She Makes Her Mamma Proud

For three weeks we've been waiting, sometimes patiently, for Monday, July 5th to arrive.  It almost made the NO FIREWORKS rule okay.  Almost.

Monday, July 5th was Zoe's first tap class.  We bought shoes three weeks ago when we registered for class.  Two weeks ago Grandma Kathy bought her a dancin' skirt.

That meant for 14 days we heard, "is it time for my tap class...YET?!"  We made a paper chain and she cut one ring off for each day.  Monday that day came.

Oh my gracious, does she look excited?

We got to class and there were 5 other girls waiting.  All in their leotards, dancin' skirts and tap shoes.  Zoe is dancing at the same studio I danced at as a young girl and an adult.  I ran into my former instructor Cami and she just about bugged out realizing we were starting the next generation of dancers.

She did so well.  She listened.  Talked to her teacher, Miss Sarah, when she was asked a question.  She waited her turn.  I can't quite tell if the tap dancing was her favorite part or the mirror that goes the entire length of the room.

Either way, the next class cannot come soon enough. 

I Wanted To Pull a William Wallace and Yell "FREEDOM"

I'd spent all week trying to convince N that he needed to smuggle some fireworks in from Oregon.  Our county has a NO FIREWORKS rule.  I've got to be honest, it almost makes the 4th feel dead to me.  What's more natural than showing your freedom by lighting some sparklers and ground flowers?  So we don't light off the Roman Candles and catch things on fire.  Okay!  I'm just talking about a little "oohh" and "aahh."  Nothing that goes higher than the house.

About 25 minutes into the 4th of July festivities at our house, N and my brother-in-law Jerry had the desire to go to some other county and find some fireworks.  Which gave me my opportunity to use my freedom of speech and mouth an "I told you so" to N.  Which he so appreciated.

It's safe to say our family BBQ was without any type of fire.  However, it was filled with laughter, an impromptu dance lesson, some dress-up, an Abbott and Costello joke, some Wii, some Pop-Its and fun that you can only experience when three boys get together with one girl and entertain the rest of us.

First was some kitchen business.

Then some marching:

The some dress up:

The outside and the ever awesome jumping pose:

Because we didn't have fireworks, each of the kids got a box of Pop-Its.  Also because it's the same weather as Antarctica here, we decided to run outside, throw some Pop-Its and get inside all before the heavens opened up and drenched us.

Don't you just want to "ooh" and "aah" over all the excitement of a Pop-It.  Nothing says independent quite like a little ball of something that makes a small, popping sound.  Sometimes.  They don't always work.

That was until Jerry decided to step up the game a bit.  He gave the boys a target to shoot for.  Oh yes he did.

I've got to say, this was probably one of the highlights of the evening.  Throwing Pop-Its at Jerry's back-side. 

I'm proud to report, one of my nephews, I think T-Dog, got a good one. 

The End.

She is the Newest Member of Miami Sound Machine

Yesterday Zoe and I had to run to the grocery store to get some cake mix and frosting.  Today was a playdate with friends at a splash pad and it was her turn for treats.  She picked rainbow chip cupcakes with pink frosting and polka dot sprinkles.  That way they could have sprinkles both inside and on top of the cupcake!  Unfortunately she ended up falling asleep before we could frost the cupcakes.  I may have told her of a Frosting Fairy that comes to visit when a mommy and daughter can't get to frost their cupcakes before bedtime. 

Don't judge me.  She had gotten up at 5:50 yesterday morning, which is 3 hours earlier than normal.  Around 7:45 last night we were nearing an epic meltdown that this mommy just couldn't deal with.  The Frosting Fairy saved the day.  Even though it's absolutely ridiculous, Zoe's only question was, "is she pink because I want pink frosting?"

I think it's safe to say she wanted to be saved by the Frosting Fairy as much as I did.

Anyway, back to the story.  As we were picking up some baggies, she yelled at me to stop and look at her.  When I did, she said, "I've been working on some new dance moves.  Watch my new moves mommy!"

It was at that moment she busted out her new move.  It included some arm movements above her head and a little shake of her booty.  Right there in aisle 9, between the ketchup and the baggies a new move was born.  She'd been working on it all day!

Apparently Gloria Estefan was right.  The rhythm is gonna get you.

A Girl's Gotta Do What a Girl's Gotta Do

Summer is finally here.  After spending most of June in downpours and moisture, the sun is finally out.  Not just out, but hot.  It's glorious. 

N fired up the grill, I cleaned off the patio furniture and we spent most of Saturday outside staying cool in the shade or in the water. 

Zoe likes to be active and the sun makes being active hard.  Unless you have water.  Then you do this:

It seems to help.  N and I were a little surprised to see her do this.  She's the same girl who doesn't like to sit in her pool unless she has her stool to sit upon.  She likes to run around the sprinkler but not through it.

That was until it was 85 degrees and H.O.T.

Never fear, while she may be a new girl with the sprinkler, she's still the same ole Zoe we know and love.

Wet bangs and all.

A.K.A.

On Friday, when I got home from work, we decided to run some errands to avoid having to go anywhere on Saturday.  We had to make two stops to pick up some essentials for N and his dam job.  One of those stops was at Costco.

Zoe likes to run free at Costco.  I'm not sure what the draw is except that there is always something on her level plus they have free food.  It's like a win-win for her.  While N was looking at some clothing, Zoe and I wondered and found a stack of Hanes underwear. 

I've never really looked too closely at men's packaged underwear.  N usually picks out his own and I really have no need to canvas that section of any store.

There was a package of white boxer-briefs with a picture of a guy wearing them.  It was right at Zoe's eye level.  She looks at me and says, "oh look, diaper panties for a daddy!"

She was absolutely right.  They did look just like that.  Forever after they shall be known as that!

He's an ACE and So Is She

N returned home from his first week working on a dam.  He got home tired, hungry and beyond excited about his new career.

I made him put on the coveted, white, hard hat that I've heard so much about a pose for me.

The half smile doesn't fully show how thrilled he actually is.

A certain someone also wanted to try on the hat.

She's ready for her dam tour daddy!  She's also more than ready to have him home for her nightly story reading.  Mommy just can't get it right.

This is How We Roll

The first thing you do after celebrating your birthday and opening presents, is breaking in the presents!  Grammy and Grandpa sent the girls Razor scooters that actually spark. 

Fortunately we live on a small hill and on a quiet street.  The girls scooted up the road, just to ride down and laying down the spark.

I'm not sure a scooter than has sparking and smoking coming out the back.  Usually when that happens it would mean something is VERY wrong. 

These seem to provide hours of entertainment, so I'm not going to complain until something very wrong does happen.

In other, non-fire potential news, a certain someone has learned to pedal!

She only likes flat surfaces at this point, but my back already thanks her!