Zach Quotes July 2025

 "I hope Bear (our cat) has a happy ending." (I thought this was so sweet. It made me smile.)

While I was dividing food from the food bank into boxes to hand out to some ward members and neighbors, you told me, "Mom, you're so generous!" 

We have been talking about covenants as we have been preparing for your and Nathan's baptisms. During one discussion, you said, "I love Jesus because He does what He says He will do." We talk a lot about agreements in our family and the importance of making them clearly and keeping them so this really resonated with you. 

Recognizing the Holy Ghost

Dear Zach, it's been too long since I've shared my heart with you here.

Recently you told me, "I think I've felt the Holy Ghost before!" You shared how, on the first day at your new microschool, you were nervous but as you were with the other kids and the teacher in a group gathering, you felt a warm, peaceful feeling go over your whole body. I said, "Zach! That was the Holy Ghost, comforting you!" You were so excited and gave me a big hug. I love this experience for you Zach. The Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts we have in the life. Do everything you can to stay close to Heavenly Father and to have His Spirit to be with you. He will guide, warn, protect, comfort, teach, testify, bring things to your remembrance, and help you make decisions. Take time every day to nourish your Spirit, pray and listen.

I love you,

Mom

Cute Zach Quote

 Zach: My feet are out of function. They feel tingly. 

Mom: They're probably asleep.

Zach: That's good. They need rest. 

This made me smile. So cute!

You make me smile.

 May / June 

• Looking at the ceiling while praying at mealtime you said, "Heavenly Father and Jesus, will you help us with all of our problems? And spin the earth around and come to us."
• You asked me to remove the "flag" (tag) from your shirt.
• You give a thumbs up when you like something. 
• You excitedly exclaimed, "I get to go to Cindy's house this year! It's Tuesday!"

July / August

• You told me, "When no one is around Jesus is still with me. When there are monsters He will protect me. Jesus will be my shield. Jesus is the only one that can be my shield." I love this so much. You are building faith in Christ at a young age and it is beautiful to witness. 
• You exclaimed to Nathan (about a car), "You're a fix-it-up chappie?!?"
• In frustration and sadness, you exclaimed, "I have nothing left in my heart! I have nothing left but stupid bones!"
• We were getting ready for your first day of preschool. I told you it's called Climbing Caterpillars. You exclaimed, "Climbing Caterpillars?!? I don't want to climb!" I explained that isn't what you will be doing there. I then told Nathan the name of it (he hadn't heard our conversation) and you added, "But you don't have to climb anything." I thought that was pretty cute.
• Lately you and Nathan have been saying inappropriate words quite often. We have tried many things to stop this language, especially because it has become a problem at preschool (loss of priveldges, time out, etc). Nothing has been working. Part of the problem is hearing these words (stupid, idiot, moron, etc) from your older brothers (who also get consequences but still say these words). Although it isn't my favorite teaching technique, I have turned to soap in your mouths when you use this language. I just put a little bit of liquid soap on your tongue and then immediately wash it out with water. One day, you came out of the bathroom and I asked you if you washed your hands. You said, "There's not any soap left. You put all the soap in my mouth so there's not any more." 
• You pronounce animals "aminals." It's pretty cute.
• You got a squishmallow (big, soft pillow pet) for your birthday that looks like a pineapple. His name is Maui. One day I overheard you announce, "Maui is going to pineapple school. Only pineapples are allowed."
• One day while Josh was having a hard time, you said to me, "Even when Daddy is gone he still loves Joshua." So sweet and true.

Catching up

Dear Zach,

It has been way too long since I have written to you here. I have some catching up to do.

2020:

July

You asked me, "Mom, what is that over there?" You pointed out the back door to the dark outside where we saw a window lit up in another house. I told you it is someone's house with the light on inside. You said, "You are a smart mom. You are very smart."

September

"Mom, you always be there for me."

I get the sweetest hugs and kisses from you and Nathan at bedtime. I just love you both so much.

October

You asked, "What you go there mom?" You were looking at my diamond stud earrings. I showed you and you said, "That's magical. I can see the magic coming out of it."

December

You had the hiccups and said, "My throat keeps coughing." It was pretty cute.

Cindy gave each of us some Christmas gifts. After, you said, "I love my new toys! Cindy is a good helper!" 

2021:

January

During your prayer you thanked Heavenly Father for seeing a train and for seeing "the one on the track resting its wheels." This made me smile. I love that you are learning to talk to Him as your father - that you can tell Him what is important to you.

February 

After an argument with Nathan, you told me, "Nathan broke my heart!"

A different time Nathan said to you, "You hurt my brain and broke my heart!" Most of the time you boys get along but you also fight quite a bit too. 

You love pockets (in your shorts / pants and shirts). You prefer to wear clothes that have pockets.

March

You said, "When everyone is fighting you calm everyone down. You're the calmer."

You were looking at a picture of Christ with children and said, "Jesus fixes my broken heart." So sweet.

I asked you why you bit Nathan. "Because I have sharp teeth like a dinosaur, that's why."

A pet peeve of mine that you and Nathan do often: you put your wet pee underwear in the dryer of clean clothes. I am trying to redirect you to put it in the laundry basket in the laundry room or on the floor in there but I still find them in the dryer often. I'm not mad about it but it is a little frustrating. As we say often in our family, "We can be frustrated with each other and still love each other." 

We saw a little girl at the park. You said to her, "If you need help ask my mommy. She is a helper. She helps people."

Also at the park: "I'm going to try this hard thing. I'm good at hard things. Are you good at hard things Mommy?"

One day you asked me, "When is daddy going to come home from work with his money?"

April

You like to deconstruct your ham and cheese sandwiches. The other day you did this and said "I don't like the insects (insides). They are not very good." 

You love cutting paper with scissors (sometimes I give you kid scissors and paper and let you cut it over the recycling bin).

The park is your happy place.

.......................................................

I love you buddy! You make me smile every day. You are so loving (you love to give hugs and show affection to those you're close to) and have such a happy disposition (most of the time). You are our easiest kid to put to bed (you often put yourself to bed). You are doing great with potty training - still some pee accidents but 100% trained with poop. I'm so grateful I get to be you mom. Love, Mom

Adorable: some recent updates

Dear Zach,

You are 20 months old. You are a joy and make us smile daily.

• January: you started saying "baboo" for bubble and "Dada" for anything you don't know the word for. You and Nathan also started to blow kisses, wave and say "nigh nigh" when it was time for nap or sleep. 
• February: Whenever I would give you a snack, you would take it with your mouth instead of your hand. This would make me laugh. I have also noticed you love to learn new things. 
• April: You recognize some colors. You recognize and can say "purple" which is so cute. 
• You and Nathan figured out how to open the doors to the church and one of the ladies I exercise with found you both out in the parking lot the other day while we were inside stretching at the end of class. I am so worried about you guys getting out now and think I will have to keep you in your stroller during my class, which I know you will hate near the end.
• You are learning sign language and know several signs, which you use so well. I only taught you the sign for "potty" once and tonight while I was getting you ready for bed, it seemed like you might need to go a bit in your diaper before I changed you. I asked, "Do you need to go potty in your diaper Zach?" and you excitedly signed "potty" with a big smile on your face. You are smart and a quick learner. You and Nathan love watching "Baby Signing Time" and you point to your wrists (the sign for "time") while jumping up and down, your way and telling me you really want to watch it.
• You like hot wheel cars and trains. Today I built a train track for you and you had so much fun pushing trains on it. 
• You love green smoothies. I often make these as an after school snack when the boys get home.
• You have a pretty easy going personality.
• When we sign "I love you" and say it to you, you try to sign your own version (which looks like you're signing an E) and say, "Nanoo." It is one of the most adorable things I have ever seen. 
• You are adorable and fun and we love you a lot.

This picture shows your personality. You kept picking this squishy ball up in with your mouth when it was rolled to you, instead of with your hand. So cute! April 2019 

You eventually did pick it up with your hand and throw it. You seem to like kicking  and throwing balls. 

Handsome boy. 19 months old

Love, Mom

Halloween 2018

Two cute skeletons, a cool older skeleton, the cutest mummy ever, and Cinderella (affectionately referred to as Ellie-rella).