Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Silent Night



It's Christmas Eve and Zach is sound asleep in his Christmas jammies, resting up for an exciting morning of celebrating the birth of our Savior and playing with some fun new toys that Santa should be dropping off at any moment. Andy is at church doing the last two Christmas Eve services of the night, so I thought I would take the quite moment to catch up on the blog, which I have gotten so behind on! I am even being provided with live music as I write since the church across the street is letting out and everyone is gathering outside with candles and singing Christmas carols. I feel blessed! Speaking of feeling blessed, I just want to say on this Christmas Eve that I am so thankful that God sent His son to earth as a precious baby. We are blessed that Jesus came to this earth to share His life with us. I am so thankful that we have a time each year when we can celebrate His birth and remember all that it really means for us. 
I haven't posted any of our fun moments this Christmas season, mostly because we have been so busy! I probably don't need to mention that life in the church gets much crazier around Christmas time. One of the things we did this season which Zach absolutely loved was to do the drive through Seneca Park to see the Winter Lights display. He loved all of the lights that were shaped like some of his favorite animals. His absolutely favorite part however was when we came upon the barn where Santa's reindeer live. Barns a favorite thing of Zach's right now and a barn made of lights....well you can imagine how great that would be. Andy and I enjoyed it too as we got to have a wonderful conversation that lasted longer than fifteen seconds! Zach has started taking a gym class this month which was a Christmas gift from Grandmom and Granddad. He loves it! He is especially good at the balance beam and dunking balls into the basketball hoop. The greatest part is that since we are signed up for the class we can go to the gym for free open play anytime we want! This is going to be a life saver for us as it is way to cold to hit the playground these days! We are taking a trip back to Colorado next week which we are all so excited about and I promise all three of you that read this blog that I will post pictures of Christmas as soon as we get back. Until then enjoy a few fun ones 




Sugarloaf Mtn. Vineyard. We went to this great vineyard that is right by our house to buy a gift one afternoon and decided to stay for a glass of wine! Zach is enjoying his favorite snack too, cheese puffs from Trader Joes. 
Papere (my dad) sent Zach this incredible digger for Christmas. It arrived this morning and we let him open it early. Diggers are Zach's absolute favorite right now. He can spot them a mile away and excitedly screams "di di"  in the car whenever he sees one!


Even the picture on the box was exciting. 
Oh the anticipation can be so painful!
Zach's first haircut! 
I have attempted to cut his hair many times but he refuses to let me anywhere near him with scissors (probably a good choice on his part). So we took him to the lady that cuts Andy's hair and he had a great time! He looks so precious with his new cut and it makes him look so much older!



Zach helping me to make gingerbread men for my MOPS groups. Actually they were called Chai Spice Girls and were delicious! Let me know if you want the recipe for next year. Zach loves baking these days and often pulls up a chair to help me in the kitchen. He especially loves when I use the Kitchen Aid Mixer! "Wow," he says!
Zach taking a self-portrait when mommy and daddy weren't looking.

I am so blessed to have these two wonderful boys in my life. They are so much fun and keeping me laughing all the time. They also have two of the sweetest and kindest hearts you will ever find!



Instructing daddy on where the tree should go. He loved have a tree in the house. He will definitely be sad to see the "tee" go!
Taking a break from Christma shopping to play at Tysons Corner
Stretching his legs with daddy. Daddy is training for another Marathon!
We went to the beach for Thanksgiving and had so much fun spending time with our wonderful family! Here he is coloring with his cousin Jackson. He thinks Jackson walks on water!

A walk on the boardwalk- Thanksgiving day

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

In addition to the previous post...

...Andy would simply like to add that Zach also really likes trucks, construction equipment, and tools.  

Thank you.  

Some Cute New Things

Just wanted to share: 
Yesterday I took Zach to Stride Rite to buy new shoes. He has always sort of been into shoes (hmmm wonder where he gets that). He went around the store lining up all of the display shoes and had a blast. He nicely sat while the sales woman put different pairs on his feet. When he got home he wanted to play shoe store. He ran around the house gathering all of my shoes and then pointed for me to sit on the living room floor and he put each pair on and off of my feet. So precious. 

While we were playing shoe store Oprah was on and she had the most talented kids on her shoe. One boy was break dancing, another tap dancing, and there was even a yodeling girl. Zach took a break from his duties as a shoe sales man and tried out all three talents. I am thinking I am going to have to contact Oprah and get him on the show for next year. 

We are on a one new word a day role. Sunday it was chair and yesterday it was bowl. Can't wait to see what it will be today. I love that sweet boy!
Hope everyone is well and looking forward to a fun Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday so I know we are! 

Sunday, November 9, 2008

A Wonderful Week with Great Friends


Andy went on a retreat for work last week and Zach and I got to have some fun of our own. Andy's friend from Princeton, Jeremey went on the retreat as well so his wife, and my friend, Sarah and their two kiddos came to spend the week with Zach and I. We had such a fun week and the kids played great together. It was so nice to be able to talk and catch up with Sarah about so many things. We are so thankful for our friendships with them! In other news...Zach loves to watch the news with Andy and watch people cheer for Obama. He cheers along and says "Ba Ma"while clapping and waving his hands! Pretty cute! 
Playing at adventure playground!








Running through the plane at the Air and Space Museum
Checking out the cock-pit

Halloween

At the church Halloween party with two of his favorite friends
Coloring at the party
Minature golf with dad

Zach's pumpkin-on his way to his next Halloween party. 


Playing in the leaves with Maggie





Enjoying a post-nap pumpkin cookie on Halloween

Halloween concert in the Kentlands with his friends

He got to sit in a real fire truck!


Trick-or-Treating with Daddy
Showing Mommy his loot. 



Zach had a wonderful Halloween. He had three parties and a carnival to attend which is far more than I can say for my social calendar! He loved trick or treating and after each house he wanted to lay his candy out on the street and line it up. He was so excited to finally get to take it all out and organize it when he got home. Poor little guy, we only let him eat the bag of animal crackers!