Everything is better with friends

Part of our post-bath routine is to make some popcorn and watch a cartoon.  Typically, when Zoe is getting her lotion on, she'll yell from her room for the other parent and say "popcorn please!"

Last bath night she yelled for daddy and said, "Mickey doll please."  Daddy brought it into her and then she asked for some popcorn.

As we were leaving her room, she grabbed her blanket.

As we turned on some cartoons, this is what was on the couch.

She made sure Mickey was covered with her blanket too. 

She'll have the pink Craftsman tools please

It's safe to say that Zoe is 100% a daddy's girl.  If he's anywhere in her vicinity, she will yell for him to be part of whatever she is doing. 

There is nothing cuter than seeing your daughter completely, 100% in love with her daddy.

Anytime N is doing something involving tools, she's in the mix.  The girl loves tools.  I think, if I let her, she'd wear a toolbelt every day.

When N had to change the oil in my car, Zoe was in the mix.  She put on her polka-dot rain boots and was ready for some oil changing action.  What makes it even better is she can't quite say oil.  It comes out more like "oh-el" instead.  It's one of my favorite things to make her say over and over.

First daddy took out some plug and let the oil drip into a pan.  Zoe watched, letting daddy know it was still dripping.  Every 5 seconds she'd say "still going." 

Because you can only hear "still going" about 15 times before you have to find something else for her to say, it was time to move onto the air filter.  She ran into the house to get her screwdriver (one that has a removeable bit).  She couldn't wait to unscrew things under the hood.  She LOVES all things dirty.

She's still all girl because she takes time out of all the screwdriving to pose for the camera.

She was having the time of her life. 

Next up is learning to change the filter on the heater.  She has to earn her keep!

That sound...

Yesterday morning was a good day.  I had gotten a good night's sleep and actually woke up refreshed.  With as hectic as our lives are, waking up refreshed is a little bit like winning the lotto.

I had stopped by Starbucks to spend part of my birthday gift card and head to work.  The lady at Starbucks made me a venti mocha instead of a grande.  It was like I won the lotto a second time that morning.  Extra coffee for free!  You cannot beat that.

Then, as I was stopped at a red light, getting ready to take a sip of my bigger, free coffee I saw it in my rearview mirror.  The silver Camaro going a bit too fast.  The driver didn't realize we were stopped, about a block before the light.  The light had turned green, but traffic hadn't started moving forward.

It's in that split second that you realize what's about to happen and you brace for it.  Then I saw the driver behind me turn his head getting ready for impact.

Then I heard that sound.  The sound of metal crunching other metal.  He rear-ended me.  I'm not sure what it is about that sound, but it sends shivers down my back.  It's the only thing I remember about being hit.  I don't remember being jarred or my soup can flying from the seat.  All I can remember is that sound.  In my case the sound was worse than the damage to my car.  Which is like winning the lotto for the third time. 

What I think is most fascinating about accidents is how people handle them.  Despite the fact that I was in shock and had more adrenaline pumping through my veins than I've had since my first ride on Malibu Madness at California Adventure, I was fine.  I actually felt sorry for the guy.  I've done the exact same thing before.  It sucks and you feel horrible.

He was actually mad.  He apologized and asked if I was okay, but then he was mad.  His car had a few scratches, but not real damage either.  Which was God protecting both of us.  

There was quite a bit of bad about the situation, but I still had about a grande's worth of coffee (the rest was on the dash), wasn't bleeding or really injured, our cars have more cosmetic issues than anything more serious and we both have insurance.  He will probably have higher premiums if that huge dent by his back tire is any indication of how he normally drives.  All that is fixable. 

As we left, he told me he hoped the rest of my day turned out better.  He had a bitterness to his voice.  I told him that I wished the same for him.  I'm not sure where all his anger and bitterness came from.  We're human, we make mistakes.  I just hope that his day today is better.  That he has some joy in it. 

Today, with a slight stiff neck, I'm taking my car in for an estimate.  I feel more of the effects today than I did yesterday, but it's a good day.  Me and my coffee arrived this morning in tact.  God made sure of that.  Just like He did yesterday and He will tomorrow.

Maybe tomorrow I'll get more free coffee. 

A girl can always hope!

The pirate that turns my heart to mush

I've been wanting to upgrade my camera for sometime in order to take better pictures and different styles of shots.  Because those digital SLR cameras cost about as much as my first car, I thought I'd play around with my point and shoot to see what I could do with all the different settings.

Of course I have a willing subject.  Anytime Zoe sees the camera come out, she immediate says "cheese."  It's now accompanied with a pained look on her face.

She wanted me to start with her pirate face.

ARG Matey!

About 200 shots later, I got the natural smile I was going for.

That smile gets me every time.  She knows it's my kryptonite.

I seriously could watch her do just about anything and my heart gets to the point of bursting.  I never thought I would fall in love with all her little movements and every day mannerisms. 

I would have 700 more of her if I could.  Her personality is as big as her heart. 

A little reading

My first bible was a Precious Moments NIV.  I loved that thing.  It had cute pictures, some cute stories and it came with a fabric cover that I thought was totally cool.  It was slate blue with pink flowers, a pink heart and some lace.  It was totally late 80's and I loved it. 

Because I was in AWANA and they did Bible quizzing, I bought stickers that went on the first page of each book in the bible so I could quickly find verses like Habakkuk 1:17, 2 John 2:1 and Amos 3:2.  I have no idea what those verses are about, but I could totally find them.  I remember putting each of the stickers on my bible thinking "I'm so totally going to win next Wednesday."  Which is totally the right mindset to have.

A few weeks ago N's Aunt Mer and Aunt DeeDee sent some books for the girls.  This past weekend was the first time we were all together to open them.  D & E were beyond thrilled to get bibles.  They each came with a schnazzy case.  Not that either of the cases were as cool as mine from 1986, but they are much more modern.

Each bible had a note telling the girls how proud they are that D & E accepted Jesus as their savior.  It is something they will treasure for a long time to come.

In addition to D & E getting new bibles, Zoe got one too.  A VeggieTales edition.  It even has comic strips in it.

She loves it so much she wants to read it all the time. 

We're working on her Sunday School verse of the month...John 13:34 "love on another."  Right now she can say it.

Maybe by next Sunday she'll be able to find it!

Because I like sympathy

When I was growing up I really never wanted to be a housewive or a mother.  I think part of that was a defense mechanism that I started at 19 when I was told it would be hard for me to conceive any children.  The doctors could've have been more wrong.  I basically can sneeze and get pregnant.

It's also because I saw my sister birth my youngest nephew and that cured me.  For a really long time.

I was just someone who wanted a career and to make a name for myself. 

Then I met N and things started to change.  I began to love cooking and cleaning and making our home someplace that was comfortable.  It brought me much more joy than any career I could have.

Then Zoe came along and all my prior hopes and ideas were thrown out the window.  All my priorities changed.  I no longer wanted to be known for my job, but as a great wife and mother. 

Part of this new ideal, in my mind, is a great garden.  This past spring I started my first flower garden and even attempted to grow some pumpkins.  Which I'm proud to report have totally taken over our patio.  It's almost like that big squid at the end of the last Pirates movie.  You know the one that grabs the ships and takes it underwater.  I'm not saying that's the look I'm going for in this new picture I have, but live and learn.  Pumpkins need room.  Miles and miles of room.

To extend my green thumb into other areas of growing, I bought some bulbs.  In 2006 my mom, our dear friend Rose and I went to the tulip festival in Mount Vernon.  It was one of those moments where I fell in love with all things bulb related. 

Those bulbs arrived on Friday, just in time for some weekend planting.  When I opened the box I realized that it contained 100 bulbs.  I had 75 tulips, 15 hyacinth and 20 crocus.  I laid them out to ensure they'd be spaced well and started to dig.  And dig.  And dig.  100 little holes is quite a bit. 

It was so many holes that my green thumb tried to get a hole of its own.

Ain't she a beauty? 

Not as pretty as my garden will be though.  That's for sure.

I think I need an oxygen tank

This week both N and I celebrate our birthdays.  It's been a busy month.  We have a birthday every week for 6 weeks starting the beginning of September and our anniversary is thrown in there.

To say we're busy right now is an understatement.

My mom offered to take the girls Sunday while N and I went to church.  We stopped to pick up lunch and when we arrived at her house, we were pelted with balloons.  All the girls were yelling surprise and "happy birthday" to us. 

They even helped frost a cake.  To make sure everything was exact, they put 32 candles on it. 

Does that thing look imtimidating?

Both N and I were thrilled to have our girls help plan a birthday party for us.

We had some lunch, played Left-Right-Center and then it was time for cake.  It took N 5 minutes to light all the candles.  We made a wish as they were all singing.  I think it took a good three blows to get those candles out.

For our age we are exceptionally out of shape.  I am still feeling a little light headed. 

Thank you  D, E and Zoe for such a wonderful day.  Thank you Grandma for taking all three girls and organizing our shindig.

N and I are going to sit by the oxygen tank and regain our breath.