Nana

Zoe has been counting down the days until she was leaving to see her Nana. She cannot wait to have some one on one spoiling time with one of the people who love her most in this world. She has asked me everyday for the past two weeks when she was going to see her Nana?? I know when Zoe and her Nana spend time together they get into all kinds of fun stuff. If they are not working in the yard planting flowers, veggies, or fruits, they are hitting the town and having girl time, which almost always ends up with a side trip to the candy store for a treat from the sugar-free candy bin.

The time Zoe spends with family is priceless and something she always looks forward too. Not having family within a close drive isn’t always easy but we manage and when an opportunity comes around for a visit, we jump on it!

We have a super hectic April ahead of us with out-of-town company here most of the month. My childhood best friend (& her boyfriend) will be here next weekend for a nice long visit then after they leave, Shelli’s Aunt and Uncle will be here to visit for a day. We get one day to try to get the house back in order, and then my parents arrive in town for a few weeks. Needless to say, we have a lot going on, but we are so anxious and looking forward to seeing everyone. (As is Zoe!)

Colors

For the past several months we have been working with Zoe on both colors and numbers. We’ve tried everything but her attention span is non-existent. Zoe will not sit still for more than a few minutes at a time and is very easily distracted. It’s a constant struggle with her. I don’t know ONE time that we’ve gone to Amanda’s that Zoe is able to sit down and finish one game or project that her & Sam start before she has lost interest and is on to something else.

Tonight, we started a new ‘game’. We call it the ‘color game’. I bought a piece of poster board and wrote all the colors on it. To make it more fun for Zoe, I let her pick things up while we are out and about or things around the house and match them to the colors on the poster board. (Sugar packets, paint samples, stickers, etc.) If we do too many colors at one time, she gets frustrated so, we work on only a few colors a day. She loves to point things out around the house that are a certain color and try to say what color the object is.

She seems to like this concept so far… Only time will tell.

SPRING

Last night Shelli and I had to run to Lowes for a few last minute things so I could plant my rose bushes today. While we were there, Zoe picked out a pansy because she wanted to plant something too. So of course, first thing this morning, Zoe was ready to get outside and plant her flower. We went into the garage to pull out and dust off all her garden tools. I tore up the garage trying to find everything. I managed to find all the garden tools with the exception of Zoe’s gardening gloves. I was able to convince Zoe that she really didn’t need the gloves because she had the way cool Scooby Doo knee pad, and her new snail watering can.

Blo Art by Zoe

Blo Pens

In Zoe's Easter package from my niece Jessie and her boyfriend Jesse (who Zoe calls Jesse Boy), there was a Dora the Explorer coloring book with Blo Pens along with several stencils. Zoe has been playing with it ALL morning. She loves it! Very neat concept, here's how it works; you blow into one end of the marker and it sprays onto the paper -- super cool! Zoe probably has a headache with all the blowing she's done this morning, but I couldn't pull her away from her art desk. After all, a masterpiece doesn't appear over night, and an artist needs time to make their masterpiece just right.

Photo of the day....

Zoe helping get dinner ready.

We love being in the kitchen creating not only meals but memories!

Weekend Getaway!

What a nice, overdue family getaway we had this past weekend. We have been so busy lately we haven’t had a chance to just sit back, relax and unwind. This weekend we decided to sneak away and do just that. We enjoyed a beautiful hotel with lovely down featherbeds, pillows, and duvets. An entire assortment of spa shampoos, body creams, and soaps, and the most serene picturesque countryside views anyone could ask for. It was perfect for unwinding. There was even an indoor heated pool and whirlpool for Zoe to enjoy.

The Easter Bunny even managed to find us, and left Zoe a little basket of goodies on Easter morning. We spent Easter Sunday having a delicious brunch at the hotel, complete with mimosas (Lori’s fave) and then spent the rest of the afternoon driving through the park and taking in some history. We finished up the day with a nice dinner and a swim in the pool. It was a wonderful relaxing weekend, and just what the doctor ordered!

Today it was back to reality and the regular grind. As we were unpacking and getting the dogs settled in, the UPS man showed up with package from Jessie. Oh boy, Zoe wasn’t quite sure what to do, she couldn’t wait to get in the house and open up the package.

Special thank you to Jessie and Jesse for sending Zoe a special Easter package. She thoroughly enjoyed it, from the excitement of opening it to finding out what was inside!

Happy Easter

We wanted to wish everyone a HAPPY EASTER!

We will be back after the holiday.

Easter eggs

Today, after a long month of flu’s, scheduling conflicts and whatnot, we finally had a play date with Sam. Zoe was so excited and couldn’t wait to see Sam and Baby ‘Jenamin’. After the short drive over we were pulling into the driveway and Zoe shouted, “Mom, this isn’t good, I don’t see Miss Manda’s car!” I assured Zoe everyone was home and awaiting our arrival but the car was in the garage. She broke out of her car seat and ran straight for the door and knocked as hard as she could. As soon as she saw Sam, I could see the relief in her face. She wasn’t too sure about Amanda’s car really being in the garage, but as long as she saw Sam standing there, she didn’t care where the car was.

Amanda already had ½ dozen eggs boiled and ready to color. That was such a nice surprise for Zoe. We weren’t planning on decorating any eggs since we were going on a weekend trip for Easter. The kids had a blast making all the different colors and then putting ‘face’ stickers on each egg, and they even got to use markers to make hair!

Of course the trip to Sam’s isn’t complete without seeing and loving on his baby brother, Benjamin (aka Jenamin).

By the time we got home, Zoe was exhausted from her FUN play date with one of her Best Friends!

Day Care and Easter Treats

We achieved a major milestone at day care. Usually Zoe has a rough time at drop off and can’t seem to transition from hand holding to walking into class solo. And most certainly the ensuing crying and thrashing fit once I finally try to let go of her hand say goodbye. Today however, Zoe managed to go through the entire dropping off transition without incident.

Lori and I were at odds with the situation and even considering taking her out of day care for a while until we could figure out what the problem could be. We knew she enjoyed going and socializing, and we knew she liked her teacher because at pick up she couldn’t leave without hugs and all the ensuing fanfare. All the staff has been totally accommodating and helpful and we’re so thankful for their patience. Looks like it all has paid off. I was finally able to get through the drop off without feeling bad for leaving Zoe there in a pool of tears.

*************************************

Zoe enjoys the afternoon when I get finished working and it is time to walk and feed the dogs with me. Today as we were getting the ladies leashed up and ready to walk outside we looked down and almost stepped on a package the left by the Easter Bunny (aka mailman) for Zoe. Zoe loves getting mail, packages, etc as much, if not more, than Tic Tac’s. With eyes about to pop from the sockets, Zoe ran over and picked up the package looks over and tells me she’ll see me when I get back, she has a PACKAGE to open! I had to convince her the package would be there when we got back from walking the dogs. After the 10 minutes that I am sure seemed like an eternity to Zoe, we finally got back to the house so she could open her package. Thanks Mamaw and Pop-Pop for all the Easter goodies. Zoe went directly for the Tic Tacs, Bandaids, chocolates, and balloons (in that order). Zoe thoroughly enjoyed opening up her package and all the goodies inside.

Happy Birthday Grandma

We know you’re up in heaven looking down on us all. Your spirit is still very much alive and you’re very missed!

I can’t help but to sometimes sit and wonder what you’re doing in heaven. I wonder if you and Grandpa have a routine or if you just take it day by day – poco poco. I think back to all the good times and I have so many wonderful memories.

I’ve never met anyone as kind and loving as you. I was so blessed to have you in my life. Now that I’m a mom, I see just how special grandparents impact a child’s life. I thank God everyday that you were able to met Zoe and spend sometime with her before you left us. I think you’d be proud to see the little person Zoe is growing up to be. I’m not sure that you remember me taking Zoe to see you in your last days but that smile on your face when you saw her, was one I will never forget. You raised your weak little arms up and said, “Let me hug my Canela!”, I put Zoe on your hospital bed and she crawled over to give her great grandma a BIG hug. She loves you very much and though she never had the chance to get to know you the way we do, she loved going to see you. Zoe always loved her visits, singing and dancing with you.

One thing for sure, you are constantly in all of our thoughts. I have my favorite picture of you and Zoe in Zoe’s room, and I look at it often and smile. You not only touched my life but you touched the lives of everyone who knew you.

Feliz Cumpleaños Abuela

I love you!

Kids Night

Tonight, Wendy & Will had dinner plans so, we watched the kids while they went out to eat. The kids had a great time watching movies, eating pizza, and I even made them some rice crispy treats. What could be more fun than that?

My Shelli

The past six days have been ‘trying’ to say the least. I’ve been so sick and unable to fulfill any of my parent/partner duties. Words cannot describe how miserable I’ve felt.

I just wanted to thank my best friend, my partner, my ray of light on a gloomy day, My Shelli for all she’s done to help make this house run smooth while I’ve been down & out! After almost eight years together, we seem to always be there for each other no matter what we have going on. For better or worse, good times or bad...... What more could I ask for?

I love you Shelli!

Flu/Rabbit

This weekend has been a blur. I’ve been in bed sick with the Flu since Thursday. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so awful. Today was the first day I’ve been up long enough to do anything.

Before I got sick, Zoe met the Easter Bunny and I never got a chance to post it so here you have it… Zoe & her friend, Mr. Rabbit. I think Zoe is going to be a big holiday person, just like her Mommy!

For Sale

Wow! Today was a big day for my parents. They have listed their home and it’s officially FOR SALE. This is the house I grew up in. I lived in this home until I grew up and moved out. It’s where I have all of my memories of childhood, holidays, and many sleepovers. I guess you can say it’s bittersweet. I can’t imagine what is going through my parent’s head. This house is where they raised me and holds many memories for them as well. They have been married over 30 years and have built their whole life there. To pick up and move to be closer to Shelli, Zoe, and I means the world to me.

I have been waiting and waiting for them to list the house. It seems like we’ve been talking about it forever. Call me selfish but with me being the only child and Zoe being the only grandchild for them, I want them closer so they don’t miss out on our or her daily life.

Next month, Mom and Dad will be coming up to check out a few areas so they can better judge where they want to lay down their ‘new’ roots. I’m looking forward to showing them all the area has to offer.

Needless to say, I will miss that house. There isn’t anything I didn’t go through while living there however; I’m super excited to have my parents within a short car ride away. I’m very close to both my parents so this is very exciting for me.

My Princess

Tonight, after Zoe took her bath she wanted to wear her Dora princess pj’s that she got from my Aunt Vicki for her birthday.

In my eyes, she’ll always be our princess….

You can also see where Java has slept the past couple nights. The only time we see him is when he is hungry or has to go potty!

Kite

Zoe spent most of the day yesterday and today relaxing. She has a bit of a runny nose and was feeling a little under the weather.

Today, the weather was picture perfect. It was in the 60's and sunny. Not a cloud in the sky for miles. When Zoe woke up from her nap, she asked if we could go to the park so, we patiently waited for Mimi to get off of work and we headed to the park for some kite flying before dinner. We are looking forward to several more beautiful days like this one as Spring approaches!

Chuck E. Cheese

We had an action packed day! We met the Johnson-McCormick family for lunch at Moe’s and then we all headed to Chuck E. Cheese for an afternoon of non-stop indoor fun. Zoe had a blast with Kyle & Owen as they played each and every game.

It was so great to catch up with Heather and Braydon. We don’t get to see them nearly as often as we’d like to so, the time we do spend with them is treasured.