Feb updates

Great new pictures and lots of fun info. I can't believe how different Zach looks even since Christmas! What are you feeding that boy - he's growing so fast! I am so happy for you that daycare is going so much better and your classes sound great. Good for you. I know it can't be easy keeping up with everything - but I'm really glad that you are making use of your time and opportunity! Thanks for all the happy news!

Love, Aunt Karen

Time Marches On

Hola! Before any riots begin, I come bearing many pictures. AND it's only been two weeks since my last post. =D I have my iPhone all the time so I can take pictures with that a lot. The quality difference is very noticeable, but then again, so is the not-having-to-carry-a-bulky-camera difference! =D

Happy Valentines Day!

We're all doing well here. Zach is doing much better at daycare. Eating, napping. He also seems to like his babysitter Brooke a lot as well as her son Colt. So that is awesome. I don't feel guilty so much anymore...I feel more guilty if I don't drop him off b/c it's like he is missing out, lol. In addition to that, he is also getting better at public outings. That is-he's learning proper behavior at restaurants and what not. We got him a leash! Before you judge, be aware that that thing is awesome! It gives him the freedom to be able to walk around instead of be in a cart but allows us the ability to keep him from touching EVERYTHING, lol. And Zach likes it. He even wants me to put it on at home, lol. Here is a look at it.

It was great when we were furniture shopping because there is way too much breakable stuff in those stores! And he gets very antsy in a stroller. (I don't know where he got that from.)

He's getting so big! So big he can eat an entire Happy Meal. When did that happen? It's fun to sit there an hour after you've finished waiting for him to finish. Chris really enjoys that part. =P

Practicing his excessive celebration. =D

Practicing his tackling!

Here we're eating at a restaurant. Zach had fries but did not care for the lemon. He doesn't throw stuff on the ground anymore though, so that is nice! We went for a walk after we finished here because Chris had crab which takes longer to eat than either Zach or my patience can stand! =D

He's had better moments.

Fun times!

As for me, class is still going well. Would you be surprised if I told you my school completely failed to send in my GI Bill paperwork? No you wouldn't be surprised would you? That's b/c we're all fully aware that people really suck at their jobs. It should all be worked out by next month I hope. We're living off the tax return as of now. When we get the GI Bill money we'll have a savings account again, yay!

Here are a couple things I've done for one of my classes. I'm doing a lot of reading and a good amount of writing, but that's no fun to show you! =D

Chris is fairing the least well at this time. He just got put on midshift, and he hates nights more than anyone I know. It's 8pm-8am. This basically means we never see each other and if we do one or both of us is tired, lol. I just hope it all passes quickly. He's been doing the shift work since August and it was only supposed to be for two months. Hopefully this will set him up for a normal schedule by summer, when the fun starts!

Here the boys sit and watch the Superbowl while they have their beverages. Zach likes to sit still in your lap these days...we're treasuring it while it lasts!

Helping Daddy.

Apparently we sent our winter south this year b/c it has been very mild. This week it has been 35 or higher everyday, which is awesome! Everything is melting and it feels like spring is near. Of course I am sure that fantasy will be stripped away any minute now! This month the moose have been out quite a bit. Every other day I see one or more.

Last year we had a visitor, and again this year!

The snow on this tree looks like styrofoam balls were placed strategically.

Adios! Love you all!

So January FINALLY came around. I was starting to think I'd never get back in school! I decided to go back for journalism because I've always loved it and maybe was just to scared to really try it? So, here we go, we'll see if I'm any good at it I guess. That's often the problem isn't it? You don't like what you're good at...and you're not good at what you like. Heh. Anyhoo...I am taking five classes, three in the journalism and two that are weird gen ed requirements. You know every school does them different so you'll be forced to spend money at their school! Anyway Chris and I have been talking a lot about history (since I am in one history class and one history of political philosophy class). I think I made him jealous because he looooves history-so now he is going to go back to school for history! Yay! I am finding school challenging but it's nothing I can't handle. My biggest problem is they won't give me the assignments far enough in advance so I can get a jump start on all of them! I have everything completed I possible can at the moment. This is because I have this fear that I am going to get to school one day and realize I completely forgot to do ____ (fill in the blank). So that keeps me motivated.

We have had a very, very hard time getting a babysitter. There has been a lot of drama! I think we've finally settled though. A lady in our neighborhood, Brooke, is watching him. She's got a 10 month old (hers) and another 4 year old she watches (someone elses). So far Zach is doing great there, so I hope that continues. The problem is that in the last month we went from ear infection to cold to now teething. That boy can't catch a break! So hopefully as he starts to get used to her he'll settle in and like it!

Chris is doing well. He is trying to get off of his three on, three off schedule since he's been on it for a long time now. It kind of makes school or anything else, like volunteering at the base wildlife center, impossible. We'll see. He's been spending a lot of time with Zach on days I am at school so that's been interesting. It's good they're really developing their own thing though, don't need him to be over-mamafied. =D

We will also see if he gets to go Hawaii again this year...if he does I'm going too! It recently occurred to me that I can't remember a vacation I've taken just for vacation's sake. Other than Corpus Christi...and that doesn't count. Haha.

Anyhoo I think that's about it for now. We're all doing well. Thanks for all your warm holiday wishes as well as the luck you've wished Zach and I as we start this new phase. Love to you all!

In case you were wondering, this is what I see when I am cooking dinner. These guys don't give up easily!

Smokey in camouflage.

Zach is helping with the dishes. These are a bit blurry because I was playing with the exposure. No flash!

He gives a different definition to cleaning dishes off.

Cute boy, needs a haircut!

So one of my classes is Digital Imaging...basically learning about Photoshop and the like. Here is my first project...had to be a self portrait, bleh. That is the actual color of my eyes. Crazy alien eyes! I added the sun/lighting effects.