We brought home some Happy Meal boxes today.
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And oh my!  Look what was inside!
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Mia and I were discussion her First Confession today, and how she is old enough to discern what is right and wrong about most situations, even if it isn't something we've ever discussed.  She was really thinking and taking it all in.  I explained that when little one does something wrong, usually it's curiosity or something like that; not a desire to do something wrong.  I explained that as they get older, if they are disciplined by someone, they start to learn to avoid certain things simply because of the spanking, not because they can comprehend that they have done something wrong, as can she.

She was really thinking ...

Then I used Jonny as an example, explaining that even though he was older he did not have the use of reason, because he (and then she nodded emphatically and finished my sentence, "... has Special Effects."

Well, he kinda does, doesn't he.  ;-)
 
I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged.  I had actually decided not to.  At all.  Ever again. I was sick of the pressure I put on myself ... I just don't have time and mostly am not inspired to write these days.  I'm too busy enjoying my children.

And then something happened today that I wanted to mark, and I realized that that is why I blog -- it's a record of what happens in our lives.  I don't care if no one reads it; I want to be able to look back on this and know what happended in our lives.  I have such a bad memory that if I don't record it, I will forget it.  My memory is so bad, that at times I have read old posts on my blog and literally could almost not believe that I, myself, wrote it.  If I did not have proof, I would swear that someone else wrote it, lived it even.

So here is the record of a great day in the Z Household:
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Mia has lost her first tooth!  She pulled it herself after much drama and stress, and then immediately made me text her Daddy and call her best friend/cousin, Stella (who also shared the great joy of her fist tooth loss with Mia).  There is such a rash of smiliing and glee around here ... I truly wonder if it is one of the greatest days in a girl's life.  She has waited SO LONG for this day!  Congratulations, Peanut!  I love you!
 
I know there's a smudge on the lens, but I can't tell you how much I love this photo.  This is the kind of wonderfulness that happens when we have nowhere to go.  Love those kinds of evenings.  Daddy gets home from work, and sits in a chair, and memories happen.  <3
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There's been a tragedy at the Z house.

I came upon this poor soul as I was headed upstairs to put away laundry.  I hardly knew him, and I had no idea his end was near.

What I find even more tragic is the state of my kids' coats behind him.  Will I ever get hooks for coats???  When you're renting, you just keep thinking "we'll be moving soon" and things like THIS happen!  Oh well, life could be worse, right?

See you around!


 
 
Matt and I have been talking a lot lately about how to learn to trust God and rely on Him.  It's one of those times in our lives where God has shown us something, spoken to our hearts, and continues to teach us the lesson in ways big and small.  I know He is always trying to teach us something, but sometimes it is so OBVIOUS.  It is EVERYWHERE.  We recognize it, we keep learning it, and yet, there is still more to learn because we are not perfect humans and we need to learn things as a process sometimes.  It's been an enjoyable experience overall, because we are able to look at our lives and easily see how God has guided and protected us as He moves us along, so we have learned to look at even the disappointments as bumps along His path for us.

And yet, many times we find ourselves having to "come to terms" with something that He clearly wants for us.  We have to talk ourselves through it.  Our wills are in the right place -- we want what He wants for us.  And yet, there is still that small hesitation sometimes; that instance where we have to weigh both sides and remind ourselves that He is in control.  Why is that?  Why don't we just JUMP in, without the so much as blinking when we always know He's looking out for us?

Matt is known for his analogies -- and especially the fact that they are almost alway related to sports.  This is how He put it:

It's like this ... we KNOW God always wins the Superbowl every year.  Always.  Not in doubt.  Foregone conclusion that happens every year.
And yet we, the feeble ones with the losing record, are always questioning His play calls all season long and are worried about implementing them.


Yeah, it is kinda like that isn't it?
 
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We don't usually do gruesome costumes, but I justified this and gave Owen a lesson on the Ancient Egyptian burial practices.  :P

He is OBSESSED with mummies, in the same way that he is obsessed with superheroes and spiders.  It's usually a love-hate thing, and total fascination.  Jonny was the cutest cowboy ever, and literally got TWICE as much candy as everyone else because he would tip his hat and say Yeehaw!  Love it!

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My little Mia -- here with her cousin Paige, Owen and Jonny -- was a kitty cat like none other.

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Elena was a Steeler's cheerleader.  Some people said, "Oh .... I'm sorry.  We don't give candy to Steelers fans."  Darn Bengals fans!  They gave it to her anyway, probably because she was so cute.  And some gave her two pieces because of her Steeler Nation status.  :-)

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Hope was a beautiful bridesmaid.  She doesn't know that I know ithis idea for a costume she had was just a ploy to get this beautiful dress in her closet.  :)-

Noelle was at a party and I missed a photo of her (Dude, my camera was broken that night and I was relying on other's charity!), and Julia didn't do much in the way of dressing up ...  What can I say, I'm a bad mom!!!  (I am going to try to get her to dress up again and snap one of her.)

 
 
Didn't mean to go this short, but I like it!
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Jonny took this one!
 
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Matt and I heard this on the radio the other day and got a good laugh.  My kids think it's so funny!  If you're bored, go for it.