Naked

Saturday was a busy, sunny day in our house.  I ran my last long run of the training season and came home to an antsy bunch of people.  I bribed N with some time in the hot tub if he agreed to go to the YMCA with us.  I knew he couldn't say no to the offer.  So when we arrived at the YMCA I told him it also included hot tub time for me too. 

D is a fish.  The girl will spend all her time doing sommersaults, hand stands and diving into the pool.  One of her favorite things is to go to the lap pool and do laps with me.  I got out of the 100 degree hot tub and entered the 69 degree lap pool.  It was like hot and cold therapy for my legs.  I think it actually worked, I wasn't too sore after the 10 mile run that morning!

While we were going from the glorious hot tub to the artic lap pool, N was taking Zoe around the kid's pool.  If D's a fish, Zoe's a mermaid.  She loves to be held as she swims around the pool and likes to blow bubbles.  Zoe usually gets on N's back, like a piggy back ride and then bounce all around the pool. 

Yesterday Zoe asked Grandma if they could go to the YMCA pool.  Grandma told her that she didn't have a card to get in.  Zoe was pretty sure that I would share mine with Grandma.  Grandma then told her that she didn't have a swimming suit to wear.

Zoe told her, "just go naked like daddy." 

Apparently going shirtless is going naked and it's okay for everyone.  I'm sure N appreciates Zoe's rendition of his swimming attire.

My Mommy Feathers Are All Perked Up

There are times in my life where I almost feel as though my heart might burst because of things that I see my children and husband do.  Last night was one of those nights.  I sat in the front row of our church, surrounded by 24 of my Sparkies and watched N, Zoe and D go up on stage.  I was so completely proud of all of them that my heart felt like it might come out of my chest. 

Last night was our AWANA awards night.  We can fit about 250 people comfortably in our church's sanctuary.  We were at capacity last night.  For an hour we watched child after child receive awards for all the hard work they did.  Zoe finished her first AWANA book and received a Cubbie bear to go on her vest.  She had the idea that she would also be getting a ribbon that was purple.  Fortunately I found a ribbon that was purple and also a button. 

D finished her book too.  Because she's older, her book is harder.  It's not just saying a verse or the books of the Bible.  It's saying a verse, answering a question, reciting a past verse and doing some Bible work 60 times.  Not only that, but she also received a camp scholarship because of her character.  The scholarships are given out based upon the type of person you are rather than how far you've gotten in your book.  It was a huge compliment to D.

E, even though she didn't receive any awards, encouraged and congratulated her friends.  Instead of jealousy or envy, she was truly glad for her friends and sisters.  I love seeing her heart like that.  It makes me smile from deep in my soul.

Then there's N.  This year he was a leader in the boy's group.  Last night I witnessed the impact he made on those boys.  I can't adequately describe the connection he has with the boy's in our AWANA program other than saying N is loved deeply.  Several of the boy's came up and told him they'd miss him next year, as well as their parents.  He's impacted those boys just by being who he is.

I'm so proud of my family.  God is doing a mighty work in the 5 of us.  I love seeing His handiwork.  It far surpasses anything I could imagine for us.  Thank you God for N, D, E and Zoe.  I am completely blessed by You and them. 

Like Father, Like Daughter

We had to go to Home Depot last night to get some things for the sprinkler system.  While I love all things Home Depot, it's N and Zoe who love to look around, try things out and spend hours on their home improvement adventure.

N is always looking at all the new things we'll need for the future:  bigger BBQ's, patio sets, ceiling fans, track lighting, new carpet, cabinets, riding lawn mowers and the list could go on forever.

I was looking at weed killers and turned around to this:

and this:

They've got plans to mow the yard together on their riding lawn mower.

That N's a smart one.  He's found his marketing ploy to get me to see the value of a riding lawn mower.  Not to mention getting her to smile that very contageous smile.  That DNA is pretty powerful stuff. 

Mother's Day

This Mother's Day was very special.  It wasn't just a day, but a weekend long event.  Zoe made me a bucket at school with her finger prints on it and a petunia planted in it.  She made sure it was put between the blinds and the window so it would get lots of sunshine.

N took me to a fancy dinner.  We had delicious steaks and even got free dessert.  Apparently I'm used to eating fast and while it's hot because I inhaled my food.  The server was quite impressed at how quickly we ate.  When you have kids and a dog, you eat while it's hot.  No talking, no funny business, just eating!  

If inhaling 5-star food wasn't enough, he took me to my first 3D movie.  I was a little nervous about things flying out of the screen at me and screaming out loud, but nothing like that happened....thankfully.

On Sunday I got to sleep in, went to church and came home to flowers and a card that sang me a song about being a Super Mom!  Zoe and my mom got me some pansies to plant in our backyard and N got me this beautiful orchid.

What's even cooler, it doesn't sound like I'll be able to kill this plant very easily.  Can I get an amen?

It was a great weekend with my two loves.  I'm so blessed to be a wife to N and a mommy to Zoe.  God has truly blessed me beyond measure.  Thank you for making me feel so special.

Measles

I am putting together a slideshow for our awards night at AWANA.  I love doing the slideshow.  It's a fun way to recap the entire year.  I also love doing the slideshow for a much different reason.  I have control over which pictures of me make it into the final show.  As I've looked through the pictures I've received, I'm pleasantly surprised that there aren't a ton of double chins or half-asleep shots.  Although I know those are the ones the kids love!

I found one that made my heart smile.  It was taken just last week and it includes a bad case of the measles for both Zoe and me.

All those happy faces don't compare to my heart when it comes to that girl.

Easter

I realize I'm behind on this here blog by at least three weeks.  In an effort to catch-up, I thought I'd post about Easter because this will contain one of my new, favorite pictures of Zoe.

Easter morning she got ready at Grandma's house as she had a slumber party the night before.  We picked out a beautiful dress her Uncle Mike bought her at Thanksgiving and her school shoes to wear for the big day.  She looked adorable. 

She helped Grandma put out cookies for church that morning and decided to be in the nursery because it wasn't a day for children's church. 

After church we went to lunch at Red Robin with Grandma Kathy.  There were lots of laughs, too many french fries and even a scoop of ice cream.  Daddy snuck off to head home and make sure the Easter bunny had hidden the eggs.

While he went off, Zoe, Grandma and I went outside to get some pictures.  Zoe hopped up on the bench and did this:

Apparently she's ready for her close-up.

Just Dance

Two weekends ago we had the opportunity to watch Zoe perform her tap routine at the mall.  She was SO excited to be "on stage" at the food court.  Really, the best place to dance is around all the food. 

All her classmates were there, dressed and ready to perform.  I was a bit nervous about it because every other performance I got to see in the studio included Zoe running to me crying.  Her attitude was cheery and happy, so I felt we had a chance for success.

Loads of family came.  She had one of the biggest cheering sections that day, 12 of us total.  Her time came and I gave N the camera and found a lovely pillar to stand behind.  I peeked around to watch her.  She was focused on daddy, smiling, waving and eager.

She did it.  She actually made it through the whole routine without crying.  Actually she smiled for most of it and even enjoyed herself.

Of course the second she came off the "stage" she was ready for a cinnamon roll and some water because "that was a lot of work!" 

I'm so proud of our tapper.  She'll do great on the actual stage in June.