all i can say is

REALLY?

Homework: So let's get this straight, France bans homework? So not fair. In October President Francois Hollande vowed to ban after-school work in public schools. The move is in part designed to even the academic playing field between kids with overly involved parents and kids with just the opposite.

 

Is that what we have come to?

Zach is 12

12 years of Christmas interruption has come and gone.  Every year on the 19th, we take a break from Frosty and candy canes to celebrate an amazing boy.  It's a good thing we love him so much, or we might hold a grudge for disrupting December festivities.  But, we are so grateful to have Zach in our home and here are 12 reasons why.

1.  He is full of life and he makes life fun. There is never a dull moment when Zach is around.
2.  Zach likes to participate in everything.  If there were only more hours in the day.
3.  Zach can make you feel like a million bucks without saying a word.
4.  The world is very black and white for Zach.  He knows what is right and doesn't mind telling people about it.  He is already a great missionary.
5.   We love Zach's confidence.  We sometimes wish it could be bottled and sold. 
6.  He is soooo excited to get the priesthood and go do baptisms.  It was his only birthday wish.
7.  We love his gravelly voice and hope it never goes away.
8.  He loves his brothers and sisters, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, and cousins.  He is a good communicator and loves to chat, text, call, tweet (not), and talk to them.
9.  Zach tries hard at everything that he does. Gym, choir, basketball, cross country, band, school, scouts, etc . . it is always his best effort.
10.  Zach is a great student and wants to always do his best.  He has his sights set on being a Cougar, but has informed us that is only for undergrad because he currently wants to be a dentist.
11.  He is friendly to everyone at school.  I love that a ton about him.  Everyone in his class would call him a friend and I admire that so much about him. 
12. He loves to help others.  I know if I want something done right, I can ask Zach to do it. 

In our opinion, anyone who knows Zach is lucky.  He is a light to those around him and we love him tons. Happy Birthday, Zach!

A post about absolutely nothing other than . . .

I am not a good photographer and it doesn't help that we stopped on the way home from church to attempt a photo of the hungry, bursting out of their church clothes, willfully looking like robots, uncooperative children.  So, here is an early Merry Christmas from the most photogenic, agreeable children.

Did I mention that this was unsuccessful?  And, really, these are the best of the bunch.  Ron had to listen to me whine about my camera again.  It, the camera, took a lot of heat that day.  Anyway . . .