At Home???

I had thought it would be good to be back in town so that we could be home and get "caught up" around the house. I have since realized the malady in this thinking, one must truly be home to do things to affect the house in a positive way! It seems to me there are unfinished tasks lying around the entire home. So much to do, and truthfully so little time before we leave once more...this time for an extended trip! (Hopefully the persons staying at our house will make the improvements!) Yet, for you, dear readers, I will procrastinate once more and spend my hours frivolously blogging so that you may have updated pictures of our adventures.

We went as a family to see the musical play Peter Pan. Both of the children were enthralled! Josiah thought he would be an Indian, and Grandma would be Wendy so she could fly!

We finally made it to the Seminary family picnic that occurs every Friday night. I took a few shots there of friends, and of course our favorite beautiful girl from Guatemala, Isabelle. If all the babies are as sweet and endearing as this one, it will be hard not to adopt one while we are there!

Other exciting news....Josiah and Elise were both entered into a drawing for their summer reading program. They each won a pair of Cardinals tickets! I am sure there will be more pictures when that event occurs!

Shots from our travels...

Here go Mimi and Papa down the slide with all their grandchildren. It was a great time seeing all the kids interact like best friends would. And they all adore their Mimi and Papa!

We also enjoyed some time with the Stewarts. The highlight was playing with them at the Pump it Up gym where all the toys are inflatable and fun to romp on! Here are the girls and the next shot is of the boys. Michael, Christy and I had a little competition to see who could go the fastest through the obsticle course...I lost every time. They raced a couple times, I think Michael won best of three.

Here we are in Spring-town visiting the family. Grandpa is healing wonderfully from his surgery. Michael had a few days of fun and a few of demolition to get ready for a new bathroom to be installed. Men at work!

We went for a quick walk to the pond down the street and up a few hills from Grandma's house. The kids enjoyed it....

But Michael did take on the weight of the kids as I followed behind with my camera!

Since there were signs stating that we were not allowed to feed the water foul, Elise did not wish to waste, and took to eating it herself. Then she followed up by throwing large rocks into the water with great enthusiasm.

Josiah seized another opportunity to play a little bit more baseball....he has a great lefty pitch!

love to all, the z's

Reunion

Enjoying Family

For these past few weeks we have been enjoying family. It is amazing to watch all the changes and interactions that occur every year. As age increases, so does perspective and this year gave me a new role at the family reunion. Having my own children running around reminded me of scenarios in my past, of being the child enjoying every moment of playing with cousins until severely exhausted, yet wanting to stay awake as long as possible, for if my body would pause I would surely be asleep. Observing the social tendencies of each child and how they reflected their parent's, my cousins, served to reinforces old memories. Being a leader to the 'little kids' and striving to be liked and accepted by the older ones was always a social lesson.
I enjoy this station I am in now, as surely as I celebrated being a child. Conversations about parenting, home, church .....life were shared. Card games were played, good food was devoured, and the unique conglomeration of people joining in were all formative of who I am at my core, making the visit a most secure and valuable time. I can only imagine what it will be like when I look at this event through the eyes of a grandmother. I am so grateful for the family that I was blessed to be a part of...God is good.