The Next Lance Armstrong?

Growing up, I thought I was ok at sports. I played soccer all my life and am pretty decent. I could play other sports, run, ride my bike, etc. Mike was a little more athletic and excelled at soccer. My dad claims he was an All American at Ogden High (just kidding) so one would think it would be in the genes for my kids. Not so. For some reason, Gage and Landen just can't get the hang of riding bikes. Needless to say neither one of them will be the next Lance Armstrong. I have to place a little blame on Mike and I for not encouraging them to get oustide and excercise. Maybe we also let them watch a little too much tv as well. Not anymore! We now have daily excercise time. We have to ride bikes around the block each morning.

Gage is riding his new larger bike he got for his birthday, but isn't anywhere near getting his training wheels off. He is so afraid of going fast or even going down our driveway for that matter. Again, I partly blame myself. I am such an overprotective parent. I am always telling him to slow down and be careful. I think it might have something to do with where I work. Go figure.

Landen hasn't been able to pedal a trike (yes, he will be 4 in November) until recently. He loves to ride trikes but would just push with his feet. Mike had enough the other day and forced him to learn. He is actually doing pretty well now. He still pushes with his feet to get him started.

Maybe Tanner will be my bike rider. Poor thing. I usually only have pictures of him when he is strapped into something. At least its not a stroller this time.

Good Times at the Park

My dad found this great new park in South Ogden pretty close to where he lives. My mom thought it would be a great idea to have our Sunday dinner there this past week. It was a great idea, until the wind and the rain kicked in. There always has to be some sort of Zampedri/bad luck involved doesn't there? The food was great we just had to eat it really fast. Thankfully we were out of there before it started raining too hard.

Here's Tanner enjoying a roll. He loves to shove as much food as he can into his mouth at once.

Gage

Landen

Tanner

The three amigos!

This is why the park is so awesome. It has play toys and water and its free! It is right behind the Ogden Athletic Club. We haven't gone on a good day to be able to test the water out and now it is shut off until next year. I can't wait to try it out.

Rub a Dub Dub, Three Little Boys in a Tub

My kids love nothing more than playing in mommy and daddy's big tub. It's a rare occasion that I let them take a bath in it because they make such a mess. However on Sunday mornings when I am trying to get ready for church, it is a good distraction for them and I am able to keep an eye on them. Tanner loves to stand and let the water coming out of the tap splash onto his hands. He used to be afraid of the jets when they were turned on and would start crying, but this last time he loved it! We end up making a mess full of bubbles.

Landen's First Day of Preschool

Today was Landen's first day of preschool. We have been waiting for this day for a long time. Landen watched for two years as I dropped Gage and his buddy Zach off to this same preschool and Landen has wanted to go ever since. Mike and I had Landen pick out his school outfit last night and he knew just the one he would wear. He was so excited!

The backpack is almost bigger than Landen!

These two are such the best of friends. I don't know what they will do once we really get into the rythm of school and they won't see each other as much. Gage was really excited for Landen telling him what to expect and what to do.

Here is Landen with Mrs. Call. He walked right in. Some of the other kids were crying.

When I picked Landen up, I asked Mrs Call how he did. Landen replied for her, "Mommy, I did awesome!" He then ran up and gave Gage a big hug.

I always joke about how Landen is my difficult child, but he also amazes me. Since he was born while I was in nursing school, I feel like I wasn't there for him as much as I was for Gage. Landen is super smart and I can't take credit for any of it. He taught himself his colors by asking me what color each of his cars were, he taught himself to count by counting his cars and he learned his letters and sounds by doing them along with us as we worked with Gage. Landen is also my social child. He makes friends with everyone. Landen loves hanging out with Gage and his friends, but he also has many friends his own age. Gage still can't tell me the names of the kids who sit on his table at school and he has been in kindergarten for two weeks now. Landen told me the name of someone he met at preschool today. He also has three "girlfriends." It is so cute to listen to him talk about his "girlfriends." They are Hannah and Laken from church and his cousin Ava.

I am so proud of Landen, and I can't wait to see all the things he will learn in school!

Family Pictures

We finally were able to get family pictures. Nothing makes my mom happier than pictures and I believe we started talking about getting a big family picture once Brandy and I found out we were pregnant with Tanner and Adyson. I was really excited myself because mine and Mike's last picture of our own family only has Gage in it. We never did one with Landen. I blame nursing school. Sorry Landen. I feel like the kids did relatively well and am happy with how they turned out. I will have to crop a few of them.

The photographer took this one randomly of Landen. I love it. I wanted to get the boys' individual pictures, but decided they couldn't take anymore that night.

This is the Zampedri clan.

Here's our family with the grandparents included.

Now it just wouldn't be the same without some Zampedri luck would it? Once we were all posed with the kids, adults, and grandparents, the sprinklers turned on. You wouldn't believe how fast we scattered.

Here's my dad with his mom, my grandma Liz. She really holds the Zampedri family together. I am so grateful for her. I have really gotten to know her these past couple of years because she lives so close to my parents now. She is hilarious and I love how she tells it like it is!

This is my mom's parents, my Grandma and Grandpa Hall. They are such an example to me and have such a great marriage. I only hope I got some of their genes because they are so healthy and active.

Gage's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Gage had his first official day of kindergarten yesterday. About a week ago, he had school orientation where the parents were able to sit in on a shortened class and the students were able to get used to the teacher. Since then Gage has been so excited to actually start and I have been a nervous wreck. The past week I have been drilling into Gage all sorts of safety information about not talking with strangers and only going home after school with mommy or daddy. We walked the school a few times so he would recognize where his classroom was and where we would pick him up after school each day. I kept quizzing him on what his teacher's name was in case he got lost. It didn't take long for Gage to get tired of this routine of mine and he would cover his ears the second I began. I finally said that his teacher was the one who wanted us to review the safety rules with him. Gage then would listen because anything his teacher says must be important never mind what his parents say.

I have been so worried about Gage making new friends. He has had a best buddy since birth and they are inseparable. Unfortunately, they don't go to the same elementary since we moved. I have been talking to Gage about being friendly and introducing himself to others. We'll see what happens.

Walking to the bus stop.

Gage is the one with the Scooby Doo backpack.

We live within walking distance to the school, but the district doesn't want to pay for a crossing guard in the middle of the day. So, the kindergarteners get bussed to school in the afternoon and then the parents are responsible at the end of the school day. This actually works out nicely because starting in September I have Landen in morning preschool which is only 2 hrs. If I put him in afternoon I would have to interupt Tanner's nap to pick him up and we all know how important a l year old's nap is. I have Gage in afternoon kindergarten because it was the only way to get the teacher "everyone" recommended and from what I have seen thus far it is well worth it. If it wasn't for the bus and Mike being able to pick up Gage on the way home from his work, I would be strapping three children into carseats 4 times a day. Can you imagine?

At the end of his first day, Gage came home and said his favorite part was riding the bus. Gage instantly informed me saying, "Mommy, I was the only one wearing a seatbelt on the bus!" I didn't even know buses had seatbelts. Gage is not one to break the rules. I don't think I will have to worry about him much. Landen on the other hand.........Stay tuned for his first day of preschool.

Trip to Utah's Hogle Zoo

On Friday, Brandy and I decided to load up the kids and take them to the zoo. Gage wasn't in a good mood until we were able to make it to the reptile building to see the snakes and spiders. He has something with snakes lately. Landen of course loved the train ride. Tanner was just happy to be let out of his stroller every once in awhile. I'm not sure what Ava's favorite part was. She was simply happy to be there.

Here is the rowdy bunch posing on the tiger.

Row, row, row your boat. The kids loved hopping into this canoe for a picture. Ava's daddy would be proud because the display was sponsored by Cabela's.

I had a hard time getting Tanner out of the turtle shell. He loved sitting in it and playing peek-a-boo!

I love this picture! Tanner is in control of this catepillar.

Best buds!

A Birthday Party for Two

We finally "officially" celebrated Gage and Tanner's birthday yesterday. I say "officially" because it seems like we have been celebrating Gage's since his real birthday on the 3rd. Having 3 birthdays (Gage, Tanner, and me) within 6 days of each other has proven to be extremely difficult. I don't know how to celebrate them each year making each one special and individual without breaking the bank or running me ragged. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Anyway, the party was a lot of fun. It was great having my sister Brandy there and her family. She also was great helping me get ready for the party. There was tons of kids and I hope everyone had fun. We appreciate everyone's love and support!

Probably a few too many kids on the trampoline. Thankfully no one got hurt!

The airplane teetor totter was a hit! (I bought this while Mike was out of town. He was not happy to say the least.)

Gage received most of his presents on his actual birthday. How do you tell a 6 year old to wait? He did get this fun Wall E Robot from his Grandma Pedri.

Tanner was ready for bed by the time we opened his presents. I know he will love playing with all of them.

So I tried making some cakes from a book my friend authored (Cut up Cakes for Kids by Melissa Barlow). Thanks heavens Brandy was there to rescue the car. We think it turned out like the car on Harry Potter.

In keeping with the tradition of letting my kids destroy/eat a cake on their 1st birthday, I let Tanner have a go with his car cake. He was fascinated with the donut wheels. Once he was able to pry it off the car, he only wanted to eat the donut and have nothing else to do with the cake.

Gage picked the snake cake for me to make. I actually made this one all by myself. I think it turned out really cute don't ya think?

These two have been inseparable since she arrived from Cali!

Tanner also got this great swing for our swingset. I know you can't tell, but he really does love it!

Camping with the Hoovers

Last week, we went to Lava Hot Springs with the Hoovers. Mike wasn't really wanting to go because all of the work that was involved, but we ended up having a blast. The kids loved playing around the camp ground, roasting marshmallows and swimming at Lava. I hope we are able to go camping more often next year. It was nice getting away from tvs and reality for a while.




I was so proud of Tanner. I have never had him wear shoes so I was nervous about him walking and possibly crawling all over. He did awesome in his shoes and walking on the bumpy ground. Sometimes, we had to put him in his new playpen because he just kept bonking his head on everything and eating all the sticks and rocks he could find.



Laura had a great idea and had the kids go on a scavenger hunt. The kids found a certain number of rocks, sticks, and leaves. Then, they found their treasure which was a bag filled with fun toys.



Here are the babies at Lava. Tanner finally loved playing in the water. He kept walking up and down the stairs in the pool and would go head first when he missed a step.



The men showing off their physiques.



Landen loved shooting hoops with his Daddy!



Bombs away!



The family.

Happy Birthday Tanner!

Tanner turned 1 yesterday. This year has flown by. We were out of town camping so that's why I'm a little late with the post. Tanner has been such a fun addition to our family. Gage and Landen absolutely adore Tanner. Tanner loves playing with balls, cars, and anything he's not supposed to be into. He has started opening up the cupboards and loves to play with the real vacuum. He is walking all over and did great with shoes on the unsteady ground when we were up camping. Tanner's personality is really starting to come through. He is quite determined when it comes to something he wants and becomes upset if I don't let him have it. He loves to swim and splash in the water and play in our new backyard.


Tanner has more nicknames than anyone I know including Tanner bananers, Nanners, Cubby, Budzos, Chunker Munkers, and Gage recently started calling him Chunks.

I am so glad Tanner can be a part of our family. I love having 3 boys and I know they will continue to be the best of friends. I love ya Nanners!