Spain-ish

I achieved a little victory today. I finally got Noah to let me video him saying something in Spanish. See if you can figure out what it is. He's funny about speaking for anyone outside of his class. He won't do it. I don't know if he is burnt out (his class is primarily taught in Spanish) or if he just figures he is wasting his efforts on people who don't understand him.

Just so you know, Noah speaks what we refer to as Spain-ish. He has told me on several occasions that a word or way of saying something is "mexican spanish." His first teacher was a native of Spain and very particular about pronunciation. I guess it's like learning British English versus our English. Anyway, Noah has a little attitude about it. He loves to correct me when I attempt to pronounce anything. (Maybe Ryan could talk to him and put him in his place.)

"Mom can I have a pillow for my tongue?"

Zack had a little accident today. He fell off the barstool and bit his tongue. He didn't quite know how to make himself feel better. After I explained to him that he couldn't have a band-aid he requested the previously mentioned pillow. Then he started complaining that he couldn't smell with his tongue anymore. Things are looking up though. His big brothers were sufficiently impressed with his injury. Now I think he's rather proud of himself and his gross looking tongue.

An Interesting Statistic

Prior to the three baby blessings we had in church yesterday our Bishop commented that our ward has 91 infants (and 150 children). I am pretty sure we will hit 100 before the year is through. Just thought I'd throw that out there. And don't worry I am not going to give into peer pressure.

The pumpkin patch

Zack was excited when I told him today we were going to the pumpkin patch for his preschool field trip. When I tried to get him in the car to leave he was a little upset and confused. The poor kid thought we were going to our pumpkin patch. At least he didn't have outrageous expectations for the field trip.



Instead the kids went to Hee Haw Farm. Maybe next year some unfortunate preschool will want to book the Francis Pumpkin Patch for a field trip. I will have some improvements to make before then. It will be hard to compete with Hee Haw. It was really fun. I won't show everything because there is a lot of stuff, but here are some of the kids favorite things.
The corn maze leads to a future project for Grandpa.
We think it is time for the McGarry farm to be a little more fun. Here's a start. It took Zack forever to get the courage to go down. I wish I got a better picture of the look on his face. It was hilarious, a cross between sheer terror and joy. When he was at the bottom, he took a deep breath and jumped up with a big smile on his face and ran back into line.
Zack and I really liked this cute little bunny village. Zack loved the bunny garden and bunny fountain. They even have a temple (according to Ben), this is Utah after all.

Meet LeRoy the pig, all 1200 pounds of him.
We went on a little hay ride.
They passed around a sunflower and let the kids take a seed. They were supposed to take a seed, Zack took a whole bunch of seeds. We made it home with exactly zero. Shh, don't remind him. I think he had grand plans for our flower beds.

Pumpkin Patch tip: plant giant sunflowers to prevent bugs. Dang, I guess we really could have used those seeds. The kids got to go into the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin. Zack wanted a very specific tiny and fat one with a little green and orange. I didn't think we would ever find it. There were A LOT to choose from. We saw nearly all of them.


I can't even tell you how glad I am that the sunflowers were dying. Zack would still be there trying to pick one and I don't have a big enough vase .

This picture is for Grandpa:


So you are probably wondering what pictures I didn't include. There were a few. Sorry it is so long. But one last slide before we go... I wonder how many slides can boast that kind of view.

A Favorite Spot

This is Tibble Fork Reservior in American Fork Canyon. It is one of our family's favorite places to go. Isn't the view of Timp pretty impressive? We took the kids for FHE last night.
Zack saw alligators and baby fish in the water. I wish I had his eye sight.
Leaves are like flowers....

All I want for Christmas

My kids have been deciding (since January) what to ask Santa to bring this year. They narrowed it down to a Wii. I really hope they get it. Because if they do, Santa can bring me this:

I am going to be really, really good.

Intolerance

I like to think of myself as an open minded person. I try to consider other's opinions and to appreciate different points of view. I have a neighbor though, who is really testing me. Let me say that she is a great person, I really like her. But we have one major difference of opinion that is really, really bothering me.

You see, I am staunchly anti-weed. So much so that I may border on having an OCD. I hate the sight of them. I can't stand the thought of them growing. I pull them, spray them; do anything I can to prevent them. I fight myself not to pull them in other people's yards. (That would be a little weird). I've trained Zack to be a weeder, he knows how to get the root. Just try to find one in my yard.

I've never actually asked, but I am pretty sure that my neighbor is pro-weed. She must be because she's completely ignored the 3 month yard requirement (it's been 2 years). She is violating various city ordinances and is paying monthly fines. She looks at this every day and doesn't do anything about it.

The only reason they aren't worse, is because this summer I have invested 2 1/2 bottles of Round-Up and two packs of Pokemon cards (a bribe for my kids to help pull weeds) in an unsuccessful attempt to fight them. But this problem is bigger than me. Apparently it is bigger than our neighborhood because I am not the only one complaining and still nothing changes. All I can figure is that she must love them. I just don't know if I can ever come to appreciate that point of view. Anyway, I am going to call the city again. At least this time I know I am right. And I've got the law on my side.