Jeremy, Zack and I returned from Rockall yesterday evening. It was a relaxing, but somehow also tiring time. We always enjoy the vacation. Plenty of games, fun, food, and family to go around. I wish it would go on for much longer. 8 nights went by much too quickly. Even Zack loved his time, though he was definitely jealous of 10-month-old Brooke. We however loved meeting her and getting to see family from Colorado. He got wild, crazy, and generally unruly when he was tired. Aside from that, he really...

Yeah, I used the word hoping.

Our Zack was born 5 weeks early and spent two weeks in NICU. It was very, very scary for us and a very anxious time. Now, my DH's best friend since age 3 (seriously, and still best friends) and his wife are expecting their first child--a daughter. She had a cervical surgery years back and has had a stitch for a while now to keep her closed. Now she'd dilated and is about 27 weeks. The doctors of course want her to stay pregnant for as long as possible...

Who knows, but Zack certainly loves kicking his soccer ball. He actually does it properly (you know, when he's not throwing it). I am pretty impressed, but then again I don't know anything about the game. Jeremy is impressed too, and he plays all the time so he's allowed to have an opinion. Here are (of course) a few photos from Zack's most recent soccer "session" and a few others...just because...

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Or not. Actually, Jeremy and I have done a good job at not giving Zack everything and anything we think he might want. He’s still too young to beg but we are quick to correct him if he declares something “me” or “mine.” We also don’t feel a need to buy him anything and everything. Of course our home isn’t large enough to buy all that much stuff. What he does have is too much to deal with sometimes anyway–tons of cars, books, stuffed animals, and little people.

For his first birthday...

Easter Pix...and Spinning Zack!
We don't do Easter big in our house. It was just my parents and my husband, son, and I. We had a nice dinner Saturday night and a big breakfast Sunday. Anyway...here are a few photos of Zack (who else?) from the weekend.

1.) Yes those are the Wonder Pets - it's the only show he watches and he loves it.

2.) In some of those photos he is spinning. He does this when he gets really tired. It's hilarious. He spins...

Well, we gave up our cat to the Humane Society a few weeks back. It was a necessary evil. He was not good in our family and we'd been putting it off for years. He was 8 years old. I say "was" because he didn't show up on the location's adoptable pets in the recent update. They even show pictures of newly adopted animals. Max must not have been adoptable. It makes me sad, but I can't say I am shocked. I am however sad...very, very sad...

Zack is quickly closing in on his second birthday. He is getting so big (but still pretty skinny). Anyway, I wanted to put a few pictures of him through the years here. Look at how much he's changed (and how much he hasn't).







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Zack did the thing all babies and toddlers do in their diapers. No big shock there. What WAS a shock was that he has developed quite a little sense of humor. He looked at Jeremy and says "Naughty Daddy!" Of course "naughty" sounds like "naw-nee" so it was extra cute and funny. It seems Zack doesn't want to take blame for his, er, messes...

I want to go on a vacation. Badly. We've never been on one. Actually, scratch that. We did go on a great week cruise for our Honeymoon (now almost 7 years ago). During the course of our marriage we have been on three trips--all of them because a close friend or family member was getting married and we were required to attend. Because of those "vacations" (I hesitate to call them that), we have been to Las Vegas, New Orleans, and the Florida Keys.

I feel lucky to have...

MAJOR RANT AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!

So we are working on a major bathroom renovation right now. We completely stripped it of everything--tub, toilet, fixtures, cabinets, floor. We were planning on doing the tile work ourselves and had already purchased everything to finish the project. Right before we were going to start, my in-laws suggested we ask my MIL's best friend's eldest son for a quote. We never looked anywhere else quite honestly because my in-laws said they would pay for the...