a few run-ins with the stairs. Gates apparently don't scare her.I think I see a helmet in her future!

Whats for dinner?

2009-04-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

At Lily's 9 month visit, her doctor gave the go ahead for her to eat "real" food. She already sort of had been but tonight she had dinner with us-roast with potaotes and carrots and corn bread. She was double fisting it like she couldn't get enough. I on the other hand was fighting my inner obsessive compulsiveness to let her do it herself...and make an enormous mess. It may not look that bad here but believe me...

Last snow?

2009-04-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

March and April have brought a lot of snow so far! It doesn't stick around though. One day its snowing and the next its 70 degrees. So strange! Apparently, the spring is when this area gets most of its precipitaion. So they are saying this is necessary to have a green spring! Maybe sunshine is near...

First words???

2009-04-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

Oral Hygiene

2009-04-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Zack came home with a present for Lily today. She immediately started brushing her 3 1/2 new teeth! Must be genetic...

Home Sweet Home

2009-03-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

Lily and I went back to Alabama for a visit last week. We had so much fun seeing everyone. She is really changing so fast that I wanted her to spend some good old time with the grandparents. I took a lot of pictures...here are some of my favorites.

Eight Months

2009-03-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Lily will be 8 months this week-just in time for our trip back to AL. By the way, I got a new camera for Valentine's Day and I am LOVING it. This may be the most photographed child in history. More to come...

Yummy!

2009-02-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

Trying something new...

Time to lace up my running shoes...

2009-02-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

What a difference a week can make! A couple of days after Lily turned 7 months she started crawling, got a tooth and started saying dadadadadada... This thrills Zack who is now officially her favorite person alive. Well it didn't take long before she learned that crawling is okay but the real fun stuff is up higher...so she is pulling up on everything she can find. Needless to say, I haven't sat down much lately either! If you look closely in the first one you can see her tooth!

My Birthday Roadtrip

2009-02-22T13:26:00.001-08:00

I turned 28 years old this weekend, and we took a roadtrip up to the mountains. We visited the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, and we took a sleigh ride through the refuge. It's about 35,000 acres of low grasslands where the elk in the area come down to winter. Its really amazing to see. It was my favorite birthday because this is my first birthday that Lily has attended. The first three pics are on the way. I hope you enjoy these pictures. -Zack

Birthday Roadtrip Part II

2009-02-22T13:13:00.000-08:00

Here are some more elk pics...

The last pic is of my best trophy.