Another Baby

Hudson gets a little excited around animals. On the fourth of July, there were some bassett hounds at the park in Rexburg. He didn't want to do anything but just sit there with those dogs and get licked. On Monday, we were at the park and Hudson took off crawling half way across the field trying to get to a dog that was on the other end. Since this was getting to be a regular occurance, I decided that he might need a dog.

Despite all of my former "No!"s to his father's requests for a dog. I gave in to this cute little guy



and bought him a puppy. A 7 week old black lab that we named Cole.

So, now I have two babies to train not to chew and whine. Two babies to potty train and teach to listen/obey. Two babies who make messes and drool on me. Two babies who love to be held and walked. Two babies to take for shots and well check-ups. Two babies.....

What was I thinking?!

But then again, he is making my boys so happy.

Mansfield Park

I first fell in love with Jane Austen's literary genious when I read Pride and Predjudice as a Sophmore (during restitution). I am amazed at the way she uses words in their purest form: making them divinely beautiful. She can convey stronger opinions and feelings in a single sentence, than any other author I've ever seen could do when allowed an essay.

Her stories are so perfectly crafted so that she can convince the reader and unconvince them again like it was our own opinion from the start. Her characters are so real, her scenes so true to life, that you can't help but feel like you have some sort of claim to them from the time you spent together. I know it sounds wierd, but if you've read her you know. She is truly gifted!

Alas, I find old english dialect sneaking into my vocabulary for weeks after I've finished a book. I drive Zane crazy talking about 'what happened to Fanny today' over dinner like it falls in with all the rest of the daily gossip.

To be honest, as much as I respect Jane's writing abilites, I had been slightly disappointed with her other works (Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Lady Susan, Persuasion, and Emma). Aside from wishing Lady Susan would fall on her face and Emma's pride would be wounded, I didn't much care what happened to most of the characters and the plot lines just weren't as enthraling as Pride and Predjudice. I feared I had read the greatest of them all first, leaving myself open to a disappointment with the others that might have been avoided had I read it last.

But then.... this month I discovered Mansfield Park and my love affair is renewed.


Here I must refrain from expounding for fear of exposing any of the juicy goodness you will find within. So, I make an end by stating that you simply must, must, must read this book. You're life will be forever the better; or at least you're month.

Like This

School's been out for three weeks and it didn't take long for my little guy to turn "Mama's Boy". I've attributed his being so social to the fact that he has regularly spent time with lots of children and adults. He's never made a fuss about being held by anyone else. After just one week of being home full time with him, he wouldn't let anyone else touch him. Even Zane.

We're pretty tight these days. About a week ago, it was Zane's turn to put Hudson to bed (Yes, he takes 'turns'. Such an awesome husband!) but he was having a hard time. Hudson whimpered and whined for almost 45 min. Finally, frustrated, Zane asked me to give it a try. I walked over, picked him up, and he immediately let out a little sigh, gave me a hug, and then snuggled in and went right to sleep. I melted.

Zane however, took it pretty hard. I tried not to gloat but honestly, I'm loving having a Mama's boy.

He's been making huge improvements too. We have been working with Hudson to roll over for almost four months. I could tell he knew how but he just wouldn't. It's like he was just waiting for me: the first week I was home he starting rolling. I've been home 3.5 weeks now and he is sitting up, pivoting, crawling, pulling himself up to things, and standing with support. He loves to eat, yet he's so active that he's having trouble gaining any weight. He's still only 14.5 lbs but soooo cute!

Celine: My Love

Best Concert Ever!! My sister Sara and I are slighltly obsessed with Celine Dion, its true. We have been talking about seeing her in concert for many moons now, but with the whole year and a half off to have twins: I was starting to think she was going to have so much fun being a mom that she'd just drop off the radar and it would never happen.

But Celine's back!!!

Zane bought me tickets to her new Show in Vegas for mother's day.

I didn't think it was possible but I love her more now than I did pre-show. It is unreal what she can do with her voice. There were several times where Sara and I would just look at eachother in awe (mouths open and everything). I kept getting goose bumps during the show and I even cried a little when she sang about the power of a mother's love.

I really wanted to buy a Celine t-shirt, but they were all ugly and definately not worth $95 (even if they did say Celine). So we each bought an over priced CD from the 'Celine store' and I bought her signature scent lotion.


I love it.

The CD Sara got is called 'My Love' but I didn't realize that until it showed up on my computer while I was listening. When Sara was talking about it, I thought she was saying "Celine, my love" rather than Celine: My Love. Bha ha! It didn't even phase me cause that's kind of how we refer to her anyway.

She is truly the most talented person ever!

Oh and she's cute! I mean personality. She kept getting embarrased when people would clap too long or loudly and she has amazing stage presence.They did some awesome stuff during the show:

They made a hologram of her and she sang a duet with herself.

The stage moved; the singers would just start floating to other parts of the stage. Cool!

During the last song, she was lifted in the air on a pedestal and water danced around her.

She sang other songs, not just hers. My favs were a jazz/blues song and Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror. It sounded better when she sang it then when he did! They didn't allow cameras so these google pics will have to do.


Okay, I'll stop. I warned you I was obsessed.

Tales of Teaching

I really hope Hudson just skips right over being 11. Don't get me wrong, I love those kids... most of the time. However, I find myself wanting to scream on a daily basis. Of course that's when I'm not laughing, crying, or staring in disbelief.

I wish I had thought to keep track of what they say earlier, but here's the latest:


- Did you know fish can drown? Its true! I read it on the internet.

- If I work really hard today, can I have my peice of cardboard back?

- Student: I testified against my little sisters dad yesterday and he broke into our house. My mom doesn't feel safe here so we're moving to Compton to be close to her boyfriend while he's in jail.
Me: I thought he was in jail in Georgia.
Student: No that's my dad

- There's a sock on my floor; who's is it? No really guys, who's missing a sock? (No one claimed it!)

- I don't feel good, can I have another cookie?

- Wanna hear my favorite guitar set? Neener NEEner, Neener NEEner, Neener NEEner....(3 min later).... Neener NEEner.....

- I like pizza. (Every day for the past four months)

- I'm just not good at thinking.

- I can do nothing for a really long time.

- Coloring is hard; I'll just take a zero.

- If there weren't cops, I'd do whatever I wanted all the time.

- Hey, this is just like DT! (I was taking role)

- I can't do my homework. You forgot to tell me what I learned!

We Bought A House!

Feb. 1st we'll be moving into our very own home in Eagle Mountain. I guess this means we're staying in Utah for awhile!!!

Zane has been wanting to be in 'his own house' for quite a while. I've been a little bit hesitant and have occasionally been touring homes to humor him. I honestly didn't plan on looking seriously until I was at least finished with this school year. However, in the midst of my humoring him, we came across a deal we just couldn't turn down. I agreed to place an offer and didn't think anymore about it.

Monday morning we received a call from our realitor letting us know that our offer was accepted. It was the weirdest feeling I've ever had. We started laughing, hugged eachother, and danced around. Then... I started dry heaving.

Its going to mean a lot of big changes over the next six months till I'm out of school but it will be so nice to be home owners. The house is perfect.

Its a wonderful neighborhood, almost new (4 yrs), and there's tons of room to grow. As you can tell from the picture the yard needs a ton of work (which zane is thrilled about- hopefully we don't end up with a pond). We are thrilled to be home owners. Hope to see you all staying over soon!

Thanks Jentry and Drue!

My cousin Jentry has been watching Hudson for me and it has been such a blessing. Leaving my baby to someone else all day is challenging; but knowing he is being taken care of and loved is so comforting.

Jentry has a little girl named Drue who is almost two. She absolutely adores Hudson and it is so much fun to watch them. He definately recognizes her and she is so protective of him.

(Dure sharing her goldfish)

A week ago, Zane picked Hudson up and when he was gone Drue started looking around confused. She asked where her baby was. Jentry told her that he went home with his dad and she got angry. "No! My baby," she said.

I think it has been so good for both of them to be around another child. Thank you Jentry and Drue for taking such good care of my little boy!

P.S. She also takes amazing pictures. Here's one she took of Hudson