Ahh... Spring

Well, we are definitely seeing signs of Spring, which is always nice after winter! With the lighter, longer days, we get outside more which is so good for both the kids and us!! I just wanted to share some pictures:

We did some seed planting! All flowers, though I am not even sure what kind! I don't know what will work here in Ohio, so we just decided to try a bunch and see what happens!!






And some landscape work... Ross had to get some dirt to fill in an area, and Max loved riding in the wheel barrow. Ross gets a workout with that thing... he sometimes takes the kids (ours plus a neighbor) for a ride around the loop (it is .4 miles)



And some rock-jumping...

Irish God

God has a sense of humor, right? Especially when it comes to kids. Zoey learned a lot about the Irish and Ireland last week because of St. Patrick's Day. She also learned about Lucky Charms cereal, but that is another story. As we drove around, she would tell me things she had learned, in particular, Irish last names. She said that they are almost like everyone else's except they put an "O" (like O'Malley) or a "Mc" (like McLaughlin) in front.

Well, we were in church last Sunday, and she wanted to draw, so I gave her a pen and a little devotional book I had. She drew nice pictures of crosses and Jesus' name in bubble letters and stuff. All nice and good. And then I just didn't see what else she did. Today, I opened up my book to look at her drawings and found this:

McGod

God

O. God

I just had to laugh. I am sure He did too.

Ross' Birthday Pics

Ross' birthday was last week (my Dad's too:)). He picked a special birthday dinner to have at home and we had a cake. Zoey loves birthdays, so she worked on a card, and kept the cake a big secret, for as long as she could! Zoey asked months ago what kind of cake he wanted. This doesn't just mean flavor, though. To her, it means just like you are asking any kid... So, here is the cake:




I joked at the cake store that it was for one of my sons!

Here is the birthday boy and his kiddos... not looking at the camera of course!



And, with the new birthday came some changes. Ross decided a new look was in store:











The change was temporary, though. So please don't send any Banana Republic gift cards.






That joke will only be funny to some people who know ross, but I still had to put it in there... Love you, Ross!

Hey You!

Guess What?






Chicken Butt!!!



I see that you cracked a smile! Have you even heard that in 20 years!?! I came across that somewhere last week and laughed. And then I did it to Ross. He smiled, too and then commented, "not what I was expecting from my adult wife!" Well, you know... what can I say really? Actually, we were simultaneously planning in our minds when we could use it on our kids!! Being the very adult, mature parents that we are, after all.

And use it, we did. The other day, Zoey was in a mood. It sometimes happens as we are driving along. She remembers some crazy detail or event from her past and just gets fired up over it! So in the middle of her mini-tirade, Ross just asked her, "Guess What?" She stopped for a minute. He asked again. And she took the bait. "What Daddy?"

Well, it worked. She thought it was quite funny!! And then had to go around the car asking everyone. And then Max joined in... And then we had to bring other animal's derrieres into the picture. And then Ross and I began actually discussing the anatomy of the animals, you know, like which ones actually have a butt (see, the adult side comes through). It made for a funny rest of the car ride. And then the last time, Zoey asks Max, "Hey Max, Guess Whaaaaaat?" He just gives a bunch of fake laughs.... HAHAHAHA..... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA and then says, "I'm just laughing! I'm not saying Chicken Butt!"
So there ya have it, Happy Monday!

Zoey Comments

Just some Zoey comments that capture who she is today and how quickly she is growing...

1. Ross takes her to school everyday. He started the year walking her all the way down the hall to her classroom. Now, she tells him he can go at certain intervals along the way! This morning he even stopped at the lobby. And she told him, "Daddy, Please don't call me "Bubba" in the school building!" Ohhhh, that was one sad Daddy!

2. We were driving home tonight and had this conversation:

Zoey: "Boys are weird. They just grow up and get mean!"

I just laughed a little to myself and said, "yeah, they do sometimes. But they get nice again later, just look at Daddy!"

Zoey: "Yes, they start off nice, and then around 3rd or 4th grade they just get mean, and stay mean all they way until maybe 11th grade or college! That is why I am having only friends that are girls!"

Me: "Sounds like a plan!"

3. She still has very cute innocence though, for which I am thankful. And a big, loving heart. She is so excited about her Dad's birthday tomorrow that she is telling everyone at school. And tonight she decorated a card for him. She went to her room, closed the door, and worked diligently for 20 minutes at least. And said, "this is just the perfect card for him!"

Hope you had a nice St Patrick's Day!! We have been feasting... Corned beef and Cabbage (don't knock it 'til you tried it, is all I have to say) and Corned beef hash, Yum... and tomorrow is Ross' Birthday, so........ bring on the cake!! I will be sure to take a picture... it will be so cute!!

Bounce House!!

Thanks to my friend, Tricia, for giving me the idea of a Bounce House for the kids! I had no gift ideas this year for Christmas, but we were walking around a toy store looking for birthday gifts for some parties we were going to attend, when Max stumbled upon some mini-bounce houses. He loves the big ones that they have at fairs, or parties, and he calls them "the big soft, jumpy playgrounds." So when he saw the ones at the toy store he just kneeled down and patted the boxes (like he was gently touching something he knew was special) and just said, "Oh...take these home with us!?!" And that's when I remembered Tricia had one at her house! So, I investigated, and purchased and Santa delivered just in time for Christmas and then... we just waited, and waited, and waited, and waited... The kids basically forgot their big gift.

HOWEVER, last week actually got warm enough (close to 75)! So we busted out the Bounce house and had some jumpy fun!!

Here is Zoey practicing her handstands!

And just one of both kids

And then... two days later we had a high of 25 degrees. Apparently the lion and the lamb are battling it out this March. That, or playing on a seesaw! My money goes on the lamb though... Warm weather has to come eventually, right??

Our Special March 6th Day

Ross and I had our first date on March 6th. Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and a movie. We also got engaged on March 6th. Another dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and a movie. So after two times, it becomes a tradition, right? Well, along the way we lost the movie, but we still go to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. So far, we have lived relatively close to one. This past weekend we went for our tenth time! We kind of celebrate our family and the changes that have happened along the way. It is something I look forward to every March. It even beats out daylight savings (which if you know me and sunshine, that means a lot!) Sometimes weather or illness or work trips actually prevent us from going on March 6th, but we do our best. Here are some pictures from "our family date" this year:





And just to document the change... Check out last year HERE!

Quick Takes

Not long enough to merit a post of their own, but thoughts I want to remember...

1. I just registered Max for Kindergarten. Ohio gives the option to wait for an entire year to send him, but he's ready. It's only half-day, so that makes it even more of a non-decision... But still... kindergarten, already? Like I said, he's ready... I'm not.

2. The other child is growing up too... The other night she told Ross, "Daddy, when I get married, I'm not going to be your Bubba anymore!" Oh, that just opened up a whole can of worms for Ross... I know his heart breaks just thinking about it. (other dads of little girls can sympathize) Needless to say, a looooong conversation followed...

3. This was totally a coincidence... at least we think it was... Max had an enormous poop the other day and I just had to share the information with Ross later. I mean, really, the kid is just shy of four feet, so where does this come from? Since we have had our share of poop issues... we try to make it part of bathroom conversation. Just to make sure they know it is good and healthy to go each day and not to be embarrassed by it or anything. So Ross, armed with the info I had shared, asked Max if he went earlier in the day. The conversations went like this:
Ross: Max, did you have a big ole poop today?
Max: Yes.
Ross: That's good buddy!
Max: Yes, I did a BIG OLD DUMP!

We pretty much lost it! He was oblivious though, when normally he is quite the joker and aware of being funny. That is why we think it was just a coincidence. He hasn't used that "descriptor" again either, and we aren't sure where he got it from.

4. March is here! Apparently it is a very unpredictable weather month. The beginning of the week, High of 15, the end of the week, High of 67.

5. The middle seat in the back of the car is usually empty, unless we have company. Then someone (usually a Grandma) has to squeeze between the kids and their seats. Today Max dropped some pretzels in the middle seat and on the floor. When I was getting him out, he was micromanaging my clean up. Don't forget the one on the floor, Mommy. And the two on "Grandma's Seat". How cute. The seat is known and affectionately named "Grandma's Seat."

That's all... enjoy Thursday!