Thanksgiving in South Dakota

Last week we all headed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with Josh's family. Thankfully its a pretty quick trip (less then 3 hours in the air). Zachary did great, he completed his 12th plane ride! We were there for 5 days and enjoyed every moment. It was great seeing Josh's folks home in SD (they just moved back to SD last spring). Zachary was able to meet his Great Great Grandma and three of his Great Grandparents. The only bump in the entire trip came once we landed in Dayton. We had a layover in Chicago and somehow they didn't get all of our bags onto our plane headed to Ohio---the one they missed, our car seat!!!! Thankfully when Rachel picked us up we used Porter's seat to get Zachary home. Once we where home Zachary was SOOO thrilled to see his own bed! The next day he just wanted to play in his bed and with the books in his room---He was happy to be home :)

We had a great time and look froward to our next trip!

As we exited security at the Sioux Falls airport this sign greeted us! Its was just too funny not to take a picture.

Zachary with his Pa!

Josh chillin' (oh, vacations are sweet)

5 generations---together on Thanksgiving

Zachary with his Great Great Grandma

Lisa and Grandma

Great Grandpa Jerry and Nancy

Uncle Greg and Zachary

He is rockin' already!!!!

Sunrise from Rick and Kerrie's back porch

Alex and Zachary (2nd cousins)

Jacob and Zachary (second cousins)

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Knutson

There were some intense Mario Kart races

Snuggling with Grandma

Zachary grew to LOVE playing with Buddy--it was best when he could look down at the dog, he would just laugh and laugh at the puppy

One of our final stops was the falls in Sioux Falls. I am the dork that had no idea there were actually falls there--the best description--they are gorgeous river falls (bet its beautiful in the summer)

9 months old already!

The days seem to just fly by, its so hard to believe that Zachary is 9 months old already! He has such an enjoyable little personality! He started crawling just after he was 7 months old and hasn't stopped moving! Zachary seems to be a much happier baby now that he is mobile! Josh and I are really enjoying this stage, Zach just LOVES to play. Some of his favorite games are peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake (he claps at everything) and chasing you (or being chased). We feel so blessed to have him in our family and look forward to the many adventures ahead.

He weighs :21 lbs 9 oz
Height: 28.2 inches

My new do!

I LOVE my new hair cut, its taken some adjusting (I am so much colder without my hair covering my neck) but I absolutely love it! Thanks Lisa, you did a great job! Its been years since I have had bangs. They came with perfect timing--the next day I received 7 stitches in my forehead (from the Dermatologist)--can you tell?!

"Good ole Rocky Top"

Wish that I was on old Rocky Top

Down in the Tennessee hills
Ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top
Ain't no telephone bills.

Once I had a girl on Rocky Top
Half bear the other half cat
Wild as a mink but sweet as soda pop
I still dream about that.

Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top, Tennessee.

Once two strangers climbed old Rocky Top
Looking for a moonshine still
Strangers ain't come down from Rocky Top
Reckon they never will.

Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top
Ground's too rocky by far
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
Get their corn from a jar.

Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top, Tennessee.

I've had years of cramped up city life
Trapped like a duck in a pen
All I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again.

Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top, Tennessee.

Rocky Top, Tennessee...

Back in June for my birthday Josh got me tickets to a University of Tennessee football game!!! WOOO HOOO, he knows that I LOVE college football! When picking the game we wanted to attend,we just wanted one that wouldn't interfere with all of our fall travel plans. As luck would have it we picked their homecoming game vs. University of Memphis. Tradition runs deep in the south and the pre game and half time shows highlighted some great moments in UT history and tradition. We were graced with a half time performance by the original song writers of "Rocky Top" (The Osborne Brothers), once they got his mic working its was great. Josh and I had an amazing time, along with 94,643 of our closed friends! Tennessee won 56 to 28! Around the third quarter they put in their second and third string team....Josh and I didn't mind, it made the game a little more competitive. Prior to the game Josh really didn't know "Rocky Top" by the end of the game I think he had it memorized! Its much more than a song to me. Josh has seen a little piece of the reason why, "Rocky Top" brings a smile to my face and warmth to my heart.

A special HUGE, "Thank You" to Matt and Shersti for taking Zachary for the night so Josh and I could enjoy the game!

In our orange---its not attractive on anyone, but we didn't care :)

This is how Josh watched most of the game---he said it was like watching it on TV, only better

This is how I watched most of the game (while I was seated that is) I really do have a LOVE for football (sad but true, I think its in my genes)

SO many people started leaving when UT put in their 3rd string! But that's the final score---there was no real fear of UT loosing at that point

We tried all night to get a good picture of us and the field....not great but we'll take it :)

Home sweet home....hotel room that is, after the game we headed to our room to get a couple hours of sleep before hitting the road home at 6am.

It's Super Zach!

As Halloween approached we had talked about a few ideas for Zachary. We knew that we did not plan on taking him out "tick-or-treating" but we thought it would be fun to dress him up as we handed out candy. So a few weeks ago we tried on a pumpkin costume---he HATED it, so I kept my eyes open looking for another one, never really finding "the one" Until, my mom brought out this old familiar "Super Z" cape. Years ago, (like 25-30 years) some good family friends had three children and she made "Super J", "Super Z" and "Super T" for her little ones. As her children outgrew the desire to play with these capes she passed on the "Super Z" cape to my little brother, Jason. He idolized her Zach and LOVED anything was had ever belonged to him! For several years my brother wore this "Super Z" cape ALL OVER THE PLACE (we have the pictures to prove it). My mom being the sentimental spirit that she is kept the cape, never thinking she would one day have a Zachary of her own to share it with! It was "the one" and it probably will be for a few years to come (there is plenty of growing room)! Gwyn thanks for sharing this with our family years ago, its just as loved and treasured as the day you gave it to Jason!

Zachary getting into the candy, maybe we should have taken him door to door

Josh and Zachary with Gabe before he ventured out to conquer the neighborhood

All the neighborhood boys (minus Connor)

Our two neighborhood superheros! Sol and Zachary

Big smiles with Daddy! (check out all 7 of my teeth!)

Zach's wonderful "O" face, he started this about a month ago and just loves doing it!

Nice and warm inside AND STILL GOING AFTER THE CANDY!

Grandpa & Grams time (and a little more)

There were so many pictures to choose from so here are just some that capture how Zachary and I spent our time in Oregon.......

Lots of smile for Grandpa

Making Daddy jealous eating pheasant for the first time (thanks for sharing Ken). Mmmmm....a whole leg to myself!

At Fresh 2 You (local pumpkin patch) with my mom and her class

The hayride put him to sleep and made me thankful for solid ground (its was a "crazy" little ride)

More time with Grandpa

Emily (also known as Bug), Zachary's favorite volleyball player

His first time at the Portland Temple

Discovering the one step in my parents house...it didn't take long for him to figure out how to go up...going down---we are still working on that part.

Waiting for his lunch at Mom's favorite burger stop, Bugerville (he liked it too)

Playing with Grandpa (we did this ALOT)

Flying with Grandpa---Zach takes after his Daddy, he LOVES to be in the air!

Playing, stretching and just plain moving around before we get on our last flight home

We had such a great time! Zachary did great on all 4 plane rides, let's hope that continues as we are traveling to South Dakota in a few short weeks. Zachary loved spending all that time with Grams and Grandpa, unfortunately Grams was the main photographer so we dont have any pictures with her and Zach :( Our first day there, Zachary was SOOO happy to see his Grams again! He went right to her, snuggled right in with her and then pulled back and gave her one of his big open mouth smiles! We can't wait to you see you again!!!!! Love you!

So many new faces

Zachary and I have spent the last two weeks visiting MANY, MANY family and friends. These are just a few of the "new" faces to Zach. We did make a little trip out here when Zachary was about 6 weeks, but to him this was a whole new experience! He was such a little trooper!

Great Grandpa and Grandma

With Aunt Cynthia at Jennifer's parade

Cousin Cassie

Uncle JJ (Jason)

Patrick and cousin Abbey

Aunt Pam

Aunt Kelley