Zachary...growing up!

Zachary is really growing up....and very fast! So many things have been going on with him over the past few years. One thing that happened that he was rather nervous about it beginning was braces. We initially thought he would get his braces over summer vacation before starting 7th grade and he was worried about being called 'brace face', 'tin grin', 'metal mouth' and the list goes on! But he had to have some other treatments during the summer therefore putting the braces off a few months. Much to his relief, when the school year finally started he realized that ALOT of his friends got braces over the summer and that it was going to be the 'new fad' to have braces. He was very relieved and was actually looking forward to getting them. He got his top braces in November of 2007 and as you can see he looked so young. His bottom braces didn't get put on until a year later. Finally after 2 years of braces, it was almost time for them to come off but before they came off, he had to have his wisdom teeth pulled in December 2009. As you can see, he definitely had some swelling going on and he was so funny while the anesthesia was wearing off. Then on February 4, 2010, He got his braces off and he hasn't stopped smiling yet! And look how much he has changed in those 2 years......makes me want to cry!

But those two years really seemed to fly by....with so many other events happening in between. One being we started going to a new church with new friends for Zachary to meet! He even got the Holy Ghost in January 2009, just 2 months after we started! He prayed for 1 1/2 hours and God let him speak in that heavenly language!! He was one happy boy and so was I!! And yep, you guessed it....he met a girl named Meagan. After about a year of being friends, she is now his first official girlfriend! And as you can see, she is very pretty and to top it off, she's just as sweet as can be! I couldn't have picked anyone better to be his first girlfriend!

Zachary started high school in August 2009 and he's really loving it! But he's also looking forward to turning 15 and getting his drivers permit!!!! YIKES! I am really going to need prayers from everyone to survive this coming adventure! There is actually a funny story about him starting to drive. Several months ago, Ron was working in the yard and needed the truck moved from the front of the house to the back. He decided to let Zachary drive and he rode right beside him. So I was interested in watching from the front yard, too afraid to ride at that time! No sooner than Zachary pulled away from the house, a policeman was driving toward him. Zachary, wanting to not get too close to the policeman's car, steered more toward the right side of the street...but he steered a little TOO FAR RIGHT and jumped the curb!! I just knew the policeman was going to stop him then and there....but he didn't! I breathed a sigh of relief and I know Zachary really did!! Needless to say, he won't be living this down anytime soon!
Zachary is a very good boy and I am so proud of him. He is in practically every honor/AP class available this year. He loves his Spanish classes and says that he wants to be bi-lingual. He even entered a chili cook-off for the Spanish club and his team won first place for the hottest chili....and after 30 habaneros, you can bet it was HOT!!!! He is looking forward to being in the Spanish Honor Society next year. He makes pretty good grades overall and his teachers have nothing but compliments for him!

Zachary is also taller than me and he LOVES to remind me of it and does so often by picking me up! I just want him to stay my little boy but he is quickly becoming a young man that I am so very proud to call my son!! I love him with all of my heart....and who knows what I will have to say about 'his adventures' next time??

Last year's news....today!

I know this is already 2010....but I didn't have time to blog some of the end-of-the-year events for 2009. Besides, it's better late than never, right? Every year after the boys' birthdays it always seems to get a little crazy for us....with all the holidays and everything that comes with them! For Fall, Zachary and Zane both had their own pumpkin to design. I think they both came out great and I'm sure from the picture you would agree with me....and we even roasted the pumpkin seeds, which are always yummy! We had a fall festival at church and Zane dressed up like G.I. Joe - or his version, at least! So of course, I had to take pictures of him....Zachary informed me that he was 'too old' to dress up for the event! My oldest baby is growing up! *sigh* We also had a great Thanksgiving, so much to be thankful for....thankful that we were able to spend time with family, just visiting and eating. We also had a church Christmas banquet at TLC and I managed to snap a picture of the good looking guys in my life before they ate and got food all over them....lol j/k! But I was so proud of how good my guys really looked....the picture speaks for itself! Next was Christmas, and we had a great time celebrating with family and believe it or not, Christmas day ended up being somewhat white for us Texans....and yes, I do mean we actually had some snow! Not that it lasted but we did wake up to a light dusting of snow on the ground, and that's about as close as we get to having a white Christmas...so I won't complain! We celebrated Chrismas Eve with Ron's family and had such a great time! We ate, talked, ate, played Karaoke, ate, opened gifts...well, you get the picture! Then Christmas day was at our home with my parents and it was very enjoyable too. We opened gifts, played games, and ate all day long!! It was a great time being able to enjoy those that we love the most and all of us being healthy....that's just one reason to celebrate Christmas! The other reason being the celebration of the birth of Jesus! He is the true reason for the season! I'm so blessed beyond measure to have Jesus as the center of my life....and the life that He has given back to me is so amazing! He blessed me with a loving husband and two of the most amazingly wonderful boys in the whole wide world!! Thank you Jesus for my gifts! CHRIST-mas wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't take the time to celebrate the real reason!! After reflecting back on some of our memories for last year, it makes me realize that we need to cherish every moment we get with the ones we love because once that moment is gone we will never get a second chance to make it memorable...I'm so glad I have these wonderful memories with my family!

Family car decoration.....

This may seem corny to you....but I really like it and it's my blog...so there!! lol I really wanted to put it on here because I think it's a cute representation of my family...it even includes our little dog!

Finally....Vacation pictures!!

Happy 14th Birthday Zachary!!!

I can't believe that Zachary is 14 today....It seems like he was born just yesterday. I know that everyone says that so much that it is a cliche, but it really does seem that way! One day you are holding this precious new baby and then the next day you are waving bye as they enter high school! I remember wanting a baby so bad and then the day I found out I was pregnant I panicked - afraid that I was too young, or not going to be a good mom, and so many other thoughts. But the day Zachary was born was a very happy day for me - I was finally going to have the baby I always wanted. And it was love at first sight! To hold this precious baby that God blessed us with was just the most awesome feeling in the world! Now 14 years later and I couldn't love him more! I am so proud of him and what he is becoming! I just pray that God will keep His hand on Zachary in the years to come and that he becomes the man God wants him to be! Happy birthday Zachary - I love you with all my heart!!

Happy 7th Birthday Zane!!!

I can't believe that Zane is 7 today....It seems like he was born just yesterday. In fact, I remember going to the hospital very early on September 3, 2002 wondering if I could have enough love to share with a new baby. I didn't know if it was possible to love each child the same.....boy, was I ever wrong! Almost the instant they put Zane in my arms, it was like my heart grew even bigger to contain this new fould love for him!!! Now, I can't and don't want to imagine my life without Zane! God knew exactly what He was doing by adding Zane to our family....Zane actually completed our family! And now he's growing so fast....I am so proud of him and what he is becoming! I just pray that God will keep His hand on Zane in the years to come and that he becomes the man God wants him to be! Happy birthday Zane - I love you with all my heart!!

Back to School!

Wow...I can't believe that summer is already over and that school has started! I am one of those Moms that hates school to start but loves some quite 'me' time too!! I have so many mixed emotions at this time of the year. Zane started back to school on August 19th. He is in the first grade and has the same first grade teacher that Zachary had. We are happy because we think Mrs. Dobbs is a really good teacher! Zachary started back to school on August 24th. He in now officially a high school student...in the 9th grade. He likes all of his teachers so far this year. We are so proud of our boys - they are so smart and handsome! I thank God for them all the time because He blessed us with them! Oh yeah....we have our moments, don't get me wrong! But I wouldn't trade them for all the money in this world!!!