*** By way of explanation, Scott and I have always joked that our family chaos is reminiscent of a zoo. So we like to joke that we're The Zoo, and our kids are our monkeys. The nickname Crack Monkeys happened on a day that they were very much wild and made me think of monkeys if they were on speed or something. It's an affectionate thing and is in no way meant to be demeaning or insulting.***
The Zoo Keepers
The Zoo Keepers
Scott is a native Utahn, born and raised. He comes from a family of 4 sisters, and likes to joke that it prepared him for being married to a crazy Filipino (me). He served an LDS mission to the Philippines and can speak the language; I can't. He also works as a Network Engineer for the LDS Church, but I can't tell you what his job entails; I'm just married to him, ha. Scott likes to unwind with video games and got our boys hooked on the Halo games. He's also a lifelong Steelers fan,
I was born and raised in Hawaii; I have no clue how I ended up in a landlocked state. Well, I sort of have an inkling, but it really doesn't matter anymore; I've now lived here in Utah for 21 years. Whoa. I've been a stay-at-home mom since our oldest child was born, and I've struggled with the whole domestic goddess/diva thing from the very beginning. Heck, I still struggle with it. I also struggle with major depressive disorder (depression), as well as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), anxiety, restless leg syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and a non-Celiac gluten sensitivity. In September 2017, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which was an answer to many long unanswered questions; I'm a walking health disaster. But, I do enjoy reading, writing short stories, scrapbooking, baking, and spending time with my family.
The Crack Monkeys
The oldest Crack Monkey, also referred to as the Spoiled One. He's the oldest grandchild on my side of the family, so he's been spoiled since the beginning. But, he's a good kid. He graduated from high school in May of 2018, excelling in school (honors classes, academic honors, etc.). He's really intelligent and learns fast. He's also sarcastic and witty, which is part of being a teenager, supposedly. For awhile he was into a lot of different sports, but then he discovered lacrosse, and that's been his passion for the last 5 years. During his senior year of high school, he played on the high school varsity team, and served in student government as the Communications Officer. And now, he's preparing to serve an LDS Mission in Hermosillo, Mexico.
Ethan (16 yrs. old)
He's one of our "indoor" children. Given a choice between going outside to play or playing computer/video games, Ethan will stay inside. His interests take place inside (building Legos, reading, computer games, etc.), but he does enjoy when we go to the pool or go camping. Ethan was diagnosed with Aspergers when he was 8 yrs. old, but he doesn't let that damper his enthusiasm for his interests. When something grabs his attention, he goes all in, and will learn everything he can about it. All of his focus goes into it, whether it's building Legos, learning about military weaponry or strategies, or even how to pass a level on one of his video games. His dedication and focus are really admirable.
Vanessa, aka The Princess (13 yrs. old)
As the only girl, you would expect Vanessa to be a bit spoiled, but, she's not; her brothers have definitely seen to that! She's also another of our "indoor" children, but lately, she's been venturing outside to play. She's a bit of an artist, learning how to draw her favorite My Little Ponies and Pokemon, and has written a few (very) short stories. Her creations made from construction paper and Rainbow Looms clutter up every corner of our classroom, and we can't tell you how many times we've had to buy new paint because she's used them all! On top of that, she also participates in dance lessons. It's a good thing she has so much energy!
Jeff, aka The Fire Pig (10 yrs. old)
The youngest in the zoo, but definitely the most energetic. We got his nickname after discovering his Chinese Zodiac sign and element, which describe him to a T! Jeff keeps us on our toes with his antics, as well as his wit. Maybe being the youngest has sharpened his tongue, but some of the things that pop out of his mouth...oh, boy! He's loud, funny, quick to learn, and very athletic. His sport is soccer, which he's been playing for about 5 years now. He joined a competitive soccer team last year, which has been really exciting, but also a bit time consuming. Jeff is also very friendly and easily makes friends, but makes his mom especially happy when he still wants to snuggle on the couch with her.
The Furbabies
Browny, aka Brown-Brown Bears
Browny joined our family over 4 years ago. He's a white Shih Tzu, which confuses everyone when we announce his name. He was born with brown patches of skin that are covered by his white fur, so technically, he was named appropriately. He's a very chill dog, not too hyper, and always willing for belly rubs, even in the middle of the night. He likes to keep me company most days.
Buddy, aka The Punk
We got Buddy in January 2015 as a companion for Browny. However, Buddy is still a puppy, so his energy often gets on Browny's nerves. Buddy enjoys claiming the kids toys as his chew toys and racing through the house like a lunatic. He's also very snuggly, and always ready for any hugs that the kids want to torture him with, which is often.
As the only girl, you would expect Vanessa to be a bit spoiled, but, she's not; her brothers have definitely seen to that! She's also another of our "indoor" children, but lately, she's been venturing outside to play. She's a bit of an artist, learning how to draw her favorite My Little Ponies and Pokemon, and has written a few (very) short stories. Her creations made from construction paper and Rainbow Looms clutter up every corner of our classroom, and we can't tell you how many times we've had to buy new paint because she's used them all! On top of that, she also participates in dance lessons. It's a good thing she has so much energy!
The youngest in the zoo, but definitely the most energetic. We got his nickname after discovering his Chinese Zodiac sign and element, which describe him to a T! Jeff keeps us on our toes with his antics, as well as his wit. Maybe being the youngest has sharpened his tongue, but some of the things that pop out of his mouth...oh, boy! He's loud, funny, quick to learn, and very athletic. His sport is soccer, which he's been playing for about 5 years now. He joined a competitive soccer team last year, which has been really exciting, but also a bit time consuming. Jeff is also very friendly and easily makes friends, but makes his mom especially happy when he still wants to snuggle on the couch with her.
The Furbabies
Browny, aka Brown-Brown Bears
Browny joined our family over 4 years ago. He's a white Shih Tzu, which confuses everyone when we announce his name. He was born with brown patches of skin that are covered by his white fur, so technically, he was named appropriately. He's a very chill dog, not too hyper, and always willing for belly rubs, even in the middle of the night. He likes to keep me company most days.
Buddy, aka The Punk
We got Buddy in January 2015 as a companion for Browny. However, Buddy is still a puppy, so his energy often gets on Browny's nerves. Buddy enjoys claiming the kids toys as his chew toys and racing through the house like a lunatic. He's also very snuggly, and always ready for any hugs that the kids want to torture him with, which is often.
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