Zwick Family Reunion 2009

You would never know from this picture...but my boys were so excited to go on the airplane to Utah. I think their somber faces were due to the fact that our flight left at 5:30am which meant being at the airport at 4:30am...what we were thinking???

We arrived in Utah at 10:30am Sunday morning, got the rental car, and headed straight to my grandparents house. The smell of their home as we walked through the door always takes me back to my childhood visits, some of my most cherished memories.

We were fortunate to have my aunt Connie offer to let us stay with her for a couple days. My boys loved staying with her and in fact started calling her Grandma Connie, much to my mothers dismay!

We visited family, went to the dinosaur museum, but the highlight for my boys was the trip to Hogle Zoo and Lagoon...here are some of the pictures...

Nolan riding the cars at Lagoon

Chase and cousin Christian ride the boats at Lagoon

Hank and Cami rock the boat!

Chase and Nolan on the train at Hogle Zoo

Grandma J and the grandkids (Nolan, Cami, Chase, Trent)

Grandma and Grandpa Zwick on the carousel

Grandma J and Chase on the zebra

Nolan waves with Dad by his side

The most handsome boys around!

Mom and Nolan eating M & M's

Grandpa J and Chase plan for the ride on Trax (gotta look at the map!)

Uncle Josh goes for a ride with the boys on Trax...their favorite thing to do in downtown SLC!

Overall, it was a great trip! Thank you Grandma and Granpa Zwick and Mom and Dad for making it so memorable for all of us! We love you!

"No Screaming at the Table!"

Growing up with 6 children there was never a quiet moment, especially at the dinner table. My mom was notorious for saying "no screaming at the table."

A few nights ago Hank and I sat down at the table with Chase and Nolan hoping to have a nice quiet family dinner, chalked full of good conversation with our boys. Once the screaming began Hank said "stop, stop..." I thought he meant stop screaming but no, he wanted the boys to stop for a second so he could get it on video. I am surrounded by too much testosterone...I think we may need a girl in this family!

Notice Nolan's crying at the end...somehow he found way to blame Chase, as if he wasn't a part of it...I am preparing myself for the teenage years.

MONSTER JAM

Chase and Nolan have been enamored with monster trucks for about the last 9 months. For Christmas Jess bought the boys Monster Jam tickets. In the tradition of the South, I spent the day prior with the boys making Monster Jam posters. Chase's favorite truck is Grave Digger and Nolan's is Maximum Destruction or Blue Thunder (depending on the day).

Merry Christmas!

Nolan loves Sugar cookies

We have truly fallen off the blogging world...I am sorry. I do feel that I have a good excuse. I am pregnant and have been feeling the 1st trimester more than ever!

My boys are really excited (little do they know how much time we have before the baby is here). Chase really, really wants a girl. He tells us every day that he is so excited for his baby sister to come and he wants her to sleep in his room. My mom has already sent an outfit and Chase promptly put it in his drawer, because he is "sharing his drawers" with the baby.

Nolan wants a boy...mostly because Chase wants a girl.

Christmas cards did not get sent out this year, again I am blaming the 1st trimester for that as well.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas...I promise to post more pictures soon.

When mom is away...

This is what happens when I am not around. Notice...I bike helmet is only on one child...and I don't think a bike helmet will do much good when someone drives right into a tree!

Halloween 2008

Chase "Tony Stewart", Jess, and Nolan "Pooh/Race Car Driver"

Nolan making his way up to the door

The hard work pays off (notice the full size reeses & starburst)

Rene getting into the spirit

Chase sharing some of the candy with Aunt Amy

With the kids in bed, Amy and Jess dig in!




A nice family walk around the lake in Tennessee

Family walk around the lake



What a great Halloween and weekend with the family. We were all excited to have Grandpa and Grandma Scudder out to visit. We had so much fun with Uncle J and Aunt Amy at their house in Brentwood. The kids had a blast playing with Rene the dog and with all of Uncle J's cool toys. Tennessee is such a beautiful state and it was a perfect fall weekend with all the trees changing colors. It's so nice to have family that lives close enough to visit. The boys had such a blast going house to house trick or treating. They grow up so fast and it's so great to see how much fun they are.

Another trip to the Atlanta Children's Museum...

Anytime we have friends or family in town we try to go to the museum. The kids think it is great and, as you can see in the pictures below, they can be a bit on the goofy side!

This time we were able to meet my best friend Lynsey (who we only see once or maybe twice a year) and her husband, Mike, and their two boys Jack (4 1/2) and Owen (2). Chase has been waiting for weeks for their visit and has talked endlessly about which states they will have to fly through to make it all the way to Georgia from Minnesota. He told me the other night before going to bed that "Jack was his bestest friend in the whole wide world" (too cute).

Jack, Nolan, Chase, and Owen (Mike closely observing)

Chase and Roley the Steamroller

Jack and Nolan working hard in Bob's workshop

Nolan picked out the pretty lavender raincoat (Don't tell Hank)

Lynsey and I have always had a sweet tooth. Anytime we are together is reason to celebrate with a small treat. This time Lynsey spotted the gelato store right across the street from the parking garage. It turned out to be a great place...I am sure we will be going back.

All the Boys eager for their gelato treat