Easter's On Its Way!

Since Zach was only two months old last Easter, I didn't really see the point in getting the Easter basket, and making a big production out of the day...I mean he was still learning how to see, so a little slacking in the celebration department could go unnoticed. This year however, I feel I need to bring in the holiday with some flair, so yesterday we boiled some eggs.

While this may seem simplistic, egg boiling takes on a whole new appeal when you have a one year old scrambling at your feet to see what you are up to. Fortunately, Daddy came home and was able to get this shot of us cooking together. (My attempts looked frightening, like I was threatening to boil Zach...note to self, boiling water and picture taking of a toddler do not go together.) Then of course it was time to color the eggs. Now, if I was a more laid back Mom I would have laid some paper out on the floor and let Zach go at it, unfortunately for Zach I am a little bit of a control freak, so this year I only let him help me place the eggs in cups on the counter...next year I promise I will let him take over the coloring process completely...well almost completely. :)
With the eggs colored, it was time for Zach to enjoy his creations. I gave him one and he ran to show his Daddy. Unfortunately, Zach thought it looked good enough to eat.

After taking that egg away, I went to the kitchen, but the little munchkin cried for another egg. I gave him a beautiful green one...my favorite. At first he seemed to just admire it, and so did Lennie.
But in the blink of an eye...he was off and running. Here is Zach in motion.
Seconds later...disaster strikes. Now don't worry...the only thing cracked was the egg. Zach though it was all rather funny, which is why you might be able to see him rolling around on the floor in the background.
Now you might think I learned my lesson, but when Zach wanted another egg to hold, who was I to say no. I figure what are a few broken eggs in the wake of building a family tradition!
And when all was said and done, we had a very cute basket (Good choice, Li) to place all our eggs in. Now I know what your thinking...that old adage says not to...but I think their safe there...at least while Z sleeps!
And speaking of baskets...look what Peter Cottontail dropped off early! Don't worry I put it somewhere safe and out of sight till the big day arrives.

A New Addition!

Today I heard the most exciting news, my brother Nick and my sister-in-law Cheryl, bought a home! Mind you I did not say house, I said a home, because as I walked through the rooms I could imagine all the wonderful memories they are going to build there in the coming years. I can see the Christmas tree rising in the corner...hey Mom maybe Nick will take that 12 foot tree off your hands, and I can see my son running around the backyard with his cousins as we barbecue and hang out on the gorgeous stamped concrete patio, best of all I can see the joy in my brother's eyes (Cheryl's too) as he achieves yet another goal.

Don't get me wrong, my brother currently has a very nice house, he has done a ton to it along with his trusty foreman, my dad, but this new house is different. I don't want to say better...but ok...better. Better mostly because it is in a wonderful neighborhood and well it's more spacious, oh and best of all there is room for a table for family dinners...and well family includes me!

It's strange, but I am so excited for them. I think when you really love someone and something happens that brings them so much joy, you can't help but feel the magic of the moment. The best thing about this home of my brothers is well that it's home, which means he won't be leaving here anytime soon. Now I know he won't be moving South! :) There is something so reassuring in knowing my big brother is just a short drive away. Congrats you two...just keep the good news coming!

A day to Celebrate!

Thirty-seven years ago today my parents said "I do". There is something so beautiful about trying to picture that day when my "baby" aged parents took that oath. Growing up, my sister and I loved to look at the pictures of my parent's wedding day; filled with my father's mop of brown hair and Elvis like sideburns, and my mother's sparkling blue eyes and her hair in ringlets. There was something so wonderful about seeing their love for each other on that day, seeing them as the icon of what we wanted one day.



I've been blessed for the last thirty years to watch the power of that day, that moment, as it sped by from one day in April across thirty-seven years. (Obviously, I didn't see them all) And in that time I can honestly say that my parents have always loved each other, even if they aren't sickeningly all lovey-dovey all the time, like in those early images.



Instead, I've seen the beauty of support, as my parents stand together. My siblings and I have known their sacrifice, whether it was putting us first, or putting their feelings aside. I have watched as my parents have embraced each other, teased each other, or, yes...even screamed at each other and through it all I've seen love. Thirty-seven years of ups, downs, and move arounds, and they still send glances across the room, hold hands, and listen...well most of the time. But the thing I admire most about their love is that they dream together, always have, and that they laugh together, maybe not as easily, but still often, and most importantly they grow together. They have both achieved such great things in such different ways and yet they remain united, more today than that wedding day in April. They've been the heroes to three children, the welcoming in-laws to three children in-law and the adoring grandparents to two beautiful boys. They have taken an oath as two people and grown it to encompass ten(and counting...) and they have defined what love is all about.



So today, I want to celebrate my parents, who are each other's best friends, and mine, and I want them to know how proud I am that they've shown me love. It wasn't until I was a parent that I understood how much I am a reflection; not only of those two kids who said "I do", but of the millions of moments they chose each other and their marriage along the way. I can honestly say that in loving each other, you've loved us all! We love you!



Here is one of the only pics I have...sorry unless its Zach apparently I don't take pictures.

Sunday Smiles!

Sunday is usually my least favorite day of the week, but not today. After three days of illness in our household things started to turn around today. This morning we began our day with pancakes at our casa, and then played until naptime. After Z's first nap, we met up at Perkin's with some of my favorite people, my posse, my family. My Mom and Dad were so happy to see Zach, since they missed him on Thursday and Friday this week. Uncle Nick was also appreciative from afar, as he has been touched one too many times this year by "Sick Pac"'s illnesses. Aunt Lisa and cousin Jack were thrilled to get to hang out with the little guy. Actually, it was a very loooong lunch, but the boys didn't mind because they spent a great deal of their time there being entertained by Grandma who had them singing and playing drums on the table. Oh to be a kid again!

After lunch we did a little grocery shopping and headed back home, Z took another nap (so did Mommy) and when he woke up we decided to embrace the sun, before the next slew of rainy or snowy (yikes) weather hit! Here is the little man in his Radio Flyer car that Grandma and Papa got him for his big b-day:

I mean seriously, how happy does this little guy look to be cruisin' around the neighborhood?

Pretty darn' cute if you ask me!

We took in the beauty of the day and I snapped a few shots.

Here is one image I took:

Don't ask me why, but I like the shadows and light here. Isn't it amazing what a difference a few days make? Compare the picture of Zach playing with Daddy's hat today to his Sickie Baby shots and you can see why I call today Sunday Smiles!

Boy does my son love to laugh at himself. Oh, as a funny sidenote...shortly after I took that last shot I discovered the Zach is getting his first molar...see Mom, I was right! Well I guess next week the Sunday smiles will just be toothier! :)

Sickie Household!

Well... whatever Zach had on Thursday has spread! It knocked Wayne out for the count on Friday, and then last night around 9, I was blessed with the sickie virus too! We spent our Saturday in doors just trying to recooperate, hopefully we are all turning the corner here, so that tomorrow we can enjoy out time together. I guess no matter what age you are...being a sickie sucks!

Sickie Baby

Just look at the face of my sickie baby. Doesn't his expression just say, "Hey, Mom what is up with this flu thing?" That's right, this morning we woke up to a baby covered in vomit, after an early morning bath and some much needed clean-up, we started the day hoping for the best. Unfortunately, Zach's flu decided it should exit from the other-side, and the scene that Wayne described is better left unwritten. Needless to say, Mommy rushed home from school to nurture her sickie. Aside from a few pouty faces (see above and below) the day was mostly splendid. Zach played with his best bud, Lennie:

Note the sour puss is still in place. After trying to get Lennie to lighten his spirits I resorted to a new toy, one originally intended for Easter. Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures:

At first, Zach was a little unsure of the nesting blocks, but after knocking them over a few times, he realized it was also a lot of fun to try to put them back together.



Although it wasn't the ideal way to spend the day with my little man, I just think he is so adorable when he's engrossed in learning. Now if only I could see the same look on my students faces when we're discussing a book.

Since Zach was feeling fine by evening, Grandma Alice came for a visit, we had a very lovely dinner and play time until... well let's just say sickie baby struck again! Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, and sickie baby will go away and super smiley baby will be back!

April Fools

One of my favorite memories of April Fools is a time my brother Nick thought it would be funny to prank my Mom. We pretended he had banged his head on the bedpost, and he put ketchup on his hand and forehead. My sister and I ran to get my Mom, and we all must have been pretty good actors, because I could see the panic set in as my Mom tried to assess the damage. She deftly moved my brother's hand away and instantaneously realized we had tricked her. We watched as her face shifted from one of fear to one of anger. Fortunately for us, my mother has always been forgiving, after a brief lecture on how we shouldn't scare her to death, she forgave us for our prank. Looking back it wasn't the best April Fools joke, (Zach don't even think about it), but it's a worthy memory because when the three of us pooled our resources we could do anything...even pull one over on one smart cookie! So no matter what practical joke you pull today, just be happy you have the people you love to prank right along with you.