"Quote of the Week"

Daddy asked, "Josh what is your favorite animal at the zoo?"
Josh answered, "Me."

Science Day at the Zoo

We spent most of yesterday at the Dallas Zoo. The main event was Science Day. There were booths strategically placed around the zoo to teach the kids about science that affects the animals or environment in which they live. Each booth had four different activities so that preschoolers could participate as well as middle schoolers. After listening well participants received a token that they could exchange for a toy at the entry to the zoo. Our kids each received six tokens, which they exchanged for zoo bubbles.

Josh was fascinated by the penguins swimming in their tanks. He went back for a second look after our lunch break on the rocks.

We challenged Julie to smile like a chimp:). Quite a resemblance. . . .

Here, David is imitating the chimp's scared look. Looks more like a natural David smile to me:).

What did James do at the zoo? He hung out in the stroller, walked in Mommy's arms, and played in the creek at the Children's Zoo.

All in all the day was great. The kids really did well at the science booths, the temperature was cooler, and the humidity level tolerable. We were exhausted at the end of the day, but happy:). Why don't you show your happy chimp grin.

Promised Picture

Okay, so here is the picture of Julie sans teeth, finally. The tooth fairy gave her a dollar for each tooth she lost. Julie blew half of it a week or two later on a school lunch (I think it was pizza day).

The Love of My Life

This is Jesse, the love of my life. On September 2 we celebrated our seventh anniversary. Although the picture above is almost three years old, Jesse hasn't changed much . . . except for the addition of a few white hairs. This picture epitomizes Jesse: he is an inventive, handy kind of guy who likes his manly tools (insert Tim the Tool Man grunts here). In the picture he fixed a water heater at the Cannon family ranch in Utah. Since we moved to Texas, he has fixed my dryer and my vacuum and my van's radiator system, saving us tons of money in labor costs. I do have to admit -- it took me a while to back off and let him work. My brothers would take things apart when I was growing up but they could never put anything back together to work again (love you, Tim). For a long time I would fret when Jesse started a project, worrying that I would never use whatever again. But I have finally relaxed and let him go at it, grateful that he is so handy.

My favorite thing about Jesse is his soft-spoken nature. He can calm our home when my fiery temper gets out of control. He is more quick to show compassion to the children when they are in need, especially at the end of the day when my patience is worn thin. Needless to say, he is my better half. There are many times that I wonder why he married me with all my weaknesses and bad habits, but I am truly grateful he turns a blind eye to those things to love me and to lift me. What a guy!!!

Me, Myself, and I

So of course I have chosen to post the most flattering picture I have of myself. This was actually taken while I was still pregnant with James. By now, my hair is about three inches longer and I am -- well -- about the same weight, unfortunately. My excuses include: no time to exercise with four children demanding my attention; I can't wake up before the kids because they just wake up with me; evening is either Jesse time or church time or choir time. Maybe someday when all the kids are in school, and I have time to myself. . . .

I love to read, but I have learned to be cautious. I can easily immerse myself in a good book, but I ignore my children and household until I finish it, so I have found it best to read magazines or quick newspaper articles online. The books I have been reading lately are nonfiction subjects such as economics and politics. I can easily put them down and ignore them for a couple of weeks until I can pick them up again. Of course, I did treat myself to the seventh Harry Potter when it came out in July.

I started singing in an amateur choir this fall. Since I have only ever sung in church choirs, I was pretty surprised at the intensity of our first rehearsal. One requirement for membership in the choir is to learn the music on your own time. My week after getting the music was quite busy, so I looked only at the two pieces the director specifically requested we have ready for the next week. Naturally, I stumbled along when he had us sing two or three more pieces that evening. I have since mended my ways and reviewed the music daily, even if it has only been to work out trouble spots on one or two pieces. I will be more prepared next Thursday!

Th-th-th-that's all folks. It's dinner time. And the kids are getting a little crazy from being ignored for half an hour. (Daddy was on the phone while I was writing.)

"Quote of the Week"

Julie comments on the fact that I turn 30 next year: "You're almost a grandma!"

NEWS FLASH

Julie lost two teeth in one week! The first one came out Monday after school. She had been watching a video with her brothers in the master bedroom while I was working on the computer in the living room. She came running in with tooth in hand complaining that it was bleeding. (The first two teeth she lost hardly bled at all.) We ran into the bathroom with a cup of water so she could rinse out her mouth. She received a dollar from the tooth fairy. The second tooth came out Thursday night while she was brushing her teeth. She now sports a four-baby-teeth-wide gap on her bottom gum line, through which two adult teeth can be seen. She received a second dollar from the tooth fairy. Is there a rule limiting how much the tooth fairy can give one child in such a short time?

PICTURE COMING SOON.

The Baby

James is our newest Cannon. He was born at the end of April, so he is now 4 1/2 months old. He is a sweet little boy: he only fusses if he is hungry, tired, bored or frustrated. He loves to smile at Mommy, Daddy, and Juju (Julie's nickname); he is still a little wary of the big boys as they tend to be rough with him, despite repeated reminders to be soft. He loves to chew on his monkey toy, as he is currently drooling to excess since he started teething a month ago. Josh got his first tooth at five months, so I expect James to pop one out at any time. When put on his tummy, he can scoot himself backwards across the room.

James is our miracle baby, although not in the sense that most people think of babies as being miracles. I suffered from an odd depression while I was pregnant with James. Everyone talks of Post-Partum Depression, but I have never heard of warnings for pre-natal depression. Yet, I experienced real feelings of dread and despair from the time I found out I was pregnant right up to and through delivery. Jesse even gave me a blessing because I was ashamed of feeling so sad when I should have been feeling happy, and I wanted desperately to overcome the despair. However, I was told in the blessing that though my Father in Heaven was mindful of my sorrow, this was an opportunity to strengthen my faith in the atonement of Christ.

When I went in to deliver, the dread increased. I didn't want to do the work necessary to give birth, just wanted to be put to sleep and wake up with a baby in my arms. But he came quickly, and I got through the process well enough. The nurses wanted to get his temperature up, so when he wasn't eating, he was in the nursery staying warm. I didn't complain, since he was born at 1:00 in the morning, and Jesse and I needed the sleep. But around 5:00 I couldn't sleep anymore. I wanted my baby! I was so relieved when the nurse brought him to me to feed him. The depression was lifted. The next day Jesse and I talked about how both of us had felt the distinct impression that he was meant to be a part of our family. I am truly grateful for my sweet miracle baby James.

Video Time!

Funny kids, a beautiful and talented mom, the dad who looks just like Pierce Brosnan (almost)- get to know the Cannons... if you dare.

The Two-Year-Old

Josh is full of energy. He loves to climb and ride and jump and dig -- typical boy stuff. He loves to play with trains and cars and dinosaurs. He loves to play chase with his brother and sister. He is our resident copy cat: he likes to say and do everything he sees Julie or David do, even if they get into trouble because it is the wrong thing to do. He loves to make us laugh: he looks around with a proud look on his face if we laugh at something silly he does or says. He also gets a kick out of telling us the one knock-knock joke he knows over and over again.

My favorite thing about Josh is his cuddliness. He has always been our family teddy bear, loving to give and to receive hugs. He loves having a baby brother and tries to hug and love him like Mommy and Daddy do. Unfortunately for James, he is like the big guy in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men: he loves things to death, so we have to supervise anytime Josh holds or plays with James.

Middle Child

David likes to find humor in everything, even in getting into trouble. One day he was in the bathroom playing in the sink, and I was giving him a lecture with an extra serious face. He had been playing with a pour spout that had been cut out of a half-gallon milk carton; he proceeded to put the spout in his mouth and stick his tongue through it. I couldn't help myself: I burst out laughing. So much for my serious lecture!

David loves all things fun! If he isn't having fun, he lets you know. He used to enjoy playing with trains; now he prefers to build bridges for the trains out of legos to elevate the tracks. He likes to build models with Daddy and make houses out of lincoln logs or couch pillows. He loves to play in our sandbox outside and to ride his bike really, really fast. He loves to tell the knock-knock jokes we have taught him - all two of them! over and over again!

My favorite thing about David is his sweetness. He always compliments Mommy or Julie when we are dressed up and "so beautiful." He loves his baby brother; he helps James be happy if Mommy needs an extra minute or two to finish something. If I remember to ask him to be a helper, he follows directions more quickly than if I command him brusquely.