five

My sweet girl is turning 5. I am feeling quite sentimental as I look over these old photos. She has grown so quickly over these past five years. Everyone says they grow quickly, but I didn't believe how insanely quick it has been. Seems just yesterday she was a gift to us for the first time & five years have flown by!! It's fun to reflect and think about how she's changed over these last few years.

At age 5 "I can do it myself" is in full swing from getting her shoes on to cooking to manning the remote control. She is so very thoughtful & a good friend. She looks forward to the days she has preschool and adores her teacher. We love seeing all the things she has learned. Sometimes after we tuck Zoe in at night, we stick around to hear her sweet little prayers. Sometimes we hear her thanking God for her date with daddy, or getting to walk to school or hanging out with mommy.

We love that girl!!

broken habits & co-adventurers

This is the rockwire. Our wire. Our platform. Our life-display.

Dreams. Realities. Adventures. Observations.

And it begins...

Zoe turned 3 on Monday, January 14. We spent a long time talking up the fact that turning 3 equals being a BIG GIRL & that meant giving up her noonies (her nuks) to a baby. All along she seemed to understand & even though she loved her noonies, she wanted to be a big girl. Sunday night came along-- the night we were having her BIG GIRL PARTY. On the spot we asked Kathleen to see if she would be willing to take Zoe's noonies in part of this big girl act. Kathleen was a star & told Zoe how she knew the perfect baby to give the noonies to. Without any sort of fight, Zoe let Kathleen take her noonies. That night, surprisingly there was little regret as she went to sleep for the first time in 3 years without them. She got up several times, once saying "but i don't want to give up my noonies to a baby," but soon went to bed nicely. All in all, kudos to Zoe for handling the situation like a true big girl. It's Friday now & though sleep hasn't been perfect, she's done quite well considering this broken habit.

As a couple, our focus at the begining of 2008 was a renewed desire to increase our togetherness and to strive to be co-adventurers. This means, more intentional time-together, more goals together, more projects together. And to try our hardest to abide by one of our favorite Ron Luce principles. 7:7:7 Every 7 days, we do a date; every 7 weeks we do a night away; every 7 months, a vacation of sorts. We know we can't practice this principle perfectly, but we want to try because we want US to be a priority. Because we will suceed & we will remain in love. 5 1/2 years & counting, baby!!!

ALL FOR NOW!!