starting a new tradition

On Friday I got together with some girlfriends from college. This is the first time we have gotten together with our kids for a playgroup and it was such a success we are starting a new tradition! We live somewhat spread out across Chicagoland so we will start meeting every other month. I am looking forward to this new tradition and seeing these girls and their kids on a regular basis. Thanks for making the trip out here girls!

The first picture was the best one I was able to get of all 5 kids. Needless to say a bit of a challenge. From left to right, Mica Zandstra, Simon Cooper, Seth Haartman, Zach & Cam.

Can life get any better?

Here we go, brace yourselves ladies....fall is in the air, its another football season....

This is the time of year all of us wifes cringe, as it means the beginning of the Fantasy Football addiction and Saturdays & Sundays consumed with which college or NFL teams are on TV.

At least around here we are off to a good start today with a last second Packer victory... some times wishes do come true.


2 boys in Packer gear, can it get any better for a Dad?

Advocating for a gate

If you ever question why there's a need for a gate at the top of the stairs, this picture shows you why.

This is where we found Zach sleeping with two of his animals last night when we went to bed. Normally we close the gate but I had forgotten, and I swear I only had checked on him 10 minutes earlier and he was playing in his room. Pretty scary if he would have turned over in his sleep!

Then at about 3am Mark heard a noise and found Zach in a deep sleep, lying half of him in the bathroom and other half in the hallway. When I asked him this morning why he was sleeping in the hallway, his response, "because I do that." Likely answer.

"I just don't want to talk about it, Mom"

I'm so glad the first day is over with!
On the way to school Zach was a little anxious about the drop off (well, we both were) and asked a lot of questions about why I wasn't staying. Once I got him out and starting saying goodbye his eyes welled up with tears as he looked at me with his big brown eyes, his bottom lip went down, and quietly whispered "bye, Mom." I quickly got in the car and didn't look back as my eyes too were filled with tears.

I couldn't wait to pick him at 3pm and hear all about it. Well, as my friend Beth predicted, he pretty much had nothing to say. The only thing he did share was that he had goldfish as his snack... very exciting! The whole way home I kept prompting him with specific questions and after about 5 of them, he finally said, "I just don't want to talk about it, Mom."

Well, that's that then. His teacher briefly told me he did well but did have a "few moments," not completely sure what that meant and didn't think to ask her in that moment. Anyway, he goes again next Monday and maybe he will have more to share. But I don't think I should plan on getting my hopes. Oh, to be a fly in the wall in his classroom....

Who will shed more tears today, Mom or Zachary?

Today is Zachary's first day of preschool and I'm still in denial.
Last week we had a successful meeting with his teacher, despite his injuries at the time. He actually starting crying when it was time to leave as he wanted to stay and play, which the teacher said was pretty unusual. Even though I am anxious to have the first 'drop off' done, I am feeling very comfortable with the school. It turns out that his teacher is a mother of one of the girls I coached on the Badminton team last year. She remember Zach from our Badminton matches and said she was excited to have him in her class. Its just a small personal touch that is helpful for me as we embrace our first day of school.

Anyway, wish me luck as I encourage him to be brave while I will probably be fighting back the tears when I drop him off. However once the drop off is over, I can't wait to enjoy my 2 1/2 hours of free time, well at least with only 1 child to tend to.

Labor Day Memories

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Summer's last hooray

Labor Day weekend, summers' official last hooray of fun in the sun and BBQ's of burgers and brats! Can you believe it? I sure can't. Even though the hot, hot days are a bit much I'm definitely not ready for summer to end. As it will be a long time before summer returns.

Anyway, we made the most of the long weekend by heading up to Mark's parents to spend time with his folks and older his brother, Charles. Chuck was up from Kansas City with his wife Jackie their kids, Charlie and Emily. We had an action packed weekend of countless hours at the beach, hitting the local fair, bonfires, and family picture moments. Zachary had a ball playing with his one year older cousin, who encouraged him to go on the 'big' rides at the fair, which he normally shys away from. Little Emily, just tried to keep up with boys and well, Cameron, he will be in on the action next year. He just made his mom happy by sleeping like a champ with long naps and producing some 12 hour stretches!

A highlight of the weekend for me was having Zach stay up for his first bonfire of roasting marshmallows and making smores. Although he thoroughly enjoyed the bonfire and watching the fireworks show that a friendly neighbor produced, he was a little skeptical about eating a hot marshmallow off a stick. He preferred to eat the 'uncooked' marshmallows straight from the bag, needless this comes as no surprise as he's not one to try new things... wonder which parent this comes from?

Enjoy the slide show. Between all of our pictures I had a hard time time picking some, as we captured so many good moments.