Elmo!!!

What can I say Zack loves Elmo!

It all started when he was 6-7 months old. when i was nursing him one morning and trying to find something good to watch on t.v.(we only have basic t.v. :P) I surfed into Elmo's World and when Zack heard Elmo's cute little voice he sat up and looked at the t.v. and grinned from ear to ear and started to cooed. YES!!! My Monkey loves Elmo!!! that was the start of it all; of loving Elmo.

For Christmas he got a little stuff Elmo and a Kiss me Elmo that his aunt Becky gave him which he loves very much.

In January Zack was playing with his smaller Elmo and he confused it with his big Kiss Me Elmo. It just made me laugh watching him trying to get his little Elmo to perform. Finally, I had to explain to Zack that his little Elmo does not do that only his big Kiss Me Elmo did.


What can I say my monkey loves Elmo,Monkeys,his blanket, chuck trucks, books, balls,passies etc... My monkey just likes a myriad of things -- he is a well rounded kid.

It's a Nubbin!!!!

As long as I can remember I have not been to eat the end of most foods. In my family it's called "the nubbin." You know, that last bite of a french fry, etc. When I was very small instead of popping that last bit of fry into my mouth, I would lay it on my plate/wrapper. Mom asked me why I wasn't eating it and I replied, "I don't like the nubbins." It's stuck.

My little Zack is much like his Daddy, he LOVES all things potatoes. Most of the time when Mom and I are in the car together he starts communicating he wants french fries. He'll make the sign for "more" and start blowing. (mommy always blows on then before giving it to him) Well, the other day I was getting him out of the carseat, I spotted . . . NUBBINS! Zackary is becomimg like his mommy and does not like eating the very last bite of his foods. Oh no, what have I created???

I love being Zacky's Mom!

Being so cute

On Monday, April 26th I was preparing for Zack's bath -- turning the water on, gather toys, towels and soaps when I heard some noises on the stairs. I turned and saw him struggling as he was climbing up the stairs bringing his little Elmo and one of his monkeys to join him for bath time! Elmo and Monkeys -- the best of 2 worlds. That boy worked very hard, but he made it up the stairs with no assistance from me. Needless to say he was very pleased with himself.

On Tuesday, April 27 while I was giving Zack his bath he was doing his usual splashing and playing with his bath toys. At one point he picked up his walrus bath toy and held it like a baby. Zack rocked it from side to side and kept saying baby over and over. It was so cute but, Zack IS cute so why wouldn't he be doing cute things?

I love being Zack's Mommy

I Did It!

I did it!!! Yesterday, I finally took my drivers test and I passed . . . I am an official licensed driver! At age 16 when everyone else was learning to drive, I was fighting for my life. Well, now I have a beautiful life AND a drivers license!

At the age of 16 when all of humanity is thinking of nothing but driving and dating, I was waging a battle for my life. I had a malignant brain tumor. Surgeries, meds, and other procedures left me drugged and with blind spots. I lost all confidence in myself regarding driving and for many years, I just was too afraid to attempt driving . . . then, I married my Ben. Ben has always believed I could do anything, including driving. He bought me a car and I started practicing. Everywhere we went, he had me drive. He never gave up on me! So yesterday, with the threat of my permit expiring at the end of the month and with a blessing from my husband I took my driver's test -- I passed! I couldn't believe it, I passed.

Terrible picture, but had to prove I am a proud owner of a driver's license. To celebrate the great event, my husband and baby boy went out and bought me a charm for my bracelet.
I truly am blessed and have a beautiful life!

Historic Event in the Durney Family!

In February my sweet family, Ben, Zack and I flew out to Utah for a historic Durney Family moment! We drove up to Blackfoot, Idaho with Ben's parents and his little brother Danny to celebrate along with most of the descendant's of Gordon Durney (Ben's Great Grandpa) his 100th Birthday -- Yes, you read that right, 100th!!! It was so exciting to see that happen in your very own family, since it is so rare!

It was so nice to see that sweet man again and this time Zack was more aware. When we were getting our picture taken Zack would not even look at the camera ( normally he poses) he just couldn't keep his eyes off of his Great Great Grandpa Durney!!!






It was such a joyous occasion I am so happy that so many family members came for this celebration. It's amazing that so many people can descend from just one person in 100 years and that he actually had the chance to see it for himself!



We all chatted and mingled getting to know more of the extended family.We sang happy birthday to him it was just such a nice day to be able to see this mark in history!

I wanted to be able to take pictures of family with him but towards the end his energy was just getting depleted. But, I was able to snap a few of him with his children and then with their spouses.


We unsuccessfully tried one last time before we left to get a picture of him with Zack looking at the camera but Zack was true to form . . . he was fascinated with his Great Great Grandpa Durney.



In my opinion, the most precious moment of all (depicted in the following picture) Ben's Uncle Brian and Aunt Kristy's son Alex announced to his great grandpa "Grandpa I am going on a mission" Wouldn't that be so incredible to hear that from one of your great grand children?


What a truly blessed live he has lived!

Happy 1st Birthday Zack!

It's so hard to believe that a year has passed since Heavenly Father brought this amazingly funny, active precious spirit into my life. I had never really longed to be a mother like some women, mostly because of my health. But, once he was here I cannot imagine ever having lived without this glorious, precious experience. I love being a mother and I love my Zack more than I could ever even explain. March 7th we celebrated Zack's first birthday, it was such a fun day! He wore his Birthday Boy outfit with a matching bib and cute little socks to church and then afterwards, during his nap time Ben and I finished getting ready for the party! We had all of our family over. My parents, my sister Becky and her kids Molly, Ben, Katie, Jack, Hannah, Emma, my grandparents, Richard and Phyllis (Duane's parents), Ben's uncle Alan and Aunt Lori, and their children, Jessie, Christan,Jackie, Ciera, and Jonathan.

The theme was Monkeys. We got out all the monkeys we had all over the living room.

We had one of Zack's Favorite meals -- PIZZA!!!!! We decide to order and get Papa Merphy's the night before and then we baked them the next day. So much easier to do that then making home made.

We had 2 birthday cakes one for Zack to destroy it had a monkey on top of it and one for everyone else to have which was a banana and it was so yummy and it was homemade.
Zack had some of that as well.

Well with his cake he destroyed it really well. it was like anWell with his cake he destroyed it really well. it was like an earth quake had happen on that cake.

He received so many presents -- chuck&friends trucks, books, little shoes, alligator xylophone, sesame street stuffed characters, Elmo See & Say, an old fashion toy phone that both Ben and I had when we were kids, bath toys, lots of clothes and a lot more! One of his sweetest presents was a homemade afghan that his Daddy made for him.

At the end of the night he was really tired form all the excitement. But it was a really great day.

I am so blessed to have Zack in my life.

A Hurricane in Oklahoma???

Apparently, a hurricane has made its way to Oklahoma. It blew in sometime yesterday morning. I was applying some makeup and styling my hair for the day and noticed that it had gotten a bit quiet in the house. Hmmm, I decided I’d better go hunt for my little shadow.

Was he in the kitchen?

Nope, but what’s this??? I know I didn’t leave it in this condition.

Was he in the living room?

Nope, but what’s this??? It must be a natural disaster . . . Tornado? Earthquake?

I heard some noise in the bathroom and hurried back to discover . . .

Hurricane Zackary had struck again!

How could this innocent creature cause so much havoc?

I am so richly blessed, natural disasters or not!