Easter 2011

Every year I line the kids up on the front porch for the obligatory Easter picture.

This year was no different.

They don't love it, but they indulge me.

Someday they will appreciate this.

At least that's what I chose to believe.

April Madness.

A basketball tournament fit for a TEN year old.

Every year we give the kids a choice for our present to them. They can either have a friend party or presents from us. Since we have tons of family that shower them with gifts on their birthday, they almost always choose to have a friend party as their gift from mom and dad.

This year, Zeb wanted to have a basketball tournament. He invited 15 boys and made 3 teams of 5. He randomly chose the team captains and then they each chose their teams.  The games were 10 minutes long and they each played each other.  Then they had bracket play. 

(as a girl, I just nod my head and pretend to know about the bracket and the seeds.)

(just smile and wave)

We invited some older boys to be the referee for the games.  Not every call they made was perfect, but they sure did enjoy the power trip!  It was fun to watch them engage the younger boys.  We had a couple of upset boys after the ref's called something a foul, or missed calling something else a foul.  But all in all,  it was pretty fair.

Even little sister was included in the day!

The competition was fierce, but team black swept the tournament!

The boys played with such intensity that Skip had to keep reminding them that this was a fun thing.  He called a huge team meeting after the championship game was over just to make sure there were no hurt feelings and that all the boys were still friends.  Skip did a good job about reminding these awesome kids that it's OK to be competitive, but our character always comes first.  This group of boys is really special and I pray that they will stick together as they grow up.

After "the talk", they were rewarded with hot dogs, chips and a giant cookie cake.

This was the easiest party because Zeb did all the planning.   It was neat to see him process through the plan.  He made a five page booklet of party notes, layout, brackets and schedule.

I think he might have a career!

Good Friday.

Having feet has finally paid off.

Last night was the FOURTH annual spring Flip Flop Exchange hosted by a very sweet friend. It is the best girl party ever. The food is excellent, the women are lovely and everyone is happy to leave with a brand new pair of fabulous flip flops.

If you have a group of friends or co-workers, this is the next party you need to host!  Read here for a detailed description on how to organize a party of this magnitude.  It is so worth your time! 

I pinky swear.

These are the beautiful girls that were there last night.  This party keeps growing every year. 

Only two pairs of flip flops were repeated last night.  That means there were a whole lot of shoes that were one of a kind.  These aren't your ordinary OLD NAVY flip flops (which I happen to love) these shoes were gorgeous and designer.  Every single pair received OOOHHHs and AAAHHHHs and clapping.

Oh, the clapping.

It was a very affirming night.

Look at my pretty pair that my secret shopper bought me.  I heart them.  They are cute, neutral and so comfortable.  All the things I love. 

For me, last night represented more than just a fun gift exchange.  It represented that the FOG has lifted.  Last year was such a killer year for me that I just dropped my flip flops off the day of the party and didn't even bother to show up.  I just couldn't do it. 

I couldn't pretend to be ON and FUN and HAPPY, oh my.

I stayed in hiding for the better part of last year.  I didn't even have a birthday party.  It was a dark time.

But the LIGHT is on now.  The fog has lifted.  I am different because of the fog, more mature.  The me before would have been all over that room last night and I would have been secretly miserable.  Last night, I sat in the same chair and had a great conversation with three ladies.  A deep and meaningful conversation in the midst of a HUGE social event. 

The old me would have never sat in one place. 

I kind of like the new me.

In the middle of all the noise and celebrating one woman shared a private piece of her heart with me. 

Intimate.

Honest. 

Real life. 

Not fluffy.

So, while I am happy about my new cutie shoes, I am even happier that I have come out from under the suffocating darkness.

Life is real and complicated and hard and messy.  But last night reminded me that it's also good.

Very, very good.

So, off you go to plan your own FLIP FLOP EXCHANGE and get ready to celebrate your feet and your friends.

It's flippin' awesome.

My leg is the third one from the left.    

Really??

No.

But you are so sweet to look.

His favorite gift.

With ten comes great responsibility.

I am not going to lie people.  This is TOUGHER THAN TOUGH.  He has a very strong lid reflex that fights against keeping it open and touching the eye.  That will die away in time.  Each day will get better.  His confidence will grow and the time will shorten.

But he is so proud. 

Me?

I want to shove him back in the womb and pretend ten years haven't gone by in the blink of an eye.

*sigh*

10 for TEN.

My first born turns ten today. I thought it would do my heart good to look back over the last ten years and highlight 10 pictures.

I love this boy so much. He has changed my life and my heart in so many ways. I can't imagine life without him.

To my sweet Zeb.


I pray over you all the days of my life.


I love you forever.


I like you for always.


1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

And one to grow on...

Basketball cake.

Zeb is turning 10 tomorrow!

*I'm not gonna cry.  I'm not gonna cry.*

He wanted a basketball cake.

Thanks to the power of GOOGLE, I was given hundreds of bball cakes to choose from.

This is the one I fell in love with.

This is my attempt.

It's sort of lumpy and imperfect.

But he loved it.

That's all I care about.