Funny Face

I've started packing a few boxes....they are Ziva's new favorite seat.

This face cracks me up!

She wasn't doing a cheesy pose, although it turned out that way :)

We took a little road trip to Arkansas today to have lunch with Cherissa, Max and Maggie. We got to stop by and see Vicki too, which was a treat, especially since Vicki was feeling pretty good. Ziva was a great trooper in the car, even though she only slept 30 minutes on the way back, and that was it for the whole day...contrary to the "plans" I had made!

Park Play

Yesterday wasn't quite as hot and there was a great breeze, so I took Ziva to the park for a little bit. She gets so red in the face it scares me, so we only stayed about 25 minutes, but it was fun. Rayola Park is so different than I remember when I was a kid....they've got toddler sized gyms, which Ziva liked climbing around on, and which I liked because I didn't have to worry so much about her falling off!

Ziva likes sliding down the slide, but she LOVES trying to climb back up it! This tunnel slide proved a challenge, though.

Procrastinating

I'm procrastinating. Ziva is sleeping, so I should be tackling my to-do list. Blah. I made the bed, washed some dishes, and got a load of laundry in the dryer, but none of those things were even on my to-do list, so I don't feel like I've accomplished much. Maybe I'll go back and add them to the list so I can cross them out. (I LOVE crossing things off lists!)

My biggest to-do task is to start packing, since we're hoping and praying that we'll get to move to our new apartment before next Saturday, when we leave for Chicago. Even if all we do is get everything moved in but not unpacked, I'd be happy. I know the time will fly once we get back from vacation and it will be time for school to start before I know it, so I'm hoping all that time in between will be time where I can focus just on unpacking, organizing, and getting settled. BUT, since we don't have a definite date, I'm unmotivated to pack, and also overwhelmed. I used to not mind moving too much, but I guess the older I get, the less appealing it becomes. I know once I get started I'll be fine, but it's sort of like writer's block at this point. I have packer's block...instead of staring at a blank page, I'm staring at empty boxes. As a teacher, I would instruct students to just write whatever comes to their heads, whether it makes any sense at this point or not. So I guess I should just start putting SOMETHING in a box.....

Okay, here I go.

Happy words, happy heart

Vince came home from work yesterday evening, and as he walked in the door he said, "I love my new job. It's so great to come home and be happy!"

Thank you, Lord, for Your good gifts!

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.)