Some Free Time

It has been super crazy around here. With Zane turning 4 and having three different birthday events, Thanksgiving and all the activities that Zane is involved in, the blog has not been a priority. Tonight Zane is at AWANAS and Daddy is off watching the Cardinals game and playing Rock Band with some friends. So I get the house and computer without interruptions. At least for 30 minutes.

Zane got a tramp for his birthday, which has been a good choice. He was also able to feed the giraffes with Grammie, had a messy art party with some of his friends at Camp Central (where he goes when I am at MOMs (like MOPs), ZooLights, and another party with some friends from church. Somewhere we also had Thanksgiving. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the events.

Favorite Family Picture from Thanksgiving

First Jumps on the Tramp!

Our Favorite Softball Player came to ZooLights with us all the way from Boston!
We love you and miss you!

The Joy and Love of Chocolate!

Feeding the Giraffe. See the tongue is purplish and getting a carrot

I just can't believe that it is December and closing in on the middle of it at that. It is crazy to think that Zane is four already. It is true how SSSSLLLLOOOOWWWWW time went when you were younger and how quick it is now that we are adults. After Thanksgiving growing up I thought Christmas would never get here. Now, I feel like it was just Labor Day and we still had the A/C on.

As the year winds down I am going back and looking at all that has gone on and how many prayers were answered and how has changed. I can't wait to do a post on that as I get it prepared. There are also so many decision that are coming in the next year and some major trusting God in which way He is leading us. It is time to go pick up Zane. Hope all the Christmas Cheer is filling your homes and the holiday crazies are staying away. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Birthday Party Fun!

So, you may have guessed that it is Zane's birthday. There will be multiple posts about his parties and the events that have taken place to celebrate. For his birthday party that we had with my MOMs group friends (Moms On a Mission!) I decided to have a messy art party. Those who like order and structure, NOT FOR YOU!

We had six activities. Some we have seen before, here, and here.

One was making pinatas, not recommended with 3 and 4 year olds. Not quick enough. We did Ocean Painting, Fly Swatter painting, a color dot game, Oobleck, and hand and feet prints. The kids loved it, especially the Ocean Painting, Fly Swat Painting and color dot game.

Playing the Dot Game

The Master Piece!

Color Dot Game Results

Ocean Painting

The Ocean Painting is shaving cream, white school glue, and blue tempera paint whipped and then let them go crazy!

The Color Dot Game is really great. The first time Zane and I played we were at it for about an hour. I purchased the paint daubers (six pack) and got two different colored die. You put the numbers 1-6 on the dauber bottles. One of the die tells you which color to use, the other tells you how many dots to put on your paper. I loved this because it teaches the child numbers, counting and color recognition.

This was a great party and I am so Thankful that I had my parents to help clean up. It was a lot of work but I am so glad that we had this party. I hope that Zane's friends and their mommies had fun also. I know that Zane did and the memories will be treasured.

I have a Four Year Old!

Happy Birthday to my precious son Zane. I can't believe that he turns four today. We had a messy art birthday party yesterday and he got a tramp today. There will be pictures when I have time. I can not believe how big Zane has gotten and how much he adds to our life. We are going to Zoo Lights tonight with our family.

HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY!

First Performance!

Zane had his first music performance today. I was able to record it, but not with the video camera, just the video part of our camera, so not the greatest and my arm got tired. I had no clue what to expect. There are three clips. The kids sang Jesus Loves Me, This Little Light of Mine (Veggie Tales version) and Father I Adore You. Sorry for shakiness and any mommy talk. The kids performed for us moms.












Notice that he never sings, the hands are in pockets and it seems that his "light" is up his nose. It was super cute and enjoyable.

What, it is Aready the Middle of November?!?!

I can not believe that in a ten days I will have a four year old, Thanksgiving will be here and we will have a month until Christmas. However, that also means that I will be home (Colorado) for Christmas! I am so excited to be where there could be snow and it will definitely feel like Christmas and not Easter.

What has been going one with us? Well, Zane is going to be in his first on-stage production on Tuesday. He will be singing three songs with the other kids in his Camp Central group for the women who are in Stepping Stones (which includes my M.O.M.S. group-very much like M.O.P.S.), we are in the full swing of Sammy Seedlings Preschool and Little Nature Explores. I have really been enjoying the Little Nature Explores. While Zane is off with "Grandma Mia" and a few other 3 and 4 year olds, I get to escape off into the Riparian Area and spend time with God. During this hour most is spent in prayer. This prayer has been powerful and revealed so many different things about God's goodness and love for me. It has also convicted me in areas of my life that need some attention and given me vision of some things that I feel that God wants me to do and I need to listen and DO! Which this is a problem for me. I don't like to start things that I have thought of because I am afraid of rejection.

I have also been do a book study using the book "Power of a Praying Parent," which has been so incredible useful to me, and the leader is the state coordinator of Moms In Touch. So my desire is to start a group at our church. These prayer times have been one of the most powerful times of prayer and I have seen the most changes and answers to prayer during this time. I can not describe the intensity of the prayer when I am praying in this manner with one or two other women about our children. If you have a Moms In Touch in your area, do it! If not, start one. You will not be disappointed.

So, we have been very busy. Nana and Papa are coming on Sat for Zane's birthday, we have two parties for him, our annual ZooLights on Zane's birthday, Thanksgiving, finish up preschool and Little Nature Explores, head to Denver (19th), Christmas, come home, then our 7th anniversary! So ready for life to slow down. I think that will happen when Zane turns 18.

On top of all Zane's activities, David and I have been busy at nights. Our church just got through with our outreach, Life 101. We both had friends come. One of David's coworker, T came to all 6 weeks and accepted the LORD as her Savior on Friday! This was an amazing time. We are also taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. This is definitely worth doing and checking out, even if you don't agree with everything he says. It has caused us to get on the same page and we have set goals and give us a plan that makes sense. Highly recommend it!

That is our life right now. Fun, crazy and exhausting.

Pumpkin Festival

This is one of the traditions that Zane and I have started and this is the third year we have gone to the Pumpkin Festival at the Desert Botanical Gardens. Each year it has gotten better. This year was no exception. We went with some great friends and Grammie and Grandpa (thanks for taking pictures). Enjoy some of the pictures that I took.

Pumpkin Bowling-There were fun carnival games this year!

Hayride to the Pumpkin Patch

Hay Maze to get into the Pumpkin Patch

Throwing Hay

Walking in the Gardens with Grandpa

We had such a great time and this year I think that it was only 90 degrees!!! But it was still so much fun. We are so excited to start Preschool here on Wed. We have missed Ms. Shannon. Zane was so excited to show his friends his preschool. He asked Grandpa for his flashlight so he could show the tortoises! I love watching how Zane is more involved in the activities and wanting to teach others.

We also have a new member to our family! Baby P was born Sat. Oct. 24. She needs our prayers. She was born with MAS and is in the NICU. I know her parents (our cousins) would love your prayers.

Some fall pictures that I love

These are some photos of Little Man that have been taken that I absolutely love. Even though some, I do not recommend doing and/or he is not allowed to do, but they do make for cute pictures.

Our Little Cubbie!

One of his favorite hiding spots, but Mommy does not approve

Too bad tomatoes don't look this good

My favorite this fall, so far! My Little Puck