Few random things!

Devon and Megan (and Lyvi) move into their new house today!  We're headed down there today to help move, unpack, organize!  We're going to have a girls sleep over.  Me, mom and Zoe are spending the night with Megan & Lyvi down there tonight since Devon works at the fire house tonight!
ZOE IS FINALLY CRAWLING.  Big news!  Last Wednesday she just took off.  And there's not stopping her now!  She thinks she's so big now, since she can get wherever she wants.
Her favorite "no no" places....Mannys food/water dish and the cabinets.  She has two cabinets that she's allowed in though...so she LOVES those!

Her birthday party is coming together!  I still have a lot left to finish up...but it's going to be great!

I CAN have my cake and eat it TOO!

Yesterday while grabbing a few things at the grocery I bough a box cake mix of funfetti cake and icing...(Josh and I's favorite).  I got home, put Zoe to bed, sat down at the computer and told Josh I bought it...and then remembered I didn't unpack it.  At this point we both REALLY wanted it hehe.  So Josh being the great hubby that he is, he drove back to the store and picked up our bag (which also had the kiddos strawberries in it) brought it home and made it :) We iced it last night and it was too late to eat it...so we shall eat it tonight!  Yumo!

Come home mama & papa!

My parents left last Thursday to visit/vacation in California with family!  They had a wonderful visit...until today when they tried to come home. 
While on the way to the airport (LAX) "something" hit my cousins windsheild (passengers side) and totally smashed/busted it!  They pulled off the next exit, called the police and "regrouped"  Once they were able to get on the road again it was too late for them to make their flight. 

The airline wanted $1000 PER TICKET to switch their flights.  But they could get on a standby list for a later flight.  (Their origional flight was supposed to leave 2:15pm California time and arrive in Ohio at 11:45pm tonight.)  The flight they are currently waiting for leaves California at 9:50pm (almost 1:00 AM our time!)  and arrives here at 10:45 TOMORROW morning.  :( 

So, they've been sitting at the airport....people watching and killing time until they can "hopefully" get on the flight tonight.   We're REALLY hoping they get on it.

Red, White & Boom 2010

Since Josh's work giveds us parking passes (which is right on the river) we always go down to Red, White and boom!  It's prime location because it's (usually fairly) easy in, easy out, walking distance to food and not crowded!  This year we had 3 cars full of people and lots of kiddos!  We left our house about 5:45...and ended up SITTING on the freeway.  We were in the lane to get on 670 and we SAT.  We did not move.  In our car it was Josh and I, Megan, Lyvi and Zoe.  The girls were pretty good..we kept them entertained with music, singing and food!  So what do you do when you are sitting in traffic for an hour and 15 minutes?

Take photos, of course!

By the time we got to the bottom of the exit ramp, Megan and I decided to get Lyvi and Zoe out and walk the rest of the way and just meet everyone else there.  We got out and got on the sidewalk and I hear a sound I did NOT want to hear....Josh trying to restart the truck.  I turned around and he's throwing his arms in the air.  Yea....the truck was out of gas!!!  It had said we had a 1/4 of a tank. (Obviously our meter isn't right)  I passed Zoe off to mom (who had also got out to walk with us)  and ran up to dad (who was driving the car infront of us) and made him jump out and go push Josh and I drove moms car!  LUCKILY there was a very nice security guard working at a building right there, and he gave us a little gas.  (All that he had in this little tank in the back of his truck)  It was enough to get us down to Joshs work!  We called AAA, which ended up being another headache because he couldn't get to us because of the traffic so after the fireworks we ended up just saying forget it, and we held our breath and drove to the nearest gas station!  (And made it!)

Once my nerves calmed down we had fuN!  We were all so happy to be out of the car.  We got some food, did some chalking on the street, and played some corn hole and other baby toys!

Lyvi loved having her own little person chair!  (Dev had to work..boo!)

Yes, Lyvi and Zoe had matching outfits! :) No, I didn't get a photo of them together....bad Auntie/mommy!

Trevor, Sarah and Sam.  My moms friend Amy was on vaction with her hubby in Hawaii so Sarah stayed with her for about a week.  (the boy on the right is her boyfriend and the one on the left is a friend)  Funny side story:  They walk in my house and moms like "Tash, you remember Trevor...." Me:  Looking at her with a dumb look on my face..."no...."  She tells me his last name.  The last time I saw him he was like 6!  Crazy!

Melissa & Logann

Abbie & Heather

Zoe was OUT about 20 minutes before the fireworks! And she slept through all of them until the Finale!

Running out of gas & traffic aside...it was a wonderful day/night!

Today

I made it through the wisdom tooth ordeal :)
I'll update with details later...
but for now....my favorite shot I've taken in awhile.  (And I took it today)

Tooth

I found out a few months ago that I do indeed have widsom teeth...or one I should say!
For years there's been NO sign of them on any X-rays so we thought I didn't have them.  (I was "holding out" until I got a little older because mom didn't get hers until she was about 21)  and shortly after Zoe was born, I went to the dentist, got an X-ray and Tada...there was one!  One's better than four I guess.  I went for my consultation a few months ago so now I go tomorrow to get it cut out. 

Wish me luck!

11 Months!

The little Miss turned 11 months today!  Eek.
She's growing and changing everyday.  Latley she's been doing TONS of new stuff.  Her personality is shining through more and more.  When she's around other kids, she pretty much sits back and takes it all in...but when she's by herself she is so funny!

Tonight I took her with me to meet with a friend and she just giggled and laughed at her, and played. 

She had a follow up Dr appointment today to recheck her ears.  They look much better!  So no tubes...at least for now.  She said as long we don't end up back there before her one year appointment then we're home free, but if we go in with another ear infection then she's shipping us off to a specialist...boo!  We're crossing our fingers for no more doctors appointments. 

Forgive me if some of this is repeats, I can't remember what I've typed on here and what I've wrote in her little journal!
-She weighed 16lbs 11oz.  (With clothes on)
-I'm not sure how long she is...I need to check that!
-She can still wear 9 months clothes, except jeans because she's long legged like her daddy.
-Says "Ba" when you say; "Zoe, do you want a bottle?" 
-I've started mixing milk in her bottle 1-2 times per day. 
-She drinks from a sippy cup, but isn't so good at tipping it.  So, I got her the one with the straw, and she loves it! 
-She says "Dog"  sounds like "Da"  (but not the same as "dada"
-She now knows who and what "mama" and "dada" are instead of just words.
-She "woof woof"'s when you say dog.
-If you say "Zoe, What's a cow say?" She says "moo"
-She loves to point.  If she sees something she likes or wants...she points.  She points a lot, and I explain a lot :)
-Still no crawling...but she pushes herself backwards when she's on her belly.  And she can stand up {holding onto something that's sturdy} by herself. I'll take a few photos of her standing up with this one toy she likes. 
-She puts herself to sleep now, in her own bed.  {Kinda makes me a little sad.  I still rock her for a minute to snuggle, and then I lay her in bed and she goes to sleep} 
-Her bedtime is now later.  Tonight she didn't go to bed until almost 10:00.  It's typically been about 9:00 latley. 
-She's still LOVING swimming & water, including the bath. 
-She's quite the little eater.  I'm not sure where she puts it.  Today she CHOWED down on some Mac 'n Cheese and Strawberries. 
I think that's about it. :) Here are a few photos!

For awhile now...

I've wanted a vertical grip (for my camera) and a 50mm lens.  I got on Craigslist Friday morning and found BOTH, still available!  I know; craigslist isn't the best place to buy photography equipment.  BUT I asked lots of questions and tested it before I handed over the money.
I met both of the guys last weekend and got both pieces and LOVE both items.  I got them for half of what they would have cost new! 
Here are a few shots I took yesterday just playing around with the kiddos.  (These aren't edited yet...just SOOC)  My favorite shot was from last night, of Zoe in the bath...but I can't share it on here because I don't trust creepers to take a photo of her naked.  I'll play it safe!

JinkyArt

I am so in love with everything this lady does!
She's doing a workshop in Ohio this summer...and I'm SO SUPER bummed I can't go.  A.  It's full.  and B. It's lots of $.  It will however be a priority for 2011.  I'm going to save up/make payments...something! 

A balancing act!

I've always been pretty good at balancing things in my life...a lot of things going on at the same time. 
Latley I've been feeling like I have a TON going on...but I've been doing a good job of handling it.  Or so I think anyway. 

-I have the kiddos during the day.
-School.  One night of class a week.  Plus homework.  (usually two nights a week of homework)
-TWKNK.  I still work part time, online for Andrea.  Which I still LOVE. 
-Premier Designs.  I became a "jewelry lady" and it's been a slow start.  I'd like it to pick up more, so I'm hoping to book more homeshows really soon! 
-My photography.  In my "Spare time" I've been working on a facebook page for my photography business.  I'm hoping to do more with that SOON! 
-I'm working on a few "side jobs" for some friends right now.  Wedding invitations and planning birthday parties. 
-Zoe's birthday party!  Which has been so much fun!

And of course, the most important part of my life...my family.  All of that on top of managing the house, finances and keeping track of our schedules. 

I make a lot of to do lists, and take one day at a time, one task at a time.  I LOVE everything that I am doing right now (except school) which is why I do a good job at juggling it all and making it all work :)

Zoe's Birthday Party

Zoe will be ONE on August 13th!  Can you believe it? I can't!
I've been planning her birthday party in my head for several months...but now my planning is in full swing!
Her invitations are almost all done.  Half of them went out today and the other half will go out this weekend, I just have to pick up more stamps and finish assembling the rest of them!  There's a ton of them.
Her party is going to be pretty big.  We have a ton of friends and family that's invited.  It's her first, so we're doing it big :)

I have so many ideas and I'm just trying to get them all in order and figure out what to go with and what to save for another party.  It's so hard.  I'm also trying to keep the cost down, but somethings I'm just going to "splurge" on because it only happens once! 

I'm going to make the cupcakes, and her cake...and another special "accent" cake.  I may regret this the week before when I'm super busy...but my wallet won't!

I'll post a photo of her invites early next week, so it doesn't spoil it for the people who are getting them in their mailbox. 

Backyard Fireworks!

An old family friend of ours has an annual Fourth of July cookout.  They let off LOTS of fireworks.  They do it completly safe and have a licensed pyromaniac there.
Their daughter is about Devon's age and she had a little boy about a month after Zoe was born.  He had fun playing with Zoe and Alyvia!
Lyvi Loved this swing!!

So did Zoe :)

This is her face/sound she makes for "No" .  Ask her something or give her something to eat that she doesn't want...and this is what she does! haha... too funny!

Exploring a lady bug :)

We had to loose the cute 4th of July outfits for warmer Jeans and sweatshirts!  Zoe kicked back and watched the fireworks like this all the way until the last 10 minutes when she fell asleep  on my arm :)

Fourth of July!

We had a wonderful fourth of July weekend!
I'll start backwards because the blog post about Friday will be the longest.
Yesterday...my moms friend (and her husband) are in Hawaii so we went over to her house to swim (in her awesome heated pool) and cookout for my dads birthday.  (Which was last Wednesday)  Her daughter has been staying with mom and dad while they're gone, and she doesn't mind at all if we swim and hang out there.  Their pool and deck are awesome, and it's heated!

Sarah...that's her boyfriend holding her up :) I LOVE his face in that photo hehe.

New Look!

I'm re-designing the blog...I know I need a new header to match it...so give me a little time :) It may look funny for a bit!

Where did you go?

Did I loose all my readers when I wasn't blogging much?

I feel like no one is out there anymore...