Hot, hot, hot!

It has been HOT lately....you wouldn't think we ever left Florida! But in spite of the heat we took in a little bit of baseball this weekend. My dad's work sponsors a family night in the summer, and this year's event was a Tulsa Drillers' game. We got there early for some free food, and then watched less than one inning before Ziva had had enough. She did have fun, though, as you can see. We love this dress that Ross and Amber sent...although it fits more like a shirt so we put shorts underneath it. The material was nice and cool, perfect for the weather. Thanks Uncle Ross and Auntie Amber!

Ice cold water, yum!

Watching the game with Grandpa

Love this face!

I signed Ziva up for the summer reading program at the library today...I didn't realize kids as young as her could participate, but when we checked out, they said I should. My little reader! We like taking trips to the library...it's nice cool fun, and Ziva loves running around the children's section and having great "conversations" with other kids.

Vince's new job

Vince was officially offered a new job yesterday, working on staff at our apartment complex doing maintenance. This is such a huge blessing, and we are so excited! It's amazing how God has been leading us in this direction when we didn't even realize it. Vince has been wanting a new job for a while, something that would allow him to be home more and be in a more positive environment. But in this economy, job searching is tough, obviously. We had already planned on moving to a new apartment this summer, downsizing a little, to save some money each month on rent. The Greens is building a new phase, and we applied for one of the brand new apartments. When we heard a couple weeks ago that they were hiring, Vince applied. He had his first interview last week, and it turns out they were super excited that he had applied, since they knew he was already planning on moving to the new phase and that's where they wanted him to work. So....he got the job, which is a huge blessing in itself, but it comes with so many perks...God is good! Since Vince will basically live at work (or work at home), when he's off, he's home! No rush hour traffic, no driving to and from Tulsa, more time at home with us. Yea! Also, we don't need a second car, which is a very good thing since my poor little Prizm is on its death bed. It has been a good car, but it's done. It gave out during my last week of school, and we thought then, "perfect timing...summer is the best time to only have one car." We figured we'd make a new plan once school started again, but now we don't need to, since we only need one car! (Cheaper insurance, save on gas, wear and tear...yea!) And as if all that weren't enough, we get a major discount on our rent, plus we get the best of the new apartments, which means a little more space than we have now, rather than less. Yea!

So we are thrilled with this new season, especially about all the extra time we'll be able to spend as a family. God is faithful, and this is such a great reminder to me that He can (and does!) do more than we could ask, think, or imagine.

Dear Grandma,

Mommy wanted to put your picture on the blog, but I wouldn't let her. I'm so glad you came to visit. I had so much fun! I can't wait to see you soon in Chicago! Love, Ziva

Vince's mom got to come spend a week with us, and it was so great to see her! We showed her a little bit of Owasso/Tulsa living, but we mostly just played with Ziva.

We went to Cherry Street one night to have dinner with Mitch and Rachel, since Mary had never met them. We ate at Bourbon St. Cafe....yum! Ziva ate alligator bites, dirty rice, and bread pudding, among some other more appropriate toddler food. :)

We got a great video of Ziva dancing like crazy to the live jazz, but it's so dark it's really hard to see. Use your imagination. :)

Fun with Uncle Mitch and Aunt Rachel!

Sporting one of the new outfits Grandma got her and reading to herself. (It is SO fun to watch and listen to her read on her own.)

Water day!

There's a great little water park where the old pool used to be in Owasso, and we took Ziva there one day while Vince's mom was here. She wasn't too sure about the water, but she really liked watching the bigger kids playing.

Vince took her underneath the big buckets that dump out once they fill up. It was COLD!

After the bucket :)

Two GREAT years!

Today is our 2nd anniversary! These last two years have been so great, and they have flown! I've been reflecting today on our life together, and we have certainly had some major adventures. I don't think either one of us could have imagined two years ago that we would be where we are today (mainly: in Oklahoma, with a 14 month old daughter!), but it has been an amazing journey so far. I can only dream of what else God has in store for us after all that He's done in, through, and for us in just two years!

Happy anniversary, Vince....I love you more every day!

Dance party, Ziva style

I grabbed the camera too late, so we missed most of the dancing, but you can still get the idea. :)

ah, summer!

Lovin' summer! Today's highlights:

• discovering that the inside of the dryer makes a great drum, and echoes if you yell into it
• whisking lots of imaginary food in a big bowl
• putting puzzle pieces into the big bowl, then taking them out....over and over (which is very exciting becase until very recently, putting things back was not a skill Ziva had mastered...she only took them out, creating fun, but large, messes)

As a side note, our daughter is a giant! We went to the doctor this week for an ear infection, and they went ahead and did Ziva's 15 month check up, even though she's just 14 months. She weighs 23 pounds, which is pretty average, but she's 33 inches long, which is above the 95th percentile for 15 month-old kids! I did the math and realized she's already taller than half my height, and she's getting close to half of Vince's height! If the old wive's tale I heard from an old wife (really!) at Walmart holds true, that a person's full height will be double their height at age 2, then Ziva will definitely be one tall lady!