So these are the books I've been reading lately. I just started Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy, tonight and am excited to get back to it. I really liked Hunger Games and read it not knowing very much about it. That is sometimes the most rewarding thing, to read a book that you know nothing about, but you end up enjoying immensely.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane was another one of those, though I'll tone down "enjoyed immensely" to "found very interesting." And Empire left me with a lot of food for thought, especially as concerns politics and political parties. I really enjoyed that book also. I don't read nearly as much as I used to, but I am glad that I still have a chance every now and then.

Merry Christmas!

Per had a great Christmas, as you can see by his expression. This was taken just after we finished opening presents. I will be posting more pictures of Christmas and catching up on everything that is going on in our lives these days sometime very soon. Until then, enjoy this little Taco Bender's cute face!

New Moon

I decided last week that I really needed a break, and Zak was kind enough to let me have that break. Per had woken up the night before at 11:30 and never went back to bed. That's right. Little dude thinks it's time to be up all night. Cuckoo.
I digress. Zak came home from work and I left to go see a movie at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I used to go to movies by myself all the time, and it's something I really like to do, but since we've had Per there hasn't been as much time for that. I obviously chose to see New Moon, and really liked it, despite not caring much for Twilight. It was a much-needed escape into the world of make-believe. I still prefer the books to the movies, as is almost always the case, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by New Moon. (And I almost switched to Team Jacob. Almost.)

It turns out that Per's not sleeping through the night stuff (which has been going on since before Thanksgiving) is due to a rather nasty ear infection. Poor guy. He is now on antibiotics and seems to be doing better. We should all be sleeping a lot better by the end of the week!

Long Time, No Write

It's not that things aren't happening in our lives. Rest assured that we are keeping busy. We just don't have regular internet access and when we do get on the internet, the time is spent checking e-mail, paying bills, playing on Facebook... You know, the really important things. Right. So it's time for a little update, sorry that there are no pictures to go with it.
Per is doing very well. He is growing and learning lots every day. His height and head circumference are in the 99th percentile, but his weight is the 31st percentile. He clearly takes after his dad, very tall and very thin. He talks and chatters all the time now, unless there is an unfamiliar face nearby. He has started to say things like "all done," "Mama," "Dada," "PerPer," "outside," "up," "down," and of course (his first and still favorite word) "NO." He draws out the the nnn sound at the beginning and it makes it sound quite emphatic. It's really cute, until he says "all done" at the table and he's not all done. I tell him to please eat a few more bites and he says, "nnnnno!" Even then it's still kind of cute, but I can see that there will be a time in the not-too-distant future when it will no longer be terribly cute. He walks everywhere, including up and down stairs by himself, though Zak or I always hover near, nervously wringing our hands. Per loves reading and will often climb into the recliner in his room and ask for books. He then sits and turns pages quite contentedly and will do this for as long as twenty minutes as long as he has a good supply of books. He is so much fun and has the best laugh. We love having him.
I am staying home with Per now, I can't remember if I have posted that I quit working at the CU in June. I am grateful that I can stay home with him and spend the days taking care of him. I was called to the Primary presidency in our ward very recently and am enjoying that, although today was my first official day as the first counselor. It's my first time in Primary since I was a kid, so I am sure that it will be a very eye-opening experience for me.
Zak is teaching 7th grade English at a middle school here, and is enjoying it. There are definitely a few challenges, but that is to be expected when dealing with 12- and 13-year-olds. For the most part, he really enjoys it and the kids are fairly well-behaved. He is teaching in the Primary and is glad that I am also in Primary so that he never has to be separated from Per during church on Sunday.
We enjoyed a very nice Thanksgiving at Zak's sister's house (thanks again, Nik!) and are looking forward to a quiet and relaxing Christmas break. Happy Holidays to all!

Derby

This is a derby action shot.
And another.

This dude is one of the reasons we go to derbies. I think that is probably one of the best mullets I've ever seen.

Here's a side view of the mullet.

And a view of his rippling muscles as he casually throws a tire out of the way.

Zak can't wait for the derby that is coming up Saturday night. Hopefully we'll have some great pictures of mullets to post after that event.

Favorite Books

This is Zak's favorite kids' book right now, mostly because Sam the Rat does exactly what Zak wants to do. Seriously. You'll have to read it to find out what that is... (This is Sam Who Was Swallowed by a Shark by Phyllis Root -- sorry for the blurry image.)

Per's Favorite Book of All Time currently. He can have this one read to him over and over and over...


Another huge favorite of Per's, though he will still choose Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb over this one.

Is it a little bit crazy that something in this book speaks to me? Possibly. This has always been one of my favorite kids' books... probably because I want to organize and label and put away everything in sight. It's a compulsion.

Green Smoothie Recipe

Here is the green smoothie recipe for those who are interested:

2-4 leaves kale
1-2 bananas
2-5 strawberries
2-3 dates (these are to sweeten)
1/2 cup - 1 cup water or ice

Puree all ingredients in blender. I usually make my green smoothies with the higher amount of ingredients, so 4 leaves kale, 2 bananas, 5 strawberries (I use frozen since they aren't really in season anymore), 3 dates, 1 cup water. This makes about 3 cups of smoothie. I usually have 2 cups' worth myself and save the last cup for Per. Also, you can definitely change up the fruit you use (I have heard you can use an avocado instead of bananas--they are there to emulsify--but haven't tried it myself yet), or even try spinach instead of kale. If you want it to be more smoothie-like, use ice instead of water.
It's really good for you, so as long as you drink one of these every day, then you don't have to feel quite so bad about eating all those Double Stuf Oreos just before bed. Although I'm sure you'd be a lot healthier if you'd just skip the Double Stuf Oreos.

Enjoy your green smoothies!

The Update

Okay, for today's tenth and final (I know you're thanking me) post, I thought I'd catch you up very briefly on what's been going on for us since May. I cut my hair short (brushing the top of my shoulders) in early June. Then I quit my job to stay home with Per full-time, which has been wonderful. Hooray!!
Zak got a job teaching 7th grade English at a school here in the valley. It starts in one week. Per turns one this weekend and is starting to stand by himself more and more. He cruises along furniture lots and walks tentatively with a walker toy. He is a super-fast crawler and babbles all the time. He is showing us by his behavior that he understands a lot of what we say, so that is fun. He loves reading books and is starting to eat lots of table foods. We are all healthy, happy, and doing well.

ps Happy Birthday, Mom!

More Photo Shoot

I love that Per is still so bendable.
He isn't a big fan of grass on his bare skin.

He got used to it though, or at least was distracted enough by the wagon wheel.

An Evening at the Fairgrounds

Our completely cool armada of origami boats. I made 'em. That's the only origami I know.
Here's an action shot. Per's boats won all three races.

The return of the frog legs. Remember these?

Zak and I found this rusty old ice machine at the fairgrounds and thought it was a perfect background for an impromtu photo shoot.

I am pretty sure he's a child model. That look is pretty close to Blue Steel, wouldn't you say?

Green Smoothie

Green smoothie mustache. Green smoothie is one of Per's favorite things to eat.

Looks like it was a satisfying green smoothie.

Raider of the Refrigerator

Isn't he too young to start on this already?
Per loves yogurt. Clearly.

Busted!

Every time the fridge opens, Per makes a beeline. In fact, one day recently, he lunged for the door as I was trying to be sneaky and close it really fast, and he caught it in order to keep me from closing it. I had to reward that dedication with a little fridge time.

Trash, Not Toys

Our son prefers playing with trash (that has been washed and is sanitary, natch) instead of toys.
This is the lid to the bottle above. It was a bottle that had fruit-flavored puffs in it.
This was a plastic baby food container.
The ears to an M&M bunny from Easter.
And, of course, a glass baby food jar. Per spends more time throwing these and chasing them around the kitchen than just about anything else right now.

At least I know that we'll never have to spend a lot of money on toys, right?

4th of July

Per's first hike at the Stokes Nature Center. He was obviously famished after riding in the stroller the whole time, which is why he's about to devour his fist.
Per started off with his mouth closed at the 4th of July parade in Hyrum.
But as soon as the parade started, he pretty much had his mouth hanging open the rest of the day.

Still open...

Still open....

Finally closed. But the tongue is out now.

This is at the Cruise-In. Per is watching the parade of all the cool old cars. And some not-so-old and not-so-cool cars. Seriously, all you have to do is pay an entry fee. There are no actual requirements for the car itself to be old and cool. But there should be.
Happy boy. Per loooves to watch cars of any kind as they drive down the street. He's pretty easy to entertain.

Getting tired.

The noise finally became too much for him. But Per had a fun first 4th of July!

A Swingin' Good Time

Per loves to swing. We like to go to the park early in the morning to avoid the crowds and to beat the heat. This was toward the end of June, but the mornings are still cool if you get up early enough. And we do. Thanks, Per.

Doesn't he look like he is having a great time?