Summer, Summer, Summertime

The pool officially opened three days after baseball (and school) finally came to a close.

We couldn't be happier.

Hey Batter, Batter

Baseball ended a couple weeks ago. It was a fairly joyous occasion.

I will say, the boy did improve mucho and he still loves it, so that counts for something. And, I got a tan, which really counts for something. Baseball may not be so bad after all (which is admittedly way easier to say three weeks post play).

Prima Ballerina

Today was Linley's last day of ballet until Fall. To say she loves ballet is a gross understatement.

To say I forgot my camera and am thus a fully crappy mother is completely accurate.

Fuzzy faces are better than no faces though, right?

Maybe, just maybe, my offspring may discover the gracefulness that completely escaped me.

That is, however, highly unlikely.

Tessa Jane Turns Two!!!

The Spunky Monkey had a birthday today. She woke up asking for cake. At 6 am. I turned on some cartoons, gave her some warm milk, and went back to bed.

At 7am she came into my bedroom holding a stick of butter like it was an ice cream cone. A half-eaten ice cream cone. Breakfast of champions I say.

Tess embodies the perfect blend of feisty and sweet. Her vocabulary is vast, her patience low, and her kisses abundant.

Her comedic timing seasoned, her curiosity dangerous, her stubbornness plentiful, and her fear nonexistent.

Simply stated: she is a treat.

My most favorite chubby-cheeked two year old on the planet.

Happy Birthday Tessa Jane!!!

We love you like fat kid loves candy (and how cute is my cake? I am so domestic.).

Speaking of, Linley called Ryder a fatty today. I told her it wasn't nice to call someone a fatty. She replied, "It's only not nice if they're skinny."

We'll blame the father on that one.

Fancy Free

At the risk of jinxing all efforts, I will dare say the beast is housetrained.

And I have never done anything easier. No accidents. No complaints. Just a kid that sits and the pot and goes. Whatever it is she has to go. What??

Daddy can now rest easy knowing his baby is in panties before residing two full years on this green earth (even if it is just one week prior to that glorious anniversary of life).

Mommy simply has plans of pool days aplenty and frankly despises swim diapers. There was no other option.

And really, is there anything cuter than chubby, dimply, baby buns??

I love this girl.

I Wanna Graduate

Anyone else have a fairly major high school crush on Stephan Jenkins?

Today Linley graduated pre-school. An occasion made far more momentous than I believe necessary. Regardless, the little dear requested we take pictures to post on the blog, and I kindly obliged.

They turned out unsightly, uncoordinated, and highly embarrassing. I'll still post.

We changed course to include Tessa. Because everything is cuter with a little Chubs. But most ended up like this.

 However, everyone was game to kiss the camera.

   And give their best model pose (which instinctively means showing more leg on my behalf????)

That'll have to do.

We are still enjoying 95 degree weather. 95 degrees is perfect for all activities. Except one: an hour long preschool graduation in a cramped classroom packed full of people and equipped with no air conditioning. That there would be the definition of hell.

I love sweat soaking down my spine while sitting perfectly still. Pretty sure that means I don't have to go to the gym today.

Linley with Mrs. Kling

Linley with Mrs. Hymans

Linley with her besties

Goodbye Gingham Giraffe. You have been fabulous to my little girl.

Happy Memorial Day!

We have squeezed every last drop of fun, energy and sweat from this three-day weekend of wonderfulness.

Our days have included summer's inaugural BBQ-ing, bubble-blowing, lawn mowing, car cleaning, super sale shopping, pancake devouring, flesh burning, movie watching, pie eating, temple attending, and ward partying.

All wrapped in the arms of a fantastically muggy 90+ degrees.

This year the ward's annual Memorial Day Picnic was held at a most fabulous park in Basking Ridge. With a pavilion, and a pond, and geese, and a playground, and a baseball diamond, and a sand volleyball court and shade and sunshine. Something to ensure a plastered smile on every face present.

The temperatures were hot, the watermelon cold. and the company fantastic.

These are the reasons summer should never end.

Too bad Ryder still has a month of school left. I will never forgive the Northeast for robbing my children, and thus myself, of a month of summer every year.

And I am obviously fully obsessed with Instagram. I even brought my real camera, but still only used my iPhone. Is that shameful?

As Pretty as a Flower

Much has been mulling around in my mind as of late; time to purge my brain of a few thoughts. At least the ones that are appropriate to share on this semi-public spot.

On Mother's Day: It just may be one of my most favorite days of the year. Allen legitimately excels on this day. He gets it. And he does such a good job of making me feel special. And involving the kids in making me feel special. All without making me feel lazy or selfish. Just deserving. I like to feel deserving. And special. And loved. He's pretty super duper.

Ryder's Mother's Day Card. Nice to know there is no lack of confidence in that boy.

On My Mother: I cannot think of any occasion where she has ever made me feel awkward. Or bad. Or small. She just gets me. And accepts me. Even if she doesn't agree with me or my choices or my actions, she always make sure to see things from my side. I have never felt judged. Just loved. That's pretty radical. And since I regularly look at Linley like she has four heads, I am pretty sure I got screwed out of that trait.

On Showering (in Public): We are getting new windows installed in the house. Which means there are no blinds up. Anywhere. My bathroom window looks directly into my neighbor's kitchen. Sunday night I asked Allen how to best approach showering. His suggestion: Tape a note on the window that reads, "Dear John: You may leave tips in the mailbox." No cash yet. And I have to admit, I am a little disappointed.

On Money: I am not suppose to be spending any in May. But J Crew has free shipping with no minimum order. And I am dying for some white skinnies. Surely there has to be a way to find an exception...

On Bedtime: This is how the children get carried to bed every night (that daddy is home). It melts my heart a little each time.

On My Children: I can honestly say that at this specific point in time I like them. I am not currently impatiently waiting for them to grow out of a certain stage, or wishing they were different little beings. I am happy right where they are. I am enjoying them. Still screaming at them regularly, but also, really just enjoying them. It feels good.

On Baseball: Ryder is one of the worst players on his team. He doesn't seem to notice or mind, but it hurts my heart a little. Mostly because it is probably my fault for not practicing with him more regularly, but also because there will come a time when he does notice. At what point do you give up and move on to something new? Or do you just keep practicing in hopes it all clicks? All I want is for each of my children to be involved in something that they love, that keeps them active and builds confidence. Fingers crossed the swim team is more his forte.

On Music: A couple days ago Allen said that if ten years ago I heard the music I was listening to today, I would be ashamed of myself. It's true. In college I liked to think I had superior musical taste. If it was on the radio, I didn't like it. If you heard of it, I was way too cool to listen to it. I would make fun of Allen regularly for blaring Britney. Nowadays, I can sing along with every single lyric to every single Top 40 hit. So can Linley. And Tessa. I'm a total sell-out.

On Sexiness: I really need to start going regularly to the gym again. They have been remodeling my gym since December, and so I have only been able to take classes. Which was really awesome for a while. But now I am bored. The actual gym reopens in a couple weeks. Hopefully that will give me the jump start I need to get me excited for summer. And to encourage me to stop eating so much ice cream. And pretty much just dessert in general. We keep buying fruit and baking it in pies and cobblers and crisps. And topping it with even more ice cream. It's becoming pathetic and fully disgusting. And it all ends June 1st.

On Spring: It makes me happy. I like my life again. I like my house again. I like leaving my house again. Life is good in New Jersey, again.

Happy Easter

I love Easter. I love the Atonement. I love Jesus Christ. I love that He lived for me. I love that He died for me. I love that He overcame death. I love that I will be able to live with Him again. I love that I will be able to keep these little beings of perfection with me forever and ever. Could there be a happier day?

Could taking a decent family photo be any more difficult?

I mean ridiculously difficult?

Happy Easter!!

The Easter Bunny Hops By

In an effort to keep Sunday super spiritual Jesus filled, the Easter Bunny comes to the Zimmerman abode on Saturday. It doesn't really work, but I feel better inside thinking I attempted righteousness.

The morning was spent clawing each other's eyes out peacefully gathering eggs hidden throughout the house.

Then promptly cracking open the eggs to discover their hidden gems of deliciousness.

Then rapidly stuffing as many of those gems into one's mouth as possible before mother can rush to stop you.

Once every egg had been found, it was time to dye eggs. Why??? I hate the practice. And every single stinky hard boiled egg is still sitting in my fridge. But, I feel like a failure of a mother if I don't. So we did.

Literally 30 seconds after this photo was snapped, Tessa was sent to bed screaming. Two minutes later, Linley spilled the red dye all over one of my fabric covered chairs.

Dyeing eggs is evil.

Grandma and Grandpa had to leave Sunday afternoon, so we had our big Easter feast Saturday as well. It was a day packed full of fun and food and family. And a fabulous red stain on one of my chairs.