Twinkle lights and pumpkins

This year we are just ready for the "Twinkle"

 

Braxtyn, Graham, Noah and I have been increasingly involved in MoezArt Productions this year. I blame practicing for a Christmas play every Monday night has to have something to do with it. I also have been Christmas shopping early, planning a huge dinner and I think I've baked a pie or some dessert with pumpkin in it, every week since September.  Something about this year just sings, Christmas. It couldn't be the weather, so it must be the twinkle.

I think it might have been Meg Ryan's fault. She always puts me in the holiday mood...When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. All the movies I watch religiously every fall.

 

The sooner I begin playing Christmas music, the sooner it takes me back to some of my most precious memories. As soon as I hear Amy Grant singing Sleigh Bells, I am right back in the downstairs of my parent's home where I grew up. I'm making Christmas ornaments with my mom and decorating our tree. Every Bing Crosby song takes me to my first date on my sixteenth birthday with Daniel. At the zoo for Zoo Lights, sitting by the lake wondering if this guy will every figure out he's supposed to marry me. When Frank Sinatra sings Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I am back in Central Park walking hand in hand with Daniel, hoping this date never ends. I could go on and on and on..the list is endless and beautiful.

 

 As an adult, I swore to never get bitter or angry with my friends the Holidays. I swore to love them and keep them special for our whole family, even when things got crazy. And well, things got crazy. But, I've kept to my word and for me these are the times to continue to look forward to. The twinkle lights and the pumpkins, the apple pies and the ornament making. Even when I inevitably cook the turkey upside down (which is all the rage, now), leave the giblets in the neck while baking, hang Christmas lights like a 2 year old, want to drop to the floor at the end of the day and yell at everyone to pay attention to the Macy's parade until it's over. This is the time when I purposefully set aside moments of sweet memories. When I purposefully cherish the crazy that happens daily. And when I most purposefully, steal time to treat my husband and I to mini-vacations for our birthdays.

This is the twinkle that shines on for me each day as Christmas approaches.

It is the most beautiful reminder that without Christ's birth, this life and the star that lights my heart and leads me each year to worship at the manager is the reason for all of these beautiful moments in time.

 

So no  matter when you decide to put up a tree, or play your music...

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

 



What's a busy momma to do?

Not writing for a year has made me realize how much I forget. This blog has been a reminder of our life as a family and I'm so thankful I used to keep it up. I have been reading it tonight and realized with a little panic, that an entire year has passed with no new entries. So what's a busy momma to do?? I have no idea. But I will do my best!

One of the most important things about this blog, is the beautiful picture it paints of our journey as a family. I cherish each entry, even the silly and short ones. So here goes..to another year of blogging.

 

A funny from Cozette:

 

Cozy: Mom did God make our whole bodies?

 

Me: Yes

 

Cozy: He didn't do a very good job

 

Me: He didn't? Why not?

 

Cozy: He didn't do a good job on our bottoms.

 

Me: Oh....what's wrong with our bottoms?

 

Cozy: There's a crack in them. (straight face)

 

Me: Laughing hysterically

 

My little thinker. Wonder she'll think of next.

 

 

Last Saturday was Noah's birthday....11 years old! He is such an amazing person. I watch him amazement as he navigates through life. He handles most things with ease and confidence. He is helpful, compassionate and incredibly handsome. Each day he amazes me and I am so excited to see who he becomes as he grows.

 A fun filled day of friends and movies and Minecraft!

 

 

Oh How I love my boys!

 

Some Zombie fun!

 

I found this picture I can't believe how much Braxtyn and Quinn look alike:

 

They are so alike! I cringe when I think of how many years it took Braxtyn to learn not to get into things...and Quinn is just as curious. Love my girls!

 



IT'S FINALLY HERE! Zimmermann's Summer 2012

 Quinn cut teeth, vampire style

 A trip to the Science Center

 Fun with good friends

 Chin stitches, twice. Once for Cozette and Once for Quinn

 Our 15 year anniversay trip (kidless)

 Fourth of July

 Family Reunion in Oklahoma

 Barxtyn turning 6 and getting her ears pierced!

 Cozette turning three

 Family Camp

 Oklahoma was a blast!!

 Noah's soccer

 Fun days to together

 Lots of swimming time!

 Baking together

 Family trip to the beach!

 Graham turned 8 and Gunny stayed the night!

 Ice Cream with friends

 Graham, learning from the best

 And then...School begins

 Welcome Fall with Apple Picking!

And we can't forget this little trouble maker! Sidewalk chalk and fireplace soot, yum!

 

The Zimmermann's had a great Summer 2012



Fifteen years has flown right by...

May 24th

There are only four questions of value in life. What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made of? What is worth living for? What is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love.
Don Juan Demarco

Happy 15th Anniversary to my amazing husband! I love you so much

And many more memories to come!

I would never do that with my kids!

This is the degradation of my "I would never do that with my kids" list. Yes, I had a list. I big, long, detailed list of what I would never do when I had kids. That was before. Before I had one child, five times in a row. My "I Will Nevers" has dwindled and dwindled and now I am crossing a line. But that was before they started bargaining, whining, cajoling, plotting against me. They are smarter at younger ages, than I ever dreamed. I was smarter then too. Like the kind of smart when your 16 and your not sure when your parents turned into clueless idiots. Somehow, my parents regained their wisdom and I'm becoming the idiot.

I always said that my kids would hear me say "No" and never question me, or whine about it, they would just obey....I know I'm laughing too.

So in the midst of being strong and a good follower througher, I have come to realize that I cannot control these little ones, they are going to have to learn to make good choices or bad. I can only control the consequence. So in trying to be smart I have been allowing them make some of their own decisions and then allowing life and our household rules teach them. Sometimes it works like a charm. Like when Cozette wants to throw a tantrum and I say to her, "fun to be with or go to your room". And she decides that the tantrum is not worth hanging out in her room all alone. Or when Noah wants to play Mincraft everyday and I'm fine with that, but my price is getting his morning shores done by 9am. I don't have to get mad, I just let him know its after 9 and the computer is off limits. Amazing how chores get done! And then their are other times when I'm tired and and I'm sick of thinking up stuff to say to them. When I'm sick of hearing my own voice say the same things over and over and over! That is when, oh this is hard for me to say out loud.
Bribery!
Good old fashioned, run of the mill, you take your nap and I'll give you candy, bribery.
I thought I'd never do it. Ha! Checking that one off the list.

Cozette, loves bribery. I can get her to do almost anything for a stick of gum. Take her medicine, take a nap, go potty..

Silly girl, if we can get past the drama, we do pretty good!

And this clown, he's not so easy. Whatever you say you better be able to back it up. He's more into money. But that works both ways. He's paid me a pretty penny to clean his room. I have my dignity. He learned pretty quickly that $20 bucks doesn't come so easy and its a way better choice to clean your own room for free!

And so far, she's perfect for at least another month. My list works really well on her.
As far as I can tell, bribery works for parenting. I won't be putting bribery back on my "never List" again. I'm just limiting its uses.,keeping its staying power:)