Savor The Moments

In the hustle and bustle of life, it is easy to miss the small moments to savor and it struck Amy one day as she walked into the kitchen and looked down at the garbage can and saw a perfect little person handprint.   To some, this may look like we need to clean our house better, but to Amy, this was a moment to savor - there won't be little handprints around in just a few short years.....let's love them while we have them!!

The weather has turned beautiful here in Florida - no humidity and lovely moderate temperatures.  We took advantage last weekend by going out to the park and playing soccer in the evening - even Mom played! :)  It actually was all the little kids against the big kids....and you can imagine what the score was, so when one of the little boys came over to complain Amy and Teri went out to play on the little boys side and even the score.  Sadly it ended only being a tie even though there were two adults out there!  Sadly there are no pictures to prove that Amy was actually playing soccer though (Karis is not so diligent in the picture arena! :) )

The next day we had a party to celebrate Cole's 9th birthday - it was a nerf tag party, and the big boys all had lots of fun. 

Addison has started to say "mm-hmm" in a sing-songy voice when you ask her a question - it is super cute so we tried to capture it on a video.

Random pictures:

Color coordinated Z children - hardly ever happens, so had to capture it for proof!  It was spring colors, so a bit "off" in terms of timing but hey - it's Florida - it's always warm!

Pumpkin patch time has arrived!

Sit-in diner - just grab a stool and some granola, and dig in!

Using Jennifer's rug as a blanket....already got her sunglasses on!

Sitting at the front door to watch the boys playing outside...

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

We celebrated in style last weekend for Canadian Thanksgiving - making a pumpkin pie (DADDY making pumpkin pie with two helpers).  Yes, you'll notice that apparently in the Z-household we don't believe in clothes....this is our "reduce the laundry" strategy! :)  We loved how Addison says pumpkin pie, so couldn't resist posting this video here to commemorate it by.

Pumpkin Pie!

Our boys are growing up so fast, and they're making us very proud with how helpful they can be! Zachary has been doing the dishwasher now for some time, and we decided that it was time for Kaleb to begin to learn, so here he is pitching in to help! Good job Kaleb!

Loading the dishwasher

Addison has discovered a toy that Zachary used to adore as well - it is a Leapfrog Fridge magnet (although we've never put it on a fridge!) where you put letters in it and it teaches you the sounds of letters.  She has been quite enamored with it as well now that we have introduced her to it.

The chees-o smile when you say "Let me see you Addi!"

A few weekends ago, we had the awesome opportunity to go to "Family ID" at the Forest Lake Church and learn about creating a family values chart, a mission statement and a family slogan.  It was challenging to say the least - especially with two non-creative people - but aren't most things worth doing ultimately a challenge?  We were a bit sheepish as we struggled through this as a couple - finding ourselves having words at times.....until our pastor's wife came over and shared with us that she and her husband...the pastor...got into a huge fight when they did it the first time..... Okay - so if the pastor and his wife can get into a fight going this, maybe it isn't so odd for us to be setting off sparks as well! :)

During the session, they showed this video about "How to be a dad" -  it was so catchy and fun, and so true of what being an engaged father can look like, that we wanted to share!  And no, we're not trying to advertise for Cheerios - it just happened to be the catchy commercial!



Last weekend we headed out to Chapin Station to enjoy the beautiful weather.  While we were there, the Grodacks joined us as well as Cochrans.  It was SO NICE to be outside!

Young and innocent enough not to realize that perhaps a girl sitting on a boy's lap is not the best idea....

Love Calleigh's laughter!

Miss Independent....with child 1 and 2, Amy never would have allowed them to climb without being right there to catch them...  By child #3, parents are worn out and tired, and allow their children to do things that they could potentially fall on!!!

Can we say "static cling?!"

Phrase of the week:  Hand!  Mama, hand!  This is a nightly ritual for Addison - as Amy stands up from the rocking chair to put Addison to bed, she begins to say Hand, Mama Hand!  As soon as Addison is laying down, she puts her hand up in the air and Amy has to lean into the crib and hold her hand for a few moments.   Then Amy lets go of her hand, puts the drop-gate of the crib up, walks to the end of the crib and Addison then insists on "Hand!" again - so Amy reaches over the end of the crib for a few moments, and then says "good-night Addison, hold your ears! (instead of Mommy's hand!)" and finally is able to leave the room and close the door!  It works the exact same way every single night - no deviations!

Mr. QB

Zachary has started to play I9 football again, and this season the QB from last year has moved up to the next section, so Zachary was chosen as the QB this time!  It was interesting in the beginning as he said that he only wants to play defense but after Daddy told him that he used to play the QB when he was a young man, Zachary decided to give it a try.  The Wolverines (the team that Zachary plays on) has won both games handily thus far - scoring something like 67 points.  It makes us parents feel a little bad for the other team, but there will surely be games where they don't win, so they'll get to experience the other side of the coin at some point.  We're proud of Zachary - he's been keeping his head well under pressure and can throw and pass very well.

Blake is the hiker - Zachary is ready to take the ball

Passing the ball off to his runner

Kaleb started a soccer skills camp last weekend, and was showing some really good field sense - instead of bunching up with the other kids he was figuring out where the ball was likely to go and running out there so that he could intercept the ball.  Good job Kaleb!

He's on the end, looking up at the camera  He liked his coach as he had a 'mohawk'.  It's the little things....

After football, we went to celebrate Esai's 9th birthday.  They played flag football, had batting practice in a batting cage, then pick-up game of baseball - it was truly a boys party, and so much fun!

There were a few girls here, but most of the boys are from the football team or siblings.

Running for their candy as it dropped from the pinata

Kaleb taking a swing at the batting cage

Zachary has quite an arm already - he threw the ball all the way from first base to third base!!

Kaleb's having an interesting experience - instead of losing his baby teeth, they've decided to stick around a little longer while the adult teeth grow in.  You can see in this picture that his two bottom front adult teeth are growing in behind his baby teeth!  The dentist told us that the baby teeth would fall out but we're still waiting.......perhaps he'll be getting the teeth pulled instead if they don't fall out soon! :)  This is the sad reality as they inherited Amy's mouth (too small for the teeth!) instead of Karis' mouth.

Hmm, thinking the baby teeth are going to get pulled..... On another note, see how long Kaleb's eye lashes are!???

Addison, aka Baby Spice this week, has been in love with her dolly - and is insisting that she take a nap with baby.  Daddy is very indulgent....

Addison is showing off her skills - wondering how a 2 year old figured out that she could suction this cup to her face.....this kid has such an engineering mind!!!

Phrase of the week:  'Allo' - this is the word for "hello" but instead of meaning "hi" - it means, please give me your cellphone!!!  She calls everyone's cellphone the "allo" because she knows that people talk on it! :)    

We were driving somewhere together, just Amy and the kids, and somehow the conversation wound it ways around to roses.  Kaleb informs us - "We don't know why roses have thorns yet....scientists are still working on that."  Ha ha - I'm sure that is top of the list for scientists to be working on, figuring out why roses have thorns! :)  Have faith, God will tell you when we get to heaven!