Today...

Today you are seven...

-although, you wish it was eight... you didn't even want seven candles on your cake until the very last moment! You just don't like being the youngest in your class. But we are very proud of you and how hard you work.

Today you are seven...

-and so independent, both with your actions and ideas. It is fun to watch you grow, in mind and spirit.

Today you are seven...

-and such the individualist. When it comes down to it, you don't always follow the crowd... you just do exactly what you want to and we love you for it. You wear what you want to wear and do what you want to do. You wanted to decorate your own cake and proudly showed it off!

Today you are seven...

-and really beginning to understand that their are evils in the world and sad things too. But because you are seven, you still have the optimism of a child who can turn any dark cloud into sunshine.

Today you are seven...

-and responsible. You love your little jobs and take pride in what you do.

Today you are seven...

-and continuing to really express yourself through your words... both writing and talking. It is so fascinating to see the world through your eyes and share it with such an articulate girl.

Today you are seven...

-and just like when your were six, or five, or even one... you are feisty, and on the move! You run fast on the soccer field and play with fire that I don't think I ever even had (that must come from your daddy)! It is a joy to watch and cheer and hear others cheer your name as well.

Today you are seven...

-and creative and fun. You write songs and poems and help me create things to sew. You love crafts and dogs the most!

Today you are seven...

-and as sweet as can be. You are a great big sister. Patient and kind and most of the time willing to play exactly to Max's level.

Today you are seven...

-and we still think you will be a lawyer. Always ready to fight the good fight against injustice or have the last word.

Today you are seven...

-and we love you with a love so deep that it aches if we dwell on it too much.

Today you are seven...

-and Buford is six. And you have "loved off" all his fur. And you still sleep with him every single night.

Today you are seven...

-and adventurous. You try new foods and new adventures whenever the opportunity comes up.

Today you are seven...

-and really funny. You don't miss a beat with jokes! You even get "puns" and make up your own. You are clever and have such a loud, infectious laugh, that we can't help giggle every time we hear it. Watching your sense of humor emerge has been one of my favorite things of watching you grow!

Today you are seven...

-and we are blessed to have you as our daughter. In many ways, you were not how I imagined when looking through my rose-colored glasses before you were born. However, because of you, we have learned so much, grown some too, and strive to be better each day.

Today you are seven...

-and sometimes we get glimpses of seventeen. The way you are sitting or a facial expression can speed up time for just an instant and I hold my breath, and am thankful that... Today you are seven!

God Bless you, Sweet Zoey. Today on your birthday and every day!! We love you.

Fun Day with the Boys

Ross didn't have to actually go to classes this past month, he just had to work on his thesis. So, on his last week, we took the day "off" and spent time with Max at the children's museum. It's fun to "play hooky" every now and then, isn't it? Just a change from the normal to do something fun. It's always neat to be able to focus on just one kiddo at a time, too. The place was so empty that we practically had it to ourselves. Max had a great time... but so did some other boy I know...


Building a tube on a magnetic wall for a ball to run through...


Standing back to watch the action...

They are really similar in so many ways. We've known it from early on, but as Max gets older, we really see the similarities! The way they look at things and play with things, and how they have to open everything up to see how it works!!! HA! HA!

They look a lot a like too. Smile... I enjoyed my day with my boys.

Who needs toys, anyway...

Do you know these guys?


They are the Penguins of Madagascar... They were in both the movies and now have their own show. Well, our family thinks they are pretty funny. Ross and I laugh over the sarcastic adult humor, and the kids think they are funny, too. Well, the other day, we got some squash from our friends' garden.

We got four of them.

They were all different sizes.

They quickly turned into this:


Needless to say, it turned into great entertainment for both kids. Zoey added mouth bubbles and had them saying their signature lines. She also wrote descriptors for them, like LEADER, CALCULATOR, and COUGHER (he's always coughing up tools they need). And the little Private guy who always makes messes up was given the label MISTAKE. It was all very clever and humorous. They even got a kick out of eating them for dinner!! Two are down. Two are still standing... for now.

Nature... Fall

We happen to live very close to one of the better state parks in southwest Ohio, so we try to go for a little hike now and then. There are a couple of paths to follow, and one of them is along a little river. The kids seem to like it and it is nice to just be outdoors, in nature, and enjoying the family. Max diligently leads the way. First, our mostly reserved and soft spoken child, talks the ENTIRE TRIP. He is narrating the whole adventure. Whenever we come to a fork in the road, he talks about the different paths, describes their difference and then makes the decision on which one to take. If Ross tells him to go on the other path, he agrees and then commentates on why the first choice may not have been the best! I can't really describe in words what this adventure is like with him, so I won't even try. You will just have to take my word for it, it is darling and sweet and hilarious all at the same time.


Here he is saying, "We made it to a pretty place. Now we will stop and take a break, and then turn around!"



And Zoey, who is normally in the lead, directing all matters of play, organizing everyone into their "roles", actually takes the back seat during our nature walks. She just walks along closer to me, looking at the different leaves and their sizes and colors. She did step into some muck though, and was so angry! It was at the beginning of our adventure and we had to calm her down to keep going. She gets fired up over things like that. She was much better, however, after Max took a little fall and she wasn't the only one who had gotten dirty! The competitiveness over everything is a big deal in our house right now. I have a feeling it is not something that will end anytime soon, either. On a side note, I guess I can't really blame them. Ross and I have been running around our loop to see who can run the fastest time! I guess it is in their blood.

Here she is throwing rocks in the river. Her hands got a little dirty and then she wiped her face.


Here you can see the marks on her face. We didn't dare tell her, or she would have had to make Max's face the same! See, so competitive.


This is a blurry one, but I always have the camera, and forget to get pictures with me, so I had to keep it and post. The camera is actually focusing on a spider web, I think.

Soccer Season....GOAL!!!! GOAL!!!!

Well, another soccer season started and we are giving it another go... times two this time:




Zoey scored a goal in both of her first two games and is playing great! She seems to understand the whole concept of the game and the positions this time, so that really helps! Her frustration level is much less and I think she is beginning to enjoy it. Ross and I are too! Max plays a funny sort of grid soccer game, which keeps the kids from bunching up, but is sometimes a little s-l-o-w! At least our weather has been beautiful, so we just get to enjoy being outside as well as getting a little exercise. He's glad to be playing too, after sitting on the sidelines all last year. (or maybe he just likes having a shirt with his name and a number on it... simple things, ya know?) Either way, it is fun for all.

Ross made a sign for Zoey when she scored her very first goal last season, so she has hinted each time that he needs to keep doing it. Here she is in front of her door with her signs... Oh, and her skirt is my latest sewing project... another Jeni inspiration!

Goggles

Zoey was not a fan of taking a shower. She wouldn't mind a bath at all, but the water spraying all over her face and in her eyes in the shower was just not something she was comfortable with. However, she learned a lot this summer at swim lessons and became very fond of her goggles.... so Mom was thinking... and now we have the all-new showering Zoey:


Oh, and would you like to see my latest handbag? You can exit now if you don't. I promise not to post every bag:) I found the tutorial here. h/t tiny happy

The Good from Children, and All Things Girl!

So kids are pretty awesome, aren't they? I mean, even on the roughest of days, they finally go to sleep and then they look like angels. And on the good days, you are reminded how to be. I love how they love without limits or conditions. They laugh with their whole selves. They cry with gusto!! And they soak up every little thing that you do. Which, if you allow it, can be a good thing. Change the bad habits and adopt new ones. Or open yourself up to other experiences or hobbies. Such is the case with me and my kids. I mean, Max has definitely brought me into a whole new world... the one of Legos! And Zoey, who is not princess-y or overly "girly", loves loves loves to do her crafts. Me? I'm not so crafty. Or creative. However, I am a girl who, like most, LOVES bags and shoes.

So thanks to Jeni, for her inspiration, and diary of a quilter for the tutorial, I entered into the land of sewing! I actually wanted to make the bag and then found a deal on a sewing machine, so I bought it with my birthday money and away we went...

Here are the bags for me and Zoey:

Here she is modeling hers. They had instructions for a smaller bag, but she wanted one to hold her books for her religion class, so I made hers adult sized.



The bags weren't so economical, considering the fact that I actually had to buy the machine to make them, but it was fun. The machine is computerized and does fancy stitching, so here's a close-up of one I tried out on the strap.


So, not too bad for my first ever sewing project, huh? Zoey is excited to now be able to make pillows and doggie beds and blankets... all things I can probably handle!
Thanks again Jeni. I will be on the lookout for more easy things!

Max's First Day of School

Just wanted to post a picture of Max and his first day of school... He just has the sweetest face here. He also just lost another tooth on the bottom, so you can kind of see the hole!

a nature walk...

So I had a birthday this past week...

I love birthdays, especially mine, and I am determined to keep it that way. No falling into the "blah, getting older" trap. You're only as old as you feel, right? So, Ross, who knows me well, planned a fun food fest:) On my Birthday Eve (what? you don't celebrate that? well, you should!), Ross and Zoey went perusing Target and brought home a fun kit!! Yummy snacks and fun stuff just for me! And then we went out to breakfast and dinner. Yay, no cooking or cleaning up. Perfect.

And between our feasts... we had a nice nature walk at a state park. Some may go there for hiking, but I can't actually say that what we were doing was hiking! I mean, with a five and six year old? Anyway, it was fun either way. Max had a map and diligently led the way. We even captured the moment,


Yep, here's me, and my sweet family, on the day, I turned thirty-three!

Love you guys! Thanks for everything.