Are You Crazy?!

Well, yes, I am. However, this was not my doings. This was my husband Paul's. Believe it or not, it really was. Zoe asked her daddy back in the summer if she could have one & he told her sure. Since then she has asked at least once a week & he keeps telling her sure, but then does nothing further. Until about three weeks ago. Zoe finally got him to commit. And commit he did. To last night, February 13th. Once the date was down on paper, he told her to invite whoever she wanted, just no boys. So, Zoe did. She invited 16! Yes, 16 five year olds to our house for a slumber party! Why? Just because Daddy said she could!

You ask how it went? Amazingly well. All 16 girls showed up & only 1 did not stay the night. (We did have 3 of our 8th grade neighbor girls - Abbie, Taylor, & Madalyn - that acted like chaperones & did crafts, nails, etc. & even spent the night. We owe them BIG TIME!) It was about 10:30 PM when Paul went downstairs to check on them & they were all sound asleep.

Kylie making a bracelet.

Zoe designing her bracelet.

Meghan, Emma, & Calista making bear picture frames.

Olivia & Alyssa making ice cream magnets.

Avery, Gracie, Isabella, & Chloe hanging with Taylor & Abbie.

Dancing to Tayl*r Sw^ft!

All in for a group picture.

Mac playing beauty shop.

Avery doodling on the white board.

It's bed time!

A Reading Machine

Zoe has always been a lover of books & now that she is really learning to read, she loves them even more. Saturday evening she read her first book (all by herself) to us. She was so proud of herself as she sounded out the words & drew conclusions from the pictures. Once that first book was finished, she picked up another & read it too. Since then, she has read & re-read multiple books. (We might just have to head to the bookstore soon!)

Daddy rocking Zoe as she reads to us.

Sounding out a word.

(I love the enthusiasm on her face!)

And of course, a smile for the camera!

(Had to get one of Dad looking too!)

Some girls look good in hats. I think she's got it goin' on!

Funny faces & bunny ears!

4th in State, Baby!

My niece Bethanie's junior high girls' basketball team played today for 3rd place in the state. Unfortunately, they came up a little short & took home the 4th place trophy. What a great season though! Further down the road, those girls will look back on this adventure & realize what they accomplished! Bethanie is only a 7th grader so we are anxious to see how she continues to improve her game. Bethanie, we are so proud of you! 4th in State, Baby!

Bethanie (#42) on defense...

Posting up for the ball...

During a 30 second time out...

Zoe during a break...

Bethanie at the high post...

Shooting a free throw...she made it!

Zoe & cousin Courtney!

Concentration...

The 4th Place Team

Zoe & cousin Bethanie!

A Busy Week & a Welcomed Gift

It was a crazy, busy last week around our house. Seems like we had something to do every night - gymnastics, ballgames, meetings, etc. This coming week doesn't look any slower & neither does the weekend. Here's some highlights of our week:

Zoe hanging with Claire, a co-worker's daughter, at my school's jr. high girls' basketball game. Zoe helped Claire write on the white board in my classroom.

Zoe & her friend Avery playing at our house.

Aside from all of the craziness we did receive the most treasured Christmas gift this week - a Christmas card. See, every year since adopting Zoe, we receive a Christmas card from her orphanage about 2 weeks after Christmas. We look so forward to receiving it that Paul & I are like kids in a candy shop just waiting for it to arrive in the mail. We always enjoy opening & reading what the orphanage director writes. He didn't disappoint this year! What a precious gift!

This is the return address.

The amount of postage it took.

The card itself - in 3D no doubt!

The inside of the card.

And the message from Director Dou.

The back of the card.

Happy Gotcha Day #5!

It's so hard to believe that 5 years ago today Paul & I woke up in our hotel in China & walked down the hallway only to be greeted by a little girl who would become our forever daughter. Through the years we have relived those memories many times & today is no exception. What a blessing to have been chosen Zoe Gwen's parents. Happy Gotcha Day, Zoe! Mommy & Daddy love you so much.

And in Gotcha Day fashion, we celebrated it yesterday by taking Zoe & a friend out to lunch & then to B*ild-a-Be*r.

Zoe & Kylie waiting for their lunch.

They've picked out what animals they're going to stuff.

Zoe stuffing her puppy.

And making a wish & giving her puppy's heart a kiss.

Bath time for puppy!

Introducing puppies - Valenie & Rose!

Snow Day

Last night the weather man was predicting 4-8 inches of snow. Zoe was so excited thinking that she would get her very first official snow day as a kindergartner. Well, the weather man didn't disappoint! About 4:50 this morning, Zoe's school's all-call system called saying school was cancelled & then about 5:40 my school's all-call system called saying my school was also cancelled. So, back to bed we went!

We woke up later to about 4 inches of snow, 12 degrees, & 35 pmh winds. Needless to say we stayed in side most of the day. Yes, we did venture outside for about 10 minutes so Zoe could play in the snow. Maggie, our dog went out with us. She was hilarious to watch run around & kick around the snow.

Zoe went right to the swing set!

All bundled up & swinging away!

Getting ready to make a snowball.

Kicking snow on Daddy!

And Daddy just kicked snow back on her!

(Notice she has her gloves on wrong!)

Running away from Daddy!

She nailed him!

Maggie taking a break from acting wild.

Mid-air!!!

Not sure what tomorrow is going to bring! The wind is supposed to really kick up tonight & cause even more drifts. Zoe is hoping for another snow day & I must admit, I am too!

Could There be a Seamstress in our House?

Last week Zoe talked me into buying her a kid's teddy bear sewing kit. As you all know, Zoe is all about anything that has to do with art. As I stood in the store reading about the kit, I promised Zoe that she could work on it after dinner that evening. So, as soon as the table was cleared & the dishwasher started, I helped her piece the pre-fab pattern together & showed her how to start a stitch. Before too long, she was well on her way to sewing her first ever item. After a little help & some extremely good patience, Zoe introduced Snowflake to her daddy. What do you think? Pretty good, huh? (Perhaps, she'll learn how to use a sewing machine - something this Mama never had any interest in!!! And still doesn't!!!!)

PS - As you all have guessed by now, Zoe made it home safe & sound yesterday from her field-trip with her friend. I told her that I missed her & thought about her all day. Her reply - "Sorry Mom, but I was too busy having fun to even think about you!!!"