Big Canoe videos

Good times with the boy!

"I want to do it again!"

Andrew's Surprise Birthday Weekend in Big Canoe

I have never been able to surprise Andrew - and I'm not sure exactly how successful I was even with this trip, but I did manage to plan to whole thing - down to the pet sitting and car packing - all by myself.  That was a feat being pregnant as I am!  We headed to Big Canoe for the weekend and when we arrived, others soon followed!  Certainly the highlights were the rock slide, paddle boats, good food, and fun company.  See all the pics!

Pinspired Project 2

Another post for a cool (and super personalized) Pinspired Project.  What started as this pin (above), showcasing a toddler's scribbles transformed into art... ended up as this masterpiece (below) - yes, I use the word masterpiece very lightly here.  But I digress.  All of the flowers are made from Asa's scribbles from the past couple of years.  I decided it was time to use them because he is no longer scribbling, he is actually now drawing!  I took what probably amounted to about 25-30 sheets of scribble art and die cut the flowers from a few different floral-shaped craft punches.  Somewhere along the way I decided to sort them by color - the Type A in me, I guess.  Then, I painted the canvas and modge podged the flowers (in color clumps, of course) on top of the tree foliage and along the ground.  And voilà! - a piece of art that will certainly add color, life, and love to our living room, but more importainly, one that I will treasure forever!

To see more of what inspires me, follow me on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/zmelissa/.

Pinspired Project 1

Lately, I've been feeling a bit nesty.  Ha!  I've been frantically throwing myself into home decor, arts and crafts, and organization projects, many of which have been inspired by my newfound obsession, Pinterest.  If you aren't a current user of this site, you have NO idea what you are missing, especially if you are a lover of arts, crafts, activities, organization, and just all-around good ideas.  It can be a bit of a time sink, but what isn't?  I love it and I've used several pins to inspire my latest and greatest creations.  Here is my first post discussing what I am now deeming Pinspired Projects.

What started as this pin (picture above), turned into the MUST HAVE desire for my very own baby gate barn door thingy - technically, the pins on pinterest don't always come with titles and a set of instructions.  When we had Asa, we weren't living in a two-story home, so we didn't have a need for baby proofing a set of stairs.  And his mobility was in fifth gear by the time we moved into our new home in Grant Park - he had long mastered the use of stairs, including ours which I consider to be super steep (aka death traps).  However, when I became pregnant with our second and saw this picture, I knew it was a fantastic way to add some style to our house while at the same time adding a much-needed safety precaution for baby girl Zbeeb.  With the stairs located in the central hallway of our home and in eye shot of any and all front door guests, I wasn't thrilled with the idea of a plastic gate at the base of the stairs - I just knew it would bother me to look at that every day.  So, I did what I do best... emailed this pin to my husband and told him to "make this happen, please."  And the man did what he does best... listens to his wife.  The result is below - a very good-looking addition to our home (almost as if it were always there) and one less thing I have to worry about when our daughter starts to think she can attempt the art of climbing!!!

To give credit where credit is oh so due - my husband's buddy and fellow member of the parent club, Phil Proctor, made and installed this gate for us.  We love it - thanks Phil!

To see more of what inspires me, follow me on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/zmelissa/.

Catch UP

It's a been a while since my last post - mainly because this is primarily a photo blog and my site for posting photos online went under!  So, I've been in a holding pattern with my online photo storage and I think that is all resolved now.  Enjoy a few albums from June:

Destin Trip

Weekend in Chattanooga

Decatur Beach Party

Father's Day

Plus, for your fun viewing pleasure - see the latest video of Asa atteding his first Capoeira class a couple weeks back:

Music Video Fun

Whatever it takes to keep a road trip from driving us all nuts!

THAT Website!

So THAT website that you've all been hearing me talk about for a year now... it's finally live!  I couldn't be happier.  Check it out by clicking on the screen shot below!

Mom's been a little busy these days - I guess that happens when you wear so many hats.  Let me take this time to play a little catch up here on the blog.

Last week, Asa wrote his name in chalk on the playground at school - he was so very proud of himself!

Over the weekend, we celebrated Mother's Day!  It was a fantastic morning with breakfast prepared with love by Dad and Asa.  A somewhat rainy day had us racking our brains as to what to do with ourselves - and much to the delight of a certain 3-yr-old, we settled on Legoland.

Today, Dad got the pleasure of taking Ace and his friends on a school field trip to the local firehouse.  Fun was had by all.

Sorry for the quick update, but that's all we've got time to share now... staying busy and enjoying life!  Vacation is 7 days away and counting!!!

Our Daughter, In Utero

"I'm just cooking in here - be ready to meet you all real soon!  Until then, I'll be sure to nudge (aka KICK) my Mommy every once in a while to remind her of the future Spartan Warrior PRINCESS she's got inside her."

Hoppin' Good Time - Easter 2012

After an amazing pot luck lunch, an egg hunt extravaganza was held in the backyard... with more eggs than the Grant Park population!  Hunting went on and on - even Barnibus found an egg when all was said and done.  Of course, what's any good Easter without a few photo ops.  Enjoy more here.

Asa's School Photo

My oh my, how this boy keeps getting bigger.  He has been at DHCDC since he was 12 weeks old - and two of his best buds have been with him ever since then, too!  Now, he's the tallest in his class (with a couple girls giving him a run for his money).  I'm so proud of the boy.  He's super smart, VERY funny, and a whole lot of fun.  TGF Asa!

(Hint - click on image to enlarge.)

Funny Bunny

Took a trip to the mall to see the Easter Bunny.  He wasn't too busy, so he spent quite a bit of time with us - he had a LOT to say, but he couldn't talk, so he used an etch a sketch to communicate.  Asa found him to be very amusing!  We're ready for Easter this weekend.

Blue Ridge Good Time

We had a fantastic weekend with the Jones' family in the Blue Ridge mountains of GA.  Tons of photos to prove it.



Shopaholics Breed Shopaholics

I think I might be creating a monster.  Asa loves all my shopping sprees... and given the chance, he prefers to join me!

Housewarming by Bonfire --- and Our BIG News

We had a great time warming up the new house with all of our friends and family... even one in utero... by the big bonfire table.  Asa shared the big news that he is going to be a big brother come September.  This promises to be an excited year as we continue settling into our new home and neighborhood and as our family grows to a party of four!  More pics.

Happy Valentine's Day... Love, Santa

Asa enjoyed his Valentine's Day gifts this morning from Santa, until  he realized they were from Mom and Dad.  :-)

More gifts from Nana, Jiddo & Grandma Jane, and Pops below - all the cards read: "Asa James, I love you." Yes, he's a genious kid - he can already read. :-)

A Super S'mores Party

We had a great time yesterday - some watched the Super Bowl and others ate s'mores.  This was Asa's first late night party... didn't get him to bed until 11pm.  Of course, Dad paid the price for this by joining him in his twin bed around 2am.  Still, fun was had by all. 

[Good luck to Asa's teachers today!  We're sorry in advance.]

Where did January go?

Wow - I didn't realize how much time had passed since my last post.  We recently celebrated Nana's birthday at Mason Mill Park with all her grand-boys!  Followed that up with a movie with the Moms.  It was a nice afternoon.

Atlanta's winter has been incredibly miled - almost Spring-like and I'm loving that!  I'm hopeful February will continue with the awesomeness of the 60 degree weather, but that it won't fly by as fast as January.  I have no idea where that month went!

Asa had Tacky Day at school this week and Dad spiked his hair.  By the time I arrived to pick him up, it had fallen to his normal do - pour kid, he's got his Mama's thick hair that will never style!  Not that he'll care as much as I do.

We're looking forward to Aunt Marisa's 30th birthday this month, as well as a long-past-due Housewarming in Grant Park.  I'll do better with more frequent blog posts - it's sure to be another jammed-packed year of Zbeeb fun!

And a recent random video thrown in just for good measure...

Hibachi on New Year's Day

It was fun to watch Asa and Miller over the hibachi grill on New Year's Day.  What a way to kick off 2012.

Christmas with the Zbeeb's

Tons of fun - first the pink pig, then the Zbeeb Christmas Eve, and concluded with the Clarkson's - our Chirstmas could not have been better.  Thanks for all those that spoiled the boy - and his parents!  Enjoy the many pics and videos below.

 

On Christmas Eve, Asa just couldn't resist asking his cousin to dance!

Watch all the fun Ace had on Christmas morning - seeing all that Santa brought him!

Asa's First Dental Appointment

Just before Santa arrived, it was time to take Ace for his first dental appointment.  Yes, we went a bit overboard on the pics, but again - it was his FIRST time, folks!  A true milestone.