Quotes

Dempsey:  When I go to the store by myself I can't reach the Animal Crackers.
                  Zeke, stop kissing me.  I don't like it, but you can touch my toe though.

Zeke:         I'm going to tell the kids about the fire
                 (Polly was burning weeds and it got out of hand) tomorrow      
                 but I'm going to  make it a lot bigger.

Great Fortune

Zeke's fortune:  A great honor will be bestowed upon you in the upcoming year
Zeke's interpretation:  You will have a holiday named after you.

I want to be happy

Dempsey said in a sad voice: 

 I just don't want to throw a fit.  I just want to be happy.

Happy Valentines Day!

 This is Zeke's box for Valentine's Day.  His school has a contest to see which box is the most creative and pretty.  This is totally his idea and a joint execution.  I think he could win for both.

                                                              Cloudland State Park
                                                      Zeke scaled up the cliff for icicles.

Creating and Hiking with Family.

It has been a great Valentine's weekend.

 (And we made sugar cookies.)

Eyes like a cat, Ears like kid leather

Dempsey has been telling people she meets:  "I have blue eyes like my dad, and my brother, and my cat!"

In the middle of the night Dempsey said, "I like Zeke's ears.  I like to pet them."  Their dad likes to pet his ears too.

If I were, which I'm not

"I am not going to steal, I've already made that choice but if I were a robber I would rob stores instead of houses because most people keep their money in a bank.  I'd steal from a bank, if I had the mind of a robber which I hope that I never do." --- Zeke

Dempsey and her pet dog.



Wall Chairs

I, at the beginning, I could do a wall chair for three minutes.  After a little while, I got to four.  It was all in the same day.  My legs ached the next morning.  After a few days, it healed.  Today, I beated to five.  My goal is to get to ten minutes.  Right now, I am half way through.  My legs are shaking right now.  My mom told me and I could feel it. 

The kind of guy I am

"Some people like a design on one side (of a shirt).  I like a design on both sides, or one in the middle.  That's just the kind of guy I am."

"Some kids can't sit down and work.  I can sit down and work but I would rather you know... chicka chicka boom boom!"

Dempsey

Dempsey put two legs in one pant hole.  She got up and walked off.  I asked her if she was going to fix her pants she said, "No. I'm going to church"

I think I like it

Zeke likes:

Movies
Jokes
When it snows
His DS
Being Early
The Wii
His machete
Camo
Bagels with cream cheese
Pizza
Reading
Wheels
Math
Science

Zeke dislikes:
When the temperature drops below 35 degrees,
they cancel recess.

Dempsey likes:

Naps/Bedtime
Penguins
Clothes
Baby Dolls, i.e.  her blue baby
Gum
Church
"Her buddy, Sage"
Going to the store
Doing things by herself

Dempsey dislikes:
Sitting down to eat

And they both like each other

Zeke's Wisdom

Sage:  I want to go to live with Aunt Kim
Zeke:  Actually, Sage. It's not as fun as you would think.  They are still fun, but not as much.

Cole:  I want four inches of cinnamon sugar on my toast.
Zeke: Okay Cole. You can have a four inch straw of cinnamon sugar.  That's sound like the perfect amount.

They are testing Zeke for the gifted program at school on Monday.  There is a boy in his class whose birthday is on the same day as his birthday.  He found these things out when he went to school, five days out of the past month.  It has been shut down a lot for inclement weather-- Frost!?!

Uncle Will:  What did you dream about last night?

Dempsey:  My nap.

Actually, she talks in her sleep.  She said, "My doll just threw up!" 

Snow, snow, snow

It snowed on sunday and we didn't have to go to school for the rest of the week. It was very fun. We stayed home a lot.  It is very snowy over here.  About seven inches.  It is fun to play in.  And it is fun to sled in.  Dempsey sleded down once with me.  Sometimes we just spend the day inside.

The Fight

Dempsey and Sage fight a lot.  I think that only one day they didn't fight, all through the day.  Dempsey usually wins.  I think she does.  She wins by having a knock out.  By punching her once to make her cry.  They hardly they ever stop fighting until a grownup says, 'No.'

Sometimes you see them fight and you don't know what to say.  Knock Out

Zeke and Dempsey's favorite clothes

 Zeke asked for and received camoflage clothes for Christmas. 

He also got a camo flannel jacket and footed pajamas.

 Dempsey started loving swimming suits in the summer, she loves them just as much in January.

 Notice the gum.

She says she swallowed the gum.

And she is off playing again.

Back to School

I had a two week break.  It felt like I didn't have to go to school for a year or so.  Now I am back in school everything is fine.  I lost my folder.  I am pretty sad.  Everything but that is fine.  Dempsey thinks it is a new thing that I go to school, because I didn't go to school for two weeks.  Now we are studying fractions. 

Dempsey and Zeke at the Park

A girl:  This tire swing makes me want to throw up.
Dempsey:  I threw up in my car.  It was yucky.

Zeke jumps out of the swings and tries to do a 360 before he lands.  Sometimes he makes it, sometimes he doesn't.  He rides his scooter there also.  The neighborhood is not conducive to riding. 

Dempsey was playing with her cousin who started crying frantically.  I went over.  "There is an ant on my shoe."  She wailed.

Dempsey, who was just standing there, was covered in ants and ant bites.

Dempsey can count

Not just say the numbers in order but actually say how many of
something there is.  That's ahead.  She also really loves to run.

Sage to her Grandmom:  I pooped my pants.
Dempsey: I threw up in the car. It was yucky.




Here are some pictures from the Ward Christmas Party.  Zeke was the only shepherd.  They are short on kids.  He did a really good job.

Did I tell you the one about...

Dempsey:

"Do you remember when I threw up in the car?  Do you remember that mom? And you washed my coat.  It was yucky."

This story is replacing:  "I pet goats.  At the zoo, I pet goats."

Zeke:

I stayed outside from 5:30 to 6:00.

Your Birthday Movie and Ducks

It was a nise day outside we fed ducks and chased them and we even got to pet them.  It was fun.  We chased a goose.  There  was one duck, it was the king of the food.  It had the most food.  Everything that dropped the duck had.  I think it was a mallard. 

The night before that we went to your birthday party.  We went to the movie and watched Yogi Bear.  We bought treats at a store.  It was very funny.  Nobody was there except us.  It started at nine and ended at eleven.  It was very fun.  Happy Birthday!

From out of the blue

 Dempsey said, "I'm grateful for my Dad."

Christmas Morning

It was a very fun Christmas. I loved loved loved the DS games you sent, everything you sent.  Did you open my yet.  I hope you like it.  I am very happy.  Everybody woke up early, everybody but Sage.  Dempsey got a lot of dolls for Christmas.  She likes the stuff you sent her too.  We each gave her a present.  I got a machete for Christmas.  It was a fun Christmas.  I wish you were here at this Christmas. 

It snowed a lot.  We went sledding.  It was fun.

The Wonderful Day

This day takes place at the fourth of july.  It was a long drive.  We also had a parade.  The parade threw candy.  We also got some other stuff.  My mom bought some wall paper.  She wanted to pick it up after the fair, but the man who sold it to her had locked up his shop.  Months later, after my soccer game, we went back to the store.  It was there. 

Last night, we wrapped some presents.  I got to see all of Dempsey's and some of Mckelle's and of of Sage's.  It was a fun time. I got to wrap some myself.  The next day, Cole had to go get shots.  I also played on the computer, ate breakfast, took all the garbage out, and put stuff in the burn pile. 

Prairie Museum and other fun things

Zeke's favorite things were a collection of vintage toy weapons.  They were much better quality and much more realistic than the toy weapons made currently.  He also really liked learning about the tornadoes that came through Kansas.  Dempsey really like the pet cat and sheep that were on the museum's property.

St. Louis Zoo

Ostriches are very strange looking when they put their head down between their legs and they remain stationary from the neck down.  They had Grizzley Bears, those were a favorite. 

This is one of the only pictures we have of you.  I am really glad you let me take it.  We all love it, especially Dempsey.  We have it in a place where she can look at you whenever she wants too.  Every once in a while she will say, "My dad's at home."  All of my pictures are on the other computer.  I left my Mac in storage because I don't trust it to perform.  I do really miss it though, at least all of my software. 



There were so many leaves on the ground, they were practically neck-deep.  They were digging tunnels through them.  Dempsey disappeared for over a minute.  I was anxious but she came out laughing, and without shoes.

Cole's Birthday, Allie (Wesley's little girl) is the one closest to Cole. This is at Will's parents house.  They are so nice to us.  They have an adult daughter living with them that take the kids to the zoo, and another single daughter in her forties that has them over to her house to make cookies, and watch movies. 

Dempsey riding a Georgia Bulldog, on a break from trick or treating.  College sports are huge out here.  There are four competing teams: Tennesee (Will and Cole are fans) Auburn (Polly's team, they went to the championship this year, Georgia and Alabama.  I like Alabama because of your maroon hat.  "Roll Crimson Tide!"  Zeke is undecided about which team he likes the best.  Dempsey is a Bulldog fan (see above). 

Sage - 2 (Dempsey's nemesis.  If Sage wasn't a head taller and a very loud screamer, she would be more of a nusicance than a nemesis.)
Polly- Usually up a lot at night.
Will- Hunts deer (the season is like four months long,) when he isn't working or at school.
Cole-  4 (Poor Zeke is stuck playing with him a lot.)
Mckelle- 1 Super pleasent, just doesn't like to hold still for pictures.

Photo Shoot

These were taken at the Chickamauga Battlefield (Civil war, the south won that one) by Lindsay's camera (It's really nice.) 

August

Dempsey had a her 2nd birthday at the park.  She just wanted to play at the playground, with her new doll.  Someone would tell her "Happy Birthday" and she would say, "Happy Birthday" back.

Zeke's first day of second grade.  He  chose this outfit.  He reminds me of a little Alex Keaton with his shirt tucked in and buttoned to the top.

We have been playing in the yard a lot also.  Dempsey wants to go out there first thing in the morning. I don't blame her.  A fresh day is exhilarating.

We went to the Grand Mesa several times.  We hiked around lakes and up mountains.  We camped.  We haven't been fishing though.  Sorry Zeke.

Kicked in the face.

I guess you can count that it was eight at soccer, but I got kicked in the face twice at school.  So that would be ten times...I also got hit in the nuts three times.

Whirly and Swirly

I took Dempsey to church without underwear. She took it off right before we left.
Luckily, I had some in the car. She stayed dry for the whole block.

Zeke's definition of a miracle:
Something that is surprising, that people cannot do, only with God's help.

Surprise surprise!

She puts her finger up her nose. Puts her finger in her mouth.
Then she gets a surprised look on her face and says, "Ymmm!"

Zeke likes traveling in the truck. He likes sitting in the front
and being able to stretch out in the back. "This car, it's so..."
I couldn't hear the rest of his sentence over the engine and
the window Demspey had rolled down.

What Dempsey does for fun

Dempsey feeds the dog some cereal.

Mom: "Don't feed the dog."

Dempsey: "Huh?"

Mom: "Say it."

She says, "I won't feed the dog."

Mom gives back cup of cereal.

Dempsey: "Here doggie."

Mom takes the cup. Dempsey cries for two minutes.

Mom sets her up on the counter, away from the dog, and gives Dempsey her cereal back and tells her not to feed the dog.

Dempsey takes a piece of cereal and throws it across the kitchen, "Here doggie."

We love our family

Helping Dad 2004-2010

Vacation Bible School

Zeke went to vacation bible school at the baptist church all week. He had a lot of fun. He learned the scripture James 1:5 (If any of you lack wisdom...) I reminded him that that scripture was what prompted Joseph Smith to pray to find out with church to join and Jesus told him, "Not the Baptists."

They had a class "What is God's plan for me?" The answer was "God has a plan for me." We then talked about patriarchal blessings, modern day prophets, the holy ghost etc... I like Bible School. It allows for comparison and contrast.

Happy 4th

The Circus

The tightroping was Zeke's favorite thing about the circus.
No, the dirt bike riding, circle riding.

June

Zeke participated in a stormy bake sale. I got out Dempsey's winter coat for the 15th time so she could be comfortable during the hail storm. Incidentallly, I wrote a PR piece for the local paper in order to advertise it, her first published newspaper article.

The burned feet. We will never forget them, moreover becoming entangled with Human Services. The most horrible thing anyone has ever said to me came out of the mouth of a case worker, "The reason I didn't take your children today..."

Despite these events, we had a lot of fun at the Winsor reunion, playing with friends, decorating the new house etc..

We moved, for the 10th time in Zeke's lifetime, he wanted to count it up today. Dempsey climbed up to the top of that shelf, lots of times. She got down by herself one time, and it wasn't by falling. We also went to Mesa Verde. The swimming pool is at the KOA we stayed at. We watched Indian dances which we loved and helped me out with my book.

The beginning of our summer

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