Makin' Lunch Our Way

On Fridays N gets to spend the day with Zoe.  It's their time.  It usually involves throwing a certain girl in the air, playing chase, some coloring and a picnic lunch.  The routine is that while N makes the sandwich, Zoe picks out what shape she wants from our cookie cutters.  She used to fancy the star, but has moved onto the leaf.

It's their thing.  It's their routine.  I love it.

With N going back to school, one of the things I do for him is to pack his lunch and his dinner.  He's on a sandwich kick lately.  Last night I asked Zoe to help me make sandwiches for daddy.  Without hesitation she ran to the drawer and goes, "I'll pick the shape!"

That's way better than any note would've been.

It Was Beautifully Uneventful

I feels like the last four weeks have been busy.  With N's parents coming for a visit, Christmas, New Years and back to work and school, it just seems to have been non-stop for a month.  We loved every minute of the busy.

We're also loving every minute of the unbusy. 

This weekend we had a great time just being home.  The laundry actually got done, which hasn't happened in 4 weeks!

Saturday night N and I took Zoe on a date to Red Robin.  Just the three of us, enjoying a night out.  It doesn't happen too often, but when it does we savor every minute.

Sometimes the best parts of our life are in the quiet.  We regroup, re-energize and bond.

Over some of the best french fries!

The Fifth Sense

Zoe is still discovering things every day.  Nothing is safe anymore since one of her favorite things is opening doors!

I'm amazed at what she picks up.  She has phrases that I never realized I said.  What I'm most amazed at is the things that catch me by surprise. 

Zoe has discovered the sense of smell.

I won't tell you in all the details, but let's just say someone was indisposed in the bathroom.  Zoe opened the door and asked "what doin'?" 

Then she wrinkled her nose and said, "you smell." 

Four Words That Mean So Much More

Our bedtime routine consists of jammies, teeth brushing, hair brushing, the book I Love You, Good Night and a prayer.  Usually around prayer time Zoe is about done.  She is ready for the room to be dark and some cuddle action to take place. 

I told her that Jesus likes it when we thank Him for our day.  She said, "fine, I do it." 

She folded her hands, closed her eyes and said, "thank you Jesus, amen."

Brought tears to my eyes.  So simple, yet so profound.

Thank you Jesus, indeed.  Thank you.

A Little Glitter, A Little Tired and A Whole Lotta Random

After staying up until 10:45 on New Year's Eve, I feel that my whole new year sleep schedule has been thwarted.  I know we're only 6 days into this new decade and all, but I'm tired.  Granted the staying up late this week probably is the real culprit and not the Rockin' New Year's Eve N and I had.

I tend to be an overachiever.  In a big way.  Especially when it comes to being a wife and mommy.  I like to make sure the people that God has trusted me with are well taken care of and they know how important they are to me.  Like taking pictures of N playing on the worship team.  He's come to expect that I document our life.  Every second of our life since well, I'm bound to run out of blog material at some point in time, so why not throw a picture of us playing Wii up here and call it good.

That's not the point of all this random.  We're talking about why I'm tired.  Apparently I ramble when I'm tired, even when typing it out and re-reading it.  I've been up this week making a birthday card for Zoe.  Our little girl turns 3 in just a few short weeks.  I'm busy with all the party planning that's going on.  We typically do a family party.  By family party I mean all the families of her little friends can come to the party too.  It gives N a chance to chat with the guys and me a chance to have another 10 sets of hands when you've got all the children.  By all the children, there are 27 on the list.  You add their parents and we've got 55 people on the birthday list.  You can see why I plan well in advance. 

One thing got put to the sidelines.  Okay more than a couple things.  I'm sure N would appreciate some long-sleeved shirts that were clean and totally dry when he had to rush out the door to work!

The one thing I've been losing sleep over is a birthday card for Zoe.  We love watching PBS KIDS Sprout in the evenings.  Every day they post birthdays on their show.  You can submit a card and maybe it'll be on the show on your child's birthday.  The deadline is fast approaching.  I had to make a card so she could see herself on TV.  The card may or may not be picked, so I had to make it a good one.

I sat down Monday night, after Zoe went to sleep, to start.  You have to include a character from the channel on your card.  The Wiggles are Sprout now, so I knew they'd have to be on the card.  What I didn't read was the fine print.  I had to DRAW a character from the show.  I got out the colored pencils and colored in some pictures of the guys.  Then I had to use an exacto knife to get the picture off the paper.  Then I had to add some glitter and pictures of Zoe.  What turned into a couple hours project ended up being a 4.5 hour project that spanned two nights.

Last night I was so engrossed in the project that when I finally looked up it was 11:30.  On a work night.  Which, ironically, is later than I lasted on New Year's Eve.  Apparently I wasn't old, just unmotivated.  That Seacrest guy didn't hold my interest the way The Wiggles can.

I'm proud to say the card is done, in the mail and I hope to see it on the show on January 26th so Zoe can have her 30 seconds of fame at age 3.  What better present can you get a kid. 

Maybe a party for 55.

The Darndest Things

Zoe has entered the minabird stage.  If N or I say or do anything she's quick to copy.

Last night she was helping me wash potatoes for soup for me and mashed potatoes for her.  I got done peeling a potato, handed it to her and she said, "thank you princess mommy."

Two Movies Just Wipes Us Out

My mom has offered for the next 12 years to watch Zoe on New Year's Eve so N and I can have a proper date.  In the past, we've bought a new DVD, I've cooked a nice dinner and we've stayed in.  Neither of us really like to be out with the drunk people on that night, so it's worked out well for us.

This year we bucked the trend.  That's not entirely true.  I wanted to buck the trend and N played along because his motto is "if mamma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

Since my mom hadn't got to see Zoe for the last two weeks since N wasn't in school, she picked her up early.  N and I ran out the door to start our marathon date.  First up was The Blind Side. 

I'm serious when I say this was one of thee best movies I've seen in a long time.  I just makes you want to be a better human.  Plus it's got humor.  Great humor.  I recommend this with every fiber of my being.  It's in my top 10.

Then we took a break for dinner at Applebees.  We needed fuel and the 55 gallon drum of movie popcorn wasn't enough.

After dinner it was our double feature of Sherlock Holmes.

Another excellent movie.  It was a different twist on the classic, but in a completely Guy Ritchie way.  If you love Lock, Stock and Two Smoking or Snatch, you'll love the way this movie was filmed.  It wasn't bloody or gross, it was suspenseful.  And brillant. 

We were two-for-two and totally stuffed from all the food.  We only made it until 11:15.  Actually I only made it until 10:45, but I fell asleep on the couch, so I don't count that.

I'm not sure when we got so old.