The ‘cause he’s a coo-ooo-ooo-oool rider Edition

Zoe’s new Kelty Kids 2.1 is awesome. Especially if you consider sweat dripping down your back and having crowd rage awesome.

I knew there would be basketball players and fans. I didn’t know how much the heat would zap people’s ability to walk at any speed faster than a one of those cable internet Slowsky turtles.

Then again I had a 24 pound monkey on my back. I may have had a perception problem. That Kelty manual writer knew what he was talking about.

We weaved through 180,000 of our closest friends to see my sister and nephew at their concession booth. To purchase a $2 bottle of water. I hope when my nephew makes it to the NHL he remembers my dedication to his career.

I’m sure I’ll have to remind him a few times. At least weekly until he’s 55 or so.

In my moment of heat exhaustion I agreed to addition of a new family member.

No, I’m not pregnant.

I’m a biker wife.

I have my very own coo-ooo-ooo-oool rider. If you haven’t seen the cinematic masterpiece that is Grease 2, you are missing out.

We’re trying to think of a name of his gang. Since Wild Hogs is taken, I thought perhaps The Road Generals. He prefers Wild Saints. Quite honestly, it sounds a bit like a rebellious priest who takes the convent’s hog out for a spin after mass.

That’s not really what I had envisioned for N. I’m not sure what that makes me.

Although, my helmet does have a sweet pink rose on it. I’m not sure a priest would be driving around with a rose wearing woman!

I’ve been around the block twice. My hands are almost unclasped. Thankfully I’m having Zoe type this for me. She’s a whiz. She works for cheap.

We’re hoping we’ll see N sometime within the next week or so. Apparently the call of the pavement is strong.

The Friday Five Faves Edition - Vol. 1

This blogging world is so fun. It's like a social mixer that I've been missing out on for at least the last year. I have to give a proper shout out to my dear friend Jamie. She started me on this trend and I'm happy to report I'm riding that blogging train like Cole Trickle road that track.


Pretty soon everyone will be posting comments like "let me out of the car Cole, let me out of the car."

They won't be able to handle this kind of action.

Onto the topic at hand. I met Dena, a fellow blogger and more importantly fellow scraper. Not the boxing kind, the paper and picture kind. She's fabulous. If you haven't checked out her blog, you need to!

Every Friday she posts a Five Faves list of the week. She asked that I post one too. Well if you can call being called "young lady" asking. It was more of a challenge really. Since I don't back down from a challenge (which I learned from Cole Trickle), here is my Five Faves.

Five Fave Blogs that I read religiously:

1) Dena Coe - she is a talented scrapbooker and talked me off a scrapbooking cliff recently. Plus she gives previews of products and papers. If you're a scrapbooker you know you can never have enough paper! Dena is an inspiration to scrapbookers. You will want to go home and whip out your pictures and supplies after seeing her creations.

2) Angie Smith - she is the wife of Todd Smith, member of Selah. Her blog is dedicated to her daughter Audrey Caroline, who is awaiting her and Todd (and her sisters) in Heaven. Angie is a very talented writer and I promise you will be moved by her posts. I must warn, bring Kleenex.

3) Big Mama - she lives in Texas with her husband and daughter. She is a child of the 80's (a woman after my own heart) and an Aggie. You will love her wit and insight. Plus she's got her hand on the pulse of women's fashion. That's a friend everyone should have.



4) Jody Ferlaak - She is mother of 5 (one in Heaven waiting and one on the way). God has taken her family on a journey no one could've imagined. She writes with hope, wit and honesty (her blog is titled Nitty.Gritty.)



5) April James Art - April James is an artist out of Nashville. I've seen several pieces of her art. I will own one piece after this weekend! To say I'm excited would be an understatement. If I were to describe her as talented, I wouldn't be doing her justice. She has a God-given gift. What's even better, she uses it to glorify God.

I know I'll have more blogs to mention after I spend more time in the blogging world, but this is a good start to the list.

The C is for Cookie Edition

Yesterday was an eventful day. Not only was Zoe up most of the previous night, but that developed into severe Intwopendence attitude throughout the day.

Fortunately for me, I bought a child carrier backpack. Zoe and I are headed down to the nation's largest three-on-three basketball tourney this weekend. In our city, you ask? Why yes. Apparently we're the only city in the nation that can close all routes through downtown and life will function as normal.

In high school I never missed this tournament. It was my feable attempt to impress boys with my love and knowledge of basketball. Obviously since I married a band member, my charms cannot be rivaled.

Now the whole experience serves as an opportunity to people watch and support my nephew's hockey team. Hockey at a three-on-three hoops tourney? Why yes. His hockey team is sponsoring a concession stand. He knows the key to my heart. Fried foods.

Because there are like 2 billion people crammed into 40 city blocks, I thought it best to avoid any stroller action. Nothing worse than running over some 7 foot, 300 pound basketball player's pinky finger, which provides the magic touch for his three-pointers. I don't know if I'll be able to keep him from experiencing Zoe's riot act.

I have to protect the players. It's my civic duty.

I'm very excited about my new pack. May I present the Kelty Kids 2.1 in Green Apple.

I spent a good portion of the evening attempting to coordinate all the moving parts for a safe, comfortable ride. I read the entire 4 pages of the directions. Learning that carrying a child like this might affect my coordination and width perception.

Fortunately for the writers of the Kelty, I've always had a width perception problem.

Or maybe just a width problem.

Since Zoe loved riding in her Bjorn when she was an infant, I knew she would love riding in a backpack. I was right. She cried, screamed and pulled my hair the entire 35 hours she was in it.

Okay 3 minutes, but I swear it felt more like 35 hours.

Finally, after hiding the pack and distracting her with cookies, she calmed down. We read her book Nighty Night which suprisingly talks about sleep. Cookie Monster is her favorite. He sleeps with 7 cookies. Which I think reminds her of me. Except I'm not blue.

We were headed to bed, she kissed grandma and was all smiles. My mom asked us to turn around and Zoe was holding a cookie.

I'm glad she's learning right.

Maybe next week we'll try one for each hand.

And pack a whole bag of them in the Kelty Kids. I'm going to need something to stop my screaming. From all the hair pulling.

Or a peace offering to the 7 foot guy whose finger I step on from the coordination issue.

The Slight Cheerio...Chip...Puff Addiction Edition

Zoe, my mom and I went shopping last night. Some things like climbing are still somewhat hard for Zoe. She loves the slide in the nursery at church. We thought we'd get her a slide for home so she could practice. Every sane mother wants to teach their child to climb. We all look forward to a day where she'll be on top of the dining room table cleaning the chandelier.

While wondering the aisles at Fred Meyer, we realized we needed some milk and cotton PJ's for Zoe. About 5 minutes after that we realized it was Zoe's dinner time. She was practically hurling herself into the cart to find food. If you've met Zoe you know nothing comes between her and dinner. Or any meal for that matter.

Not even a cool slide that will eventually lead to many heart attacks to her mother.

Fortunately my days as a CampFire girl paid off. I am always prepared. I know that's the Girl Scouts and they do have some good cookies. Let's be honest, a frozen CampFire mint during a PMS attack is pure heaven. Pure. Heaven.

I gave her a bowl of her chips and puffs. If you don't have a toddler with a food addiction, these are made by Gerber and resemble adult food. However 30 seconds in your mouth and they're mush.

Zoe LOVES them. They're the second thing she kisses in the morning after Lamby. Okay, maybe the third after me. On a good day.

We devoured the chips in time for us to learn they're sold out of slides. They apparently don't sell the display item. They also don't know when they'll get more. I love sales help.

We pay for our food items and head to the car. Zoe is twisting around to see if there is any food in that cart for her. She'll try to eat the PJ's, but they're just not as filling.

Once in the carseat she finds her potato masher. Because we have highly expensive, educational toys. She also finds a bowl to mash in. Watch out Rachael Ray. Watch out.

For the 10 minute ride home I hear her whining. She would call out "mommy" and tip the bowl back. I could hear her hands scraping the bottom of the bowl. I recently told her the story of Jesus feeding thousands with a few fish and couple loaves of bread. I have no doubt she was trying to recreate that story in the backseat.

Fortunately we got home to chicken and vegetables that she ate like I haven't fed her in days. I also didn't get read any riot acts.

Until it was time to brush her teeth. Welcome to the age of intwopendence. Leave your sanity at the door.

The Riot Act Edition

You know when you have friends who are parents that warn you about certain things? If you haven't given birth, your friends feel the need to share with you how much of a painful, yet joyful experience it was. You cross your legs because you can't get your brain past the pain part of the story.

If you have friends with children older than yours and they tell you about the perils of teething, potty training or sleep deprivation. Like it's their job to inform you.

This is my part of that vicious cycle. As Elton John once sang, it's the circle of life.

I've never liked the term terrible 2's. Although I use it, I don't like it. To me it implies there is something terrible about my child. As a mother and as a woman, I cannot even being to endorse that. What it should be called is the Age of Intwopendence. Yes, I said intwopendence. Which is extremely witty.

Zoe is already displaying it. On Sunday N walked ahead of us to take her stroller into the house. Not to mention nature was calling. Too much information? I speak only truth.

Apparently that type of urge is unacceptable to a 16 month old. For the entire length of the yard, she pointed her finger and told her daddy just how she felt. I have no idea what she said, but I knew I didn't want to be on the receiving end of that gibberish tongue-lashing.

Then it happened.

Last night she was playing in her crib. This is a favorite activity. She runs circles in her crib, plays with her stuffed animals and sings along to her mobile. It's endearing. Plus it keeps her in one spot while I take a break from chasing her around. She hasn't caught on yet!

Grandma took her stuffed lamb and puppy and put it between the crib and the wall. See, not only is this a time of running laps, but also slight, stuffed animal cruetly. Don't tell PETA, Stuffed Animal Division.

Zoe thought I took them. I began to realize how it felt to be on the receiving end of her anger. She would bend at the waist, her hands in fists, reading me the riot act. All the while Lamby and Puppy (we're very creative with names) were smiling down on her from their vice-like prison.

I can only imagine what these tyraids will be like when she has real words. It could be like Mommy Dearest but in reverse. I promise I'll stop using those wire hangers now.

On a side note, I'm a little miffed myself. At my high school career counselor. Miss Janny. She did not clearly demostrate the "summers off" benefit people in the teaching industry enjoy. If she had, I may have given that career path some serious consideration. Instead I sit in a windowless office studying for a designation. I'm in adult summer school.

The Sunshine and Prayer Edition

Having spent time with children, it seems they are usually in a hurry to grow up. It's ironic that as an adult you sometimes crave the life you had as a child. Watching Zoe grow, everyday and experience is exciting. Everyday brings something new into her world. Her needs, emotional, physical and spiritual, are all met. Her life decisions are all made for her. I'm so grateful that N and I can provide that life for her.

As an adult, we have to make the decisions. I know God has a perfect plan for us, but it's not as clearly defined as it was when I was a child. On Friday we got a call regarding the house. A gentleman would like to take responsibility of the house, use a property management firm to find a rent-to-own tenant and we would either have no or smaller payments each month. There are many things I must check on regarding the pros and cons of this type of arrangement, but the biggest one we struggle with is if this is of God. N and I spent much time in prayer over this new development this weekend. Additionally, I know many of you who read this blog have been praying for us too. Thanks doesn't even begin to describe our gratitude.

Your prayers are working!

I was in the car this morning listening to Air1, our new, Christian radio station. James Dobson gave a few second message about deciphering God's plan. How appropriate! He suggested reading the Bible and making a list of all of God's qualities that you can find. Then match up the situation you're evaluating to that list. If they don't match, it's probably not from God. It sounds so simple, yet I wouldn't of thought of it.

To clear our heads this weekend, we decided to go for some walks. There is something in the time we spend outside as a family that helps both N and I. Zoe loves the time outside and the breeze in her hair. Here is the chronology of a walk with us, from Zoe's perspective:

1) You first have to pack some snacks. You can't enjoy the show of God's nature without appropriate nurishment.

2) You need good UV protection. These don't match my outfit, so I don't wear them very long.

3) As soon as you start out on the open road, you can start snacking. When my mom and dad look at me, they usually see me doing this. I typically only take my hand out when I see something I must point out.

4) Today I saw a flag, the mailbox that Danni ran into, a discarded toy that I really wanted to play with that mommy said was "yucky", a squirrel and lots of sunshine.

5) Typically, during the walk when there isn't much to look at and I'm not eating, my other favorite thing to do is play with my shoes. I'm not walking, so I don't know why I need my shoes anyway. I try very hard to take them off. Mommy ran over one the other day.

6) There is one mailbox I look forward to the most. This is usually the time Mommy checks that my shoes aren't undone. It's also the mailbox that I get to walk home from. It's the most exciting part of the whole trip. Aren't we cute?

7) Then I walk up the grass, to the deck and check on my flowers that are growing almost as fast as I am. Thanks, in part, to my walking snacks that I devour.

8) Once inside, I chill with my daddy. I learned this weekend to give him zerberts on his back. I'm quite good.

The Jeremiah Edition

Yesterday I was led to start reading the book of Jeremiah. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11, so I thought why not read what led up to that verse.

I have a fancy, archaeological Bible. It gives historical insight into the culture, the time period and customs. This Bible totally fits my History Channel personality.

What I learned about Jeremiah surprised me a little. He was reclusive and shy. Not exactly what you would expect from a prophet. It struck me that God would choose Him, yet He always has a plan. The Jews were going to be punished because they turned their back on God. Jeremiah was the messanger. God told Jeremiah to not pray for the Jews, that his prayers would go unanswered. While Jeremiah delivered the terrible news to the Jews that God was angry at them and there would be consequences, he prayed for them still.

He prayed knowing that he couldn't and wouldn't change God's mind. Yet he loved the Jews. He loved them enough to lift them up to God, despite their actions. I think this is why God chose Jeremiah.

Often times when I come across something that hits me like that, I get into the car to drive to work and the perfect song fits that message. I don't believe in coincidences, so I know God is speaking to me. This morning the first song I heard was Brandon Heath's Give Me Your Eyes.

Look down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight

Touch down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos

Chorus
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what’s underneath
There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work, He’s buying time

Chorus

I’ve been here a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just move and pass me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
I need a second glance
Give me a second chance
To see the way you’ve seen the people all along

Chorus

What an awesome prayer, like Jeremiah. To see people, all people, as God does. We are made in His image.