BIG Surprise

Gavin was pretty surprsied when I pulled this

out of the fridge today. Grandma Stewart sent this home last night and I saved it as a special surprise for Gavin. I had him close his eyes while I got it out and when instructed, he opened his eyes and in Gavin fashion, gasped and proclaimed, "That's a really BIG strawberry mommy. I love it! Thank you soooo much!" It's the small and simple things!

Proper TV watching techniques demonstrated

Apparently Gavin doesn't believe in the whole "If you sit too close to the TV you'll go blind" axiom. We woke up in the morning to find Gavin perched in front of the boob tube. Nothing like starting the morning off right with a little Caillou.

Santa???

So Hayden has been bumped up from "elf" to Santa
with this glorious beard of spittle!
Apparently one of all those numerous immunizations they gave Hayden a few moths ago didn't include his Rabies shot...I guess I'll have to look into that - but if it's too late, we've rented "Old Yeller" as an instructional video!

I guess it's time I did this...

Tag I'm It
Three jobs I have had in my life:
1. Data Entry
2. Nail Technician
3. Scentsy Consultant

Three movies I watch over and over:
1. Sabrina
2. Harry Potters
3. Wedding Planner

Three places I have lived
1. Mesa
2. Mesa
3. Mesa

Three TV Shows that I watch:
1. Apprentice
2. So You think You Can Dance
3. The Office

Three places I have been: 1
. California
2. Washington D.C.
3. Texas

People who email me (regularly):
1. Maren
2. Kristen
3. Dorothy with Scentsy :0)

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Cereal
2. Mexican
3. Pastries

Three places I would rather be right now:
1. Italy
2. In a hot tub
3. I’m at home right now and I like that so I’d like to just be at home

Three Things I am looking forward to in 2008:
1. Mom quitting school (finger’s crossed)
2. Phoenix Home and Garden Show
3. The possibility of Justin being done with school

F in a Circle

As Gavin walked down the hall, crayon in hand, I knew it wasn't going to be a good thing. I looked at his face, his big ol' grin spread across it and he looks up at me and says, "Mommy, I made F's with circles, come see!" A surge of anger came over me as I followed him into his room and there they were...all over the wall just over his bed, big F's with circles around them. As I looked from the "masterpiece" to my little Gavin with a proud grin on his little face...that moment of anger turned into a moment of love. A love that, despite syrup stained carpet, butter smeared floors and color strieked walls, is unconditional and grows stronger with each and every day! I love you Gavin!!

Mesa's Ireland

The Blarney Stone?? Justin didn't realize how baggy his pants are!!












One of our Valentine's Day activities included a nature walk. Justin found this green haven not too far from our house down by the Salt River. We pulled up and I couldn't believe how lush and green it was - a little piece of Ireland here in Mesa, Arizona. Even in a dry desert, you can find a gorgeous oasis bursting with life and vitality. It really made me appreciate this beautiful earth that the Lord has given us. We are blessed!

A Heapin' Good Time

Hayden has been having just that since we got our Saucer back. He loves to sit and play in there and I couldn't resist snapping a few photos of my cutie at play!

"We Gotta Get Outta Here"

This last Wednesday night we experienced a joyous event that all young parents will go through at some point in time - Our first emergency trip to the doctor who, as luck would have it, is also our brother. We were enjoying a quiet night at home, which at the Heap house, usually involves a peaceful atmosphere, stimluating conversation, light opera, and whatever inane degenerate reality show FOX has forced upon us. (Stupid writer's strike!) When suddenly, the peace of our home, was broken by a screaming Gavin bolting into our family room. This is not unusal at the Heap house. What was unusual was the inch long cut on his hand fountaining blood onto our kitchen floor. Upon questioning our young son as to what had occured he calmly explained that a "shark had got him." (Shark attacks are also not a usual occurence at the Heap household.)
So, we put in a call to our family surgeon, who was having dinner with a friend at the time, and with paper towel for a bandage, we headed off to Greg's office.
"It takes a village" they say and in this situation I would have to agree. With Grandma Heap pinning his body down, Daddy holding his hand down, Dr. Stewart doing the sewing and Mommy assisting the good doctor...it sure felt like a village. After Greg had cleaned the wound, mind you the surgery hadn't yet begun, Gavin states in a whisper, "I don't like the doctor." to which we all laughed. But the laughing had just begun. As we got further and further into the stitching, Gavin said all sorts of things bringing on chuckles from all, but the one thing he kept repeating was, "We gotta get outta here." He said it to each one of us in turn, "Mommy, we gotta get outta here," "Daddy, we gotta get outta here," etc. in the hopes that one of us would hear his cries and we would, well, get him outta there.
Finally, when all was stitched and bandaged up, Gavin hopped down from that table, looked up at Grandma Heap and said, "We gotta get outta here...we better run." I guess he didn't want any further torture to occur that night.
On the way home, Gavin received an Oreo blizzard for good behavior, and we also picked up a steel mesh diving suit to protect against future shark attacks.